Self Portrait and Portraits Part I

TIPS FOR SELF PORTRAITS

1. Frame your subject because it "gives an image in depth and draws the eye to a point of interest in the image."
2. Take candids. Be obstructive. Taking candid photographs is neat because it tells a "fuller story" and it truly shows the emotions the subjects are experiencing.
3. Experiment with lighting because it "can create mood, backlighting, and silhouetting the subject to hide their features can be powerful."

ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS





I like the choice of background the photographers chose for both photos and how the subjects were focused. I also think the tones of black and white and some spark and for that reason I chose these photos.

PHOTOGRAPHY SELF PORTRAITS





I really like the lighting because it really creates mood and emotions are portrayed by the subjects.

CASUAL PORTRAITS





I like how the subjects are interacting with their surroundings and the emotion portrayed by them. I I picked them because they are in black and white and to me it adds flare.

PLAN

For my self portrait project, I plan to take pictures of people who do not feel uncomfortable of me taking pictures of them. I want my subjects to look comfortable and portray emotion. I plan on taking pictures of my cousin who is in college who enjoys taking pictures. However, if I have to take pictures in school then I will pick a random subject and pick a cool background or make them do something such as stare at something or capture candid pictures of them. They can stand in front of lockers, background of flowers, or them sitting on the stairs. I will make the shot successful by filling in the frame and taking more than enough pictures if some do not turn out as well. I will also make sure my subject is avoiding merging an object. In order to prevent this, I will take pictures in different angles.

Funny Captions

 

Grandpa Joe's dentures slowly fall as he sleeps on a bench on the streets of Virginia. He had enjoyed a nice burger from McDonalds on November 5th, 2011, before his nap. 
  

 

Mr. Harold and his brother Josh skydive over the vast land of Arizona on August 4th, 2014. They spread their arms and felt the air push them along.


 

Grandma Lisa and Grandma Amy ride along Sunset Valley in California on their scooters. They were heading to some stores in search of gifts for their grandchildren for Christmas on December 4th, 2001. 

Prompt Shoot

PURPLE



ELECTRIC





COLD, spooky atmosphere is created in these photographs.

Rules of Photography II - Travel

Rule of Thirds



Lines


Balancing Elements



Viewpoint



Symmetry and Patterns



Framing

Create Depth



This shows a Merging photo because it looks like these giraffes are merging or are one. The angle in which the photographer took the picture was not really good if he/she was trying to focus on one subject.



Cropping



Background

Mural Project and Great Black and White Photographers Part 3

MURAL PROJECT

1. I think the school could use some more color. As a freshman, I felt that the school looked very bleak the first day of school. It look like a jail and the colors in the halls made me feel overwhelmed and imprisoned. Therefore, I think acquiring photographs of people in different, exciting occasions such as homecoming, prom, etc., and hang those pictures on the hallways could brighten people's aspect of Bowie High School.
2. Well, as far as I know, Bowie has an Instagram account which is a great way to notify students of up coming events or post photos of people who went to the events and had a great time. Therefore, I think all people can participate to brighten up the school a bit. People from yearbook, photojournalism, commercial photography, etc., can use professional cameras to capture people having fun in different occasions, but also ordinary students who do not have classes such as the ones mentioned above. Students can send pictures to Bowie's Instagram account so that Bowie can post them on Instagram or the school can even acquire these fun, appropriate photos and put them on poster boards or banners and hang them along the walls.
3. As I mentioned before, the school felt very unwelcoming the first day of school because there was no color along the walls or columns. So, I think it would be a great idea to hang pictures of the students in different occasions along the hallways and TV screens to show everyone Bowie is an exciting place to be.

GREAT BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHERS

1. When I looked at Robert Doisneau's photos, the streets and the candid people are what caught my attention. I liked where he took the pictures and the way he positioned his photographs. It was easy to identify the subject(s).






2. I see kids running around in the streets having the time of their life. I can see organization in the towns and in the streets. I see little skirts, slacks, and hats in style.
I smell smoke from cigarettes that is expanding around the air, emitted by elderly people. The smell of wine, warm bread, fresh cookies, and more, escape the restaurants located along the street and fill the air with happiness and satisfaction. Of course people are attracted by the smell, and once they enter the restaurant, coffee, candy, and other bakery products fulfill their surroundings.
I hear bells from the bikes "ringing," kids screaming and laughing, running across the streets, and the engines from old automobiles "roar". Smooth winds surpass the towns making your hair slightly lift. Mens' shoes and women's heels fill the streets as they are on their way to work or running to the store.
I taste the wine served from the small stores that are long the streets. The wind slams against your mouth when you run around and bike with friends, making your mouth a little dry. The variety of foods from the local bakery is satisfying.
I feel the wind hitting against my face as I bike with my friends. I grip the handles from the bike and push the peddles harder, so that I could feel the wind hitting against even harder. Peace and satisfaction overwhelm me, knowing that I am with my friends and in a beautiful, organized town.

3. I would like to make a powerpoint showing many of Doisneau's amazing street photographs. I think it is a great way to get to know the style of photography he was passionate about, the different composition rules he accomplished, and his life style.

Africa and Abandoned Theme Parks

AFRICA

1. I enjoyed reading the article and looking at the pictures. At first, I thought the pictures were fake they looked so unreal and in focus. Most photographers take photos of running animals or something in action. However, the pictures he took were in focus and positioned carefully. Also, I admire his patience he had to take the perfect picture such as the lion. I could tell he had put a lot of effort and time to snap the perfect photograph.
2. This is my favorite picture taken by Nick Brandt:


3. I like this photo because he captured it just as a breeze picked up, making the lions mane rise a little. As a result, the lion looks fierce and strong. Also, I liked the way he framed the subject (lion). No extra space was shown.
4. Since the background is somewhat blurred and the lion is the one in focus, I think this photograph represents the composition rule Framing. The photograph made the viewer's focus on the framed subject (lion).
5. Brandt photographs using film on a Pentax 67 camera with modified lens. Apparently the lens create a soft focus therefore he had to physically move as close to the animal in order to get the perfect shot with the perfect distance and space.
6. Brandt's reason for taking photographs is to capture  the animals in their natural habitats.
7. Brandt's goal is to stop the rampant poaching issue in East Africa and to preserve their habitats by taking photographs of them.
8. A quote from Brandt about Africa, "There is also something deeply, emotionally stirring and affecting about the plains of Africa--those vast, green rolling plains punctuated by graphically perfect acacia trees under the huge skies."


ABANDONED THEME PARKS

1. I would be interested to go to Greenland, Hobara, Japan's abandoned park. What captured my eye was the "rustic, vintage" look. I feel like I can take multiple photographs in different areas and positions. Another reason why I like it is because it is so big and has a lot of space. For example, there is one big, white rollercoaster surrounded by green trees. I think you can take many beautiful shots of the rollercoaster with the trees included. As I mentioned above, I believe the rustic look makes the photographs look more real and historical.
2. This photo shows the rustic look that I like from the park.


3. Five other unusual places I think would be interesting to take pictures of ranches, barns, railroads, little shops or stores, abandoned towns, historic schoolhouses, and street photography.
4.


5. Now a days, you will hardly find towns similar to the picture above. However, there are abandoned towns all over the world. I think there is so much to document in abandoned towns such as little stores or restaurants that used to exist, the rustic walls, old posters, or signs, old lamp posts or street signs, and more. I like the vintage and rustic look. Therefore, I think visiting abandoned or old towns is a nice place to take photographs if you have my kind of taste.
6. In order for me to take the pictures at locations similar to the picture above, I would need a camera, maybe a podium, and different lenses. The thing is I will need money for gas because it is not easy to find and drive to abandoned towns. Therefore, I would have to do some research and decide on a specific town and from there calculate the distance and expenses.

Photoshop Tutorial

UNEDITED TO EDITED

Great Black and White Photographers Part II

My favorite black and white photographer is Robert Doisneau. Doisneau was born April 14, 1912 in Gentilly, France. He was a French photographer who was known for his passion of street photography.

Raised by his aunt, he attended the Ecole Estienne in Paris to learn the crafts involved in the book trade, but claims he the got the most schooling from the streets of the working class neighborhood of Gentilly. At age sixteen, we was interested in amateur photography. However, at that time, he was reported so shy that he captured only photos of cobblestones before he focused on people. In 1929, he took his photography dreams seriously and began working for Andre Bigneau, an advertising photographer. At first, he took photographs of objects and three years later, sold his first photo-story to the Excelsior newspaper.

During the Depression, he worked for Renault as an industrial and advertising photographer. Although he had a job, Doisneau enjoyed taking photographs the streets and neighborhoods of Paris. Soon after, he was fired from his job and earned a pay check through advertising photography. Then, the Papho photo agency hired him, where he worked until his career was interrupted by World War II and the Germans began invading the land. Doisneau then became a member of the Resistance both as a solider and as a photographer. Once again, he proceeded his skill with advertising which includes fashion photography and reportage for Vogue magazine, for four years. His first book of photographs, La Banlieue de Paris was published. After Doisneau became a part of an organization of photographers called Group XV, he continued his passion of street photography.

Doisneau died on April 1, 1994 in Broussais, France. He was awarded the Prix Niepce in 1956 and acted as a consultant to Expo '67, Canada. He is also acknowledged at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, the Art Institute of Chicago, George Eastman House in Rochester, New York, and the Witkin Gallery in New York.

SOURCES:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Doisneau

http://www.famousphotographers.net/robert-doisneau

PICTURES:

Academic Shoot Reflection and Critique

1. Since the class I observed was taking notes, the lights were off and as a result, the composition of the photographs I took were dark. It was a challenge make sure the pictures I took were bright and clear.
2. What I found myself thinking about most was what I should take a picture of and how I could incorporate that into a composition rule. I encountered this situation by just taking as much pictures as I could in different positions. While someone else had the camera I just brainstormed some ideas and thought of how I could show the composition rules I had learned.
3. If I could do the assignment again, I think I would of have thought of some ideas of what I could take a picture the day before, so that I would be prepared for the next day. I would also ask multiple teachers for their permission to take pictures of their class because the lighting might be different than in other classrooms and the set of the classroom might look better than the others. Last but not least, I would try to take more pictures of Avoiding Mergers because I struggle with that composition rule the most.
4. What I would still do the same is take as many pictures as I did last time because I had more than enough to choose from. I would also go to the same classroom as I did the time before because it is organized and wasn't very crowded.
5. I think the easiest composition rule to achieve is Balance.
6. As I said before, the composition rule I have trouble understanding and taking pictures of is Avoiding Mergers.
7. As I said up above, I have a hard time taking pictures of Avoiding Mergers just because I do not fully understand what its purpose is. However, the key is to practice in order to get better at it and to look up examples from google so that you have a better idea of how you need to achieve the composition rule.


CORINNE'S BLOG:
http://corinnesphotojournalismblog.blogspot.com/

1. What I liked about Corinne's academic photographs was how clear and focused her subject(s) was. 2. Another thing I liked about Corinne's photos was that they were all clear, the composition rules were addressed, and it was easy to identify the subject in her photos.
3. One thing that could be improved was her Framing photo. It was just a little difficult to see was what the main focus was.