Assignment 1 deals with contrasts, meaning that it requires eight pairs of photographs, each pair representing a contrast (e.g. "many - few", with one photo featuring "many" and the other one "few"). Plus one photo that will have the two contrasting features present together.
The possible pairs are:
large - small
many - few
transparent - opaque
broad - narrow
diagonal - rounded
continuous - intermittent
long - short
pointed - blunt
liquid - solid
light - dark
hard - soft
thick - thin
smooth - rough
strong - weak
much - little
light - heavy
black - white
still - moving
high - low
straight - curved
sweet - sour
I tried many of them, but what I saved in the end for the project will follow below.
1. Large - small
I chose "Singapore flyer" for "large" because of its sheer size. I tried to extend the frame downwards to show the tables and umbrellas, for comparison. I used a wide angle lens (11mm) to be able to capture the whole image, and a polarizer filter for the sky.
Large
Small
The moment I decided that "Singapore flyer" would be my "large" subject, I also decided to look for another wheel for "small". And the simplest way was to photograph a bicycle. But as I didn't have the possibility to put both together, in the same picture, I couldn't choose a normal bike, because it wouldn't have looked "small" enough. And one day, while I was shopping for toys for my son, I came across this small bikes shelf, and there it was: the small bicycle that I needed. So I put it on my balcony's edge, threw the background out of focus and had a friend holding it's rare wheel, so it's size would be more obvious. And compared to other photos within the assignment, the result made me happy. I used a 50mm lens to be able to emphasize the bike, by throwing the background out of focus.
2. Transparent - opaque
I liked trying to convey the meaning of "transparent". The idea appealed to me from the beginning. I'm not sure I chose the best subject, or setting, but my goal was to be able to focus on the flower through the bubble, and render it sharp, so the bubble would look perfectly "transparent". I used a 50 mm lens, which is my best lens for close-ups.
Transparent
Opaque
When I decided to choose a "translucent" image/setting for "opaque", I did it because I couldn't find any subject/image that would look "opaque" on its own, if not in contrast with "transparent". And I do have an image representing this particular contrast in the same photograph (which I will put in at the end of the assignment), but I didn't want to give up on my "flower through the bubble" image that I used for "transparent". So I chose to present this contrast in a pair of two photographs. And I photographed my "opaque" husband through his "translucent" office door, with the same 50mm lens, which helped me render the image softer.
3. Pointed - blunt
I picked this building to represent the idea of "pointed", because every time I see it, that's the feeling it gives me (sharp, pointed, metallic). I used a wide angle lens, at 17mm and I took the photo from a low angle to emphasize the upper corner's sharpness.
Pointed
Blunt
And I chose this building for "blunt" because, in contrast with the other one, it looked to me like a blunt pencil. I'm aware that on its own, it doesn't necessarily convey the meaning of "blunt", but I hoped that paired up with the "pointed" one, might be a choice. I used the same wide angle lens (but at 21 mm). Both photographs were taken using a polarizer.
4. Hard - soft
For "hard" I chose a coconut as a subject. When I saw it on the grocery store shelf, cut like this, I thought "wow...that's hard". So...here it is. I put the knife in it just to make sure it looks hard to other people as well. There were other ideas that crossed my mind (like hard work, for example), but my imagination didn't "work hard" enough to come up with a good idea to convey that. So I sticked to the more "literal" meaning. The photo was taken with the 50mm, for throwing the background out of focus.
Hard
Soft
I had a hard time deciding which of my photographs would qualify for "soft" and which for "smooth", among the next two photographs presented here. Then one morning, while using my facial cream I really became aware of this sensation of "soft", I could stick my hand in it, go through it, compared to the flowers that I could just caress, for fear of not damaging them. So then I knew that the flowers will be my "smooth" subject, and the cream will go for "soft". Am I making any sense here ?! Anyway both are taken with the 50mm lens.
5. Smooth - rough
Smooth
Rough
And because the subject for "smooth" came up to be a flower, I wanted to convey the meaning of "rough" by using another plant, that would be in contrast with the smooth white flower, and I chose this cactus, which, to me, looked rough enough. (also with a 50mm lens).
6. Strong - weak
For "strong" I chose the Angsana tree, because when I first saw these trees, I got an impression of power and beauty at the same time. They are really strong, marvelous trees. And I tried to show this in my photo, but I didn't get quite the result I wanted. I used a wide angle lens (at 20mm).
Strong
Weak
I think I found a good subject for "weak", but I'm not entirely satisfied with the photo, as I wanted a softer background, but couldn't set my camera properly to obtain that.
7. Light - heavy
The badminton shuttlecock seems one of the best candidates to convey the meaning of "light", but I didn't come up with the idea, it was ..."presented to me". While I was taking the photograph of the flowers that eventually became the representative for "smooth", I saw this shuttlecock on the ground. Somebody must have lost it or forgot it there. I put it on the water, and I suddenly felt I had the best subject possible for "light" (I'm not sure it would look the same for other people, but this is how it was for me). I used the 50mm lens for this photo.
Light
Heavy
This photo looks more like a joke, but it seemed more original at the time I took it, in comparison with weights in the gym, or a heavy person on the sea-saw.
8. Sweet - sour
The honey comb was the first thing I thought of for "sweet", and I went straight to the honey section and bought one, as soon as I started taking the photographs for this assignment. I oscillated between this photo and another one that had a spoon on the plate as well, but in the end, this one seemed to look better. I used the 50mm lens and natural available light, coming through the window.
Sweet
Sour
The subject for "sour" is very common, nothing original about it. What I wanted to do was to show real lemon juice drops, which give ME the feeling of "sour".
9. Straight/curved
I think this building is a good subject for the "straight - curved" contrast, but I couldn't expose very well for both the sky and the building. So I got a photograph that's a little underexposed, but otherwise suitable for its purpose (I hope...).
It was taken with the wide angle lens (at 17mm), aperture 2.8.
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