LauraHaze.

(1/180; f/8; ISO 400)

Final Portfolio

I decided to use this picture as my introductory picture because I wanted to make the theme of my portfolio about my travels in England, and mainly the London area. I have had so much fun figuring out my camera, and capturing the beauty of London. I decided to make my entry photo with Big Ben in it because that is the ultimate landmark in London. When someone thinks of London, they think of Big Ben, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, double decker buses, tea, and the Thames River. I decided on this photo out of my many photos of Big Ben, because I felt it was different. Is it still a tourist photo? Yes, but it’s not just a snap shot of Big Ben.  I’m so sad to be leaving this wonderful place in a few days. I’m glad I could take many pictures of all of the wonderful places and things I’ve seen.

(Please click on the picture to continue to the rest of my portfolio)

(1/20; f/5.6; ISO 100)

High Gate Cemetery

This is actually the plot of a sculptor. I liked this image because it’s creepy which is the feeling I get when I’m in a cemetery.  I like it because the grass kind of frames the woman and makes her the emphasis.  I’m really glad I got a shot of this figure, because this is how the cemetery made me feel, a little sad. It was almost child-like how the figure is. It’s as if she’s hiding her eyes from something evil. I really like this photo.

(1/90; f/5.6; ISO 100)

Hampstead Heath.

I like this photo. I feel like it should be on an album cover or something. I like the perspective from the other end of the gate. It gives the picture some nice lines that help draw the viewer’s eye to Courtney, the model. Overall, this picture is my favorite.

(1/60; f/5.6; ISO 100)

Bad Picture

I this this picture is too bright. The shutter speed wasn’t slow enough to dim it. I like the angle of this photo though, just not the brightness.

(1/200; f/13; ISO 400)

Host Gallery Assignment

I tried to recreate photo 143 by Henk van der Leeden.  His picture was of two young women at the beach of Guardelavaca in Cuba.  I wanted to recreate this picture because I loved the background, but I loved the expressions on the women’s faces.  They look nostalgic to me, or exhausted from staying at the beach all day. The woman in the green bathing suit is looking off into the distance. I think she’s thinking of the good times she had that day and connecting them with other times she’s had at the same beach. The other woman is peering straight at you. It’s as if she’s looking straight through you. It’s almost as if she’s saying to the photographer “hurry up and take the picture, I’m exhausted.” I thought it was interesting that the photo was taken in Cuba. I feel like that helps explain the women’s faces a little too. The oppression some people suffer from communism is what I feel this picture conveys. This is their “happy” vacation they can have to escape it all. The photographer might have captured them on their way back, worried about what will happen when they venture back to reality.

This photo is my interpretation. I faded the coloring a little in this picture because I wanted to add a more dreamy effect, like the women who were dreaming of a better tomorrow, and to fix the sky because it was washed out. My models were Sam and Melissa. I liked how they both look similar, like sisters, because the women in the photo look similar and I assumed they were sisters. I also like how they’re both looking away, causing a more dreamy effect. They both look like their deep in thought.  I’m glad I could get the busy street in the background because it makes it look like they’re thinking of a much simpler time, where life was not so busy. Maybe they were thinking of a nice vacation they had, or that fabulous cup of coffee they had in a cafe the other day. I think this photo is a good interpretation of Henk der van Leeden’s photo. 

(1/45; f/27; ISO 100)

London Street Photography

I took a picture of this man sitting on a bench because it’s rare to see someone doing that here. I feel as if everyone is moving at such a fast pace, they never slow down.  I wanted to take a picture of this man because he looks as if he’s taking a break and enjoying himself for a moment. After his break he will go back to the fast-paced life he lives. 

(1/8; f/27; ISO 100)

Financial Photo: Financial District

I was standing outside of Lloyds Bank, and I noticed how heavy the foot traffic was through this section.  Constantly people in suits were shuffling in front of this bank.  I decided to add a black and white effect on the two men passing by in suits, because in my interpretation of this place I felt as if no one mattered. I felt as if we were all a blur fading into the background. Business is booming, but personalities and individuality diminish.  Business and money were number one. I also was happy that I could catch the business men on the move because that showed that no one slowed down. It’s a fast-paced world out there and everyone is playing catch up. 

(1/350; f/4.5; ISO 100)

Colonial Photo: Financial District

I added a lomographic tint to this photo to give it a more retro feel. I also wanted to show the contrast in colors between the old, richer colored building and the more neutral, plain colored building. The older building had a more basic layout than the newer building. The Swiss Re Building (the bullet shaped building) had a smooth, clean, yet colorless design.  The design was more mathematical than detailed.  The other building had more intricate designs in the columns and windows than in the building itself.  This shows Britain’s development from an age where they had mass amounts of time to detail to today where the bigger the better and more new age style of architecture.  

(1/90; f/5.6; ISO 100)

Missionary Might Photo: Financial District

I took a picture of St. Michael’s Chapel.  It was interesting to me how small scale the church was in comparison to the large, financial buildings surrounding it. It was almost as if churches were a minority among the rows of banks and luxury stores. There were a few churches tucked away in street corners in various locations, but the number of banks vastly outnumbered the churches.  I was surprised there were churches in the district. I assumed with everyone on tight schedules and no breathing time they would not have time for church. I was wrong. I wanted to take this picture at this angle because I wanted to show how some business men and women still made it a priority to pray and worship in their busy, hectic lives.  Even though the buildings seem to grow taller and more business appear, small yet noticeable churches still continue to thrive.

Problematic St. Pauls Picture.

I didn’t like this picture because of the angle. There is too much white space which distracts from the picture. I also did not choose it because it was not “iconic” enough.