Intro to T3 - Shapes and Shadows

The source of light in this photo is the light
entering from the window. The light source is natural. 

The light source in this photo is coming in through the windows
on the left of the picture and also from the lights on the ceiling.
The light source in the photographic composition
is a natural light source and an artificial light source.

The main light source in this picture is the lights on
the bus. The other source of light is the man's
flare/ flashlight. The light sources in this
photographic composition are artificial light sources.

The source of light in this picture is the sun that is
hidden by the canopy of the trees. The light source
in this photographic composition is a natural
light source.  

The main light source is the fog lights in the stadium
that are being reflected on the wall
on the left of the picture. The light source in this
photographic composition is artificial light.

T3 - Shapes and Shadows - 29/7/16

The conditions for the photographic composition was very bright and low wind conditions.

Total Photos that were taken on the 29/7

T3 - shapes and Shadows - 1/8/16

These are the total 45 photos that I took. 

These photos were taken between 11 and 11:45 am in overcast weather conditions.

Discussion with class about my photos.

I discussed and showed the peers around me my photographic compositions and they stated that the composition in my photos from the 29/7 weren't of man-made structure and this wasn't of the Max Dupain style photographs.

Then I discussed with my peers, my photos from the 1/8. These photos were of the proper structure and style of Max Dupain.

Max Dupain style photos - photo 1

Aperture: f/8

shutter speed: 1/250 

ISO: 160

Date: 29/7/16

Time: 1:05 - 1:21 pm 

Conditions: Sunny, no clouds. 

Photoshop Adjustments: 

+ Black and White effect

+ Straighten: -1 degree.  

+ cropped so the basketball court isn't visible.

Analysis: This photo is of the wall on the Basketball courts, this was taken from a higher viewpoint that was achieved from climbing a tree. The sky was bright and was void of clouds. This was very important to the composition of the photo as this impacts on the strength of the shadows that were cast on the court. This photo sets a very gloomy feeling as a black and white filter was used

This photo is very bland as I used a black and white photo effect in the basic Windows photo editor, this reflects Max Dupain's style as the composition is of man-made architecture and uses dark features. This is a perfect display of the 30-60-10 rule as 10% is the bushes on the top left of the photo, 30% is the shadow and the bricks and 60% is the rest of the basketball court


30-60-10: This photo applies to the 30-60-10 rule as the bushes of the Ag farm on the top left. makes up 10% of the composition, The bricks and its shadow makes up 30% of the composition and the rest makes up 60%.

Leading Lines: The leading lines in this composition leads your eyes to the tip of the shadow, where there is the least amount of shadow.

Rule of thirds: The rule of thirds has the diagonal from the top left corner to the bottom left and an intersection cut from the top right to the middle of the photo. This splits the photo into 3 sections, the shadow and the bricks on one side, 2 halves of the basketball court. 

Max Dupain style photos - photo 2

Aperture: f/5.6

shutter speed: 1/200 

ISO: 100

Date: 1/8/16

Time: 12:14 - 1:58 pm 

Conditions: Sunny, some clouds, blocking sunlight. 

Photoshop Adjustments: 

+ Black and White Filter
+ Rotate 2 Degrees
+ cropped the trees out of the top of the photo. 

Analysis: This photo is of the Liesse building from a high viewpoint, this I achieve by standing in the stairs in the Adrian building and taking the photo looking through the window. The main focal points of the composition are the two doors, I believe that they are the focal points as I am expecting someone to walk out of the doos. This is a very odd photo as it doesn't comply with the 30-60-10 rule. Nothing in the photo is in proportion and there are various leading lines no the rails, I don't think that it applies to the Rule of Thirds either.

30-60-10: The photo is not in proportion.

Leading Lines: The leading lines in this composition are deceptive as there are multiple on the railings on the staircase. There are railing that are tilted upwards and some that are tilted downwards.

Rule of thirds: I can't find any rule of thirds in this photo. 

Max Dupain style photos - photo 3

Aperture: f/8

shutter speed: 1/250 

ISO: 160

Date: 5/8/16

Time: 2:40 - 3:10 pm 

Conditions: Sunny, few clouds. 

Photoshop Adjustments: 

+selective focus around the puddle
+basic fix

Analysis: This photo is of the stairs outside the Solomon building. This was taken from a normal viewpoint looking down at the puddle, I did this because the water was clear and showed a reflection of the rails above the stairs. It was also a bright and sunny day with few clouds, this was important as the photo brightened as the light source (sun) above the camera which was used to amplify the reflection of the rails in the background.

30-60-10: I am struggling to find the 30-60-10 rule in this composition

Leading Lines: The leading lines in this composition leads your eyes to the tip of the shadow, where there is the least amount of shadow.

Rule of thirds: The rule of thirds unevenly balances this composition.

Max Dupain Style Photos - photo 4

Aperture: f/4.2
Shutter Speed: 1/800
ISO: 200

Date/Time: 08/08/2016 - 11:00 - 11:45

Conditions: Sunny

Analysis: This image is of the Solomon building that faces the year 10 yard, next to the Walsh building. When it was taken, the sun was strong and parallel to the building, brightening the orange bricks and emphasizing the shadows and leading lines. Although I was unable to focus on the subject on the camera, I still believe that this is the best composition that I took and the leading lines and diagonal rule are still evident. The angle of the shadows match the angle of the railings leading down into the Walsh building. The main focal point of this composition are the doors in the middle and makes this composition visually pleasing are the leading lines and the Rule of Thirds that apply to this composition.


30-60-10: The 30-60-10 rule is hard to spot in this composition, but I believe that 60% is the building, 30% is the pavement and 10% includes the recycling bin, plants and shrubs.

Rule of Thirds: This rule is evident in the composition as the main doors to the Solomon building are in the middle of the composition and this becomes the focal point.

Diagonal Line: This rule is evident in the composition as the shadows on the building are the same angle and lead away from the top left of the composition to the bottom right of the composition due to the location of the sun and its direction. This is important it makes the subject more appealing and brighter.

Max Dupain style photos - style 5

Aperture: f/4
Shutter Speed: 1/15
ISO: 200

Date: 8/8/16

Time: 10:40 - 12:40 am 

Conditions: Sunny, few clouds, indoors. 

Analysis: The photo was taken from the Solomon stairs looking down towards the bottom. This gave the photo some leading lines and shows depth and 3D dimensional figures by placing the camera above the top of the stairs looking down. There aren't any shadows and the subject has the dark colours and this gave the composition a dank and gloomy feel. The focal point of the photo is the bottom of the stairs. This composition represents a Max Dupain style image through the dramatic dark feel that it has and the effective use of architecture of the stairs combined with the minimal shadows created from the sun outside. This is an important feature as it brightens the composition and contrasts the dark shadows. The image demonstrates the compositional rules and guidelines like "rule of thirds" and "30-60-10". 

Rule of Thirds: The composition is split evenly into the rule of thirds and the middle square fits the focal point of the composition.

30-60-10: The 10% of the photo is the foot at the right side of the photo, 30% is the left foot on the left side of the compositon and the 60% of the middle of the composition. 

Max Dupain style photos - style 6

Aperture: f/4
Shutter Speed: 1/40
ISO: 200

Date: 8/8/16
Time: 10:40 - 12:40 pm

Analysis: The photo was taken from the Solomon stairs looking upwards towards the classroom. This gave the photo some leading lines and shows depth and 3D dimensional figures by placing the camera level to the start of the stairs. There aren't any shadows and the subject has the dark colours and this gave the composition a dank and gloomy feel. The focal point of the photo is the top of the stairs meeting the board outside of the classroom. This composition represents a Max Dupain style image through the dramatic dark feel that it has and the effective use of architecture of the stairs combined with the minimal shadows created from the sun outside. This is an important feature as it brightens the composition and contrasts the dark shadows. The image demonstrates the compositional rules and guidelines like "rule of thirds" and "30-60-10". 

Rule of Thirds: The composition is split evenly into the rule of thirds and the middle square fits the focal point of the composition.

30-60-10: The 10% of the railing on the left side of the composition, 30% is the right wall on the right side of the compositon and the 60% of the middle is the middle of the composition.

T3 - Shapes and Shadows - 5/8/16

These photos were taken between 2:20 and 2:45pm in rainy weather conditions with some breaks in the clouds with some cover.

T3 - Shapes and Shadows - 8/8/16

These 16 photos that I took were in bright conditions without cloud and were of architectural structures. These photos were taken between 12:30 and 1:15pm in sunny weather conditions.

Proof Sheet from the 29/8/16

Group Task - Studio Lighting and Analysis - Tom, Riley, James

Studio Lighting and Analysis

1. The class will form 7 groups of 3. Each group will be assigned a photographer from the following list - David Moore, Roger Fenton, Adolphe Meyer, Imogen Cunningham, Edward Weston, and Paul Strand.

2. These photographers all represent objects and still life compositions in their photographs, using light and shadow to describe the form of an object. In groups investigate examples of how your assigned photographer has used light and shadow in their still life works.

3. In your group have a collaborative discussion, analysing how your photographer's use of lighting and composition has achieved certain effects. Consider how different lighting and composition communicates mood and atmosphere. Does it create a sense of mystery or disorientation? Does it use silhouette? Does it describe form? Where is the light coming from? Is the light hard or soft?

4. Individually select a still life work by your group's assigned photographer. Choose a work that uses light in an interesting way - a way that you could use in your own work - and write a paragraph discussing the work, it's lighting, mood, and how you think it was achieved (minimum of 50 words).
Post this on your blog along with the photograph you are discussing. Remember to include a citation for the photograph.

1. The artist that was chosen was Paul Strand.  

2.  The artist Paul Strand uses shadow and light to contrast the outlines of shapes. The photographs that Strand takes boasts the shadows as they are elongated and the dark sections of the composition stand out the most, imposing the powers of uniformity and anonymity. Strand deliberately destroyed perspective to build a powerful composition from tonal planes and rhythmic patterns. He combined realism and abstraction is his photographs of landscapes and close up of rocks and plants. In doing this, he achieved a synthesis in a style he described as organic realism.

3.  The american artist paul strand had a long and productive career with the camera. His pictorialist studies of the 1910s, followed by the coolly seductive machine photograps of the 1920s, like the contemporary work of Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston, helped define the canon of early American modernism and its premium on elegant print. Experimenting with Charles Sheeler, Strand then pushed further in describing the movement of the city in the short film Manhatta (1920). In the 1930s he became seriously involved with documentary film and, from the 1940s until the end of his life he was committed to making photographic books of the highest quality. After 1950, when he relocated to France, landscape, architecture, and portraiture (the traditional humanist genres) continued to inspire Strand to embody the spirit of his subjects in the very materials of the photographic print. The high regard for his mature work suggests that he succeeded in his goals, and that his standards of excellence and his constancy of subject answered very human needs in a century of radical change.

4. Write a paragraph discussing the work, it's lighting, mood, and how you think it was achieved (minimum of 50 words).

The natural light source was facing the composition from the front right, has a hard light and this made the white in the subject brighter, gave the darks more contrast and also gave a shadow to one of the bowls that can be seen in the middle of the composition. The composition contrasts the dark colours with the bright white bowls, This gives the composition a very gloomy, yet bright feel. I think that this photo was achieved with a small aperture, high shutter speed and low iso. The photo was taken inside, close up at the bowls and pears. The studio lighting was facing straight on the subject matter, this gave the bowls contrast and made the apple and other dark objects, darker. This subject has a white bowls which contrasts brightly with the darker objects. and applies to the 30-60-10 rule as the bowl.

Citation:

Collections.vam.ac.uk. (2016). Still Life, Pear and Bowls, Twin Lakes, Connecticut; Paul Strand the Formative Years, 1914-1917 | Strand, Paul | V&A Search the Collections. [online] Available at: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O190914/still-life-pear-and-bowls-photograph-strand-paul/ [Accessed 19 Sep. 2016].

Olive Cotton style 6

Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/10
ISO: 400
Date + Time: 8/9/16 11:40 AM.

Adjustments: 
+ black and white filter on Basic Windows photo editor.

Analysis: 
I used a black and white filter because it makes the subject feel very dark, dank and gloomy, compared to the previous post, to contrast and highlight the differences. The camera was far back and raised above looking down on the subject, there were 2 key light sources, 1 on the left and 1 one the right. Due to the different locations of the light sources, the shadow has become distorted and the light sources was extremely close to the 2 subjects, this resulted in the shadows of the objects being less strong. The effect of the shadows is that the two shadows overlap each other and create a warped shadow. The shadows aren't intense, but the black and white filter that was used makes the composition feel more threatening with the darker colours.

Olive Cotton's practise is demonstrated in this composition, through the strange use of the light and incorporation of the shadow that it creates in the composition. The rules and guidelines shown through this image include 'rule of thirds' and 'repetition'.

Rule of Thirds: This compositional rule is shown through the location of the subject, being the flowers. The flowers are equally distributed in the imaginary boxes that makes up the rule of thirds.

Repetition: This guideline is evident as the shadow however dim can still be seen and is a reflection of the composition.

Olive Cotton style photo 5

Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/10
ISO: 400
Light Source: 2 light source, 1 left, 1 right.
Date + Time: 8/9/16 11:40 AM.

Analysis: This photo is of two plants and has a low shadow quality. The camera was far back and raised above, looking down onto the subject. There were 2 key light sources, 1 on the left and 1 one the right. Due to the different locations of the light sources, the shadow has become distorted and the light sources was extremely close to the 2 subjects, this resulted in the shadows of the objects being less strong. The effect of the shadows is that the two shadows overlap each other and create a warped shadow. The shadows aren't intense, but more diffused and calm, this makes the composition feel more warm and inviting despite its dark colours.

Olive Cotton's practise is demonstrated in this composition, through the strange use of the light and incorporation of the shadow that it creates in the composition. The rules and guidelines shown through this image include 'rule of thirds' and 'repetition'.

Rule of Thirds: This compositional rule is shown through the location of the subject, being the flowers. The flowers are equally distributed in the imaginary boxes that makes up the rule of thirds.

Repetition: This guideline is evident as the shadow however dim can still be seen and is a reflection of the composition. 

Olive Cotton style photo 4

Aperture: f/7
Shutter Speed: 1/10
ISO: 400
Date + Time: 8/9/16 11:40 AM.

Analysis: This photo was one of the worst photos as the composition shows very little shadows that contrast with the background and the dark conditions in the room was countered with a artificial light source which was not bright enough to create a dark shadow. The leading lines in this composition are only seen on the on the left due to the position of the light source. In the background of the subject, some Oakhill peers are visible as I couldn't focus on the composition enough. The photo doesn't appeal to the golden spiral rule and the two subjects are placed evenly in the composition.

Rule of Thirds: The photographical composition is spaced evenly and this applies to the rule of thirds as it ensures that some part of the photo is covered in the visible squares that make up the Rule of Thirds.

Olive Cotton style photo 3

Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/200
ISO: 200
Edits: 
+ basic edits in Windows Photo Editor
+ Dark shadow Filter, 5th option on the basic Windows Photo Editor
+ colour and saturation increase also with W.P.E

Analysis: This image is of a pair of eggshells, with the camera looking directly down on the composition.The light source is held fairly far from the composition setup, creating very long shadows that climb up the back infinity wall. Because it is held far back, the shadow is very sharp and defined and strong outlines of the eggshells, because I used an infinity wall, the shadow "climbs" the background paper as evident in the shadow of the composition trailing to the top left of the composition. The shadow of the right eggshell is elongated, but the left eggshell shadow is stumped.

This composition represents an Olive Cotton through the simplicity of the composition and type of subject used as the focal point. Along with this, the compositional rules and guidelines used in the photo are 'symmetry'

Symmetry: This rule is shown through the position of the eggshells as the subject and the direction of the shadow. The glasses are placed at the bottom center section of the composition and are parallel with the top and bottom of the photo. The light source is shining from the left side of the composition, resulting in the shadows being symmetrical.

Olive Cotton style photo 2

Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/200
ISO: 200
Edits: 
+ basic edits in Windows Photo Editor
+ Dark shadow Filter, 5th option on the basic Windows Photo Editor

Conditions:  The conditions in the classroom were dark and the ISO was moved to 200 to compensate for dark conditions in the classroom.

Analysis: This image is a pair of eggshells that were filled with dirt, leaves and grass from outside, then was mounted on some blu-tack stuck to the paper. The camera was taken front on, but at an angle and the eggshells were tilted so that the left was slightly in front of the other. The studio light source was placed behind the paper on the left so that the shadow looks like it jumps out at you, but the light from the source doesn't touch the viewer. Because the light source is far away from the subject, the shadows are more crisp and dark.

30-60-10: 30% = the gap after the right eggshell. 60% = both eggshells. 10% = the gap before the left eggshell. This creates an uneven composition as there is a significantly obvious gap after the right eggshell which is not equal to the gap before the left eggshell.

Olive Cotton style photo 1

Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/20
ISO: 200
Conditions: The conditions in the classroom was dark, to compensate for the dark conditions the ISO was moved up to 200.

Analysis: This image is of 2 upright eggshells that Riley filled with dirt and grass outside the classroom, looking at the composition at a 45-degree position face on. When this photo was taken, 1 light source was used that was shined on the eggshells from the left corner of the composition. The light source was positioned far away from the source to sharpen and define the quality of the shadows. Due to the white background, the shadows are more visible and the eggshells have more contrast and colour. This composition represents an Olive Cotton style image through the dark and contrasting shadows along with the repetition of the subject.

Rule of Thirds: This rule applies with the photo as it cuts each eggshell into 1 square.

Diagonal Rule: This structure cuts through the shadow of the left eggshell and also cuts into the right eggshell diagonally from top right to bottom left.

proof sheet from 5/8/16