My Final 5 Portfolio of the course

This course has been very enjoyable and challenging, which made me love it that much more. I have chosen my final 5 photos for my portfolio (which was no easy feat) and these represent my range of ability to capture color and my favorite: black and white. I have discovered that I like being able to set up a scene and control the photo, but at the same time to be able to capture a “moment” is a beautiful thing. I have always enjoyed photography, but this class has taught me so much and I will peruse to learn more, one way or another.

For my first photograph I chose “Daily Addiction” a photo collage that I created in the final module of the class. I chose this photo, because I think I did “break the rule” in that I created the scenes and compiled numerous photos instead of just one. I loved taking one constant subject and arranging it in different way in order to send a message. I took the photos in color, black and white and sepia ultimately deciding on the sepia, because it to me looked more “dirty” which I was going for.

The second photograph I chose to add to my portfolio is of a fall day looking down a walk way in a historical cemetery in Rochester NY. This photo was captured while participating in module about composition and this photo captured perspective. I fell in love with the colors and the textures of the leaves and the stone walk way. While taking this photo I got down real low to the ground so I could capture the incline of the road.

My third photo was from the black and white unit. The photo is of my son and my best friend’s daughter trick or treating on Halloween, walking down the sidewalk under the street lights. I love this photo, because it’s deep and rich with contrast and the way the light does appear is clearly bright and help balance the photo. I do not think a color photo would have done this scene any justice. I was trying to get good shots all the night, but was having difficulty without using a flash, but when I just shot this photo it all came together and luckily clear without the flash.

The fourth photo I have chosen was also from the black and white module. The photo is of a pair of handcuffs on top of an open book with a heart shadow beneath it. I set the scene up in this photo, and it is a significant scene in the book that I have open. The book is a love story and I wanted to display that by adjusting the lighting and creating a heart shaped shadow. While trying to capture the shadow and ideal shot I adjusted the cuffs and the lighting at least fifty times. I am a huge fan of black and white even more so now after this course and again if this was done in color it wouldn’t have been as powerful.

My fifth and final photo for my portfolio is from the composition unit and it captured foreground. The pink flowers take the place of the foreground and allow the vivid bright oranges and yellow tones of the fall trees in the background to take a lesser part of the photo. The flowers are the focal point and I believe they add softness to the scene. I do not think that the photo would be as appealing if I did not bring them into the foreground focus. To me it seems slightly whimsical the way the stems are swirling.