Showing posts with label Observations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Observations. Show all posts

Saturday, 13 February 2010

Excercise 12: Positioning the horizon

Horizon in the middle. Neither here nor there. I want to see more of the sky as the clouds promise a bit of interest.

Up High! All that grass leading up to the only point of interest - those clouds. Gives it depth? Does this look like a mountain to climb?  I think it does but then I was there and it is a hill (which felt that a slippery mountain when you're climbing it in the freezing winds with inappropriate footwear).



Down low. Ah, that feels better. Open skies.


up high again but with a little bit of foreground detail (and a flare) Not too keen on this and the sloping horizon. Makes me feel like I'm about to slip over.

The horizon's nearly in the middle but having the gate and furrows in the foreground makes it much more interesting.

I found it difficult to find a relatively clear and unbroken horizon for this excercise but glad I found one in the end.  I think my preference is for the horizon to be lower than middle and to show more sky, but when there is an interesting foreground object, then the focus shifts to this rather than the sky so could be more pleasing as is the case with me adn the last photograph.  I think I read something about the human eye wanting to have things solid and more 'grounded' on the bottom of the pictures so this would certainly explain my preference for the above landscape to have a solid foreground but more sky.  (I think it was in M freeman's book, "The Photographer's Eye" - must check this out later.)

Incidentally, I've found Michael Freeman's book an invaluable partner to the course materials as it appears to follow the same format and of course it is written by the same author!  I am trying to not read the book too far in advance though, as I want to complete the excercises and make notes of my initial findings, then read more around it. 


Saturday, 6 February 2010

Website showing colour combinations

Came across this site - kuler.adobe.com
thought it might be useful for the colour section of the course.

Some photos using panning

I'm pleased to say that being on this course has already affected the way I take my everyday family shots.  These are two where I tried panning instead of my usual 'must choose a really fast shutter speed to freeze the motion' technique.








Tuesday, 26 January 2010

more flares, more vintage retro feel

I just keep spotting the use of sunflares and the vintage/retro/grunge look everywhere.  I've noticed it on advertising both on television and in magazines, I mean, it was even in the Cbeebies bed time hour!  I guess it's in fashion right now.  I wonder how log it will last?  I love the look but by the time I'm able to replicate it, it'll probably be out of fashion.

Monday, 4 January 2010

Just enrolled and Film Musings

I've done it, I'm signed on. I can't wait to get my course materials. I've been doing lots of reading on the OCA forums and the OCA flickr group. Feel a bit apprehensive now having looked at some student portfolios and reading about assignment and assessment preparations. I am still looking forward to it though!

I've just read a thread on the oca flickr group discussing how the art of photography course has influenced how some students watch a film. Thought I'd make a quick list of my recent observations:

1 flare – was watching Star Trek the other day and was struck how much flare there was in the shots on the bridge of the enterprise. It added to the sense of newness, everything shiny and reflective. It was also a little unsettling particulary when combined with off centre/ off kilter horizons – adding to the scenes of danger.

2 haze/cross processed ?/ desaturated look - Just saw the beginning of District 9 and was struck by the use of colour. I love hazy desaturated looks. I usually associate them with vintage/retro photographs, the romantic sort which appears to be in vogue at the moment. But in this particular case, the haze and desaturated colours contributed to the feeling of grit, grime, decay. I think it suited the hand held/ documentary style scenes very well.

I want to watch The Third Man again and also Sunshine and see if I can watch them with a 'photographer's eye'.