Wanting to play more with color...
Honestly, I couldn't even say why I'm writing this. No one else will likely look at this. Aside from Laurel who funny enough this photo is of. She has access to change my website. All this in the case we somehow start to "make it" as photographers and do multiple weddings and sessions and make some real cold hard cash. I think a part of why I'm wanting to do this is I've become so bored with my photography. From my lighting and compositions to my edits, its all rather boring.
If I'm just writing this as if it were my own thoughts, what I want to do is go back and look at some of my favorite photos and figure out what it is I like about them so that's what I'm going to do. If I take photos that day or week that I like I'll post them. Analyze them. I need this. So... Without further ado I present to you a photo of Laurel....
Analyze
When we took this photo I believe I was at a strange weird crossroads in life. Having been single for a time I remember trying to figure out what to do with my ex girlfriend or if I really truly should move on. Looking at the day it was over Thanksgiving break. Funny enough I just re-edited this photo, from a boring flat looking photo to this bright photo with what I'm pretty sure are complimentary colors. Anyway lets talk about it.
It's a standard portrait photo. Taken in an underpass under a highway we definitely got to sketchily. The background just plain dirt leading up to the darkness of the underpass in which dubious things happen likely on a daily basis. Borderline a headshot. She's framing herself with her arms. Perhaps it's her expression I find most intriguing. This joyous stretch as though without a care in the world. Color wise it's dominated by this rose color that reminds me of the rose wine my mom and grandmother carry a deep affection for. This rose is complimented by a nice teal color that doesn't distract, rather, it draws the gaze from the bottom up. I included the color palette. I'm not any good at color theory but perhaps someday I'll include this into my thought process behind the photo.
So why do I like this photo? Technically speaking its probably a great photo as well as visually appealing. But what makes it stand out, what is the story being told? What story was I trying to tell, perhaps subconsciously, when I took this photo?
I think I felt like I had a friend. That joy she is expressing was the same joy I felt at being able to spend time with a friend that day. At the time I was able to go see and spend time with friends but it was surrounded by this negativity from Bear Catholic. But Laurel I could just go and escape into the unknown with at this moment. The joy came from escaping "Greeality". I didn't have to worry about the stresses of impressing anyone or having to seek a relationship. Rather I could just spend time with a real authentic human. This sister I've gained over our many years of friendship.
