Assignment 1. CONTRASTS

Definition of Contrasts -To compare in order to show unlikeness or differences: Opposites of natures or purpose.    
Contrast draws on visual opposites, it can be obvious or subtle.  


I have taken a close look at the recommended reading material relating to Contrasts, in The photographers eye, by Michael Freeman.  I have also looked at Johannes Itten, who was a tutor at The Bauhaus School of Art in Dessau, Germany.  Itten was a major player in the concept of contrasts and developed a comprehensive list of 27 contrasts which he believed were rooted in his theory of composition. Below is his list:

Loud /soft                                     Broad / Narrow
Long / short                                 Line / Body
Smooth / Rough                          Hard / Soft
Still / Moving                               Light / Heavy
Transparent / Opaque              Continuous / Intermittent
Liquid / Solid                               Sweet / Sour
Strong / Weak                             Plane / Volume
 Thick / Thin                                Much / Little
Light / Dark                                 Straight /Curved
Diagonal / Circular                     Horizontal / Vertical
Point / Line                                  Area / Line
Area / Body                                 Large / Small
High / Low                                   Black / White
Pointed / Blunt

I am to closely look at the photographs I have taken, take into consideration visual contrast and assemble pairs that represent the concept of contrasts.


For assignment 1,
I have selected the contrasts below:


Narrow / Broad
Low / High
Many / Few
Intermittent / Continuous
Soft / Hard
Rough / Smooth
Rounded / Diagonal
Blunt / Pointed



Narrow.  
Definition of:  Something that is longer or higher than it is wide.  Of little breadth.


Falaj system in Oman,
Essential narrow water supply to villages and farms throughout Oman.

Narrow.         Fig. 1   

 f/9.0    1/200 sec. 22 mm  ISO 400

This image very clearly shows a narrow waterway, running alongside the face of a mountain.  The lay of the Falaj, takes your eye through from foreground to the red accent at the bend of the falaj in the top right corner of the photograph.  Very definitely shows that the Falaj is longer in length than its width. 

Narrow     Fig 1 amended

Following the feedback from my tutor, I have cropped this image to remove unessential sky.  It was suggested that I crop to remove person in image too, I considered this and decided to look at removal of unwanted person by using the clone tool in photoshop elements. This is my resulting image.  

Broad.

Definition of: Wide in extent from side to side.  Of great or more than average width.

Water course in Thailand.

Broad.        Fig. 2  

  f/4.2    1/125 sec. 11.2    ISO 100 

Showing here a wider water course that supports a fishing community in Thailand.  The breadth and span of the bridge shows the expanse of water clearly.

The colour blue here has a calming effect.

Low.
Definition of:  Having little or relative height.  Rising slightly above surrounding surface.


Heavy tug entering Port Sultan Qaboos.

    

Low.   Fig 3.

f/9.0    1/160 sec  105mm  ISO 100

Tripod used 

I have seen this tug in the port area on several occasions and have tried to capture it along side the crane in my selection for high, to show the contrast in size.  It never worked out how I wanted it to, therefore on the day it was entering the port again, I chose to capture it coming into port, behind the sea defence.  In the very top right hand corner there is a glimpse of the cruise ship it is towing in to the dock.  

The photograph, captures and gives the viewer the sense of weight and also the image portrays how shallow the depth of the tug is. 

The diagonal lines and the repeated pattern in the sea defence add interest to this photograph.

Two primary colours dominate this photograph, Red is a powerful colour here, it grabs my attention.

Low               Fig 3a

On recommendation from my Tutor, I have used the Dodge and Burn option in Photoshop elements and corrected the light and dark pixels in this image.  I have selectively applied adjustments to create improvements, by doing so I have improved the exposure of the photo, and bought out detail.

  

High.

Definition of:  Having a relatively great elevation, extending far upwards.

Dominant crane, loading containers at port.

High.    Fig. 4 

f/10.0    1/200 sec   75mm.  ISO 100

Tripod used. 

This crane is very high and a permanent fixture at the port.  I wanted to capture this alongside the tug, but was not successful. I am not sure that this worked, I could not get any closer to it, therefore the perspective of its height did not work to my advantage.  In comparison to the two boats in the photograph it is of great height, and the red buoy adds balance to the image.  The buildings are also low in height 

The low rocks in the foreground, I thought would emphasise the height of the crane, looking at it critically now I feel the rocks only act as a frame to the photograph.  

If I were to take this again, I would need a new lens with much more zoom on it. 

High     Fig.4a      Resubmission

1/400 sec     f/5.6     260mm     ISO 100

I returned to the port, after submitting my assignment and retook this crane using my zoom lens.  This shows the height of the crane to its advantage, it fills the frame, and the elements within the frame seem closer together and much smaller in size. 

There are many diagonal lines in this image and also real triangles which I could look at further for Assignment 2.

Many
Definition of:  Consisting of or amounting to a large but indefinite number.

 

Many.    Fig.5 

f/3.5    1/160 sec    60mm   ISO 100

Tripod used

Manual setting

These flower heads are very tiny and grow in profusion in a pot in the garden here, they appear to have a hardness to them when you look at them.  I am happy with this photograph, it does depict the contrast MANY.  I like the way the flowers stand out very clearly from the greenery in the background.

Yellow is the strongest of the primary colours.

Few

Definition of:  Being more than one, and small in number.

Few.    Fig. 6 

f/3.0    4 sec    60mm     ISO 250

Manual setting

I had wanted to experiment with my white balance when I was photographing this small array of roses.  I  placed the vase in a very dark room with no light, and this image is the result of setting the white balance to fluorescent, Sodium vapour lamp. 

The result gives this green feel and tone to the photograph, I am very pleased with this. The background being out of focus, enhances and brings the larger of the  flower heads to the fore front, making it very prominent.

Intermittent.

Definition of: Occurring at regular intervals.  Alternately ceasing and beginning again.

Warning posts.  If water levels reach the lower red point on post, flooding in occurence.

Intermittent.    Fig. 7 

f/5.6    1/500sec    98mm   ISO 125

Tripod used 

I am very happy with the interpretation of INTERMITTENT, but not to happy with the light and tones in this image.  The posts look over exposed, but they are that colour due to the high heat and sun rays.  If I  was more confident in using Photoshop I may have added a colour to these posts, to highlight them.
 

Intermittent - Edited

 

Editing the original submission has removed all unwanted clutter around the edge of the image and cropping has given the image more balance.

 

 

 

Continuous.

Definition of:  Forming an unbroken whole.

Fastest roller coaster in the world, Ferrari world.

Continuous.  Fig.8 

f/5.3    1/500sec   66mm    ISO 100

Tripod used

Definitely an unbroken whole.......this is the track of the roller coaster I road two weeks ago, I survived!!!!

I chose this image to contrast against Intermittent, because I like the horizontal upright posts which support the track and the curved, rounded lines in this photograph.

The photograph was taken at this angle to include the height, curves and show the length.

For the guys, this ride accelerates to 240km/hr in 4.5 seconds  and feels like 4.8Gs.

Soft.
Definition of:  Smooth or fine to the touch.  Easily yielding to pressure.


Traditional Bedouin handicraft.

Soft.    Fig. 9 

f/5.3    1/160sec    220mm    ISO 250

For me this works, the soft clay on the hands, the movement captured as the wheel turns.  

Soft.       Fig. 9a     Resubmission

f/5.3    1/80sec    220mm     ISO 250

Taking into consideration what my feedback said about the distraction in the lower right corner I have resubmitted a different image for Soft.  Still using the same subject matter, I feel this image highlights soft well, both with the soft clay on the potters fingers and also in the pot he is turning. 

Hard
Definition of:  Solid, firm to the touch, not soft.

Frankincense burner, also hand crafted by local people.  This one traditionally carried on head by female at wedding.   

Hard.    Fig. 10 

f5.6    1/15sec    55mm    ISO 400

In contrast, a finished and well used Frankincense burner, the fingers wrapped around its base are thick and the nails stained with Henna. Basic primary colours with the cloud of smoke rising upwards.

Hard.  Fig. 10.    Resubmission 
1/40sec    f/5.0     ISO200    52mm    manual setting and flash

Taking into consideration my tutors comments about my original submission being cropped at one edge, I have made the decision to resubmit a new photograph for this contrast.  Again this image links with soft as a contrast as this pot is also created on a wheel, but is finished by hand with smaller decorative clay pots and decorations.  

The spiral decorative work leads the eye towards the upper third.

Rough.

Definition of:  Having an uneven surface, not smooth.  A surface marked by irregularities.

Rough.    Fig. 11 

f5.6    1/400sec    105mm    ISO 100

Tripod used

A good example of rough surface, caused I would think by the elements and time.   This is a suspention cable supporting the metal bridge in Jubilee park, Sohar. 

Smooth.
Definition of:  Even and regular, free from indentations and projections.

 Smooth.  Fig. 12 

f9.0    1/3sec    60mm    ISO 150

Tripod used
Manual setting

Placed  on a black background and used natural light only from the window.  The light bouncing off the shackle and the reflective light highlights the smooth surface, of this heavy metal object.  

Diagonal.
Definition of:  A straight line that goes from one corner, edge to another at an angle.

Diagonal.    Fig. 13

f/11.0    1/200sec    46mm    ISO 400

Tripod used

Aperture Priority

These Limes, I initially chose to use as rounded, but looking at definition of rounded on Google, this did not seem to fit the definition.  Quick contrast change and critically looking at the photograph, I can see that it would be more successful when representing DIAGONAL.  The segment is cut at a diagonal and the lines radiating from the centre are placed diagonally to each other.

Rounded.
Definition of:  Having a curved surface.

Rounded.     Fig. 14

f/11.0    1/200 sec    46mm    ISO 400

There are many rounded shapes in this image, the yellow centres show a pattern of circles closely packed together. and the outer tips of the petals are rounded and each petal creates an even larger visual round

Rounded.    Fig 14a     Amended 

A newly learned skill, using the clone tool in Photoshop Elements, removed the distraction in right hand lower corner.  

Blunt.

Definition of:  Having a dull edge, rounded.

Blunt.    Fig 15

f/2.8    1/60sec    105mm    ISO 100

Tripod Used

A blunt pencil having been sharpened, gives one a delightful shaving to photograph.  The result gives me the blunt contrast I want.  

The roughness of the wood is clear here too.

The hint of blue in the background adds a touch of a complimentary colour.

Pointed.

Definition of: Sharpened or tapered end or tip.

Pointed.    Fig. 16

f/4.5    1/80sec    60mm    ISO 100

Tripod used 

Manual setting

Originally this was taken for the contrast Diagonal, or diagonal and rounded.  From looking at this closely it defines the contrast, POINTED. This was taken in a well lit room with no flash.  I am happy with the reflections of the pencil points on the base. 

MY CHOICE

Diagonal and Rounded.

 Two contrasts in one photograph

f/3.5    1/60sec    18mm    

Built in flash used

When I walked into this cellar in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in August of last year, I knew that these surroundings would be used as my choice for DIAGONAL and ROUNDED.  The cellar was vast and the wine storage barrels were enormous.  What attracted me to this as a potential photograph was:

•  The rounded arched ceiling
• The lighting strips along top of barrels, diagonals.
• Rounded lines from the circumference of each barrel
• Diagonal lines taking eyes through from foreground to the door in the rear wall
• The converging lines of the floor, ceiling, centre bar of barrels and lighting
• The yellow, reflected light on the barrels on the left of the photograph

My thoughts on this assignment.

• Applying Ittens theory to this assignment, made me really consider what photographs I was going to include in this assignment.
• I am pleased with my selection, and feel that I have managed to choose images  that show the contrast in both subject and definition.
• It was relatively easy to find the first photograph of the pair, and more difficult to find the required opposite
• I have become more critical in my choice of photograph for this assignment

Completed 06/03/2012 

I have made several resubmissions to this assignment, in response to my tutor report.  The images have either been replaced with a new image or edited as I felt was necessary. 

Amended are as follows:
Narrow
Intermittent
Soft
Hard
High
Rounded