I learned a lot so far this semester about photography. I learned about Barretts rules, which are: DIET: Describe, Interpret, Evaluate, and Theorize. Another topic was the 10 rules of composition in Photography. For example, the rule of thirds, Background, contrast, leading lines, and viewpoints. Rule of thirds and leading lines are my favorites because these compositions can really help me with my video projects. This class helps you learn more in depth about photography; photos having emotions, diagonal lines, photos telling stories, and ethics of photography. When it comes to ethics, you want to learn the do’s and don’ts of taking pictures. For instance, taking a picture of someone without that person’s permission is very unethical. Asking them politely is the right way of going about the situation. When it comes to Barretts rule of Describe, it is simply breaking down everything that is in the picture. The items in the picture, the colors, shapes, and subject are factors in “Describe.” “Interpreting the picture is trying to understand what the photo means. Did the photographer do “this” and “that” on purpose? Why is the color the way it is? What do you think this means to the viewers? “Evaluating” is coming up with a meaning. It is very close to the rule “Theorize.” Both deal with the aspect of the effects of the on the viewer and what the picture actually means. You ask yourself, does this picture have a meaning? If so, what is the meaning and what did the photographer mean.

Another aspect was street photography. Street photography is capturing everyday life with spontaneous pictures of the norm where people are the main focus, or animals. “Always have your camera ready,” was a rule of street photography. This was important because missing a moment is vital to the experience. If you see a man standing a certain way and you are not ready to snap, that picture is gone. It is impossible to go back to that point because the purpose of it is natural. I also learned about Technical Quality, Composition, and Emotional Appeal. Technical Quality is the focus, cleanliness, exposure, and lighting. This is the technical aspect of quality; mostly dealing with the camera qualities. Composition is mostly color and troubleshooting a picture. Another way to describe it is “logic.” Emotional appeal is performing a diagnostics on a picture, mentally. There is still much to learn about photography.