I have always been drawn to photography, and have intrinsically been using photographic creative devices whenever I’ve had a camera in my control, but learning about how to actually employ them has already made me better at taking pictures. Now that I have some knowledge on photography in general, I was able to capture six of the best images with people in them that I’ve ever taken. I know photography is an important skill to have as a journalist, and I can’t wait to continue to improve!

1. When I took this photo, I was focused on capturing several creative devices: silhouette, framing and juxtaposition. The silhouette did not turn out as nicely as I would have liked, which I can hopefully improve next time by choosing more appropriate natural lighting in which to take the photo. Though I still believe the image constitutes a silhouette. The framing was interesting for me due to the many lines intersecting the image plane, which are from the window’s literal framing. The juxtaposition can be seen in how small the human walking by is in comparison to the larger view of Ohio State’s campus.

2. While wandering around Hopkins Hall hoping to find a good photo, I became inspired after walking by a graduate student in the ceramics studio. I have always considered photography a form of art, so I thought, why not make a work of art of someone making a work of art? The creative devices I hoped to employ were action and details. I knew to acquire a good image while the clay was quickly being spun and formed by the student’s hands, I had to make sure everything was in focus. I also think the image may employ the rule of thirds and introducing color into a monochromatic scheme, if only on a small scale.

3. While eating at a small Japanese restaurant, Kikyo, with my roommate, I saw an opportunity for a photo when I looked at one of the workers sitting down and texting for her break. So I quickly grabbed my iPhone, zoomed in, and somehow managed to take this photo without the woman ever noticing. As you can see, she is very entranced by whatever she’s doing on her phone, which I believe captures emotion. The image also uses the rule of thirds and diagonal lines, seen in the angled blinds in the window behind the main subject.

4. The first thing I thought when I checked out the DSLR Canon was, “I really want to take a photo at night,” because my iPhone can never seem to do the trick. So the very first night I had it, my best friend and I went walking around our neighborhood (which is slightly off campus) and I was able to get this interesting image of two people outside of a house, clearly fascinated by something. The creative devices most noticeable here are patterns and texture in the bricks, emotion in the subjects’ curious fascination and an unusual perspective. I know the framing is slightly tilted, but I think it works here.

5. I know you’re thinking “there aren’t people in this photo,” but I beg to differ! This may be a stretch – but there are people inside the construction machines operating them at the time of this shot. I sacrificed not having a clearly visible human subject in lieu of the strong emotion that I believe this image captures, at least for me, and construction/construction vehicles themselves exist directly because of humans. The clear S-curves and C-curves formed by the tree branches and the tops of the trees in the distance also drew me to take this image. Lighting and the rule of thirds also play a key role.

6. The sixth and final image was taken on my way to the Veterinary Medicine Academic Building at Ohio State, which you can see in the distance. I chose to take a picture from the end of this long bridge in order to employ the creative device, vanishing point, which I think it does a nice job of showing. In my eyes, there is also a dominant foreground and contributing background as well as diagonal lines, formed by the structure of the bridge. Overall, considering this was my first formal photography assignment in life, I am satisfied with these images and had a lot of fun.