Sounds: A Photo Essay

Background

A photo essay is a collection of photos surrounding a theme or story. This week, I created a photo essay based off of sound.

Introduction

The day is broken up in seven sounds. From the sheets flying off the bed to the first sip of coffee to the faint audio of the tv at night. These sounds represent a completed step in the day. Wake up, coffee, go to work, come home, made dinner, do homework, relax, and go to bed. Repeat.

The Story

The official start of the day is when the chilly air hits the warm body. The crisp sound of the sheets remind her that it is the start of a new day.

The taste of warm coffee quickly melts the chill away. It also gives time for reflection and planning.

Time to go to work. She is about to hear these squeaky doors open and close countless times before she leaves to go home at the end of the day.

For eight hours, the phone rings, the customers ask questions, the cash register beeps, and books are slammed on tables and shelves.

By the time she gets home, she is starving. After preheating the oven, the clash of the cookie sheet against the stove signifies that its almost time to eat.

After eating and relaxing, she will make her way to her desk. The only sound in the room for the next few hours will be the faint clicking of computer keys.

Her homework is done and the day is complete. The soft light and faint audio of the tv will slowly help her fall asleep.

Her day is nothing special, but it works. It’s simple. Just like some of the sounds in her day. She is going through life. Day by day. Moment by moment. Sound by sound.

Conclusion

I never really paid attention to the sounds around me until I started this essay. At first, I wanted to focus on an average day. But as I was thinking about it, it wasn’t an essay and more of a photo story (following one person in one place). I wanted this essay to go beyond following my average day. My goal was to create an image where you could almost hear the sound when looking at the image.

I’d categorize these photos as authentic, simple, casual, and convey a pleasant composition. In terms of composition and design, I wanted clean lines and balanced images. I tried to follow the rule of thirds or focus on symmetry. I also used several different angles. From straight on shots to putting my camera on the floor, I wanted to give a wide range of different perspectives. Lastly, I am a big fan of white space. When used correctly, it does a great job of emphasizing the subject matter, and that was what I was trying to do in most of my photos.

In order to create a cohesive collection, each photo needed to fit the theme, but it also needed to succeed on its own. They each needed to convey their own visual story.

In conclusion, I took all of these photos myself. Between my tripod and self-timer, I spent many hours taking these photos. I had a lot of fun completing this project, and I look forward to creating another one in the future.

Portfolio