My First Shot at Photography

Blossoming Beauty





The subject of my photo is meant to show the beautiful yellow flower surrounded by materialistic items such as the nail polish and makeup. It was just a typical Sunday afternoon painting my nails but also adding in something more beautiful and exciting like the yellow flower. The meaning of my photo however is far more important. The flower represents natural beauty while the other items represent materialistic beauty. The items being blurred and the flower being clear represents how natural beauty is way more important and meaningful than the things that can make a person beautiful such as makeup and plastic surgery. This is the message I wanted to achieve in the photo.

 I used the rule of thirds by placing the main part of the picture, being the flower, in the top right-hand corner. I wanted it to be as close to the top right "O" as possible without taking away too much of the items that surround the flower. The point of view was token from above; bird's eye view. The purpose of this was to be able to see everything in the basket, and being able to pin point the top of the blossoming flower which is the more beautiful part. I truly was able to emphasize the flower, being able to show it is the main focus. I also incorporated variety, giving the viewers a more interesting photo to look at with many different items within it. And lastly, the framing I chose was to move close to my main object.

The technical qualities of this photo revolve around depth of field and aperture. I was able to adjust the aperture while aiming at the scenery I wanted to photograph. Using a lower aperture number, I was able to focus on the flower using the focus ring. The camera lens was bigger, being able to admit the right amount of light to make the background blurry. Also, shortening the depth of field allowed me to focus on the flower specifically.

I personally enjoy how creative and different the idea of the photograph is.  

My composition choices enabled me to create a very interesting and fun photo. My technical choices show that I was able to use the camera and its parts effectively by focusing, zooming, and adjusting the aperture. I have learned that in photography, it is easier to do than to imagine. I like to go out and try doing things myself rather than learn about them in a classroom. I have a better understanding of how to use a camera now because I was able to figure it out by doing it myself. If I had an opportunity to re-take this picture again, I would definitely try to place to flower more in the "O" area, I realized it wasn't as in the corner as I would've liked it to be. I definitely would've kept my idea the same though; I like how it's creative and different.

The Road of Water

The subject of my photo revolves around the falling of the water and then it crashing into the glass. Water is the most important thing for a human body. It is cleansing and fueling and so important. I thought it would be good to represent this in my photography. To me, the meaning of this photo is very powerful. The water falling into the glass represents the journey of life and how at most times it can be happy smooth and stress free. When the water crashes into the glass is represents how life can bring you to hard and sad times. Then when all the water is finally in the glass (after the crashing) the individual drinks it. Which is a smooth ride again. All together it resembles how sometimes in life you can come to roadblocks, but you will always be able to get out of them. And then the cycle happens over and over again for the rest of our lives.

The rule of thirds is achieved in this photo. I was able to position the camera in such a way that the jug is in the top right "O" and the glass is in the bottom left "O". The water flows through the middle of the photo. The point of view is normal. I did take the picture on more of an angle for creativity purposes and not straight on, but it was not taken from bellow or above. This was so I could catch the action of everything that was happening. As for framing, I did move closer to my objects that are the main focus so then the water was clearer and more obvious. The color in my photo is really brought out through the light blue jug. It stands out because the sunlight from the window is reflecting off the water inside of it. The implied texture of the placemat seems rough and bumpy. You can also tell how "wet" the water is because of the splashes it gives off in the cup and on the placemat.  The unity of the jug and the glass also work together to make one picture.

The technical areas of my photo are all based on shutter speed. Being able to play around with the camera aloud me to adjust the shutter speed however I wanted until it was just right for the speed on the water. The speed wasn’t too high, and wasn’t too low. It was just in the middle because the water wasn’t traveling very fast, but fast enough for a lower setting to be non-suitable. I also made sure the sharpness of the photo was very clear and not blurry. This is important because when you are photographing something moving, it can be blurry and very unappealing to the eyes. I made sure that the water was stabilized through the photo, so it is nice and easy to look at. Holding the camera was easy, but I also knew that when things are moving you want to take as many pictures as you can in order to have a lot to choose from in the end. When the water was being pored into the glass, I took 5 photos to make sure I got all the different water levels and movements. Then I picked the best one!

Personally, I am very proud of this photograph. I think it is very cool and interesting how I was able to capture a moving moment like that. The choices I made in terms of composition enabled me to add a lot of creative and eye-catching aspects to my photo. By placing the main objects where I did I was able to make the "O" area reality. This allowed me to create a very cool moving picture. My technical choices showed that I am definitely comfortable using the camera by now. By playing around with it I was able to come close to mastering the focus ring, adjusting the shutter speed and taking the photos. Working with the camera was a challenge at first but I was able to get used to it. If I had the opportunity to do this project over, I would probably do it in more light. I think it would be nicer and clearer if it were brighter in the room. I definitely would’ve stuck with the same idea however, and I would’ve placed all the objects in the same areas. I have learned that when you are dealing with shutter speed, it revolves around patience, and finding the appropriate shutter speed. If you are able to have time to play around with what you are doing, you will be able to find the right place and the right settings, for a wonderful picture.