My Essay

Misheena Edwards

12.10.10

Digital Photography

Over the last period of classes in Digital Photography, we have been focusing on different techniques of the camera and its functions. The three main ones that stood out to me were how to fill an image frame, 4 Rules of Composition for Landscape Photograph and Using Focal Points in Photography. Throughout my essay I will give you a clearer understanding of each.

Have you ever looked at a photo and had to squint to make out the face of the people in the background? Well, that’s where how to fill an image frame comes in. This method is specifically important when taking pictures of people whose facial features tend to disappear when you move more than a few meters away from them. Three valuable steps you can take to solve this problem is by using an optical zoom lens, use your legs (position yourself effectively) and crop your shots (this is a good option when your trimming photos). This approach can be useful when taking still life photos of people, scenes etc.

The second skill was the 4 Rules of Composition for Landscape Photography. Diagonal Lines which basically drawing the eye of those viewing the image. Please don’t get confuse this rule to be an actual line but substitute of trees, fences, rivers etc. To create a balanced composition in your photo, you need to follow the direction of Geometric Shapes. This is actually my favorite because it creates a clever eye to be leaded to the main focus of a picture. Many may hear a lot about the Rules of Thirds because it’s the first lesson taught to photography students. Simple stated it is the position key points interest. The last and final rule of Composition is the framing of images. It’s the adding of interest to other parts of the edges of an image to make it stand out or what we teenage might say “POP.”

Using Focal Points in Photography, this reason is important because it captures an audience in the first glance. There are 6 procedures to improve the focal point in an image. These are the position (Rule of Thirds), focus (Depth of Field), blur (shutter speed), size, color and shape. These steps work perfectly together and will create and perfect illustration.

In conclusion, these steps are effective because it makes it easier to create an image that you would be satisfied with. My experience using these methods where fun and helpful. I say this because we did a daily image in my Digital Photography class each day and I can now pin point out the clear focus on point of interest. I think these techniques will be beneficial to anyone interested in the art of photography.

Symmetry & Asymmetry

Symmetry is the balance of a design elements where one side equals another.

Asymmetry is an imbalance between two parts normally alike. ( Lack of symmetry).

My photographs demonstrate symmetry because it brings a sense of unity through the repetition of the elements in my picture, when on the other hand my other three photographs portray asymmetry because the elements in my images are not balance. The biggest challenge for me was that it was hard to capture symmetrical/asymmetrical pictures outside on a field where there was mostly trees. However, my biggest success was in the auditorium because there was a lot of symmetry/ asymmetry to capture from the chairs, to the ceiling etc.