Exercise 18: How space changes with light

This exercise requires to take one location where I can conveniently return a number of times in different lighting, and photograph on each occasion. 
To get full value from this exercise, I am supposed to make two variations of photograph. 
In one, set the camera up in exactly the same position each time. 
In the second, see how the different lighting conditions suggest different viewpoints and compositions. 
The way the shadows fall, for instance, will create different masses of dark and light. 

For this activity I needed a building that was easily accessible at a variety of times of day.  
Therefore, I decided to go with the main building at the reception of the hotel I was in during my recent holidays at the Republic of Maurice. 
There I had indeed arbitrary access and could create the following sequence of images: 

Image 1.

f 3.2, 1/40 sec, ISO 100, 24 mm 

At the earliest time of day, 7:15am the light is soft and the place dimly but evenly lit.  

Image 2.

f 8, 1/250 sec, ISO 400, 24 mm 

As the day goes on the place gets far brighter with quite a harsh white light.  
What is curious is that the intensity and strength does not drop very much as the sun crosses from East to West, it is only after around 6pm that the light starts to soften and the camera struggles with the exposure.  

Image 3.

f 2.8, 1/10 sec, ISO 12800, 24 mm 

By 9pm the light is gone and all that can be seen is the artificial light of the corridors. 

Each photograph is taken from the same vantage point and with as near as I can make it the same framing.  In each of the following images taken I have not enhanced the images in post processing.

I also wanted to capture and compare how light alters a space, and how the tones create this.

I took my images at midday and then later in the evening when different tones were created by the tungsten evening light. 

By day this can be a very busy area but by the evening it is often quieter.

I wanted to use the artificial light to enhance this calmer mood and contribute to the final image. 

Light alters the colour spectrum throughout the day, often not perceived as much by the human eye, which is adept at adjusting quite quickly. 

The WB setting alters how the camera records tones and what setting to use is also important to consider if colour is integral to how a scene is intended to be represented. (One big advantage of shooting Raw is if a mistake is made at the time of shooting at least the WB can be adjusted if needed).

Image 4.

f 5, 1/125 sec, ISO 100, 24 mm 

Image 5.

f 2.8, 1/40 sec, ISO 2500, 24 mm 

Exercise 17: The user's viewpoint

For this exercise, I am supposed to choose two or three buildings or spaces designed for a particular activity that is undertaken from a specific, distinctive, position.
For each location, the aim is to take one or more photographs that attempt to capture the user’s point of view considering height, orientation and lens focal length (which controls the angle of view).

Image 1 is taken from the swimming pool of my hotel in the Island of Mauritius.
The user's point of view is easily identifiable at the level of the water.
However, such a swimming pool is definitely not conceived for swimming, but more to relax and refresh.
Therefore, with my photo I wanted to convey a feeling of relax, focusing the image on the decorative path of stones at the edge of the swimming pool which lazily leads to a blurred paradise in the background made of palms and of a colonial style cosy patio.
The perspective of the photo is supposed to suggest that, despite I am in a swimming pool, I am not using it for sports purposes, but just with the desire of evasion.
With this aim, in the post production I enhanced the post-crop vignetting, decreased the clarity in order to soften the image, increased slightly the temperature and of course cropped it properly.

Image 1.

f 8, 1/250 sec, ISO 100, 26 mm 

Image 2 was shot at the market place of Port Louis, the Island of Mauritius's capital city.
The look and posture of this trader looks to me extremely interesting, above all compared with the empty shelf in front of him.
He has got almost nothing more left to sell and he looks at me with a sort of regret.
The point of view of the photo is the one of his customers and I appreciate the perspective enhanced by the shelf with its lonely price tag.

Image 2.

f 2.8, 1/30 sec, ISO 400, 24 mm 

Image 3 was taken in a hotel room.

The user's point of view is obviously the sleeper's. 

I like very much the light that the perspective manages to make appreciate.

I opened the "shadows" and the "highlights" in the post production and I got a clearer photo that, in my opinion, is able to well underline a sort of oneiric atmosphere.

The lady sleeping deeply is almost caressed by the soft light coming from the window and reflecting on the different shades of white of the room.

This perspective makes also possible to see better the light on the hair and on the face and back's profile.

I really like this shot.

Image 3.

f 8, 0.8 sec, ISO 100, 26 mm 

Exercise 16: Exploring function

This exercise asks to choose any interior space, either domestic or public, and consider it from the point of view of its function.
First I am supposed to note what I think the space ought to be doing — a short list.
Then consider how well I think it succeeds.
Forming a point of view is important, because it will influence how the I decide to photograph the space.
Having made the analysis, I am supposed to make a carefully considered photograph of the space in order to put across the way it works — or should work — for the people who use it.

Recently, I have been on holiday at the Island of Mauritius and for this exercise I chose to photograph the interior of an Hindu temple in the Grand Bassin.
The Grand Bassin is a lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, deep in the heart of Mauritius and it is a holy lake for Mauritian of Hindu faith.
It is said that the water inside the lake communicates with the waters of the holy Ganges of India.
The Hindus of Mauritius declared the Grand Bassin as a Holy lake.
Beside the lake there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Gods including Hanuman and Lakshmi.
The Hindu community performs there a pilgrimage every year and I was lucky enough to be there at the right moment.

What space should be doing.
- Generate interest in the religion.
- Display in an interesting and attractive way the religious activity.
- Be appealing to all ages.
- Provide a safe “home” to its users.
- Provide a convivial atmosphere in which successful interaction between believers and priests can take place.

How well it succeeds.
Although it looks small the temple is fascinating and contains a really diverse collection, including some colourful votive offerings brought by local people.
It has a really relaxed and intimate atmosphere, helped by the knowledgeable voluntary staff who run it.
Overall, I think the temple well succeeds in its function and even I, despite not being Hindu, was fascinated by the intense activity and the atmosphere I found at the Grand Bassin.

The exercise itself has emphasised the importance of having an idea of what I want to capture and why before I press the shutter.
Sometimes this will be obvious, sometimes it will take more thought, but in the two cases I have taken shots that I would probably not have considered without that discipline.
My biggest difficulty was deciding how to photograph the temple from a users point of view, and how it works as a usable space.
I considered a few viewpoints that I felt would demonstrate this aspect.
I wanted to include the votive offerings within the frame as they are very important to the purpose of the space.
I decided to take my image from outside looking towards the altar area in an attempt to show the heterogeneous and informal nature of the conference.
I feel that the space works well from a users point of view.

f 3.2, 1/50 sec, ISO 100, 24 mm 

Assignment 2 - Comments on Tutor's report

Plus side

- In his “Overall comments” my tutor Robert commented: "This work is interesting and diverse. You’ve done quite well to find some ‘telling moments’ of human activity in the Blues n’ Jazz Rally. There here are times when you capture a strong image and show a good eye for telling gestures and amusing juxtapositions (the little kid and the band)."
- In the "Assignment potential" Robert added: "From the work you have shown in this assignment, providing you commit yourself to the course, I believe you have the potential to succeed at assessment."
- Speaking about the "Learning Logs/Critical Essays" section Robert stated:"I like the way you interpret some of your photos, like the picture of the boy lost in the enchantment of the music. All that is great for developing your understanding of how images communicate and makes you more ready to notice it when you are making photos. Your research into Ruff and Calle is interesting, informed and objective. You’ve done a really good job. You will need to do more and to start making the connection between what you make (or are currently working on) and the research you do. After all, other photographers should be helping you."
=> I am very pleased with all the above comments and I am very motivated to improve further my photographic skills.


Things to improve

- Image 1. "This is a nice, decisive moment in many ways, capturing the singer’s eye in a moment of pause. You’ve married up the different lights well and the shallow depth of field helps her stand out even though the environment looks pretty messy. I think you could darken (burn) the large pole on the right to stop it competing for the viewer’s attention."
=> Here is my correction following Robert's suggestion:

Before.

After.

- Image 6. "This kid looks like he’s being visited by aliens! It’s a really nice juxtaposition of childhood and adulthood. The coloured light around the boy stands as a metaphor for his childhood joy, and the empty grey space suggests something like a frontier he needs to cross to become a man like those guys! Did you not notice the slanted stage? You must straighten your horizontal and vertical lines unless they add some dynamic to the picture. In this case they didn’t."
=> Here is my correction following Robert's suggestion:

Before.

After.

- Image 8-9. "You are clearly aware that the last two images are very degraded in quality. It’s a shame because both are good images of the general happy milieu of the place. If you’ve got some other good photos, try to build on the best images here themically."
=> I decided to replace these images with this one: