Composition

[Carolyn Cogan]

Hi, almost have my assignment ready to submit and my Internet dropped me. I will try again.

The first photograph is Canyon de Chelly. The canyon isn’t always easy to shoot and get the depth that is needed. I used the curve of the canyon wall on one side then the stream at the bottom to help move through the photo. The next 2 are in Scottsdale, AZ as we were wasting time before a meeting. Colorful Walls I used the repeating shape of the balconies and how the colors changed it each one. The last one is using the traffic signs and road markings to lead you through the photo – where is the road going.

This lesson has make me look and think more about how the finish product will look.

[Duncan Rawlinson]

Thanks for sending in another assignment.

Here is the exif data for these images.
[attachment=2:17asz6h0]Canyon de Chelly EXIF.png[/attachment:17asz6h0]

Date Time Original: 2012:02:10 13:54:05
Exposure Time: 1/800
F Number: f / 5.60
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 100
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 34mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D7000
LensInfo: 180/10 1050/10 35/10 56/10
LensModel: 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Lens: 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Exif Version:
Color Space: 65535
Pixel X Dimension: 1100
Pixel Y Dimension: 733
Date Time Digitized: 2012:02:10 13:54:05
Subsec Time Original: 00
Subsec Time Digitized: 00
Shutter Speed Value: 9.64
Aperture Value: 4.97
Max Aperture Value: 4.20
Subject Distance: 4294967295
Light Source: Unknown
Sensing Method: One-chip color area sensor
File Source: DSC
Scene Type: Directly photographed
CFA Pattern: 870
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Digital Zoom Ration: 1
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 51mm
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Gain Control: None
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Subject Distance Range: Unknown
ExifIFDPointer: 280
Orientation: 1
X Resolution: 300
Y Resolution: 300
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2013:03:22 10:53:13
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5 Windows
Artist: Carolyn Cogan
Copyright: ©Cogan & Cogan Inc 2013
DateCreated: 2012-02-10T13:54:05-07:00

[attachment=1:17asz6h0]Colorful Walls EXIF.png[/attachment:17asz6h0]
Date Time Original: 2012:02:15 14:06:30
Exposure Time: 1/250
F Number: f / 11
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 100
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 66mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D7000
LensInfo: 180/10 1050/10 35/10 56/10
LensModel: 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Lens: 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Exif Version:
Color Space: 65535
Pixel X Dimension: 1100
Pixel Y Dimension: 733
Date Time Digitized: 2012:02:15 14:06:30
Subsec Time Original: 30
Subsec Time Digitized: 30
Shutter Speed Value: 7.97
Aperture Value: 6.92
Max Aperture Value: 4.80
Subject Distance: 4294967295
Light Source: Unknown
Sensing Method: One-chip color area sensor
File Source: DSC
Scene Type: Directly photographed
CFA Pattern: 870
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Digital Zoom Ration: 1
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 99mm
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Gain Control: None
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Subject Distance Range: Unknown
ExifIFDPointer: 280
Orientation: 1
X Resolution: 300
Y Resolution: 300
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2013:03:22 10:54:47
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5 Windows
Artist: Carolyn Cogan
Copyright: ©Cogan & Cogan Inc 2013
DateCreated: 2012-02-15T14:06:30.003-07:00

[attachment=0:17asz6h0]Going EXIF.png[/attachment:17asz6h0]
Date Time Original: 2012:02:15 14:23:32
Exposure Time: 1/60
F Number: f / 13
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO Speed Ratings: 100
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length: 42mm
White Balance: Auto white balance
Make: NIKON CORPORATION
Model: NIKON D7000
LensInfo: 180/10 1050/10 35/10 56/10
LensModel: 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Lens: 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
Exif Version:
Color Space: 65535
Pixel X Dimension: 734
Pixel Y Dimension: 1100
Date Time Digitized: 2012:02:15 14:23:32
Subsec Time Original: 70
Subsec Time Digitized: 70
Shutter Speed Value: 5.91
Aperture Value: 7.40
Max Aperture Value: 4.50
Subject Distance: 4294967295
Light Source: Unknown
Sensing Method: One-chip color area sensor
File Source: DSC
Scene Type: Directly photographed
CFA Pattern: 870
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Exposure Mode: 1
Digital Zoom Ration: 1
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 63mm
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Gain Control: None
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Subject Distance Range: Unknown
ExifIFDPointer: 280
Orientation: 1
X Resolution: 300
Y Resolution: 300
Resolution Unit: 2
Date Time: 2013:03:22 10:55:46
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5 Windows
Artist: Carolyn Cogan
Copyright: ©Cogan & Cogan Inc 2013
DateCreated: 2012-02-15T14:23:32.007-07:00

So this critique took a little longer than I would like. My mistake! 😳

Your first image of the canyon is quite nice although it feels just a touch underexposed.

It certainly meets the requiremnts of the assingment and is a lovely image. If you could return to this place when there is more interesting light and clouds this could be a really stunning image and spot. I like the lines and the simplicity of the image. Nice job.

The image of the colourful building is quite good as well. Although it feels a like the whites are a bit blown out. Take note of the clipping in the histogram. What could be improved here is the twig right above the red square in the photograph. This assignment is all about simplification and removing things from your frame. This should not be here! Otherwise the image is nice and the colors and the lines are really great. A tighter frame or a much wider frame might have suited the image better.

For example here is a wider shot I found.
http://www.metropolismag.com/webimages/4976/SAA-SAGUARO-AZ-MB_500_t346.jpg

I guess the main thing would have been to remove the vegetation. Either way, the image is colorful, and quite nice so good job!

Your next image is quite lovely and there is a great deal going on but that somehow works.

There is a great deal of leading lines, and implied motion. I just wish there was somehting in the frame right here:
[attachment=4:17asz6h0]Going Box.jpg[/attachment:17asz6h0]

For some reasons I’m reminded of this icon image by Henri Cartier Bresson:
[attachment=3:17asz6h0]henri-cartier-bresson-behind-saint-lazare-train-station-1932.jpg[/attachment:17asz6h0]

Do you see how all the lines work toward highlighting the subject? I feel like your image is just missing that little extra something here.

Overall you’ve done very well here and I like that you are seeing these lines, simplifying your frame, and creating some nice images. Don’t forget to add people to your photographs to make them more interesting if only for scale.

See you on the next one!

[Author]

Posts