Stuart Klipper's image is very simplistic. The monochromatic background of the whites and grey of the snow make the an indistinguishable horizon. The bright pop of the red flag is dulled out by the snow. I thought this image was different and challenged myself in an attempt to recreate it. It is successful for me because this photograph is unlike the ones I have taken in the past. I usually like to photograph bright colors but I had to capture an image that was mostly the same color while still being aesthetically pleasing. I think the clouds combined with the frontal lighting dulling the blue sky creates a unique twist on monochromatic coloring. The American flag is also dulled by the lighting but it blowing in the breeze still creates a beautiful picture.
The most challenging aspect of the assignment:
Before capturing these photographs I went through Klipper's work. Although inspiring and beautiful, it was difficult to find landscapes around here that mimicked Klipper's photo's. It forced me to view my surroundings in a different way, to find beauty instead of having it jump out at me.
What I will do in the future to create stronger images:
This assignment allowed me to work with different lighting and color combinations. I used techniques that were a little more difficult for me and found beauty in unlikely places just like Klipper did during his travels. I will take this experience I gained from this assignment and apply it to future work. I truly see the value in lighting. How changing it can drastically affect the emotion of the photograph. I want to create stronger images by varying my fondness of bright colors and saturation with my newly appreciated knowledge of finding beauty in unlikely places through different lighting and color techniques.
Part 2
http://art180mengjiaoli.weebly.com/blog/emulating-a-professional-photographer