Monday, September 20, 2010

Week Seven

I’ve been Google-ing photography ideas so to explore and experiment with different possibilities. I’m still tossing up ideas for the final portfolio and was hoping that completing different experimental exercises might help me to decide. So I took photos of shadows, reflections, patterns/repetition, putting two photos side by side (I forget what that’s called) and looking at things from a different perspective. It was looking at things from a different perspective that caught my eye. I realised that I take a plethora of photos pointing upwards. We don’t always take/have the time to look up when we’re marching about our daily duties and there’s plenty to be seen, believe me! So, here is a collection of ‘up’ photos I have taken this week.    


I love the colour of the sky in this pictures. It gives an eerie mood.
Again, I like this picture for the sky, as well as the lines and colours.
Once again, I think that it is the sky that makes this picture. If the sky were blue, it wouldn't have the same oomph.




I really love this picture. I love the sky, the clouds, the trees, the colours, the lines, the shapes, the intensity...

I prefer this picture in black and white. It  think it enhances the way the afternoon light falls on the tree.


Colourful construction in Richmond.
A pub in Richmond. I like this picture, but I would like to retake it and make the sign lighter.


Brunswick.

Week Six

I love the idea of creating a personal journey portfolio. Initially I thought it would be fantastic to capture all of my favourite places and things. I wondered if it would seem a bit vain, but I just really liked the idea of creating a diary of photos. I could even set my camera to timer mode and put myself in the pictures… Or I could follow a differed route and create a collaboration of important events in my life (over the past six weeks). When I rifle through the hundreds of photos I’ve taken during this subject there are endless stories and memories; seeing a favourite band, fathers day, friends for dinner, Sydney, bidding at our first house auction, riding my bike everywhere, blowing a tire, exploring so many neighbourhoods… So maybe I’ll complete some sort of personal journey portfolio for my final assessment task. I’ll just keep on collecting photos and see what eventuates, because, really, every time I take a photo, it becomes part of my journey.

Because I take public transport, ride my bike or walk everywhere, I have the luxury of looking all around, all the time. I’ve now taken to carrying my camera in my pocket because my eyes are viewing everything as potential photographs and I’m forever seeing great things. This is unfortunate when I’m riding my bike because I’ll be riding along the road, see something, pull over, take a photo, back on the road, see something, pull over, back on the road, see something….. It takes me a while to get anywhere.

I’ve been looking at shadows and reflections lately and I’m still captivated by lines, form and patterns, as you will see below.




This was a 'pop up show' at Flinders Street Station for Melbourne Fashion week. I thought it looked much nicer in black and white, it gave it a boost of elegance. I like the way the lights trail into the distance.



 
These tree trunks, along St Kilda Road, turned a brilliant green when it rained. I thought it was beeeautiful. The patterns were striking.



Looking at reflections. I love that you can see the base of the trunk and the tips of the branches in the same picture.



Pavement reflections on a rainy day in South Melbourne.

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A spitfire, half under ground, half above ground, in Melton. I particularly like the shadows of the blades of grass.

 



The leaves look so delicate and beautiful. I love the colours, the green and greys.

 

This was a tiny, little snail and it was a pretty little thing, but it's a shame it's not quite in focus.



I love this picture. The greys are beautiful and I love the sharp, strong shadows.
  
Again, I took this for the shadows. I also like the colours and patterns.
 


Keera's cactus, Southbank.



 

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Week Five

I travelled to Sydney this weekend to cheer my boyfriend over the finish line of the Oxfam 100km walk. Whilst he was marching up and down hills, I entertained myself marching up and down the streets of Sydney collecting photos. With the ideas of Henri Cartier-Bresson on my mind, I snapped away. I wanted to capture the ‘decisive moment’ but found it difficult because I didn’t want to intrude on people’s personal space. I was concerned that the pointing of my camera would create malcontent, so rather than sit and wait for a perfect moment to occur, I would take quick snaps and move along, looking as touristy as possible (with a map hanging out of my back pocket). This meant that it was after I had taken the photos that I went looking for the decisive moment amongst them. A bit backwards.

Let me introduce you to Sydney Australia, as of the 28th August 2010.







This is the market at The Rocks. Above and below, I love the way shadows were cast upon the yellow canopy. I tried to capture people without them noticing.





I love these pictures, I couldn't chose which one to put up. This was a laneway party I came accross in Padington. It reminded me of Cartier-Bresson's decisive moment.


Shoe shopping in Paddington. I aimed to capture pictures which show the time that we live in. This is the same idea as the photo below.


Ants.


Again, I was aiming to capture a picture of 'today' as well as a decisive moment.

I love this picture. The thing that makes it work are the people in the reflection, looking at the same thing as I am. I didn't notice this when I took it.


Week Four

I am struggling to decide what to do for my master assignment. I am continuing to collect photos of interesting things as well as continuing with patterns, lines and all things red. The more photos I take, the better my chance of discovering an interest or correlation between pictures and uncovering a possible theme for my final assignment, so get ready for a workout camera!

Patterns!!
Little white house in North Melbourne laneway.
I really like the bold, dark branches against the cold, rainy sky. I think the slight yellow colour of the leaves is complimentary to this.
Oppshop readings.
Little Golden Books in all their glory.
These two trees (above and below) remind me of hands. I thought they were beautiful.
Number One.
I really like this picture. I like the composition and the fact that it has both white flowers and white clouds. And the sky is beautiful. 
I have adjusted the following two photos to create more contrast and brighter colours. I thought the originals looked a bit dull.


So, after studying Henri Cartier-Bresson and learning of his travels to capture the stories of people and places, I am inspired to gather pictures of Melbourne and it’s story. I appreciate Cartier-Bresson’s idea of ‘the decisive moment’, where all elements combine to create a perfect photographic moment. I will keep this thought in mind as I peruse the city streets.