HIDDEN TREASURE
This photo came out of a still life that I composed. This still life was very focused on crazy colors between the skull, gold chain, deep violin, patterned cloth, and bright jewelry. To further dramatize those colors, I positioned a single light on the right side of the still life. On the right side, there would be no obstructions that would have created odd shadows and warp the intended effect. I shot from a slightly upward angle, tucking the camera into the cloth to get close to the objects. I like the effect that the corners of the cloth create above the beads. It covers it, and visually hints at the jewels having a worth and being a “hidden treasure”. In this series, I found that many of the photos were dramatic and pulled the viewer in. The photos were all dark and moody but so full of color and life that it provided a natural contrast.
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LIGHT BULB
This is another example of a still life I created using a teal scarf, skull, light bulb, gold chain, and framed sugar skull art. I went for another bright set, and I feel that blue and gold create a great contrast. I always use manual focus because I really enjoy the weird effects you can get with it. I managed to get a very clear focus on the lightbulb and created a shallow depth of field. The focal point is definitely the lightbulb due to the tiny filaments present, but I like how you can see the blurred background in this photo as well. The mood in this picture feels very bright and hopeful to me. All of the colors pop, and the reflection on the light bulb creates a balance of highlights and saturated shadows.
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WARM SMILES
The portrait sessions were my favorite. This was a surprise session, where I used soft lighting and a grey paper background. The focus was on Mr. Chase, framed to the left to create a less intimidating, straight-on, and all around school-portrait esq photo. This was a lucky shot. I fully believe that people are much better to draw or photograph when they act naturally. This photo was caught in the middle of speech, but it creates a smile that is both whimsical and welcoming. The eyes directed to the right also creates a less intimidating atmosphere. All around, this portrait conveys a warm and amusing feeling, especially with its warm colors.
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SAD PLATE MAN: SUMMER READING EDITION
The focus in this photo is the fabulous Sad Plate Man. He was framed to be in the center, especially since he is not looking directly at the camera. This photo is incredibly humorous to me. It creates a light hearted atmosphere, and sets up a great opportunity for a series. Although there were multiple Sad Plate Man adventures, him reading Treasure Island is definitely my favorite, especially with only Treasure Island in color.
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BIRDMASK
This photo is the photo that I’ve wanted for years but I could never picture. The colors of the mask with the midtones of the background and the straight posture create a surprising balance in a photo this strange. The lighting was simply soft lighting to the left and right, just enough to create a “natural” looking photo rather than a dramatic imbalance. The choice to make this vertical was also perfect to further emphasize the balance between all of the angles in the photo. This photo conveys a sense of school portraits, but if Wes Anderson did them. The bird mask, as simple and small as it is, is the perfect amount of pop and not too overpowering.
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WHO, ME?
Similar to the Sad Plate Man, this photo creates a comical atmosphere, but because of its lack of color and button eyes, some people see it more frightening than funny. I attribute this to the release of Coraline in our late childhood. I do agree in some ways, due to the odd tilting of the head and how intimidating the contrast is, that this could be easily misconstrued as an image of horror. This photo has more dramatic lighting, with one strong light to the right. This lighting was used to make the mask more bold in the photo. With this photo, similar to the last, I decided to make it a vertical shot rather than my usual horizontal pictures. The angles in this one create a balance with the vertical presentation as the last did. Even if people are scared, I still think this photo is endearing and look at it more like a puppy tilting its head rather than something winding up to kill me.
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