Reflection

1. What I learned

Coming into the semester I basically lived on auto-mode and hoped the camera would save me. Now I'm a lot more comfortable running everything manually. I finally understand how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO pull against each other, if I speed up the shutter to freeze motion, I know I have to open the aperture wider or bump the ISO so the frame isn't pitch black. I also got used to checking the live view instead of trusting the window. On top of the tech stuff, I practiced the Rule of Thirds, leading lines, and framing so my photos feel planned instead of accidental.

2. Work I'm most proud of & why

The light-painting portrait (image 9) is my favorite. It took a while to time the shot counting seconds in the dark while my friend waved a tiny flashlight over his head without looking like a windshield wiper. When the shutter finally clicked and the swoosh lined up with his glasses, it felt pretty good. It isn't just a cool effect it was the first time where I had to direct a person, get the exposure right, and figure out light all at once.

3. Challenge & how I solved it

Our early-morning shoot on the track was bad. The sun was bouncing off the snow and every picture came out white. After being annoyed, I locked the ISO at 100, and was able to get three shots around what looked "okay."

4. How my style/voice changed

Halfway through the course I realized almost every photo I liked had a symmetry like fences aiming toward the horizon, hallway tiles shrinking into the distance, track lanes pointing straight out of frame. Once I noticed that, I leaned into it, sliding left or right until the lines hit dead center or the rule ofn third sweet spot. The hallway photo and the track shot show leading lines.

5. Goals moving forward

Short term, I want to shoot more at night with my phone like stars, empty streets, signs or anything that forces me to think about long exposure and weird color. Long term, I want to get aerial shots with my drone so I can mix my engineering side with the art side. If I can capture the same leading lines vibe from 100 feet up I will feel like I've leveled up again.