What makes photography a strange invention is that its primary raw materials are light and time.
John Berger - the author of Ways of Seeing
WAYS OF LOOKING
WAYS OF LOOKING with a Camera
(use whatever camera you have on hand, like your cell phone)
- PERSPECTIVE & POINT OF VIEW: eye level, bird’s eye view, ant’s eye view, angle
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DISTANCE & DEPTH: extreme close-up, close-up, mid-shot, and wide-shot)
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LIGHTING & MOOD: harsh light (contrasty), soft or diffused light, even light, partial light)
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GET CONCEPTUAL and suggest ideas, comments, or statement through body language, gestures, signs, symbols, or things.
Try at least 6 of these photo prompts
1. Play with reflections/ shadows on the ground.
2. Leading and intersecting architectural lines at home and outside.
3. Distort the scale/size of ordinary things by seeing it from a low angle.
4. Frame within a frame- look through windows, doors, or trees.
5. Capture the soft light coming from the window.
6. Throw something in the air and capture it frozen in action.
7. A Self-Portrait with or without out a face
8. Photograph every member of your family.
9. A portrait of your pet.
10. Capture closeup of hand gestures.
11. Budding plants from a bird's eye view.
12. Photograph an object three different ways.
13. Make a photo in the style of a photographer in the slide show above.
14. Make a photo through a mirror.
15. Make an "exceptional" blurry picture.
16. Photograph negative space by cropping things out.
17. Recreate an old family photo or your childhood photo.
18. Center people in the frame from the back.
19. Make a wide-angle shot of a space inside or outside your home.
20. Make the same photo three different times in a day.
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and more
The Tools
Cell Phone Photography Tips
or go to Phone Photography 101
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DSLR Camera Settings
Inspiration
Abelardo Morell
Follow teacher instruction for submission of your photographs.