The colors in our photographs are evocative and rouse emotions within us. Color can elevate a mundane image into something intriguing and meaningful, and can tell a particular story within the frame.
A Pop of Color
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Quality of Light – Part I
Light makes photographs more interesting and over this weekend, as part of the Photo101 assignments, we’ve been asked to look at the quality of light. How light varies throughout the day.
Depending on what time of day you take your picture will have an impact on the final result.
- Dawn — before sunrise — can cast a cool blue light, with no shadows.
- Later in the morning, the light tends to be neutral — and to some, ideal.
- At midday, the sun reaches its highest point, resulting in dark shadows.
- Later in the day, in the “golden hour” before sunset, daylight grows softer and redder, creating a magical atmosphere.
Factors can change these conditions, including weather, location, and the time of year.
Here is a selection of photos I have taken at various times of the day to illustrate what light can do to make even the simplest of photos something more interesting.
I like how the light dapples across the wood
Relaxing under a palm tree and enjoying the shadows
I like how the light illuminates the tennis balls
Key West lobster buoys hang from the small 1950s wood frame building and dance in the afternoon light
This fan art deco style palm looks great in the midday sun
If you would like to see more photos experimenting with light, please check out my post – Quality of Light – Part II
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Mystery
Some photos are significant not because of what’s depicted, but because of the mood they create. They communicate an idea that transcends the actual subject of the image.
Here’s a photo that conveys a sense of mystery. Can you tell what it is?
In case you need a clue – it’s an Alligator lurking just below the water – it was extremely large and very close. It’s very well camouflaged against the stones and quiet. He had swam up close without me even realizing.
Let’s move on shall we 🙂
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The Natural World
A good photographer is a constant observer: always watching and studying a scene, from patterns in city traffic to movements in nature. A photographer notices big, sweeping changes — like the sky at dusk — but also the tiniest details.
Exploring the outdoors, with camera in hand, is an opportunity to look for natural lines that lead our eyes to different parts of a frame. Envision the bend of a stream, or the curve of a petal: how can you use these lines in your composition? If you see strong vertical, horizontal, or diagonal lines, can you play with the orientation to create a more dynamic composition?
The Natural World
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Bliss and Solitude Revisited
To finish off the weekend review of the photo101 week of assignments I’m revisiting the last two subjects of Bliss and Solitude.
Here are a few more photos that represent these categories.
Bliss
Relaxing under the palm trees
Ice-Cream
Lifeguard Hut Miami Beach
Solitude
Sunset
The End of the Day
Resting at the end of the day
If you’re interested in looking at the original articles click on the links below.
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Experiment with Composition
So I’ve made it to the end of the first week of the Photo101 assignments and have covered topics ranging from Home, Wider Views, Water, Bliss and Solitude.
Now it’s a free for all weekend where we can revisit some of these topics and put into practice what we have learned. I’m using today to showcase some of the other photos that fit into the Home, Wider View and Water category.
Home
Palm Tree lined street
A bench with a view
The local park
Dinner Alfresco
Smores
Bottoms Up
Crocodile
Mosquito Sticks
Shells
Wider Views
Beautiful Tree of Flowers
Interesting Shapes formed by nature
A Magnificent View
Lighthouse Sunset
Water
Airboat – Everglades
Manatee Zone
Everglades National Park
A Serene Beach Scene
Stiltsville
Clear Waters
Come back tomorrow to see my gallery of pictures depicting shots of Bliss and Solitude from the Photo101 assignments.
If you enjoyed this article, why not check out the original assignment posts related to each of the above categories.
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Bliss
Day 4 of the Photo101 challenge is to show an image that represents Bliss.
What is your idea of bliss? Is it an image of your family, laughing at the dinner table? A state of total relaxation, while lying on the beach? Your latest painting, drying on the canvas?
In this picture I am relaxing under the palm trees looking over the bay after a cycle – bliss.
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Water
WATER – A source of life. A place of recreation. A calming presence, but also a destructive force.
We have different relationships to and stories about water: how it has saved or defeated us. How it reminds us of family vacations, outdoor adventures, or the hot summers of our childhood. How it might also symbolize a place we’ve left behind, or a location we dream to go.
Here are a couple of pictures depicting life on the ocean wave. Being near the water is relaxing, fun and invigorating.
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A Wider View
Today’s Photo Challenge is capturing a wider view of a scene with the emphasis on looking at the basic elements in the scene – what will be in the foreground and in the background of the picture.
I think this photo taken at the Bass Museum of Art hits the spot.
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Home
Today I’m starting the Photo101 Challenge where you post a photo a day based on a particular topic.
The first topic is HOME.
Home is elusive. When we think about this word, we might picture different physical locations. And while home is often found on a map, it can also be less tangible: a loved one, a state of mind.
This is an interesting one as my birth home is the UK but my new home for the last three years has been the U.S. They are two completely different places but here is a picture showing where home is right now – Miami Beach.
It’s a great place to be!
So how did I take this picture?
Since the introduction of iOS 6 it’s possible to take great panorama photos right inside your iPhone’s native camera app. The panorama feature only works with iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and the latest generation iPod touch, so if you have an older device you have to use another panorama app.
I love the panoramic feature that is available on the iPhone. Sometimes you just want to capture your whole view.
Have you used the Panoramic option on your iPhone yet?
In order to access the panorama feature, open your iPhone’s Camera app, tap on Options, and choose Panorama. This will launch the panorama mode. Once you tap capture, slowly and steadily move your phone from left to right. You will see a guide line – this will help you keep your phone steady and produce a much straighter final result.
If you enjoyed this article you may be interested in finding out more about Miami in the following posts:-
The Best Places to Eat in Miami Beach
The Wild Green Parrots of Miami Beach
