Project - Points

 

In preparation for Exercise 1, here’s a list of situations where photographs could be made to clearly show a point:

• Isolated buildings in farmland / on the moors / on the cliffs / on the shore
• Isolated farm animals / farmers / tractors / haystacks in fields or on the moors
• Groups of hikers / cyclists – these could be positioned on the moors or various trails where they could become the point in a landscape.
• Outcrops of rock / standing stones / crosses – these can be in isolated positions in the moor land.
• Individuals on the beach – bathers, walkers, anglers, photographers, kite flyers
• Surfers – could be positioned in the frame to make them a point in the surf.
• Boats at sea – lots of scope here with various types of pleasure craft as well as commercial boats.
• Large breaking waves
• Hot air balloons – could be isolated against the sky, or landscape depending on the situation.
• Aeroplanes / Helicopters / Hang gliders – lots of scope to isolate them against the sky or landscape
• Waterfalls can be positioned to make them the point in a landscape.
• Single trees or small copses in large fields
• The moon, isolated against the sky or above a landscape. Also the sun in some conditions and with filters / bracketing. Even clouds could become points.
• On days when there are moving clouds the spots of sunlight on a landscape can be used to emphasise features.
• Neon lights  or street lights in dark conditions
• Piercings / jewellery / hairstyles can become the point in a portrait (if you’re not careful – or if your are!)
• Flowers can be used in many situations – stigma / stamen isolated within the petals (Macro / close up filters would be good for this); Different shapes / colour in the rest of the garden; a bunch of hand held flowers could become the point of an image.
• Macro lenses used to isolate many objects, due to the narrow depth of field.
• Wild birds on the river or in the harbour (particularly herons, cormorants, swans, seagulls) – They tend to be solitary in their feeding, perching habits.
• Single windows on a building, doors, doorknockers

The list could be endless. Let’s face it there are opportunities all around us for this exercise.

The following collection of previously taken photographs has all been converted to B&W as suggested. In most cases the colour version was much more pleasing:

 

Tulip stigma taken using macro

With the stigma positioned off centre vertically and horizontally the image seems to have greater depth and causes the viewer to look at it more closely.

 Sunset – underexposed and using tone mapping

In this image the sun is placed centrally in the horizontal plane, with the horizon on the thirds. This has given a strong line of reflection which leads the eye into the distance. The headlands also sit nicely on the thirds.

 Rosedale Chimney seat

 The seat is positioned at the edge of the picture, both horizontally and vertically. By using this position the viewer looks at the vista which can be seen from the seat, so appreciates its position better.

 Light painted tree (viewed from Rosedale Chimney seat)

The tree is lit by the sun as it shines through a gap in the clouds, so this point is accentuated not only by its position but by the lighting. Again, positioning it off centre in both planes gives it a good relative place in the landscape, allowing the eye to take in the other details in the view – the farm track, sheep and lines of the hedges.

 Misty morning cormorant

The bird is positioned to the left in the image, not only to present the tree it sits on, but to show what it’s looking at. Again, its position in the scheme of things – its place in the world are shown by this positioning in the frame. If it were positioned centrally, the morning mist wouldn’t have been so obvious, or the bird may have looked smaller.

Walking the beach

Positioning the walkers in the corner of the image shows the viewer that they are not only on a deserted beach, but that they have further to travel and much more to yet enjoy. What a breath of fresh air!

 Whitby misty morning

The main point of this image is obviously the abbey, which draws the attention immediately. It’s positioned to the top of the image which gives the impression of distance. This is accentuated by the trees, pylons and buildings as they appear through the mist. Positioning the abbey more centrally in the frame would have spoiled this perspective and possibly cut off the line of receding pylons.

 Harbour reflection gull

 The kittiwake was positioned off centre in the frame, initially to capture the reflections in the water beyond, but the eye is still drawn to the bird with the interest in the reflections being a secondary diversion.

 Kalanchoe taken using macro and 4 x close up filter

 The main rosette of this tiny flower really draws the attention. If it were centrally positioned it just wouldn’t have the same impact. The restricted depth of field of the macro lens also helps to emphasize the point in this image, as the surroundings are softly out of focus. The hint of other blooms tells of its association with the rest of the plant.

 Backlit snowdrop

Positioning this flower off centre allows the out of focus blooms in the rest of the image to provide a sense of place and distance, while maintaining a tight focus and lighting on the main point of the picture.

 Beach Gull

The gull is obviously the main point in this image, accentuated by the sunlight which isolates the bird from its darker surroundings. Its position in the frame provides a feeling of place and tranquillity as the bird takes in the rays of the sun at the end of the day. 

 Gone to seed

This point is only suggested. The centre of attention is drawn by the converging lines of clematis, so the point in this case is out of focus compared to the lines which suggest it. Again, positioning this suggested point off centre gives more interest and leads the eye better.