The Gr. 12 Photography CPT – Quad 4

As an alternative option to our CPT, several students were given an opportunity to create a document using still photography. Ken Burns, a documentarian who pioneered the use of still in his videos, is the inspiration for this CPT option.

Madeline S. – Do the Arts Matter?

Carolina V. – Tobermorry

Diego S. – Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover

Inspired by the paired passage exercise (paired passages are passages that are connected or similar in some way) most commonly found in English Literature classes, we used our analysis of photographic design principles and our understanding of storytelling for this project. These paired photos act as a means to use photography to explore conceptual connections between images.

Paired with a World Press photo of their choice, each student will apply everything they’ve learned this semester to draw connections using their own images.

Theresa B. (World Press Photo – top: Oliver Papegnies, The Gouande Gazelles, 2020)

The image shot by Oliver Papegnies highlights an important aspect of women empowerment. After reading into the backstory of this photo, I have found great interest in using it for the final photography CPT. A design element of photography that best describes this photo would be contrast due to the way the two women are highlighted within the image. Itten’s contrasts vary from a group of designs. One that I feel stands out the most in this picture is “much/little”. Understanding that the focus on the two women training is seen as an example of the “much/little” concept emphasizes their presence and eliminates the view of other larger subjects that could distract from the photo. By capturing the moment with the subjects in the centre, Oliver Papegnies does a great job of using the element of contrast within this photograph as it makes an impact on a viewer when it is being looked at. 

My image connects with my chosen World Press Photo in my own attempt of capturing the element of contrast – “much/little”. They have similar design concepts where the subject is smaller and the space around it is larger. This is used in both photos to emphasise the appearance of each subject (the two women training in Oliver Papegnies photo and the sun in my photo). My photos show visual connection with each other under the impression that as the women train down on soil, the sun shines above them from the sky. In my composition of taking this photo, I tried to line up the sun in the centre of my photo as best as I could to almost mimic the positioning of the two women training in Oliver Papegnies photo. 

Liam B. (World Press Photo – bottom: Cameron Spencer, The Dive, 2017)

The photo I chose was a tennis player Gael Monfils diving for a forehand, during his fourth-round match against Andrey Kuznetsov. This picture stands out to me because I’ve been playing sports my whole life and I thought the best image to use would be a sports image.  This image shows the passion and motivation people have for sports and the way he fully extends out makes the image with the shadow look a lot better. The picture I thought I would shoot is a diving save in soccer. I think these images connect in the way it’s shot and they’re both trying to save the ball. For my image, I got two of my friends, one to shoot the picture and one to shoot the ball. I edited the background out so that it just looks like the shot is the goal net.

Cassie C. (World Press Photo – right: Adam Ferguson, Boko Haram Strapped Suicide bombs to Them. Somehow These Teenage Girls Survived, 2018)

The photo I chose focuses on contrast. There is contrast between light and dark, and bright and darker colours. The yellow stands out the most, the darkness of the photo and the background itself makes the viewer’s eye draw to the focal point of the image, which is the girl wearing yellow. I noticed that the eyes are covered by yellow fabric, it might be to protect the identity of the girl but it makes you wonder who the girl is. There is a shallow depth of field, blurring the background of the photo which emphasizes the girl. The contrast between light and dark I think is used well and makes the viewer’s eyes draw toward the lightest part of the photo which is the girl.

My photo connects with the WP photo. Looking out the window I think portrays a feeling of being trapped or a longing to be free, and I think the WP photo is showing one of the few lucky girls that were able to escape a suicide bombing. I see the similarities in the lighting. The window in my photo is the only light source and behind me is dark, giving the light and dark contrast in the WP photo. Seeing how both images seem to show a longing to be free, I think that’s what connects them. Visually I think they connect, my photo I’m looking off to the side and where I placed it makes it look like I’m looking at the person beside me.

Madeline C. (World Press Photo – top: Romain Laurendeau, Kho, the Genesis of a Revolt, 2020)

My chosen design element was depth and perspective. Romain Laurendeau’s portrait of the Algerian city, Algiers really embodied this element in my opinion. The beautiful horizontal landscape of the city and the lighting/angle really gives the depth illusion that the city goes on forever. The tone and mood are also very grey and almost eerie despite the beautiful view. The description of the inspiration for this portrait also matched that mood. The portrait is named after the famous “Black October Revolt” a massive political uproar in the 1980s were hundreds of people were killed as a result. This is all a part of the story being told by the photo.

My photo was taken last year in New York City from the single world trade centre. The angle and lighting is quite similar to that of Laurendeau and the man in the photo wearing red really adds a bit of a difference and contrast. They are both portraits taken from a high angle of a large city on a gloomy day. Another similarity is the illusion the city goes on forever. In my portrait I find the man looking down very interesting. I do not know the man personally and he could be anybody I want him to be or represent. I want to leave it up to the viewer to decide who he is/ what he looks like or what he represents. He is admiring the city from the same perspective as me, trusting enough to lean his weight on the glass, thousands of feet in the air. The eerie tone of the picture I also felt as I was taking the picture, because of the horrific events that took place in that exact location in 2001. That event in itself is enough of a powerful story on its own, and any photo taken there has an undertone of it. Both portraits were taken at the sight of a massacre of people and they both very much reflect the emotions and mood of the events that took place.

Alex C.

In the photo I chose there seems to be a kitchen table covered in debris and broken glass. There is a bowl with what looks like peaches inside of it. There are also different cups and cans on the table as well as a kitchen knife. One thing that I can tell for sure about this picture is that it is close to a window. I made this assumption because of the way the light is shining onto the kitchen table and because of the curtains that are also on the table. One other thing to point out is that there appears to be some sort of blood on the table as well as on the curtain. This image best suits my chosen design element because of the mystery behind the image and the number of questions it brings up. This image is telling us a story without giving us a clear ending. Why is the kitchen in shambles? Where in the world was this picture taken? Why is their blood on the table? Whose blood is it? Why is there all this broken glass? Does the knife on the table have any connections to the blood? These are just a few of the questions that this image makes me wonder.

The photograph that I took actually does not resemble the WP photo at all. The photo I took was meant to be the exact opposite of the WP photo. As you can see by the two images, they are very different but in a way are also similar. The WP photo has a lot going on and leaves the viewer with a lot of questions, whereas my photo is very simple and is relatively easy to understand. Even though at face value these pictures are both kitchen tables, there is a big difference when it comes to the story behind these tables. Another way of looking at these two images is by comparing them to different parts of the world. The WP photo looks like it was most likely taken in a third world country on the other side of the world, my reasoning behind this claim is because of the amount of debris and blood all over the kitchen table, I cannot see this happening to anyone in the US or Canada and which is why I think this picture was taken in a 3rd world country. These 2 photos can show how different life is around the world and that we
Canadians are very lucky to have the things we have and to be living the life we live.

Jack C. (World Press Photo – top: Noah Berger, Battling the Marsh Fire, 2020)

The image I chose was shot by Noah Berger and submitted for the 2020 World Press Photo Contest. This incredible photo shows firefighters battling the California wildfire in 2019. Scientists believe that the fire was caused by climate change. Noah Berger does a fantastic job using the burned grass and trees to contrast against the still living grass. This contrast of the bright beige grass against the black burned grass helps depict the destruction that the wildfire caused. The photographer also uses the fire to create a leading line to what I believe is the focal point of the image, the firefighters. It is an abstract way of using a leading line as it is not a straight line. Battling the Marsh Fire is an incredible photo that suits my chosen design elements. The two elements in Noah Berger’s photo that are also in my photo are lines and colour. I also use leading lines in my image as well as contrasting dark and bright colours. These shared qualities make this World Press image very suitable for my chosen design element. 

My photo is of a gas stove showing the non destructive side of fire. Whilst fire is so often associated with destruction, my aim is to show how something that can be associated with something bad still has potential to be used for good. Fire is usually captured when it is burning something down. My picture shows the useful side of fire that brings us life through cooking food. My image connects with the World Press photo I chose because they both revolve around fire. My photo also shares similar elements of design with Noah Berger’s photo. I also have leading lines in my photo. The lines on the stove lead to the focal point of my image, the fire. Another element that my photo shares with Noah Berger’s is colour. Battling the Marsh Fire has a more bright colour contrasting against a dark colour. My photo also has this with the bright blue flame contrasting against the black stovetop. The images are connected. They are connected in a somewhat ironic way. Noah Berger’s image shows an out of control fire that the firefighters are trying to stop from burning. On the other hand, my image shows a stovetop. A stovetop fire is always under control and can be stopped in a second. 

Kiara D. (World Press Photo – top: Ralph Pace, California Sea Lion Plays With Mask, 2021)

The world press photo I have selected is above. Reason being is that the image really stood out to me. The Element of Design this photo represents is visual perspective. My eyes knew exactly where to look and there wasn’t any confusion on what the focal point of the photograph was. When looking at the image, your eyes go straight to the white mask and then to the seal. There is no doubt that those two things are the visual weight aspects of the image.

This is a picture of my mother rinsing off some stools in the backyard of my cottage. This image connects to the “California Sea Lion Playing With Mask” photo because they both share the same Design Element, Visual Weight. Other than the two sharing the same Element of Design, they don’t have many other similarities. One is underwater and one is on land. Although if you look closer, both photos do have a source of water in them, which could visually connect the two in a way. In the background of my photo, there is a body of water that could connect to the seal photo since the seal is in a body of water. Both are also taken during COVID 19 where there are even restrictions for seeing people inside and outside your home. In my photo, we had no other families with us at the cottage due to covid 19 restrictions in the area.

Attilio DB. (World Press Photo – top: Silvia Izquierdo, Cheering The Goal, 2020)

On the 23rd of November 2019, Silivia Izquierdo captured fans of Brazil’s Flamengo football team cheering as Gabriel Barbosa scores a goal against defending champions River Plate of Argentina, in the final of the Copa Libertadores, broadcast on giant screens during a watch party at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Barbosa scored two goals in the final few minutes, effecting a comeback for Flamengo, who won the match 2-1 after being 0-1 down for much of the game. This was the first time that Flamengo had won the Copa Libertadores—South American club football’s highest-level competition—in 38 years. The boy’s painted beard is possibly in homage to his hero Barbosa. This photo shows how powerful a sport can express happiness and joy for your own club and country. All the fans celebrating with all their hearts show the dedication of one’s soccer team. The little kid expresses how a fan deeply falls in love with the sport and how one player can be his idol. This photo matches my picture very well, and expresses the same feelings the people of Brazil have when they won that game.

My photo was taken in the summer of 2016, when Portugal won the Euros in France. The final was Portugal versus France, many people placed their bets on France because it was their home advantage and they had a overall better team. Most people thought they would lose. When the game started France had most of the possession and in the 25th minute, Portugal’s best player got injured and it devastated the whole team and the fans. Cristiano Ronaldo, the man that got injured coached his team on the sidelines and made them push harder than before. The full time whistle was approaching and both teams went into extra time. When extra time started, the whole Portugal squad was playing with all their hearts and in the 109th minute of extra time, A player known as Eder, scored a goal from 30 yards out and won the game fore Portugal. The team and fans when crazy and the whole world was astonished. My photo was taken in downtown, Toronto, where all the Portugal fans celebrated and shred drinks, my photo expresses the happiness of the fans when their country just won the most important European championship in the world. No one can make these feelings up and it was great to drive around and beep at all the cars. Both photos have massive similarities and show the same concept.

Paolo G. (World Press Photo – top: Paul Nicklen, Emperor Penguin, 2013)

The beauty of nature is a wonderful thing but having to take everything for granted just because we could will make the world a miserable place.We a human, a sentient being with enough intelligence to know what is right or wrong have a bigger responsibility in taking care of what is provided by nature. For If we don’t do our responsibility mother nature will take action resulting in powerful typhoons, heat waves, tsunamis and powerful earthquakes. That is why we must join hands and preserve the beauty of nature.

It is very sad to see that we can preserve small animals yet we’re having trouble on preserving the animals that are very rare or near extinction such as emperor penguins. Rare animals or ones that are near extinction became a trophy for the hunter and easy money for the smugglers that sold it to the rich people who intern use it for publicity and harvesting public sympathy to earn money in fake charities. The rich who lived in comfort complain about the riches that they lost during a calamity that was created by mother nature to punish the invaders and those who abused nature. If they help nature by using their unused riches to save and create sanctuaries and protected zones for animals we might be about to discover many exotic and unique animals for the next generation to see.

Safiyah G. (World Press Photo – bottom: Ralph Pace, California sea lion plays with mask, 2021)

Visual weight is a photographic compositional method that draws your eye to a focal point. A variety of components influence the visual weight of images, which you can apply to reinforce the focus point and achieve balance in your image. In Ralph Pace’s world press photo; California sea lion plays with mask, the background is dark green and minimal with three plants making contrast to the white mask the sea lion is looking at. When looking at this photo your eyes tend to flow throughout the picture. This is because of the balance with the plants in the background which are placed on the right side and the baby sea lion swimming from the left to play with the mask. Visual weight also has to do with a wider and harder-to-define class that appeals to the emotions, including cuteness such as baby animals and pets. In this photo the photographer used a baby sea lion with big eyes to grasp the attention of viewers.  

The image I took is of my fish, one goldfish and one suckerfish, in the fish tank in my basement. The contrast on the bright orange gold fish and the dark stone gravel plus green background makes the fish stand out more. The gold fish stands out just like the mask does in The World Press photo I chose. Also, both of these photos use animals, the baby sea lion in the WP photo and the gold fish in mine. The elements might be similar but the meaning behind my photo and Ralph pace’s photo are opposite. We choose to take the time to care and clean our fish tanks so our pets could live a healthy life, but looking at the comparison photo we don’t care enough to clean or care for our own oceans. The mask in the WP image was disposed of incorrectly and ended up in the ocean which proves how little we care about the sea life and environment. It’s quite ironic how we as people only care if we were physically own the animals and not the wild life that lives in the same environment. I Personally would not say that these images looked connected but they both show two different types of habitats, natural and man made.

Abby G. (World Press Photo – top: Jaime Rojo, Monarchs in the Snow, 2020)

To many people, monarchs can resemble the death of a loved one, a sign of good faith or even just life on earth itself. This photograph resembles how strong and powerful these creatures are. Monarchs are a symbol of many peoples beliefs. The contrast that the photographer is using in this photograph is what makes it an amazing photo. The monarchs are a darker colour than the snow so it allows the viewer to see the monarchs in full colour. To see a monarch up and close is very rare given the fact that they don’t come near humans for the most part. The reason as to why I chose this element(contrast) is because the white brings a pop to the orange and black on the monarch which makes the photograph different to regular everyday photos of monarch butterflies. The white from the snow contrasts with the orange and black to make it more visible to the viewers. Monarchs are beautiful creatures and to be able to capture their beauty in full is almost impossible for most people. 

The photograph I took is also of a monarch butterfly, but this butterfly is carrying another monarch. This relates to my WPP photo because they are both monarchs in the natural outdoors. Monarchs can handle cold but there is only so much cold they can handle. Sadly, in the photo I was able to take, the monarch that was carrying the other monarch as one of them passed away. These two connect because the WPP photo I chose in the description talks about how monarchs usually flock together in cold areas and how they can only stand so much cold before they freeze to death. In my photo, one monarch is carrying the other monarch who obviously can no longer fly.

Andrew H. (World Press Photo – top: Alisa Martynova, Nowhere Near, 2021)

To maximize the impression of quantity.” This is the best definition for Many. I chose Many because the image displays a series of raindrops in a single image, and if this defines Many. In the image there is black space with colourful raindrops that have been captured that shine light. 

The shot I took was of flashing lights because I see them as glimmers of hope in a dark time. I chose this image because the empty space with light flashing out of it is very appealing to me. I liked how the artist referred to it as “stars flung out into space as the result of the collision of two black holes, and as representing the unknown: a place both attractive and terrifying, holding hope as well as nightmares.” This reference caught my attention while I was reading the story behind the image and along with her being a Russian photographer who lives in a very beautiful place Florence, Italy. I also like how she compares the image to migrants in Italy, “a constellation of young people from different countries, of different genders, and with different traits.”

Alexandra I. (World Press Photo – top: Romain Laurendeau, Kho, The Genesis of a Revolt, 2020)

My Analysis of this photo taken by Romain Laurendeau is to show us a different perspective of the world. To show us the damages done to our planet and how polluted it is. I believe that this photographer is trying to show us how damaged the world is and how crowded everything is. In this picture he took it at such a high angle that we are able to see the city and are able to see how busy and crowded and polluted it is. I think the photographer wanted to capture the planet in its raw form and show us how polluted the earth is and show us that we need to make a change. He is trying to bring awareness to the pollution problem in the world and climate change. After reading the backstory of the image the photographer also talks about unemployment and the issue of the streets. He talks about how the streets are unsafe and bad and he talks about when the riots were happening over 500 people were killed in the streets. He is trying to bring awareness in the photograph the issue of pollution and in the story the issue about unsafe streets. I chose this image because I liked the image itself and I fell in love with the backstory and how interesting it was reading it and how you could tell how motivated and how much he cared about the topic he wrote about. Romain Laurendeau is an amazing, talented photographer and I love his work.

The photo I chose for this assignment is a photo I took a while ago for a project we did in the class earlier but never ended up using. Out of all the pictures I have taken, this picture was by far my favourite. This picture is a picture I took while on a walk one day. It is of the environment like Romain Laurendeau took. Our pictures are similar in the sense that we took a picture of the environment around us. While his picture was to show the darkness in the environment (both picture and story), my picture is simply showing the brightness in the environment. That even though there is darkness there is always lightness somewhere else. The story behind my picture is that even in the bad and darkness, there is always good and light. Our pictures are opposites, they show the differences in the world, the dark and the light. Our pictures can be visually connected in a sense of the environments, his is crowded and loud but mine is nor crowded and is quite, peaceful. In his story he talks about how his picture represents a sense of feeling unsafe but my picture brings a sense of feeling safe, a sense of feeling at peace with the world and with yourself.

Iakkia J. (World Press Photo – top: Lorenzo Tugnoli, Kho, Port Explosion In Beirut, 2020)

The photo I chose from the world press photos suits the perspective and depth design element. In the WP image you can see that the perspective is from far away looking into the city scape. It isn’t a normal city image as there is destruction and debris everywhere. One main focus besides the city being blown up, is  debris seen in the foreground implying that this is a scene of destruction and warfare. Linear perspective plays a big role in this image as there are many leading lines that guide the viewers eye into different areas. The hydro pole is also a focal point leading the viewers into the center of the image and then to the focus of the city. The entire image is sharp so that the viewer can read the details of what is happening in the image. it is important that this image is sharp or the viewer wouldn’t feel the same effects emotionally. Depth of the image is achieved by the photographer taking the picture from far away. This enables the image to have a great deal of depth. The viewer can clearly see the foreground, middle and background showing the details of this bombing destruction. It is also important to point out that the photographer included the beautiful sky to show the calm that mother nature provides even in the depths of human destruction and chaos. I also wanted to use this image because it chose horrible and devastating things that happen around the world that many people don’t even realize when it is happening. I am very grateful to live in a country that doesn’t get bombed and that doesn’t have Wars constantly.

I wanted to take a picture of buildings/building to get the look of a before and after. My photograph of the sunset behind the building is the look of before the bombing and the world press photo is after the bombing. My image has similar elements of design to the world press image, everything in both images are in focus, you can see that the perspectives are both shot from far away showing the entire scene. Another similar connection both images have is the linear perspective as they show many leading lines that guide the viewers eyes to different areas such as the hydro pole in both images bringing the eye to the sky and sunset in my image. In the WP the hydro pole is directly in the middle of the image and I wanted to shoot a similar look but I decided to use the rule of thirds and shoot the hydro pole to the right of my image to get the effect of another leading line to the sunset behind the building. My image also has a leading line caused by the lines on the road to bring the eye to the building, and the building has many leading lines from the pattern and the direction I shot the photograph.

Erin K. (World Press Photo – top: Jasper Doest, Pandemic Pigeons- A Love Story, 2021)

For my design element, I chose to analyse texture, which is an extremely important part of my chosen World Press Photo. The texture of the bird in the foreground is fluffy, soft, and extremely natural. This is contrasted with the sharp, uniform, man made texture of the building that makes up the background of the image. As this image tells quite a story, I think texture is a very useful element, because it makes the viewer drawn to certain parts of the picture. It makes the bird seem much more interesting and emphasizes its movement, as the blurry texture on the edge of the wings shows the viewer that it is in flight. The photo also appeals to the sense of touch- although I’ve never felt a pigeon in real life, I can imagine just from looking at it all the different textures that I would feel, from the down of the feathers to the scratchy claws. It’s a visceral image that puts the viewer in the exact place of the photographer, feeling the connection with the pigeon and what it represents.

I immediately knew when I started shooting that I wanted to take an animal picture to go along with the World Press photo. Just like in Pandemic Pigeons, animals have had a positive impact on my wellbeing during this time, and they’ve kept me grounded and connected to a sense of normality. Pandemic Pigeons is very intimate and showcases the bird’s personality, and I wanted to do the same thing with my frog photo. Thankfully, the frog was a very cooperative model and even hopped up close to my camera and stared right into the lens. However, there are definitely differences between the images. There’s a real contrast between the chaos and movement of the pigeon in my chosen World Press Photo and the calm and stillness of the frog in my own photo. As well, while Pandemic Pigeons uses contrasting textures to tell a story, the textures in my frog photo are more monophonic and still. I also wanted to showcase a difference in location. The pigeon seems like a guest in his city environment, but the frog is right at home in the pond- in fact, it’s me who was the guest while coming into his habitat. This can also be seen in the colours of the images. The pigeon stands out with his greys and pinks against the blue of the sky and the dull yellow of the building. The frog, however, blends in almost seamlessly, and it’s hard to tell where his body ends and the pond begins. Finally, my image focuses on the frog’s face while the World Press photo focuses on the bird’s body. I think this creates an interesting, almost ironic effect- you’re seeing only the body of one animal and only the face of another, but they’re completely different creatures.

Sierra M. (World Press Photo – left: Jasper Doest, Pandemic Pigeons- A Love Story, 2021)

In the world press photo I selected shows the element of rhythm by visualizing the expected items in a bedroom such as furniture. As well as the normally unseen items such as clothing and accessories that are usually housed in a bedroom but out of sight. This photo demonstrates the element of rhythm that the clothing and furniture go hand and hand in the room. In the selected world press image I chose you can see the clothing and accessories set up in preparation for dressing or packing. The element of rhythm is shown by the display of the bedroom as a backdrop, and the clothing being the focal point. They are partners however in this photograph the clothing is the main focus. 

The image from the world press photo and the photo I have taken connect in different ways. The two images have similarities like the element of photography, which is rhythm. As well they both share similar things like clothing items and accessories. The two images have a connection as they both involve clothing but for different genders. The world press photo shows clothing and accessories for more of a manly appearance, as my photo shows more womanly clothing and accessories. A difference between the two photos is that the world press photo has more of a colourful background, as mine is more plain and neutral.

Amanda M. (World Press Photo – top: John Stanmeyer, Signal, 2014)

The element of design that I chose to analyze in my World Photo Press photograph is contrast. ‘Signal’, the image I chose, has multiple uses of contrast within the composition. It’s used both visually and through the content of the photo. Overall, it’s a very dark image because it is being taken at night, but, the contrast of the light coming from the moon and from the cellphones make these two aspects of the photograph very prominent. Because of this, I don’t think the image would have the same effect if it was taken during the day. This heavy contrast between the night sky and the bright cellphones amplifies the message of unity and reaching out. It brings all of the attention to these people and the devices they’re holding. The people in the photo are African migrants on the shore of Djibouti City lifting their phones up in hopes of catching a signal to connect with their relatives who live abroad. The fact that this action is being done at night really emphasizes the idea of hope and the need to reach out to loved ones. I think it’s really beautiful how the only light coming from this photo is from the moon and the phones, and how the phones are being lifted up to the light in the sky. The light radiating from the moon looks like this beam of hope reaching down as they all lift their phones up to it. This is the reason why I think the contrast of light in this photo is so important. In a time of darkness (quite literally the night), their beacon of hope comes from the act of trying to reach loved ones who aren’t there with them physically. 

I chose to accompany my chosen World Photo Press image with an image that reflects a similar message through the contrast of light. During this pandemic, our main form of communication with friends and extended family has been through technology. At times it’s been difficult to grapple with this and it seems hard to only speak to loved ones through a screen. But, somehow we all seem to continue reaching out, even if it is every once in a while and only a small text wishing someone ‘Happy Birthday’. In both images, the subject(s) are seen trying to reach out to people through technology, in the WP photo it’s by reaching up to try and get a signal and in my image it’s by tucking away into my phone screen. I think between the two photos another interesting point of contrast comes up through the content. In both, technology is being used but there’s a difference between how easily this technology is accessed. Most people in Canada are able to quickly connect to the internet and communicate with people. But, in other countries the internet has not been made as accessible. Between these two photos there’s a sense of darkness, but the light is the hope of being able to connect with other people. The element of contrast emphasizes the light and darkness in both of these photos to highlight this. 

Jayden P. (World Press Photo – top: Pieter Ten Hoopen, The Migrant Caravan, 2016)

Out of all the photos that I looked through on the World Press Photo archive website, this one stood out to me the most. I wanted to go for a more outdoors photo rather than inside so it could force me to go out and actually do something then stay inside my house. So seeing this crowded photo of a moving truck in the middle of the road gave me the idea to drive around and find an empty parking spot to take pictures in. But going into my analysis of this photograph, I got a very chaotic vibe from it. You can see a moving truck with many people surrounding it. It is a very loud and filled photo. I really like the lighting and the angle this photo was taken. Although it is very chaotic and loud, the lighting opens up the photo a lot more and I get a sense of happiness. I think the lighting this picture was captured in created the perfect combination of happiness and messiness. I really do admire the angle this photo was taken from. I do not think it is often hard to mess up a bird’s eye view photo. This angle is always very effective when it comes to attempting to make the viewer of the photograph feel as though they are a bird just passing through.

For my shot in this CPT, I decided to go with a contrasting complete opposite of the World Press Photo that I chose. As I discussed above, the World Press picture that I chose is very chaotic with many people surrounding a moving truck. It is indeed a very loud photo. So I decided to shoot my car in a parking lot with nothing around except empty parking spots. My goal with this photograph was to give the viewer a sense of loneliness and more of a quiet vibe. With nothing around except some house, greenery, and my car, there really is no loudness to this photo whatsoever. So we have the World Press photograph that shouts at you, and then my photograph that is very quiet, the absolute contrasting differences. I think the main similarity between these two photographs would be the subtle greenery they both display and the brightness of both photographs. The cars are really the only things that connect to each other in these two photographs because they are really the only consistent things shown in both photos.

Shanson Q. (World Press Photo – right: Brent Stirton, Akashinga – The Brave Ones, 2019)

This photo suits the picture I take because I think they focus on most of the same elements. Both photos colour and space brings unique to the picture. The world press photo I chose is a female anti-poaching in Zimbabwe, their unit is called Akashinga. The Akashinga comprises women from disadvantaged backgrounds, empowering them. Akashinga are helping local people to benefit directly from the preservation of wildlife. The woman in the photo, it looks like she is hunting, because she is carrying a gun and she dressed as a camouflage in the forest.

The Photo I took is of a construction man in Toronto Downtown, he is buying a hotdog from a food stand on the sidewalk. The man in the photo wears a vest with yellow stripes, and wears a yellow helmet. This photo connects to the world press photo I chose, because they both have the same elements, soft, rough, the colours, lines and shapes. Also in my photo the man is working hard as you can see the way his dress looks. In the world press photo, the woman is also working hard for the people in the local area, you can also tell how she dresses. The relationship between these two photos is a visual pun. They are both working hard for their country and people to survive.     

Benjamin R. (World Press Photo – bottom: Daniel Berehulak, An Antarctic Advantage, 2016)

This picture was taken in Antarctica, in 2015. The design element that best describes this photo is value.  Value is a design element that refers to the quality of light and dark on a surface or object. This can be measured in shades of grey or color. Value is created by a light source that shines on an object creating highlights and shadows. It can also show the distance of an object from the camera. In this image, the church is the focal point because it is located in the center of the photograph. The smaller buildings on the left side add interest as they surround  the church. Some of the buildings’ lights in the distance are very bright in contrast with the church lights. The warm yellow tint of the church lights keeps the viewer’s attention to the centre of the image. The person and the bird in the foreground also increase the value of the focal point by the use of subframing. Both the bird and the person are far away from the lights and are darker than the structures with lights nearby. There is a bright light behind the person, this would probably become the focal point if the photo was taken at a different angle. The bird is also blocking a bright section in the sky which is making the church the point of convergence. 

For the most part, the two images contrast each other. My photograph was taken during the day at a golf range in Ontario, while the WP photo takes place at night in Antarctica. Elements in the foreground and the background help bring the focus to the focal point in the WP image. In my picture, it’s mostly elements in the background and middle that attracts attention to the golfer.   My image uses the element of shapes and lines in comparison to value. Shapes can be geometric or organic.  The edges and the recently raked part of the sand pit, brings focus to the golfer and the surrounding golf balls.  Lines act as pathways barriers or boundaries in photographs.  The golfer uses a plotted line to help him with his swing.  The golf balls behind the golfer form a line as well.  The interesting similarity in both photos is that they both have a focal point with bordering objects. Both images were taken in different seasons. I took my picture in the spring, while the WP image in the winter.   My setting has green grass and trees, the WP location is very cold and the area is snow covered. When the two images are put together side by side, a connection can be made between the two images: both people are focusing on the trajectory of the object in motion.  One thing is for sure, is that the golfer hopes that his ball will fly like the bird.

Taylor T. (World Press Photo – top: Steve Dykes, 1993)

The photo I chose was shot by the photographer Steve Dykes in 1993. The subject here is Earvin “Magic” Johnson, an American basketball hero; he is seen shedding a few tears after retiring from the LA Lakers at the age of 32. In 1991, he announced that he was HIV-positive, but continued playing for some time afterwards. This photo uses dynamic balance. Dynamic balance carefully opposes two subjects or one area and a subject carefully to draw the viewer’s eye towards the intended subject. Often, the main subject is small, but it is made into the focal point by framing the opposite area or subject in an oppositional way. For example, by using dynamic balance, a small figure standing in light off to the side of a frame would stand out if the larger area on the other side was dark or shadowed. 

This photograph was taken by me. The subject here is my grandmother. I stuck around the kitchen while she was cooking to get a few photos, and in this one she is leaning on a counter and looking down at one of our dogs, out of frame; she’s having a “conversation” with said dog, who was trying to get her attention. The reason I chose this photo is because it has a similar design element as the one that I chose from the World Press Photo archives of Magic Johnson; it uses dynamic balance. She is on the right side of the frame, with the sink on the left. Although she is not front and center, she is the focal point in the photo.

My two photos have nothing in common in terms of the story behind them, but ultimately their design element is what makes them similar.

William T.

Tigers cool off in the pool at the Kingsburg Wildlife Refuge, Colorado, USA. The reserve saves the animals and cares for them in wide-open habitats, providing them with veterinary care and proper nutrition. Visitors look at them from a distance without interaction. 

 There are 5,000 to 10,000 captive tigers in the United States. Roadside zoos and other businesses raise tigers and ask guests to pet them and take photos with them. Individuals also keep tigers as pets. In comparison, there are only 3,900 wild tigers in Asia and 1,659 in approved zoos around the world. Many foreign pets in the United States are not protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which only applies to pets caught from the wild, not to pets raised in captivity. Four states in the United States do not have laws on raising large cats. Although the other ten states require a permit, once a permit for a small pet is obtained, it can be used to raise larger animals, such as tigers. When cubs purchased as pets are four months old, they become too large and dangerous to be raised and sold in the country, which raises concerns that this will encourage the lucrative illegal international trade of tiger organs. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, cut 92 years of investigations between 2016 and 2018. In June, the US House of Representatives convicted the Department of US Agriculture for shifting its focus from active law enforcement to providing “teachable moments” to engage with the public. Now the Federal Law of Public Safety of Big Cats has been proposed. It will address loopholes in state law, ban private ownership of big cats, and ensure that if they cannot return to the wild, they can be transferred to an approved sanctuary.

My corresponding picture is a photo of my dog beside my bed. I chose this photo because I feel that it represents the same as the tiger laying next to the metal pool of water. The background is not the same but I couldn’t find a better way to represent this picture. My dog represents the lion perfectly and my bed represents the metal pool of water. I could have made this photo a lot better if I had more dogs and a pool.

Emily V. (World Press Photo – bottom: Philip Montgomery, Faces of an Epidemic, 2019)

The image I chose for this assignment was Faces Of An Epidemic By Philip Montgomery. I felt drawn to this image because it really captures the expressions everyone is feeling in the photograph, especially the resemblance of grief. Even though this was taken in 2019, I liked this image because it made me visualize and picture everything that has been happening in our world today regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic. The design element that is most prominent throughout this photo is Looking and interest. Everyone in the image captured seems to be looking at a common thing, a person being removed from a basement where they overdosed, but the expressions on their faces really tell a story about how they are feeling and the impact this situation is having on their lives. One may look at this image and only think about the dead person under the cover, but when we take a closer look, we can see the unbearable grief and selfless expressions presented on everyone’s face. Other expressions such as empathy, sadness, misery, and pain are captured in this image and stand out to the viewer. 

The image I captured describes the theme of looking and interest because this candid captures the viewers attention and ultimately makes them wonder what’s happening outside of the frame, and why this subject has this certain expression on their face. Even though this does not directly correlate with the image I picked from the World Press Photo Archives based on the shared expressions, they both make the viewer question what is happening in the photo. The look of confusion stands out in my picture whereas the image I have chosen from the World Press Photo Archives focuses a lot more on grief and sadness. The buildings and landscape in the background do not have an important part of this image, but the children laughing and playing outside of the frame was ultimately the inspiration behind the look of confusion. In conclusion, I really liked how the candid turned out because it captured the viewers attention by making them question why this subject has this expression? What caused this expression? And how this expression was captured through this photograph.