Assignment 1: Explore

ekblad_largeaper_simplicity

Composition: Framing and contrast played the greatest role in this photo. With a close up view of the pull-cord and the blown out whites, it created a gritty scene with just one main element appearing clean and innocent.

Concept/Aboutness/Idea: This image is about control. The bright white pull-cord controls the light let in through the window. The "evil" looking black edges appear to be surrounding the cord however while the white remains.

Method: This image is all natural lighting and scenery. The sun shining through the window illuminated the pull-cord, and shadows from surrounding walls and books created deeper blacks.

Motivations: My goal for this image to was successfully play with light in great contrast, while keeping few elements involved in the image.

Context: This photo seems unique in many ways compared to other photographer's work. It shows the theme of control in a way that I have not seen before. It also can be representative of the green movement and using light sparingly, and "letting more dark in."

Part 2
Interpretation: It was interpreted the same way that I thought. Many comments were made about the powerful blacks and whites as well as it's simplicity and interesting composition.
Evaluation: The composition is working very well. The bright pull cord also gives the image a lot of great asymmetry. What might not be working so well is the detail lost in the blown out pull-cord. Next time I would try keeping more detail in the pull cord, and also I would try zooming out just to see how it would effect my composition.
Extension: If I were to make a set of photos based off this one, I would like to have it involve playing with linear and curved lines, keeping one to the extreme and one minimal.

ekblad_perspective
 Composition: Perspective and lighting are the two highlighted features of this photo. A mixture of direct sunlight and an often not shown side of a cologne bottle made for interesting angles and lines.
Concept/Aboutness/Idea: My image is representative of beauty in architecture. Even though this is not a building, it has so many angles and textures that allow it to be seen in a more structural sense.
Method: After finding a dark background (my desk chair) and a bright light source (sunshine), I was able to combine the two into a well-lit ensemble of glass and liquid.
Motivations: My goal for this image to was achieve a great deal of clarity for the textures and also portray the cologne bottle in a way not usually seen in magazines, focusing on the bottle more than the content or brand.
Context: This photograph is close to the same style as many magazine photos, however, it explores a new dimension of cologne. instead of focusing on a brand name or the liquid inside, it concentrates on the beauty of the bottle and its many details. This could be described as a commentary on brand-culture and how it distracts us from amazing and simple forms.

Part 2
Interpretation: This image was not interpreted as I intended. Many people liked the high contrast and sharpness of the image, but in terms of its "hidden meaning," there were not many comments on that.
Evaluation: The clarity and contrast in this photo is something that I believe is working very well. The light source highlighted small textures that give this image something extra. What might not be working is the image being so up close. Next time I would back up a little and not have the bottle fill the frame so much.
Extension: A jumping off point from this image could be a concentration on glass and liquid, dealing especially with those two things in architectural forms.

ekblad_slspeed_instability
Composition:  Balance and contrast are the most unique and important elements of this photograph. Because of the general chaos, there is balance throughout the frame. And my choice to show little contrast is because I wanted a more painterly effect.
Concept/Aboutness/Idea: This image is about a chaos occurring in nature. Even though this was a healthy tree, it now stands blowing in the wind, its inner support system exposed, almost taking on a vein-like effect.
Method: This image was created using a slower exposure and a tree on a blustery day. The more stationary parts (the branches) were kept dark and more clear, while the leaves were in constant extreme movement, blurring and lightening their presence.
Motivations: My goal for this image was to create chaos in a place one would normally never find it.
Context: I believe this photo looks at chaos and instability in a new way, discovering it in strange places. And as mentioned above, it relates to the issue of nature and the green movement.

Part 2
Interpretation: This image was interpreted just as I had hoped. Many people saw the chaos of the tree, or had no idea what the subject even was because it was so distorted.
Evaluation: My exposure and black and white processing of the image are working very well. Without it being too high contrast, it still shows a great amount of detail and strange forms. What might not be working so well is the composition. Next time I would try taking a few more angles or cropping this image.
Extension: Jumping off from this image, I would create a series of photos about chaos in nature, all involving blur and longer exposures. I could look at crowds of people, leaves falling, fields of grass blowing, etc.