MMS 173 Assignment 1: Knowing Where I'm At (Part 2)

March 15, 2025

Browsing through my classmates’ porfotlios, there is one thing I realize– we have our own unique way of telling stories through photographs. I actually tried to browse through every single portfolio in the directory, and I observed how diverse we are. We have different upbringings. We came from different cultures. Which explains the various ways of telling stories. There are some who are more fond of landscapes or nature, others prefer portraits, and some do random photography just to capture a story or a moment. And we also have our own reasons why we do photography. 

Looking back at our lesson, I can see that most of us are already equipped with the basic skills and knowledge. I have observed that there are different techniques applied to the photos of my classmates. There is an exploration with long exposure, low lighting, low shutter speed, and even creative shots. That’s why I mentioned that we have different ways of telling stories because we are exploring the techniques, styles, and compositions of photography.

What really stood out in the first photo were the contrast and colors. It made the subject stand out even though the frame was crowded with balloons. On the contrary, the 2nd photo is less sharp but is also high contrast, especially due to lighting. The 3rd photo is what we can call a juxtaposition, the small boat stood out among the bigger boats behind it. While the 4th photo gives a more tranquil feeling. We can actually consider how frame-within-frame works with it, which emphasizes the isolation, thus giving a silent vibe. The 5th photo, although it has a calm feeling, also gives a sense of peace because the subject is not isolated. 

The photos mentioned above showcase how light induces an emotion in its viewers. But it is also important to remember the technicalities of how we can effectively play with it. I would like to highlight how the 1st photo, having a portrait orientation, is better than its landscape counterpart. Because it gives an emphasis more on the subject. Also, the soft effect or blurry effect on the 2nd photo allows the viewer to focus more on the subject. I guess it’s a matter of being intentional and knowing the right tool to effectively tell our story.

As I reflect, I can see that I still have to develop my deeper understanding of the technical aspect of photography. I need to apply how these techniques, styles, and compositions interplay with each other so I can effectively capture a story.