Assignment 1 - Final Images

Part 1:

The Concept behind this image was "encounter". For me this image is about an encounter between a man and his opponent, the punching bag. I believe that the man's stare at the bag, as well as the contrast of the image help to support this concept. It was important to frame both, the man and the bag in this image, and the contrast and lighting create a "tense"situation between the two. I used flash lighting because I wanted there to be lots of contrast and I wanted the light to play off of the muscles. I directed the man to look at the bag, and to make it his opponent, so that he would give it the appropriate stare. My motivation behind this was to create an image that would depict an encounter. This image could says a lot of fighting, and so it could be representative of our own every day fights... with ourselves, with others, with our issues, etc...

Part 2

I didnt get too much of a response on this image in class, so I asked some of my friends instead. The general reaction was that people liked the tension created between the man and the punching bag. I did get a few recommendations to play with the angle, and to maybe try to re-create a similar shot, but standing behind the punching bag. And I think I would agree with that suggestion, because I feel it would make a far more interesting shot. I feel that the contrast, and dark background work to bring focus to the subject, and create a little bit of tension. I wanted to shoot this picture because i wanted to capture the play of light on sweat and muscle, and I think it would be cool to do a series of images capturing the same thing. Maybe even just a series capturing the human body. I think that light can play wonderfully on the curves of muscle and skin...

This image is about chaos. The high contrast, perspective and emphasis on the girls hands, help to push this point across. I wanted to use depth of field in this image because i felt it was important to focus in on her hands, where she is holding herself, perhaps her thoughts together. It was important that the outside light hit her hands in the right way, so we tried a few shots at a different angle, but decided that this lighting was better. I directed her to hold her head because I believe it portrays her holding herself together. I wanted to create an image that would speak about the chaos inside of us, and felt that this would be very representational. From a psychological perspective, this image might say something on anxiety or depression.

Part 2

Most people agreed with the "chaos" of the image. I was very happy with the outcome of the shot, I think that the contrast and angle work really nicely. I feel that an angle from the same or lower height of the subject, would not have created the same message in the image.  I think it might be an interesting starting point for a series of images related to turmoil.

This image is about boldness. I feel like the girl in the picture is almost saying "So What?" In retrospect, it might have been nice to fill the frame with her face a little bit more, but i think that the position of her shoulders and face, still portrays this quite well. I asked my model to wear red lipstick, because i wanted to create that contrast on her lips in the black and white photo. I feel that the use of contrast, lighting, and perspective all help to achieve this concept, because she is looking at us straight on, with her hands on her hips, saying "what's your point?", which was my motivation; to create an image that would set the viewer back.I think this image could be used to speak on the behalf of women's rights, since the subject in this photo comes off as bold. 

Part 2

The general response to this image was very good . Everyone kind of seemed to understand the attitude behind this image. I might have liked to get just a tad closer to the subject. I think it would be interesting to get a series of pictures in response to "Faces" and "Shadows".