Assignment 2

Small Depth of Field

 I played with many different frames for this composition. I wanted the focus to be on the corks themselves, but showing a small amount of the hand was important to the feel of the piece. Although the photo was taken indoors, it was shot during the daytime in front of a glass door, so much outdoor light was coming into the space. The amount of natural light allowed me to use a faster shutter speed to eliminate any potential blur. I like the subject of this composition because I think it could used in a variety of settings. I picture it as a photograph to hang in a wine bar or a kitchen. I could also see it being used in an advertisement. I like the clarity of the words on the corks. The zoom and small depth of the field help to push the concept. I took this photographs with my subject holding a collection of corks in her hands. Her hands were resting on a plain white table in our kitchen in front of glass doors with sunlight shining in. I took the series from a range of angles, and placed her hands in a variety of ways in order to get a good perspective and frame. My goal in this photograph was to take a crisp clear close-up which I have struggled with to this point. I believe that I achieved this. This particular image is similar to the work of Paul Politis. He is a black and white photographer with a unique perspective on objects alone or in groups, still lifes, and other subjects. Overall his compositions are simple and rather minimalistic.

Slow Shutter Speed

For this composition I used a slow shutter speed to capture movement that looked almost surreal. The outdoor lighting was helpful, and the midday sun was perfect. I wanted to include some portion of the surroundings to give the feet context and the viewer a sense of space. I have very little experience with action photography so this piece was somewhat of an experiment for me. If I had the opportunity to do it again I would likely expand the frame and play with the wardrobe to give the scene more interest, perhaps even turning it into a fashion shoot. When I was taking this picture I was thinking of William Morris's famous Umbrella Jump. I aimed to give this photo the same lightness and simplicity.

High Contrast Lighting

My main focus for this photograph was to play with the lighting and the drama. I hope the photo evokes thoughtfulness for the viewer, and the framer adds wonder as to what lies beyond its borders. Both a lighting and an adornment prompt led to this composition. Because the photo was taken indoors, I played around quite a bit with the amount and placement of the lighting.  I also tried this shot from several different angles, and the framing was changed several times in post-processing. 

Adornment with High Contrast

This photograph was again done using the prompt of adornment. However another obvious goal of this image was dramatic lighting. I think her look is contemplative and introspective. I think my tendency is to cut the framing in too tight, and I believe that I probably did that again here. I wish the frame gave the viewer slightly more information. My goal with this photo was to show emotion in the face of my subject, something that I have been unable to do. I wanted her to be more than a pretty picture, but to show thought and purpose. 

BRIAN FINKE

 

My Recreation

 Brian Finke is an American photographer. Born in Philadelphia in 1976 Finke currently lives and works in New York. Although my recreation is in black and white, his work exhibits vibrant, saturated colors achieved often with the use of a flash, even in outdoor light. He is becoming known as a documentary photographer, in great part to his cheerleader and football player series' which capture the heart of social scenes in America's youth.
 Finke works hard to not comment on the social context of his subjects, but instead strives to capture them in "real" moments to tell a story from the perspective of the subject. He strives for honestly, lightheartedness, vibrancy, and humor.