Monday, June 9, 2014

Exercise 13: Standard focal length

As in the previous two exercises, I am requested to concentrate on shooting with one focal length.
In this case, having a full-frame DSLR, the focal length is supposed to be between 40 mm and 50 mm.

Image1.


f 5.6, 1/160 sec, ISO 100, 45 mm

This photo and the following are my favourite shots for this exercise.
In Image 1 I like very much both the light and the narrative.
I believe that the light I managed to catch is very pure and it gives to the picture a sort of tridimensional feeling.
I think that the clouded evening sky is the key for this peculiar, magic light.
Moreover, the light expresses very well the narrative which depicts a thoughtful lady looking at Paris.
As her face is hidden, we do not know what she thinks.
And this is exactly the charme of the photo.
We can let our thoughts run like a look that goes beyond a hill, beyond our limited restrictive visual experience, towards the infinity of our imagination.

Image 2.


f 2.8, 1/50 sec, ISO 320, 50 mm

I think that the look and the posture of this shop assistant is simply great.
When I entered the shop and I saw him I had to tell him he was wonderful and I asked him if I could take a photo.
I know, this goes against the exercise's constraint "people unaware", but his long beard, his black undershirt and his alluring look deserved a shot and the only way to capture him in his shop was asking him.
Moreover, I believe that the French text over his head saying "Une fraicheur éclatante (A sensational freshness)" is the perfect title for the image.

Image 3.


f 4, 1/100 sec, ISO 100, 50 mm

In Image 3 I appreciate the visual connection between the graffiti and the little girl.
This gives me a kind of impression that the city is under the control of the children.
As a matter of fact, who else than a child could draw a "Lego" soldier on a wall?

Image 4.


f 5.6, 1/250 sec, ISO 100, 50 mm

When I arrived at Pompidou, the drunken young man appeared from nowhere and stood in front of me speechless.
His doubtful expression and the absence of words seemed to me as the simple execution of an order.
"Shut up, and do not disturb our society" stated the huge drawing on the wall behind him.
While I like the narrative of this photo, I do not really appreciate the light which I find to be not charming enough.

Image 5.


f 2.8, 1/50 sec, ISO 1600, 50 mm

In 1968, Henri Cartier-Bresson took the black and white photo depicted in Image 5 during the strike at the Renault car plant in Billancourt (France).
The only thing left in common between the modern fashionable lady looking at it and the old striking workers in HCB's shot is the red colour of her scarf.
It is a pity that 50 years later things are still not getting better at Renault.
Besides the narrative, I like how the photo is framed and its warm temperature.

Image 6.


f 3.2, 1/500 sec, ISO 100, 40 mm

What attracted me in the French man of Image 6 was his smart casual dress (very French indeed) and his stressed look.
He was clearly waiting for someone who was late.
I like the tension in his eyes and his hand ready to dial on his mobile the late coming's number.
I also appreciate the shop sign behind him which recalls once more the transalpine atmosphere of the shot.


No comments:

Post a Comment