Digital Photography (WK1) - Photograph

 Happy Friday, everyone! 

I've been so excited to start this class. I've dabbled in photography on and off since high school, where I took my first photography class (and totally fell in love with it). I am by no means a professional, and I can't wait to learn more about a hobby that's always been a fun, creative outlet for me. I have primarily used Adobe Lightroom, but I definitely wasn't using it to its full potential, and I hadn't learned a lot of the basics of "what makes a great photo". I'm hoping that this class (and future classes) will help me hone the skill, as I genuinely love editing. It's cathartic, and with my ADHD, it's the perfect high-focus activity! 

To be totally transparent, I had a hard time choosing between two photos for this assignment. I considered submitting both, but I'm hoping to have another opportunity to submit the runner-up during this course! The other photo was definitely over-edited (intentionally), and I wanted to show you guys something that didn't have a lot of editing (if any at all, I honestly don't remember). 

I took this photo at the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum in Seattle, WA. I lived there for four years while I was in the Coast Guard (half of my active duty career and the longest I'd lived in one place after enlisting), and my mom had come out to visit me for a week. We love doing touristy activities, and when we saw the museum, it seemed like the perfect way to spend the day. I took this photo because it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland when they're "painting the roses red". I believe I used a Nikon D3200 with a mirrorless 35mm lens. 


Using The 12 Elements of a Merit Image, I believe it hits several points. 

  • It's impactful - personally, it makes me happy because of the memories attached to the day; however, I think it also will evoke emotion if the viewer also makes the Alice in Wonderland connection (some people are fond of the movie, while others aren't, so emotion will vary person to person). 
  • If we're talking about Technical Excellence, the subject is sharp, I think the exposure is good (I personally prefer darker/moodier images, so this may just be my bias). I'm sure some of the other technical aspects could use some work, but I like the contrast between the colors on the petals and the dark green background, as well as the sharpness of the pinholes at the petal edges. 
  • Creativity, again, I'm going to mention the Alice in Wonderland association, as to me, these weren't just random flowers; they sparked a correlation. 
  • Color balance could probably be modified better than I've captured, but as a starting point I don't think it's too bad - that being said, I've never seen what a professional could do with this photo, and it may be even better! 
  • I personally love the lighting of this image, although again, that may just be my bias for moody photos and aesthetic. 

I can't wait to see everyone's work! What would you change about this photo? Critiques are always welcome and appreciated! 

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