Reflection Image Bank

REFLECTION IMAGE BANK 

This image is a very interesting take on reflection because its not a reflective surface that you would think of straight away. Also the reflection isn't very obvious when you first look at the image only when you look deeper do you see the reflection. 

This image inspires me because it is achievable for me when taking my own images. It seems that the bike and the tree were taken when it had been raining so that they reflected off the ground. The sky behind adds a lot of depth to the image as it is really beautiful and makes the bike appear dark. 

I really like how this image looks as the girl looks like she has a slight smile however her reflection looks slightly sad, this could be down to the angle of her face that in the reflection the other side of her mouth is down. This is really interesting to me because it makes you look at the image for longer and try to figure out how it might have been taken. 

I really like the surrealism of this image and how it looks like an isolated mountain with nothing around it apart from the reflection in the water. I couldn't take an image on the same scale as this one but I really like the idea of reflection in water.  

Again I like the reflection on the water in this photo as it's very gentle and faint. I like the fax that in this image its not actually symmetry as most of her face is reflected in thew water not just half. The photo to me seems quite sad ad very distant. 

Reflection Definition Post

REFLECTION DEFINITION POST

Reflection -

• The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.
• Although not strictly a formal element, reflection is an important consideration in framing a composition and establishing balance

This photo is an example of reflection as you can see the figure of the lady reflected off of the ground. I really like this image as its taken from an interesting perspective which shows the length of the lady in the reflection but not her in real life. I like how the natural background of the image contrasts with the saturated yellow of her dress.

William Eggleston Research Note

WILLIAM EGGLESTON 

I really like this image by William Eggleston, it really caught my eye and got me thinking of 1960's America with the classic diners and 'Grease' like trend of fashion. Something so simple as a sign (presumably for a diner) can spark so many different ideas about when the photo was taken, what were people doing, the sounds and the general vibe that surrounds just one image. Although the style of William Eggleston was to focus on colour of general life, shape was a huge part of his images and if you look closer the shapes are what makes the images so simple but effective. In this photo the different shapes are each a very bold colour making them appear very separate from one another. This is what attracts me to the image as the average person would overlook a sign like this but when photographed in the right way it holds a feeling of happiness and fun. Nothing about the image is perfect as its portraying everyday life, the sign looks old and slightly dirty but it still shows a boring life in a very interesting and fun way. 

This image gives a similar feel as the first in terms of everyday, imperfect life being shown in a more interesting and focused way. This image shows a kids tricycle which has a bold blue and red on it against a very dull and mundane background. To me, this represents the fun and light heartedness that childhood brings compared to later adult life. Again I think the colour is the main focus of the image as it makes the tricycle stand out and appear more fun compared to the background. Again the shapes in this image are important in making the photo as simple as it does but still having that effect. The tyres are one of the main focuses of the image and is where your eyes are drawn to first. The angle (from the floor) where this photo was taken from makes the tyres look taller than the building behind perhaps showing the unrealistic perspective of kids that everything is possible and their huge imaginations.

This photograph by William Eggleston reminds me of an old American scene. The simplicity of this image is what intrigues me the most, there is nothing spectacular in the photograph however it is still very interesting. It is composed of simple shapes, the main one being the square building itself. To me this is where my eyes are drawn first due to its saturated colour and the size of it within the image. This then leads me to the fence next to the building which is a similar shape, however slightly smaller and a very faded shade of yellow. The amount that the colour has worn away indicates that this area isn't particularly looked after, in fact it looks old and used. Although there isn't anything in particular in this image that is interesting the whole thing works together really well, the colour compliment each other and the simple shapes give the image a very fun edge. I especially like how there is no blank space in this image, not even in the sky. There is detail and texture on all of it which enhances the effect of the photo, even the sky has clouds that add detail.

Shape Straight Images

SHAPE STRAIGHT IMAGES 

This is one of my favourite images that I took. It is of a light which is shaped as a star, which is turned on in the photograph. To take this image I used the flash which made the lights really stand out and the border of the star shine just slightly. This gives a faint shape to the star which is not too harsh.  

I also like this image a lot because it incorporates shape and pattern but shows both equally as well. I love the reflective surface of the mirror and how it shows the light in it, this gives the image some depth. It clearly implies the criteria of shape as the repetitive rectangle shows it very obviously.

This image is slightly less obvious when it comes to showing shape but it still does. The bottoms of these boots are not only shapes themselves but have shapes within them. It is a good example of showing how shape makes up all images but is not always the main focus of the photo. 

This is one of my top images as it was taken in the studio. I used a white background so that the light would make the watches appear very bright and focused. To do this image I used two different watches which are different shapes so that image had more substance and was slightly more interesting. 

This image was also taken in the studio using the hard light and white background. Although this image isn't very creative in fact its quite simple, it was taken with the idea of editing it in mind. When taking this photo I was thinking of how I could make it look different so decided to focus in the whole watch and then reflect it in the editing process which has been written about in my Shape Work Diary. 

Shape Contact Sheet

SHAPE CONTACT SHEET 

Shape Image Bank

SHAPE IMAGE BANK 

I really like these photos by Tierney Gearon from the Shape series. They are definitely a different way of looking at shape and a very fun, bold and interesting way of showing an example of how shape can be used in photography. I love the saturated colours that are slightly transparent that make the people inside of them appear a different colour but still allow us to see them. I believe that these photos have been taken through glass in a certain location where Gearon could experiment and adjust the exposure then were photoshopped onto a remote and beautiful landscape. This gives the images a very unrealistic feel, the colourful shape and person doesn't belong in their setting. 

Shape Work Diary

SHAPE WORK DIARY

PLANNING

IMAGE 1 

EVALUATION - When taking this photo I wanted to focus on the simplicity of the watch and the shape rather than any detail. I knew that I would later make it more interesting when editing it, which you can see above. During the editing I still didn't want to loose the simplicity and cleanness of the photo so the reflected idea worked perfectly. To take the image I used hard lighting and a white background in the studio. 

EDITING - As I said before when editing this photo I wanted to keep it simple but still make it more interesting. To do this I decided to reflect the image across the middle as though there is a mirror in-between. I then adjusted where the image was so made the left watch as the bottom on the screen and the right at the top. I really like how this turned out as it is very different to how I usually edit. I also wanted to make the image black and white, this really gave the watched a classical feel and made the image all round appear much stronger. To make it black and white I used curves, this helped me to darken the shadows of the photo but still keep the face of the watch bright. 

DEVELOPMENT - The only thing I would change about this photo is the editing of it as I found that when reflecting the image there was a dark line in between and he corners appeared shadowed. I tried to use the 'fix tool' to alter this and blur the lines which worked to a certain extent but it is still visible where some of the darker areas are. 

IMAGE 2 

EVALUATION - This image is similar to the one above as it uses watches but I wanted to show that the same object could make a completely different image through editing. Instead of just using the one watch I used two in this photo which were different shapes, this met my criteria and compared different shapes rather than focusing on one. I think this image worked well but only after editing, I am not keen on the original images its very boring however the edited version is fun and original. 

EDITING - Firstly I used curves on this image, I used curves to make the light parts of the watch extra bright. This means that I only moved the top part of the graph up so that the whites were more saturated. I then wanted to make the image different and give it an unreal look. I decided to use the saturation and hue tool to do this. When using this tool I turned the hue up to the pink side, which gave the photo a pink/red tint. I then though it would look a lot cleaner and better if the rest of the image was colourless and only the pink was left so I used the colour balance option and turned down all of the other colours part from red and this was the result. 

DEVELOPMENT - This image would be difficult to develop due to the fact that it was taken with the editing result in mind. I have said before that I didn't like the original photo because its dark and lacks and kind of interest. However when edited I feel that the photo came to life and was a better version of itself. That in mind if i was to take the photo again I would try to direct the light above the watches so that they appeared brighter. 

IMAGE 3 

EVALUATION - When taking this image I wanted to focus on the way the shape looked when the lights were on. To do this I used the flash which made only the lit up parts show on camera. It made the shape of the star stand out as if that itself was lit, it also made the shape of the bulbs very bold and uniform, showing another example of shape. I really like how this turned out and how the use of light positively impacted the the image. 

EDITING - There wasn't much I wanted to change about this mage because I thin the use of light gave it a good effect in itself. However when experimenting with the curves tool I increased the light end of the graph, this made the actual shape of the star stand and made the bulbs appear as if they had brightened. Not only did it do this but it also blurred the lines of the bulbs which gave the main body of the star a much softer effect really giving the image a much calmer and more gentle feel. 

DEVELOPMENT - There isn't anything I would change about this image if I was to take it again because it is exactly how I had intended it to be. 

IMAGE THAT NEEDS IMPROVING 

This image needs improvement because although it shows shape it isn't set up very well. It certainly wouldn't impact anyone or make for an attractive photo to look at. The fact that it was taken in front of a window means that the room behind me is visible in the image which makes it appear very unplanned. The actual shape itself isn't actually in focus and doesn't look good with the flash that has been put on it. If I was to take this photo again I would put it on a white background and make sure that its in focus to make the image more planned and cleaner.  

Shape Definition post

SHAPE DEFINITION POST

SHAPE -   A shape is an area enclosed by a line. It could be just an outline or it could be shaded in.

  Shapes can be either geometric, like a circle, square or triangle, or irregular. 

          The shapes created in the spaces between shapes are referred to as negative space.








I really like this image as an example of shape. I like how there are two shapes in the image, one being the silhouette of the boy which is made by dark. The other being the Mickey mouse shape behind the boy which has been made by light. 

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I think this image represents the sexual objectification of women. The way the women appears in the image could be seen as focusing on the form of the women rather than any meaning. In the image she is exposed and the artist has taken many photos of female form so I do think he's trying to present them in a sexual way.

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Imogen Cunningham Research Note

Imogen Cunningham 

This image by Imogen Cunningham is an Amaryllis Flower. The image really focuses on the form of the flowers and the depth of the petals. I really love this image because it makes me think of how something so beautiful can shine even in the darkness and how it goes from a tiny seed to blossoming into a remarkable thing of beauty. It is a very good photo considering it was taken in 1933 when editing wasn't around. This shows me that Imogen really concentrated on how the light would make the flower appear. One aspect of the photo that really stands out to me is how one flower in dark and the other is light, this again proves how much concentration Imogen put into ensuring the light reflected what she wanted to show. To take this photo, I assume that she had the light on the right side of the flowers so that the right flower was illuminated. There is also a lot of texture in this photo which adds to the realness of the flower, when seeing the detail on the petals, stalk and leaves it leads your eyes further and further into the photo. 

This image is part of Imogen's collection 'the form of Botanics', it was taken in 1925 so again a time where editing wouldn't be available. This image is of a Calla flower, it inspires me in my own images because it's very simple yet effective. I like how the flower petal curves round into the centre of the photo. This is an example of a leading line which causes your eyes to follow it from the bottom of the photo to the centre. To me, this really draws the whole image together which is really eye catching. The curve of the image adds a very tranquil feeling and indicates something beautiful and perfectly formed. Imogen has really emphasised that in this photo as she had made sure that even though the photo is very bright there is just the right amount of shadow to extenuate the curve. 

Although this image is very dull and muted I think it gives it a really good effect. It is a Ghost Flower in the image, therefore the grey and dull colours of it really ties reflects the name of it. I really like how the image has been taken because it shows form in a really interesting way. From the angle is was taken and with the use of the lighting we can really see the petals, their thickness and all round how they are composed. I think the lighting of the image must be shining from the top as there are shadows cast on the bottom, this really makes the form of the petals deep and allows us to see two different aspects of the flower. The bottom where its dark and has a lot of detail and the top where its light and looks practically mark-free. The use of black and white in this photo shows the shadows much more than it would in colour, further emphasising the depth of the flower.

Form Work Diary

FORM WORK DIARY 

IMAGE 1 

EVALUATION - This is my first and best image, the simplicity and natural colours makes it a stand out piece to me. One thing that I especially love about it is the form of the leaf, the way it curls up and narrows out at the end. The curved line of the leaf gives a very calm and tranquil feeling which follows the theory of line. I think that the detail of the leaf that has been picked up on camera really adds a realistic feel to the image making it look real even through the lens. I decided to use the flash so that the leaf was well lit and cast a shadow. 

EDITING - When it can to editing by image I wanted to make the shadows stand out but keep the detail on the leaf. The best way to do this I thought would be to make it black and white, although before I liked the colour I still think the image looked just as effective if not more. The first thing I don't was turn down the lightness and saturation of the photo, this make it go very dull. I then used curves to make the dark areas and light areas even more prominent, this made the shadows dark and the detail bright. 

DEVELOPMENT - If I was to take this image again there is one thing that it would change about it. I would try to get rid rid of the shadow that is cast at the front of the photograph, although I tried to crop it out slightly. I am not sure how this happened as it has occurred on many of my photos, my only guess is that its something to do with the flash. To get rid of this problem I wouldn't use the flash, instead I would use a light. 

IMAGE 2 

EVALUATION - I really like how this image turned out, the idea was to captured a less typical angle of the strawberry, to make it look different to how we imagine it. I think I did this well, the contrast between there'd and the white really makes it stand out and eye catching. To take this image I used the flash and held my camera directly about the strawberry to make sure it was in the centre of the photo. Using the flash turned out really well as it gives the effect that half of the strawberry is in the shadow and the other half it lit. This cast a shadow underneath the fruit making it seem more realistic.

EDITING - I am not sure on the way I have edited this image, the idea was to make the shadows darker and the strawberry more saturated. I think the idea with the shadows has come out well as I used curves to make the dark areas darker. However, when using curves I moved the top of the line to make it lighter in areas. This made the colour of the strawberry slightly more pink that it originally was. I didn't realise this when editing however having the images side by side makes it more obvious. 

DEVELOPMENT - I have the same improvement I would make on this image as the last, the shadow at the bottom of the picture doesn't look right in the photo. It would look much cleaner and well composed if that wasn't there. I would also try to make the camera pick up more detail on the strawberry like the seeds. 

IMAGE 3 

EVALUATION - I love how this image turned out, how it looks different to how a typical photo of a flower would be. When taking the image I wanted to focus on taking it from a different perspective so that it was more original and my own take on Imogen Cunningham's work. I think this worked really well, the flower looks beautiful and delicate because of the way it has been placed and the level the photo was taken at. Personally, this flower gives me a feeling of happiness and love because it really shines and is so simply portrayed. 

EDITING -  When it came to editing this image I wanted to make the flower the centre of the photograph both literally and through colour. To do this I cropped the image and rotated it slightly because before you could see the divide between the background. Next, I changed the saturation by turing it up about 25%. This made the purple and the green really stand out against each other, this made the image appear really good because they are complimentary colours (opposite each other on the colour wheel). Next I used curves to make the white in the photograph really bright, I wanted to do this to give the effect that it was shining and almost unreal compared to the flower.

DEVELOPMENT - As I have mentioned twice before there is a shadow at the bottom of the image which was made by the flash off of the white background. If I was to take the image again i would try to make sure that this wasn't there. 

PHOTO THAT REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT 

This image is the one that requires the most improvement out of all 24. I think this because it doesn't show form very well, instead its more focused on the detail of the pan. There is a shadow cast and it is evident that it is a 3D object, however it just doesn't have the right effect and probably won't stay with or mean anything to anyone. 

I don't think I would do this image again because its just not the right object to use to show form in the way I wanted too.  

Form Image Bank

Form Image Bank 

I like this image in terms of form because of the way the dice have been set out. The different angles at which the dice have been laid out shows the depth of the dice. This inspires me for my own images because I think this will be achievable to recreate. 

Although I wouldn't be able to achieve an image like this because its very large scale, I could do something similar using sticks. I really like this image because the shadows are cast underneath and the detail of the trunks is very interesting. 

 

This is image caught my eye, because of the shadows that are caused by the man's bones. I like that the image is black and white because it really exaggerates the form of his body. 

I like how this image has been set up, the number of balls on the table gives a good view of the form from different angles. However, what interests me it the fact that only the ball in the middle is in focus, this is very clever and gives the photo depth. 

This is one of my favourite images of form. I am going to try to recreate this image because I own pointe shoes so it'll be something different I can do. However, in my own image, I think I'll focus on the soles of the shoes and edit it to black and white.