120/365 Beneath the Surface: Kaohsiung’s Industrial Poetry
EXIF Data
Camera Model: Leica D-Lux8
Shutter Speed: 1/200
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 400
Aesthetic Analysis
The choice of a square crop and a monochromatic palette elevates this from a casual snapshot to a formal graphic study. The top-down perspective emphasizes the circular geometry of the cover against the chaotic, organic texture of the surrounding pebble-dash pavement. There is a pleasing tension between the rigid lines of the 85 Sky Tower and the radiating "light" of the fireworks, all frozen in heavy metal.
Guidance for Improvement
• Depth and Dimension: While the flat "plan view" works well for a graphic look, try capturing the cover at a shallow angle with a wider aperture (e.g., f/2.8). This would allow the texture of the iron to pop while letting the background fall into a soft blur, adding a sense of place.
• Contextual Framing: Include a sliver of the actual 85 Sky Tower in the distant background, blurred and towering over its miniature iron counterpart. This creates a "dialogue" between the object and the reality it represents.
• Light Play: Return to this spot during the "Golden Hour." Low-angle sunlight will cast long shadows into the recessed grooves of the design, giving the image a three-dimensional, high-contrast quality that harsh midday light lacks.
Long-Term Growth and Resources
To refine your eye, you must become a student of the overlooked. Start a "Topographical Journal" where you categorize your images by subject—urban textures, industrial geometry, or street typography. This allows you to spot patterns in your own work and identify where you are playing it too safe.
Photographers to Study
• Fan Ho: For his masterful use of shadow and geometric composition in urban environments.
• William Eggleston: Though known for color, his ability to make the mundane (like a ceiling fan or a tricycle) feel monumental is essential study for any street photographer.
• Daido Moriyama: To understand how high-contrast monochrome and "rough" textures can convey the raw energy of a city.
Recommended Reading
• The Decisive Moment by Henri Cartier-Bresson: The bible of timing and composition.
• Thoughts on Street Photography: An exploration of the philosophy behind the lens.
Composition in Street Photography
This video explores the architectural and cultural landmarks of Kaohsiung, providing context for the very symbols depicted on the streets you are photographing.