Focal point, Vee Speers

The focal point of a photograph is very important, you need one if you want your image to look unique and interesting. You should have a focal point, so that that point is the first thing that your viewer see's, and so that he or she doesn't take once glance at it, and then flick to the next photo.

I think that this is a good example of 'Focal point' because there is a clear focal point here, which is the dolls that the little girl is holding. They are the first things that you look at, and then you are interested in why she is holding them and your brain starts to wander into imagination mode.

DESCRIPTION: A focal point is the point that you first focus on when you look at a photo for the first time, it is the point that is supposed to draw you in at the first look, and make you want to explore and examine the photograph more.

FACTUAL: This is a photo by Vee Speers, she takes most of her photo's of children.

CONTEXT: This photo is of a little girl who is 8-10, and she is holding a bunch of scary looking dolls, we don't know why she is holding these dolls, i think it is so that our imagination can run wild.

TECHNICAL: I think that this photo was taken in a white lighted room, and that the little was just standing in a plain room in front of a white wall, to give the photo more effect, so the black off of the dolls is exaggerated and it really emphasizes the photo.

AESTHETIC: I really like this photo, because the plain white background really emphasizes the look of the black dolls, and there isn't really an explanation to this photograph, so it leaves it to your imagination to think of why is she carrying them dolls? why does she look unhappy? why is everything so white around her? who is she?

This photograph has helped me understand the meaning of a focal point, and this link below tells you what a focal point is and how to create the perfect focal point.
http://digital-photography-school.com/using-focal-points-in-photography

SOME MORE EXAMPLES OF FOCAL POINT

Composition, Perou

The composition of a photograph is very important, it determines the way the photograph is set out. There are many types of composition that you can use to make your photograph exemplary. 

DESCRIPTION: Composition means the way the photograph is set out, there are many different types of composition;

Framing: Using other elements in the photo to frame your subject naturally.

Rule of thirds: Place your photo on intersection points, visually interesting when subject isn't centered. 

Leading lines: Using natural lines to draw viewers eye to subject, the lines should lead the viewer straight to the main object.

Dominant foreground contributing background: Main subject is in the foreground and that is where the viewers eye goes first, Secondary subject/content in the background contributes to the meaning or understanding of the photo.

Pattern and repetition: Look for repeating patterns and use them to your advantage, filling the frame with repeating patterns can be visually interesting.

Breaking of pattern: Also look for places where your subject breaks up the pattern, viewers eye will automatically go to the subject because it is different to the pattern.

Selective focus: Make your subject in focus and your background blurry, this will draw your viewers attention to the subject first.

Balance: Not symmetry, images don't have to be exactly the same on both sides, have a secondary subject to balance out main subject, not just subject on one side and nothing on the other side.

Blur: Blur is a good way of showing action or motion, subject is blurry, everything else is in focus.

Panning: Another good way to show action, focus on and follow your subjects as they move- you must be moving or following them with your lens, subject will be in focus, everything else will be blurry.

FACTUAL: This photo is by a very famous photographer called Perou. He grew up in Newick, in the uk.

CONTEXT: This is a photo of Joanna Lumley and Jenifer Saunders for 'Absolutely Fabulous'. Perou takes many photos of famous people, and makes them all look stunning.

TECHNICAL:  I think that this photo was taken in in a cafe set, and that it was meant to be set in the 90's, because of the clothes that they appear to be wearing and also to do with the fact that they are smoking inside, which is now in fact forbidden. The cafe also doen't seem up beat and posh like you would normally expect celebrities to go in, it's more of a high street cafe, but that makes the photo more interesting.

AESTHETIC: I like this photo because it is set in a 90's cafe, which makes it seem more interesting, the cafe isn't all posh and has chandeliers in it, it is just a normal back street cafe, but with two famous people in it, who are smoking, but nobody thinks about the smoking part because it fits in so well with the atmosphere of the photograph.

I find understanding composition hard, i think it is one of the hardest, because there is so much to learn, but this link really helped me to fully understand the meaning of composition in photography.  

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/04/12/10-rules-of-photo-composition-and-why-they-work/

SOME MORE EXAMPLES OF COMPOSITION

Depth of field, Annie Leibovitz

The depth of field in a photograph, can look very creative, if it is put into place right, if the right circle of confusion is used, then the photo will be one to be proud of. It is important to create the effect of depth of field, so that your main focus is on one thing, rather than having a really busy background, it is more blurred out so our eyes are mainly on one thing, eg. here our eyes are on Cinderella, and the background has a slight blurred effect to it. 

I think that this is a good example of depth of field, because our main focus is Cinderella, however the background is blurred, but not enough that we can't see the disney castle, and the steps and her glass slipper.

DEFINITION: Depth of field is the distance between the nearest and furthest away object in the photograph, the nearest object is often the main object and is clear and sharp, and the furthest away object is often the background, which appears blurry, but still able to be seen.

FACTUAL: This photograph is by Annie Leibovitz, this is a photo of a re-created famous scene from an all time favorite Disney movie 'Cinderella'. 

CONTEXT: This is a photo of Scarlet Johansson, in the photo we can see that Cinderella is wearing a very glamours dress, jut like some of Annie's other photo's of beautiful women. 

TECHNICAL: I think that this photo was photo shopped, and that in fact Annie took a picture of Cinderella (Scarlet) and then added the background in, because the background seems more of a animation, and the whole affect of the bright but blurred, was probably created on the computer, but adding in real features to still make it look as stunning as it does.

AESTHETIC: I like this photo because of the animation affect it has too it, mixed in the the depth of field, it looks really amazing. I like how the steps seem to go on for ever, and then you get this amazingly created castle, that is blurred but we can still see how beautiful it is. I also like this photo, because it is a part of Disney, and our eyes are on Cinderella, however we still can't help but notice the glass slipper on the stairs, or the tree's in the background, and not forgetting Cinderella's castle.

Understanding depth of field is hard, but using the link below i found out some great information, and now this photo has helped me relies how amazing it can look if you get it right. 

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/depth-of-field.htm

SOME MORE EXAMPLES OF DEPTH OF FIELD

Lighting, Annie Leibovitz

The lighting of a photograph can determine whether a photograph is a success or a terrible mess; For example,  if the lighting is totally wrong, the model in the photo, may look like a blur, and might reflect off of all the wrong places. However, it can also make the photo look outstanding, if the light reflects off the right places, and shines so the emphasis is on the model, then you will end up with a spectacular looking photo like this one.

I think that this is a good example of lighting, because the light really bounces off of her dress, in the corners, and creates a massive glow around the whole photograph.

FACTUAL: This photo is by Annie Leibovitz, and it is a photograph of the very stunning Nicole Kidman.

CONTEXT: This is a photograph of Nicole Kidman, this was not taken for a fashion shoot, Annie likes to take photographs of  beautiful famous people.

TECHNICAL:  I think that this photo was taken in a ballroom dancing hall, giving that there are lots of bright spotlights, and it seems like a very sophisticated building, and the surroundings seem posh. The wooden floor also makes me think that it is a dance hall. The lights are really bright, and shine and glisten off of Nicole and her amazing dress.

AESTHETIC: I like the lighting in this photo, because it really reflects off of Nicole, and makes her glow, and her dress shine so bright, so bright that in the bottom left of the photograph the dress disappears in with the light. With out this light, this photograph would be boring and it just wouldn't have the same amazing affect.

This photograph has really helped me to understand how to use lighting, and how to understand the factors of what makes a good photograph with lighting included in it.

This is my 'How to do link'
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/use-of-light-in-photography/

SOME MORE EXAMPLES OF LIGHTING BY DIFFERENT ARTISTS

FIRST ANAYLSIS

The photographer is Annie Leibovits, she is an American portrait photographer, who grew up in Waterbury in the united states. She was born on the 2nd of October 1949 (age 63).

This is a photo of Meryl Streep, the very famous film star, this photo was taken to be presented on the cover of a rolling stones magazine. When this photo was taken, Meryl was just starting to get a lot of press attention, so annie wanted to portray her as 'Just a nobody, Just an actress'

I think that this photo has been made so that Meryl is all you can see, because she is the message of the photo, the background is simple, and a little bit blurred, so that we can appreciate the full affect of Annie's message towards Meryl.

I really like this photo, i think that a lot of people can relate to this 'Pretending to be someone or something that we aren't' I like the tugging of the face, as it makes you think how much she wanted to get this mask off, the white paint potrays as a mask, like everyone had her up on a pedistool, and she just wanted to prove that she was just a normal person, like the rest of us. I also like how she is the only thing we see in the photo, and the background is all blurred and plain so that our attention lies on her and only her so that we are able to appreciate the full aspect of the photograph and the message behind it.