Bucketlist
@2025 by Dave C.
@2025 by Dave C.
For this project, I’ll be capturing five unique photos with post-processing, each representing one of the following themes: Height, Pattern, Night, Flower, and Motion. The challenge is to creatively interpret each theme while applying the technical skills I’ve learned in class—from composition to camera settings. I would be using two phones for this activity—mine and Dad's, which I borrow when available because it has better camera features.
Each photo will include:
A title
EXIF data (showing camera settings and details)
An explanation of my settings and creative choices
Heights of Shadow (Height)
"Shadow does not directly mean height, but the length of a shadow can be used to indirectly calculate the height of an object, especially when combined with the angle of the sun or light source."
I captured this photo to represent height of shadows from people that is several times than their actual height. It was taken at 5:29 PM, before sunset, where the sun is close to the horizon making shadows appear longer because the sunlight hits objects at a shallow angle.
This photo was tall cropped as the focus were the shadows where their full length should be emphasized. If you also take a closer look, the people are in the upper zone areas in the 3x3 grid, especially whom the main shadows belong to, where they are in the upper rightmost that form a diagonal line composition with their shadow (which was also in the intersecting lines of the rule of thirds). The key parts in this, the shadows, had their repetition taken into consideration to further emphasize and add visual interest.
This was made black and white as a final touch to avoid shifting of attention due to colors and to just emphasize the light, contrast, and texture that add to the visual impact of shadows.
Camera Settings
ISO - I kept this at bare minimum (50) for greater image detail, but due to cropping (and since this was taken in much farther distance to capture the full length) it did not come out as detailed. Lowest iso setting was also necessary to get a balanced dark shot as this was taken against the brightest light source, the sun.
Shutter Speed - a fast speed of 1/250 was necessary since I would be capturing moving subjects while the ISO was still not enough to reduce the light.
Aperture - there is a problem with this device where it doesn't detail the correct aperture setting as I tried different apertures it frequently ends with f/1.8. However, in this photo I believe I used a higher f stop since I wanted everything to be in focus.
The Eye (Pattern)
This was taken early at night inside the Malolos City Hall, where upon stepping by the center and looking up, it showcases visually interesting shapes, patterns, and color. It was also taken at the perspective not directly above, but where it provide a sense of depth where it kind of resembled an eye. The circular shape in the ceiling works as the center of attention and then spreading out from it are the repeating elements from each storey. The pattern created was emphasized through repetition as the number of shapes were increased and been outlined through the changing of colors.
Taking this shot was kind of hard since the ground space was tight. There were also objects at the center that are inevitable to be captured which I opted to crop. There was even a glare included, but I had no choice but to include in this photo. Cropping was all that was done in here.
Camera Settings
ISO - I also kept this at bare minimum (50) for greater image detail, but due to cropping it did not come out as detailed with a bit of noise.
Shutter Speed - this was taken at 2/5 (or 0.4) sec since it was a low light environment (with few light sources in each storeys) and to compensate for the ISO.
Aperture - similar instance and device from earlier, I used a higher f stop since I still wanted everything to be in focus.
Night Out (Night)
This photo was taken in BGC Taguig, Philippines. I took this photo not just because it was night time, but because there were repeating installations that appealed to me and I noticed how it is a path that many people take when leaving the area. To represent the night, I took note what nighttime is for many—leaving and going back home. The pattern in photo works to indicate direction where there is a leading line where the subjects, the people, are walking towards. This photo followed the rule of thirds where the elements and subjects converge into the lower right intersection.
Camera Settings
ISO - The place was a dim lit area, going lower would leave nothing to see. I can only lower it to 320 for image detailing while keeping it high enough for brightness as I need the shutter speed to be fast enough to not blur the people walking (and to not be dim).
Shutter Speed - this was taken at 1/30 sec, it was not too slow but not too fast as well (going more would make the image darker and need more ISO to compensate which the image lack detail already).
Aperture - I used my own device (Huawei) for this shot, in which the manual focus does not functionally work well, but I guess I would need f/1.8 to f/2.2 for this to blur the foreground (that I post-processed in this case).
Sakura (Flower)
This is a photo of a Sakura tree outside a Japanese restaurant. Cherry blossoms are not native to Philippines, which is why I was captivated when I see one albeit artificially. Sakura are known for its abundant and light color due to its blossoming pink flowers that is in great portion in this photo of 4:3 aspect ratio. It is made sure that it is seen more as flowers rather than a tree. I included the restaurant (with the cultural rhythmic interior elements) in this composition, as the subject is integral to the Japanese culture. Although no blurring between the foreground and the background, the overlapping highlight both which provides contrast between the elements. The angle and perspective it was taken was also intentional to produce the multidirectional effect of the branches of flowers extending outward to produce form and movement.
This photo was taken originally much brighter but was post-processed to have higher contrast. The angle where the flowers were taken were slight against the glaring light sources as it was inside of a mall that is why there was a light smear in the lower right and harsh light from the restaurant nameplate.
Camera Settings
ISO - since the angle provide less light for the flowers, ISO needs to be slightly higher which the highest that I have gone was 200.
Shutter Speed - this was taken at 1/6 sec, which was kind of slow but since the subject was stationary it was fine. It only turned a bit bright which was fixed in post processing.
Aperture - similar instance and device from the first one, although the detail might not be accurate but I think it was about the same (f/1.8). The flowers were still in focus but I only intended some flower to have soft blur.
Bowling Day (Motion)
This was my father bowling on his birthday, it was his favorite sport and he was good at it. This photo not only depicts movement from the blurred motion of the ball or the limbs, but also the stability of form in the feet when bowling. This was my first shot among the rest in here, and it applies rule of third where my father was aligned in the right intersections whereas the ball was about the lower left point of intersection (see the picture below). Not only from the blurred parts indicate motion but how the leading lines from the gutter, the ceiling lights, and other horizontal shapes direct movement where the ball would go. This photo was further letterboxed (16:9) to emphasize the implied movement.
Camera Settings
ISO - if you have been in a bowling venue, you know that it is very bright. I did lowest ISO to reduce the light and get as much detail as possible.
Shutter Speed - it is with 1/15 sec from numerous tries that I did I was able to capture right blurring for motion as mentioned earlier while keeping the leg stance clear.
Aperture - since I was using my camera (Huawei), I wasn't able to control the aperture and was set in automatic, but it was fine since I do not particularly need it and it did not mess up any part of the photo.