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

This photograph was taken last year, while I was on a summer hike, trailing the Watarase River in Japan. I’ve always loved nature and capturing scenic views, so when we happened to pass by a small waterfall, I immediately took photos. I took this because I liked how the trees naturally surrounded the view of the waterfall, which created depth and a clear focal point. Moreover, I chose this photo because I like the framing and the vibrancy of the monochromatic colors. This was taken using my phone and I feel proud of it because I think it turned out great, and it was a long hike for me to get this. I say it’s worth it! 

This photograph was taken in the spring of 2018 in Japan, while I was waiting for my train on the way home. This is one of my earliest photographs and it was taken casually on my phone as I simply thought the view was beautiful. I loved how the train tracks naturally created a direction in the photo and how the cherry blossoms on both sides framed the train tracks. There is a balance in the photo. I also love the vibrancy of the pinks from the leaves in contrast to the browns of the mountains and the railroad—it brightened up the photo. Overall, I like this photo because of the calmness and serenity it brings to me.

This photograph was taken last year, while I was on another hike during the fall. When we were passing by a bridge, I stopped and took this photo because I liked how the color of the bridge’s railings matched the red/orange foliage of the trees. Looking at it now, I think the photo is a bit messy and crowded because I can’t determine where the foreground and background start and end. It looks like just a bunch of leaves with no sort of direction. Nevertheless, I still like it because of how the photo brought out the natural colors present in the environment. I just wish I could have taken it from a different angle or perspective. 

This photograph was taken earlier last year’s winter in Japan, beside a big pond. I was just sitting in the park and simply took this photo using my phone because of how cute the pigeons were. Looking at it now, I like it more than when I first took it because of the layers I was able to capture in the photo. I’d like to think that the photo is divided into 4 parts: the rocks, the pond, the trees, and the sky. There is a visual division present which makes the photo more interesting. I also like the consistency of colors (blue and gray). Looking at this photo makes me feel calm. Overall, I like this photo because of its composition. 

This photograph was taken last year during a Japanese Festival. I was lost in the crowd and there was limited movement because of how crowded it was. I decided to take this photo using my phone because I wanted to capture the essence of being a part of a festival: being amongst the crowd, following the waves of people, and looking at the parade leaders. I like the lighting and colors of this photo because they focused on the parade lanterns which is an essential part of the festival. I also like the angle/perspective of the photo because it shows that the photographer is part of the crowd. Looking at this photo still reminds me of what it felt like to be part of such an event.