Project 7 : Objects in different positions in the frame
For this project, the idea was to take shoot a subject in several different positions in the frame.
I had several attempts at this project because I was never particulary happy with either my subject or the shots I’d taken.
I eventually managed to find a suitable shot, a telephone box in Hull. The phone boxes in Hull are notorious for being cream instead of the usual red. This is due to the fact that Hull has its own private telephone exchange run by Kingston Communications.
Opposite Clifford Dunns
28mm f/8.0 1/50sec ISO 400
This is the subject. A cream Kingston Communications phone box, located opposite the old Clifford Dunns supermarket in Hull.
As instructed, I shot several images with the subject in and around the frame. I also alternated between landscape and portrait shots.
Once I’d downloaded the shots from the camera. The idea was to prioritise the shots into order of preference.
Landscape – subject left
38mm f/8.0 1/50sec ISO 400
This is definately my favourite shot from the series. I particularly like how although the off-centre subject is the main focus of the shot, but there is enough background detail in the shot to make the scene interesting.
Portrait – subject centre
60mm f/8.0 1/50sec ISO 400
I quite like this shot even though the subject is centralised. I think it is probably due to the fact the yellow markings on the kerb are slightly off-centre.
Portrait – subject left
47mm f/8.0 1/40sec ISO 400
I think this shot is quite dull and lacks interest.
Portrait – subject right
38mm f/8.0 1/80sec ISO 400
Similarly, this shot is also quite dull.
Landscape – subject centre
38mm f/8.0 1/50sec ISO 400
This is my least favourite shot. I think because the subject is completely centralised the shot loses all interest.
To conclude
I think when composing shots with a single subject, positioning is all important. Often best results can be achieved using the rule of thirds with the subject settled on an intersection point.
However I think it would be wrong to completely rule out centring the subject. Depending upon the background and indeed the subject, centralised subjects can work well (as in the second shot of this series.
Other Subjects:
As mentioned earlier, I shot several subjects for this project before settling on the telephone boxes, including boats on the canalside at South Ferriby and the medieval village of Castelnou in Southern France.
