Basic Elements

Reflection

This assignment was challenging for me in a number of ways. Initially I felt a lot of anxiety going into my first week of shots because I have never operated a camera at this capacity. At times I felt helpless in my control and understanding of the pictures I was attempting to produce. I knew in my mind how I wanted the image to develop... But in the end struggled to produce the desired effect because I lacked the knowledge needed to adjust my camera correctly. Towards the end of the week, and as I got closer to my deadline, I became increasing more confident in my shots. After trial and error, I began to pick up on some of the basic adjustments that could be made in program mode in order to achieve the desired shot. I also felt sometimes that what I seen through the viewfinder, did not translate into my photograph. My goal by the end of the semester is to possess the ability to utilize my camera at its maximum potential and achieve the desired effect in the majority of shots I take. All in all, at the conclusion of my first assignment, I feel much more comfortable with my camera in hand.

Two Best Photos

I struggled just as much with choosing two images I believe to be my best, as I did with choosing my top 10. In the end, I chose the sunflower and the footprint in the sand as what I believed to be my best two images. I took probably 30 shots of those sunflowers. This one in particular may not even be the best shot I took. There were shots with better detail, more lively colors, and better contrast in lighting. But this was the only image that portrayed the sky in the way that it did. I like how the sunflower seems to be weeping just a bit with it's back towards the sun and the clouds bursting up and away. As for the footprint, it was a shot I thought little of and did not realize the impact it would make on me until I got home and pulled the images up on my computer. As my sister-in-law pointed out, if you look at it long enough, it almost looks as if the shoe is elevated in the sand as apposed to being indented.

Two Not-So-Good Photos

The photos I chose to represent two of my worst images wasn't an easy decision either. I feel there were a lot of images that didn't represent my desired outcome and what I saw with my eye. I struggled with natural framing. This image was one of the first I shot and although I feel it produced a decent framing, the lighting within the frame was a bit dull and undesirable. I wanted a brighter image within the trees framing and I was unable to accomplish that so that is why I chose it as one of my not-so-good images. The other image I chose was that of a small boat I found off in the weeds along Niantic River Road. I was excited to see the boat there next to the water because my imagination began to flow with ideas as to how I could capture the boat within the frame. Unfortunately I was unable to create any photos with the boat that I felt met the basic elemental rules required for the assignment. Both images were among the photos I captured on my first day out. If given a second shot I feel I could produce a desirable photograph using the boat as my focal point.