Capturing Composition

Leading Lines Repetition/Grouping Framing Informal Balance

Formal Balance Rule of Thirds

Low Horizon Line High Horizon Line

High Key Lighting Low Key Lighting Silhouette Angle Up

Angle Down Close Distance Far Distance Sharp Focus

Soft Focus Selective Focus

ARTIST STATEMENT

The main subject in this image is the single standing army man who is slightly offset from the center of the portrait. I stood him atop the wooden bleachers with a leafy background given by bushes. Although not as natural as the bushes behind it, I chose the wooden bleaches because of the way the sun shown across it. I utilized the way the shadows and the sun almost combatted each other for spots on the wooden surface. This gave the image contrast between light and dark and created a good silhouette on the army man as well. For this image I was in search of low key lighting and a way to use a toy soldier to show it. The main element I liked and used to create this photograph was the sun. I wanted to show that the soldier was able to find the light in an almost dark area.

Although the main composition rule I was going for was for was low key lighting, many other rules are represented through this image such as angle down and close distance. These can be seen through the closeness between the army man and myself and at the angle to which the image was captured. I did not edit this image at all because I felt that it was strong enough with the limited knowledge I have on editing.

While making this portrait I was picturing a real soldier put in the same situation. An army soldier who is trying to find the spots of light in the dark world he is apart of during or after war. During war, times are tough and many soldiers find it difficult to see the light in their situation as well as army veterans can have trouble readjusting to society due to change in life or brutal PTSD. The image relates to my life because I experience people struggling to find the light everyday. People need to be able to escape the shadows along with soldiers on their tours, like this army man did in this image. One thing that could make this image stronger would be revisiting it with more knowledge on editing thus giving the image more possibilities in better appearance.