A Trip Down Hollywood Lane – This was the third roll I had ever shot and my first time shooting on Kodak Colorplus 200. After guiding my friends around Hollywood, we had an impromptu photo shoot in a movie bookstore on Hollywood Boulevard. I centered my friends just under the lights, between the bookcases, and then used their arms to align the split image focus manually. I also adjusted the aperture and shutter speed to achieve the nostalgic shallow depth of field.
Framing Yosemite: Cathedral Rocks – Following my art history exhibition on the framing of Yosemite's landscapes in photography throughout history, I traveled to Yosemite and photographed the same landscapes with the same framing practices. This photograph of Cathedral Rocks models similar photos in my exhibition done by Carleton Watkins, Ansel Adams, and Eadweard Muybridge. I especially considered how Watkins' used trees and a deep foreground to establish the scene. When comparing this photo to the Watkins' 19th-century photograph, one can see the significant environmental changes and how John Muir's pristine wilderness ideals continue to live on.
UC Irvine: A Nostalgic Touch – After spending the day exploring UC Irvine's campus, I stumbled across this scene in front of their library. While positioning my camera, I focused on the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing the shadows and the building. I positioned the bike in the lower left third and tilted the camera so the sky, tree/bushes, and shadows could frame the scene. I am especially fond of the leading lines and the depth the building creates as it escapes behind the tree to the right.
Where The Shadows Hide – After failing to expose a sunset in Yosemite correctly, this early sunrise photo was my first successful intentional exposure on Kodak Colorplus 200. Compared to my other images, where I had to expose the entire scene correctly, I wanted to emphasize the contrast between the early morning light casting through the window and the lingering darkness of night. I also framed the composition so both the outdoors and indoors would tell a story and interact with one another.
