Masters of Photography -Robert Capa

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The Master:

     Robert Capa was a Hungarian photographer who lived from 1913 - 1954. His original name was Endre Friedmann but with the outbreak of World War II he left Hungary and changed his name to seem more American. From then on, he photographed wherever the heat of battle existed. He traveled between many different countries including Russia and Israel and was even joined troops as they stormed the beaches of Normandy. His quote: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough," captures the goal of his work. He emphasized the brutal, irreplaceable emotion that existed during the war.

My View:

      As we looked through the galleries of various photographers, I looked at the faces of Robert Capa's subjects. There was a startling reality to their expressions that could only be captured by being a part of the situation. I was inspired by the truth Capa portrayed, although I didn't discover that inspiration at first.

     Our first pictures were direct imitations of Capa's work, but we knew we were missing something essential. Copies can never match the original, so we shifted our focus from Capa's photos themselves to the meaning behind those photos: capturing reality. From that point, we began to incorporate our reality into the photos -- real conversations, real problems, and real emotions.

   

Second Portrait

It's a Cat

Composition Review - 3 Rules

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1. Rule of Thirds
2. Lean Into the Frame
3. Balance

Self-Portrait

Shallow Depth of Field

Generation Six

This photo was taken on a cloudless day at the terrace near the gym. The photo follows a light pattern that expands from the surface of the phone, to Alex's face, and then to the far background. I adjusted the shadows slightly so that the darker shadows were located near the border or towards the background.

Third Photo Assignment - My Third Rule

Alex and Jason in Perspective

From a lower viewpoint, the bell tower is easily seen in its entirety as two students face the sun.

1. Looking into Space

2. Contrast in light

3. Viewpoint

Second Photo Assignment, My Second Rule

The Lights at Night

At night, the lights illuminate Mission San Jose in different ways. White, yellow, and even green stand out in the darkness generated by the tree in the foreground. There is balance between the bright and the dark.

First Photo Assignment, My First Rule

Alvina Looking into Space

The subject, though obscured from view, faces towards the most space. In the corner, a bold red ladder contrasts her blue jacket.