Exploring a Subject

 

The intent of this shot was to capitalize on the concepts of light, color, the abstract, and creative lenses. The idea for this shot struck while finishing a bottle of iced tea with an intriguing pattern on the bottom. The ball was placed behind the bottle while the camera was aimed through the top.  The concept was effective, so a soft light was placed to the right of the bottle to create a warmer effect. The color was then enhanced electronically to emphasize the yellow tones. The object isn’t directly visible, but the “lens” enhances its color and texture, creating an abstract image.

Like the previous shot, this photo was achieved by aiming the camera through a textured plastic bottle. However, it was aimed at a slight angle instead of straight down. The light for this set-up was placed in front of the bottle for a harsher effect that rendered the ball more visible. Including the slightly angled side of the bottle creates an illusion of distance between the viewer and the photo, while the narrow strip of green wall creates an interesting division and emphasizes the
 curved line of the bottle. 

Instead of relying on color, this photograph plays with shadows and contrast to create visual appeal. A portion of the ball is shown, but the eye more readily focuses on the interesting shadow it creates. Natural sunlight was harnessed for the shadows; the ball was placed to the right of a window. The angle of the light divides the frame roughly into horizontal thirds: the entirely light portion, the dim, grey area, and the entirely dark bottom. Similarly, complete light and complete darkness are contrasted in this shot to add depth. 

This shot relies on angle, vibrant color and overexposure. The photo was taken with only natural light, and the camera was positioned underneath the subject, angled up to emphasize curvature and create the illusion that the ball is far larger than it is. The color was electronically enhanced and the image slightly overexposed for an intense, almost jarring effect.

This photo was shot with the intent of creating a textured piece suitable for layering. It could also stand alone as a striking, somewhat abstract piece, particularly if different color filters were applied. The camera was placed almost directly on the ball while taking this shot in order to capture the details of the crack, a testament that imperfection can become attractive in the right photographic context.