Option 1: A day in the Life of...
Instructions
Identify someone you can stalk for a day or more - no, I'm kidding, get their permission! It could be anybody. Someone you know, like family members or friends.
Make sure that your subject knows what they're letting themselves in for. They have to give you access to the fullest extent during the time that you are together. Follow and photograph them over the agreed-upon period of time. If they want to pose, let them. You don't need to include those images in your final selection if they don't work or fit your narrative. The aim is to get candid portraits of your subject. If they get annoyed with you, back off a bit, but don't quit.
Deliverables
Undergraduate Students: A set of 5-10 images (no more, no less) that represent the subject. All images must have complete captions explaining what is happening in the photo.
Assignment 9 "A Day in the Life" Reflection:
Approaching this project took significant forethought as I wanted a project that I could shoot in a day but also be able to tell the story. Even though we had the entire break to shoot, I wanted to capture it all in one day and provide the time hacks for each photo to keep the authenticity. It was a way to challenge myself to tell it all in one day. This gave me all the time after to begin scaling down 311 photographs into only 10. I did double up some images in my story telling. Images that went together and were enhanced by being paired with another image. I felt it would have been redundant to end back at the dark house, so I decided my final shot would be located at the headquarters building and show him leaving, for what we can assume as viewers, home. I really enjoy how the photos came full circle, starting in the dark and ending in the dark. This was quite challenging to capture any kind of movement in this low light setting. I shot this entire set of photographs with my camera on a Black & White setting, so as I was setting up each shot, I was able to see what it was going to look like finalized instead of converting it to B&W later in Lightroom. I enjoy shooting in B&W for this type of photography. It ties all of the photos together and for me it gives a more authentic, raw feel to the photographs. This has been my favorite assignment this semester and I have begun to realize how much I like to observe and photograph people in their elements. A HUGE THANK YOU, to my Commander Col "Face" Goodman for allowing me to tag along with you and tell your story.
"Routine" & "Leaving": I wanted to set the tone of the shoot with these two opening shots. Both very dark, but making the lit areas the focal point. Routine leaves it to the viewer to imagine whats going on in the house. It worked out as a great benefit for it to be raining as it helped illuminate the darker shots. In "Leaving" I liked how the reverse lights illuminated that part of the photo and brings your attention to the truck heading out for the day. Shooting in this low of light was very challenging. I learned there can be absolutely no movement or the shot will blur where that movement was as the shutter speeds were 26 and 3 seconds.
"Checking In" DayInTheLife_20201118_miller_00019 6:56 am ISO 200 59mm, f4, 1/4s
I learned following someone around all day you get a lot of pictures of their back. I hung back as he entered the building. As I looked in the door created a natural frame around him. I like how even though my subject is not in focus, you can still see him in the environment. I think the door sign and the hand sanitizer bring another layer to the photo. This photo archives the "Time of Covid", as its posted 100% masks required, and the sanitizer next to the door prior to entering.
"Dual Duty" DayInTheLife_20201118_miller_00037 8:59 ISO 200, 102 mm, F4, 1/25
In addition to their personal cellphones, Commanders also carry a work cellphone. Pre-Fight briefings are classified and electronic devices are prohibited. Following the brief, this is their chance to catch up on anything occurring, or office work prior to flight. When I went to take this shot it was the cup that caught my attention first. This cup gives the viewer information and history about the subject showing that he was a 1997 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.
"Ready" DayInTheLife_20201118_miller_00074 9:22 am, ISO 200, 24mm, F4, 1/25s
I had the principle of view point in my head when I took this. I was observing the pilots getting their final weather brief and they had all their gear ready to go, and G-suits packed with necessary checklists and information. Hindsight for this shot I would have panned over slightly to the right to avoid the partial leg/foot on the left side of the photo.
Patches are a long running tradition in the military. You can identify who someone is, where they have been, or who they work for. I wanted to get our GUNFIGHTERS patch. Capturing the graduate patch in the second shot tells the viewer where he has been.
"Stepping" DayInTheLife_20201118_miller_00101 9:34 am, ISO 200, 105 mm, F4, 1/250s
The term step, or stepping, refers to the time which the pilots begin to head for their jets after all the in Squadron briefs have been accomplished. I used the over head structure to frame the pilots as they walked to their jet. I think this picture emphasizes leading lines bringing you back to the two pilots.
Last minute pre-flight checks and forms review prior to flight. Hind sight on the "Final Checks, I wish I could have taken the shot with out the extra set of hands, however they belong to the crew chief that had serviced the aircraft prior to the pilots arrival. I like that he's close by in the shot, perched and ready for any questions prior to take off. For "Airborne", I wish I had a lens that could have reached a bit further to fill the frame more of the Aircraft than the sky, however I do like how the simple grain and pattern of the sky surrounds the jet and allows the viewer to focus on the aircraft. I used panning to capture the fast plane in motion and focused on centering the plane, as I wanted to make it the center of attention to make up for the size that it took up in the photo.
The operational tempo is fast paced as the top photo shows a crew out and another crew on the way in to keep training. After the pilots finish flying they return their gear to personnel that clean and inspect the items before stowing them. As the commander, he has the Callsign of Gunfighter 1 and wanted to share the unique artwork on his helmet.
After flying, and lengthy de-briefs, the office job then begins. There are many emails, documents to review, forms needing signatures, and decisions that need to be made. When I saw the books on the table, I wanted to use the technique of shooting from the top for a still life approach. Looking back I would have lined up the edges the table to match the frame. This was very difficult to do with out a tripod.
"Headed Home" DayInTheLife_20201118_miller_00331, 7:22 pm, ISO 200, 32mm, F4, 1/8s
From 6:32 am to 7:22 pm, the viewer is reminded this is not a 9-5 job. I love the finality of this shot as we have come full circle back to it being dark, and the wet pavement reflecting light, like in the opening shots. I like the pools of light in this photo as it gives the building in the background some lines and definition without taking away from the subject getting in to the truck.
