Vertical and Horizontal Frames

This exercise is to encourage the use of a portrait(vertical) frame vs. a horizontal (landscape) frame which given the shape of the standard SLR viewfinder is the most "natural" orienation to use.

To do this the requirement was to take 20 images each with a vertical and horizontal shot. Below is a slide show of the 20 examples I have taken.

Also besides the obvious use of the vertical orientation for tall objects and standing people I also have considered the following when choosing the subjects above;

• The subject is already vertical
• Height needs defining
• Motion of the subject is vertical
• Defining direction of subject gaze - up or down
• Directing the viewers gaze within the image
• In portraits it can be used to retain tighter control of basic composition rules e.g. the rule of thirds
• Isolate a feature of the subject
• Defining the position/boundary of an object within it's containing space.

Positioning the Horizon

Horizon - This exercise is to explore different positions of the horizon and and how they affect an image.

Placing the horizon line at the top of the image purely draws attention to fore ground and near distance subjects. It heavily depends on foreground interest to give impact. I also find it contains the image within a defined boundary.

Balance

Balance in the image - taking six photographs from previous exercises I re-examined how the balance works in each one.

As per the course notes it is easier to see how the balance and elements that make it up appear within the shot.

As can be seen in the shot above, the main element of the main object is in the middle with two lesser elements "weighting" the edges of the image. This works as the main object is filling the frame and is symmetrical. This balance works best with objects like this.

Focal Lengths and Different Viewpoints

This exercise was to compare the effects of how your physical viewpoint needs to change when shooting with different lenses.

Using a 105mm lens , the focal length at the extreme of my zoom lens, I took this first picture.

Balance

In this exercise the instruction is to examine six previously taken images and decide how the balance works in each one.

I haven't exactly conformed to the letter on this one as one of the images is crop taken as part of another exercise , but it does have relevance.

A Sequence of Composition Take 2

Taking the exercise one step further I saw a fairly unique custom built machine on display and moved in using the viewfinder.

First I went in close but felt it was not showing the machine in the best way...

A Sequence of Composition

The object of this exercise is to try and use the viewfinder to compose the shot... not wait for it but try to find the ideal shot and record the process. By shooting the nearly moments it is hoped to see the process as it develops.I started this sequence with around 25 shots and I edited down to the 18 you see here. I decided the ones with arms and legs obscuring the shot didn't really count...

The sequence started with a crowd gathering to see a rare Indian motorcycle being started at a classic motorcycle open day...

I changed angle to try and get more shots of the faces of the crowd as the anticipation of hearing it run started to build