Photography 1: TAOP, Ex Rain

Project: Illustration
Exercise: Rain

In this exercise, the object was to create a photograph that would be suitable for the cover of a magazine on the subject of rain.  The brief was to produce a strong image that would leave no one in doubt about the subject.

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For this photograph I chose to illustrate rain as it was illuminated by a car's headlamps at dusk.  I chose to use a relatively fast shutter speed so that the individual raindrops were differentiated but still gave a feeling of movement.  I have tried to make the photograph attractive through the use of bold colours and the yellow light of the car's headlights.  I chose to take the photograph at dusk so that there would be sufficient light around to show the car as well as the lights.

What have I learned from this exercise?

When producing an image to portray one subject, you should produce a strong, attractive photograph that leaves no one in doubt about the subject.

- think of all situations of the subject that you have ever seen.

- keep it simple.

- be interesting; don't settle for an ordinary shot.

- if you can't be completely original, at least make the photograph attractive.

- even if your idea is original, still make the photograph attractive.

Photography 1: TAOP, Ex Juxtaposition

Project: Illustration
Exercise: Juxtaposition

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In this photograph an artist is shown surrounded by the her work.  The artist works in kiln-formed glass to create her objects.  The line of objects to the right of the photograph lead the eye to the artist and provide a link between them.

What have I learned from this exercise?

Putting together two elements so as to suggest a relationship is the mainstay of illustration.  One or both of them can be symbols, but even this is not necessary.  The important thing is to suggest a connection.  One of the easiest ways of doing this is simply to place manageable objects together, in a still-life shot of one kind or another.  Still-life photography has the considerable advantage of being controllable, and possible to do, whatever the weather and lighting outside.  This is one reason why so much still-life photography is used in advertising, on book covers and in magazines.

Another way of combining images is to find a viewpoint, together with an appropriate focal length of lens, that shows the two elements together.

Photography 1: TAOP, Ex Evidence of Action

Project: Illustration
Exercise: Evidence of action.

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This photograph shows the aftermath of some sort of dramatic incident.  The remains of an afternoon tea party are depicted.  Something catastrophic has occurred resulting in chairs being overturned, crockery broken and tea spilt.

What have I learned from this exercise?

Where illustration really comes into its own is in dealing with subjects that are not straightforward solid objects or obvious events.  Abstract ideas and concepts usually need an imaginative treatment in order to be put across in a single photograph.

One example from the commercial world is insurance.  Insurance companies have to face this problem whenever they want to make a simple image to show what they offer.  Most images used have to do with protection, which is what insurers offer, and include shields, umbrellas, fortifications (like castles), and cupped hands.

All of them are visual analogies, symbols for protection.  Symbolism is one of the main techniques in illustration; if you choose an appropriate symbol, it can solve the problem of showing an abstract idea at a stroke.