Vertical and horizontal frames

Quite often when we take photographs we do not think of of taking a vertical shot, however there are times when vertical  images can work. This exercise demonstrates that we must consider a vertical shot when composing a photograph.
A number of shots were taken, each with a vertical and horizontal image.

Exercise: Positioning the horizon

For this exercise a series of photographs were taken with the horizon arranged at different heights within the frame.

Of the five shots I prefer the second, I like the balance of sky and land with the sky being dominant proportionally and the land balancing it with contrast and detail. My least favorite of the five is the first one with the horizon centrally placed.  I can see how shots with maybe more foreground detail would work. Please excuse the shadow in shot 5!!.

Exercise: Balance

For this exercise I had to look at some of my already taken photos and decide how balance works within them.

I found that finding shots with symmetrical balance was quite easy so I decided to concentrate on unsymmetrical balance. I think that most of the ones here work, however some are a bit cluttered.

This exercise has opened my eyes to balance and it is something that I am constantly aware of when composing a picture now.

Focal lengths and different viewpoints

This exercise demonstrates how perspective as well as angle of view changes when the viewpoint is altered as the lens is changed.
Two pictures of a scene were taken, the first with the lens set to telephoto with the subject filling the frame, the second with the lens set to wide angle and moved closer to the subject so that again the subject looks the same size as the telephoto shot through the viewfinder.
 In the first series that I have displayed here I used the monument as the subject, I know it did not fill the frame however I thought that the relationship with the building behind would demonstrate perspective.

70mm

18mm

70mm

18mm

This exercise demonstrates how perspective changes with different focal lengths and viewpoints.
The longer focal lengths create a 'compressed', 'flatter' perspective, the background moves towards the subject and the scene loses depth, subjects within the scene appear less separated than they actually are especially if they are already close.
The wider focal lengths creates depth within the scene, the subject appears deeper and more defined, relationship with other objects within the scene are more defined and separated, the back ground moves away and linear perspective is enhanced (even distorted).
Of the two extremes of perspective within this task I prefer the wide angle shots, however I can appreciate the merits of both and will certainly be considerate of wide angle v telephoto in the future.

Focal Lengths: The angle of view

For the first part of this project we are looking at how changing lenses affects the angle of view.
This exercise requires a view that is open with some details in the distance, then a series of photographs taken from a fixed point, with each shot increasing in focal length from wide to telephoto.

18mm

50mm

70mm

These photos show that as focal length is increased, angle of view decreases or 'closes in' and the subject or scene appear's to move closer. This is different to actually moving closer to the subject as that would affect perspective. The relationship between the subject and objects within the scene stay the same although they appear larger/smaller

Exercise: A sequence of composition

Exercise: Object in different positions in the frame

We are now looking at the relationship of a subject and its background, and how placement within the frame affects the perception of the image in relation to its background.
This exercise involved taking four photographs of a subject placed at different points within the frame. The background had to be large and even. The pictures were then compared and assessed on how the placement of the subject related to the background.

I have spent a lot more time on this task than I expected, it is not that I do not understand the concept of the exercise I just have had a hard time trying to find a suitable scene with an even background, in the process of finding one I have taken hundreds of shots, I now have a decent sized library of photos in the 'object in different parts of the frame' folder, and I feel I have explored this task considerably.
The photos of the Goats that I have decided to use are not the nicest pictures I have taken during this exercise, however I decided to use them as an example as they are quite uncluttered and reasonably even (apart from the wall in some shots) .
Of the examples above I prefer the pictures with the subject in the top right and top left corners, the scene is a reasonably dull one and I think placing the subject in the corner gives the picture a little more interest and actually draws the eye more to the subject than a centred placement. The large even foreground (background) gives a feeling of open space.
I like the first picture with the Goats just off centre (or centred) the least, the wall does not help matters but I think that the centrally placed subject in this scene is uninteresting, the back ground is even (ignoring the wall) so  it does nothing to enhance the scene.