6 photos that show how your “eye” changed over the course of the semester

Over the course of the semester, my eye shifted from simply pointing and shooting the camera to capture a moment, to actually thinking about what a photograph communicates and why. Prior to taking this class, I wasn't focused on anything other than capturing the subject and never thought about composition or the intent of the picture I was taking. As the class progressed, I started thinking more critically about framing, lighting, and what I wanted the viewer's attention to be directed toward. Shooting in black and white was a big change that forced me to be better. By removing color from my photos, it forced me to completely rely on the subject, composition, and lighting. This course's emphasis on "knowing by doing" pushed me to understand media not just as documentation, but as an ever-expanding form of inquiry. I also began to feel more comfortable with imperfections, whether it was the grain, blur, or an out-of-focus shot. It showed me that mistakes can carry meaning. By the end of the semester, I am leaving feeling less like someone who just takes pictures and more like someone making images with a specific and unique point of view.