Evolving Photographer: Exercise Two - Bill Smith, Designing a Photograph

Exercise Two

     "Take two rolls of film and go out shooting. Each time you decide to
take a picture, immediately shoot five more frames of the same
subject, moving closer to the subject with each shot. This exercise
develops the conscious process of what a professional photographer
does unconsciously every time he shoots."

   - Bill Smith

(This is actually the third exercise in the book, but neither of us felt like doing the "cat's eye view" exercise on the Mall that day. It will have to come later!)

   For this exercise we went into the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. It seemed like the best place to have lots of very different subject to photograph. And, since most of the lawn is open to walk on, it's perfect for this exercise!

     I interpreted this exercise to mean that as I walked forward, I was not re-framing my photographs, but rather keeping the camera focused on the same point, and at the same focal length.

     With that in mind, I feel like this exercise simply demonstrates the effect that moving, rather than lens/camera adjustments can have on a photograph. It's one of those lessons that I keep reading about (when in doubt, move six inches and change how you're looking at something), but have had to really focus on practicing. This very nicely demonstrates just how dramatic that shift can be.