PHOTOGRAPHY

Architectural Photography

An example of Architectural Photography following the theme of Man and Architecture
Grade 12 Communications Technology
Photography by Jessica Taylor

    

There is always a chance that a photo opportunity will present itself, even in the worst weather conditions or unlikely places. The prompt for this assignment was to focus on certain aspects of architecture and its surroundings to produce interesting photos.  The image in particular that I chose as my best photo focuses on the theme of Man and Architecture. Here, the model is posed in front of a wall covered in brightly coloured graffiti in downtown Kingston, which we happened upon to take shelter from a sudden rainstorm.

The strengths of this photo lie in the lighting and especially in the dynamic colours.  There are some dark shadows in the background that seem to frame the image, which adds to the composition. These shadows also fit well with the dark alleyway setting, and the mystique of this hidden location. The turquoise splashes of colour in the background bring out similarly coloured highlights in the model's hair in a unified theme. Colour adds life and interest to an image.

            It is evident through this photo that even on rainy days the colour and character of a building may still shine through.  Through this assignment, I learned that it is important to look beyond what you see and walk by in your daily life, and to truly observe your surroundings.  By doing so, you may see an overlooked detail or discover a whole new perspective of looking at these aspects of our lives.

Photo Journalism

Boys Curling and Badminton

Grade 12 Communications Technology

Photo Journalism

Jessica Taylor

As part of the Individual Assignment, we were also required to take photos of our events.  I learned a lot about photo journalism through this project, and what it takes to get that amazing shot.  For example, it is actually quite difficult to snap a great action shot while ensuring that the subject is in focus and has not been badly cropped due to their sudden movements.  It is possible to take fantastic photos under this pressure if you have the right equipment (A Nikon D5000 in this case) and if you can anticipate the player’s next move.

Once we had captured the moments needed to document the event well and in an interesting way, we resized and boosted the Brightness/Contrast and Saturation to really make them pop.  My personal best I believe is the photo shown here of Badminton.  I want to continue to experiment with photo journalism, and perfect my techniques for capturing the best shot!

Publicity Headshot Photography

Publicity headshot of Daisy

Grade 12 Communications Technology

Jessica Taylor

Winter 2012

As our quick, final assignment for photography, we were to take dynamic headshots of a classmate, utilising studio lighting as our primary light source. We were to achieve the classic “Rembrandt” style of lighting, which features a beautiful triangle of light encompassing they eye and cheek, stark against the showdown cast by the bridge of the nose.

This project was simple and fun to do, as there was not much required besides setting up the model and lighting correctly; it was very straightforward. I love the pose Daisy chose to take, as it’s very light-hearted and suits her personality well. By adding a black and white filter to the photo, paired with adjustments to Brightness/Contrast and Curves, the image gains another intriguing layer and mood.

Travel Photography

Thoughtful and Silent Observer
Jessica Taylor
March 2011

A Light in the Dark
Jessica Taylor
March 2011

                I took these photos while on my school trip to London and Paris over the past March Break.  The gargoyles are the iconic statues that sit atop Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris France, and I was excited to see them in person after learning about them in my Grade 10 Visual Arts course.  I love the texture in the stone, which has been weathered down by wind and rain over hundreds of years.  They are the silent observers, watching, and guarding their roost.  It was unfortunate that the weather that day was not pleasant, but I still love the overall effect and detail in the images.

                The final photo is of the central Pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre.  Our tour guide took us for a walk along the Seine in the evening after dinner, introducing us to the city in it’s true light.  We were told that we would see something amazing when we rounded the next corner, and although I knew what we would come across, it was still breathtaking to see in person, and even more so lit up in the night.  I enjoyed taking photos of the Pyramid, and I love how dramatic the contrast in the lighting is, how it reflects along the panes in the structure.  The shapes are interesting to me as well, and the partial reflection in the surrounding pools.  I love taking photos, especially when I go on trips, because it is a great way to remember these moments, especially through an interesting photograph.