davidpurchasephotography

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 83

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 27 mm, f8, 1/250 s

The Detail / The Thing Itself -

Subject - The Chair

This picture includes many aspects of what we learned in our class. I find it a fitting final photo. The chair is broken, but this reality is not shown within the picture because I photographed it at an angle that does not reveal its missing arm. The scene is unaltered, which prompted me to label it as "The Thing Itself." The golden hour is present and the subject casts a subtle raking light shadow. The aperture is f8, giving the viewer a decent sense as to what is off in the distance, but leaving a lot to the imagination. There are a lot of questions the viewer may have, such as what is the field, why is it abandoned/vacant, why is there a chair there, are there any homes in the close vicinity, and who set up or sits on the chair. The soft warm sunlight makes this fitting as the final photo because it represents a final goodbye to the day, and my final goodbye to a meaningful class that I will always hold close to me. I have been inspired by this course to continue photographing and can't help but see potential pictures in every-day settings nearly everywhere I go. I look forward to where photography and technology goes to from here, because I now have a better grasp on photography's wonderful potential as an art form.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 82

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 157 mm, f5.6, 1/320 s

Time -

Subject - The dogs

This photograph clearly illustrates a specific moment captured in time where two dogs were occupied while moving then quickly focus their attention on something in the direction of the camera. Although the dogs appear to be stopped in time, this photo would be extremely difficult to replicate due to their stances, the left dog's paw being in the air, them both looking back, and the way the plant covers the majority of the dog on the left's face. There is certainly an element of The Detail here exemplified by all the plants, the unclear expressions on their faces, and the question as to why they are looking in the camera's direction or where they are heading (the bush covers the viewer from being able to see where they are walking towards).

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 81

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 52 mm, f16, 1/320 s

The Detail -

Subject - Blockade/path

This photo leaves a lot up to the imagination of the viewer. There are cones which indicate one should not cross them along with a yellow chain on the ground, which acts as another soft warning. The viewer has no sense of where the trail leads, though they may imagine it would have to be walked on as opposed to driven through. The viewer may also see these forbiddances as easy obstacles to overcome, and they can imagine driving over the chain and simply moving the cones out of the way. The f16 aperture allows the viewer to see far along the trail, though they can't see where it turns to. This giving informative detail while not revealing the story incites imagination from the viewer. There is also a raking light element to this photo, with the shadows adding an additional feature that has the viewer unsure as to when this photo was taken, but hints that there isn't too much daylight left to explore the path.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 80

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 31 mm, f9, 1/320 s

The Detail -

Subject - The dog

"The Detail" comes to mind with this photo because the lighting of the picture, the dog's curious look, and the flowers in front of him. This photograph does not attempt to tell a complete story but rather emphasizes a moment that suggests a deeper connection between the dog and his surroundings, highlighting the beauty and details of everyday scenes.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 79

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 78 mm, f5, 1/100 s

The Frame -

Subject - Traffic cone

This photo relates to Szarkowski’s "The Frame" because it cuts the traffic cone off to the point that the viewer has no idea where it placed or what the top/bottom look like. The large aperture here blurs the background in a great way and the golden hour sunlight in the background helps the lighting of the photo. Vantage Point is also applicable here because the viewer is at eye-level with the middle part of a traffic cone, which is uncommon.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 78

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 78 mm, f5, 1/60 s

The Thing Itself -

Subject - Items on the windowsill

"The Thing Itself" is all about capturing and treasuring the actuality and authenticity of what is in front of the camera. In this photo, the straightforward presentation of somebody's personal items on a windowsill is a direct capture of a real, unembellished moment. It reflects the routine aspects of daily existence that are often overlooked. The photograph does not attempt to pose or dramatize these items. It presents them strictly as they are. There is a credit card, which can be perceived as being taken out for an online purchase, a historical book, a charger, and a credit card holder. The natural light and the view from the window add context about the setting and time of day, further making the image seem more realistic. This mundane and intimate snapshot gives a truthful look at one's personal belongings within the space they occupy, showing the often uncelebrated but genuine parts of everyday life.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 77

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 87 mm, f5, 1.0 s

The Thing Itself / The Detail -

Subject - Flowers

I primarily see "The Thing Itself" because the photo directly captures a natural scene without any manipulation, showcasing the plants in their actual state. It highlights the natural textures, colors, and composition of the plants. Focus is on the arrangement and the interplay of light and shadow, which highlights the intrinsic beauty of the plants. This also slightly reminds me of John Szarkowski’s "The Detail" because, although nature is often mixed in with a lot of different types of life, there is a juxtaposition between the nature itself and the manmade scenery/objects around it. There are a lot of different colors displayed here as well (including shadows created by the lights), which further adds to the detail.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 76

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 400, 78 mm, f18, 0.400 s

Vantage Point / The Frame -

Subject - Bike rack

This resembles John Szarkowski’s "The Frame" because the bike rack is cut off, leaving the viewer unsure as to how many rails the rack has. This is also like Szarkowski’s Vantage Point because it is a lower angle of a bike rack that people don't generally see. I appreciate the infinite-like pattern created by the metal, and would like to take similar photographs to this one in the future.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 75

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 60 mm, f4.5, 1/13 s

The Thing Itself / The Detail

Subject - Sandals

I was lucky enough to find this subject itself without needing to rearrange the shoes to make them look more artistic. This reminds me of John Szarkowski's "The Thing Itself" because the shoes on a rock in a natural setting captures a slice of reality exactly as it was found. It presents an unmanipulated view of a moment in time, emphasizing the authenticity and unvarnished truth of the scene. The photograph does not create a narrative but rather documents one that already exists, which allows viewers to appreciate the scene's simplicity and the unspoken stories it may hold. The aperture slightly blurs the sandal towards the back of the rock, but still keeps it in clear enough view to show it is similarly decrepit. I believe it is like "The Detail" as well because the photo allows contemplation about the story behind this scene. It provokes questions such as who left the sandals there and why. Photographing these shoes turns a mundane scene into a moment filled with potential stories or meanings, making the ordinary appear extraordinary.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #11: Personal Interest

Photo # 74

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 27 mm, f14, 1/800 s

The Thing Itself / The Detail

Subject - Fire hydrant

Szarkowski’s "The Thing Itself" comes to mind here because this picture presents a straightforward depiction of an everyday urban scene where there's a fire hydrant between two yellow bollards. It's a clear representation of the actual scene without embellishment. There is no fancy angle of the picture and no movement whatsoever. The inclusion of elements like the discarded mask on the ground adds a layer of where society is today, making the photo like an artifact of its time. This aligns with the concept that photography captures the "present" and documents real-life as it unfolds. There is a handprint on the hydrant, which might suggest a human interaction or narrative that goes beyond a mere utility object in the city. This handprint can be viewed as a sign of human presence, creativity, or vandalism, which invites viewers to think about the story behind it without revealing anything in itself. This detail elevates the mundane to something more significant. There is a raking light type of lighting in this photo that is welcoming in my opinion because, although the shadows are not what make the photo itself (I believe the handprint is), they add an element to the photo that i feel is nicer for the viewer than just having the objects without shadows (especially with the direction the shadows are cast compared to where the picture is taken).

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #10: Raking Light

Photo #73

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 27 mm, f10, 1/400 s

The shadow formed from this NYC sundial-like statue appears to be purposely made visible to the viewer. It is as if the statue's creator chose its specific placement so the statue could use the sunlight to create a useful shadow.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #10: Raking Light

Photo #72

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 78 mm, f5, 1/15 s

The light beneath the sprinkler appears to bring the water to life. The background would have been completely dark, but a car's headlights emitted on the curb brings the curb and grass behind it into clear view.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #10: Raking Light

Photo #71

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 57 mm, f4.5, 0.400 s

The light being cast upon the blue house causes the paint to pop out for the viewer. The light also makes the flowers and chairs in the background visible while keeping the rest of the background in complete darkness. I like how the light shining on the candle holders from multiple angles causes two shadows to form on each side of them.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #10: Raking Light

Photo #70

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 157 mm, f9, 1/400 s

The shadow created from the tree top's leaves is shown on the layers of leaves below it, and finally creates a beautiful shadow on the thin trunk holding the whole plant up.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #10: Raking Light

Photo #69

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 87 mm, f5, 1/125 s

The sun casts a beautiful shadow on the hut that alters the single brown color the wood normally displays throughout the day.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #10: Raking Light

Photo #68

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 57 mm, f10, 1/400 s

This picture reminds me of a couple of the sample photos in the raking light slide show (particularly Helen Van Meene's photo of the vase and flower). I appreciate how the shadow from the window is displayed against the wall and that the lamp, which is made for the purpose of emitting light, is absorbing light here and casting its own shadow.

[davidpurchasephotography]

ASSIGNMENT #10: Raking Light

Photo #67

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm ƒ3.5-5.6G ED

ISO 800, 36 mm, f14, 1/800 s

I appreciate how the shadows of the pipes are elongated and jut outwards. I believe the lighting turns this manmade object that was not intended to be artistic and makes it worthy of visual appreciation.