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

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

Part 1. General Assessment

I used a duck race to randomly select about 35 e-Portfolios and browsed through them. Though the levels of experience and technical skill vary, I believe most of my classmates have a knack for photography based on the works I’ve seen. There are a few that demonstrate a strong grasp of the lessons such as composition, principles, and design. Their photography feels polished and intentional, almost at a professional level. It surfaces in how they direct the attention of a mere viewer like me to where exactly it needs to be—as if, with just one look, you can tell what the photo is all about. I also noticed these students make their images visually engaging and dynamic by thoughtfully applying techniques that enhance their outputs. Another observation I had was that some students are highly invested in post-processing, as they mentioned using color grading in their photos. While I may not be well-versed in post-processing myself, I recognize that it requires time and knowledge to execute well.

For those who are just beginning to explore photography, I found that their storytelling abilities stand out the most. Despite lacking sharpness or having images that appear more spontaneous, their work is magnified by their ability to capture emotion and bring the best out of a photo through narration. While their photos may not yet reach the level of those who have mastered the lessons, they make up for it with compelling subject matter and unique perspectives, adding depth to their outputs. The gap isn’t too wide, and with practice, these students can refine their technical skills over time.

In this sense, I believe the class has a solid foundation and strong potential to grow, regardless of the differences in equipment, experience, and artistic approaches. I’m thrilled to see how everyone hones their skills throughout the course.

Part 2. Critique

Murasaki

Jehiel Obligar

Looking at this image, it has that serene and calming aura. Due to the bluish-green tone, the entire scene feels soothing. Without disrupting the tranquility, the floating buoys create a nice sense of rhythm, and the water adds the right amount of texture and depth which really sets that peaceful mood. As for the principles, the image has a great balance and harmony. The floating hut is the perfect focal point as my eyes were immediately drawn to it at first glance. The diagonal composition also feels intentional as the buoys naturally led my gaze to the hut. Another aspect that played a huge role would be the color grading. I believe it enhanced the photo and made it more appealing. If I were the photographer, I might consider cropping to remove the small detail in the upper right. Nonetheless, it is a great photo.

Burnham Park

Allan Dale Gaspar

For me, this photo was one of the few standouts from the 35 portfolios. I feel that it is an image that immediately draws a viewer in as it beautifully plays with the design elements such as color, texture, patterns, and more. The contrast feels even more striking due to the golden lights that pop against the cooler tones. Moreover, the balance, emphasis, and symmetry is also shown from the tree to its reflection on the wet pavement, creating a mirror-like effect. What makes it even better is it’s a raw shot! If I were behind the camera, I might try capturing the whole tree just to show its full scale.

Koincedence

Carl Daniel Torres

Among the five photos, this one’s my favorite. Standing out so beautifully against the dark water, the vibrant colors of the koi fish immediately grabbed my attention. From the texture of their scales to the rippling water, the contrast adds so much depth and makes it stunning. The whole scene gives a really pleasing visual harmony with a sharp focus on the foreground koi fish. By using depth of field, unity, and emphasis, the photo naturally directed my eyes exactly where they should be. As for the composition, the scene feels so alive due to the overlapping of the fishes creating motion. Torres mentioned that he edited the photo to remove the greenish color of the water, and to make it more aesthetically pleasing. I believe the adjustments brought out the image’s full potential. If I were behind the camera, I might experiment with a wider aperture to make the background even softer. Honestly, this is a very beautiful shot, almost at a professional level.

In the Corner of Intramuros

Ma. Francesca L. Santiago

This photo is another standout. Honestly, it drew me in because it felt like a film photograph at first glance. There is something nostalgic and immersive from the warm golden tones and the intricate details from the chandelier, the focal point, to the background. The light emitted from the chandelier, the lights, and the darker background also shows a stark contrast which adds depth and drama. The diagonal composition also played a big part as the staircase subtly led my gaze through the photo. I also love the low exposure as it made the image more compelling. Overall, it’s really great photo.

The Middle of the Ascent

Alyza Oroceo

Another standout is this photo. The framing of this shot is incredible. It’s quite a struggle to capture the focal point so perfectly in the middle, especially on a high vantage point. With the bridge acting as a leading line, my eyes drew naturally to the blue boat. Another aspect is the contrast between the blue boat and the earthy tones making it stand out instantly. From my perspective, it has that abandoned feel to it which makes the image mysterious, and the gloomy background adds drama to it, like a dead end.

Part 3. Self-Assessment

If I were to rate myself compared to the class, I’d probably give myself a 5 out of 10. I was humbled after looking through my classmates’ outputs. I realized just how much room I must grow. One of my biggest challenges is that I tend to become my own harshest critic, as I focus more on my mistakes. By prioritizing aesthetics, most of my shots feel like replicas of works I’ve seen from others. Since I mainly captured them on a whim, I wasn’t aware that photography has principles and compositions that I must consider in creating a meaningful shot. I was pretty much stuck in the bubble that aesthetically pleasing photos is the way of photography. Through the course, I hope to develop a unique perspective that would make my photos stand out and be recognizable as mine. Moreover, this realization also led me to consider being intentional with my photography. Yes, my images convey a message, but they often feel ambiguous and lack clarity. With constant practice, I believe I can improve this aspect by taking a pause and thinking about the story I want to tell with every click of my camera. Recently, I had the chance to purchase a mirrorless camera. I immediately noticed the difference between using a phone camera and having the proper equipment. Although there’s nothing wrong with my phone, I figured it would help me in the long run. I plan to make the most out of my gear and truly understand what works, what doesn’t and refine my skills based on the capabilities of my camera. Lastly, I hope I can overcome my hesitation and confidently share my photos for critiques and feedback. Certainly, improvements and refinements won’t happen in a flash, but I’m eager to keep learning, experimenting, and eventually showcase my craft one step at a time.

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