Our group worked extremely well together, as we were all in communication with one another. When assigned the project, we briefly discussed the kind of photos we could take which could represent force, but ultimately left it up to ourselves to photograph what we wanted. We then all came back together to see how we could present our photos in a fluid way. Everybody contributed in their own way and played a part in creating a successful presentation.
There is not much I would have done differently with this assignment. Of course if more time was permitted I may have been able to shoot even stronger representations of the word “force”. Also, although I did crop and enhance the color of all of my photos, I could have used Photoshop to a greater extent to truly experiment with the images.
What I liked most about the finished project was how we managed to find extremely different ways of capturing “force”. Originally, I was uncertain of how to represent “force” in different ways, while also taking photos worth presenting. I liked that we were able to embody “force” by depicting images from physical force to natural force. People have different associations with the word force, yet can understand the various representations our group has portrayed.
I learned a significant amount about photography by applying the skills I have been taught thus far in the classroom. What stands out though in particular, is that my perceptions of how a photograph should look, has altered dramatically. Prior to this assignment I truly believed a “good” photograph should show no flaws. Yet I learned, for example, that it is ok if the subject matter is blurry, or an object appears out of place. If the photograph does not look the way you had originally anticipated, it does not mean it is a bad photograph. I learned to embrace certain flaws in photographs that often bothered me. I now realize photographs, which depict imperfections, reveal the reality of the scene. Some of my photographs did not turn out the way I had planned, which is part of the reason my attitude changed. I actually ended up liking these photographs, which I believe I would have criticized too harshly in the past. By doing this assignment I learned what truly makes a photograph and discovered what really is important in the art of photography.
My favorite photograph is the one that I took of the hand holding tightly to the dog tags, as it works for various reasons. The aspect which I believe makes it so strong, is the black shadows that are captured against the wall. The dark shades help direct the viewer’s eyes to the fist and dog tags. Additionally, the positioning of the hand, coming diagonally forward in the photo, instantly captures the viewer’s attention. It is a position that is less expected, thus making it more striking. Also, by making the photo black and white, the tone is darker and more serious. The colors would have merely distracted the viewer from what is truly important in the image. Overall, this photograph represents the kind of powerful force which I had intended it to, as a result of these techniques.
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