The following is a direct copy and has been Pasted in for future reference from the Art of Photography coursework PDF Doc. (pasted in Maroon)
4 photographs – prints needed to note results
Find another subject, this time one that is very clear and set within a large, even background (you can see how useful it is to keep that list of potential subjects – you will need one for almost every exercise). You are going to take a series of photographs in which you place the subject in different positions in the frame. As in the last exercise, you should make the first exposure without thinking too much about this; in other words, compose the shot naturally and quickly. Later you will be able to compare this with the other versions. Then take about four or five images with the subject in different positions: • right in the centre • a little way from the centre • close to an edge or corner. When your results have been processed, lay them out and put them in order of preference. Which version appears to work the most comfortably? Which the least? As you assess what you have done concentrate on the relationship between the subject and its background. Where the subject was placed in the middle of the frame, the subject will certainly be prominent, but the background may have no central mass: it has been ‘punctured’ so that it just surrounds the subject equally. Compare this version with your others. Do you think this makes the subject and background work together?
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Equipment
Nikon D800E
80 / 400 f4.5 lens
Mono Pod
Method & Approach
In this exercise I decided upon ducks on a lake and the lake was to be my large even background. I wanted the typical duck we all now “The Mallard” but unfortunately there was none to be seen. The pictures were taken early morning hence the water colour being very cool.
Please see pictures and captions below.
Note – all pictures have been compressed hence there will be a quality reduction when enlarging.
My first picture taken with 80/400 mm lens, aperture setting of f6.3. This is the casual picture without too much thought, slightly low and to the right.
This picture was taken with the same lens and an aperture of f5.6. With this picture I increased the focal length and put the subject just off centre to the left. I think it works quite well.
In this picture I opened the aperture setting very slightly to f5.3, I wanted a little more light coming in which is noticeable when compared the picture above.
This picture and also the lower were taken from another part of the lake. I wanted more natural light on the subject coming from behind me. This is my preferred picture of them all its very slightly off centre to the left, I like the water texture and the foliage detail on the ducks back.
In this picture and the one above, the light characteristics had changed whilst walking further around the lake, also the morning was progressing so during composure I closed the aperture very slightly down to f5.6. With relevance to the subject this time I positioned the duck dead centre.
What have I learnt from this exercise
From this exercise I have learnt that its not always necessary to totally fill the frame with the subject.
My Reflection
Some of the surrounding natural habitat can be more pleasing in the pictures composure and moving the subject off centre brings yet another level of interest.
stingray493 