Black and White

Part 3 Colour
Project: Black and White
Exercise 1: Colours into tones in black-and-white
Aim: Show how colour filters affect tones of different colours in black and white images.

Original

No Filter

Yellow filter

This appears to be the most moderate of the 4 filters I used. The yellow pepper is considerably lighter than the other two whereas the blue background is the darkest of the four colours. The Green pepper is almost unaffected and the the Red is a little lighter than with no filter

Green filter

This filter is similar overall to the Yellow, but it has the opposite effect on the Red pepper as it is darkened considerably. The Green and Yellow pepper's (and the Blue background) are almost the same shade and seem to all remain a neutral Grey tone.

Blue filter

The Blue filter has significantly altered all four colours and is very different from the other filter's I used. The Blue background is much lighter than the previous filters and all 3 pepper's have been darkened to almost the same shade. The lightest colour (Yellow) has been turned to the darkest shade of Grey whereas one of the darkest colours (Blue) has been made the lightest.

Red filter

This filter (followed by Blue) has the most dramatic effect out of all the ones I used. The Red and Yellow pepper's have been lightened considerably and the Green pepper is the only colour to have remained as a mid-tone  The Blue and Red filters seem to be complete opposites in the effects the have on different colours as the Blue filter's darkest colours are the Red's lightest and Red's darkest are Blue's lightest.

This exercise has been very useful to see how the different colours react to each other and it's interesting to see how their effects can be linked to their places on colour wheel. With each coloured filter, it's own colour was always lightened and in most cases, so was the colours next to them (in the wheel). For example: The Green filter lightened the Green pepper and also the Yellow one; and the Red filter lightened the Yellow pepper as well.
In general, I found that the filter will lighten it's own colour while darkening the colours opposite or 1/3  across from it on the colour wheel.

Primary and Secondary Colours

Part 3 Colour
Project: What makes a colour
Exercise 1- Primary and Secondary colours
Aim: Show how colour can be affected by brightness.

It was defiantly a challenge to get all the pictures for this exercise using only natural subjects, and I had to use a man made object for the Blue pictures (the only natural Blues I found were either too light or dark than the pure shade I was looking for).  The effects different exposures had on the different colours was very interesting. Some did not seem to be affected much at all, such as Blue and Green, whereas Red, Violet and Orange appeared to be the most sensitive.

I found that the different colours seemed to "lead" to the colour next to them on the colour wheel as they got darker (or lighter). For example, the darker the Yellow appeared in the picture, the closer it got to the lighter Orange in the next set of pictures. This is also most evident in Violet and Blue but not so much with the other colours.

This exercise has helped me pick out and focus on individual colours in a picture, and to focus on the colour rather than the subject, which was an interesting change from what I'm used to.

Colour Relationships

Part 3 Colour
Project: Colour Relationships
Exercise 1- Colour Relationships
Aim: To find specific combinations of primary and secondary colours in their ratio values

According to colour theory, the combinations for complementary colours work best when arranged in certain ratio's. This helps to create balance between colours of a different brightness.

Red : Green  =  1:1
Orange : Blue = 1:2
Yellow : Violet = 1:3

(Some of the sources I used to help better understand basic colour theory:
http://www.framedreality.com/color-in-photography-color-theory
http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory
http://www.andyharbin.co.uk/ArtColTheory(v2).html )

Red/Green

Orange/Blue (adding picture soon)

Yellow/Violet

This exercise made me focus on finding both pure colours and a specific amount of each colour in the composition  which could be quite challenging at times but it did help me understand why different ratio's are needed to create harmonious colour combinations. Red/Green are both equally bright colours that seemed balanced with equal amounts in the picture. Both Orange and Yellow are a lot brighter than their complementary colours so their effect on in the picture is a lot better when there is only a small amount of the bright colour compared to the darker and more muted colours.

Control the strength of a colour

Part 3 Colour
Project: What makes a colour
Exercise 1
Aim: Show how changing exposure affects colour.
       
This project focuses on colour, and how we can control it with manual camera's. For this exercise, the subject I have chosen is part of the bright red post box in my village. The camera's automatic setting's were 1/200, f7.1 and ISO100. I took 3 pictures each a stop brighter than the average (f8, f9, f10) and 3 pictures a stop lower (f6.3, f5.6, f5). The shutter speed and ISO remained the same throughout the exercise.

1.

1/200  f10

2.

1/200  f9 

3.

1/200  f8 (closest to subject in real life)

4.

1/200  f7.1  (metered exposure)

5.

1/200  f6.3

6.

1/200  f5.6

7.

1/200  f5

The most prominent change between the photo's is the brightness. Image 1 is slightly under exposed, making the colour darker and deeper. The red is noticeably more vivid than the other pictures. As the pictures become more over-exposed they have started to lose detail and contrast. The brightness value has gone up and they are slightly less saturated than the darker ones. The hue has changed slightly to a more pinkish colour than red and would have moved to the orange part of the spectrum had I continued to take higher metered pictures.

In Photoshop  I took an example of the main colour from the same place in both the first and last pictures. Below, you can clearly see the difference in brightness, saturation and hue. #1 is taken from the first photo (f10) and #2 is from the last (f5):

1.  H= 2
     S= 83%
     B= 78%

2.  H= 6
     S= 67%
     B=  99%

This has been a very interesting exercise that has helped me understand the relationships and differences between HSB and how they can be affected. I found this article very helpful as is explains clearly and in detail how colour works in photography: http://www.framedreality.com/color-in-photography-color-theory

Assignment Two: Elements of Design

Assignment 2- Elements of Design

The aim for this assignment was to use what I've learned throughout the past exercises to produce a set of 10-15 photographs of a particular subject showing:

Single point dominating the composition
Two points
Several points in a deliberate shape
Combination of vertical and horizontal lines
Diagonals
Curves
Distinct, even if irregular shapes
At least two kinds of implied triangle
Rhythm
Pattern

I did struggle to settle on the subject at first. I decided on "flowers", then changed to "food". It took planning most of the images to realize that that subject really wasn't going to work for me in this assignment. So I finally chose my own subject, the seaside town of Skegness.  I think it gave me the freedom to get images that were still related to the subject, but more varied than in the other themes I chose before.  I also chose to convert all my images to black and white as in previous exercises to help concentrate more on the elements of design rather than getting distracted by the colour, and in some ways, by the subject. Although I think both the subject and elements of design are equally important and should both be used to compliment the other rather than choosing to focus on just one.

1. Single Point domination the composition 

Keeping my subject in mind, I headed to the sea first to find this post ideal for the single point. I chose to position the wind turbines in the background to keep some other interest besides the main subject without it getting too distracting and risk bringing more points into the picture. 

2. Two Points

I found two points one of the easier effects to find, leaving me with several pictures to choose for this one. I decided on this view of St Matthew's church. I aligned both points so they also make an implied diagonal line through the frame.

3. Several points in a deliberate shape

For some reason, i found this picture the most challenging to find, and I think that's reflected  in the outcome. It's a simple diamond pattern on the side of a house, created in both the shape of the points and the way they're positioned.

4. A combination of horizontal and vertical lines

This was intended for either horizontal and vertical lines or an implied triangle (by perspective), though I thought it better suited the former because of the bold and repetitive lines that make up the pattern on the building. I think it's slightly imbalanced with more verticals than horizontals (probably emphasised by using a portrait frame), but in my opinion, it still works for the assignment criteria.

5. Diagonals

I got this shot from underneath the pier of the metal supports that hold it up. I took several different angles of this, but I like the depth in this one by the lines converging though the frame towards the edge, creating diagonals from both the top and bottom supports and the ones in between. 

6. Curves

The Ferris wheel at the fairground provided a nice curved shape from both it's outline and the multiple "cars" it holds.

7. Distinct, even if irregular shapes

This photo was planned for "curves" but I though it was also suited for "distinct shapes". You can clearly see the flower in the centre, and the circular patterns around it.

8. Implied triangles

Implied triangles formed by both the two bottom points and the top of the lamp (apex at top) and by the shape of the actual lamp (inverted triangle). 

I also tried to create implied triangles using the people on the beach; an exercise which  I found interesting but I don't think it quite works due to the amount of other distractions in the picture that could be interpreted as points themselves. 

9. Rhythm

I like this one for rhythm, but i should have made sure all the posts were properly in focus as only the lamps further away are. To improve this, I would use a narrower aperture to ensure more of the picture is focused. 

10. Pattern

I had a few ideas for pattern while planning the assignment, but went for this picture of the side of St Matthew's rather than the pattern of the pavement or the more regularly shaped bricks of a modern building. I also chose to include the ivy as it adds interest and variation while not becoming too distracting or breaking up the pattern completely. As with previous exercises with pattern, it fills the entire frame, giving the viewer  little or no indication of scale.

In conclusion, I found the assignment very interesting and enjoyed looking for all the effects connected to one particular subject or theme as opposed to taking completely unrelated photo's. I found some of the pictures much more challenging than others. The several points in a deliberate shape and distinct,if irregular shapes I found the hardest, though they are the ones that in theory I think give the most freedom. It was also interesting to find that quite a few of the pictures overlapped in more than one category. For example, the picture I took intended for "curves" I felt better represented "distinct shapes" and "horizontal + Vertical" would have also qualified as an implied triangle. The past module has really helped introduce me to the Elements of design and how to use them effectively, as well as getting comfortable with subjects I wouldn't otherwise have chosen to photograph.

Rhythm and Pattern

Part 2 Elements of Design
Project: Rhythm and Pattern
Exercise 1
Aim: Take at least 2 pictures, one showing rhythm and one with pattern.

It took some time for me to acctually distinguish between pattern and rhythm as they are so similar. They both include repetition but where rhythm is often dyanmic and flowing so the eye follows an "optical beat" through the picture, pattern is more static and less flowing. I think the lines between rhythm and pattern are not set and mostly depend of the subject and/or picture at the time.

1.

These tiles provide a good example of pattern. They fill the frame so it is easy to imagine them continuing beyond what we can see. The slight variation with each of the tiles adds interest but does not disrupt the overall pattern.
2.

 Material showing pattern, an obvious choice but I've still included it.

3.

Rhythm was much harder to find. The line of trees provides rhythm as each trunk stands out well from the background. The leaves between the trees help to break it up slightly so it does not become too much of an exact repetition and more of a pattern.

I found this exercise enjoyable is it was a challenge to find suitable pictures, especially for rhythm. This helped me become more familiar with pattern and rhythm and by the end of the exercise, helped me to distinguish between the two.

Real and implied triangles

Part 2 Elements of Design
Project: Shapes
Exercise 1
Aim: Take 6 pictures showing both real and implied triangles.
         Create triangles in different ways for example by using perspective.

1. Triangular subject- real

2. Triangle by perspective- real

I used a wide angle lens and positioned close to the window to create a triangle by perspective that converged towards the top of the frame. Similarly, if I stood above the window looking down, the triangle would converge at the bottom of the frame.

3. Triangle by perspective- real

It was, as the course materials suggested, slightly harder to find a triangle that converged towards the bottom of the frame. By taking the picture from above this table, the corner created the apex of an inverted triangle.

4. Still life with apex at top- implied

I decided to use safety pins for the still life shots. The open pin forms the apex which is a the top of the frame.

5. Still life with apex at bottom- implied

Again, I used safety pins, this time with the apex at the bottom of the frame.

6. Triangle from people- implied

The triangle is formed by the faces of the three people. It could be improved by having the two lower people the same height with the person at the top, slightly taller. The same for an inverted triangle with two people positioned behind the shorter one in front to form the apex. Also, the triangle could have been made by changing the perspective or angle.

In conclusion, this exercise showed me the effect triangles have of a picture and how important they can be to the overall composition. They give a sense of stability while still keeping the effect dynamic and interesting. That's not to say they are more important than the subject (or vice versa) but should defiantly be considered when composing a shot. After completing this exercise, I looked back through my pictures and it was surprising to find how many triangles (mostly implied) I had subconsciously included in them.