Photographer

Luka Spoljaric

Finalist in

Upper Secondary Category

Written Statement

Texture is a term I have been familiar with for quite some time. It is only until I started studying Year 11 photography while still in Year 10 that I actually decided to explore it deeper. Texture to me means looking for the little things in a big picture. I particularly like to look for the details in things that have been around for a while, and that’s why I decided to explore texture through some older relatives, and an interesting-looking tree in my backyard.

While we can see from afar the wear and tear on some of the older things on this planet, getting up close and personal with a camera allows us to see this wear and tear in much greater detail. I don’t see these cemented hardships of life as a bad thing, but instead a sign of a life well lived.

In creating these photos, I used my DSLR Canon 1000D along with the almighty sun to bring light to my subjects. Composition was key in getting these photos right, and I would not stop until I had at least one photograph I could work with and improve. Shutter speeds were kept fairly fast as to not over expose the photos in the harsh light of the sun. Photoshop was used to enhance the overall effect that the photos gave, and to improve the visual appeal of them. No major manipulation of the photos took place, just adjustments to such things as the levels, curves, contrast, brightness etc. Making these choices allowed for a much more dramatic effect.

I believe that my photos successfully explore the theme of ‘texture’ in that you can feel what is being shown, without ever actually having to touch it.