Final Project

Week 9 - WaterMark through Adobe

(I had a little fun with filters too)

Week 9 - Cloning Tool With Adobe

Cloned Bunnies!
Do you know which one is the true cotton-tail?

Week VIII - Playing with Filters

Posterization TIME!!!

(And some hue/saturation changes...)

Week VIII - Liquified....Playing with Filters

( I feel I look slightly possessed... and at least he's smiling now...hehe )

I had alot of fun with the filtering aspects on photoshop. I found I got so wrapped up in one aspect I didn't even realize that there were so many alterations I could do within each individual filter....

Week VIII - Dodged and BURNED!

Before - A recent shot of my boyfriend and I at a family wedding. (He has a tendency not to smile, though he truly can). Anyways, I am bothered how the image has the subject matter in the shadows. The camera took in the light from the background and hence is more washed out.

After - So first I cropped the image slightly, to remove some of the unnecessary background "stuff". I then dodged the subject matter, of the two peoplle, and burned the background. I found that when I was doing this, it started to wash-out whereever I dodged? Is this common? I am not sure how to alter this once it started. I did alter the Saturation and felt that this helped the aspect of 'washing-out" that was occuring. I also found that when burning, it was almost leaving "tracks", as it was obvious to the eye that it was being altered. I had the "hardness" down to 0% and that did make an enormous difference. Another question, I has was the umbrella seems very harsh now. Although this was ultimately my goal, to make the background darker, I found that in doing so, the red seems almost speckled. Is there something else I should do to alter this? Did I burn incorrectly? Overall, I feel the alterations where affective, but I definitely need to practice more.

Week VII - Color and Light Adjustments PART II

I again followed the tutorial. I find myself going to the extremes and pushing the photograph beyond actual boundaries of real light and color. I want to work on what actually makes the image look for realistic, but at the moment I am definitely enjoying the manipulations with hues and light, for the pure purpose of alterating the image. I find by adjusting the hue and light of the original image, I was able to create a more captivating, lively image.


The Original Image

Week VII - Color and Light Adjustments

Although the alterations create a false looking photograph I had a lot of fun isolating the different color/hues by using the layer technique offered in the tutorial.

This is the original

Week 6 - Layering Experimentation

Week 6 - Experimentation with Photoshop

"Lost in the Mist"

I have used adobe photoshop some but it was always trial and error. I definitely am rusty, but really enjoyed this project. I played around with the lasso, background eraser, copying and pasting and multiple layers. You can really lose track of time :)

Week 5 - Rule of Thirds.. again

 

 

Week 5 - Part III - Framing

I did two different sets of 'framed photographs.



The first is from around my house and down the road at my neighbors, using man-made and nature elements to frame the subject matter.

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Get your own

The second is a collection of photographs which contain framing, either around the subject matter, or through the image. This photos are taken in the West Rutland Marble Quarry.

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Get your own

Week 5 - Part II - Rule of Thirds

Time to pick the strawberries.....

I went out with some friends this weekend (when it wasn't raining) and practiced the rule of thirds to document the adventure.

It is interesting when you view the first photo, you do not think anything is missing, or that it lacks an interesting composition. Many people place the subject matter in the center of the photograph, it is the norm to do so.

Yet, when applying the rule of thirds, it is amazing how much richer a photograph can become. The subject matter has a 'home' within the photograph, and it allows the viewer to have a context to relate the subject to.

Week 5 - Part I - Composition and Aesthetics

WHAT IS COMPOSITON?? WHAT IS AESTHETICS??

Here are some tid-bits that I have compiled while researching composition.

Formally, composition, especially for painting, graphic design, photography and sculpture, is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art, as distinct from the subject of a work. It can also be thought of as the organization of the elements of art according to the principles of art.

In other words, (from dictionary.com)composition (for fine arts) the organization or grouping of the different parts of a work of art so as to achieve a unified whole.

What does that mean to me or for my work?
I need to train my eye, and use my eye to find composition. As a photographer it is important to look at a subject from different angles and perspectives (if possible) to capture and create a composition in which all the elements of the photograph compliment each other in some way.

Two sites -
http://photoinf.com/General/Gary_Stanley/An_Eye_for_Composition.html

http://www.artincanada.com/arttalk/composition.html

One is more of a fine art perspective and the other from a photographer for the photographer. Yet regardless, the most important thing that kept jumping out at me regarding composition, is as the artist/photographer you want to capture/create a composition that impacts the viewer (whether negatively or positively) and makes them wanting or inquirying for more.

And on to aesthetics...
Aesthetics was more difficult to break-down and truly understand. Although I know what it is, it was hard to find the right words/phrases to define it.

(Copied from wikipedia)
Aesthetics is used by some as a synonym for the philosophy of art, while others insist on a distinction between these closely related fields. In practice aesthetic judgement refers to the sensory contemplation or appreciation of an object (not necessarily an art object), while artistic judgement refers to the recognition, appreciation or criticism of art or an art work.

aesthetics, esthetics ((art) the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste (emphasizing the evaluative criteria that are applied to art))

Again... a few sites that I explored.

http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/laa/aesthetics_1.html

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/aesthetics-1.shtml

To sum it up... aesthetics and composition are essential to each other. To have a good composition, a photography needs to have its elements arranged according to aesthetics, to be a 'beautiful or pleasing to the eye, photograph'. To be aesthetically pleasing, your composition has to be effective and correct as well.

My question is.. what if you do not want a beautiful photograph.. rather you want to make the viewer on edge, or to feel jarred?? What if you turn your composition upside-down on purpose, to build a feeling of unrest and interest? Where does compostion and aesthetics play there??

Lighting Collage

Week IV - Monochromatic and Complimentary Color Schemes

I really enjoyed this assignment. Color and color schemes is a concept I have always been drawn to throughout various mediums and projects. I found myself drawn to the marble yard to capture my monochromatic scheme. The simplicity at first glance of the marble's color, yet with a deeper investigation you see the various stems and veins of minerals and other colors.

For my second color scheme I chose to post a complimentary color scheme. I know the assignment was to only post two schemes 'professor', but I had to post both of these :) I am always drawn to the Red/Green combination, its one of the most compelling and always dances before your eyes. The reason behind posting two, is because one is a naturally occurring and the other is man-made. I think its an interesting concept to juxtapose.

<---DRIVE-BY

OFFICE GARDEN

------>

Week IV - Differences in Light

I have an numerous issues with this assignment. Mainly, I have taken many photographs outside in nature light (shade/cloudy). And I have been waiting for a sunny day, to get dusk, day and dawn light as well. Impossible this week where I live, as we've had rain every single day.
So I have attempted to take different shoots inside with varied lighting. Although success to an extent, I feel there is definitely something lacking.

Late afternoon light

Night-light


Grandma's Light

I chose this subject, because of the perspective and angles that it provided. I have always been drawn to take photos that have a main focal point, which all lines in the photograph lead to. Although the angle never changes, I find how the differences in lighting, really affect the perception of the subject/image. The original photo, you eye is drawn along the cabinets and towards the doorway. Yet the final image, your eye is pulled immediately to the door, the dark hallway only making this pull stronger. An interesting aspect of the middle image, the night light, is your eye is teased by the reflection of the light on the floor. While the focal point is still the doorway, you are distracted by the light and reflection that are not centered in the photo.

The subject matter could definitely be more interesting, yet I do find the concept of a doorway to be very intriguing. I feel the mystery of wondering where the door leads, whats around the corner and who might be there, teases the mind. Although simply a hallway downstairs in my house, I find the ability to toss around such fantasy. The photographs aid to such perceptions and the varied lighting demonstrates how value and hue play an essential role in the interpretation and mood of a photograph.

I hope to continue this assignment and to have example with outside lighting. I feel it offers much more than inside. Although there are many things you can do with studio lighting, reflective lighting, spotlights etc.. I find nature light and its many possibilities to be very captivating.

For the sake of comparison, here are a couple other shots that I took of the hallway.

End of the Hall lights <------

Kitchen lights ------>

Macro V

Raindrops
I finally was able to find a tripod in the downstairs closet. It enabled me to use the timer on my camera and resulted in a more clear photograph. I truly love when you can capture the tiny details, such as dew or raindrops, insects...etc. I hope if I get a new camera, I will get one with a better zoom.

Macro IV

Indoor plant

Macro III

Poppy, "pre-popped"

Macro II

Hemlock

Macro

Pappion, Up close and personal

Macro and Collage.. take TWO

Pets pose so well for you :). I find that close up of animals, begins to allow the viewer a "look" into their personalities. You can sense their annoyance or curiosity. I found using the zoom on animals to be interesting as well, as my camera makes noise while doing so and many times the animal started to come towards me! Pappion and Fiona, my chinchillas, did not appreciate the camera coming into their cages, but I love how curious they are of a new object.

Collage and Macro... take ONE

I wanted to work with colors and textures. I had alot of fun going out after the rain storm and attempting to capture the raindrops on various surfaces. I found that it was definitely a difficult process.. when sans tripod. I did not want to use a flash, and was attempting to use just the nature light.
Its interesting how blurry an image can get, even when you think you are completely still.

Collage Trial #2

Its a matter of Perspective

For her birthday last year, I expanded, tranplanted and planted a garden for my mother. As the spring has gone by, it has been a relief to see everything returning and sprouting out of the ground. So, her new garden became my playground for my first assignment on :PERSPECTIVE.

Angle I

Angle II

I love Angle II. It takes a step away from the 'norm', meaning "This is a flower, and it is a white Iris". Rather, it focuses more on the detail of the petals, and abstracts the flowers completely from its surroundings. Having the flower juxtaposed with the sky, allows you to do just that. You do not see the rest of the garden, other flowers or even the ground.
Another reason I really enjoy Angle II, is the element of the viewer. With Angle I, the viewer is at the eye-to-eye perspective. You see the object, or flower in this instant, as it would normally be viewed. Angle II, so more of an ant-eye perspective. The flower is being placed out of context, and you are being presented with a view that you would normally not see a flower in. It allows the viewer to step outside of the a regular postion of a viewer, and you play more a role of an explorer.