#301 ASSIGNMENT: SEAN TUCKER #3
Sean Tucker sets his third challenge for the next seven days asking us to think like designers. I talk to Sean about a style of photography he is known for when he photographs on the streets and like the last challenge he set, this has a gentle observational tone which will suit photographers of all levels and interests. It's great to see the pictures you have been making from the assignments set so far, so please keep sending your photographs for inclusion on today's show page.
Send your pictures in to studio@photographydaily.show - 2000 pixels wide, any orientation you prefer; square, portrait or landscape.
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Sean Tucker takes you into the shadows and invites you to think like a designer.
BY SEAN TUCKER
Inspiration for this challenge; ‘dappled light on old doorways.’
BY ANDREW WHITE
This is the Plaza Community Theatre in Crosby, Liverpool. I was driving home from Crosby Beach to Rainhill having just photographed the sunset. Whilst making a right turn at some traffic lights, I caught a glimpse of these colourful neon lights over my left shoulder. I’d never seen this building before and decided that I couldn’t leave without taking a picture of it as it looked superb in the dark. So, I turned around and headed straight for the cinema car park. I jumped out of the car, camera in hand, crossed the road and started snapping away handheld trying a few different angles, compositions and exposures. My only option was to expose this image for the highlights and let everything else disappear into the shadows because of the contrast. This was my favourite image of the set mainly because I like the angle and how the building is isolated, but also the person walking past the entrance adds something to the image also.
BY CRAIG WILSON
I hope this fits the bill; light shadow and a little bit of shape, this is the Tombola bingo office on the River Wear in my hometown of Sunderland.
BY SUE SAYER
This is the staircase in the former home of the writer Victor Hugo. Out of all the rooms you could go in, which were more than a little flamboyant, it was the staircase I really took a liking to. It was lit by a skylight 3 floors up which seemed to do its job very well. If the house was haunted, the ghost would be on these stairs. I found this area of the house very atmospheric and could have spent much longer there, just looking and taking photos. These assignments really make me think hard; I think Sean likes to test how we interpret his challenges, which I think is great.
BY EGEHAN ATBAKAN
On Friday, I went to Eminönü, a very crowded and busy part of İstanbul. After I was done with my task, I took a ferry to Üsküdar, to the Asian side of İstanbul. The ferry was almost empty and the sun was setting. I was watching how the light changes as the ferry manoeuvres and saw this guy reading a newspaper. I had this week's assignment in the back of my mind and immediately thought, "This might be it". And I think it is!
BY CASEY SISTERSON
I was out this morning as I am most Saturday mornings looking for birds as they continue the spring migration. It is one of the best times of year for birding as I get to welcome back many ‘friends’ that have abandoned us for warmer climates during our winter. This year the search for birds is more challenging than usual as we’ve had no end of rains and flooding.
As I was driving down a rural back road in Manitoba, Canada-land I found this stand of trees that were perfectly (at least in my mind) reflected in the waters from yesterday’s rain. It was another 50+mm deluge in one night. The morning light was fighting its way through the clouds off to the east (left of trees) and I recalled Sean Tucker’s third challenge. I normally shoot a tad brighter, albeit I still love shadows and contrast. So I upped the f-stop to create a darker image and this appeared in my Fujifilm’s XT-4’s LCD. I love how the shadows make the birch and popular stand out just a bit more but the waters below are blurred shadows of their other-selves. It’s very muted and fits the stillness that was about this morning. A keeper I think. Hopefully, you agree.
BY ANNE GRIEVES
I’m so behind with the assignments and listening to the show, just don’t know where the weeks are going! It’s a busy time of year with work etc. Sorry not on the streets but at Clumber Park, Nottingham.
As I walked along the seafront in Brighton I was drawn to the light from the shutters of a retail outlet located in the arches. Whilst I was framing the shot a couple walked by and the lady pondered, “What’s he taking a photo of?” The man she was with stopped, looked in and over my shoulder and replied, “Dunno. Nothing by the look of it?”
BY JOHN MILLAR
With my job, I have the joy of travelling around a fair bit. This image was captured in Coventry on a somewhat changeable day weatherwise, I managed to get a couple of hours wander around the City centre with some decent sunshine. It's an interesting mix of old and new architecture in Coventry, and a part of the country I enjoy a phot walk around when I get a chance. This shot was captured from a raised precinct in an area called Broadgate. The sun was to my left and the buildings were cutting some of it off, making great shadows. I stayed a while "fishing" for a good composition, keeping the shadow line central in frame and waiting for someone in a good place within the frame to be highlighted by the sun. The chap in the image passed through almost in the middle part of the shadow area, but I also got an added bonus of his shadow being cast into the sunlit area to the right.
BY JOEL RILEY
The attached photo is my submittal for Sean Tucker's assignment #3. Summer is upon us in the southern USA, and I recently had my boys out for a splash in the public fountains located at the Crosstown Concourse in Memphis, TN. The afternoon sun filtering through the awning near the fountains presented the opportunity. I was shooting my Fujifilm X-T2 and a Nikkor Ai-s 28mm 1:2.8.
BY MATTHEW HADDOW
I am trying to think if this would meet the requirements of this week. I saw the light colours and the shadow. Love the lines and shapes of this particular piece of architecture. I have taken a few pictures in this location, there always seems to be something new.
This was taken in Amsterdam, at the Melkweg. Performing is Austin Jenckens. I intentionally took it in black and white believing I could hide the staff behind him setting up for the next artist better than I could in color. Thanks for doing these exercises, it helps a lot to have a focus so I can learn.
BY COLIN MAYER
Port Arthur, on Tasmania, is the site of an English penal colony for men. It was a place of immense cruelty from where there was no escape until you had finished your seven-year sentence. On arrival, following a three-month sea crossing, convicts were initially thrown into prison, then whipped with the cat o' none tails before getting put to work. Good behaviour was rewarded with being given better work to do and poor work, or idleness was met with increased punishment. Solitary confinement cells in the Separate Prison building were used to inflict mental punishment in place of floggings. Lucky prisoners returned to work after a few days whilst those who could not handle the torture and went mad were transferred to the lunatic asylum. This picture is from inside the solitary confinement prison, a place of pain for many and one with many dark and tortured secrets.
BY ROBERT WEIGEL
Attached is my entry for the Sean Tucker assignment. I exposed for the highlights and let the shadows go dark. Almost looks like a silhouette. I really like how the beams are angled in this old barn. Have to wonder when it's all coming down.
BY NEALE JAMES
I spend a reasonable amount of time in church. Wedding photographers are often the first to arrive at a service or ceremony, prior to guests, prior to clergy, prior to the wardens. These are wondrous palaces of quiet and for me, in the serenity, a chance to walk and make some initial pictures by myself. Some might call these establishing shots, I call them, ‘settlers’.
BY JASON FOLEY
I headed out this evening with my Canon EOS R. I have been shooting film for about a year now, and I have to admit that it felt good to be out with a digital camera again. I captured these two images at a local park where a soccer practice was in progress. The idea of exposing for the highlights and letting the shadows fall to black was something new for me. I like it!
BY KEVIN BEACHAM
I was inspired by Sean and his instruction on highlights and shadow. I’m really enjoying being part of the PD community and I feel that it’s really helping my photography as well as influencing others. In particular, Rachel my wife has been taking amazing images with her iPhone using items in our house and editing them and getting surreal results.
BY KERRY ADAMS
I was out on a photo walk and I came across this patio set lit up by the sun. The rest of it in the shadows. I underexposed the camera and had an idea in my head for how I wanted it to look. I loved the scene I was seeing before my eyes, it made me think of the aftermath of a party.
BY ANDREW HARDACRE (above and the two portrait images below)
As I am partially hors de combat I went for a short walk with my trusty M10R and its best friend the Summicron 35mm ASPH. Here are my efforts at Sean’s assignment. First up, temple guardians (above). I just love finding these pools of light and waiting. There is an underpass near home that has side turnings that create very narrow shafts of light. I have spent quite a while here over the last couple of years experimenting with different effects (below).
BY GERALD MURPHY (above and below)
