In my previous post, I shared how as part of my personal development goals for 2016, I decided to take a Black and White Photography course. You can read more about the first project and view the images I submitted here. Unlike the first three projects, the last two was focused on human subjects. The first project was to photograph strangers on the streets while the second project focused more on placing people I knew in specific environments in order to tell a story.

Here is a brief description of each project along with the final prints I submitted to be critiqued:

Social Landscape – People on the Streets: This is the second of two exercises in which we will consider the human element in the design process. In this exercise you are required to go out and photograph (again off the Drexel and Penn campus) people that you come across on the street. While doing this you need to be sensitive to the environmental issues you may face and how to put the photograph together in terms of design. Important elements to consider include: quality of light, subject, environment, placement in this environment, scale, depth of field, motion vs. still, and of course the edges of your frame.

*For this specific project, I went to New York for an interview a few days after the U.S. Presidential Election and I decided to head to Central Park to explore. I happen to stumble upon a Trump protest and it was a perfect opportunity. Talk about right place at the right time.*

Journalist in NYC – Covering the Trump Protest

Trump Protest – NYC

NYPD and Civilians in front of Trump Tower – NYC

Protesters in NYC

Environmental Portrait: This is the first of two exercises in which we will consider the human element in the design process. In this exercise you are required to photograph people you may or may not know within their personal environment. When making the images take time to look around before taking the photograph to judge what you may want to include or omit from the composition in order to visually communicate their “story”. This exercise will require you to be sensitive to all the exercises we have completed in the past to compose and convey an idea on both a conceptual and visual level. The project may involve revisiting a subject if the first images are not successful. Understanding this, pick three to four people who you can return to in case a re-shoot is required. Take time to look at the space you are working in to see where the best light and environmental information is located. There may be a need for some directorial assistance from you to make the image successful. Models often need this type of direction. Offer prints to the subject in exchange for their cooperation and make good on the offer, you would be surprised how far that can go!

Journalist in NYC – Covering the Trump Protest

Aidan – Top of Twin Peaks – San Francisco

Atta – Church of Pentecost – Bensalem Assembly

Danny – Church of Pentecost – Bensalem Assembly

Francine – Google Headquarters – Mountain View

Stay adventurous, dear friends, and always remember to stay golden. All ways, always.

Sincerely,

Samuella