Lab Times

Lab hours through the remainder of the semester ...

Monday, April 27: 8-10 a.m., 3:15-5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 28: 12:30-2 p.m., 4:30-7 p.m.

Thursday, April 20: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday, May 1: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday, May 4: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 5: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 6: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Portfolio due date: Wednesday, May 6, 5 p.m. SHARP. Once the clock on Computer 0 in the lab clicks past 5:00:00, no portfolios will be accepted. If you haven't turned in your portfolio by then, it will be recorded as a zero. 

Please, don't push the deadline. Really, just don't ... 

ASSIGNMENT: Photo Story 2/Multimedia Project

Due on the server by Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m. is your final audio slide show. This should be approximately 90 seconds in length. 

(For those who were at the Honors Day ceremony, the handout for SoundSlides is on the class site. See me or a friend for more info.) (Oh, and the Audacity handout is there, as well.)

Remember to convert your captions into cutlines so that they flow from one image to the next. When you're done, export, rename the "publish_to_web" folder and submit the whole folder to the server. 

And, of course, test your project - double click on the index.html file inside your renamed "publish_to_web" folder and make sure it works. 

ASSIGNMENT: Photo Essay (part 1)

Find a person to profile, someone with a good story to tell and who can tell it. You will need to make 4-6 visits over the next few weeks, so make sure access won’t become an issue.

By 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, have a 3-5 photo package on the server, including one portrait.

ASSIGNMENT: Campus Feature

One feature photo from the UGA campus, due on the server by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31. 

Look for a great moment, a telling slice-of-life image that speaks to what living, studying or working on the UGA campus is like in 2009. Think about composition and light, use them to advance the story.

Burnett in Vietnam

Here's the post I mentioned (to the afternoon section) about how David Burnett missed the photo of Kim Phuc running after being hit with napalm in Vietnam. (This came up when someone asked how Nachtwey managed to reload film in combat situations.)

Regardless of this instance, Burnett is still my hero ...

Light Photos!

Even though theyre a little bit late.. I think these are pretty cute/awesome...

Hard Light:
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/best-pod-february-09/piglet-africa.html

Soft Light:
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/best-pod-february-09/birds-rondeau-park.html

Diffused Light (water.):
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/best-pod-february-09/mahout-bathing-elephant.html

ASSIGNMENT: Long, Medium & Close-up

From one newsworthy event, shoot a long, a medium and a close-up. Tell a story in three images, each image should tell a different part of the story.

DUE: Tuesday, March 24 by 7:00 p.m. (Will review in class on Wednesday, March 25)

Light clips

Diffused Light: Picture 1

Hard Light: Here

Soft Light: Picture 11

light clips

Diffused: This photo illustrates diffused light with fog and mist over an ice field on Mt. Tomuraushi in Daisetsuzan National Park (in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island).

Soft:  This photo illustrates soft light over a dining area in the Four Seasons on 52nd Street.

Hard: This photo illustrates hard light with a clearly defined shadow.

Light Clips

Soft Light: Afghan women in a shelter: The light entering through the windows creates the effect of soft light.

Diffused Light: (#11 on Big Picture) Girls react after colored powder is thrown on them: The light catches the powder in the air creating diffused light.

Hard Light: (#19 on Big Picture) A coal worker stacks wood : The harsh, short shadows denote hard light. The color of the light is also that of midday when the sun is high in the sky creating a harder light on the subjects.

, Frannie Fabian

Light Clips

I just realized these were due yesterday, so I know they won't count but I wanted to post them anyway. 

Soft light: Number 2  on this list. The shadows under the dogs are very, very light and almost nonexistent. The light gets slightly harsher up the mountain though as the shadows behind the trees are more prominent. 

Hard light: Number 14 in this slideshow. Very direct source of light and harsh, defined shadows. 

Diffused light: Number 13   on this list. The dust around the wolf and the dog are causing the diffused light. 

Lighting

My examples of hard and soft lighting are from the same website. My choice for hard lighting is #9, which also displays some great golden lighting. The example of soft light that I chose was #19.

Picture #4. This is my example of diffused lighting.

Sorry these were a bit late, we did not have internet access like we were told we would at the condo, so I did these as soon as I could. Apologies.

Clips in honor of St. Patrick's Day!

As a native of Savannah, Ga, the themes of my photo clips are in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  This first photo contains hard light. The shadows and the light coming off of the backs of the women are the star of this show. The second photo is soft light.  There are not very many shadows.  It looks as though it may have been taken at night time.   I might consider this photo to contain diffused light.  It is a photo of a horse shoe from the Budweiser Clydesdales from Savannah's St. Patrick's day.

Natalie Light Clips

This picture, the first of the slide show, is my example of diffused light. The way the landscape is captured by the smog and mist creates a great ambiance for the Gaza Strip.

This picture, number 7, is my example of direct light. Because the light is directly behind the fishermen, they are completely silhouetted in the landscape. This picture, number 12, of Sasha Obama is also an example because of the directness of the light as she runs down the corridor.

This picture, number 26, is soft light. Because the lighting is less intense, the character and personality of the person plays a bigger role. The light gives way to paying attention to the details of the picture. Also, this picture, number 33, is full of detail because of the soft light in the photograph.

Light

My example of hard light courtesy of Mike White.

Image number 6 here has very little shadow, soft lighting.

Not a whole lot of shadows in this one either. Diffused.

Light Clips

For hard light, I like this photo. You can see the highlights on the foreheads and sharp shadows across the face of the man on the left. Also, you can see sharp shadows on the suit caused by a single source, possibly a spotlight.

This example of soft light, is really cool. You can see the very small shadows under the feet of the men in the foreground. In the background, well, there are a lot of people wearing life jackets!

If I am not mistaken, this is an example of diffused light. I think this picture is taken in the morning which would explain the hazy or foggy appearance of the hills with temples in the background.

Light Pictures

This photo is an example of hard light. The sun is coming from one direction and it creates nice shadows on both of their faces.

The soft light is nice in this photo. The woman's face is completely shown in light. It is a very subtle light that doesn't distract from the emotion of the picture. Photo 7 out of 24

The diffused light in this photo creates a really nice effect. The smoke from the fire creates a nice blue tone to the photo. I also like how the smoke blurs the background so the focus is just on the boy. Photo 2 out of 39

light pictures

hard light: This photo depicts hard light because of the large shadows casted to the side of the cows. This photo has good composition and movement as well.

soft light: This photo is a good example of soft light. The light from the lamp gently wraps around the woman's face.

diffused light: This photo is an example of diffused light because of the low fog or clouds. I think this is diffused light because you cannot determine where the exact light source is coming from and there are clearly no shadows.

Clips during Spring Break

This is a great example of diffused light. Here, the morning mist creates a dramatic scene of the mustangs.

I thought this was a good example of soft light. The light is either at sunrise, sunset because of the golden tint. Since there's no shadow in the photograph and because the photograph has an overall scene of warmth, I think it's soft light as opposed to hard light.

This obvious example of hard light is interesting because it's shot at a unique angle and the shadows are captured without overpowering the photograph.

Light

Hard light. This photo is compositionally creative and captures an important moment. The details included in the frame all need to be there.

Soft light. Is fluorescent light soft or hard light? Regardless this photo is important. Hospitals are depresssing, cancer is more depressing. But the photographer playfully captures a moment that emphasizes love.

Diffused Light. The subject is a sillouette but enough detail is preserved for the viewer to get a sense of the subject's exhaustion. Follows rule of thirds. I don't like the tree on the left.

Hard Light:
(4th picture in the list) I love the moment in this photo and the boy's face. I really like how the light is used to highlight his figure and enhance the color.

Soft Light:
I love this picture! I really like how the light is soft enough so that you can see the reflections in the eyes of the seals. The color is enriched by the type of light, especially the seal's pink mouth, and because nothing is too bright you notice the penguins in the background and the other birds in the sky. I totally love the moment here, too.

Diffused Light:
I love the color in this picture and how it all leads the eye directly to the forcus of the picture. The diffused light really enhances the drama of the picture as well.

Light Clips

This photo shows hard light because there is a single light source that is making the girls in the foreground have intense shadows on a slick black floor and the girls in the background are only silhouettes.

The is an example of soft light. The light wraps around the model's face.


This photo is a good example of diffused light because the sun it coming through a thick layer of smoke that is covering Cape Town, South Africa.

Courtney Ebert's Light photos

My hard light photo is one of monks. The light is very directional.

My soft light photo is one of an African girl crying. The lighting makes it more somber.

For my diffused light photo, I could not pick between two. One is underwater and the other is light coming through a haze.

Katherine Howell's Light Photos

This is my hard light photo. (It's the next to last photo in the album titled "Hometown Pride.") I really like the moment in this picture!

This is my example of a soft light photo. This is just simply cute.

This is the link to my diffused light photo. I love this picture! The way the light is coming through the haze from the snowstorm is beautiful!

Light Examples

I think this is a good example of hard light.

Here is some nice soft light. There are not many shadows, and you can see all the patterns in the algae.

I really like this example of diffuse light. I love the way the dust is diffusing the firelight.

Light

This is my good example of soft light. The lighting here lends a very forceful sense of tranquility to the overall scene. It sets a very mellow, contemplative tone that compliments the expression on the woman's face very well. The vivid green of the grass also seems to stand out a bit better in the relative dimness. Also, this may be unrelated, but it bothers me that her foot is cut off by that chimney-looking thing at the bottom.

Here is what I considered to be diffuse light. Notice how hazy the trees in the background are because of what I'm guessing to be a combination of snow and fog (snog?). I think there's a strong feeling of desolation and bleakness here.

This would seem to be hard light. Notice how fiercely white the stuff close to the window is. As we move closer to the camera, the shadows make the bed closer to a shade of gray. Also, I can't see a single thing out of the windows, so the sun must've been burning very brightly that day, causing the highlights there to be blown out.

Light assignment.

Hard light: this photo here really uses the hard light to make the whole landscape pop. The brightness and detail afforded by a smaller aperture puts both the man and the camel in focus, so they can anchor each other.

Photo by Eugenio Pastor Benjumeda.

Soft light: This one by Dan Heller definitely makes light the star, figuratively and literally. The star trails are beautifully executed, stand out just enough from the early morning sky, and the lights in the tents bring out just enough detail and color all around to make the rest of the image compositionally interesting. Beautiful.

Diffused light: This photo by Timothy Toole is an interesting one, because it uses both the diffused light through the fog, and a tiny bit of hard light in the foreground. Great shot, anyway.

Light

Hard Light

It's not always a bright, sunny day thing.

Soft Light

From Nat Geo's Feathers of Seduction article - no real shadows, everything just sort of glows.

Diffuse Light 

Not very journalistic, but it's an interesting use of cloud and shadow.

Hard, Soft, Diffused

HARD
-This photo is of an image that creates a prominent shadow and uses the sun as the direct light source. Additionally, details are lost in the wrangler's face and clothes.

SOFT
-In this picture (image 6 of 10, with the dog), no shadows are cast. It's not an especially dramatic photo, but the details are held across the frame.

DIFFUSED
-Finally, here, contrast and colors are reduced because of the weather. The only real color comes in the foreground with the skier.

Light Clips

Soft light: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/photos/photos_galleries/022709globestaffphotosoftheweek/#/14
(#14)

Hard light:
http://onlineathens.com/multimedia/galleries/030309-snow/slides/030209_Weather14_ts.html?show_param=3

Diffused light:
http://onlineathens.com/multimedia/galleries/030209-readersnow/slides/Athens_Igloo.html

Light photos: hard, soft and diffused

A little early, but here are my three images.

The New York Times has been doing a lot of narrated slideshows of Manhattan lately, and I've yet to find one that disappoints. This one is by photographer James Hill, who spent a couple weeks shooting in New York. I like the entire collection, but there are a few good examples of hard light toward the end, starting around 1:22 when he starts talking about Central Park. There's one of the subway at the end that I think is a good example too. He talks about New York's "unique light."

This photo is my soft light example from The Red & Black, taken on March 1, aka snowstorm day.

And last but not least, a photo with diffused light.

ASSIGNMENT: Clips, Light (Part 2)

By 9 a.m. on Friday, March 13, please post links to three photos that demonstrate the ideals of hard light, soft light and diffused light to the blog. Make sure they're tagged to your class, as well, so we can find them.

Spend some time on this - don't just grab the easiest image you can find.

For the reshoot, you need to have your second try at light on the server by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Think about what David LaBelle said in class - this should be an image where the star of the photo is the light.

Have a good break, stay out of trouble.

ASSIGNMENT: Light

One photo - show the beauty of light. Find a great subject and put it in great light. Think about shooting early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Content counts, too.

Due on the server by 7 p.m. on March 3.

For inspiration, check out the work of Eric Meola or David Alan Harvey.

ASSIGNMENT: Reading

For Monday, please read pages 174-253 in the National Geographic book.

ASSIGNMENT: Environmental Portrait

Up next is an environmental portrait. We'll review this in class on February 25 , so you'll need to have it on the server by February 24 at 7:00 p.m. (when lab closes).

You need to choose a news-worthy person and tell us their story in a single image. You get to control everything - location, pose, composition. You're responsible for everything in that frame - make smart choices. Do not be afraid of controlling this image.

Things to think about:

• Background
  
• Composition
  
• Depth of field
  
• Location
  
• Location
  
• Location
  

No clips for this week, but I may post a reading assignment this evening here on the blog. Check for that in the morning.

Another Week of Clips

This photo needs some background control. I think the frame should have been shifted a bit to the left so the door behind the police officer isn't showing. I understand that the article is about a bulgary so people need to see how messy the room is, but a better angle on this photo would have made it better and still just as effective. 

I really like this photo because it's sharp and it involves a lot of action. The viewer feels a part of what's going on and the baseball is coming right toward the viewer. good angle. 

When you are trying to take photos in a small room like in this photo, what's the best way to take a photo? 

ASSIGNMENT: Four Scenes

Your next assignment involves shooting four photographs of the same scene, but with four different camera settings. They must all have the same composition, altering the focal length and the aperture as follows:

1. 28 mm, f/2.8
   
2. 28 mm, smallest aperture possible*
   
3. 75 mm, f/2.8
   
4. 75 mm, smallest aperture possible*
   

* Maximum of f/8. You may want to start with the stopped down one to make sure you have enough light. 

Example images:

This assignment needs to be on the server by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17. We'll review it in class on Wednesday, February 18.

ASSIGNMENT: 36 Faces Wrap Up - UPDATED DEADLINE

You've got three of your 36 faces worked up and submitted. To keep you honest, by 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 12 5 p.m on Friday, February 13, you need to put nine more images on the server - three from 28 mm, three from 50 mm and three from 75 mm. Crop then in the same way (4 inches by 6 inches at 200 dpi) with full captions, as we did in class on Wednesday.

I should have comments on the current batch out by Friday night, so you may want to wait until you see those comments. It may guide you in either reshooting some more or using what you have.

The Good, The Bad, and the Unsure??

This photograph taken of the recent fire on Milledge Avenue is a great representation of good composition such as the rule of thirds, framing and leading lines. I love how sharp and crisp the smoke is in the photograph as well.
In opposition, this photograph is not my favorite. Although it has leading lines and I like the color, the background control...well, I don't think there is much! The photograph is overall too busy...
For this photograph I wasn't sure if it would be possible to make the picture on the cell phone more clear? I like how the person's head is out of focus, but could it be possible to make the sharpness of the device better??

Clips!

I really, really like this picture! I would have tried a different angle, but it's fun and I think for a staged photo that it is composed very well. I like the yarn in the background and the expression of the woman's face.

For a picture I just don't like, there's this. I feel like the horizon is tilted and there is nothing interesting about it. Also, the photography definitely doesn't implement the rule of thirds.

For my questionable picture, this one makes me think. Would a tighter crop work here? Is it too empty up top?

Composition Assignment

This National Georgraphic photo is clean and colorful. (Although my favorite photo of the year is this one, which might get on others' nerves because his hand is cut out of the frame. I'm really just looking for an excuse to share it with someone, since none of my friends cared when I showed it to them last March.)

The photo is bad. The caption is a different matter entirely. It's hard to decide what to look at in this photo. There are random blurry objects in the foreground, and the firefighter is behind bars.

With photos like this, is it just luck? How difficult is it to have control over composition when in a plane or helicopter?

Sunday Photos

I like this picture because I think it's very striking and the firefighter in the back is cool. The woman in my second picture is too dark, and I want to be able to see her expression (although I guess I can imagine it). I was wondering in my third picture about the lighting. It just looks funny to me.

Laine Chiszar's Clips

I liked this picture because the colors all came out well, you can tell it's a bad situation and it forces you to atleast read the headline. The rain factored in just right too because you can tell it's raining but it doesn't distract you from what's going on in the photo.

I didn't like this photo because it took me too long to focus in on what the picture was of and I think a little more contrast would have helped make the scence clearer.

I would have liked to see the patient in focus since it's an article about healthcare but that's obviously not the angle the photographer too...Would it have worked to have some sort of middle ground so that the woman wasn't so out of fucus in this picture?

Anne's composition pictures

Here is my choice for the picture I have a question about...
It breaks the rule of thirds by putting the subject of the photo right in the center, but in my opinion, it is still well composed. I think it works because the men in the background are equally in focus, and they have color the man in the foreground is lacking. I was just wondering who agreed with me, and if not, how you would do it differently? I don't think shifting the man to the right would improve the image at all.

Here is my bad photo... I think it looks very amateur. There doesn't seem to be any thought put into the composition, the article just needed a picture of the Apollo, and someone snapped one. There's a little warping like Mark talked about as well.

This has got to be several people's choice for best composition, because its on the homepage, but I couldn't pass it up. I loved how the yellow of the fireman's outfit popped because of the smokey environment. The focus is great, even though the firefighter in the the background is also yellow, he is muted and obscured. Great use of the rule of thirds.

Photo Clips

I like this photo (photo number 9) because it is very sharp. I also like the smoke in the background. I do not like this photo because it is very dark and there is not a lot of contrast to it. How would you re-stage this photo? It doesn't make me think if a home foreclosure, it looks more like the results of a natural disaster.

Composition Photos

The good:

I like the composition of this photo (# 2). I think the focus is right where it should be and I really like that you can see the reflection in the man's binoculars.

The bad:

I don't really like the composition of this photo (# 32). I think the picture could have been taken from a different angle, or even cropped better to get the cars out of the bottom and the streetlights out from the front of the sign.

The ?:

This photo (# 10) is taken from underneath ice. Would the photographer be able to to get a picture without going underwater to take it?

Composition Natalie

I like this picture because every inch of it explains what it is trying to convey. It's very simple in a way, but it makes a direct message that is powerful.

I don't like this picture (Number 29) because there is no information besides a silhouette. It looks sloppy.

I have a question about this picture (Number 3). I think the content is so interesting, but you don't know what it is at first glance. Wouldn't it of made more sense to step back and show more of the camel? At this angle it could be someone's shaved head.

Composition

The Good: Paolo Pellegrin's photo of Frank Langella  for The New York Times ( the 4th one in Langella's series). The photo is interesting and plays with the shadows to create a compositional effect. 

The Bad: Hiroke Masuike's photo from the Neediest Cases story for The New York Times. Just not the best compositionally; the subject has objects growing out of her head. 

The Questionable:  Nicole Benigevo's photo of Plain's Ga. for The New York Times. Does this work compositionally? It is interesting, but a bit jarring. I can't decide. 

Composition

I really liked this photo. It has great depth of field.

I did not like this image at all. I feel like there should be less depth of field, especially since the seats are not completely filled. The background being in focus makes the image look very busy, and it takes away from the players and the ball, which should be the center of focus.

This image confused me. I wasn't sure what the focus was supposed to be. The caption refers to the people in the background, which makes me think they are the focus of the image, so I wondered why the photographer did not choose to put the people in the center of the frame. The picture also seems a little crooked to me, and I don't like how the walkway is not centered because it does not lead the eye to the focus like it should.

-Lindsay

Composition Clips

This photo is the one I chose for good composition.

I picked this photo for it’s poor composition because the angle and composition does nothing for me.

I like this photo a lot, but was wondering if it was cropped like this.

Freeman's Composition Pics

1. GOOD PHOTO
"The 'W' Word, Re-Engaged"
-I thought this photo was great because of the way it captured the words written on the booklet, and how the book almost acted as a direct line to the man sitting down. It was clear where you were supposed to look instantly. The picture is so descriptive you don't even need a title or a passage to figure out what's going on.

2. BAD PHOTO
"Landmark downtown diner changing owners, but nothing else"
-I just felt like there was too much going on here. I'm not sure who the focal point is, and the lighting is really annoying.

3. QUESTION PHOTO
"Dappled"
-I just wanted to know how the photographer was able to put light on just the 3 subjects they wanted with this picture. It seems to be pretty effective.

Composition Pictures

Good picture:
I really like this picture because the body of the butterfly is in so clear and in focus. I find it hard to blur surrounding images while making one element sharp and this picture demonstrates this concept perfectly. Also, the colors in the picture are vivid and pleasant to the eye.

Bad picture:
I really do like this picture (picture 10/10), but I think the photographer could have snapped the picture a second later and got the tennis racket at a better angle. The composition of the picture would be more "intense" if the racket was more visible.

Question:
The composition and coloring of this picture is unreal. It looks painted and the reflection of the mountains in the water is without a single flaw. My question is, did it take a lot of "photoshopping" to get this image to look this way? Also, can the cameras we are given to use take pictures of this quality? If not, what type of camera took this?

Composition Photos

I like this photo I think that the composition uses the Rule of Thirds well. The photographer also uses the water coming out of the hose to draw your eyes across the rest of the picture.


I did not like photo 31. There is a lot going on in the background. The lady in the white coat has a head coming out of her shoulder and the arm coming out of the top left of the photo is rather distracting. I think there could have been a better angle to take a photo of a career fair than this.


How did the photography get such a contrast between the building, the wall and the people in this photo?

Composition Photos

This is my choice for a great photo. The positioning is very well done, colors are great, and it's something interesting to look at.


My choice for bad composition is this photo. Maybe the photographer couldn't get another good shot but his aim is a bit off and the fuzzed out policeman in the foreground distracts us from the subject.

My question picture is this one. How in the world can you get this effect? It's absolutely stunning.

Kelly's Composition Photos

I really liked this photo. The fencing down the middle helps guide the viewers eyes through the picture and the whole space is filled in an interesting way.

I wasn't a huge fan of this photo. I feel like there was definately a good idea behind it, but it is a little to hazy for my taste. Not only that, but only the horse on the left side is the only one which is clear. I found it to be distracting.

I really liked this picture also but as I was looking at it, I wondered why the photographer didnt move her camera to the right or left a little bit more so that she was able to get more of the white horse and less of the backsides of the horses in the background.

Composition Photos

I thought this photo had a nice composition. The bridge guided the eye to the ferry and it was placed well (rule of 3rds).

I thought this photo compositionally was a bit sloppy. Maybe the photographer was going for "chaos," but it starts to give me a headache if I look at it too long.

My question about the composition of this picture was why the photographer chose to be so far away from the subject. It seems like some of the information in the photo (like the car sticking out on the left) could have been left out in favor of a closer shot.

The good, the bad, and the question

Good photo
I thought this picture, the first in this "The Big Picture" series titled "African Immigration to Europe," was very well-done. The boldness of the red blanket really makes the subject pop in contrast to the dark browns and blues of the background. It also follows the rule of thirds which I think works well here. And lastly, the expression on this man's face really grabs your attention and captures the essence of the story.

Not-so-good photo
I wasn't crazy about this photo. I liked individual parts of it, like the fallen crane, the anger in the man's face (assuming he's telling the photog to go away ... who knows?). Some parts of it seem out of focus, and it's just busy overall. The guy on the left is distracting, as well as the cut-off guy on the right. I just think the photographer could have achieved a better angle with a little less clutter.

Questionable photo
This Reuters photo was of a serve during a recent tennis match. I think it looks kind of cool in a Magic Eye, playing-around-with-Photoshop kind of way, but I think sports photos look best with the traditional frozen snapshot, with lots of detail, as opposed to the blurriness of this one. My question is when do sports photogs choose to go for a non-traditional shot like this one, and why?

Composition

Good: I thought this photo's composition was powerful. The photographer is almost eye level with the man crawling so you get a personal view of his facial expressions. Also, their is a sense of direction from this man and the others in the background as they are crawling. Would the composition be better if the photographer were not dead on with the man crawling?

Bad: I don't think this photo is well composed. I'm not even sure where the focal point is? or what is even going on in this picture. My eye is not directed in any particular place.

Question: When is it good to put the focus in the center? In this photo, does it work?

Betsy's Composition Pics

I really like the first picture in this slideshow; because I thought it was good contrast between the clear ice and the color of the bird. Also I thought the bird and icicles were in very much in focus. I didn't like this picture, because I thought it was too dark to the point where you couldn't even really make out the subjects. This is the picture I have a question about. I like it but I was just wondering how high of a shutter speed this was shot at and I thought it was a cool angle. 

Composition Clips

I thought this photo had a really nice composition. The contrast between the white snow and the bright uniforms of the skaters is really nice. The colors of the skater's uniforms really make them pop and that is what your eye is drawn to first because they are placed in the middle of the photo.

This photo (number 22) I believe has poor composition. The stained glass window is not focused very well. The women in the picture is badly placed in the corner that it takes a while to actually notice her.

In this photo, (number 26) the caption does state that it was a long exposure, but I was wondering how long would an exposure have to be to have this effect.

Composition assignment

The good: Here (Jan 22.-29, photo 8). I like the placement of the man in the frame and the position the photographer managed to make this photo from (i.e. looking down on the subject). The caption adds a lot of vital information; however, I think it's a well-composed image.

The bad: I'm not sure what the subject is of this photograph, and even with the caption, I think there may have been a better way to present this. Caption reads: "Drought: sand covers the head of a dead cow in Stroeder, Argentina."

A question: There are some rules that James Nachtwey is breaking here, intentionally, and my question is what is the benefit of cropping the child's face and placing him so prominently in the center?

Katherine Howell's Three Composition Photos

This is my first composition photo, one I really think is good:
Beach Girl
I love this photo! It has a really clean background, a diagonal line (the beach line) that leads to the subject (the girl). Also, it follows the rule of thirds, because the girl is is the bottom of the first third of the photo. It has a really nice calm moment and I like the muted tones of the picture. Very simple photo, in composition and colors.

This is my second composition photo, one I know is really bad:
Two Dawg Guys
What is up with this picture? It's just a mess. The background is out of control. There's no moment at all. The second guy (on the right) is in some kind of shadow. Also, the photo doesn't focus on anything. I'm not quite sure what I'm looking at.

This is my third composition photo, one I have questions about:
Cargo Plane
I really like this photo, how it's framed with the trees and the sun is peeking out behind the plane. My question is, how do you take a picture where an object is completely shadowed like is this photo?

My 3 Clips

The Good
This picture is a great illustration for the story. It shows the situation from a great angle and has great composition.

The Bad
The picture I chose is the fifth one in the slideshow. This picture has a confusing background and the caption doesn't match what is going on in it.

The Questionable
The eighth picture in this set is really neat looking. It is as if the droplets are frozen in air. How do they do this while maintaining the clarity?

Composition Photo

Zebra

I love this picture because the focus on the lighting are so sharp and the viewer's eye goes directly to where it should. The picture captures a great moment between the animal and the photographer when the zebra stands apart from the rest of the herd as he looks at the photographer.

Penelope Cruz

(number 13) I don't like this picture because there are too many highlights and objects in the background distracting from the main subject. I looked at everything else in the photo before I looked at her.

Kat Dennings

I was wondering how this photograph was taken (it is number 4).

The good, the bad, and the ?

This photo of a streetlight on 96th St. in New York was taken very well. I imagine it was very difficult to get the proper exposure in light of such poor quality, but many details came out quite nicely. I thought the way the people and cars were blurred was very poetic, as if the world was just rushing by, completely oblivious of this streetlight, even when it was broken. Also, I really like how the lights (not just from the streetlights, but also from the brake lights in the cars) stand out so prolifically. Very nice contrast to the general darkness of the rest of the picture.

The role of Lee Van Cleef will be played by this photo of Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad. The huge flash of light at the top of the picture (it kinda looks like a spirit bomb...from Dragon Ball Z...anyone?...I'm a nerd?...OK, let's just get on with this) definitely shouldn't be there. Visual hierarchy is pretty much out the window, since there are so many other faces and extraneous body parts.

I do have a question about the composition in this picture. While the focus is properly centered on the proper subject (Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner), there are plenty of other faces in the picture as well, and there is a feeling of jumbled-ness. Is it OK to have this many other elements in the picture if the focus is well-executed?

Composition Clips

Good Photo:
Mustangs
This photo has a nice leading line to the helicopter, which is unexpected. The fence also works as a frame, to separate the two elements in the photo, the cowboy (old school) and the helicopter (very modern). I also think the shadow on the cowboy works well as a metaphor for his disappearance as part of American society.

Bad Photo:
Boy at Eclipse
It looks like the top of the boy's head magically disappeared, and he now has a tree and building growing straight out of his brain. It's also very hard to separate him from the goats behind him. Cute moment with the goggles on the goat though.

Question:
M. Luther
How did they achieve this lighting? There's white light coming in at the window, but the room is all blue, and then there's the white spotlight on the Bible itself.

Composition Photos

Well composed: Photo 4.

The machine creates a line that you can follow to the subject of the photo.

Poorly composed: Photo 14.

I can't stop staring at the giant, blurry hands to the left of the man the photographer is actually trying to shoot.

Question: Photo 12.

It looks like this was taken from above (perhaps the funeral was closed?). How do ethics play into photos like this one? Is it ethical to shoot it from above if you can't get in?

ASSIGNMENT: Clips (er, Posts?)

By 7 p.m., Sunday, February 8, please find links to three photos that center on the ideas of strong composition. One well composes image, one poorly composes image and one that you have a question about. You need to post links to this blog and please be sure you assign the right label to them ... makes my life easier.

BAM

I chose this photo because I enjoyed the anticipation of President Obama walking out onto the inauguration platform. I can hear the crowds roaring now. There is so much pride showing in Obama's face. I also liked the saluting guards on either side.

So Many Cameras

A perfect way to show just how ridiculous the coverage on every stage of inauguration day was.  A nicely composed, light-hearted photograph, I enjoy the little surprise of realizing that the glowing sea the Obamas are dancing in is so many point-and-shoot cameras and cellphones. 

Courtney's Inauguration photo

I really liked this photo of the president and his wife. It is a great moment, one which I believe exemplifies the presidency. When I think of the balls, this is the moment I think of, probably because it is in so many movies. It also has great point of view and good composition.

Natalie's Favorite

I enjoy this picture the most because it speaks to what the day truly meant more than the pageantry and ceremony. The envelope symbolizes the threshold the country was and there is a sense of mystery that intrigues me and most viewers.

Kelly's Favorite Photo

I really liked this photo because in my opinion it reflects the American spirit. The Lincoln Memorial in the background is surrounded by fog, and the light coming through the trees seems to be showing a new sense of hope.

The photo is very visually appealing and has many different elements which all seem to go together really well.

Inauguration photos

I liked this picture because I thought it captured a moment. It made me laugh just because here are two people who are opposed on virtually every issue and they're acting like old friends. It's so political. I also liked these pictures, particularly #39 because it's had a mood to it and I think that it's just a beautiful image.

Jon-Michael's inauguration pick(s)

This was taken the day of the inauguration; however, it isn't exactly of the inauguration. It's a well-composed shot, though. It definitely captures the moment well and has journalistic value. I like the inclusion of "Git'mo" at the top. 

This photograph I enjoy for the technical aspect. A 1,474 megapixel image? Awesome.

Worldwide Impact

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/01/21/world/abroad_paris.jpg

I really liked this picture because it was one of the few pictures that was not set in the United States, but in Paris. It shows how important Obama's election is to other nations, and how people all over the world seem to be rooting for Obama and his success. I really enjoy pictures that show how people in other countries react to important events that happen here. Not only is the hall beautiful, but I also love how the picture is composed.

Lindsay Dobras

Inauguration photo faves

So many wonderful photos to choose from, narrowed it down to these three...

I loved this one with the Obama fam from nytimes.com - Sasha is giving Pres. Barack Obama a thumbs-up after he's sworn in. It's a great moment, and I think subtly reflects the importance of family in his life. I wish we could see more of Barack and Michelle's expression in this, but this photographer was probably not close enough to get the best angle.

This photo is one of my favorites (The Boston Globe), simply because I always wonder what politicians say to each other during small talk opportunities, especially when they're surrounded by cameras. I think this has comedic potential for a caption contest. I also really enjoyed the ring of "Former President Bush" in the caption.

Also, this hat deserves a photographic shout-out.

-J. Paxton

Inauguration Photo

I really like this photo because it's so simple but has a lot of significance and historical value.  The colors of the Bible and Michelle Obama's gloves and coat also came out very nicely.

I also liked this photo from the parade.  Their expressions look so genuine and even if they weren't our president and first lady walking in the inaugural parade this would still be a cute picture.

Inauguaration Photo

This photo I thought was a really nice photograph of Obama before he stepped out on the podium. The way the people are angled around him draws your eye to Obama. I though this was a nice moment that during all the chaos he is still able to take a moment and take it all in. (The picture is 10 of 15)

I also thought this was a nice moment for a photographer catch of Obama and his daughter. Even though the background and composition of the picture is not the best, it's still a nice moment between father and daughter.

diversity

So, I know there is so much emphasis on diversity and coming together during this inauguration but nonetheless I still see beauty in multiculturalism. In this photo, the couple is obviously interracial and they are embracing in front of a large diverse crowd at the national mall. I think the photo could be a little stronger had the blonde woman in the background been looking up as well as the others but still I found this couple's embrace to be so powerful as power and strength through diversity has been brought to the forefront.

Picture perfect...like a wedding cake.

I really like this picture from the Commander-in-Chief Ball photographed by Doug Mills of the New York Times. The coloring of the floor is slightly faded which makes the President and First Lady stand out. Also, I think the photographer captured a perfect moment due to the couple's positioning on the United States Seal (near perfectly placed in the middle). When I first saw this picture it reminded me of a wedding cake which I found quite ironic because both the Inauguration and a traditional wedding symbolize a unification.

I also really like this picture taken in the President's Room shortly after Obama was sworn in as the 44th president. The hand gestures and facial expressions in this photo are symbolic of the change our nation embraced and the photographer did a good job capturing both at the right moment. In my opinion, Obama's placement in relation to the glow from the lighting makes it seem as though anyone/everyone is welcome to join in on the special moment.

Favorite Inauguration Photo

I am so glad someone took this picture.

I'm a huge fan of the Big Picture, so when I scrolled down past this, I was quickly scrolling back up to take a second look.

I LOVE seeing pictures like this because -it is the 21st century- and our phones or point and shoots are always handy to capture a moment. Even the bigtime photographers have to take notice. Here these people are, without the fancy equipment or training, taking their own pictures of this historic day.

This picture is my favorite and it makes me smile because it shows a different kind of story. It wasn't enough to actually be there, or attend a ball and witness this sight, but many people pulled something out to take a picture. Their own picture that says, "Yes, I was there!" They could have easily pulled a fantastic image and years later shown that to their grandchildren, but I guarantee that the one processed in that Blackberry will be what is shown.

It conveys a sense of pride and belonging to me. To be honest, I would have been plum nervous to take any type of picture that night. I would have been an emotional wreck.

For kicks, this picture came in second. I just couldn't find a real, coherent reason I liked it other than that "It's just cool. It's like a sea of people. It has depth!"

44

In the sense that photojournalism is a medium of visual storytelling, then this is in my opinion the best inauguration photo I've found. I've been looking for quite some time at photos, and I have seen far superior photographs. There have been some wonderfully composed images of President Obama and his wife dancing, or parading. There have been photos of the president and his new cabinet. Or of him being sworn in. I've seen a photo of Obama saluting the crowd at his own inauguration.

This photo was not the most well-composed, or the prettiest. It certainly doesn't have the best quality of light. What it does, for me, is tell by far the most interesting and compelling story. This is an image of a file left by President Bush for President Obama. What this image does is serve as a reminder that, while Obama's election and inauguration are a major step toward racial equality in the United States, and that is something worth celebrating, ultimately that isn't what he's here for.

The sticky note--written perhaps in Bush's own hand--does not say 'racial symbol,' or 'the first black president.' It says simply '44.' It reminds us that President Obama doesn't just get to be a symbol of hope or change. He has to actually be president. Our president. For at least the next four years.

Christopher Taylor

(photo from Getty Images, taken by Eric Draper)

M. Yu's favorite photo

This one is by far my favorite. You'll notice that practically everyone in the picture wears an especially stern facial expression, the key exception being, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Obama. Whereas all the other subjects seem to be taking this very seriously (and rightfully so, actually), the Obamas are reveling in the moment, savoring the joy of what is by far the most glorious occasion in their lives. There's a sense of unmitigated joy in their demeanor, definitely not an emotion anyone could easily fake. Even if you were the most ardent opponent of Obama's, you can't really help but feel happy for him and his family at this particular moment because he and his wife are so happy. There is a small flaw in the sense that the two men to the left of the couple are also in focus, which takes away from the attention that should be centered on Barack and Michelle, but perhaps the two men were too close to the subjects of interest for them to be blurred out.

Kathy's Inauguration Photo

I had a lot of favorites, so it was hard to settle on one, but I chose this photo (it's the 2nd photo in the gallery named "Malia at the start of the train tour") because it was just too cute! The color is good and I really like the way the focus is on their faces with the background a little faded. Also, the background is really clean and the flags kind of frame the picture. However, what makes this photo my favorite is definitely the moment. Obama looks really proud of his daughter here and she looks really happy! This picture shows the love Obama has for his family.

Family Values

I love the composition and the moment of this photo. (Inaugural Ball, Photo # 4) It is very sharp, and the colors look great.  I love the aperture because it represents the moment.  Despite all that has happened that day, represented in the background, Barack and Michelle have not lost touch of the love and importance of family and you can tell by the way they look at each other.  

Katherine's Favorite Photo

Of all the photos I saw, I chose this one as my favorite photo because it truly captures the feeling of hope peopole have now that Obama bas been sworn in. The photographer waited for the right moment to snap the picture to really capture the feelings the subject had. The way he is staring into the distance makes me wonder what he was thinking about.

The photograph is nicely made because the used the little light available to make the subject stand out. The use of a small depth of field made the capitol blur in the background but you can still recognize the building.

Katherine Poss

Freeman's Inauguration Picture

I picked this picture (the second photo directly under the word "Photos") for a few reasons. For one, it conveys a common idea people have about their children (or their children's children) growing up in a world with an African-American president, and it's meant to instill in them the notion that they really can be anything the want to be when they grow up.

I also picked this picture because it suggests that progress has been made, and there's a clean slate in Washington so to speak. "Bush Street" is changed to "Obama," and the clear blue resolution in the sky reinforces the angle of a new beginning.

Michelle's Inauguration Photo

I also couldn't decide, so here are two photos for your enjoyment.

I really liked the moments these photos captured. They show that Barack Obama is a human being. He's a person just like the rest of us. He just happens to be the President of the United States.

In this photo, I imagine him thinking, "Yeah, I really am the President. How crazy is that."

I think this photo shows a man who at that moment is completely oblivious to everything other than the woman he is dancing with. At this moment, nothing other than how much he loves his wife exists in the world.

Sarah's Inauguration Pick

This National Geographic photo is my favorite.

The composition is tight: everything that is included in the frame should be in the frame. The angle the photographer shot from highlights the situation, a lot of people looking at one small television set. He included the arc of darkness behind the television in the photo, which helps to frame the photo.

The lighting works technically and compositionally. The photographer embraced the low light situation by using the blue-hue of the television as the main light source. The blue-hued light contrasts with the yellow lighting in the background, giving the photo some visual pop. There is some blur, but it works with the moment. There is very little light noise.

He waited for the moment.

- Sarah Pelham

Inauguration photo

This photo is one of my favorites from the inauguration of Barack Obama. I love the emotion that this picture delivers and the picture itself is well framed, sharp, at the right exposure and jumps of the page at me.

Emily Gomez

Priceless Picture

Every photographer at the Inauguration was in search of capturing a significant moment. After looking through galleries of pictures from this day, I found this photo that stood apart from all others. 

There is so much hype about Obama's parallelism to Lincoln. This picture depicts this connection perfectly and stimulates the viewer's emotion -- subconsciously allowing the viewer of the photo to make connections between the past and the present.

I like it how the eposure is extremely sharp and how Lincoln is a blurred figure in the background. The photographer made certain that Lincoln's statue did not overtake Obama, which gives the viewer a metaphoric meaning to the picture. 

Amanda Abbott

Betsy's Favorite Photo from the Inauguration

I have two favorite photos from the Inauguration. They are #8 and #23 from this website: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/the_inauguration_of_president.html. I liked both of these because they really showed the emotions that American people were feeling at that exact moment. They both showed the people in the moment, but the reactions are so different. The first one shows the energy and excitement taking place at the Washington Monument while the second one shows this happiness in a completely different way, but they both feel so real. 

Kelsey's Blair's Favorite Pictures

One of my favorite pictures from Obama's first days in office is the second picture in this slideshow. It's not the greatest photo ever, but it is simple and powerful. In this photo it feels as if he has made the transformation from President-elect to President Obama. 

I also really like the seventh picture in this slideshow. One chapter of American history is ending while another is beginning. It's a very candid, honest moment. I really want to know what Bush said to Sasha. 

J. Stepp's Photo Picks

I am a Time.com addict so naturally the photos of the inauguration on the site are my favorites.


I really like number 11's crowd shot. It's really bright and crisp with so many interesting colors. Number 21's "gesture" is awesome because many people had a different hand gesture in mind. My personal fave, number 31 really evokes some strong memories of playing Jenga while piling my Barrel O' Monkeys on top. "Oh god, they're taking pictures of US!!! Something's wrong here!"

Also, I want this hat.

Cameron's Inauguration photo choices

I really couldn't decide on any one photo, so I have three.

The first is from the actual ceremony in D.C.: here.

There are some flaws I suppose, but we talked about capturing a moment, and I think this photo does that pretty well.

The second is from elsewhere in the States: here.

Again, I think this photo does a wonderful job of capturing a meaningful moment. Plus, it captures the spirit of the inauguration ceremonies without actually being a picture of them.

The third is from outside the States (Kenya): here.

I really like this photo. It's visually appealing (to me); my only quibble is that without the caption, we don't really know what's going on.