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)
3 photographs
Take three photographs in which there is a single point, placed in a different part of the frame in each example. Justify your reasons in a short note under the picture, or with a numbered reference in your learning log. With these pictures, and with those you selected from your photo library, consider the graphic relationship that the points have with the frame.
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Equipment
Nikon D4
80 / 400 f4.5 lens
Method
As suggested, prior to this exercise in the coursework book I initially wrote down several examples and types of situation that would make a clear point within a photograph. Having made these notes in my sketch learning book helped me no end, it had given me a clear idea of what I was looking for to photograph. I wanted to capture a swan on the local lake but on arrival I was disappointed as there weren’t any, the only thing on the lake at the time were ducks so I took a few pictures and referring to my cameras monitor they looked dull and uninteresting. Still thinking of the list, I remembered writing aeroplane, so I got back in the car to find a better viewing place of RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. I was in luck as a C130 was performing circuits and bumps.
Please see pictures and captions below.
Note – all pictures have been compressed hence there will be a quality reduction when enlarging.
This picture was taken with an 80 / 400mm lens, aperture of f8 and a speed of 400th sec. ISO 100. The point coming toward is slightly off centre and has nothing in the sky to balance it, making this picture heavier towards the right.
With relevance to this picture, I find its characteristics the least attractive of the three. Although I meant to put it exactly here in the frame whilst composing, to me it resembles a picture captured without thought as if it were taken in a hurry or a split second opportunity.
This picture was also taken with the 80 / 400mm lens, aperture of f8 and a speed of 400th sec. ISO 100. This time the point coming toward is slightly above the absolute middle of the frame, again with is nothing else in the sky making this pictures balance very central.
I agree with the coursework here and also from my own experience that central points very rarely work.
The final was also taken with the 80 / 400mm lens, aperture of f8 and a speed of 400th sec. ISO 100. This time the point coming toward is slightly below the absolute middle of the frame and also has nothing else in the sky making this pictures balance heavier towards the left.
Like the pictures above I meant to put this point exactly as shown and it works, visually our recognition of this shape tells us its an aeroplane and that its direction of travel needs free space to fly into. I know I have just stated the obvious but perhaps until it is put like this we don’t recognise why this subject works better in this direction on the left opposed to the right as shown in the first picture.
What have I learnt from this exercise
From this exercise I have learnt that framing a point / subject is paramount to the character of the picture, in layman’s talk the picture captures all its interest from the point position or positions.
Thoughts and Reflection
At first I struggled to understand from the coursework book the photographers meaning of a “point” the idea of a point not representing co-ordinates was alien to me, so I read it again and again in the end I wrote the meaning out my own way by rearranging the format and a few words … then I finally got there.
This exercise is very similar to that of exercise 7 in Part One, except that the word object has been replaced by point and you mean to position the point in the frame with meaning and reason.
To view my reworked understanding of points, please see my TAoP Learning Log named Part Two – Elements of Design ….. “Points”
stingray493 