DigaPixBlog

Rusty Weight

JL Morris — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:09:25 +0000

Looking for detail in found objects can lead to some interesting results. Rather than photographing the entire object look for hidden subjects that can tell the story without exposing the viewer to the entire scene. This will add a little mystery to the image and let the viewer add their own experience and imagination to the photograph.

Our photographer found this detail on the surface of an old weight. The surface is pitted with time and has a promising texture that can be exploited with a strong cross light. The photo-artist has placed the numeral high in the composition to give the graphic more interest.

I would suggest that the photographer try to get a stronger light to skim across the surface when photographing textured surfaces. This can be bumped up a little on the computer to bring the ends of the levels curve closer to the center which will give more contrast to the surface patterns.

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Stone Sky

JL Morris — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:50:43 +0000

Man in nature is an important theme. This sort of subject is generally best carried out when man is interacting with nature, has a purpose in the composition. Too often we see people placed in photographs of this type that have no animation, no particular relationship to their surroundings.

The image we see here is a good example of how to use a human subject in a man in nature photograph. The subject has a direct relationship to the stone arch. There is an invisible, yet prominent, line leading from the lens of the subject’s camera to and through the hole in the rock. The viewer can imagine that they can see what our subject photographer is seeing through his view finder.

The late afternoon light is spectacular. This low golden light brings out the texture of the sandstone arch while the shadows give natures sculpture shape and contoure. I like the fact that the subject is in total shadow and silhouetted against the graduated blue sky.

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The Crossing

JL Morris — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:18:34 +0000

Leading lines are an important element in guiding the viewer through a composition. Sometimes they are subtle and other times they hit you over the head and say this is how I want you to see this subject. They are also useful to tie elements of a layout together.

With the bold white line cutting across the tarmac to the feet of the walker I don’t think you could call this leading line subtle. It is bold and in your face. Without it there would be no composition. I like the early morning light and the way the photo-artist had limited our field of view so we have to use our imagination about the pedestrian in the shot.

Notice that the horizon, in this case the sidewalk edge, is nice and striate. This line is located at the feet of the subject thou we can see they have not reached the curb. With the horizon one fourth of the way down from the top of the frame the viewer has a feeling of being insignificant, almost a hidden voyeur.

My only complaint is that I wish the person in the composition were more interesting. This would give our imagination more to work with when creating a story about the subject.

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Marked Up

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Santa Barbara Island Greeter

JL Morris — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:57:49 +0000

Most people with a camera are drawn to taking pictures of animals, particularly when they have the opportunity of shooting wild animals. These subjects are exotic, hard to come by and something you don’t see every day. Unfortunately almost all of us don’t have the time or we don’t take the time to study the subject and find unique ways of capturing the image.

This little fellow is accustomed to people being around and posing for the visitors. The large wood beam he is resting on makes a good contrast to the textured rock all around. This image does not have the look of a zoo shot even with the manmade objects in the composition.

I would like to suggest taking this shot as the photographer has done and then look for other possibilities for images that are more interesting and have stronger graphic elements. This may be difficult if not impossible but the goal when photographing is to get compositions that are different from the norm and capture the imagination of the viewer.

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The Slide

JL Morris — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:15:23 +0000

Patterns can make an interesting subject but they often work best when they are used as a backdrop or a primary subject. This allows the subject to standout amongst the repartition of their surroundings.

This photo-artist has found the ultimate pattern of waves and color. The primary subject is placed far to the right allowing room for them to move through the frame, in this cast at high speed. The expressions of joy on their faces add to the feeling of the fun on the ride down an exhilarating slide. I particularly like the way the photographer has tilted the graphic to add even more tension and movement to the composition.

I played a little with the color saturation and when I increased it by 100% there was no discernable change in the hues of this rainbow of color. The artist could have named this image ‘Riding a Wild Rainbow’.

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The Flutist

JL Morris — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:40:56 +0000

Some images give us joy the moment we see them. This masterpiece has done that for me. The moment I saw the fantastic subject and the extraordinary light my heart was lifted and I wanted to hear his music.

The single source light skims across the subject picking up key points of interest from his eye to his arm to the fingers. The flute itself carries the light like an arrow along its shaft. There is just enough subtle detail in the shadows so the viewer can peer deeply into the darkness.

This image has captured my imagination.

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Weld

JL Morris — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:50:53 +0000

When I was working as a professional photographer one of my specialties was industrial photography. I shot a lot of products as well as people doing the manufacturing. Welding was always fun to shoot because it could be so dramatic and at the same time easy to do. By using a slightly slow shutter speed you could capture some dramatic images with all the sparks flying.

This photographer has captured the weld with the exploding drama of flying bits of molten metal. Like fireworks they sparkle and pop. The overall exposure works for this particular shot.

I would like to make a couple of suggestions. The point of our attention has been placed on the center of the layout. This might work better if it was moved to the left and up so the sparks were emanating from the one third intersection of the composition. I have found these shots become more interesting if the welder is show in the shot. It helps the viewer understand what is happening and adds a little human interest.

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Narrows Virgin River

JL Morris — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:49:17 +0000

A funny thing happens when we introduce humans into a landscape photograph. They invariably become the focal point of the composition. It does not matter how small the human figure is in relation to the rest of the scene they draw the viewer’s attention.

This shot has a group of hikers that are contrasted against the immensity of nature. This gives us a good scale of reference as to the size of the canyon. I like the way the photo-artist has used the river as a leading line into the scene. The viewer can almost hear the sound of the moving water and feel the early morning chill.

The canyon is in shadow and shadows have a tenancy to shift the colors a little to the blue side of the spectrum. The photographer could have used a warming filter on the camera at the time of the shoot or alter the saturation on the computer to warm up the image a little. The people have been placed right at the center of the composition. This may have been a little more interesting if they were more off center.

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Image of the Month - September 2008

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:48:26 +0000

Title: Spider

Photographer: Connie Fore

Date Submitted: September 29th

Rating:

Photographer’s Comments:

Thank you James for your critique. I love shooting macro shots of spiders. It’s funny because I am deathly afraid of spiders but I love being able to see things that our eyes can’t see when shooting a macro of them. They really are very cool to see up close and personal.

Three Runners Up Images:

Georgia Martin

Dream of Flight: Sep 3

Connie Fore

I Can’t Identify It: Sep 3

John Femitto

To the Light: Sup 4

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Spider

JL Morris — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:36:56 +0000

One of the benefits of macro photography is the ability to see what we ordinarily pass by without being aware of every day. They let see how the world works. This is very important in documenting a subject for educational and scientific purposes.

This photograph of a spider at work has excellent detail and depth of field. The viewer can see every hair and fiber of this arachnid and its web. The lighting, thou not dramatic, captures every detail. The photographer’s selection of the graduated gray background is dark enough to allow the fibers of the web to standout in every detail.

This would be a prefect image to be included in a scientific journal or text book. I can see this shot in ‘National Geographic’. The execution of this documentary image is excellent and brings the subject to life.

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