photo #2

Photo #2

 

Objective 3: Composition Techniques

1. Rule of Thirds: In this photo, the main focal point is the pine cone which is in the lower left corner of the photo. The pinecone, which is situated where the horizontal and vertical thirds of the photo meet, keeps the attention of the photo where the eye naturally goes. It would be equally effective if the pinecone was in the upper left, upper right, or lower right areas of the photo. People naturally look at these areas, making it the best place for the focal point.

 

2. Perspective and depth: A different perspective makes photos much more interesting to look at. This photo demonstrates a different perspective, as it was taken at ground level, and looks at birch bark from a much different angle than what is normally seen. This photo also demonstrates depth because of the different depths in the birch bark, grass and background. Both of these features make the photo much more interesting to look at.

 

4. Backgrounds: It is important to have consistent backgrounds in a photo. A uniform background keeps the attention on the focal point of the photo. This is demonstrated in this photo because the background is blurred, and consistent. There is nothing big or distracting in the background to take away from the photo. The colours are relatively uniform, and there is nothing drastically different.

 

7. Texture: Texture is another level of detail in a photo to hold the viewer’s attention. In this photo, Texture comes from the ground, in the grass, and on the birch bark. These textures make the photo much more interesting and detailed to look at, while still keeping attention in the right spot, making it more pleasing to look at.

 

8. Framing: Framing the subject of a photo within something else in the photo makes the subject stand out, and hold our attention. In this photo, the birch bark is framing the pinecone, which helps it to stand out and hold attention. It fills up unused space in the photo, and is interesting to look at, but still brings the attention back to the focal point. The dark colour of the birch bark also helps re-focus and hold attention on the pine cone, and keeps your eye looking in one place.

 

10. Diagonals: There is a natural and very light diagonal in the lower right corner following the edge of the birch bark up to the pinecone. Diagonals allow the eye to travel through the photo. In this example, the diagonal is effective because it leads to the main focal point of the photo, the pinecone, while still helping you to look at areas of the photo.

 

 

Objective 4: Lighting

This photo demonstrates side lighting, which creates shadows and bright spots in the photo. It is semi- diffused. Semi diffused light gives some brightness and highlights, with minimal washing-out of the colours.

 

Objective 5: Post Production

This photo was sharpened, had contrast added, and was resized. I also added a very small amount of saturation, to bring out the colours a little bit more.

 

Objective 6: Critique

 

Strength: I like how this photo is framed. The birch bark as a frame keeps the attention centered on the pine cone, but also adds details and depth. It makes the photo much more interesting, but isn’t distracting.

 

Area for growth: To improve this photo, I would get rid of the blue in the background, because I find it too bright, and out of place.

 

 

 

Done