#fsh001

[becoming-amelia]

For assessment 2, I decided to focus on our dogs at my Beechworth home, and more importantly, my relationship with them. I have had a particularly tough run with my fibromyalgia lately, and really struggled to get this assessment done to the standard I had hoped for. I tried a few different approaches which all fell flat, between days of being unable to do a thing. I requested two weeks extension and still nearly couldn’t get anything done. On one lucky good day, this was the idea that seemed the most possible and I went with it all in the one afternoon. I was very limited in all of my work because of my current circumstances, regarding my fibromyalgia. I believe I could apply the composition and design elements that we’ve explored, to self-portraits a lot better if my situation improves. I hope to apply them to future work, and also utilise the mind-map I did in earlier weeks a lot more closely. I hope to explore themes of fibromyalgia in other work, as well.

Assessment 2 Reflection

[becoming-amelia]

This is Lucy, the dog who loves so much her tail goes so fast she reminds us of a rattle-snake. I sat out on the step in the backyard and she came for a cuddle. I ended up adjusting the cameras position a bit, but this was the best shot I could get. I adjusted the colouring a little bit, as the original (left) has a slight yellow tone. I also cropped it in a little bit.

Assessment 2 Self-Portraits (3)

[becoming-amelia]

This is Winston, the dog who is always on my lap. No matter where I sit down, he comes for cuddles every time. This time I positioned my tripod higher, as dog-height became lap-height. I had to adjust framing a few times, but Winston didn’t hesitate to sit with me again every time I sad back down. I played with cropping, unsure if portrait would turn out better than the landscape images I had, and I also played with angles a little bit. I quite like the odd-angled one, though I did need to crop it for it to look right. I think I like the straight angled portrait shot the most, though the landscape one is also nice.

Assessment 2 Self-Portraits (2)

[becoming-amelia]

After some pretty bumpy roads trying for assessment 2, I finally settled on an idea to touch on my relationship with our dogs here in Beechworth. Beginning trials on some self portraits for assessment 2, I set up the tripod and camera, aiming for a dog-height frame. This is Bruce, the dog who is always by my feet. I sat on the dark blue seat in our kitchen and of course, he wasn’t slow to sit by me. What I immediately loved about the shot, was that it already captured the warm lighting of our kitchen, and I didn’t feel it needed much enhancement at all. I did lighten it up and add some contrast, just to make it a little bolder. It was harder to frame it perfectly, having to use a tripod and timer, and so it was slightly out. It cut out some of his tail, while still seeming too far over to the right. I had to embrace the cut out tail, and so I focused on framing it in a way that seemed more balanced (cropping out more of the tail). The image on the right is my final edit.

Assessment 2 Self-Portraits (1)

[becoming-amelia]

This was taken in Beechworth (original on the left) and was one of my favourite shots of the day. I wanted to crop it to bring elements together centrally, as I believed it would enhance it; filling the frame and having a sense of pattern. This gave it good balance and a sense of symmetry, as well. I also lightened it a touch, but liked the lower contrast.

Exploring Composition and Design Fill the Frame + Pattern/Repetition

[becoming-amelia]

Using Colour Effectively Natural Colours (Beechworth at the end of Autumn)

[becoming-amelia]

Exploring Composition and Design Pattern/Repetition

[becoming-amelia]

Working with Natural Light Afternoon Sun + Side Light