Homework
aw558
wk5assgnperezg.pptPathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
The first pathway in my series is a running pathway. It is close to my home and I run on it everyday after I come home from work. Running outdoors is part of my healthy lifestyle.
Pathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
For this assignment I chose the path that I run along everyday. This picture uses a loose frame for the pathway as it makes it the central focus of the photograph. As Freeman (2013) states when describing loose framing, the viewers focus should be pulled to the subject and not on its boarders. The foliage on either side of the pathway create its own frame along the edges of this photograph. The horizontal orientation of the photograph focuses on the path itself and it does not get lost with the sky and other trees above it. With a tall frame, the pathway no longer was the main focus and the foliage and trees became the subject. I wanted the viewer to feel as though they were walking down the path themselves and not focus on the height of the trees that surround the path.
I am very happy with how tis photograph turned out. It did take me longer than expected as I was thinking to much and did not focus myself on the subject originally. Once I focused on the subject myself, I realized my photos started to frame nicely. In the future I feel like I will approach my subject differently and not get lost with in the setting. I feel like I have now gained prospective on how to approach my subject to achieve my vision. I am excited about the next assignments and I am looking forward to trying to photograph different spaces.
Freeman, M. (2013). The photographer’s eye: Graphic guide: Instantly understand composition & design for better digital photos. Burlington, MA: Focal Press
Pathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
The second photograph in the series is of my daughter at the grocery store. She is in the health food isle where we buy most of our organic food. Eating clean and whole foods is also a part of a healthy life.
Pathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
This week I took my daughter to our local grocery store to her favorite isle. I set up the shot and I chose to position her off-center near the edge and lower corner of the frame. I chose not to place her in the center as I did not want to block the viewers eye from going up the isle. Because the isle is the actual subject, I did not want to take away from it by centering her.
The positon she is in with relationship to the isle creates an unbalanced photo. Like the photograph of the BBQ and the tire swing in the article “Balance in Composition,” by Expert Photography (2015); the viewer is drawn to the little girl first and then the eye is directed to the isle. It is hard to decide whether the girl or the isle is the subject in this photograph. As stated in Expert Photography (2015), it forces the viewer to observe the photograph for a longer period of time.
My photograph is divided in a rectilinear fashion. If you imagine the photo as multiple rectangles you can see that the food on either side of the isle, the isle itself, and my daughter all fit into rectangular shapes. This way of dividing the photograph gives an organized feel to the scene. All of the straight lines in this photo lends itself well to this type of dividing style.
When I first set up the shot I did not have my daughter in the photo. After reviewing the shots I decided that putting her in it would help to balance and give a different feel. Next time I would give more thought to weighting the photo and how to make it more interesting. I may give my daughter something to eat or have her hold a piece of food in the photo. In the article Balance in Composition by Expert Photography (2015), the author talks about taking 36 photos of a mailbox. I look forward to learning how to make a pathway look different and interesting each time I photograph it.
Expert Photography. (2015). Balance in composition: Everything you need to know. Retrieved from http://expertphotography.com/basic-composition-techniques-balance/
Pathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
The third photograph in the series is of a staircase in the medical library at our hospital. This represents a pathway to knowledge which is also important to healthy living.
Pathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
This photograph was taken of the spiral staircase in the medical library at our local hospital. After reading this chapter I immediately thought of this particular place in the library. My photograph includes rhythm, vertical, and curve graphics.
There is an obvious repetition of many elements in this photograph. When thinking about the rhythm of a photo, it is important to think about how you are taking it. Freeman (2013) talks about your view point. If the viewpoint is interesting, something that could have been seen as “boring” and “predictable” becomes eye-catching. I could have shot this photograph at the bottom of the staircase, which would have been simple and easy. I chose to approach the stairs a different way, which I believe allows you to appreciate the stairs and most importantly, the books.
The vertical lines from the books in the background is my favorite part of this photograph. It took some time to get the angle just right so that they were framed just so. I wanted them to appear to be part of the staircase and blend in with the vertical rungs of the banister. I also wanted to avoid the top of the bookshelf because the horizontal line from that distracted the viewers eye.
You can see curves in two areas of this photograph: in the banister and in the staircase. The more harsh curve of the banister in the foreground brings your gaze around the entire photo just as it would if you were walking down these stairs yourself.
I think that I was successful in achieving my goal for this photograph. I took my time and set up the shot. It did take a bit longer than I would have liked. Next time I will need to work on avoiding distracting elements in the edges of my photograph. I noticed that when you change an angle or the perspective away from the obvious, it is easy to get distracting edges of the photograph. I had to take this picture several times to resolve that. However, I can notice a big difference in how I approach a photo now. My approach is not as predictable as it once was.
Freeman, M. (2013). The photographer’s eye: Graphic guide: Instantly understand composition & design for better digital photos. Burlington, MA: Focal Press.
Pathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
The fourth photograph of the series is of a hallway at a hospital. This represents a medical pathway. Going to the doctor is a necessary aspect of a healthy life.
(This photograph is staged as we are not allowed to take pictures of patients or any identifying information. I asked two other nurses to participate and had them move around the unit as if they were really a nurse and patient.)
Pathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
Everyday patients are wheeled up and down this hall, either to surgery or to the step down unit when they are making progress. This is an example of what I see; the path that is taken for the patient to start the healing process. This photograph captures the moment that a “patient” is being wheeled to the operating suite which is just down that hall. I focused on moving out as the motion technique. Because pathways are my theme, I kept them in focus and placed them just right of center in the frame. The shutter speed is slow, making the action down the pathway blurred. The nurses back foot is in focus and the ball of his foot is pressing into the ground. The front foot is blurred and coming off the ground. This gives the viewer another visual cue that the individuals are moving and how the nurse is moving.
The “patient” is being wheeled down the hall going horizontally across the photo. This pulls your focus out of the frame. The viewer is left with the wonder of where exactly the patient is going. Much like the photograph by Magnum Photos (n.d.), “Gare Saint Lazare,” we are unsure where the leaping man is going. This is an example of curiosity as written about in the “Desicive moment” article by Suler (n.d.). The viewer is unaware of where they are going and what exactly is down the hall.
By shear coincidence I was able to capture the nurse in the reflection of the picture at the right of my frame. I was very pleased with this and it reminded me of the reflection in the leaping man photo.
If I were to try to capture this again I would like to have a wide angle lens. I had difficulty framing the shot without losing the action. The motion is more towards center and I would have liked it to be more toward right. Or it would have been nice to get them coming out of the room on the left and down the hall.
Magnum Photos. (n.d.). Gare Saint Lazare. Retrieved from http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=24PVHKUH2Z9MD&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=676
Suler, J. (n.d.). The psychology of the “decisive moment.” Retrieved from http://truecenterpublishing.com/photopsy/decisive_moment.htm
Pathways for a Healthy Life
Greudy Perez: October 1, 2015
ARTS 2001C
The fifth and final photograph of the series is of a shore line in the Dominican Republic on the Samana Peninsula. This was on one of my most favorite vacations with my family. Taking a break with your family is the best part of living a healthy life.
This photograph represents a palate color theme. The four predominant colors in this photograph are the rich green from the trees, the pop of orange from the flowering tree, the tan sand, and the bright blue sky and light blue water.
My overall theme throughout the course was the different pathways that make up a healthy life. The photographs are snap shots of my own pathways. Other individuals pathways may look different but fitness, food, knowledge, medical care, and vacation are common components of a healthy life. I truly love my series. I worked hard and I believe that the viewer can see at the very least that these are all pathways. The framing of each photograph showcases the pathway. The only photo that I think may have been improved was week 3. I set that shot up because I loved the curve of the staircase and wanted to include that as it was part of that weeks reading. However, The viewer may not understand that this is my knowledge pathway. When I framed the photo I made sure to capture a large shelve of books so it would appear you were walking down to them. If I had simply taken a picture of an isle in the library it would have been a more literal translation and it most likely wouldn't have changed the viewers perception, but I don’t think it would have been as visually appealing.
Individuals who look at my photo series will benefit by learning about healthy living through photography. I tried to make each photograph unique. When taking pictures of pathways (halls, isles, staircases, walking ways, etc.) it can be very boring if you approach it straight on and take the photo. The readings helped me to look at the pathway from different angles. I paid attention to colors, horizontal, vertical and curved lines, reflections, and the placement of my subject. I am happy with my photo series and I hope that those who view it may become inspired to change their lifestyle for the better.
