Steps of St. Kirk & Baystreet Photos

Allright!

For our second outing, my photojournalism class went to these ancient-looking steps beside a very historical church called St. Kirk's. We again, were supposed to go around using the knowledge we gained over the past eight weeks to take pictures with meaning and feeling.

I really liked this outing because I was able to draw on my experience from the first outing (My Fort Charlotte Photos). I actually knew what it was I was looking for and what I was trying to express in my pictures. I still have a whole bunch to learn but I've noticed that I am constantly learning and my photojournalistic eye is improving.

When I sat down to pick out my ten (10) best photos I found that I didn't have to struggle to find the ones I really liked and know why I liked them. Thus I know I am improving!

Here's what I took!


My focus for this photo was the rail of the stairs. I love the way the light hit the columns because it was very paternistic. Also, I took the picture at a slant because taking it head-on would have looked boring and I really wanted to emphasize the incline of the stairs. Lastly, the trees and building in the back makes it seem like the observer is moving from out of an ancient part of the world into a more developed world.

Photo Name: Slanted Light Pattern

I really loved this shot of the step rail because the way I took it was at an angle which makes the top column appear a lot taller and larger than the bottom columns. I like the way the columns move from bigger to smaller even though they are the same height, width and shape. Also, the light that hits the columns on the rail is phenomenal.

Photo Name: The Height & Light Effect

As you can see, I really loved capturing the columns and rail of the steps. I just really liked the repetitive nature of them. Also, in the picture below I wanted to really show the columns at a different angle to show that there is more than one way to show the same subject.

Photo Name: Ancient Columns of Repetition

For this photo I was trying to focus on getting a certain perspective of the steps. I loved the fact that I took the picture the same time a salesman was walking up. I captured a part of him and his desserts on a tray. I really loved the bright orange of his shirt because it adds a burst of color to the picture.

Photo Name: Orange Burst

Yes, so there were benches also in this particular area of St. Kirk's and this is just one of two benches that I captured. This picture shows the age and texture of the bench and gives emphasis to how long the bench is. The depth in this picure is brought out by the length of the bench. On top of that, when I look at this picture I see the bench first and then it moves outward to the people as if the photo is saying: Rest first then move on to the other parts of the steps. Vice-Versa (depending on how you view the picture)

This is definitely one of my favorite photos.

Photo Name: The Bench Mark

Steps of St. Kirk & Baystreet Photos Continuation

These are a few Baystreet Photos.  The ones I like the most!

Okay, for this photo I really wanted to try out a technique I saw used in another photo.  You can find the photo in WEEK EIGHT, DAY 5: A MAN-SIZED CONE.  I really wanted to make this green pole chain thing look bigger than my friend.  So I had to get way down to the ground and put my camera at an angle to capture it.  I like that I was able to get the column thing to look taller than her, but now that I look at it, I wish she hadn't been looking at me then it would have given the picture a bigger presence.  Anyway, I think I liked doing this Great Green Experiment.

Photo Name: A Great Green Experiment

I must have had a thing for columns and rails, because here's another picture of a rail.  For this I was practicing focus and depth of field.  I didn't really like this one because it didn't have the depth I was looking for or the focus.

1st Attempt at Focus and Depth on a Rail

Therefore, I took the picture again.  This time I took it at a different angle.  This time, I focused on the rounded edge of the rail and let it lead out to bring in the depth of field.  Voila!

Photo Name: A Rail of Focus and Depth

Okay, here's the thing.  In this area of Baystreet, I noticed the water fountain.  It was sooo beautiful and it's one of the first things that capture's a person's eye.  However, I didn't want to take the fountain because there wasn't anything really unusual about it.  I wanted to capture something that didn't stand out as much but also was put in that area to beautify the place.  Upon closer inspection I noticed a red light on a tree and said to myself, how much attention does this red light get? It was put there to help beautify the place but people only seemed to be interested in the fountain.  Therefore, I made the red light the focus of my picture because it's something that people don't really look at.  The waterfall becomes an after thought.

Photo Name: The Lonely Red Light

Photo Name: A Red Light Story

I called the next two pictures The Voyeurism of a Photojournalist simply because I was taking pictures of people on Baystreet without them knowing.  I really felt like a voyeur.

Photo Name: The Voyeurism of a Photojournalist

WEEK NINE, DAY 5: A BLOODY RED DAY

Tuesday March 16th, 2010

I don't really know the context of this picture but I know that it is real human blood on the floor with the man.  What I like most about this picture is that there is great focus on the man in the center.  I noticed that the light is brighter in the center and darker around the edges and the people all around the man are very concentrated in numbers whereas there is only one man in the center.  It's a very disturbing picture for me, because this man had blood all over him.

Below is another picture I found on the same website.

(Source: http://www.thaiphotoblogs.com/index.php/2010/03/16/?blog=5)

WEEK NINE, DAY 4: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

Monday March 15th, 2010

This was yet another picture taken in the Bahamas.  There isn't really much to say about it.  The angle isn't spectacular it's a very straight on picture with parents obviously twisting their necks to see their child play the drums.
(Source: http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/Parents_proud_of_Bahamas_National_Arts_Festival_Family_Island_participants10058.shtml)

WEEK NINE, DAY 3: WIDENING THE GAP

Friday March 12th, 2010

It's obvious that this photographer wanted to emphasis the curve of the track and I think it was done beautifully.  This picture also shows that this stadium is extremely huge.  However, I do wish the lighting was better because I can hardly see Chris Brown, a well-known Bahamian athlete who is currently ahead of many other athletes.  He's left a substantial gap in between the other runners and by the way the photo was taken it looks like it's a very wide one.
(Source: http://www.daylife.com/photo/0087dpL8eAfUQ?q=Bahamas)

WEEK NINE, DAY 2: BEYOND THE BARRICADES

Thursday March 11th, 2010

This picture shows the depth of field concept.  As you can see the barricades are what stand out the most in the picture because of the angle they were taken at.  This picture makes it clear that the policemen don't want anyone passing beyond these red and white barricades.
(Source: http://www.thaiphotoblogs.com/index.php/2010/03/11/?blog=5)

WEEK NINE, DAY 1: ONIONS ANYONE?

Wednesday March 10th, 2010

This picture follows the rule of thirds.  Notice Mr. Rolle of Exuma, Bahamas is on the far left of the photo and the rest of the picture shows the large onion field. 
(Source: http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/Sandals_helps_Exuma_farmers_and_artisans9997.shtml)