MMS 173 Assignment 5a:

One Object

The object chosen for this assignment is a small, wooden drawing mannequin. All photos were taken with a Samsung Galaxy A53.

Slow Shutter Speed

A narrow stream of water flows smoothly into a red basin, gently pouring and creating ripples throughout. Inside the basin stands a mannequin, still and upright.

To capture this photo, I used an ISO of 50, a shutter speed of 2 seconds, and a white balance of 3900K. I kept the ISO low to prevent overexposure since the slow shutter speed already let in plenty of light. The lights were turned off to avoid any unwanted brightness.

Elements present in the photo:

Color: Red dominates the scene, while the mannequin contrasts against it with its brown hue.
Line: The flowing water creates a line that guides the viewer's eye
Space: The large amount of negative space around the mannequin emphasizes it as the focal point
Form: The mannequin's form is defined by the overhead light
Texture: The soft blurred water contrasts with the solid, still mannequin.

Principles present in the photo:

Balance: The photo has asymmetrical balance, with the mannequin and the stream breaking the symmetry of the basin.
Emphasis: The mannequin stands out due to the contrast in color, form, space, and texture.
Movement: The blurred flowing water adds a sense of motion to the image

For composition, I used the rule of thirds. The mannequin is positioned along the left vertical grid line.

These choices work together to make the mannequin and the stream the most prominent figures and to create movement in the photo.

Fast Shutter Speed

This photo features the same red basin and mannequin from the previous shot, but here, time appears to stand still. The flowing water is sharply defined in contrast to the previous shot's blurred motion.

For this shot, I used an ISO of 3200, a shutter speed of 1/500 s, and a white balance of 3900k. I turned on the light for this shot, but it was still too dim, so I decreased the shutter speed enough to avoid underexposure and to quickly capture the water.

Elements present in the photo:

Color: Red dominates the scene, while the mannequin contrasts against it with its brown hue.
Line: The flowing water creates a line that guides the viewer's eye
Space: The large amount of negative space around the mannequin emphasizes it as the focal point
Form: The mannequin's form is defined by the overhead light
Texture: The more sharply defined yet organic, liquid texture of the water contrasts the solid, still mannequin.

Principles present in the photo:

Balance: The photo has asymmetrical balance, with the mannequin and the stream breaking the symmetry of the basin.
Emphasis: The mannequin stands out due to the contrast in color, form, space, and texture.

Similar to the previous shot, I applied the rule of thirds with the mannequin positioned along the left vertical grid line.

Although it is practically the same as the previous shot, the high shutter speed provides a sense of stillness.

High ISO

In a dark room, a lamp casts a focused beam of light from above, illuminating a mannequin beneath it. The rest of the space fades into shadow, creating a stark contrast between the lit subject and the surrounding darkness.

The camera was set to ISO 3200, shutter speed 1/125 s, and white balance 4000K. Because the lamp provided only a small amount of light, I had to raise the ISO and keep the shutter speed relatively low to properly expose the image.

Elements present in the photo:

Line: A few lines guide the viewer's eye to the mannequin and the lamp—such as the diagonal line formed by the light and shadow, the line formed by the the two-tone wall, and the line where the wall meets the floor.
Value: The dramatic lighting provides the photo dark shadows and bright highlights
Shape: The harsh lighting creates outlines around the mannequin and the solid shadows on its body reduce its details, simplifying its forms into shapes. The light of the lamp looks like a simple circle.

Principles present in the photo:

Emphasis: The stark lighting contrast immediately draws attention to the mannequin and the lamp. The rest of the room fades into shadow, making the subjects more visually prominent.

For composition, I applied the rule of thirds and leading lines. The lamp is positioned along the left vertical grid line, while the mannequin is placed along the right, distributing the visual weight across the frame. The three lines mentioned above converge toward the mannequin and lamp, directing the viewer's attention.

These choices make the lamp and the mannequin the prominent figures in the photo.

Low ISO

A mannequin stands on a yellow-and-black striped speed bump.

The photo was taken under strong sunlight. To avoid overexposure, I set the ISO low to 80 and the shutter speed fast at 1/3000 s.

Elements present in the photo:

Color: Black and yellow dominate the photo. The yellow stripes are especially bold and striking.
Line: The stripes of the speed bump create strong lines across the frame.
Texture: The speed bump has a rough, gritty texture, while the mannequin has a smooth surface.

Principles present in the photo:

Rhythm: The repeating stripes create a sense of rhythm across the image
Emphasis: The mannequin is the only object in the scene and stands out clearly due to its brown color against the vibrant yellow and black background.
Movement: The stripes taper towards the mannequin which draws the viewer's eyes to it.

For composition, I applied the rule of thirds and leading lines. The mannequin's head is positioned at the intersection of the top horizonal grid line and the right vertical grid line. The lines from the speed bump lead the viewer's eye to the mannequin.

These choices make the photo look visually interesting. The strong lighting brings out the contrast in color and texture. The bold stripes not only establish a rhythm but also act as directional guides, leading the eye to the mannequin. The placement of the subject along the rule of thirds and the clean contrast between forms and surfaces make the mannequin feel deliberate and grounded in the scene.

Landscape

A mannequin stands in a field of grass, looking up at a tiny white flower.

The light in the area was a little dim, and there was a breeze that caused the grass to sway. I set the ISO to 800 to keep the photo bright enough without introducing more noise. The fast shutter speed helped freeze the motion of the moving grass.

Elements present in the photo:

Color: Green dominates the scene. The mannequin and the flower stand out due to their brown and white colors.
Texture: The sharp, pointed grass contrast with the mannequin's smooth wooden surface.

Principles present in the photo:

Rhythm: The repeating blades of grass create a natural rhythm across the photo
Emphasis: The mannequin and flower stand out due to their color and texture. They break the green and grassy pattern.
Dominance: The mannequin is visually dominant because of the contrast and its size relative to the flower.

For composition, I applied the rule of thirds. The mannequin is positioned along the left vertical gridline, and the flower sits on the right.

The use of contrast—both in color and texture—creates visual interest and directs attention to the two main subjects. The rhythm of the grass sets a calm tone, while the composition balances the larger figure of the mannequin with the delicate flower. The fast shutter speed captures a still moment in a moving environment, reinforcing the quiet focus of the scene.

Portrait

A mannequin looks up at a towering yellow fire hydrant. From its perspective, the fire hydrant appears massive.

It was a bright day, so I used ISO 500 to prevent overexposure and set the shutter speed to 1/2000 to keep the photo sharp in the sunlight.

Elements present in the photo:

Color: A prominent color is yellow which helps the fire hydrant stand out.
Form: The lighting defines the three-dimensional forms of the mannequin and the fire hydrant.

Principles present in the photo:

Emphasis: The fire hydrant's vibrant yellow color draws attention and separates it from the background.
Proportion: The fire hydrant appears massive compared to the mannequin, especially it is shot from the perspective of the mannequin.

For composition, I applied overlapping by placing the mannequin in front of the fire hydrant. Both subjects are centered which simplifies the composition and reinforces the visual relationship between them

The contrast in color and size between the two subjects creates a sense of scale and interest. The low angle and overlap make the hydrant appear even more imposing, reflecting how the mannequin might see it.

Dutch Angle

A mannequin stands on a dirt path, staring ahead. The path is dimly lit, but there is light at the end of it.

The area was a bit dark, so I raised the ISO to 800—just enough to brighten the image without introducing noticeable noise. Then I set the shutter speed to 1/750 s to keep the image sharp as it was a bit difficult to stay still due to how low I had to be to shoot this.

Elements present in the photo:

Line: The edges of the path form leading lines that converge toward the light in the background
Value: There are strong lights and shadows which help bring out the mannequin and the end of the path.
Shape: The mannequin's simple, geometric shapes contrast with the more irregular and organic shapes of the path and plants.
Texture: The gritty, uneven texture of the dirt contrasts with the smooth, wooden surface of the mannequin.

Principles present in the photo:

Emphasis: The mannequin is highlighted by its relative brightness and simplicity, making it stand out against the darker, more complex background. The end of the path, being brighter than most of the area, also becomes a focal point.
Movement: The converging lines of the path naturally lead the viewer's eyes from the mannequin toward the light at the end.

For composition, I applied the rule of thirds and leading lines. The mannequin's head is positioned at the intersection of the top horizontal grid line and the left vertical grid line. The path guides the viewer's gaze from the mannequin to the end of the path, creating a sense of direction.

With all these, the photo has a sense of tension. The Dutch angle, combined with the leading lines and contrast between light and dark, adds a feeling of unease and anticipation, as if the mannequin is directed towards something unknown.

Cool White Balance

In a dark room, the mannequin's face is illuminated by a flashlight.

I wanted most of the photo to be dark so I could emphasize the mannequin's illuminated face. So, I set the ISO only to 800 to prevent introducing more noise to the image, and I used a fast shutter speed at 1/1500 s. The white balance is set to 3400k to create a cool, eerie atmosphere.

Elements present in the photo:

Color: Cool tones are present in the image due to the white balance setting, making the photo feel uneasy.
Value: There are very dark and light areas in the photo, namely the lit mannequin and the dark background.
Shape: The mannequin casts a defined and solid shadow against the wall
Form: The light creates a clear definition of the mannequin's upper body.
Texture: The smooth, wooden texture of the mannequin contrasts with the slightly coarse texture of the wall.

Principles present in the photo:

Emphasis: The light illuminates the mannequin's face, drawing the viewer's attention. The sharp contrast between the lit face and the dark surroundings enhances the focal point.

For composition, I simply centered the mannequin. This placement draws the viewer's attention directly to the mannequin's face and emphasizes the dramatic effect of the lighting.

The use of cool tones and high contrast between light and dark contributes to the chilling atmosphere of the photo. The focused lighting highlights the mannequin’s face while the surrounding darkness creates a sense of mystery and tension. The central composition strengthens the mannequin’s prominence in the frame, making it the undeniable focal point.

Warm White Balance

A mannequin looks up at some bougainvillea flowers planted on the side of the road.

The area was not that well-lit despite the sunny weather, so I adjusted the ISO to 400 for a good balance of light. The shutter speed of 1/1000 was used to freeze any motion, and I set the white balance to 6100K to convey the warm, bright feeling of the sunny day.

Elements present in the photo:

Color: The dull concrete and green plants on the side of the road create a neutral background, while the white flowers pop against the greenery.
Line: The elevated concrete creates a line separating the foliage from the road.

Principles present in the photo:

Balance: The line formed by the elevated concrete divides the image into two distinct sections, balancing the manmade and natural elements.
Emphasis: The light brown color of the mannequin contrasts with the dark concrete, making it stand out. Similarly, the white flowers stand out against the green foliage.

For composition, I applied the rule of thirds. The mannequin is positioned along the left vertical grid line, and the flowers align with the top horizontal grid line, adding balance to the composition.

The color contrast between the white flowers and green foliage draws attention to the flowers, making them the focal point of the image. The mannequin, with its light brown color, contrasts against the concrete, making it stand out as a secondary focal point. The use of balance through the line from the road creates a clear separation between the road and the plants, further highlighting the natural beauty of the flowers and the mannequin’s connection to them. The rule of thirds helps position the key elements in a way that feels balanced, leading the viewer's eye naturally through the composition.

Photo of my Choice #1

A mannequin overlooks the road from the edge of a sidewalk.

It was sunny out, so a low ISO of 250 was enough to properly expose the image without introducing noise. A fast shutter speed of 1/2000 s was used to prevent any motion blur from passing vehicles or swaying elements. The white balance was set to 4400K to slightly cool down the image and balance out the warm sunlight.

Elements present in the photo:

Color: The dominant colors are yellow and dark grey. The yellow road markings are especially striking against the neutral grey.
Line: A painted yellow line moves toward the head of the mannequin, along with seams in the road that also converge in its direction.

Principles present in the photo:

Emphasis: The vibrant yellow paint stands out against the grey road, and the presence of the mannequin itself creates a contrast against the context of a road.
Movement: The converging lines naturally lead the viewer’s eye toward the mannequin, creating a sense of direction and focus.

For composition, I applied the rule of thirds and leading lines. The mannequin’s head is placed at the intersection of the top horizontal and left vertical gridlines. The painted line and the road seams guide the viewer’s gaze toward the mannequin, reinforcing its role as the focal point.

The use of leading lines creates a strong directional pull toward the mannequin, helping it stand out more, and the contrast between the painted road and the mannequin adds visual interest. The composition feels intentional and grounded, thanks to the rule of thirds, while the lines and contrast add tension and movement, inviting the viewer to consider the mannequin's perspective as it looks out over the road.

Photo of my Choice #2

A mannequin looks at another path—a stony, tiled, and lit path.

It was sunny, but the area itself wasn’t very bright. I used ISO 800 to let in more light without introducing much noise. I kept the shutter speed high at 1/2000 s to avoid overexposing the brighter parts. I also set the white balance to 4400K to match the lighting in the shade and keep the colors neutral.

Elements present in the photo:

Line: The edges of the path create lines that converge toward the center, drawing attention forward.
Shape: There’s a pattern of white square tiles in the center of the path, giving the image a geometric element.

Principles present in the photo:

Rhythm: The repeated pattern of square tiles and bricks lining the edges of the path creates a sense of visual rhythm.
Movement: The lines from the path guide the viewer’s eye toward the distance, the same direction the mannequin is looking.

For composition, I used leading lines. The edges of the path act as leading lines, directing attention toward the center of the image and the mannequin’s gaze.

The lines and tile pattern guide the viewer’s eyes along the path, helping show where the mannequin is looking. The repetition of shapes adds structure to the image, and the mannequin’s placement at the front makes it the focal point. All of these together make the viewer focus on the direction of the path, creating a feeling of curiosity or anticipation.

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