Assignment 2 : Elements of design

Street details

This assignment brings together insights gained during the course so far. I have included 14 photographs, all of street details captured in and around where I live. For the majority of the photographs I have used a Canon EOS 500D with the exception of one taken with a Canon Powershot SX40HS ( P216) and two taken with a Canon IXUS 210 ( P 207 and P211 ).

Single point dominating the composition

P205: f10 @ 1/100: ISO 100:  21mm  cropped

I took a number of photographs from different angles and positions to achieve an uncluttered effect and cropped the final choice slightly to make a tighter composition. Originally shot in colour, I opted for a black and white version which I feel, given the quality of the light on the day, emphasizes the line of the sculpture and particularly the lettering cut into the metal.

Two points

P206: f18 @ 1/40 : ISO 200 : 77mm cropped

I like the way the eyeline is drawn from right to left and downwards to the action. I used a telephoto lens to avoid the two subjects here being aware of the shot and cropped the image slightly to simplify the composition.

Several points in a deliberate shape

P207 : f3.2 @1/100 : ISO 80 : 5mm

I came across this sculpture by accident and only had my Canon IXUS 210 with me. That said, I was struck by the very deliberate shape formed by the holes and how the eye was carried through to the street behind. It had just stopped raining and I tried to capture the light on the water residue in some of the holes. I adjusted the level of brightness later to enhance the colour of the metal.

A combination of vertical and horizontal shapes

P208: f11 @1/500 : ISO 200 : 55mm cropped

I used the shadows to emphasize the horizontal and vertical lines and also cropped the image to remove the distraction of a tree on the left.

P209: f22 @ 1/50 : ISO 200 : 18mm

This local building site has a number of peepholes for the public which reminded me of a well known black and white photograph taken by Henri Cartier- Bresson in 1932 showing two men looking through a fence. I was not lucky enough to find anyone looking through the peepholes so decided to capture the scene from the viewpoint what someone looking through the peephole would see. I used f22 to give the image depth of field and deliberately set the hole to one side to allow a direct view through to the flats in the distance capturing horizontal and vertical lines from front to back of the picture. I was pleased with the result.

Diagonals

P210: f14 @ 1/25 : ISO 200 : 27mm  cropped

I like the drama of this picture derived from the 'sun ray'  diagonal  lines of cracked glass and reflection of light and colour captured in the cracks - a sense of dynamism picked up by the reflections of pedestrians walking in the background.The photograph has been slightly cropped from the left of the window to create a tighter image.

P211: f8 @ 1/1250 : ISO 800 : 9mm

I was drawn to this image by the angle of diagonal achieved by looking upwards to the top of this corner shop and the strong colour contrast which emphasises the diagonal.  I also like the abstract quality achieved. That said, this was an opportunist photograph taken when I only had my Canon IXUS 210 with me which is limited to f8. I feel now that using a smaller aperture would have given better depth of field.

Curves

P212: f10 @ 1/160 : ISO 200 : 25mm cropped

I took many photographs around this area to see what would work best to achieve the sense of movement I wanted to capture. I wanted to express the curve in a number of ways i.e. through the pathway, the buildings as well as a sense of movement.  Positioning the figure at the tight bend of the curve gives the movement I was looking for helped by the figure being in mid stride. I used a wide angled lens just slightly cropping the image from each side to gain the balance I wanted. Originally a colour photograph, I changed it to black and white and I feel this gives a better sense of place. 

Distinct, even if irregular, shapes 

P213: f10 @ 1/125 : ISO 100 : 18mm cropped

I used a wide angled lens here to draw the eye in and cropped the image to emphasise the shapes.

Implied triangles

P214: f22 @ 1/125 : ISO 800 : 209mm cropped

I used a telephoto lens to capture the subjects unaware of the camera. Originally a colour image, I decided to change to black and white as I think this works better i.e emphasises the triangular makeup of the grouping.  

P 215: f18 @ 1/50 : ISO 400 : 109mm cropped 

A 'still life' of workmen frozen in action  taken with a telephoto lens from the opposite side of the street. I slightly cropped the image to remove distracting street detail.

P216 : f8 @ 1/400 : ISO 200 : 18mm cropped

Taken with a Canon Powershot SX 40 HS rather than my usual camera ( Canon EOS 500D) , I set the implied triangle i.e the group of boys within real triangles of light and darkand cropped the resulting image to create a tighter composition.

Rhythm

P217:  f14 @ 1/800 : ISO 800:  55mm cropped

I liked the sense of rhythm in this piece of graffiti that carries the eye across the photograph from left to right - the break in the figures is skipped over as the eye is drawn to the couple and the very red heart.  I debated whether to crop beyond the slight cropping done to focus on the actual graffiti but decided the foreground and barbed wire and trees at the top gave the image a much better sense of identity and place - a more 'framed' approach which I guess gives the artwork an unexpected authority.

Pattern

P218: f10 @ 1/80 : ISO 400 : 40mm  cropped

These disposable cigarette lighters on a market stall drew my eye.The randomness of the display created a strong pattern emphasised by closing in with the camera for the final shot.

I used a wide angled lens and cropped the image to maximise the pattern.

Preparation for Assignment 2 : Elements of design

Getting ready

In deciding what theme to choose for this assignment, I have decided to opt for street details. This strikes a particular chord for me as the area in which I live offers a variety of image, structure and movement in a mix of streets ranging from affluent to down at heel, vibrant markets, urban history, city and residential, decaying buildings and urban graffiti alongside heritage detail. I have been checking out possible locations and opportunities as I worked through these last few exercises.

Colour or black and white ?
I have also been mulling over whether to shoot in colour or black and white or a mixture of both. Looking at some of the black and white work of photographers such as Henri Cartier- Bresson, it seems that the quality of light is critical to the impact that the black and white image makes. And some street scenes ( architectural / pattern etc. ) benefit from a black and white interpretation. That said, street graffiti often comes vibrantly coloured, spreading out from the city centre to local suburbs as it does..I find this artform really attractive to the eye and am intrigued as to how best to capture it and do it justice in photograhic form. Interestingly, I noticed among the Magnum photographer portfolios, some of the work of Bruce Davidson, particularly his book ' Subway' ( 3rd edition 2011), a hauntingly evocative collection which sets many subjects against the graffiti of their world.