A World of Color
This photo depicts a parrot staring off into the distance. The bird is the main focus of the image and the background is very blurry to emphasize the animal. This image is a good example of color. The bird has vibrant green and red feathers as well as light pink ones surrounding its eye. Another principle of art is texture. The viewer can see the bird's soft, smooth feathers and its hard, durable beak. The dominant principle of design in this photo is rhythm. The repeating feathers create a sense of movement throughout the photo. Looking at this photo always brings back the wonderful memories of my vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I took this image at the resort where I was staying. There were a variety of parrots that were brought out for viewing one afternoon. It was around noon when I ran over with my camera to snap some shots of these beautiful birds. I was trying to capture the parrot's alert mood. It was continuously squawking and turning its head this way and that to look at all the surrounding people. I captured this parrot just as it was finishing one of its piercing shrieks. This photo is successful because of its angle and view. My use of rule of thirds puts the bird at an intriguing angle to entice the viewer with a unique and pleasing image.
From the Depths
In this photo, there is a hippo rising from the water. One can only see the top half of its head, its eye, nose and ear, while the rest is hidden below. In addition, this part of the hippo is reflected on the water. In creating this work, I was able to capture the element of art form. It captures length, height, and width of the hippopotamus. It also depicts texture because the viewer can see the smooth skin of the animal. The principle of design in this piece is movement. One can see the rippling reflections in the water as the hippo continues to move. I took this photograph at the San Diego Zoo. I didn't plan to take it, it just happened as a I was viewing all the animals. I only had one chance to photograph this animal, as it was moving around. This is the one good shot I got. the moment I snapped the shutter, I knew it would be the one. I wanted to capture the hippo's laziness from being trapped in a zoo its whole life. This can be seen through its half closed eye and the other hippo lying down in the background. I believe this image is successful because of its composition. This is a unique angle of a hippo that many other people would ignore.
A Long Day
When taking this photo, I captured a sleeping orangutang. He was sitting in the front of the enclosure by the viewing window. The main element of art depicted in this image is texture. The orangutang's soft, shaggy fur is visible to the viewer. In creating this work, I was also able to capture shape. The animal's face contains unique shapes in its eyes, nostrils, and mouth. The dominant principle of design in this photo is asymmetrical balance. The weight of the image in on the left half of the photo. I took this photo, again, at the San Diego Zoo. Before I went there, I knew I wanted to take a photo of a primate. When I saw this orangutang, I knew I had found my chance. There was some difficulty in trying to set up the shot because many angles had the glare from the window. However, after much moving around, I had found the perfect position and was able to take this photo. I wanted to communicate the sleepy, lazy activities during the late afternoon. Earlier, I had watched this animal rolling around, eating, and swinging through ropes. Now, later in the day, it was sleeping. Since apes are the closest relatives to humans, I found it intriguing that they shared the same behavioral patterns. This photo is successful because of the emotion it depicts. The viewer can easily see the animal's inner peace and tranquility. Every time I look at this photo, I have to smile because of the orangutang's quite composure.
Time to Eat
In this photo, I captured my friend's cat, Lampie, as he was intently nibbling cat food off a tree. One can see the right half of his face and his white whiskers. This image is an example of texture because of the cat's soft fur and bristly whiskers. It also depicts principles of design. It shows contrast and rhythm. His yellow eye contrasts with the rest of his black and white fur, while the repeating soft texture of the fur creates rhythm to mirror his movements. I took this photo in the late afternoon at my friend's house. The cat was very lazy at during this time of day and it took some coaxing (cat treats) to get him to model for my photos. I knew I needed a cat photo to complete my concentration section of the AP Portfolio, so my friend agreed to allow me to photograph her cat. Lampie's intent emotions allow this photo to be successful. The viewer can easily see his high level of focus while eating his food from the tree.
Nosy
This photo depicts my dog, Sparkle, with her eyes intent on a treat. The focus of the photo is on her nose and her eyes are out of focus in the background. The main element of art in this image is texture. One can easily see the furry texture of her muzzle and the moist, firm texture of her nose. The dominant principle of design is emphasis. The emphasis is on her nose while the rest of the photo is out of focus. The secondary principle is contrast. There is contrast between the white color of her muzzle and the black brown hue of her nose and the rest of her fur. I took this photo in the backyard of my house. I knew I wanted to photograph my dog and while my little sister was outside in the mid-afternoon tempting and teasing her with treats, I knew I had found my chance. I took many pictures, but this one turned out the best. I wanted to capture the patient longing and strong desire in a dog's expression when looking at a treat. The emotions in this photo allow it to be a unique and interesting portrait