Thank you to everyone that submitted a photo! We really do appreciate your support.
Unfortunately, none of the images that were submitted were what I was looking for.
For sake of time right now, I’m going to have to be very brief.
@blessingscaptured’s pumpkins looked great, but weren’t suitable for the special simultaneous horizontal and vertical aspect ratios demanded by VersePics.
@elmullet submitted a ton of photos, and I loved the variety! Unfortunately, the photos didn’t communicate what I was looking for.
@ernestf-lloyd’s photos of mountains weren’t what I was looking for, either.
@esther’s pictures of fall decorations came the closest to working, but ultimately, the subjects are placed too far off center to look pleasing on a VersePic.
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I was trying to think of why there is often a disconnect in the submissions I receive and the pictures I have in my head even when I do ask for particular subjects. What I came to understand is that I’m usually not looking for a specific subject as much as a particular theme and a mood.
The theme will influence the subject, props, and the location. For instance, a pirate theme will likely be near the sea, nautical instruments, or boats, while a studying theme might feature a library, books, paper, and office/school materials.
When artists talk about how they feel about a piece, they are describing the mood. The mood influences the lighting, camera angles, photography style, focal length, colors, and the specific props I would or would not include in my photograph. Running with the same examples, a pirate theme emphasizing antiquity would likely focus on warmer colors, older ships and instruments, straight-on camera angles, more documentary styles of photography, and somewhat stronger contrast in lighting. If I was trying to make pirates seem exciting, I’d use more vibrant colors, creative camera angles, abstract photography styles, dramatic lighting, and a greater range of props.
One thing that I noticed in this particular assignment was that there seemed to be a disconnect between both the theme and mood I was looking for and the theme and mood of the submissions I received. I was primarily searching for a theme of prayer or internal contemplation with a mood of calm, introspective thought. This could have been communicated a little more clearly from the beginning, and for that, I apologize.
Hopefully, that was a little helpful! I’ll be a little more clear from now on in what I’m looking for specifically.
Thank you all again!
Ben
VersePic Director for Sharpening Character