Preliminary Exercise

 Two friends mourning together in silence 

                                           

This photo shows two friends sitting close together, sharing a quiet moment of grief. Even without words, you can feel the support between them through their body language and how they lean toward each other. The black‑and‑white filter adds to the mood, making the scene feel heavier and more focused on their emotions instead of the background. The eye‑level angle keeps everything honest and simple, almost like you’re witnessing the moment in real time.

How this could've been improved? A softer light source could’ve made the emotion stand out even more

Commentary on decisions I made during shooting: I moved in close, so their hands and faces were the main focus, since that’s where the emotion really shows. I kept the framing simple and didn’t try to over stage anything. The black‑and‑white look helped keep the mood serious and took away any distractions in the background.

 

Friends holding hands with snowman  

This photo shows two friends smiling together while holding a little snowman statue. It is a light, happy moment that really brings out the Christmas spirit. Their expressions and the way they’re both holding the snowman make the picture feel warm and genuine. The close framing keeps the focus on their faces and the statue, making the joy in the moment easy to see.

How this could’ve been improved: Slightly brighter lighting or a cleaner background could’ve made the colors and details pop more.

Commentary on decisions I made during shooting: I chose to get in close so their expressions and the snowman were the main focus. I kept the angle simple so the moment felt natural and not staged. The setup worked well because their smiles and the holiday vibe came through clearly

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Tic-Tac-Toe Tournament

This photo shows two friends right after finishing a game of tic‑tac‑toe. One of them is smiling because they won, while the other has a frown from losing. The framing isn’t a full close‑up, but it’s close enough to clearly see both of their reactions while still showing part of the game board. The mix of their expressions helps tell the story of the moment.

Commentary on the decisions I made during shooting: I framed the shot so both friends were visible, making sure their emotions were the main focus. I kept the mise‑en‑scène simple so the viewer could easily understand what happened without any distractions.

How I could improve: A closer shot of the board could’ve added more detail and made the game outcome even clearer

Student sleeping on the couch

This photo shows a friend sleeping on a couch in the school library, even though the background doesn’t show much besides the couch itself. The quiet setting adds to the calm mood of the image. I used a medium shot so you can see both the person and part of the couch, which keeps the focus on him without making the frame too busy. The simple mise‑en‑scène helps the moment feel natural and relaxed.

Decisions I made during shooting: I kept the framing straightforward, so the viewer’s attention stays on the subject. I worked with the available lighting and made sure there weren’t any distracting objects around him, and the eye‑level angle helps the moment feel real and unforced.

How I could improve: I could’ve included more of the library background to show the setting better and add more context to the shot. A lower angle or slightly tighter frame might also help make the moment feel more intentional.