Reflection
1. For all of my photos I tried to take them from an angle that gave the piece an emphasis that may not have been the obvious choice. In the first photo all you can see is the clasped hands, and part of the person's legs - normally when taking a photo of a person, the emphasis lies on the face. In that first photograph I used his arms legs, and part of his hands, to divide the picture into segments (following the rule of thirds). I used the lines created by his legs and arms to lead the eye left, balancing out the empty left side. In the second photograph I focused on a piece of the door that would otherwise go unnoticed. I had the frame run along a rule of thirds line. In the third shot I used the placement of the lamp, and the lines of the window/curtains to include the rule of thirds principle. For the fourth picture I used an odd angle to take a shot of my feet, the curve of my foot creates movement through the piece. This picture is composed of distinct colours as well as rounded shapes. In the final photograph, I chose only to focus on the pepper skins lying on the cutting board. The knife in the background divides the photo along one of the thirds lines.
2. When taking the first photo I wanted to try and get a solemn mood, the clasped hands meaning to create a feeling of anxiety. My second photograph is also supposed to be a subdue piece, exhibiting a worn-out, forgotten piece of metal, with the paint chipped and scratched. The muted colours in this photograph help create this feeling. To me the third photograph is a comforting picture. The warm colours coming through the blinds are what inspired me to take this photo. The lighting makes me think of a slow, sunny morning, one that is relaxing. The fourth photo is also a calm and happy one to me. Though the colour scheme is not as warm as its predecessor, the soft lighting taken in with the purple and blue still create a light and happy feel. I took this picture because I felt that it conveyed the relaxed content feeling that comes from curling up on a couch. I took this fifth picture because of the vibrant and lively colours. The crazy shapes and warmth in this piece recreated the excitement in creating something while cooking.
3. In my first photograph, since my model was not paying attention to me, I was able to take a picture that captured him as he is. This shot does not have much background noise, letting the hands be the focus without distractions. When taking the photograph of the door frame I didn’t change the lighting to emphasise the scratches or add junk to make it seem more pathetic. I captured it as I found it. The beaten and worm piece of metal stands on its own in this piece and so depicts the truth of pure perception. The reason i took the third photo was because of the emotional response it triggered in me. I captured it with the intent that it would represent the warmth it had created. This is the same thing that happened in the fourth photo. I was lying on the couch being content in my laziness and felt that the curled toes on the cushion said it all. The lack of sharp lines and the fluid movement that is created through the composition help create the truth in this photo. In my final piece I feel that I was able to record the truth of pure perception due to the bright colours and strong shapes. It communicates the flavours and the liveliness in the food and in cooking, even when looking at the parts of a meal that get thrown away.
4. I much enjoyed using the miksang approach to photography because it is often how I take photos in my own time. I bring out the camera when I see a shot with interesting shadows and light, shapes and colour – the things that aren’t always noticed. I did however find it difficult when photographing people, I tend to favour objects over people because I like to be abstract in art, and bringing in the emotions of a face add an element I’m not used to. I think to do miksang it is entirely necessary to experience mindfulness. Without it you will miss the little moments that miksang is meant to capture.
