What it's Made Of

This week, I learned about the composition of a photograph. Composition is all about the subject matter and how the subject is positioned in the picture. The instructor explained, "(composition) is one of the most artistic aspects of photography and can make the difference between a good photo and a great photo!" (https://www.udemy.com/karl-taylors-free-photography-course/#lecture/129461).

Here is a photo I took that will help me to discuss the elements of composition. It is of my 9 month old niece and her Nana (my mom).

When it comes to the subject matter, the instructor explained there are four things to consider.

1. Choice of Subject- As I stated in a previous blog post, one of my intentions for this project was to capture special moments of my family and friends. For this photo, I chose to photograph my mom enjoying spending time with her granddaughter.

2. Colours of Subject- I don't feel that I was able to control the colours of the subject, as it was clothing that my niece and mom were wearing. However, I feel that the colours did complement each other. My niece stands out a bit more than my mom, as the colours she is wearing are quite bright.

3. The Lighting on the Subject- This is one of my favourite parts of the picture. The lighting in this photo would be considered soft light (see this post for more information on lighting.) I love how the soft light illuminates the faces of the subjects. I think the lighting makes the subjects seem more "in the moment."

4. The Story of the Subject- This photo was taken at the end of Thanksgiving Dinner in our new home. It was special to me as I have never hosted Thanksgiving for my family before as I never had the room. It marks the beginning of many fun family times! Also, my niece is my parent's first granddaughter. This photo captures the joy that she has brought to my mom.

The composition of the photo is the more technical side. Here, I discuss the elements of the composition.

1. Position of the Subject- I feel that the position of the subject is satisfactory. When analyzing the photo, it probably would have been a better outcome if I had positioned the subject to take up more of the photo. There is a lot of background that doesn't need to be in the photo.

2. Position of the Camera- I think the angle of the camera is effective.

3. Choice of Lens- I don't own another type of lens yet so this does not apply.

4. Choice of Focus Point- The focus points are the faces of my family members. This is what draws the viewer into the picture.

5. Choice of Depth of Field- This does not apply to this photo as the subjects are the depth.

6. Choice of Shutter Speed- This photo was taken with a slower shutter speed, which helped to soften the subjects.