Lifestyle: Telling The Story - Week 4

Week 4 Assignment

Part One: Thematic and Conceptual Shooting

Much of our approach thus far in the course has been on creating photo essays (a series of photos that tell the story.) This week we want to focus on telling a story in a single image and intentionally creating a “message” with the image.  Theme/concept helps us explore what our photo is ABOUT.

In the conceptual shooting tutorial we walk through a process of shooting with theme.

1.  Identify your concept/theme.  (what your photo story is about)

2.  Identify a scene.  If you don’t already have a specific scene in mind you can use the recommendations for developing a story board to create some ideas.

3.  Shoot intentionally with your storytelling skills!  (Keep in mind all that we have learned in the course about point of view, less is more, good composition, conflict, etc.)  Can you create a strong message and story in one image?

4.  Post your thematic/conceptual photo.

Need some ideas?  If you’re stumped, consider some of the following to generate some thoughts:  emotions: love, humor, adventure, imagination, determination.  props/activities: dance practice, dress-ups, dating, school/study, exercise. Concepts: parenting, discipline, work, play, shopping, food, treats, celebration…

Part Two: Getting in your pictures

Post one self portrait image.  Set the timer, use a remote, or hand the camera to someone else.  This exercise accomplishes two important things.  1.  We want to develop the habit of making sure that we record ourselves in the story of our life, and 2.  We typically need to visualize the photo we want before we take it since we’ll be in it.  Its a great exercise in taking a shot in our mind and making it happen.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this class.  I have learned so much.  I will continue to practice the concepts I've learned in my photography.  Composing posts for my family blog is one of my favorite things to do.  I'm not promising that all of my images will be perfect storytelling images, but I feel that in  time, I will learn to slow down and strive to capture the decisive moments.  I think the biggest thing that I've learned in this class is to change the perspective when photographing.  Perspective makes all the difference.  A big thank you to my wonderful photography teacher, Brooke Snow, and to all of my classmates for your time in critiquing my images in this class and for your kind words.    

Part 1:  Thematic and Conceptual Shooting
Determination is the concept I was going for in this picture.  My baby girl has finally outgrown her army crawling phase and is now crawling like a big girl.  I'm glad I chose to frame my fast crawler in the doorway.  I must admit that it was just a happy accident that the horizontal lines in the bottom portion of the door act as leading lines to her eyes.  My baby looks so proud and confident captured here in mid-crawl... a definite decisive moment.  I chose to make this picture black and white so the viewer will notice her expression immediately and not be distracted by the baby's colorful clothes and surroundings.
 

Determination               ISO: 100 | 1/250 sec. | f/5.0 | 55-250mm

* (Brooke's review: You have a really great conceptual image!  Perspective is excellent- you're down at the same level as her -this is really powerful for this image because we're focusing on her crawling and we are seeing the same point of view as she is in this scene.  Excellent job on choosing your point of view.  Excellent composition as well.  You've got her framed in the light and simple doorway in the background.  We are drawn to areas of contrast.  And because of the nice simple doorway in the background, she really pops out with her dark hair and eyes.  The composition here is awesome.  You have nice leading lines towards her and you've caught a great decisive moment where she is in mid-crawl which is great for what you're trying to portray in this image.  You also have a really great sense of symmetry.  Sometimes we can use these doorways to provide a sense of framing but it is important to keep in mind a sense of balance.  This is when centering the subject makes a powerful image and provides dynamic balance -your image has the pull of leading lines and perfect symmetry on each side.  You've left enough of the rock wall showing to provide symmetry, which is hard to do.  Putting this image into black and white was a powerful choice in editing because it draws the viewer into her particular expression on her face.  Had this image been in color, the bright colored clothing and the colorful rock wall would have taken the viewers eyes awhile to process the pattern and texture.  So by putting this image into black and white, you've made it simpler for the viewer to enjoy and focus in on what is happening in this scene.)

Part 2: Getting in your pictures
I set the camera to the proper settings and then handed the camera to my husband.  He stood on our back patio steps and captured this picture when I looked up at him.  Looking closer at this picture, I now realize that I have a merger coming out of the left side of my head.  Also, I was wondering if having part of my arm showing is distracting?  Should I crop the picture in closer, or just leave it alone?  I think I could have prevented these issues if I would have turned my body so that my back was flat against the siding of the house and looked up at the camera.  Do you have any other suggestions to make this a stronger picture?

ISO:100 | 1/250 sec. | f/5.0 | 55-250mm
* (Brooke's review:  Lovely self portrait, Lisa.  You always have a great smile and are fun to interact with.  This is a great shot taken by your husband.  You have catch lights in your eyes.  You talked about a merger, but I don't see that area as a merger.  You may think it is a merger because of the contrast of light and dark.  You have a lighter wall against a darker ground, both having different texture, but it works/looks great.  The arm doesn't bother me at all but you can crop it out if you'd like, which is actually something you may need to do if you want to print this in an 8x10" size.  Great shot, shooting from up above is always a flattering angle.)

Lifestyle: Telling The Story - Week 3

Week 3 Assignment

Part One: Conceptual Contrast

This week we are going to seek out opportunities for conceptual contrast.  This is the contrast of subject elements within our frame.  It could be contrasts such as big vs. small, wet vs. dry, dark vs. light, man vs. nature, old vs. young, or a million other options.  You could go for a walk and seek out contrasts, or intentionally put them together with subjects you already have in mind.  You don’t have to justify your choices, but you must have two elements that when juxtaposed create some type of contrast.

Please post three images.  Your contrast can be the same in all three, or it can be different, but I want to see your creativity with the use of Point of View and make sure you use the Less is More principle by having nothing but the story in the picture.

Part Two: The Decisive Moment

The Decisive Moment is that moment (rare moment) in which the composition of a photo and the message or emotion of the scene reach an apex.  We can achieve that moment through 1. Intentional Interaction or 2.  Patience.  Waiting. Anticipation.

This exercise is meant to help us slow down and be intentional with our work.  Whether or not we actually capture that fleeting moment is not as important to me for this assignment as the idea of developing a habit of pausing and being very intentional about when we actually click the shutter release button.  I want us to learn to be really really picky!

For this exercise you only get three shots! Yep!  Pick them wisely!  Shoot something meaningful to you that you love.  But you only get three shots.  How does this limitation help you consider composition, point of view, framing, and of course, the timing of your image more than the ability to continuously fire?

Please post your ONE favorite of the three shots.

These assignments are challenging.  I am enjoying the challenges.  Each week, I feel my photography is improving.  I plan to continue to practice these assignments once class is over.  It is important to me that my images can tell a story.

Part 1:  Conceptual Contrast

My husband and I took our kids camping for the first time this weekend.  It was exhausting even though we only stayed for one night.  But it was so worth it because my 6 year old kept saying, "This is my favorite day ever!"  

Restriction vs. Freedom     ISO: 400 |  1/200 sec. |  f/11 | 55-250mm

* Brooke's Review:  Nice use of depth of field-  you have the focus on the fence and you can tell that even with the slightly blurry background, you can tell that there are mountains back there.  The low perspective you shot from is excellent because it is not always an angle that people see things from.  You also used the less is more principle as well - you've narrowed things down into the photo - you also positioned the fence post near the edge and you have nice thick leading lines that lead your eye right to the fence post.  So the composition of the image as for as line and design work out well.

Soft vs. Rough      ISO: 400 |  1/80 sec. |  f/11.0 | 55-250 mm

*Brooke's Review:  Depth of field is really lovely here and it emphasizes what you are going for - the grass actually appears softer than it really is because of the high focus on the thistles.  Less is more is in your favor also - there is nothing distracting in the image and you were able to narrow it down to just the important parts of the image.

 My husband LOVES camping and as for me, I'll tolerate it, but it's not really my thing.  But I did enjoy the view of the valley from the campsite.

 Happy vs. Sad                   ISO: 400 |  1/40 sec. |  f/5.0  | 18-55mm

*Brooke's Review:  Super creative!  I love how you chose to show the contrast of how you don't like camping and your husband does.  The use of all the different food elements is just super creative.  The clean and simple background and it helps to draw our attention into the subjects. 

Part 2:  Decisive Moment

It sure is hard to get a three year old to hold still.  To get this shot, I told my boy to practice his frog jumping. 

     ISO: 400 | 1/320 sec. | f/5.0 | 55-250mm

* Brooke's Review:  If you are successful in capturing decisive moment shots with a 3 year old, that you can capture decisive moments of anybody!  This is a great exercise in teaching us patience and also helps us notice our interaction with our subject in order to get that decisive shot.  I love how you pointed out here that you told your son to practice his frog jumping - you gave him something to do - his interaction elicits great expressions for decisive moments - it's not just him following instructions, he has a task to do which results in different expressions rather than the conditioned smile.  I love the point of view because you are down low and on his level.  You've got a nice clean background and have used the less is more principle too.  You have successfully captured a decisive moment.  The expression on his face tells us that something is about to happen, but we aren't sure what will happen. 

Lifestyle: Telling The Story - Week 2

Week 2 Assignment

Part One: Point of View

I want you to shoot something/someone you love to photograph and take your best shot.

Now… look at that shot good and hard.  Now, I want you to create 20 more images from a different Point of View.  Come in super close, shoot with different lenses, lie down on the ground and shoot up, get an aerial perspective, shoot through something for framing, as many perspectives as you can find etc. etc.  Take at least twenty shots.

When you are through with this exercise look at the images in comparison with your first shot.  Are any of the other perspectives stronger?  Do any of them tell a different story or different part of the story?

Please post your first shot (the initial reaction shot) and your 3 additional favorite perspectives.

Part Two: Less is More

This will be an exercise in reduction.  I want you to photograph a scene (with or without people).  Now break that scene down into as many smaller scenes as possible.  Take at least twenty shots. Keep reducing until you can’t reduce any further.

How does the collection of the individual images communicate differently than the first initial shot?

Please post your first shot of the scene and 3 additional shots from the reduction exercise.  (Telling the Story in three images… as described in the Less is More tutorial).

This was a tough week for me.  I watched the tutorials twice and tried my best.  I for sure need more practice in more fully executing these concepts.

 Part 1:  Point of View

ISO:400 | 1/200 sec. | f/6.3 | 18-55mm

* Brooke's Review: A pull back shot of someihing that you love. You've been able to really peel apart this playground to give us a new point of view.

ISO: 400 | 1/160 sec.| f/6.3 | 18-55mm

* Brooke's Review:  You used depth of field well and have captured an angle that a child may see right has they are getting ready to sit down on the slide.

ISO: 400 | 1 200 sec. | f/6.3 | 18-55mm

* Brooke's Review:  Nice abstract photo.  Great sense of color and depth of field.  The lighting is really nice and we just see a little bit of the playground.  It works really well to feature the subject in the upper third of the frame. 

ISO: 400 | 1/200 sec. | f/6.3 | 18-55mm

*Brooke's Review:  The rope travels down from corner to corner.  I feel the image could be stronger if you focused more on the round black plastic piece in the corner rather than the middle of the rope - that way the rope can serve as a stronger leading line and will have a stronger pull towards the round black piece.

Part 2: Less is More

ISO: 400 | 1/25 sec. | f/3.5 | 18-55mm

*Brooke's Review:  Cute room!  This a great pull back shot that shows off the setting. 

ISO: 400 | 1/4 sec. | f/5.6 | 18-55mm

*Brooke's Review: Great use of depth of field.

ISO: 400 | 1/80 sec. | f/5.6 | 18-55mm

* Brooke's Review:  Push the purple fabric piece out of the way so it does not distract the viewer from the awesome texture of the basket.

ISO: 400 | 1/25 sec. | f/5.6 | 18-55mm
* Brooke's Review:  Love this shot.  This is great hidden perspective you're shooting from.  The light coming in from the window is just lovely.

The difference between detail shots and less is more:  Detail shots- we only shoot one type of subject and
Less is more can have more than one subject in the image.  The less is more principle derives from the idea that we shouldn't have anything in the photo that doesn't help to tell the story and also that we can tell littler stories by sometimes peeling things away.   Detail shots are a subunit of less is more shots... as much peeled away as you can possible get.  Less is more is finding sub scene from a larger context.

Lifestyle Telling The Story - Week 1

Currently, I am a student in a online class, Lifestyle Telling the Story.  One of my favorite photographers, Brooke Snow, is the instructor.  I took Brooke Snow's Photo Basics class at her lovely home last summer.  I loved how she simplified the concepts and how everyone in class cheered each other on in our progress.

I expect nothing less with this class.  I am thrilled to be learning how to tell a story with the images I take.  Just from the class tutorials I watched this last week, I learned a few tips to consider in taking more creative shots.

Week 1 Assignment

Part One: Character/Details

With the concept of a shot list in mind, pick a “character” you would like to document.  Write down what details you could photograph to tell their story, and photograph those details.
*For example, I could pick my son as my character and photograph his favorite books, toys, and his little cowboy boots.  Be creative with your  composition.  You don’t have to actually have your character in these shots if you choose not to.  Please post 3 character “details”.

Part Two: Character/Conflict

I want you to capture your character with the element of conflict.  Think about using the idea of “environmental” photography to help tell who your character is.  In essence, you want to capture your character either doing something, working at something, or in the midst of a visible emotion. Post 1-2 Character/Conflict images.

 The character I chose to photograph is my three year old son.  He is 100% pure boy, right down to his determination in completing random stunts.  I discovered that I must act casual when photographing my son in order to get "the shots."  He follows instructions pretty well, which was nice.  When he randomly started jumping off of the front door stoop, I thought I could get a neat looking "jumping shot."  I think I finally figured it out by the last shot.  I cropped my last two images tighter to try and eliminate any distractions.  Do you think I was successful?  Please comment and let me know.

Part 1 - Character/Details

 

ISO: 400 | 1/800 sec. | f/5.6 | 18-55mm

  * Brooke's Notes:  Good job placing him in the sky, which makes it so there are no distractions in the background.  This looks like a silhouette shot.  If want to expose the photo more for him, you'll need to override your meter reading - your camera is seeing all of the bright light in the sky and you'll want to expose for that rather than for him.  But if you're going for a silhouette, than you definitely have the outline happening her, although I think it would probably be a stronger image if you were to just bring up the exposure a bit so the viewer can see the expression on his face better.

ISO: 400 | 1/12500 sec. | f/5.6 | 18-55mm

  * Brooke's Review:  Try a different perspective/point of view - Incorporate leading lines from bench and brick wall by taking this shot standing in front of the wall and bench and have the subject turn and face the camera.  The use of leading lines helps to draw the viewer's attention more strongly to where it needs to be and overall creates a stronger composition.  Leading lines help to draw our attention to where it needs to be.

ISO: 400 | 1/640 sec. | f/5.6 | 18-55mm

* Brooke's Notes:  It's good to have a simple background, like yours, so the viewer can 

maintain his attention on the cute little feet.

Part 2: Character/Conflict

                                                                                                                           ISO: 400 | 1/640 sec. | f/5.6 | 18-55mm

* Brooke's Review:  Your leading lines pull us into the subject.  It works to have the doorway placed where it is in the frame so the viewer knows what he is jumping out of. 

ISO: 400 | 1/640 sec. | f/5.6 | 18-55mm

* Brooke's Notes:  I like this one even more, probably because the perspective is so much lower that it gives an increased drama to what is happening.  Shooting lower also displays more of the height of his jump.  Perspective is one of my favorite things and anytime we can choose a perspective that is different than the default of standing, we're automatically going to increase the power of our images.