Preliminary Exercise

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for joining me on our media studies journey!

Today, we were asked to take pictures that convey emotions to demonstrate our understanding of composition. Then we were asked to reflect on each image and consider how we could improve it! 

If you keep reading, you'll see what I wrote. I hope you guys enjoy

Commentary: I had the actor "fall" to her knees on the floor and reach for the door labeled "Exit Only". I used the rule of thirds to place her on one side of the picture, making the scene look more dramatic and emotional.

Reflection: Next time, I would improve this by using a different angle, like a low angle to show more vulnerability, or by moving things in the background so the photo looks cleaner.

     

Commentary: I used a mid-shot to show the actor holding the book and touching her head. I framed her in the center, so her stressed expression becomes the main focus. 

Reflection: To improve the shot, I would've made the book title more visible so the audience could see it's an "AP" or similarly challenging class. I would also control the depth of field, so the busy library doesn't distract the audience from the subject.

Commentary: I used a mid two-shot to show both actors in the middle of an argument, and their gestures and facial expressions create a mise-en-scène that suggests a conflict between the two. The framing keeps both actors at eye level with the audience, focusing on the interaction.

Reflection: To improve this shot, I would try a Dutch angle to emphasize the conflict and change the background so the actors are the primary focus, not the library, to make it stand out.

Commentary: I used a close-up shot to focus on the actor's facial expression as she puts both hands on her head. This creates a strong emotion, and I had made sure to keep the actor at eye level so the audience can feel as if the actor was looking directly at them. The composition keeps her face centered and makes her reaction the focus of the shot.

Reflection: To make this image better, I would definitely use different lighting to draw more focus to the actor's expression.

Thank you so much for reading! Till next time.