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MMS 173 Assignment 2:
Being the nosy person that I am, I clicked on every single portfolio and spent approximately half a second to assess whether I should continue browsing their site. For the ones that I exited quickly, I feel bad for not taking the time to read the stories behind their shots—the storytelling, after all, adds so much depth to a picture. In my opinion, it can even make them more valuable.
Not surprisingly, the majority of my classmates are good photographers. Some might even humbly label photography as a mere hobby yet display such outstanding eye and technique in taking pictures. Personally, those with good eye stood out more than those with just good technique. Of course, those who encompassed both definitely made a (satisfying) dent in my memory. Some mentioned that their pictures were submitted as a part of their application process to UP Optics. With both their creative and technical skills in photography, I believe they could easily be on par with professional photographers.
The thing with solely technically perfect shots is that I struggle to feel a certain connection to them. I do not feel that magnetic pull that I always seek when experiencing beauty, which I believe is the most unfortunate thing that an audience can feel toward someone's art. I am contradicting myself by saying that there were still some that were jaw-dropping even though I didn't feel that connection, but there were only a few of them. The others were undeniably beautiful but nothing special enough for my taste.
Looking ahead, I think we all need to focus on being better than how we assessed ourselves at the beginning of this term. For those who still need a lot of improvement, this is a good opportunity for them to hone their skills and surpass where they currently stand (which I think is far easier than surpassing an already great photography level!). For those with already solid technique, I hope they try to challenge themselves by venturing into other areas and/or styles of photography (and bless us with innovative pictures that we already know we're going to love!).
Table of Contents
Element: line, direction
Principle: emphasis, contrast
Composition: tall crop, radial (?), movement(?)
I fell in love with this picture the second I laid eyes on it. I was immediately drawn to Datu's big blue eyes, which stole the attention from all the neutral colors surrounding her. (I recommend viewing the picture in full screen as I do not give it justice by sizing it small on this page.)
Noriz mentioned that the picture would be more striking in landscape orientation, but I think the tall crop composition worked for the story (as she stated) as well as the shot. If there were more elements on either side of Datu, it would have taken away the emphasis on her and her eyes. Noriz also mentioned adjusting the alignment, which I don't think is necessary. There is a diagonal line from the top left to the bottom right of the picture—with Datu in the middle—which I think already makes it an impressive shot.
Another point I would disagree with Noriz is that adding contrast would make Datu's shadow "too dark" compared to the rest of the picture. I think too dark would actually enhance the picture even more. Though there is already contrast between the dark mahogany window panels and the cream-colored curtains,
what would make the contrast more dramatic is making the shadows much darker. The diagonal line I mentioned earlier would then be more pronounced and draw even more attention to Datu's eyes, acting as an intermediary between the light and the shadow.
All in all, I think this shot is *chef's kiss* oh so striking and I thank Noriz for providing such a feast for my eyes!
sidenote: I am not sure if this is considered a radial composition as well but I am inclined to believe so, albeit a subtle one. The window and the curtain are "spreading" from Datu, who is in the center of the frame. Or is it movement? Or both?
Element: color, space
Principle: variety
Composition:
The gloomy atmosphere of the cemetery with candles of different colors atop graves already promises a good view and a good message. With the moonlight projecting itself onto the field, however, the picture becomes even more remarkable. I especially like how the silhouette of the trees separates the sky and the ground.
What made this picture stand out for me is the visual symbolism rather than the techniques used (or lack thereof). I appreciate the vision and the story behind it, especially with the moonlight being
bright white and the lights on the ground being colorful despite their proximity to the dead. If it were up to me, I would make ensure that the moon is positioned more intentionally to create a more proportional and/or balanced composition. Aside from being awkwardly cropped, it also doesn't appear as prominent as I wish, missing the chance to provide a better juxtaposition between the variety of lights. The absence of alignment is also somewhat distracting (as Marcus has already pointed out). Looking at the big picture, I would give credit to the vision and the overall shot. Unfortunately, the little details throw off the balance, slightly taking away the impact of what the picture symbolizes.
Element: light, color, texture
Principle: balance
Composition:
The nostalgic mood of this photo is truly captivating. Every element complements one another beautifully: the light, the shadows, the subjects, and the colors. It is a picture that requires no storytelling, which I believe is quite hard to accomplish.
I particularly like how the sunlight highlights the textures on the left side of the picture, while the shadowed areas remained flat. Also, coincidentally, the colors of their shirts visually complement the environment, making the picture feel balanced in my opinion.
Element: color, form, point
Principle: emphasis, depth of field
Composition:
I love insects and have tried so many times to take such detailed pictures of them—only to be disappointed when I look back at the pictures in my gallery and realize that I have been a delusional photographer. This is why I'm impressed by this picture taken by Renz (this wasn't in his top three but it's in his next best four). I can only wonder how he was able to capture the exact and entire half of the butterfly. More impressively, the insane details on the insect: the antennae, the eye, the legs, the body, and even the wings that almost looked transparent because of the sunlight passing through it.
Honestly, if Renz didn't mention the cage going through the flower and the leaf connecting to the butterfly's wings, I wouldn't have been bothered by (or even noticed) them at all! Aside from these two, other elements are also competing with the emphasis on the butterfly, which is quite unfortunate. First, the noisy background. Second, the much brighter leaves. Third, the red of the flower (green and red are on opposite sides of the color wheel, making the red stand out in the picture significantly more than the yellow and black).
Element: line, direction
Principle: emphasis, contrast
Composition: overlapping
The first thing that came to mind when I saw this picture is that the colors of reminded me of Studio Ghibli. As simple as this picture seems, there is a melancholic approach to its storytelling that adds depth to an otherwise romantic setting. The pole in front of the chapel represents the "outsider's perspective" of the photographer (Alexia), which initially sounds like an unconventional camera angle but I think it works well!
I believe that the very simplicity of this photo allows more space for its story to blossom. Adding contrast between the chapel and the (I'm assuming) shed would, in my opinion, further dramatize Alexia's narrative. Moreover, making the overlap between them less subtle would provide a more striking contrast.
honorable mentions because I couldn't help myself
Photography remains an enticing subject for me, and I have yet to reintroduce it to myself as a hobby and, ideally, a professional pursuit. Compared to the rest of the class, I have a lot to work on when it comes to composition. In Unit 1, Prof. Al stated the following analogies: elements as the alphabet, principles as grammar and syntax, and composition as message or story. What is a story with just a bunch of letters splattered around, following no rhythm or structure? This is by far the biggest problem I face in photography. I can so easily incorporate any or every design element in a picture, but I struggle with composition—the very thing that makes photography photography. Like a few others in this class, I also have a habit of capturing moments on a whim just because I liked how they looked and how they made me feel. But after learning some fundamentals of photography in Unit 1, I now can't help but notice how much better a picture could be if it was taken with more intention.
Judging everyone else's collection, I noticed that most of their pictures sort of blended with one another. There were so many pictures of nature—which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I guess it's naturally hard to stand out when everyone's taking pictures of the same thing. There were only a few who had clear messages in their shots without having to read their anecdotes. Because of this, I am making it a goal to see the world from an angle that most people do not, so I can share pictures that bring a new perspective to appreciating beauty.
What will I do to improve?
★ Take more pictures.
This probably sounds dumb because it's common sense, but the fewer pictures I take, the more I'm missing out on nurturing my creative and technical skills in photography. While I'm no stranger to cameras, I've only been taking pictures simply as a habit, not even as a hobby, and most definitely not as an art form. Just something I do because I want to remember moments in life.
A different approach to taking pictures would obviously help, but I think what would help more is the volume of pictures I take. This is so I could assess each one of them, compare the shots and compositions, and strive to improve each picture that I take!
★ Have more technical awareness.
Everyone will watch yet another sunset and think the same thing: It looks beautiful. I want to take a picture of it. But only a photographer (or, in this case, a photography enthusiast) will take note of the rule of thirds, balance, space, or whatever else is on the list. We start nitpicking our pictures because we are now aware of what made them even slightly off. Keeping in mind the elements, principles, compositions, and frame shapes will help me be more intentional and mindful of how I take pictures.
★ Browse other people's works.
The second part of this assignment contributed significantly to how I look at pictures. Critically engaging with other people's photography instead of just being a passive observer has made me more excited to continue on this path. Additionally, being exposed to different photography styles encourages me to explore not only other people's identities but also my own.
★ Ask for critiques.
Regrettably, I haven't done this yet in the discussion forums or even in friendly group settings. This is because I don't think it's a good idea to ask for critiques on my composition when I have yet to take pictures with the photography fundamentals in mind. But it's time to stop making excuses and start taking pictures so I can get feedback on where I can improve on and where I am already decent at.
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