Rule of Thirds

In these images, I chose to explore the 'rule of thirds' because it is a great way to make photographs a little more interesting.  By drawing the eye away from the dead center of the image, the viewer then explores the entire image.  My approach to this technique was to begin with my focal point in the center of the viewfinder and then adjust right or left, up or down until the focal point was at one of the 'thirds' that i thought was interesting.  By using the 'rule of thirds,' I believe I created images that were more aesthetically pleasing due to the asymmetrical balance.

Vantage Point

I find using different vantage points to be one of the most captivating ways to draw in a viewer.  Because vantage points usually are not typical angles or directions that people see on a regular basis, the images become much more intriguing.   For this set of images I chose to use worm's eye view, and a combination of bird's eye view and frame within a frame.  By using different vantage points, the objects in the image sometimes look significantly smaller or larger in comparison to their surroundings, and can sometimes trick the eye. 

Emphasis

Using emphasis in images is important when the image maker wants to direct the viewer's attention to something specific or control where the viewer looks first.  I chose to use a specific object that would stand out from other objects in the picture due to it's bright color and that would also literally frame the focal point.  I also chose to shoot my object through a hole in an iron chair, which acted as a frame around the object.  The frames around the elephant immediately draws the viewer's eye to the elephant and away from anything that is not the focal point.  

Color -- Monochrome

The use of color in photos can have extreme effects on the tone and emotion a viewer receives from it.  For example, in this set of images, the overwhelming amount of blue personally causes a sort of sadness.  Different colors evoke different feelings and emotions for everyone, so when constructing a photo based on color, this is important to remember.  While experimenting with this element, I found it interesting that although my images were almost entirely blue, the elephant was still a very solid focal point.  When working with monochrome colors, I found that it is important to incorporate different textures in the image.  

Photographic Perspectives of the Little Elephant