Photography 1: P & P, Proj 12: Close & Involved

Project 12: Close and involved

For this exercise I used a wide angle setting on my zoom lens.  This enabled me to get close to people.  This has the effect of putting the viewer right inside the situation.

The two images created are shown below:  

5570

5579

Both of these photographs were taken in Beijing, China.  They were both taken on a sunday, when people collect together in the park to socialise.  The people in the photographs are involved in and enjoying what they were doing.  This made it easier for me to get close to them to take the shots.  This is an advantage when working with a wide-angle of view from very close to the people you are photographing.  Another advantage created by working from very close is that the viewer will feel part of the action.

The problems created by working with a wide-angle of view from very close to the people you are photographing is that you can often be presented with a close-up view of the back of someone's head.  This is what happened when taking the photo ref. 5579 above.  Also, when you are working very close to people, they often notice you taking pictures and stare at the camera.  Fortunately, in these two situations the subjects were involved in what they were doing and ignored the camera.

Photography 1: P & P, Proj 11: Standing Back

Project 11: Standing back

For this exercise I used a long focal length lens, 300mm.  I took photographs of people who were unaware of my presence from a long distance away.  This had the benefit of ensuring that their expressions were relaxed and normal.  Two photographs are shown below that were taken from a long distance away.

6041; F11; 1/500s; ISO 400

6049; F11; 1/500s; ISO 400

 The disadvantages of shooting from a long distance from the subject are that passers by will often wander between the camera and the subject.  Also traffic if present can cause problems by obscuring the subject.  As the subject is unaware of the camera, they will often be looking in the wrong direction and patience is required to enable the required photograph to taken.

The advantages of shooting from a long distance from the subject are that the subject's expression is more relaxed and natural.  The photographs taken can have a more candid feel.  It is also possible to isolate the subject in dramatic surroundings when shooting from further away.

Photography 1: P & P, Proj 10: Moment & Gesture

Project 10: Moment and Gesture

For this exercise I found a "comfortable" situation and photographed a burst of activity.  In this instance the subject walking along a boardwalk by a beach.  I took a number of shots with the camera set to continuous shooting.  I then processed the images and chose a single image that I felt captured the "best" moment.

The appearance on camera can vary greatly, depending on the precise micro-second of capture.  Some moments captured will appeal more than others.  Judging and capturing the moment that works best in an image is an important step in the photographing of people.  I found that it is best to shoot freely and choose the key frame later in editing.  Many moments are difficult to predict, and reveal themselves only as they happen.  Some, indeed, reveal themselves later, not quite as you may have expected.

The images shot during this exercise are shown below:

5926

5927

5928

5929

5931

5932

5933

5934

This image, 5934 gives more of an impression of movement of the subject along the board walk.  The image includes an interesting pile of recycled oyster shells.  There is also a clearer view of the face of the subject in this image.