Miriam's Photo Blog

More than 20 years ago, in my teenage years, I remember seeing Ansel Adams' photographs and thinking, I wish I could take pictures like that. I am still wishing. This assignment requires only one picture when in truth I would love to post his whole collection. The reason I love to take pictures of nature is due to Ansel. I have hundreds of pictures of Enchanted Rock and Lost Maples. For every assignment I seem to concentrate on trees and park areas. I want to be inside his pictures. I want to be underneath those trees, across those majestic mountains, close to that crystal clear mirrored lake. I love how he captures the texture of the sky. The ominous dark sky against the white fluffy clouds is so beautiful. I love that contrast. In this picture the trees are as tall as the sky. I love the light intruding this otherwise dark photograph. I feel the vastness of the forest in front of me. I think that if I can just get past those gigantic trees, I will find an oasis in the middle of the forest. Although to some, this picture might evoke a feeling of loneliness, I feel exhilarated. It makes me want to enter and begin an adventure. To me it evokes a feeling of hope. Exactly like the aphorism "light at the end of a tunnel". I feel the hope of light within the dark forest.

Picture # 1 -- Skull

The pop of color came from the purple on the skull and the purple on the far left of the picture. We also see a pink pop of color by the light in the upper right of the picture. The purple made sense in the composition because it's what draws your eyes around the photograph. The photograph is balanced because the white light on the right is balanced by the white balloon on the left. The weight is also evenly distributed because the presence of the skull on top is balanced by the large amount of people on the bottom. The image looks like it was metered accurately and the lights and darks are correct. The blacks are dark but not too dark and the whites look accurate with the exception of the brightness of the light. If possible I would have kicked the people out of the way. They make the image more cluttered. Although the subject of the image is morbid, the photograph actually makes me happy. I think it's the vibrancy of the colors. I like the image. I always like all the photographs, so my opinion means squat. I love looking at pictures.

Picture # 2 -- Flowers on a Table

I think the pop of color was supposed to be the yellow roses but my eyes went immediately to the red and green ballerinas on the window sill. Red always attracts the eye. Yes the pop of color made sense because all the other colors in the photograph were somewhat muted and the red really stands out. The composition is unbalanced because of the darkness of the window on the right not balancing with the whiteness or emptiness of the wall on the left. The exposure seems correct and the range of tones appears to also be correct. She has a black table against a white walls and in both you can see the texture and the shine. The color is not lost by being too black or too white. The picture makes me a little sad. I think its the dying flowers and the sad abandoned ballet shoes. It almost says I quit ballet and now my life is over. I like the photograph because she took the time to stage it. It's hard to stage something. I also like the sadness.

Picture # 3 -- Bread

The pop of color from the yellow and orange of the bread packaging. The pop of color made sense. It actually looks good. I mean it should since the marketing department for Nature's Own bread probably studied what colors look good on the bread packaging. The composition is balanced because she took a closed frame picture that filled the photo. It is exposed correctly, which was probably difficult since the plastic reflects so much light. The tones look correct. Nothing is too white. I would not change anything about the picture. I know she edited the picture and erased the sell by date. This did improve the photograph. The mood that the image evokes is hunger. I always come to class hungry and this does not help. I love this picture. I think I mainly like the earthy color of the packaging mixed with the yellow and orange. Plus it's food.

Picture # 4 -- Red car

The pop of color and the main subject of the picture is the red car. Yes the red of the car made sense in the image composition. The composition is balanced because the car forms a horizontal format. There is nothing competing in the photograph. The picture seems properly exposed although the white of the sky is a little distracting. This was probably a cloudy day. I had several pictures where the sky looked too white. The tones look appropriate. The black of the interior of the car is not too black where detail is lost. I would have attempted the picture again on a day where the sky had blue and white so as to remove the distraction. This is not always easy to do. We cannot control the weather. Red is usually a positive color, so it evokes a positive feeling when I look at the photograph. I like the juxtaposition of the black interior with the red subject and the white car in the background. The red, white and black combination always looks good.

Picture # 5 -- Lonestar Flag

The pop of color comes from the red and blue of the Texas flag. The composition is unbalanced but this emphasizes the subject. The picture looks a little underexposed but I think this was necessary to add contrast in the sky. The tones could be adjusted to bring the clouds out a little more. The only thing I would change is to bulldoze the sign behind it. I like the electrical tower and the leafless shrub/tree somewhat balancing each other. I think the picture makes me feel lonely. I guess because of the shrub and the lone flagpole. I like the image. I like the angle at which she chose to take the picture. You see the flag flying in the wind.

Picture # 6 -- Yellow sign and blue recycle bin

I love this picture. I love the bright yellow and the blue bin within the frame. The composition is balanced because it had a false symmetry because the blue bin and the blue jacket of the girl sitting opposite. The picture is well exposed and the tones look correct. Nothing is too white or too black.

I would not change anything about the picture. The brightness of the yellow floor sign grabs your attention. Although the posture of the young woman is sad the picture itself is not sad. I have positive feeling when I look at it. Maybe it's the color. Like I said earlier I really like this picture.

Picture # 7 -- Strawberry

I feel joyous. Those strawberries look delicious. I love food! The pop of color comes from the red berries. In the foreground you also get color from the white mug with blue details. I like the horizontal format of the strawberries and how she used the horizontal rule of thirds. The composition appears balanced although the cup pulls the eye to the right. It's asymmetrical but the fact that the cup is white does not compete too much with the lack of subject on the left side. The exposure of the subject looks correct although the window is really light. I am not sure of the range of tones since the picture is all light in color. I would not change anything. I like the bright morning light. It fits with image since it appears to be breakfast. It evokes a relaxing feeling. I assume it's the lighting. Overall I like the picture, but I am biased because I love food.

Picture # 8 -- Zig Zag Yellow

The pop of color is the bright yellow against the black and white zig zags. The pop of color makes complete sense in the picture. It looks good that the color is horizontal format and it's against the simplicity of black and white. The composition is balanced because it is semi symmetrical. The image is exposed correctly and the tones are correct also. I would not change anything. The yellow reminds me of those smiley face t-shirts, so the image evokes a happy feeling. I really like this one. I think this one is my favorite. It reminds me of growing up in the 80's.

Picture # 9 -- Red umbrella

This is my second favorite picture. The red pop of color from the umbrella looks really good against the blue of the sky. The pop of color makes perfect sense in the composition. The composition is not balanced but that's what is striking about the photograph. The image was taken with the correct exposure and the range of tones look good. I would not change anything about the photograph. This picture evokes a feeling of freedom. Something flying through the air like a bird. I really like the picture. The red of the umbrella was perfect. It probably would not have been as striking with a blue or green umbrella.

Picture # 10 -- Soda ketchup

The pop of color is definitely the red straw and red ketchup. My eyes followed the red from the straw to the ketchup to the cup in the background with a little red on it. Yes the pop of color makes sense in the composition. The composition seems balanced because the large soda cup is balanced by the sugar packets and the other white cup in the back. the exposure looks correct and the range of tones also appears correct. The only thing I would change is the little white something on the upper left corner of the image. I feel nothing when I look at the image. No feeling is evoked within me. Overall I think the image is good.