Keep things simple.. It is that complicating to do that?

For our fourth assignment, we were required to take high/low key photos. It was a really great challenge as it is only a thin line between being overexposed and having high key, or being underexposed and having low key.

High Key

Ever since the assignment was given out in class, I’ve been keeping my eyes out for suitable places to take such photos. Really white backgrounds with white objects? I really had no idea what am I really looking out for. I can say that its really difficult to find places that is naturally fit for high key. But luckily for me, when I was at my grandma’s place on a weekend, I spotted a really interesting frame to capture.

Not that great, but at least its a start for me. The photo looks really plain and simple with only 1 subject, a mop head that is lying on what looks like a ledge. I tried taking the photo on flat ground at first but realized that having such a 3D effect looks more interesting.

Low Key

I thought that looking for dark objects and dark backgrounds wasn’t that difficult, I was right about that BUT the real difficulty comes with the taking of photos. The correct lighting? The angle of the lighting? Where does the lighting come from? Natural or artificial? So many questions just pops up. As I was spending my Saturday at my grandma’s place, these old Coca-cola bottles caught my attention. They were kept in a dark cupboard that was away from direct sunlight. I squeezed my camera into the small opening of the cupboard which I left open to allow some light to fall in. And it resulted in the photo below.

I felt lucky that it was not underexposed as the words on the bottles are still in focus and clear to read despite the dark background. The cupboard was of a dark brown colour instead of black. As a result, it looks as if the bottles are kind of glowing (having some back light from the reflection of light of the cupboard wall).

All in all, the experience was great trying to take such photos that I’ve yet to try before. I believe that I won’t stop here with these two photos. I’m definitely on a quest to capture greater ones!

It was a really busy week for me but I got the chance to visit Marina Barriage to take the perspective photo! Its a really nice place to fly kites, have picnics and all. Its also a really nice spot to take photos!

Perspective

I tried lots of shoots and finally found this photo which I took from almost ground level. I like the curves in the photo.

Review: Considered a perspective shot but the interesting/special enough to be remembered or capture attention.

For close up and zoom photos, I was only able to try them at home.

Close up

I decided to capture a everyday object such that the close up shot would not expose what it is. But, it failed terribly! My classmates recognise it as a portion of an air-conditioner. I must work harder for this!

Zoom Shot

Zoom shots are fun! I’ve been trying to take photos like this even before taking nm3223 just for fun, I didn’t even know that they were called zoom shots then. I find photos which can bring out the effect are really cool. I tried it on several objects such as eggs, bottles, etc. They turn out quite hilarious. So I decided to try on this artificial flower which i find at home. The unqiue shape of  flower and its petals makes it look as if it is “radiating” out when a zoom shot is done on it.

Metaphor of a SMILE

This photo assignment was the most difficult so far! I really had no idea what to take! No human smiling, no animals, no softtoys, etc. What is there still to show a SMILE?! I thought of flowers but that might be repetitive of the photo above. So I thought, what makes me smile? FOOD! and the food that brings smiles to most girls would be desserts! Coincidentally, my brother made strawberry yoghurt for the family and I decided to try some food photography! =)

I went to NUS Bukit Timah Campus for the 1st time just for A1 =D

As compared to the Kent Ridge Campus which we spent all our uni life at, the atmosphere at BTC feels really different somehow.. different architecture? smarter people? LOL.. oh wells, but its a really nice place to explore and take photos..

Now, on what I handed up!

Colour

My explanation: I’m aware that white and black have always been taken as non-colours. But I thought that it would be an interesting photo to show a difference in the colour of the stones that were in the shade and of the stones that were rained on. However, the overall look of the photo looks black and white.

Review: This photo is more like texture than colour. It would be better to have an object of a bright colour.

Shape

My explanation: I really like this photo actually, the angle and everything.

Review: It would be better if the photo is taken from a higher level on the building directly opposite to show a more 2D view.

Lines

My explanation: Lines going at different directions, the photo is clean. However, I do feel it’s definitely not good enough.

Review: The composition of the photo is not that interesting.

Form

My explanation:I didn’t really understand the idea of form at first, I thought that this frame looks rather 3D but I realised it was not interesting enough. I hope to improve on it.

Review: Composition not that interesting.

Texture

My explanation: Instead of taking texture of walls or the ground, I wanted to do something different. Thus, I chose a tree bark.

Review: It could be for colour.