Thursday, November 26, 2009

Creative Imaging - Colour Block


This assignment was all about colour. The idea is that each colour comes with it's own emotions and we were to try make a photograph that brings across some of those emotions or characteristics, either by planning or finding the composition. Once done that, we were told to think about how that photo makes us feel and to also canvas our friends to see how they react to our photos.
These are my images;


Blue - characteristics = tranquil, serene, reassuring, quiet, cool, can represent loneliness, depression, and sadness.

Some of the responses I got from friends - soothed, cool/chilly, detatched

I really liked how this light bulb glowed blue (ok I admit, I helped it out some by changing my white balance in camera). I thought it conveyed to me coolness and loneliness.


Orange - Warm, strong, brilliant, powerful, references of fire and late afternoon sun, associated with festivity and celebration, can also reference heat and dryness.

Friends reactions - close to nature, inner peace, curiosity.

I was thinking that using a ceremonial mask would bring across the festivity and celebration aspect. Also it looked very powerful to me. Orange is my favourite colour so it always makes me happy and warm.


Green - colour of nature, symbolizes life, health, freshness, and purity. Refreshing to look at. Also when used as a colour cast in an image it is associated with sickness and decomposition.

Friends' reactions - close to nature, calm, sleepy, peaceful, smell the fir tree

I think although I used the tree as my green to associate it with nature, the fact that it had xmas lights in it changed the meaning for people to have more associations to their emotions of the season.


Purple - Suggests religion and royalty

Friends' reactions - confusion, detached/cool, curious

Obviously I totally missed the mark on this image. I was hoping that the gems would inspire a feeling of richness/royalty.


Red and Green (Complimentary Colours - from opposite sides of colour wheel)

Friends' reactions - autumn, hungry, calm

Since we're supposed to feel harmony with these colour combinations, I thought using an example in nature would be the best way to convey that since we see red/green apples so often. It just feels right.


Orange and Red - Similar Colours from the same part of the colour wheel

Friends' reactions - a couple happy's, hungry, and a 'teeth on edge' because of the steel (wouldn't have ever thought that!)

Once again, these kind of colour combinations are considered harmonious therefore should make us feel good. And really, how can you not feel good looking at such bright colours of Jelly Belly's?!

Overall, I think I accomplished what I set out to do - elicit emotion through the use of colour as the central theme of the photograph. It was interesting to hear from others what they thought since with each photograph I was pretty confident that they would feel the same thing I did when taking the shot. Wrong! Once again, it goes to show you how we all bring our own biases to what we see.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Wedding Time!

I went to a really fancy wedding the other night and I was trying out my super duper new camera while I was there. I didn't use a flash at all and so had my ISO set at 6400, hence why all the images are a bit grainy. Which would be fine except the mother of the bride called me last night to ask me if I have any pics since she doesn't like what their photographer has shown her. EEEeeeks!!! I can only explain to her so much that I was just playing around and I'm still learning how to edit my photos. I don't want her to remember a year from now the crappy photos I gave her when I was in my second month of school! So scared. I haven't gotten any feedback from her yet either which makes me nervous.


Here's the link to the Picassa Album:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/kate.rifkind.pv/AlteinWedding?feat=directlink

Monday, November 2, 2009

To the Zoo!

We went on a field trip to the zoo the other day after we finished our exam week. It was interesting in the fact that I haven't been there without children, or on such a crummy day before. Added to that, it was all set up for Boo at the Zoo. I can't believe how intricate all the decorations were. It was really quite cool. I didn't stay long since I have a million other things to do before I had to get home for my Shabbat, but here's some of my better shots.

Peace, Envy and Love...

We were to use symbols or metaphors to express Peace, Envy and Love. Can you guess which is which?





Sunday, November 1, 2009

Contrasts

Hello All,

We had an assignment to choose to photograph some contrasts. Here are some of mine...

Hard/Soft


Liquid/Solid


Long/Short


Light/Heavy


Little/Big


Rough/Smooth


Strong/Weak