MMS 173 Assignment 1:

Knowing where you're at

(Part 1)

My Top 3 Photos

The photos I've selected for this assignment are from last year when I took MMS 173 for the first time. All of these were taken from a garden I visited using a Samsung Galaxy A53.

Photo #1

Personally, I think this flower shot is the best photo I’ve taken and processed. I also remember feeling proud of it at the time because I thought that the choices I made to create that image made it feel more deliberate.

There are many things about the photo I like, such as the colors, textures, and composition, which give emphasis to the flower. What I like about the colors, for instance, is that they’re primarily made out of two colors: green and magenta, which are sort of complementary colors. Because they are complementary, they create contrast that draws the eye to the flower. I remember thinking that color was important to this image when I processed it. The raw photo looked a bit desaturated, especially the flower, so I adjusted the contrast and the values to achieve the vibrancy I wanted.

I also appreciate the textures I captured in this image. The macro mode on my phone really helped bring out the finer details of the flower. I think the gleaming droplets against the matte look of the petals also make for a nice contrast.

I like the composition of the image too. The center of the flower creates a point in the image from which the leading lines of the petals radiate outwards, creating a radial composition.

Overall, I think this is a good photo for a novice like myself. But, I’m sure there are other ways I could have elevated the image. I just don’t have the knowledge or experience yet to figure that out.

Photo #2

Other than the previous flower shot, I think this photo is one of the better flower shots I took in the garden. I like the complex shapes made by the stems and flowers. I also like that there’s a depth of field effect that separates the flowers from the background. I also appreciate that while the photo leans toward a gloomy tone made by the drab colors, there’s a small burst of light peeking through the clouds, adding a sense of hope to the otherwise moody atmosphere.

Despite these, there are some things I don’t like about the photo too. For example, there’s some distracting figures in the shot such as the metal bar and tree branches on the left side of the photo. I’m also a little peeved by the sun not being in the middle. In general, this photo doesn’t feel as deliberate as I want it to be.

Photo #3

The garden had these slim and tall trees, but they were few and far from each other. I thought they looked lonely. While these trees were close to the other flora in the garden, they were quite small in comparison, which made them seem even more isolated. There was nothing at their height—no branches to intertwine with, no leaves to brush against—just open air and distance.

I like this photo because I think it captures the feelings of loneliness and isolation well. The deep blues from the sky evokes feelings of sadness, and the empty space beside the tree reinforces its isolation. I also like how the clouds in the background cut through the sky like a big brushstroke. It adds a sense of movement, making the photo more visually interesting.

I know the tone of the image is supposed to be sad, but, sometimes, when I look at this photo, I think of the Truffula trees from Dr Seuss’ The Lorax, and I laugh a little. Then I realize the photo does look a bit funny and awkward, and there was probably a better way to go about capturing the tree.

Page updated

Report abuse