Day 1: Creatively interpret mundane surroundings

To set the record straight, I did not come up with the photo challenge myself. At the end of the day I want to improve my skills and learn new techniques, so I did my research and found a challenge that would best suit my daily schedule, since I work full time in AdTech, and challenge me to go the extra mile.

With that said, on the first day, I was tasked to learn the various ins and outs of my camera, and the low-light and tight corners of my apartment, and creatively interpreting mundane surroundings.

I’ll be honest. This was hard for me after living in the same place with the same furniture and the same arrangement for over 5years. My initial thought was that there is nothing interesting in my place worth taking picture of. But I was determined to complete the exercise. I grabbed my camera and tried to see things from a different perspective.

I went low, climbed high, used pots and pillows to create different compositions. I even took snaps behind the curtains. At the end of the day, I was left with over 100 photos of different corners from my apartment.

My choice of photo to represent day one is not random. I feel that this picture successfully encompasses everything I learned during the day. The exposure of the picture is at the right level, the composition includes items both in and out of focus to create that depth. The contrast between my focus item of choice and the background seamlessly blend together creating a unique atmosphere which brings out the warmth of the living room.

Overall, day one for me was a success. I feel I stayed inside the brief. I went from “Everything looks boring” to “What would this lamp look like shot from under the table?”

I’m going into my second day thinking that there is always an angle you haven’t yet seen. That was just the beginning.