I chose the word "solitude" to inspire my photographs because I was intrigued by the different directions in which the word could be taken. Solitude could be synonymous with loneliness and imply a sense of abandonment or sadness, but it could also be synonymous with independence and a sense of contentment. I photographed a variety of different objects that stood alone and tried to convey not necessarily a sense of sadness but rather solitude by choice, as the objects functioned by themselves and without the help of other objects. They could stand alone by choice, which I found intriguing.
This photograph illustrates "solitude" because I found this bench to be very peaceful and interestingly lit. The photograph is interesting because it shows the bench from an unusual angle and captures the sense of abandonment without looking melancholy. I believe that the light prevents the object from appearing ominous and the peaceful nature of the bench creates a certain solitude. This photo utilizes a somewhat shallow depth of field because the front of the bench is more focused than the back of the bench and both are shown in closer detail than the foreground. The rule of thirds is also employed because the main part of the bench occupies the center vertical third but not the upper horizontal third, creating an intriguing composition.
The photo represents solitude because although the plant is alone, the sunlight streaking the top of the photograph provides a sense of warmth and calm, bringing the photo from lonely to simply solitary and at peace as opposed to troubled. The background is very out of focusing comparison to the subject, placing emphasis on its details. I used aperture to ensure that the plant was the center of the composition. I think that the light also played an interesting role in capturing the mood of the photograph. The rule of thirds is slightly broken with the placement of the plant, as it is between the second and third vertical thirds, but the light streaking in from the sun occupies the center vertical third to create an interesting contrast. The foreground is far more detailed, but the background is also interestingly lit.
I find this photo to be slightly eerier than the other photographs yet I believe that the vegetation in the corner provides a more cheerful mood despite the solitude of the iron fence. The fence sits in solitude but not in a way that exudes loss or lack of companionship. There is a shallow depth of field, focusing on the center curl in the iron fence. The fence portions behind and in front of this curl are not as focused, and the background behind the fence is very unfocused, placing special emphasis upon the details of this center curl. The rule of thirds is employed in that the fence does not occupy the left vertical third and there is focus placed on the portion of the fence within the center vertical third.
This photo demonstrates my theme of peaceful solitude because although the background is dark and empty, the flower lying in the foreground is blooming and alive. The flower does not require other elements and stands on its own in a calm independence that I would describe to be solitude. The flower is placed in the center of the vertical middle third and the horizontal middle third, immediately drawing the eye towards it. The photo has a very shallow depth of field and all emphasis is placed upon the flower petals and core. There is slight activity in the lower background but the foreground is most in focus, relating to the shallow depth of field.
