In the past week, besides assigned readings, I also spent a lot of time digging deeper about photography and photographers: Robert Frank, Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and also Rene Burri. I wonder how could I never know their names before taking this class, and how ignorant I was of the world of photography (still am tough). Some of those photographers are known for their skills of taking portraits, such as Richard Avedon. Avedon has an ability to unleash the deeper side of the subject in his photo, even without having to really know the person. I have wondered how to bring out personality when taking people's portraits—some of the pictures I took just look like snapshots, with unnatural smile and stiff pose. Avedon probably had a pair of sharp eyes, which could see through people when he met them. I still need practice, both with the equipment and with people. The second time when doing the portrait assignment, I let mu subjects keep moving, and I tried to take pictures when they continued what they had been doing. It certainly helped with the stiffness, but I'm not sure if the pictures really look better this way.
Henri Cartier-Bresson, the photographer who was known for his "decisive moment," probably had been very well-prepared when he recorded those moments. I like the composition of his pictures, very delicately balanced. However, Robert Frank, who seems to care less about techniques, has taken some more powerful "decisive moments" than Cartier-Bresson. In Frank's most celebrated work "The Americans," I can see so many moments that he had carefully captured. It's not capturing a drastic movement, often times those "decisive moments" look very quite, such as the one that black and white passengers on the same bus looking out of the window. He revealed a more complex human nature through those moments, and also has a deeper and darker social dimension.
I also take a look at previous students' work. Some have very nice detailed shots, and that's what I lack of. I tend to take a lot of pictures in a very short time, without carefully considering the composition or the like before head, so a lot of the pictures ended up useless. Master pieces or Students' work, I find both of them very inspiring.
Henri Cartier-Bresson, the photographer who was known for his "decisive moment," probably had been very well-prepared when he recorded those moments. I like the composition of his pictures, very delicately balanced. However, Robert Frank, who seems to care less about techniques, has taken some more powerful "decisive moments" than Cartier-Bresson. In Frank's most celebrated work "The Americans," I can see so many moments that he had carefully captured. It's not capturing a drastic movement, often times those "decisive moments" look very quite, such as the one that black and white passengers on the same bus looking out of the window. He revealed a more complex human nature through those moments, and also has a deeper and darker social dimension.
I also take a look at previous students' work. Some have very nice detailed shots, and that's what I lack of. I tend to take a lot of pictures in a very short time, without carefully considering the composition or the like before head, so a lot of the pictures ended up useless. Master pieces or Students' work, I find both of them very inspiring.
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