Elliot Smith's Digital Portfolio
Digital Photography
My Artist Statment
I create art because it is my way of sharing how I see the world with others. It is also my way of exploring, and better understanding the way I see the world. When I decide to take a picture or make a film or even write something, it is because I see something worth capturing in a scene, person, object, or event, and I want everyone else to see it too. A great example of this is one of my shots for the low light photography project, where I painted a ball of magic in my little sister’s hand. I wanted everyone to see what she can do and that she is magical (in the simplest sense).
An Exploration of Lighting - Personal project
Project reflection:
This project is a collection of photos that I have taken in the last couple weeks exploring lighting. Throughout this project I learned a lot more about how to operate my camera in different lighting situations and how to use natural light both indoors and out to get the look I want in my photos. I also learned how to photograph at light sources (see my moon photo). This will be a great help in my journey as a filmmaker and director, to get the best light for my shots with minimal gear.
Reduced Light Photography
Project reflection:
I had a lot of fun with this project as a whole. I probably learned the most I've ever learned about photography during this project. I have always struggled with a ton of digital noise in my photos regardless of whether it was reduced light or not. When Roxy's dad came in and lectured, and told me the simple fact. High ISO creates digital noise. After hearing that, my photos have improved a hundredfold. I definitely plan to continue to pursue low light photography after this. I had a ton of fun taking pictures with my sister.
Project reflection:
I really enjoyed making this little project, and looking back though all the pictures I've taken in the last couple years. Through the making of this, I actually learned a lot about my photography. I shoot a lot in the golden section when shooting a specific subject like a flower or a tree or a person. I find it really powerful, and when I point my camera, I find it without thinking. When shooting landscapes with a horizon line, I almost always use the bottom third for that, and if there's a mountain peak, I put it on the left or right vertical third. This actually taught me a lot about my photography and how I use these basic compositions.