Robin Michals | COMD 1340 Photography 1

Author: Jessica

Jessica Li Final Project Statement

 For the final project, the overall theme is neighborhood portraits. The story that I want to tell the viewers is New York City can be a beautiful place even though it’s a busy city and also what it is like to spend the day in New York City SoHo. I want to show viewers what New York City is like during the daytime and nighttime. The location I will be shooting at is SoHo New York City also known as South of Houston Street. SoHo has very interesting architecture and has become a high-end neighborhood with a lot of shops. This neighborhood is known for high-end boutiques and cast-iron architecture. The subject matter in my photos is people outside and building structures and streets in the neighborhood. For example, people eating, walking around, and shopping. Capturing people and cars in motion with the unique architecture in SoHo. These photos will be taken during the daytime and nighttime when there will be many people walking around and shopping or walking around. For the nighttime pictures, I will be capturing the nightlife and what it is like at night in the neighborhood. I chose this theme to show what it is like in SoHo and where I grew up shopping. Showing the interesting building structures and streets. Some techniques that I will be applying to my photos are the different angles of view, depth of field, motion shots, and other photographic compositions. Also, applying the techniques on how to use a camera that I learned in class. To conclude, this is what and when I will be shooting for my project and where I will be shooting for my project. Revealing what SoHo is like to viewers that may have never been to that neighborhood. When doing this project I will be using different techniques and applying them to my project.

Link to milanote(mood board):

https://app.milanote.com/1NJwMI1Na7xJcF?p=Y87Hr2UywgH

Homework #1 – Jessica Li

Thomas Holton
http://www.thomasholton.com/
The Lams of Ludlow Street

The image that I chose is a Family portrait from The Lams of Ludlow by Thomas Holton. This photo was taken in New York City Chinatown. The Lams of Ludlow shows a family of 5 living in a very small Chinatown apartment that is only 350 square feet. Holton follows the daily lives of the Lam family. This family photo shows a family of five standing with a dinner table full of food and jackets hanging in the background from small to big jackets. The purpose of this image is to show the living conditions of living in Chinatown. The mood that this image brings is welcoming and friendly. The intention of Thomas Holton is to show the lifestyle of living with a family of five in a very small living space. Also, to show a family struggling with space. Holton became a part of their family and continued to capture more pictures of the family.

The three formal elements from Steve McCurry that are most important in this photo are figure to ground, symmetry, and diagonals. Holton uses figures to ground by having a contrast between the family portrait and the objects in the background of the photo. Jackets and lights hanging with a sink on the side of this image. Also, This photo shows symmetry, The family portrait gives an even look when divided in half.  The third component that Holton uses is diagonals. When looking at this photo, this photo does not look centered but looks slanted.  These three elements help create the mood of the photograph by showing that Holton worked in a small area capturing these photos of the Lam family. These components that Holton used give a confined feeling but a family and friendly feeling.