Bio:

Hello, I’m AJ and I’m a grade 9 student at Riverside. I decided to take Photography 10 as something for fun but as the class started progressing I grew closer to photography. I realized that photography isn’t just taking pictures, it is a creative process. This course taught me how to use a Nikon camera and different techniques in order to be a successful photographer. I still remember our first assignment and how we had to go out and take a couple photos. I struggled a lot with that assignment because I was unfamiliar with the camera and saw it as a technical puzzle. As soon as I let my ideas take over, everything started falling in place. Doing that allowed me to improve and try out different things. I started taking different types of photos that involved more creativity and effort. This course was a rollercoaster and I had my positive and negative moments. In the starting weeks, I was really frustrated as I had so many ideas but didn’t know how to use my camera to get the desired outcome. That was frustrating but over time it helped me become a better photographer. The positive includes on of my favourite project which was the Movie Poster. As this was something new, there were no example pictures to look at on the website which is why it was time to get creative. I took my camera home and experimented. I tried different angles, went outside, took photos of friends but stuck with using shadows. My theme was horror and using a person and knife felt appropriate. One of my least favourite project was shutter speed. Tripods and me did not have a good relationship in this course and I didn’t like using them as I had a hard time opening them. I also struggled a lot with getting the exposure and capturing that person/car in motion. I struggled the whole project but it was something new and different. In the end, photography is something I will never forget. This course makes me want to get my own camera and when I save up enough money I definitely will. I want to apply everything I learnt and take photos for small events/parties. This was an amazing journey!

PROJECT 1: DOF

This was one of our first project and my favourite shot. I decided to connect this picture to my personality and used glasses in a creative way. I pointed the camera lens, positioned it perfectly, set my aperture right so that only the writing would be in focus. Getting the camera to focus on the right spot was the hardest part but I really like this picture.

PROJECT 2: SHUTTER SPEED

This was one of my least favourite project as I mentioned in my Bio earlier. I didn’t like using the tripod and shooting outside in the cold waiting for the perfect car to arrive. Even though it was hard, I enjoyed the journey. From learning the Shutter Speed mode, to opening a tripod (very hard) and taking multiple pictures to find the picture with perfect exposure. I loved the journey!

PROJECT 3: ARCHITECTURE

This was a really cool assignment as it was the first time we got to try different settings on photoshop. I remember I wanted this picture to be creative which is why I took it from an angle. What I like about this picture is the simplicity. It shows different shades of grey and editing to make it this way was a little challenging but I figured it out with some help.

ARCHITECTURE

I enjoyed doing this project so much which is why I wanted to include another one of favourites. I wanted to give this picture depth and show these bike stands as if they were going on and on forever.

PROJECT 4: MOVIE POSTER

We have arrived to my favourite project of the year. What I like about this project is how open it was. We had to create something using our own minds. While creating this I felt like a movie director actually making my own movie. The challenging bit was, the ideas. I had so many and picking between them was extremely difficult. In the end, I went with this and I love it!

PROJECT 5: POV

This project was another creative process. I decided to use my phone camera as the main focus point and blur out the surrounding. My favourite part was the creative aspect. I saw this as an example photo on the website but added my own creativity in the final product. I also used one hand to take this picture which was quite challenging but I learnt to be independant.

PROJECT 6: CARTOON

This was another challenging project. I really like this picture as it was the first time I got to use the studio. I experimented with light and using different curtains. I loved using the studio. The not so great part was the editing bit. I struggled a lot and wasn’t able to put as my emphasis on certain features. It didn’t turn out perfect but I still like this picture.

PROJECT 7: MULTIPLE EXPOSURE

This project taught me how to use photoshop better. Till this point, I didn’t struggle using photoshop but this is when it began. Initially, I struggled with the editing but as I got into the flow things got easier. I used my brother in this picture and loved directing how this picture had to be set up.

The picture is not uploading but you can find my grid on the Photography 10 website

FINAL PROJECT: WHO ARE YOU

This was the best project and one of my favourites. I really like assignments where we there aren’t a lot of rules and instructions. This project is the perfect example of that. I got to show who I was through photography and let my personality shine.

ASSIGNMENTS:

This picture is from the Scavenger Hunt Assignments. This is one of my favourite picture because of the rich colour. The flower is so beautiful and I was able to show its beauty through a camera lens.

This picture is from the Mixing Hat. My theme was scary and I wanted to give this picture the graveyard vibe. Port Coquitlam all rusty surrounded by grass gives it that scary feel. The challenging bit was the angle and focus but the photo turned out great.

I’m not sure but I think this was from the emphasis assignment. I wanted to get the details on this pinecone and only have that in focus with the grass blurred. I enjoy doing these close-up shots as it really brings out the detail. I could’ve improved by setting my ISO a little lower. I feel like the exposure is a little high.

This is another picture from the Scavenger Hunt assignment. The task was to fill the frame and I filled mine with stunning pink flowers. As I saw those flowers I knew they were going to be the star in one of my photos. The colour is gorgeous and I loved the assignment.