We can’t improve without challenging ourselves.

Over the course of this semester, my overall approach to photography has matured and improved greatly.  Before starting school this year, I did have the luxury of having a great deal of experience working with a camera under my belt.  However before this class, I in no way looked at photography the way I do now.  Throughout my work on the Still Image Projects, I began by simply taking photos that were framed in a way that I found interesting through the naked eye.  Over time, however, I began to realize that, through manipulation of lighting, shutter speed, shooting angles, overall exposure, and post-production, there is such a variety of ways to give an image true meaning.  The above six photos begin with an image that I now believe could have been lit much better.  We then move to an image that I find has a bit more of an intriguing meaning and practical output.  The third image was my first attempt at a double exposure, through which I began to take more direct control of the meaning of the image.  Following the first three images, I chose three more that showed a variety of improvements in shooting angle, lighting, color editing, and overall composition.  All in all, I find that these images portray my trajectory from a practically well-rounded and adequate photographer into a creator that combines imagination and my own abilities with a camera to achieve a much higher-level finished product.