Assignment 2: Elements of design

In this assignment I am asked to produce 10 - 15 photographs which include elements of design learned so far in the course.  They are to be of a similar subject, such as landscape, flowers, food ingredients etc, or one chosen by myself.

A friend suggested that I take images of ruins and old man made structures which are scattered throughout the area. I could see that this is a potential subject as there are old buildings and remnants of such to be found all around us. The only question remaining is: will I be able to incorporate the elements of design.  The only way to find out was to have a go and out by doing it.

Single Point
The single point is an important element of design in photography.  It requires being small in the frame with a plain background.

The AA-Box in Glen Dye

Image 5687 taken on 10.6.2012, 1/80 sec, f2.8, ISO100, 100mm

The AA-Box is situated in a triangular island of a road junction.  Eventually I found this position I happy with.  The background is regular and natural in appearance, providing a contrast to the manmade structure.  I managed to avoid the road surfaces, direction signs, as well as the telegraph pole beside it on the left.  Though this is not a particular 'old' structure, it is becoming obsolete since the arrival of the mobile phone.

Two Points
Finding an image with two points has been more of a challenge than I anticipated.  I found images with two points of interest, but they ended up too close together most of the time, or even to far apart to get into the frame.  Eventually I found one at Dunnottar Castle outside Stonehaven.

Sea view from Dunnottar Castle

Image 6452 taken on 22.7.2012, 1/320 sec, f5, ISO100, 14mm

I have taken this image out of dark room within the castle ruins.  The dark interior gives me two points of interest while the wall is only hinted at while giving a view of the seascape beyond.  The added interests to me are the contrasts of dark/light, regular/irregular, large/small shape of the windows.  The castle dates back to the 14th century.  The image conveys that it is an old man made structure.

Several points in a deliberate shape


For this image I chosen to take photographs of the Mulloch Stone Circle which was erected some 3500 years ago.

Mulloch Stone Circle

Image 5673 taken on 10.6.2012, 1/5 sec, f5.6, ISO100, 18mm

Image 5674 taken on 10.6.2012, 1/10sec, f4.5, ISO100, 11mm

This is one of many stone circles in the area.  Someone, perhaps the estate, keeps it clear of to much undergrowth.  It is clearly an ancient man made structure.  Made up of a number of points (the rocks) and placed at regular intervals into a circle.  Of the number of images I took, it is the first one which conveys best the potential circle as a deliberate shape.  I do wonder what different effects strong sunlight in the morning or evening will have on the scene.  A series of shots in the winter may yield interesting images too.

A combination of vertical and horizontal lines


I am intrigued by the still operational watermill in Finzean which predates the Industrial Revolution.  The mill is of a timber construction, some of the buildings are leaning over a fair bit.

Finzean Sawmill

Image 5769 taken on 17.6.2012, 1/640 sec, f4, ISO800, 10mm

I have cropped this image in order to concentrate on the horizontal lines of the timber in the foreground and the vertical lines of the leaning shed further back.  to me this picture lacks something and I do not know what.  The mill has a lot of potential images and possibly could be worthy an assignment on its own.

Diagonals

Horizontal and vertical lines can be changed into diagonals by changing the viewpoint.  They give an image a sense of direction.

A Drystone Wall, Ballogie

Image 5787 taken on17.6.2012, 1/2000sec, f4, ISO800, 10mm

To illustrate the above I positioned myself at the corner of the dry stone wall which is a few hundred years old and still standing.  The wall along the road is parallel with the stretch in front of the farm building.  This viewpoint guides my eyes along the field down the glen. Due to the darkness I also started experimenting with different ISO settings and the exposure bias value.  In this instance I set it at -1.  This under exposure enabled me to get more details of the dark grey clouds above.  The inclusion of the girl appears to give the image a counter balance to the distant hill.

Curves


Curves too give an image a sense of direction and movement.

Peel of Lumphanan

Image 5764 taken on 17.6.2012, 1/1000sec, f4, ISO800, 10mm

Image 5765 taken on 17.6.2012, 1/1000sec, f4, ISO800, 10mm

The Peel of Lumphanan dates back to the 12th century.  It was a stronghold and used to have a building on top of the inner mound.  The first image shows the path leading up to the mound in a diagonal curve.  The second image shows the, I guess defence walls which encircle the stronghold.  From this position I can guess that the curve will continue surrounding the even higher mound.  Again I will return to here to take images in early or late sunshine and when covered by snow.  It will be interesting to practice taking images with strong light and shade.

Distinct, even if irregular, shapes


Round, a mystery structure

Image 5675 taken on 10.6.2012, 1/125sec, f5, ISO100, 14mm

For many years have I driven past this round structure and have no idea what it has been used for.  Someone has removed vegetation from it over recent month.. It is about 4m in diameter and stands about 3m tall. At the bottom is a doorway, but it does not reach inside.  This structure is not marked on the map.  At least it demonstrates a well build dry stone wall type construction.

At least two kinds of implied triangle


Triangles are the most basic of shapes we encounter in many spheres of our life.  They are used in engineering to give stability to structures.  A three legged table or chair does not wobble.  In Art and Photography the also give a sense of movement, perspective and structure.  The implied triangle, as the name suggests, is not real, but can be found be seeking out two diagonal lines.

Dunnottar Castle

Image 6417 taken on 22.7.2012, 1/160sec, f5, ISO100, 14mm

This is one of the buildings in cliff side of Dunnottar Castle. From this perspective the range of diagonals and the use of the wide angle lens give the building perspective.  The implied triangle becomes visible when I continue the roofline to the right and another along the windows until both lines meet in the distance.

White Bridge, Cambus of May

Image 6105 taken on 15.7.2012, 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO100, 20mm

This bridge was constructed during the Industrial Revolution, or the Victorian Era, with the arrival of the railway in Dee valley.  The bridge created access for the rural crofts and estates to the railway station.  A range of actual and implied triangle can be found to give this image perspective.

Arbuthnott Church

By using the wide angle lens the perspective and implied triangles draw my eyes to the front of this little church.

Rhythm


Rhythm has elements of patterns, but something else to take the eye away.

Dunnottar Castle

Image 6445 taken on 22.7.2012, 1/400sec, f5, ISO200, 14mm

I noticed the irregular stonework of this wall and the doorway into the inside of the building.  This leads my eyes away from the wall and they move to the door and the room beyond.

Roof, Johnshaven

Image 5965 taken on 24.6.2012, 1/60sec, f5, ISO100, 16mm

Tiles on roofs like these can be found in many of the coastal communities in this area. Apparently they came as ballast from Holland on sailing ships. The ships with a load of 'silver darlings', herring to be sold on continental Europe. My eyes are drawn away from the regular pattern to the decay and plant life, giving it some rhythm.

Pattern


In Pattern a feature gets repeated which may of interest to the viewer.

Rail, Churchyard, Peterculter

Image 5761 taken on 17.6.2012, 1/500sec, f5, ISO800, 96mm

This iron rail surrounds the churchyard in Peterculter. The strong pattern is repeated.  In this instance I lowered myself and focused on the rail leaving the distant hills and river Dee blurred.

Conclusions


This has become an interesting assignment.  Remembering and searching for hopefully interesting subjects to photograph.  The weather too has been a challenge with plenty of dreich days around.  Twice I had been advised that I could not take photographs as there is no sun.  Well she was above the rain clouds.  To me its all about getting to know the camera and how I can use it.  Noticing images in a different way has been a learning curve as I used the elements of design in other images I have taken too.  I have told myself over the past year that even though I have not taken images of 'iconic or exotic' locations, they may well be such to people living in deserts, jungles or any other places of this planet.

A number of locations used for this assignment I shall revisit.  The sawmill and Dunnottar Castle can be projects in their own rights, as can be be a few structures not shared.

Having had a subject for this assignment has helped me to focus on it. I am grateful that a friend suggested the subject as I would not have concidered it.  Landscape would have been an easy and quick option as I travel every day through the country side.

For me using a computer is still the toughest thing to learn to use at this moment.  Discussions on software are often meaningless and difficult to follow.  I prefer to get my images right in camera with the least interference in photoshop.  As I only get familiar with photoshop I do not really want to work out something else at this stage.

So far I have only glanced at the books mentioned in the reading list.  The cameras manual is well thumbed through.

Leif Feilberg, Johnshaven, 2.8.2012

Exercise: Rhythms and patterns


As part of the elements of design in the composition of a photograph I am asked to take at least one photograph each showing rhythm and pattern. In rhythm my eye should be drawn away from the pattern to something else. While the image of the pattern should convey its continuation.

Marishall College, Aberdeen

Image 5628 taken on 3.6.2012, 1/1250sec, f5.6, ISO800, 20mm
The image shows the regular pattern of the fassade and indicades the continuation to either side. My eye is drawn away from the building to the statue of Robert the Bruce on horseback reading out a declaration.

Factory building in Arbroath

Image 5555 taken on 1.6.2012, 1/160sec, f8, ISO400, 65mm
Just as I was taking the image of the boarded up factory building, the lady appeared to hung up the washing conveying some rhythm

Arbroath Smokies

Image 5435 taken on 25.5.2012, 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO800, 250mm
Only by chance did I notice the racks of Arbroath smokies conveying a regular pattern.

Pattern in stonework

Image 5537 taken on 1.6.2012, 1/30sec, f5, ISO100, 39mm
Someone has carved these irregular patterns in the stonework to decorate a building in Arbroath

Exercise: Real and implied triangles


Shapes, in this instance triangles become an important aspect when taking and composing an image. The triangle is the most basic shape in nature and the creations of mankind.

Real triangles
To find a subject that is triangular in itself

Owl

Image 5068 taken on 2.5.2012, 1/100sec, f8, ISO1600, 250mm
By chance I noticed the owl approaching and landing on this branch. There was safe place to stop. The whole body of the Owl is a triangle, the eyes and beak form another. The forked branch implies a triangular frame for the bird.

The iconic British Phonebox

To make a triangle by perspective, converging towards the top of the frame

Image 5079 taken on 4.5.2012, 1/320sec, f5, ISO100, 15mm
There are not many tall buildings in the country side and near the routes I work. So I had a go at the phonebox using the wideangle lens and lying on the ground. If I continue drawing the lines from each corner they will form triangles

Playing on the swing
Make in inverted triangle by perspective, converging at the bottom of the frame

Image 5488 taken on 27.5.2012, 1/250 sec, f10, ISO100, 10mm





The leg of the swing nearest the comera is the converging point of a number of triangles. I can see at least two with the actual frame and several in the shadows.

Implied

BBQ

Make a still-life arrangement of five or six objects to creat a triangle  with the apex at the top

Image 5483 taken on 27.5.2012, !/250 sec, f10, ISO100, 18mm
Its a warm and sunny day so used the things around to create a still-life with a numper of outdoor activity items. The triangular lines of items and shadows point to the top.

Gardening stuff

Make a still-life arrengement with the triangle inverted

Image 5484 taken on 27.5.2012, 1/160sec, f10, ISO100, 14mm
I have chosen items I use in my daily workinlife to create this image. The Wendyhouse and broom create one line of the tiangle, while the items are alingned to point downwards

A Familyportrait

Arrange three people in a group picture in such a way that either their faces or their bodies makes triangle

Image 5066 taken on 29.4.2012, 1/200sec, f5, ISO100, 11mm
A range of triangle I can see. Three objects/subjects in one image allways make a trinagle. The implied ones are going up the bodylines until they meet.

It took me quite some time to get together a range of images, though some where easier than others. I could see triangles in many places and freqently wondered how best to take them. The still-life images I found the most difficult and am not sure I met what was expexted of the task.
I rarely take pictures of people. So another challenge when it comes to asking them to co-operate with me please.
I further wanted to take images with being potentially interesting or unusual.
It also took several attempts to position myself and the camera in postion to create hopefully something more interesting

Exercise: Implied Lines

This exercise comes in three parts.
In the first part we are asked to look at two photographs in the given text on Page 68 and find implied lines. In the scene of the bullfighter my eye catches first that there is action. The bull appears to run in a circle around the  fighter who keeps stationary but moves flags. In the second photograph a farmer has two horses on a rope. Here again a circular motion is in place. The farmers footstep indicates that he is following the horses in a smaller circle perhaps.
In the second part we are asked to look at three photographs of my own and look for implied lines. I found them easier to identify when the picture involved people. I had caught the image of a man sitting still under a bridge by the river Dee in Aberdeen looking what seems to be the far distance, beyond the picture itself. The statue of Robert the Bruce in front of Marishall College, Aberdeen has a range of implied lines. The King sitting upon his horse is reading and shouting out something to the populace. The horse though frozen in granite appears to be moving . I can imagine a number of people standing there listening to the King. My third picture was of Buzzards being chased away by crows. Though the series of pictures is not very clear, the motions are.
For the third part of the exercise I am to find and take two photographs which capture implied lines that lead the eye of either an eye-line, the extension of a line or lines that point.

Water ski-ing

Image 4836 taken on 8.4.2012, 1/640 sec, f10, ISO800, 250mm
The tow ropes indicate the general direction of the movement from right to left. The implied lines are indicated by the skiers seeming to watch each others next move and current location.

Sea cave

Image 5024 taken on 22.4.2012, 1/80sec, f10, ISO200, 123mm
This is I hope is an example of lines that point. This image was not taken with the exercise in mind. At home I noticed that my eyes where drawn to look into the cave and I wondered what was causing it. The tri-angular shape of the cave entrance could be interpreted as one line as can the surface of the sea. The coming and going of the birds at different levels also give my eyes a direction to look into the dark cave.

Exercise: Curves

To look for and take 4 photographs with curves to show movement and direction.

Wave

Image 4777 taken on 4.4.2012, 1/500sec, f6.3,ISO100, 229mm
The curve is within the wave coming towards me and shore. The wind also picks up droplets arching up before falling back into the water.

Bench

Image 4706 taken on  30.3.2012, 1/640sec, f4.5, ISO100, 90mm
I came arcross this bench on a sunny morning at Arbroath Harbour. I was drawn to the strong shaddow of the curved bench and the potential comfort of the seat.

Cairn o Mount

Image 4708 taken on 30.3.2012, 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO100, 171mm
I gentle and sharp curves does road hug itself to the landscape, it has not reach the viewpoint yet indicating there is more to come, nor has it reached the bottom as it gets out of view.

Windmills

Image 4671 taken on 29.3.2012, 1/200sec, f5.6, ISO100, 200mm
Back to childhood goes my memory as I am drawn to these colourfull windmills. I would like to get one and run outside to make it turn and pretend to be a plane

Exercise: Diagonals

Steamengine

Image 4600 taken on21.3.2012, 1/10sec, f25, ISO100, 12mm
I only glanced this engine while driving passed a Hotel carpark and returned. This is one of several images I have taken and demonstrates that taken from this angle many horizontal and vertical lines change into diagonals and give it a sense of depth.

Daffodils

Image 4666 taken on 27.3.2012, 1/160sec, f5.6, ISO800, 20mm
The sun had just come over the horizon adding a different light to the scene. From the groundlevel I focused on just these two flower and chose a shallow depth of field to blur out the background.

Duthie Park, Aberdeen

Image 4684 taken on 29.3.2012, 1/500sec, f5, ISO400, 23mm
This is a formal section of the park with strong geometrical shapes of squares and triangels. The sunlight created strong light light and shade at this point of view adding contrast.

Banana leaf, Duthie Park, Aberdeen

Image 4674 taken on 29.3.2012, 1/250sec, f5.6, ISO 100, 250mm
I was taken by the simple abstract lines of this section of the giant leaf and the play of light and shade.

Exercise: Horizontal and vertical lines

The exercise is to seek out examples of horizontal and vertical lines.

Bennachie

Image 4554 taken on 18.3.2012, 1/60sec, f10, ISO 100, 131mm
The trees and fields create implied horizontal lines. Bennachie itself is shaped primarely in the horizontal. On this early morning even the clouds stretched out horizontally.

Staircase

Image 4640 taken on 23.3.2012, 1/125sec, f 4.5, ISO1oo, 27mm

This staircase is leading up to the watertower in Arbroath

Pond and street in Arbroath

Image 4631 taken on 23.3.2012, 1/100 sec, f8, ISO 400, 34mm
The shoreline, grass and shrub area, the street, windows and rooftops all imply horizontal lines.

Wall

Image 4637 taken on 23.3.2012, 1/50sec, f4.5, ISO100, 29mm
Even though the rocks are different shapes and sizes the Dyker has created horizontal lines

Raised Cherry pickers

Image 4627 taken on 23.3.2012, 1/320sec, f8, ISO100, 11mm

Poplars

Image 4628 taken on 23.3.2012, 1/250, f8, ISO100, 13mm

Railway track

Image 4630 taken on 23.3.2012, 1/30sec, f8, ISO100, 20mm

Field

Image 4646 taken on 23.3.2012, 1/250sec, f5.6, ISO 160, 250mm

Some of the lines I noticed where easy to see and notice, while others where more implied.

Exercise: Multiple points

The exercise s to create a still-life and take a photograph of each step. I have taken a few series of pictures, but chosen this series of marbles as the light and reflections added extra changes. As each marble was placed the observer can notice subtle changes in the light and also changing reflections in the central marble. Each marble was randomly placed without having a final image in mind.

Images 4566 to 4573 where taken on 18.3.2012, 8sec, f29, ISO100, 116mm.
I chose a large depth of field to get all in focus, I hope. The scene was lit by a single table lamp.
As each marble was placed the relationships changed. At times the image was balanced or a bit unbalanced. The final picture forming a spiral originating in the centre and possibly continuing beyond the frame. At this point the series has come to a natural end.