Self Reflection

Throughout the semester, I have really learned a lot more about how photography works. Since the camera that I used for this passion project was new to me at first, it was probably my biggest goal to become more familiar with it. I achieved that goal to an extent, because I did learn how to use/change a lot of the different settings that help get the image you want, but there is still so much that I need to fiddle around with and become familiar with.

I did a lot of research on how to execute different techniques, and I am really happy with the way my pictures turned out. Another goal of mine was just to improve my overall photography skills. In the beginning of the semester, the biggest thing for me was just getting outside and start snapping pictures of whatever, just to get the feel of things, but by the end, I could actually plan out the way I wanted my end result to look like. For example, I would place the subject already in the right place, I would adjust the aperture/shutter speed, I would take in to account the foreground of my image, and just already know what my picture would be. This was a big improvement for me, because I felt myself just naturally knowing these things and applying them to the image I wanted before actually physically taking the picture. I think I really achieved my goal of improving my photography skills.

One of the biggest obstacles for me was probably making time to go out and take pictures. It was easy for me in the sense that I live on a farm, and whenever I had some spare time I could just walk out my front door, but I never really got off the farm. I would have really liked to go to downtown Winnipeg or to the Forks, because it'd be different than taking pictures on the farm, but I just could never find time. Another obstacle I faced was, believe it or not, TICKS! I guess just being out on the farm, walking around in the tall grass and in the fields, I got a lot of ticks. As gross as it sounds, I probably got more ticks in a 2 day time span then I have in the past 4 years of my life. So that was something that was really disgusting, and I was not to excited about it.

Some Through-Lines that relate to my project are creation-enjoying and beauty-creating. Creation-enjoying because just getting outside and having God's creation entirely surrounding you is just so peaceful and so enjoyable. Walking around nature is a great way to connect with God, and there were definitely times where I could feel God's presence there with me. I found that photographing nature is a great way to appreciate all that God has given us. I also chose beauty-creating because I am taking the talents and gifts God has given me to take pictures and create something beautiful through Him. God is the #1 creator, but by taking pictures I can reflect God.

I am really glad that I chose photography for my passion project. Photography has always been something I have been really interested in, so I am really happy that I could do it for school credit. I am really happy with everything I learnt, and I am hoping to continue learning and continue photography in the future.

New York City

Since I live on a farm, most of my pictures are farm related or at least some what country themed. One of the obstacles I faced during this project was not putting aside enough time to actually go somewhere else, say downtown Winnipeg, to try and take pictures of something other then cows and open fields. This is why going to New York City with my school was a very fun and new experience for me.

Taking pictures in NYC is so much different then in the country. I wasn't used to all the tall buildings, all the traffic, and the amount of people. So it was definitely a challenge for me, but I think I ended up taking some well executed pictures. 

Everywhere I walked was such a good picture opportunity. I kept my camera hung around my neck 99% of the entire time I was there. There was so much detail in the buildings, so much colour on the streets, and so many unique people, it was just impossible to capture everything I saw. 

Since I didn't have much experience taking pictures of tall buildings, that was definitely a huge challenge for me. It's just such an awkward shot shooting from way down below, because all you see in the picture is this towering structure above you. Taking pictures of the skyline was something I enjoyed a lot better, and it still showcased the height and detail of NYC, rather than taking pictures from down below.

Photographing Animals

Taking pictures of animals or pets of yours can be a bit tricky, since they're constantly moving, but once you know the right techniques and settings to use on your camera, you can attain a very well captured image.

One technique used in animal photography is to get on eye to eye level with the subject of your photo. An animals eyes can easily be the focal point, and can express the overall emotion of the image. Getting down to the animals level, shooting up close, and freezing them in action, makes for a very interesting photo because you can capture so much detail, and it makes the image seem more real and alive. By doing this you can also show the animals character and personality.

Focal Point

A focal point of a picture can be be the most important part of any image. It's purpose is to draw the viewers attention to the part of the image you want highlighted. A focal point gives the viewers eyes a place to rest on, but still experience the emotion or the mood of the entire image. When a picture has no focal point, the viewers eyes will wander, and when they see nothing that catches their eye, they will get bored and move on. The goal you want to achieve when using a focal point is to make the viewer stop and look, and to captivate their full attention for prolonged moment.

Here I used the grain elevator and silo as my focal point

To make a focal point stand out, it must be placed in the image correctly. This is where the rule of thirds comes in. The rule of thirds is when you imagine a grid of two vertical lines and two horizontal lines running over your image, cutting the image into a grid of thirds. The correct places to put your focal point are any places where those imaginary lines intersect. It also helps to you place your horizon line on any two of the horizontal lines. An off centred focal point is much more interesting and pleasing to the eye.

Aperture

Using different aperture sizes are just one of the many techniques used when taking a picture. Different aperture sizes refer to how much light is passing through the camera lens, which will change the result of the picture taken.

To make the subject of their photo stand out more, people tend to use lower aperture sizes to blur out the background and keep their subject in focus. The smaller the aperture size, the more blurred the background will be. This is a very good technique to use when wanting to make the subject of the photo grab the viewers attention. Examples of low aperture sizes are f/4.5, f/6. Heres an example of a photo taken with a low aperture size. Since the leaves in the background are blurred, they don't take the viewers attention away from the subject, producing a crisp image of the pine cone making it really stand out.

Although using small aperture sizes are quite popular, using larger aperture sizes, for example f/16, or f/22, are just as beneficial. They will make both the subject and the background in focus. This is commonly used in landscape photography where the entire image will be in focus, and can help capture very stunning pictures!

Foreground - Make or Break

Foreground can be such an important aspect to certain pictures. The foreground of a picture helps set the mood you want the image to portray, adds depth to the picture, and is very interesting to look at, if used correctly. When looking at a picture, the foreground should help lead your eyes up to the rest of the photo.

Around this time of year is the perfect time to test out using foreground to your advantage. With all the snow melting leaving large puddles behind, there is so many good opportunities to try this photography skill out. Puddles are great to use in foreground because it may capture the reflection of whatever your subject is, which can make for a very interesting photo.

Here is an example of a picture I took using this clever photography skill. You can see the reflection of the trees in the foreground, and it actually adds more depth to the image. The darkness and contrast of the photo gives off a dreary mood, and the stillness of the puddle makes the environment seem very calm and hushed.

The foreground of an image can actually make or break a picture. Here is the same picture as before, just with the foreground cropped out. This picture actually looks boring compared to the original, and is not as interesting to look at.

Using the foreground to your advantage is an excellent way to capture a great image. I am excited to use this skill more in other pictures I take in the future!

Click the link below to read more about using foreground in your pictures!
The Importance of Foreground

Editing

Before

Editing photos is something many people do to make the pictures they take even that much better. You can't control what the weather will be like, so on cloudy days, like the day I took these pictures, your pictures may not turn out how you intended them to be. Just slightly editing the picture, for example, boosting the colour, or cropping it to your likings, your picture can have the certain look that you intended on having as an end result.

Here is an example of a picture showing the 'before editing' and 'after editing' results.

After

For my editing purposes, I simply just used iPhoto, but there are many different editing applications you can use. As you can see in the 'before' picture, the colours and lighting of the picture look very dull and gloomy, due to the cloudy day it was taken on. All I did to edit it was boost the colours more, and enhanced the contrast, and as you can see, the picture already looks a lot more appealing. The trees and the wagon have a much more contrasted look to it, and just by boosted the colours the picture pops out at you.

Instead of having a dull and gloomy picture as a result, these simple editing steps I did make the picture a lot more rich in colour, and makes for a more interesting photo.

Introduction

This semester in my grade 12 Bible class, my classmates and I were assigned to do a Passion Project. To do this project we were asked to pick a hobby, or something that we've always been interested in but have never been able to do, and try to improve and excel in the activity throughout the semester. For my Passion Project I have chosen to do photography. Photography has been something that I've always been interested, but I have just never dedicated the time to take any pictures, do any research nor have a good enough camera. Now is the perfect opportunity to try it out.

My parents actually bought me a Canon Rebel for my grad present, so it worked out well because I can use it for my Passion Project. It's a big improvement from my little digital camera, and will help me take better quality photographs. One of the requirements for this project is that you need to have a mentor to help you along and help teach you more about the activity you have chosen to do. For my mentor, I have chosen my older sister, Brittany. I chose Brittany for my mentor because she was one of the photographers for the university she attends. So if I have any questions about how to take a certain photo, or questions about any editing skills, etc, I have her to ask and learn from.

I have set some goals for myself to strive towards throughout the semester. I really want to improve my skills and know how to use my camera better. There are so many little settings and changes you can make on my camera for different kinds of pictures I want accomplished. For example, there are different aperture settings, shutter speeds, focal points, contrasts, depths of field - all of which will have an effect on the photo. I'm also hoping to learn more about how to enhance the subject of the photos I take, and know where to place the subject in the photo to make it more appealing to the viewer. I hope to improve in these skills by researching the web, asking my mentor, and just getting outside and taking photographs. In the beginning I know the photos I take may not be that great, but I'm hoping to see some sort of improvement as the semester progresses.

One of the things I'm really excited for my Passion Project and the photos I take is seeing the beauty of God in His creation. I'm hoping to focus a lot on nature and landscape photography, and I'm really excited to try and capture the beauty of His creation in the photos I take.