Work Diary - Contrast (Studio Shoot) 2

For this session, I found it simple at first as I used my subjects to show contrast through hair, clothing, size, gender and distance. However, after a while, I found it hard to find new ways to show contrast. I tried experimenting with my subjects by making one sit down and the other one stand up to see what I could work with. I found this hard because I couldn't think of any other way to show contrast and my pictures were all really similar, even to the ones I took in the first studio contrast shoot we did. All I could do was experiment and see what else I could come up with.

I think this picture was successful because contrast is shown very clearly. The hair colours of my two subjects really stand out along with the clothing. The background helps me to show off the contrast between my two subjects, making them both stand out. I like how my two subjects each have completely different styles of fashion, this gives a viewer an idea of their personality and creates a relationship.

On the other hand, this picture wasn't very successful because I didn't put emphasis on the contrast. I could have manipulated the lighting to focus on one particular subject instead of both. Also, there are shadows on the background, which I should have avoided. Despite this, I quite like the facial expressions on my subject's face as this gives a more friendly feel to the picture.

If I had the chance to do this again, I would use props and make up to make my pictures more exciting. I wouldn't focus on the human faces as much but more on other parts of the body or objects. This will be fun to experiment with and it'll be interesting to see what I can come up with.

Work Diary - Contrast 2

In this session, we went out to shoot contrast once again. As we had already done this shoot, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to come up with new ideas. However, I still managed to find new ways to  show contrast. Since I focused more on objects in the first shoot, I tried focusing more on the contrast that can be found in nature for this shoot. I also tried shooting more exciting pictures rather than just showing contrast through colour or size. I think I spent half of this session experimenting with the different ways I could show contrast. I was able to look at how the lighting from the sky would affect my pictures and what I could do to use the lighting in order to show off my pictures. I also experimented with different angles.

This picture is successful because contrast is shown in three different ways between the colour of the shoes. As the colours stand out from each other, a big difference is shown between the white, blue and black. The shoes also contrast with the ground as they stand out. The different colours around the image introduces variety and automatically makes it even more exciting. The element of patterns is also shown in the ground along with repetition. The laces on the shoes also create a pattern and shows contrast between the ground, moreover, the arrangements of the shoes also create another pattern, which adds to the picture and further adds to its excitement. I like how the shoes look brighter than the ground, the white shoes almost look as if they are glowing. This is due to the lighting of the Sun and the angle in which I took the picture, which has benefited me in showing a variety of different elements throughout the photograph.

This picture was not successful because it wasn't clear enough. I was trying to show the difference between land and water, and also show reflection but I did not achieved this. Maybe if I positioned my camera differently, I could have captured this scene better. I could have also taken this picture on a brighter day, when the distinction between the puddle and dry ground would be clearer and easier for me to highlight. Also, the leaves in this picture ruin it as it takes the attention away from what I am trying to achieve. I think that choosing a different angle, where the leaves could be avoided would have been better.

If I could do this again, I would like to use actors. I think this would bring my pictures to life and make it extremely interesting and exciting to look at. I could show contrast through their clothes as they can contrast to the background. Also, I could also show contrast through size.

Work Diary - Contrast

This session was very interesting. I was excited to start shooting and see what I could find around college campus. As contrast was found pretty much everywhere, I found this session fairly easy. I wanted to experiment with this element and see how I could manipulate my pictures to make them a bit more exciting. I tried finding ways to separate my main focuses to make the element of contrast even more exaggerated. I found this the best way to show contrast as it's clear to the viewer what I'm trying to separate. This was successful as shown below.

These pictures both have something separating the two different objects/people that I wanted to show contrast between. This makes it clear to the viewer what I'm trying to achieve and puts emphasis on the element of contrast. The theme of opposites is also made clear in these pictures as there is a line in between the objects/subjects showing a clear distinction between them. With my subjects, contrast has been shown through their clothing and facial expression as well as their gender. This is a simple but interesting way of showing contrast and by separating them by the wall in the background, the viewer has no voice but to focus on the differences between the two subjects. The same concept is used with the windows. Not only is contrast shown by one window being closed and one window being open, but the fact that the open window shows light and the closed window is quite dark, this further emphasises on my use of contrast.

On the other hand, this picture didn't turn out as good. I was trying to show contrast between the sizes of the two square-shaped items but this is not clear enough. I think all the buttons, lights, writing and logos on the bigger box stole the attention from what I was trying to show the viewer. If the box had been plain, contrast would have been shown perfectly. I could have used a different angle, for example, a side view of the boxes; this would have avoided all the buttons and writing from distracting the viewer. It would also have been clearer as it would have shown two rectangles in different sizes rather than squares. 

If I could do this session again, I would go further and look at buildings. Contrast can be found everywhere on or in buildings and I would like to experiment with this, to see what I can find and how I can photograph it.

I can show contrast through the use of colour on buildings.

Work Diary - Contrast (Studio Shoot)

For this session, we set up the studio and we began to think of different ways to show contrast. This was harder than I anticipated because it soon became repetitive; I found it hard to find ways of positioning my subjects so contrast is shown clearly. However, we were then told that little changes in position of the subjects such as one of them facing the camera while my other subject has his/her back towards the camera could show contrast. I found that the easiest way to show contrast was through the use of colour. However, I tried challenging myself and avoid this method. Instead, I concentrated on moving my subjects around to find other ways to show contrast.

Out of all the pictures I took, this one is one of my most favourite ones because contrast is shown through several different ways. For example, the clothing and the hair colour of my subjects contrast with each other. The distance between them and the camera also show contrast. However, I should have avoided the shadow that has been created on the red background by one of my subjects, I think this ruins it a little bit. I focused the lighting on my main subject (the one at the front) so that the viewer focuses on her rather than the other one. I also should have blurred the my other subject slightly so that the focus is kept mainly on the girl at the front. This gives the viewer one thing to focus on rather than exploring the picture and getting lost, moving away from noticing the contrast that I am trying to show.

However, I don't think this picture worked out as well because both of my subjects look quite similar. Apart from their height, contrast is not really shown. I could have used a prop to make one of my subjects look different. I could also have asked one of them to lean down a bit more so the height difference is more noticeable. Alternatively, I could have used two subjects with different coloured hair so that contrast is shown even further. I could have picked a better background, maybe one with a lighter colour so that it doesn't distract the viewer from my subjects. If I could take this image again, I would have used a lower angle to further emphasise the difference between the heights of my subjects.

If we had the chance to do this session again, I would focus on using the sky to create contrast, especially sunsets. I would like to experiment with this and see in what way I can capture a scene and use the sky or the sun in the background so contrast is portrayed.

By capturing silhouettes, I think a will be able to show a sharp contrast between the sky and the scene.

Straight Images - Contrast

Straight Images - Contrast (Studio Shoot) 2

Straight Images - Contrast 2

Image Bank - Contrast

Photographers use contrast in their pictures to create exciting, eye-catching images and to ensure that the viewer focuses on the center of interest. The subject/s are positioned in a particular way in order to create contrast as well as to emphasise on the main subject/s. However, the main reason for using contrast in Photography is to show the difference between two or more objects and this is done by including the objects in the same picture and positioning them in such a way that the dissimilarities are clear. Contrast can be shown in a variety of way in just one picture, for example in the picture with the mugs. Contrast is shown through the colour of the mugs, the colour of the drinks inside the mugs and between the mugs and the background.

Describing Contrast

Dramatic

Subtle

Strong

Comparison

Difference

Tones

Opposites

Inverse

Definition - Contrast

Contrast: 

The state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association.

My own definition:

Comparing to show unlikeness or differences. 

In this picture, contrast is shown by using black and white to show the huge difference in the tones of the two colours. Because black and white contrast each other massively, the photographer decided to add two glasses of water, which both reflect a bit of the opposite colour on each of the backgrounds.

Colour has been used by the photographer in this picture to show contrast as all of the colours included in this picture are completely different to each other. The colours have been picked deliberately because they all stand out and also help each other to stand out due to the differences between them.

In this picture, the photographer has shown contrast by portraying the difference in age as well as size. A ring has also been added to emphasise on the age difference as this is the what the photographer wanted the viewer to focus on. Moreover, the wrinkles on the big hands contrast to the small hands with no wrinkles.

This picture contains two contrasting colours to show the difference between them. Although both fruits appear to be citric, the colour difference shows a huge contrast between them, making them appear extremely different to each other.