My Final Project

I have been working on a plan for my final project and have decided to do the Interdisciplinary Project as well as the Video Tutorial with Next Vista. I am doing a video as part of my Ed Aesthetics final project on photography. To include as much technology as possible, I will have audio along with the pictures I have taken and some of the digital editing I have done. For the Next Vista video tutorial I am going to make a "How To Take A Good Photo" video. I am working with Rushton who supplied me with a basic outline to start planning my video. I finished it all up today and sent him my work so far. I plan to get most of the video tutorial done this weekend. I will keep working on my other one as well.

I am trying to make these as creative as possible so if anyone has any great ideas they think may work or help, please let me know!

Here is my outline, not including the pictures though because I want those to be a surprise for the final project.

Know your subject
· What is it that you are trying to capture in your photo, what is it of, and why are you taking it?
· This photo clearly shows what the subject is. The background does not distract from the object and shadows enhance the distinction between the two.
Eliminate distracting elements
· Avoid having background distractions like people walking by, a bright poster, a light or a busy scene. Decide if all things belong and are necessary in the photo or not.
· In this picture I digitally edited the photo to get rid of the green plant and the vase from the background. The ideal situation here would have been to remove them before taking the actual photo so one could avoid having to edit. With the edited version there are no distracting elements taking focus from the actual subject of the photo.
Rule of thirds
· When dealing with the rule of thirds, divide your picture or camera screen with three horizontal and three vertical lines (most new digital cameras come equipped with this as a built in function). To make a more interesting photo place the most important elements where these lines cross. Following this rule will help you create balanced photos.
· This picture follows the rule of thirds because the subjects face is in the upper third of the picture. If one was to draw lines over the image it would be clear that the position of the subject fits into this category.
Filling the frame
· It is important to fill the frame with your subject, rather than having a vast amount of open space. When taking photos of people it is recommended to have their head near the top of the frame with just a small amount of space.
· This flower fills the frame almost completely. By eliminating background space the subject can shine and show all of its important details.

ANGLES
High
· High angle is the opposite of a low angle. When a photo is taken from above the subject it gets smaller and possesses a feeling of less value.
· In this particular photo the angle gives a sense of immaturity and play. It gives the subject a young and free energy.
Low
· Having the camera at an angle below or lower than eye level creates a feeling of “power or importance making the subject look bigger, more solid,” or more dominant.
· This angle gives dominance to the subject. Having her pose at the top of the stairs gives her power. If she was to pose at the bottom of the stairs and have the angle pointing down at her, she would look small and somewhat unimportant.
Subjective
· “The subjective angle has the subject looking at the viewer.” This type of angle is used to create an interaction between the viewer and the subject.
· Having the subject stare into the camera creates a very subjective photo like this one. Even though she is doing an odd pose, as a viewer one gets drawn to her direct stare.
Objective
· This can be an action shot, or a shot of someone in a certain environment. Objective angles create a sense of being a spectator. Unlike the subjective angle, the objective angle does not allow for interaction.
· Giving space in front of what the subject is looking at helps achieve this objective sense. It gives viewers room to see what the subject may be looking at. If the image was cut off on the right side of the window frame this image would not be as impacting.
Oblique
· Oblique angles are used to create interesting, dramatic or artistic effects. Seeing something from an odd angle makes us look twice.
· I took this picture on an angle intentionally to add to the eerie effect I was trying to achieve with the old abandon house. Using this angle gives a sense that the world is off kilter or balance.
TYPES OF SHOTS
Extreme long shot
· This type of picture is used to show a large area like a crowd or a landscape.
· This example of an extreme long shot allows the viewer to see the whole scene; clouds and sky, boats, trees, etc.
Long shot
· This type of shot is used to emphasize on a subject but also have part of the environment playing a role. When taking a long shot photo of a person you capture their body from head to toe.
· It is clear to distinguish what the subject in the photo is, but the picture as a whole is more impacting with the background and floor included.
Medium shot
· This type of shot focuses predominantly on the subject, not on the background. A medium shot of a person shows them from waist to head keeping the hands in the photo if possible.
· This shot includes all of the mentioned elements. It focuses on what the subject is doing, including her body from waist up with her hands visible.
Close up
· This picture creates closeness between the person in the photo and the person viewing the photo. This shot shows ones shoulders, neck and head.
· Intimacy is created between the subject and the viewer with the closeness of this shot. Details are shown with the necklaces and hair lying softly on the shoulder.
Extreme close up
· This photo shows a lot of detail focusing on one main aspect of a subject. Often part of a whole is cut off, for instance the top of ones head. This creates an uncomfortable closeness between the viewer and the subject.
· The contrast in colours make this extreme close up pop.

USE OF LINES
Explicit
· Explicit lines are created by elements that are in the photo like railings, posts, hallways, or trees. Using these eyes you can draw the attention of the viewer to, or away from certain things.
· This is a good example of explicit lines because the stairs draw the eye towards the subject who holds onto a post. Theses posts, along with the rest of the structure of the building, also create explicit lines.

I think, after tonight's class, I might also do a photo story using one of the 50 Ways To Tell a Story mentioned by Alan.