Exercise 6 - Balance

In this exercise I am required to take several of my previously shot photos and decide how the balance works in each one. (Michael Freeman, The Photographers Eye Page 40, states "Balance is the resolution of tension, opposing forces that are matched to provide equilibrium and a sense of harmony").   

Before this exercise I have never really looked at whether my photos are balanced, I just see if I like the look of the shot.  Maybe, my sub conscious has been looking for balance, otherwise how would any of my photos achieved this.  

To complete the exercise I am required to "sketch" the areas of balance, I have tried to show this by drawing boxes on to the photos below.   I am then required to show a balance scale to depict how these "sketch areas" balance.

So here goes on a few of my old photos (Scales are shown at the end):

Photo 1

I think the balance work in this one, as although the glass is smaller than the bottle, it is central and in the foreground,  The bottle is nearer the edge and further back. This placement means that despite the differing sizes the balance works.

Photo 2

Again there are several items of unequal size in this photo.  I think the photo still balances, as the nearer group of people are nearer the center and where as the back person is on the edge of the photo.  I also think the cross dissecting both groups helps with the balance as shown in the scale for Photo 2 below.

Photo 3

 This is a very simple balance, as both part of the photo are of similar size and have therefore been placed equally near the to center 

Photo 4

Balance is achieved through the symmetry of the petals radiating from the central stamen of this daisy. 

Photo 5

It took me a while to decide on the balance in this photo.  I started with the blocks above and I think it works.  But then I think that maybe  the road at the forefront should have a box around it, as this added to the hills on the right would then possibly equal all the hills on the left.  

Photo 6

Again I took a while to decide on how this photo achieves it balance, but I think it does.  The main part of the photo is central and the island in the distance is also fairly central.  In addition to this the area either side has equal amount of detail, which achieves the balance.  Had the foreground only had detail on one side the whole photo would not have balanced and would probably have benefited from some cropping.

Conclusion

I struggled with this exercise for quite a while.  Mainly because I have again found that the majority of my previous photos are simple, clean photos that tend to focus on one point of interest.  This means the balance is simple, one point of interest, one item - one thing to balance centrally. Of the photos not like this there are many of mountains and landscapes which I find hard to define the balance within.  I have tried on a couple above and hope that I have achieved the objective in these photos.  

Reviewing my old photos, I find that I possibly already think on balance, but not in the way I have had to within this exercise.  From doing this exercise I think that I will now try to think balance as I look through the viewfinder and hope to achieve a clearer balance in my landscapes and photos with a variety of items in, rather than just one.  I also think this may help me to achieve a point of interest in my landscape photos, which I struggle with at times, and this may help me to lift my landscapes from snapshots to second look photos.

Exercise 5 - Focal Length & Different Viewpoints

In this exercise I was required to take two shots of the same subject using a zoom/telephoto lens and a wide angle, but to change the viewpoint and see what happens to the perspective

Take One

Focal Length - 112mm

Nature Exposed Exhibition

Today I decided to take a walk in the wind and rain to the "Nature Exposed Exhibition" at the Centrespce Gallery here in Bristol.  The Exhibition  is made up of photos from Marine and Natural History Photography Graduates of University College Falmouth and is being shown in Bristol as part of the "Bristol's Big Green Fringe 2012".

Having never been to Centrespace before and not really ever visited anything other the the yearly Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, I am not sure that I will write this visit up well or miss things that I should have included...... but here goes.....

The gallery is a small space tucked away on a side street in the center of Bristol, but is well lit and ideal for small exhibition's like this. 

Exercise 4 - Focal Lengths for Cameras with variable focal lengths

The exercise requires a view that is open and at the same time has some details in the distance..........

During the nice hot weather last week we headed off to Tintern Abbey (photos of the abbey can be found on my Flicker site).  My plan was to walk around and find a view that allowed me to put the Abbey ruins as the detail in the distance.....but on arrival we found that because of the town growing around the abbey and the modern parking for visitors etc there was not a viewpoint that allowed me to place the Abbey in the distance and then fill the frame with it at different focal lengths..........

Undeterred we wondered around looking at all the other beautiful scenes available, the river, the mill, the people.....that I might be able to use to fulfill the brief of this exercise. Low and behold the river presented me with a bend and a boat that viewed from the middle of a bridge allowed me to take photos at different focal lengths and give me very different photos, all from the same position........

Exercise 2 - Object In Different Positions in the Frame

For this exercise I needed to find a subject that is very clear and set within a large and even background!!!  Simple you would think.....I have to admit I have been struggling and have found it difficult to find this in the city.......

To date I don't think I have managed to hit this requirement precisely, but my best fit for the brief is shown below.

On a visit to Blaise Estate (Yes I know Blaise Castle and Estate again, but I can get there while my daughter is at Swimming Club....so I will continue to visit it and look for inspiration) I noticed a particular Tree that stands alone ion the center of the park.  Although the background is not clear and neutral, I feel the tree does hold its own, especially in the evening light.

Exercise 1 - Fitting the Frame to the Subject

For this exercise the aim is to take photos of a subject in different ways so that the frame fits the subject.

The first shot is to take a photo of the subject without taking too much time considering the composition.

This is my shot of an Ornamental Urn at Blaise Castle in Bristol. Taken without too much thought to the composition, although I think that subconsciously I have paid some attention, as I appear to have used the walls to lead the eye to the Urn. 





For the second shot I am required to pay more attention and fill the frame.

To enable me to fill the frame with the Urn, I had to climb on the wall!!!! Luckily it was late evening and no-one was around.  I have had to crop the image from the original slightly as the vertical appeared to be slightly off.  I took the photo from this angle as the setting sun was starting to light up the carvings on the side and gave the effect of a spot light. 

The next two shots focus on part of the subject, the requirement was for none of the edges of the subject to be seen in the photo.

Again these shots were taken while balancing on the wall and as the sun was setting.  I love the warmth the late sun gives to the concrete material.

The two photos taken, do not at first glance appear to be part of the bigger picture and could be their own sculpture or part of a large building.


This I think is one of the main learning points, that you can take an interesting photo from either the whole or part.

Introduction - Project Photographing Movement - Shutter Speeds

In this project the theme is Photographing Movement and in this particular exercise is the use of shutter speeds to freeze movement of show a feeling of movement.  

Introduction - Focus at different apertures

In this exercise I am required to take a set of photo's using different apertures, whilst remaining focus on the same point.

Introduction - Focus with a set aperture

For this exercise the idea is to take a set of photos at the same aperture, using manual focus to focus on different parts of the scene.

Introduction - Focal Length & Angel of View

Went to Blaise Castle, Bristol for this exercise, hoping that the rain and light would hold out long enough for some photography to actually take place.....

Registration Complete

That's it, I've completed my registration for the course and have been informed that the course papers will be dispatched today.... and should be with me in three or four days....... I am excited and cant wait but am also so nervous.....

I wonder if I have the ability to undertake such a course, both in the form of technical skill and the creative flair to see and reproduce an interesting photo, rather then just a snapshot.  

Then I think about writing this blog (I have never undertaken this type of thing before), making it look clear and simple, whilst being interesting for anyone that happens upon it......but in actual fact I am writing this for myself as a record of what I am learning and any improvements I see in my work not to capture a wider audience.  So as long as I record my learning in a clear manner it should be OK and maybe if I have time along the way I can add whistle and bells to the blog.

If that was not enough I recently invested in a camera upgrade.  My dear old Canon EOS 350D was getting very tired, so I saved my pennies for a year or so with the intention of obtaining a 50D, but in the end managed to stretch the pennies and go all the way to a 7D.  

WOW, they are two completely different beasts.......all those menus.......new buttons and features.  I have been struggling to get to grips with it all, but finally after a couple of days sitting with the manual and a 7D guide book, I am starting to feel a little more confident with where all the important buttons are and have actually taken some photos.

Hopefully the 7D will last me as long as my old one, but if not the 350D is still here and raring to go should the need occur.     

One thing is for sure the only way I will ever find out if I have the ability and vision to complete this course and any future ones is to start and take lots of photos, writing here about what I am doing and what I have learnt. 

After all this site is about my world of learning "The Art of Photography".

Below are a few photos that I have taken before the course.  I won't add details at this time, but will use them as a future point of reference, to see my improvements.

Pauline's Old Photos

Dezzie23's photostream on Flickr.

Original Photos taken for OU Course T189 in Autumn/Winter 2008. Hope to utilise and update this page to show my progress through my new studies and maybe a little more too,