Image 13: Steps in Valetta
Nikon 18-70mm at 55mm: Iso 400 f5.6 for 1/100th second
Valetta, the capital of Malta, has many narrow streets with steps like this. Having looked at photographs of receding perspective lines at my local photography club, I had gained the idea that it is good to have something in the far distance for the eye to rest on, rather than leave an open space. I was pleased to find this street with a British style red post box at the top (I would have preferred not to have a car behind it, but at least the car is black, which contrasts reasonably well with the red post box). The cats were mainly interested in looking up the street and this was the only picture where at least one of them was looking forwards.
Comments on colour
The walls of the buildings are various shades of cream interspersed with doorways painted mostly in pastel colours. The stone steps are a creamy grey. The red post box stands out strongly against these neutral and unsaturated colours to draw the eye into the scene. Without this colour accent, the viewers eye tends to stay on doorways and two cats in the lower left hand of the frame. As the cats are not particularly strong visually, I think that including the post box is preferable.
Image 14: Outboard motor
Nikon 18-70mm at 44mm: Iso 160 f14 at 1/45th second
I took this photograph of a new outboard motor wrapped up in Abu Dhabi in February 2010. This was one of the photographs intended to show "transparency" for Assignment 1 that I did not use. I liked the way the light shows the folds of the clear sheeting over the black background.
I framed the photograph to exclude most of the lettering leaving an abstract composition. Looking at my initial photos on the camera's screen, it was clear that the picture lacked structure and interest if the blue plastic string was not included.
Comments on colour
The black casing of the motor covered by clear plastic is almost totally monochrome grey. The blue plastic string is the dominant visual feature which the eye is drawn to, but at the same time it forms part of the pattern of the folds of the plastic sheeting. It therefore seems to be in balance with the picture as a whole.
Image 15: Poppies
Nikon 18-70mm at 18mm: Iso 200 f8 for 1/400th second
Pictures of poppies in a cornfield may be commonplace, but I had not seen this for many years. I took this photograph whilst in Normandy last week. The scene seems to express some of the glories of a hot summers day. The weather was actually very windy and it took some time to obtain a photograph where the two poppies in the foreground were not bent over.
Comments on colour
The poppies in this instance are a mid-saturated orange. The flowers in the foreground are framed by some green undergrowth where there is a reasonable colour contrast. Further back, the intensity of the orange is sufficient for the flowers to stand out amongst the ripe wheat, which is a much paler in colour, even though the hue is not far different.
In this photograph, the colour accent is making the poppies the visual subject of the photograph. The wheat field, whilst much larger, has become the context surrounding the poppies. The orange conveys feelings of warmth and vitality.
Image 16: Hohemunde, Austrian Tyrol
Nikon 18-70mm at 50mm: Iso 250 f9 for 1/400th second
Whilst this is a "picture-postcard" subject and composition, I thought I would include this photograph as I thought it illustrated a colour accent effect, even though the accent is not that bright and saturated.
Comments on colour
On a sunny day, the predominant colours in the alps were blue skies, blue shadows and the dark browns and greens of the forest. The contrast of the rust coloured dome of this church attracts the viewers eye and enlivens the whole scene.
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