For this assignment, you will be taking a series of photos of windows. You will shoot from inside, from outside, with a person and without. You will consider framing and reflection, and the concept of what a window as a metaphor can mean.
Metaphor: a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.
Framing: the technique of drawing focus to the subject in the photo by blocking other parts of the image with something in the scene Think about:
location (home, neighborhood, city, old mill, run down, commercial building) distance time of day
large or shallow depth of field (portrait mode on phone) color or black and white? looking from inside or looking out? what is the age of the window? is it old, abandoned? dirty? dusty? a new building? an old mill? a home? a kitchen, a bedroom, a basement, an attic? is there a person on the inside or out?
does the window appear as a barrier, or a gateway? does it allow light in or block what you can see? Is the window a symbol of safety or protection? or something that makes you trapped? or something that lets in cold or rain? is is broken, cracked or clean? is it a portal to another place? does it reflect what is outside or act as a veil of privacy? is there a curtain?
what is the time of day? how does light interact with the window? does the window show the promise of the future? show a mystery or what is inside or a glimpse into someone else's life?
DUE: 6 photos (or more) 1- from inside 1- from outside 1- with a person 1- with reflection 1- showing the entire frame/wall of the window 1- with a curtain or shade
SHOWCASE YOUR COMPOSITION SKILLS & EDITING SKILLS.
Windows are a transparent barrier between what is interior and what is exterior. Through them, we may visually perceive the outside world but, unlike with a door, we may not exit through them. Inside may be warm and cozy, or oppressive and imprisoning. The outside world might be a longed-for adventure or the threat of expulsion. They divide spaces between the private and the public, between that which is sheltered and that which is exposed. Through a window, not only may we see the world outside, but we ourselves may be apprehended. Light emanating from a window reveals a glimpse of the mystery within. The eye is a window through which our mind accesses the visual world, and how often have we heard the axiom that the eyes are windows to the soul? Merriam-Webster tells us that the first known use of the word “window” dates back to the 13th century, and that the Middle English window derives from the Old Norse vindauga, itself a combination of vindr wind and auga eye. The interpretations of the symbolism of windows is as boundless as the human experiences of interiority/exteriority, light, and observation. - Elana Haglern.
Directions:
Step 1: (_____/6 pts) Place your 6 (or more) unedited photos in classroom.
Step 2: Color OR BLACK AND WHITE photos (_____/18 pts) (image quality, variety of shots) Open each image in Lightroom to edit. -Crop if you want (is there something distracting in the photo?) -Adjust for proper exposure Adjust Temperature, Highlights, Shadows, Whites and Blacks as needed. Also look at Clarity and Texture… You may use modified presets (and then adjust) or create your own.
Reflection Questions/ Written Statement
Describe and discuss the composition of your best photo. (Discuss at least 4 of the following: line, shape, pattern, texture, leading lines, movement, point of view, distance, repetition, depth, framing, rule of thirds, positive and negative space, focal point)
Finally, what is this window image expressing? How does time, weather, lighting, location, and color impact the meaning of the window? What other elements or parts of the photo convey this idea?