Final Exam

4) The photo that I took this year that changes my view of photography is one of a rose. When I first chose my 3 rules of composition, I wasn't very sure how exactly I would incorporate them all into one photo. As a result, a lot of the pictures I took usually ended up using only one or two of the rules. However, with this photo, I tried my best to use all 3, and to some extent, all 3 rules can be seen. The rose in the photo is not centered and slightly off to the side, which shows the use of the rule of thirds. The photo is fairly balanced, with leaves in the background that don't overshadow the main subject, the rose, showing the use of balance. And lastly, I took this picture from a viewpoint directly above the rose, showing that I had been taking photos of the same rose from different viewpoints.

5) Shape shows more of a two-dimensional aspect in a photo, such as a circle, or any other flat shape with only length and width. Form, on the other hand, is three-dimensional, such as spheres, or any other shape with length, width, as well as depth. For example, this photo of a rose would show form rather than shape, because it is easily seen as three-dimensional, and also includes depth.

6) Pattern is a group of elements that repeat in a predictable way, such as this picture of ball bearings, which is not by me, but by Wayne Mah. There are many ball bearings in the picture, all laid out in rows, showing a predictable pattern. Repetition on the other hand, is the use of just one element, such as color, multiple times, but can either be seen throughout the entire photo, or in one area of it.

7) My "About Me" was inspired by Peter Bohler.

8) My last project was the weebly site with pictures of different colored roses. Of all the different types of pictures I have attempted to take, I believe these were my best, because they are the only ones in which I successfully incorporated all three of my rules of photo composition: rule of thirds, balance, and viewpoint. In earlier pictures that I tried taking, I wasn't able to use all 3 of these rules because I tried to look for things I could take pictures of that would allow me to easily use them. With the roses, I just decided that I'd choose what to take pictures of first, then use the rules in the process, which ended up working a lot better. This project helped me see that

Student Website Reviews

Jason Wu's Photos
I liked Jason's 5th photo, because a strawberry in water is cool looking.

Pavi Bhatter's Photos
I think Pavi's best photo was the 4th one of the mangoes because I like mangoes and its nicely framed.

Kevan Mathis' Photos
I liked Kevan's 2nd photo of the leaf the best because it is a close up of a leaf, but it isn't exactly in the center, and the rule of thirds is one of my rules of composition.

Jason Stiltz' Photos
I liked Jason's 2nd photo of the house because the house is right in the center, and the background is balanced behind it.

Friday Photo Assignment

I chose Photo 8 from Documenting the Blues in the Mississippi Delta.

This photo shows variety because there are many things on it that capture the viewers attention. The first thing the viewers will see is the house, but as they look at the entire photo, the sign to the right of the house, overgrown plant life, and street light will become just as significant. This photo is complex, but not to the point where each individual element cannot be seen separately. The photographer was able to successfully show variety in the complexity of the photo, but at the same time, made sure it was easy to look at.

Looking From Behind, with Feeling

Photo 2 is our favorite because it shows a woman looking into a church.

Empowering the Poor: Top 5 Photographs

Rankings:

• First: Photo 10 
• Second: Photo 5
• Third: Photo 6
• Fourth: Photo 4
• Fifth: Photo 9

Ordinary Miracles - The Photo League

1) What was The Photo League's credo? 
The Photo League wanted to make newsreels of labor rallies and protests that they thought were not being covered properly or satisfactorily.

2) What organization did The Photo League separate from? The Photo League separated from an organization called the Worker's International Relief. 

3) What was the workshop? 

The workshop was a documentary photography workshop for advanced techniques.

4) Who taught "the workshop?" 

The workshop was taught by Sid Grossman.

5) If you were to devote one year of your life to one project, what project is worth your time and energy?

Something that I like and don't hate because then that year would be dumb.

6) What was The Harlem Document?

The Harlem Document was a portrait of black urban America and the people, culture, and lifestyle of Harlem in the 1930s.

7) Who started The Harlem Document?

Aaron Siskind started the Harlem Document.

8) A photographer discusses a photograph where "the children looked like they came out of a __________ painting. Who was the painter? 

Caravaggio

9) Why did the photograph mentioned in #8 look like it was by the painter? 

It looked like Caravaggio because of the way the sun came down and the way the background was dark but the sunlight illuminated one subject.

10) Who was Lewis Hine? (name two significant contributions)

Lewis Hine was a photographer and sociologist who, in 1908, photographed for the National Child Labor Committee. These photographs helped change child labor laws in the US. After his death, his photos were donated to the Photo League by his son. 

11) Who was Weegee?

Weegee was a pseudonym for Arther Fellig, a photographer known for his black and white street photographs.

12) How did The League change when The Nazis took power?

When the Nazis came into power, some talented photographers fled Nazi Germany.

13) How did The League change during WWII?

During WWII, the league started to fall apart, due to being accused of being communist and anti-American by the FBI. However, until they disbanded, they used photography to show the realism of the war.

14) How did Siskind change after WWII?

After WWII, Aaron Siskind continued to pursue photography by eventually joining Harry Callahan to tea

15) What was the Saturday Evening post?

It was an American magazine that started in 1987.

16) Who was Barbara Morgan? What did she photograph?

Barbara Morgan was a photographer best known for her photos of modern dancers and co-founding the magazine Aperture.

17) What eventually undermined the Photo League?

The Photo League eventually disbanded after WWII because the FBI accused them of being anti-American Communists.

18) What was the "Growing Menace" mentioned in the film?The "Growing Menace" mentioned in the film was fascism and Communism.

19) Who agreed to serve as President when The League was under investigation?

Eugene Smith agreed to serve as president while the League was under investigation.

20) What happened to the league?

The League eventually disbanded in 1951.

Rules of Photo Composition

1) Rule of thirds - if the photo is divided by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines into 9 equal parts, the most important elements should be placed along these lines or where they intersect

2) Balance - even while using the rule of thirds, the image should be balanced; for example, don't leave an empty spot on one side of the photo, and try to fill it with another object of lesser importance

3) Viewpoint - try to shoot from different angles such as from above or below, rather than always from eye level