This week, I was encouraged to use some tips from TEN: Ten Ways to Improve Your Craft. None of Them Involve Buying Gear in order to improve your photography. I found some of these to be tricky to do but ultimately used many of the tips while working on my assignments this week and plan to use them the rest of the semester as I do photography not only for this class but for the Yearbook and The Bullet as well.

Pay Attention to the Moment: Try to anticipate something before it happens.

While doing my photoblitz, I noticed the squirrel up high in the tree over Ball Hall and quickly was able to get my camera focused on it before it hopped on the roof. Had I taken the photo earlier it would most likely be out of focus. If I took it later, the squirrel would have most likely been on the roof and out of my line of sight.

Change My Perspective By Changing Yours: Find different and unique points of view. Look down, up, lay down on the ground. Seek perspectives of lines.

I spent most of my time this week when I was photographing things laying on the ground or kneeling down to get photos at odd angles. This photo was one of them and is my favorite photo that I took this week. I love the lines of this photo as well as the angles and the ‘old vs new’ aesthetic of the new electrical outlet contrasted against the old wall and floor of my dorm.

Better Contrast Makes Better Stories: Contrast can be in terms of colors and lighting, but also elements in your photos- look for things that maybe not belong together. Look for near and far perspective.

The contrast between all the shapes and lines in this photo which I took but did not use for my Mission: Defamiliarize assignment was intentional. I love how the wavy lines and colors of the blue couch in the background contrast with the yellow light emanating from the door on the right side and the checkered  floor in the foreground, which has been a bit obscured due to the angle at which I took the photo. I also really like how the electrical outlet to the left of the couch does not really blend in with the rest of the wall on which it has been placed. This contrast of elements really works together to make one great cohesive photograph.