Photographer Research 2

Courtney Slazinik 

Courtney Slazinik is a former teacher who got into photography around 2009 with the motive to capture beautiful moments with her family. She has a website called 'Click It Up A Notch' - https://clickitupanotch.com/blog/ where she shares all that she has learned about using cameras and pursuing photography to offer tips and support to anyone who wishes to do the same.

This image is taken of Courtney Slazinik's children as she uses them as subject for a lot of her photography. This shot depicts two young children, brother and sister as I have discovered from research, standing side by side looking out of the window. It is suggested that the pair are emotionally close and comfortable with each other as they are within such close proximity of each other. They appear comfortable in this setting due to their relaxed body language and how they are leaning on the window frame, so I would assume that this image was shot in the family home. It is also clear from this image that the brother is older as he is much taller than his sister. They also both seem to be in casual clothing and not dressed up for any occasion which would suggest that it is most likely the weekend and they can be presumed to be watching a visitor leave their house waiting to wave them goodbye from the window.

Architectural elements are used for framing in this shot. The little girl is perfectly framed in this image by the bottom left square in the window, whilst the boys body is framed as he is too tall to perfectly fit within the square. Courtney Slaznik has used an offset perspective for this image and whilst the boy fits nicely into the rule of thirds in this shot, the little girl is central. There is also an element of negative space in this image to the left of the window.

This image shot of Slazinik's son illustrates him standing in his crib, it appears that he has just woken up as he is in his pyjamas and the sunlight from outside the window is still yellowish, as the sun is still rising. He is holding on to the side of his crib and looking out of the window as we can tell that it is in front of him due to the sunlight shining on to his face and behind him creating his shadow on the wall. It also looks like he is yawning as he has just woken up. The little boy seems confident in his surroundings with a tall and strong posture has he looks ahead, and this captured moment is most likely part of his daily routine. This image could even have a deeper meaning about the boys wider consciousness represented by his shadow and how he is very self aware.

Slazinik has framed the boys shadow in this image rather than the boy himself. She has used the chance of her setting and the time of day to capture the sunlight reflecting on the boys wall. The boy is positioned in the right, third section of the image and there is a lot of negative space in the image however it has quite a calm tone. Possibly because of the light green shades on the wall and the sunlight shining on the boy's face and his crib. Additionally this offers the idea of quietness in the room.

This image also features Slaziniks children. The pair are outside by a river crouching on the floor surrounded by bushes. They both look comfortable and eager to explore the outside. Their body language would suggest that they are calm and patient, perhaps waiting to spot fish in the river. They are wearing trainers and most likely on a walk to explore the nature outside. Neither of the children are seen with electronic devices and both seem very present in the moment and in touch with the world around them. Their arms are touching and they are both physically close to each other which again portrays their close relationship.

Slazinik has used environmental elements in this image to frame the children with the bush almost curving around them and filling up all of the space in the bottom corners of the shot and opening up around her children. They are just slightly to the right of the centre of the image, but the final image still looks good and fairly symmetrical with green bushes filling both spaces on the left on right. This image does also have a slight depth of field as the part of bush thats in the forefront is not in focus. 

This shot is of Slaziniks French Bulldog, Sanford, snoozing on the floor. Presumably this image was taken in her family home as he seems comfortable and relaxed in this environment. This image was probably shot around midday as the light beaming through is very white with no orange or pink tint to suggest sunrise or sunset. He has obviously chosen this particular spot for a nap as it's warm.

To shoot this image, Slazinik has either laid / crouched on the floor to almost be at eye level with the dog, making the viewer and Sanford equals therefore he does not seem either intimidating or uninportant. Purely down to circumstance Slazinik has been able to capture Sanford being framed by the sunlight shining through the window on to the floor and part of the wall. The sunlight creates smaller frames of its own on the floor as the window it shines through has sections.