Exercise: Rain

For this exercise we have to imagine a magazine cover on one subject - rain.  Given the entire work space to work in I have to produce a single, strong, attractive photograph that leaves no one in doubt as to what the subject is.

Some guidelines I've been given:

• think of all the effects of rain I have ever seen

water droplets, puddles, splashes, wet roads/pavements, people with umbrellas, umbrellas, dark skies in landscape shots, wet trees and woods, condensation on glass, wet foliage, wellies (usually with little kids wearing them), rainbows, multi-coloured raincoats

• Keep it simple
• be interesting and don't settle for something boring like a street shot
• you many not have to wait for it to be a rainy day for some pictures
• if you can't be original make it attractive
• make it attractive even if it is original 

I chose to move away from the traditional approach to rain and opt for a traditional symbol - an umbrella- shown in a more abstract way.

The image shows the inside of a section of the inside of an umbrella where rain has fallen when opening the umbrella in a heavy rain shower.  

Exercise: Juxtaposition

For this exercise I had to choose either a still-life or a larger scale shot with relevant focal length.  The still life approach asks us to take a book and to arrange a still life composition for the cover illustration using two or three elements.

If choosing the larger scale option I have to photograph a person with a possession, or the results of their work or hobby.  The picture has to be eye-catching and thought provoking.

I have taken some time to consider which option I will choose.

I chose to opt for the larger scale option and photograph someone with their possession.

I like the way the wide angle has made the person bigger than his car and also the background scenery.

Illustration by juxtaposition

Juxtaposition in illustration refers to the act of putting two elements together so as to suggest a relationship.  The importance lies with the connection between the two.  A connection must be suggested.  The easiest way to do this is in still life where you have control over the objects you want to place together.  It is not as easy in real life situations.

Another way of combining images is to find a viewpoint - together with an appropriate focal lens - that shows the two elements together.  Use can be made of the eye-line of the subject to direct the viewer to something else that would be otherwise insignificant or lost to the viewer.  You can also use a suitable focal length to exaggerate the size of your subject in relation to another element in your image.  For example, if you stood back and used a telephoto lens when shooting a child with an elephant you would be able to exaggerate the size of the elephant dwarfing the child.  A wide angle lens can equally have an effect similar to this where you zoom in close on one subject to make the subject in the background look smaller.

Juxtaposition can be seen in many street photographers work.  David Gibson the London based photographer is well known for his visual puns and juxtapositions as is Nils Jorgensen.

Exercise: Evidence of action

For this exercise I had to produce a photograph that shows something has happened. It was suggested that I include something that has been either broken or emptied.

As part of the exercise, I had to consider abstract ideas and concepts and how they need a more imaginative approach when it comes to a single visual image.  I then had to write down 5 examples of concepts that are regularly depicted in advertising and publicity which cannot be shown directly. These include:

• Finance and banking - usually shows money, piggy banks, nest eggs, safe for to keep money secure, executive personnel etc
• Education - can include swotty looking individuals with glasses, getting exam results looking happy, classroom scenarios, blackboards
• Medical services - tablets, syringes, bandages, crutches, nurses, doctors, crosses 
• Time - usually Tag Heuer and Rolex get sports people to don their watches as timing is everything in tennis and motor sports.  Sometimes see pilots too, navy personnel.  
• Religion - crosses, rosary beads, various other symbols of the church like chalices, communion, pews, stained glass windows. 

 Evidence of something that has happened is by virtue a picture taken after an event. Here are some examples:

Here we can see the jar of coriander seeds has toppled over and the seeds have emptied over the work surface.

This is the cat's bowl after she has eaten some of her food.  

The above are very obvious.  When dealing with subjects that are not obvious or even abstract illustration opens up the imagination.  Abstract ideas and concepts need an imaginative treatment to be put across in a single photograph.  

Examples of this can be seen advertising.  

Below is an image that I took for another assignment which is also an abstract illustration.