Over at Who We Become, our look at perspective continues to feature crop ratios - this week, 1:1 - a square crop. Dynamic, inclusive and comparatively small, this is an interesting crop to work with and as I am not an Instagrammer, I have very little practice with the format. So today, I decided to break out the macro and have a little fun. Or maybe too much fun, because an entirely different set of images is being saved for another post. But for now: feathers.
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Before the Slush
P52.2:Framed {Week 18}
In our ongoing study of perspective, this week we are focusing on aspect ratio as a compositional tool. Not every camera shoots with the same dimensions so this week we are bidding adieu to the traditional 3:2 ratio that is the default of most DSLRs and playing instead with the ratios you see on medium or large format cameras, such as 5:4, 7:6 or 16:9.
I admit, having moved this week, my time to get out and have fun with this project was curtailed by the amount of time my poor camera spent in a box. But when an opportunity arose this morning, I tried to use different aspect ratios to capture the height of the windows and the shadowy light on this snowy, cloudy day. Please head over to Who We Become to see how the rest of my talented friends approached this theme.
One {January 2014}
We are kicking off our second full year of the One Circle - six dear friends, one special shot and an excuse to do something together. Behind the scenes we are also embarking on an artist study and a few other projects but how those will be featured remain to be seen. For my One shot this month, there are actually two, but of the same moment.
I had a great visit with one of my oldest and dearest friends today, and as she conversed with my son over why, if he likes eggs and likes rice, he might have also enjoyed the fried rice they made to celebrate Chinese New Year at pre-school (he begs to differ), she noted that it was the Year of the Horse. This I knew. However, apparently the last few years have been water signs and the Horse is a dry sign, of wood or of the earth, which means this may be a year of great movement or activity. This seemed appropriate, given that after ten years in our old apartment, we have officially moved to a new location in the city. I love our new home but it does not have the views of the old digs, so I was thrilled that, on one of our last nights there, the clouds broke and I got to enjoy one final spectacular sunset. The images do it no justice but this little farewell will remain close to my heart.
Please continue around our little circle to see how my sweet friends are starting off the new year, starting in Chicago with the ever talented Jessica Remus! And if these seem to be a bit of an odd shape, they were shot in keeping with my P52 goals of playing with aspect ratios - you can read more about this in my next post.
P52.2: Framed {Week 17}
Over at Who We Become, we are closing out our month on specialty lenses. I have to admit, I did not get as creative as my fellow participants this week. However, I did bring out a telephoto lens for some fun in the snow - I am more of a wide angle person, so it was fun to experiment with action shots on a longer lens and be able to see the expressions on the kids' faces so clearly. This was my kiddo's first time on a sled...I'm pretty sure he liked it.
P52.2: Framed {Week 16}
This week at p52.2 we continue to focus on perspective and lens choice for telling our stories. Wide angle lenses are not always a photographer's choice for portraits, because of the distortion they lend to the frame. However, there are always exceptions to this rule and sometimes the wide angle perspective is just what you need to highlight a feature or matters of scale.
I always have fun using the wide angle on my kiddo because he already has pretty big eyes and a super-wide shot gives him almost a cartoonish look that cracks me up.
But I ended up going to the archives this week as well - a ton of vacation photos from last summer sit ignored on my computer but I knew I had used my wide angle lens to try and capture my son under the canopy of the giant redwood trees in Northern California. This shot seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
Please head over to Who We Become to see everyone else's work this week!
P52.2: Framed {Week 15}
It is week 15 for P52.2: Framed and we continue our exploration of perspective and how our technical choices impact the viewpoint we present in our images. Our goal this week was subject isolation, either through the use of a telephoto lens or strategic shooting with a wide angle to render the subject front and center without a lot of context for storytelling. The first image is probably a more successful example of this strategy - it is a telephoto shot with minimal distortion, and the viewer can intuit much about my vantage point with only the evening sky as additional context. The second image was taken with a wide angle lens, but all that is in focus is the shallow foreground - his face and his breath. The image does not need the background to tell its chilly narrative.
Please head over to Who We Become to see how everyone else interpreted this week's theme.
The Art of Self Critique - CJ Nicolai
Early last year I joined a small class on the Art of Self Critique, held by photographer CJ Nicolai. Her insights as an experienced working photographer and the camaraderie and introspection she fostered among our small group gave me new perspective on my goals and new tools with which to consider my work. She has just opened a new page for her mentoring and workshops and has kindly featured me as one of her students. I encourage you to check it out! http://www.cjmentoring.com/
P52.2: Framed {Week 14}
Welcome back to P52.2: Framed! It's a new year and with it, some new goals. We are delving extra deep into our topics, and for now, this means expanding our thematic explorations from one month to two.
We are kicking off 2014 with a study of perspective. The first four weeks will focus on the impact of lens choice on the photographer's viewpoint. For today's post, we embraced the wide angle perspective and the concept of inclusion. So even if not everyone has a true wide angle lens. we each shot with the intention of including a fair amount of context in order to tell our story. For a better description, please click on over to Who We Become and see how everyone met the challenge.
My images were taken on a New Year's Day drive home, just after sunset. I had a play with context using the magnificent George Washington Bridge as a subject. These were taken from a moving car, so it was fun to see what I got without much control over my framing.
Wishful Thinking
And you thought it was hard to get a cab in the rain.
Happy 2014!
Wishing you all a wonderful new year. Around here, we're diving right in....
One {December}
It's been a year! A whole year of our One Circle - a monthly favorite shot, shared among six dear friends. It has been a year filled with love and sadness, and I think we are all hoping for brighter days in the months ahead. As we close this first chapter of our circle, we once again turn to the shot that pulls at our heartstrings.
My image was taken after a bit of a rough day between me and my little guy. He is getting so big, and is so articulate, that sometimes I need a reminder of how small he still is. I am not one for resolutions, but I do intend to hang on to the love and the peace I feel when I look at this shot and try my best to integrate those feelings into to my actions throughout the coming year. I wish just as much love and peace for all of you. Happy 2014!
Please continue around our circle to see what my wonderfully talented and funny friend Jessica Remus found to round out her year. The One Circle will be back in January and we have a few new projects in the works, too! Thank you, as always, for following along and we look forward to seeing you then.
Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 13}
This week on P52.2: Framed, we bid adieu to 2013 with a Photographer's Choice image. While I debated going through the archives for a true favorite, I decided to stick with the holiday season and share a shot of the illustrious Empire State Building I took on our drive home Christmas night. It is not a perfect "wow" shot to round out the year, but with all of the red stop lights and tail lights, not to mention a touch of traffic, it felt like the city was wishing us a merry Christmas in its own special way.
I wish you all a safe and fun end to the holidays as you ring in 2014, and may wonderful things come your way throughout the coming year. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Please head on over to Who We Become and see what the rest of our group chose as they head into January!
Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 12}
It is week 12 here at Photo 52.2: Framed and the end of our month-long study of lines. This week we are looking for the curved variety. I had an image that fit the literal notion of curves a bit more closely, but I loved that the rounded tops of the water here gave me curves in an unexpected way. As you can see, I wasn't the only one entranced.
Please click on over to Who We Become to see what everyone has found this week!
Hey Lady!
Can you take my picture?
The Tree - Rockefeller Center
Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 11}
We continue our pursuit of lines on P.52.2 this week, this time with a focus on diagonals. I love to use diagonals as leading lines, but had fun experimenting with what other implied or less obvious diagonals I could find that fit the bill. Here are a few seasonal favorites. Please pop over to Who We Become to check out what everyone else has found this week! For anyone new to the project, this year's introductory post can be found here.
Polar Opposites
A quiet walk in the park vs. SantaCon.
Snowy Day
Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 10}
What a week it has been! Thank you to everyone who made it up to the Oresman Gallery for our photography reception this weekend. We had a great time. The exhibit is up until December 30th for any interested locals.
Turning to the task at hand, our focus at P52 this week was in using horizontal or vertical lines, either alone or in a repetitive pattern, in our composition. I found my image during a trip to Grand Central to look at the trains. We ran across the holiday window light show while we were there.
Please head over to Who We Become to see everyone's work this week!