Manchester Photographic

Speedlite course

 Did a  half day speedlite course at Edge Photographic in Manchester.  Taught me more in 2 hours than days of reading books!!

First image is using the speedlite off camera to the side.  Second adding a red gel on speedlite pointing behind camera


Use of reflector to create shadows and enhance depth
















Bleaching out background by using manual setting on speedlite in background and iTTL to speedlite on camera

Curves

 Natural curves of the guitars positioned together give symmetry









Gate bars give a strong curve which links from the top of the image to the bottom corner, drawing the eye downwards







Curves of the viaduct in the background are mimicked by the arch of the small bridge in the foreground.





Large dome of church roof is reflected in smaller arches of windows and single curve of arch to left bottom of the picture.

Diagonals

 Diagonal line of sink is increased by photographing its reflection in the mirror behind


Diagonal lines of step edge created a point to the centre of the photograph giving  symmetry contrasted by the curve of the step post.



Diagonal lines of the bridge converge to give foreshortening





Diagonal line of river and bank create movement

Project lines

Vertical line of post and side of sign






Vertical line of end of truck cab and front edge of trailer








Vertical line of gate post








Vertical line of building wall







Horizontal line across base of guitars







Horizontal line of horizon





Horizontal line of shallow water falling











Horizontal line of aqueduct

Multiple points

 My still-life begins as a mirror reflection of a kettle a hotel.  I liked the three angles of the corner wall and the curve of the kettle.

When the cup is added I pulled the camera back slightly and the mirror fitting is in view.  This camera distance is maintained for the other images.  The addition of the cup gives the background a perspective

When the second cup is added I chose to turn it the other way up initially to create variety of shape.  The darkness of the cup contrasts well with the light reflective surface of the bottom of the cup and the lid of the kettle

Introducing the glass seems to give a wall effect as all three items (2 cups and 1 glass are in line).

The sugar and spoons give the image a slightly less clinical feel













More colour is introduced with the milk cartons, but when the sugar packets are added the image begins to feel cluttered.

My favorite is image 6 which gives variety without looking too cluttered.

Developing the photographers eye

 Went out this morning and tried to be a bit more 'arty' with my camera by changing camera angle and focussing on things in different ways.  I like the angle shot of the barbed wire as the sharp pointedness seems to be magnified by the diagonal angle somehow and the curve of the fence away from the gate lock seems to lead the eye into the near distance of the green foliage behind.  The final picture is just a normal point and shoot of the type I would take before signing on to this course and it really looks quite boring now!!