9.5.2014, Week 6 and 16.5.2014, Week 7
Tia Nellisa Binti Noor Badrol Akram (0320027)
Introduction to Photography
“The Rule of Thirds and Principles Underpinning Composition”
Lecture:
9.5.2014, Week 6
Before we start with our group discussion, Mr. Vinod asked us whether we had problems with the pervious exercise or not. As soon as it's done, we started our usual group discussion. Today’s topic is about ‘The Rule of Thirds and Principles Underpinning Composition’. Those are the most important rule in composition for photography. Rule of thirds is a powerful composition technique for making photos more interesting. It consists of 3 rows and 3 columns. It often create a sense of balance without making the photo appear too static and a sense of complexity without making the photo look too busy as well.
When Mr. Vinod gives us a briefing about it and get into more details, as he even show us his own theory, the ‘Triangular composition’.
As for Principles Underpinning Composition, it is actually used when composing or considering elements within a picture, for example,
Domination/Emphasis ,Isolation, Balance, Repetition, Alignment, Contrast, Rhythm, Symmetry/Asymmetry, Harmony. As for the exercise based on ‘The Rule of Thirds and Principles Underpinning Composition’, Mr. Vinod shows us a few example outside the class before the class dismissed.
16.5.2014, Week 7
Before we start the class, Mr. Vinod gives us our general feedbacks based on our previous exercise 4(a) Rule of Thirds.There were no group discussions for this week. After that, he gives us a small briefing about Principles Underpinning Composition and what we are going to do for our next assignment. He also told us to bring our hardcopy file next week.
Instructions:
9.5.2014, Week 6
Instructions for exercise 4(a) Rule of Thirds(5%):
Capture 3 Images adhering to the Rule of Thirds
- Using 1 person
- Using 3 persons
- Using a scenery
When placing the image on the document for printing; place one image with the Rule of Third lines visible and another without the lines side by side (as instructed in class)
Marking Criteria: The student must show evidence of knowledge and ability to use the Rule of Two-Thirds under the prescribed circumstances. Evidence of composition enhanced by cropping is acceptable in order to heighten the dynamism or intensity of the picture. Students must showcase their knowledge on exposure using the zone system.
Exercise 4(a):
One Person
Aperture : F3.5, Shutter Speed: 1/640, ISO: 200
With the rule of thirds
Three Person
Aperture: F3.5 , Shutter Speed: 1/5 , ISO:200
With the rule of thirds
Redo:
Aperture: F4.5, Shutter Speed: 1/400, ISO 200
With the rule of thirds
Scenery
Aperture : F3.5 , Shutter Speed: 1/ 320, ISO: 200
With the rule of thirds
(Screen Shots)Hardcopy of Exercise 4(a) Rule of Thirds
Redo Hardcopy of Exercise 4.a
16.5.2014, Week 7
Instructions for exercise 4(b) Principles Underpinning Composition(5%):
Capture 4 Images adhering to any of the mentioned principles below:
- Domination/Emphasis
- Isolation
- Balance
- Repetition
- Alignment
- Contrast
- Rhythm
- Symmetry/Asymmetry
- Harmony
- Perspective
Print all 4 images on an A4 as instructed in class.
Marking Criteria: The image must show evidence of the dominant principle used and the supporting principles (if any) underpinning the composition. The principles underpinning the image must be named and should be visible within the image. Students must showcase their knowledge on exposure using the zone system.
Exercise 4(b) Principles Underpinning Composition :
[Contrast]
Aperture: F5.3, Shutter Speed: 1/25, ISO: 800
[Isolation]
Aperture: F5, Shutter Speed: 1/200, ISO: 200
Redo:
[Isolation]
Aperture: F5, Shutter Speed: 1/500, ISO: 200
[Isolation]
Aperture: F5.3, Shutter Speed: 1/800, ISO: 100
[Perspective]
Aperture: F5, Shutter Speed: 1/320, ISO: 200
[Repetition]
Aperture: F5, Shutter Speed: 1/8, ISO: 800
Redo:
[Repetition]
Aperture: F5, Shutter Speed: 1/1.6, ISO: 200
(Screen Shots)Hardcopy of Exercise Exercise 4(b) Principles Underpinning Composition
Redo Hardcopy of Exercise 4(b)
Feedback :
Specific feedback:
(Week 6)
Mr. Vinod told me that my exercises seem alright. The scenery was the best out of the three. The single person shot was good and the three person shot was ok only, since it wasn’t very dynamic.(Thus, I did a redo on my three person shot.) He even told me that when doing the exercise, I need to display the pictures with and without the rule of third lines. Overall, he also mention that my reflection was well written and asked me to keep it up.
(Week 7)
Mr. Vinod told me the redo work for exercise 4(a) was good, it was much better than the previous shot. As for exercise 4(b), the exercise was accurate but the shots using principle of isolation and repetition was a little weak. The isolation photo, Mr. Vinod can discern what is isolated in the picture and as for repetition photo; he said it looked constructed and took away the naturalness of the shot (I did a redo on isolation and repetition photo). However, other photo was fine. Mr. Vinod said that my e-portfolio was great and he loved the fact that I included a shot that I took before but found that it didn't quite work with the requirement but nevertheless shared it to my blog. He said that the shot was interesting and told me that to keep up the good work.
General feedback:
(Week 6)
Mr. Vinod asked us whether we had any problem regards with the exercise 4(a) rule of thirds. He told us that we need to understand the format and compose of the particular scene when taking that shot, for example the background of that scene. He even asked us did we face any issue during that exercise because if we don’t, then we are definitely doing it wrong or incorrect. He even said that we shouldn’t put our subject matter in the middle of the frame or viewfinder; however, it also depends on a certain background of that particular scene. It would have work but it also won’t have work as well. Mr. Vinod said that too much empty space in the background is not good; we need to have scenery so that it can interact with the subject matter of that scene. We also need to question what we undergo during that exercise because everyone is different; we all had different experiences and different opinion at that subject. Mr. Vinod told us that when it comes to scenery shot, we would need to understand what the point of interest about, so that we could compose it in the way of what we see and asked yourself “Do you take that picture just to fulfil the exercise or is it because it looks nice?” When doing the exercise, we need to work harder and create that picture; make it more interesting. “What kind of picture do you want?”, “How to make that picture more interesting?” and “What is the point of this exercise?” said Mr. Vinod himself. Mr. Vinod also added that, if we want to redo some of the exercise, do it, it’s all up to us to decide.
(Week 7)
Mr. Vinod told us to make sure that our date, week, topic and sub-topic are accurate and present in the e-portfolio blog. He even mentions that for our hardcopy, we need to put our sub-topic exercise as well. For those who had already print it out without the topic by the side, Mr. Vinod said that we could just write it neatly next to it, we don’t really need to print it out again.
Reflection:
Experience:
(Week 6)
For today class, there isn’t much to talk about the rule of thirds during the discussion, since some thinks it’s a theory and some said it’s a rule. Whichever, I think it doesn’t really matter. It’s important to apply during taking a photo but sometimes, rules are meant to be broken from time to time. Taking a photo of a person was a lot harder than taking a photo of scenery as we need to cooperate with them together in order to get a great photo. Since I always taken candid photo, it was a bit challenging for me as I had to take it again and again. But it was fun. I enjoy taking photo and those challenges will makes me more as an active learner.
(Week 7)
For today class, we didn’t need to do our usual group discussion for this week since we already cover this topic since last week. So, Mr. Vinod gave our general feedbacks before we start the class. There’s been kind of an issue some of us were having with the exercise 4(a). Since Mr. Vinod said that we can redo our exercise again if we want to do, I redo my three person shot because I wasn’t quite happy with the outcome since I did that it last minute because I don’t really had the time to do it properly. I’m not quite sure if my redo part of the three person shot was ok or not, but I’ll give it a shot. For this week exercise 4(b) Principles Underpinning Composition, I was thinking hard for which one I wanted to choose since we need to choose 4 element. I keep on redo it again and again to get the perfect scene. I need to make it fit with the concept I choose. Not to mention there’s so many mosquitos and I was in bad luck to actually wear a black shirt, I believe I saw an aedes mosquito too. I hope nothing bad happen to me. I even went to a haunted house near my neighborhood; it was abandoned for so long, to take a few shots. The house was still under construction before it was abandoned.
After I went home, I realize that my haunted house doesn’t fit with the scene I choosen. But then again, I had fun being adventures and everything. Like they said “Life is too short without being a bit adventures sometimes.” However, being adventures doesn’t mean for outdoors only but also indoors. This is because I use some of the stuff lying around my house and do a bit experiment on it. I can actually re-arranged it for however I like to take that certain scene. It’s not necessary to actually go out and take pictures, there’s no such rule about it at all.
Observation:
(Week 6)
In the group discussion, there’s isn’t much question about the rule of thirds. When Mr. Vinod asked us do we thinks it’s a rule or a theory, most of them thinks it’s a theory, when I thinks it’s a rule. Even I wasn’t even sure myself about it. But what’s more important about it is how we apply it in photography. We don’t really need to follow the grids shown literally but it’s like a base for balancing that certain image to make it more interesting and nicer rather than an unbalanced photo. Since I rarely use the grids, it was quite useful in the end. I can see the differences between an unbalanced photo with a balanced photo. I also notice that taking a photo of someone modeling for us was harder than I expected. Even though, the only thing that is between us is the camera itself but we need to cooperate with them as well. A good photo never comes from only the photographer or only the model itself. It comes from both. Teamwork is important to photography as well.
(Week 7)
I realized that most of us were having trouble with our exercise 4(a) rule of thirds. We didn’t really understand what would have made that certain photo to be more interesting. We would need to do more practice when using the rule of thirds. Not everyone had same problems as everyone does, so it’s better to speak up more. I had a problem as well and I decided redo it somehow; I don’t know whether I did it better or not though. But I did what I can. As for Exercise 4(b) Principles Underpinning Composition, I notice that it’s not easy to find that the perfect scene we wanted based on what concept we choose. I need to think a little about it before taking that shot. As taking that shot and applying the rule of thirds with all what we’ve learned so far into it was hard. But I’d bear with it. It’s part of our learning process and not everything will always go our ways, for example the weather and the environment. “We have to work with what we have in front of us and
make magic with our camera” or so I wanted to say.
Findings:
(Week 6)
For today class, there weren’t many questions to ask about the rule of thirds during the group discussion. During the lecture as Mr. Vinod gives us a briefing about it to us, I was amazed that he told us about his own theory, the “Triangular composition” into the rules of thirds as well. As for the exercise, I begin to understand why the rule of thirds is important in photography and I will eventually use it more often in the nearest future. It makes my photo more balanced and interesting in a certain angle. It was a useful composition rule and it helps me a lot. And the facts that I can break the rules from time to time, makes me even more to become adventurous in the photography world. Nothing in life need to be perfect, we don’t need a certain object to be always in the center, we can always make it off center to make it more interesting as it can caught other’s people attention towards that photo.
(Week 7)
For today class, when we did anything wrong with our exercise or not satisfied with it, it’s ok to redo it again. We always makes mistake and we don’t have to stop there. Take the risk and go forward. To become an active learner, it’s part of our daily routines. Always question about the things we see from our viewfinder or maybe even our eyes, as Mr. Vinod always said to us “Be a Scientist”. Don’t just be quiet about be, be adventures. When doing the exercise 4(b), I become an adventures type of person when I wasn’t like that at all. I was shocked with my sudden curiosity emotion out of the sudden, but it was fun. There’s still a long way in life and I choose to be an active learner in the future because learning is fun. Even though I sometimes had difficulties when doing the exercise or maybe I didn’t fit with the concept of my assignment, I still looking forward towards the future.
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