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Unit 2

May 25, 2000

2-1 Rule of Thirds

Photograph any object or person using placement and large size to focus attention on your subject ... following rule of thirds.

Fujica ST705W 35mm camera, 28-70mm zoom lens, exposure not recorded, ISO 100 Kodak Royal Gold (color negative film)

Instructor comments:

  • I find the assignment somewhat contradictory, because if the subject is large it is difficult to use rule of thirds. This photo did succeed in meeting the requirements of the assignment. The dinosaur's face is in the 1/3 position and it dominates the photo.

  • Color negatives have greater latitude than slide film. The dinosaur is on the verge of losing detail in shadow. I wonder if the photo could have been printed a little lighter. Tough call because the blue of the sky is important to the photo. I think the picture could have been printed with a little less cyan (more magenta.)

2-2 Framing

Photograph any object, person, or scene using framing to focus attention on your subject.

Fujica ST705W 35mm camera, 28-70mm zoom lens set to 70mm, exposure not recorded, ISO 100 Kodak Royal Gold (color negative film)

Instructor comments

  • I like the photo; it would have been good for the action shot in Unit 1. A fairly fast shutter speed, but just slow enough to give blur at tips of wings, gives a good feeling of movement. The dinosaur in the foreground does frame to some extent, but it is not a complete frame. That aspect could have been better.

  • It has asymmetrical balance; the bird is at 1/3 position on the right facing out of the photo. Symmetrical balance would have had the bird on the left 1/3, facing to the right with open space in front of the bird instead of behind it.

2-3 Converging Lines

Photograph any object, person, or scene using converging lines to focus attention on your subject.

Fujica ST705W 35mm camera, 50mm lens, f/16, 1/125, ISO 100 Kodak Royal Gold (color negative film)

Instructor comments:

  • Excellent shot. I particularly like the round mirror at the bottom of the photo.

  • You obviously used a small f-stop in this photo.

  • Good placement of center of interest. Converging lines bring your eye to the fireman, even though the fireman is not at 1/3 position.


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