Crit4: Post Apocalypse

 
I shot my photos using an iPhone 4s with iOS 7.0.4. These two photos above were edited using the app Snapseed 1.6.1.

For this recipe, I am going to focus on the techniques and strategies I use to create very mysterious and desolate looking photos. I have found throughout the weeks that these are my favorite types of photographs to create. I like to create photos that draw the viewer into the scene and have them feel as if they are a part of the photo and at this specific location. I also like the viewer to stop and pause while looking at my photographs to see all of the specific details and textures that are in each piece.

The techniques I use while shooting have a lot to do with composition. I like to shoot in a diagonal angle to my subjects because I find them more visually interesting than straight on shoots. This is evident in a majority of my work throughout this semester. I also really like to shoot in the evenings because lighting is a big inspiration for me when I look at a possible subject. The photo on the left was shot in very low lighting at night and the photo on the right was shot in the evening with the sunsetting which created the long shadows.

I also employ certain techniques in regards to my filter selecting. I am drawn to filters that either suck the loud colors out of a photo and give a faded look, or create a more vintage grungy look. Both of these photos were done using the Snapseed app I referred to at the top. The one on the right was enhanced by the "drama" filters and the "grunge" filters found in this app. The one on the right was created by using the "vintage" filter. All of these filters enhance textures and create certain color scenes in these photos.

I often combine techniques to come up with my own personal strategies as a photographer. I like capturing subjects at a certain angle to enhance my shadows and create more visual interest. Shooting in the evenings often helps me to create these shadow angles that appear more visually interesting. On the photo on the left, because the sun was very low, it helped me get this more dark and mysterious look with a few bright spots where the sunset was still visible in the water. Also, because I was shooting water, the reflections definitely helped bring in a lot of visual interest and enhance the mystery. Overall I try to use my form to enhance my content and not overwhelm my original photo.

While looking around the web this week I found the photographer Michael Lavine who is now a very famous photographer. I connected mostly with his entertainment posters that he photographs for because he has very grungy or dark feel to a lot of his work. We are very different in our shooting styles because I like shooting more scenes or buildings, but he often has a direct subject because of his now Hollywood influence. He photographs lots of different subjects and it's really interesting to see the variety he shows in his work. I'm sure everyone could find something to connect to. A link to his personal website: http://www.michaellavine.com/#/Photographs/Entertainment/1/