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For this final project, I created a portfolio divided into four categories: self-portrait, natural scenery, flowers and animals, and night shots. This categorization allowed me to organize my photos thematically and present a cohesive body of work. My recent family trip to Bolinao, Pangasinan, fueled my interest in natural scenery photography.
The main devices I used to capture these photographs were my iPhone XR and a camera borrowed from a friend. While the iPhone proved to be a capable and convenient tool, having access to a camera also enabled me to experiment with different settings and techniques. One clever approach I employed, especially for capturing night shots and scenes with lights or water, was using the live mode on my iPhone XR and then switching to long exposure. This method allowed me to achieve interesting light trails and motion blur effects.
Live Mode
Long Exposure Mode
Throughout the process of creating this final project, I faced challenges both during the shooting and post-processing stages. While I struggled with understanding the technical aspects of camera settings and operations, an area where I need to continue learning and improving, I also encountered obstacles when it came to editing and enhancing my photographs. I admit that I often relied on searching for filters online and attempting to apply them to my images. However, I understood that these filters might not always be suitable, and I had to make adjustments to ensure they complemented the images appropriately.
Moving on, my overall goal for this portfolio was to create a clean, business-style presentation of my work, which I believe I achieved to a certain extent. Among the categories, I'm particularly proud of the self-portraiture section. As someone who used to be camera-shy, the self-portraiture assignment helped me gain confidence and appreciate my unique qualities, even if I'm not photogenic. One of the self-portraits I included in this final project is an extra shot from a previous assignment that holds special meaning for me and represents my journey of self-acceptance and self-love.
Looking back, I could have explored more to enhance my post-processing skills further. Moreover, dedicating more time to experiment with different compositions and perspectives during the shooting process could have yielded even more compelling images. Moreover, the feedback from Sir Al on my previous assignments really helped me identify areas that needed improvement, and I'm glad that I was able to apply those suggestions little by little to enhance my photography.
This photo was part of my extra shots in my self-portraiture assignment, this self-portrait showcases a poignant and dramatic composition. While it wasn't the chosen image for my previous self-portraiture assignment, I'm immensely proud of this shot, knowing that I had to plan and execute every aspect of it independently.
The photograph depicts me in a pensive state, clutching a bouquet of delicate pink flowers close to my face, with my eyes gently closed, conveying a sense of intimacy and introspection. The soft, warm lighting and the neutral backdrop create a serene and captivating atmosphere, allowing me as the subject to take center stage.
I carefully considered the camera settings to ensure optimal quality and impact. The ISO was set to 800, which allowed me to capture the shot in the available lighting conditions while maintaining an acceptable level of digital noise. With an aperture of f/5.3, I was able to strike a balance between depth of field and sharpness, ensuring that both my face and the flowers remained in focus.
After capturing the image, I further enhanced its visual appeal through post-processing in Lightroom. I made careful adjustments to elements such as contrast, color balance, and overall image quality, ensuring that the final photograph accurately conveyed the mood and emotion I envisioned.
This photo of mine holds a special significance for me, as it represents a journey of self-discovery and creative expression.
This picture, taken on April 21st, 2024 during our 2-day Pangasinan trip, takes me back to the serenity of Bolinao. I deliberately avoided editing this image to show the natural beauty of the scene – lush trees and rocks framing the crystal-clear water. It's a place that radiates peacefulness, and you can almost feel the cool water.
The camera settings here helped capture this tranquility. A wide aperture (f/1.8) lets in a lot of light, which can be helpful in some situations, but here it might not have been the most critical factor since the photo was taken in the daytime. The low ISO (25) is key here. This minimizes graininess and keeps the image sharp, which is ideal for capturing the clarity of the water and the details of the rocks and trees. Finally, the shutter speed (1/167) freezes most motion. This is a good choice for this scene to ensure the water appears crisp and the overall image stays sharp.
I took this picture of the bright pink bougainvillea flowers in my lola's garden in Apalit, Pampanga on the morning of May 2nd. I just loved how vibrant and colorful the flowers looked. I used my iPhone XR to capture the shot. The ISO was set to 100 to reduce image noise since it was a bright morning and the 1/64 shutter speed prevented any blur from movement.
Walking through my lola's pretty garden always makes me happy seeing the beautiful flowers bloom. This photo reminds me of the peaceful feeling of admiring those lovely bougainvilleas surrounded by other plants that morning.
This photo of a cat was taken from my previous assignment. It perfectly embodies what I enjoy about photography - patience and a bit of luck (or serendipity as some call it).
The photo itself is pretty straightforward – a curious cat looking up at the camera. But capturing this image required patience to wait for the right moment, and a bit of chance that the cat would look up at the right time.
I used an aperture of f/4.5, which lets in a decent amount of light, perfect for capturing this curious cat. It also keeps the background a little sharper compared to a wider aperture. Since the lighting probably wasn't ideal, I bumped up the ISO to 2000 to get a clear image and this can also introduce graininess into the photo. Finally, the shutter speed of 1/40 is a bit slower. This allows more light in, but it also increases the risk of camera shake.
Overall, this photo is a great example of how patience, technical skill, and a little bit of luck can come together to create a captivating image.
This photo was taken in Binondo, Manila. We'd been here a couple of times before, for my photography assignments like the bucketlist. Binondo always draws me back in with its amazing subjects, just like this bridge here. This time, for my final project, I knew exactly where I wanted to be.
To capture this scene at night, I used a special technique on my phone. Here's what went into it:
First, the wide aperture (f/1.8) lets in a lot of light, which is helpful because it's nighttime. Since it's nighttime, I needed to crank up the ISO a bit to 640. This helps the camera sensor capture more light. In this case, ISO 640 seems like a good compromise between brightness and image quality. The coolest part, though, is the slow shutter speed of 1/24. This is what creates those good looking lights from lamp and the smooth blur of the water. It's like the photo is capturing the movement of the city at night.
Using live mode first probably helped me frame the shot perfectly before switching to the long exposure mode for the light trails and water blur.
Overall, this final project allowed me to showcase my photography skills while also identifying areas for growth and improvement. I enjoyed the process of curating my work and look forward to applying the lessons learned in future photography endeavors. This experience has reinforced my passion for photography and has motivated me to continue honing my skills.
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