Shoot 1 Straight Images

SHOOT 1 - STRAIGHT IMAGES 

This is one of my favourite images that I took during Shoot 1. One aspect that I really like about it is the composition, where the dog is placed in correlation with the alley behind him. Even though the dog appears small he dominates the foreground especially with his shadow trailing behind him. This adds depth to the photo and causes an invisible leading line from the dog to the background. I also really like how the lighting is quite soft considering its sunlight, this adds a very calm and tranquil feel to the image. 

This is another image that I particularly like. Whilst taking the image is used a low aperture of around F4. This allowed me to play around with the focus and I decided to keep the background in focus as this was where the action was happening. Therefore the foregournd (where I was holding a flask) is blurry and draws the focus into the centre of the photo. This image reminds me of the 'desicive moment' in photography which is about the right moment to press the shutter for a good outcome. I think I captured this photo at the right moment as the ball in directly in the middle of my dog and Dad whilst he is running to fetch it. 

This photograph is another one of my favourites from Shoot 1. This is a landscape photo of the silhoutte of trees. I like how the image really relfects the seaon that it has been taken in. It is very clear from the frost on the ground, the bright sun and the scarcity of the trees that it is winter. When looking at this image it really shows the beautiful side of the cold by showing the cool colours but also looking welcoming from the sun. Overall I think this photo is very well composed, highly detailed and well baanced image. 

I really like this photo even though it breaks many rules of photography. I understand that the image is over exposed and there is a lense glare however somehow it gives it a surreal feeling. I feel like the brightness at the top of the steps gives the photo a sense of mystery and a tranquil look. The perspective of this photo gives it a direction, heading up the steps and discovering the view from the top. However, if I was to edit this image I would try to use curves in order to darkern the shadows. This would give the detail of the photo more definition and improve the over exposure.

Lastly I have this image from Shoot 1 which I think is a very interesting and different image. Again I know that this image is over exposed but I think this really adds to the surreal effect of it. I think that the compostion of this photo is good as the subjects are directly in the middle and lead your eyes through to the background where you pick up slight detail. The main subject of the photo (being my Dad and Dog) are qute dark compared to the rest of the photo which gives the image a focus. As the light is ahead of them it has cast a harsh shadow directly behind them where I have taken the image from, this adds depth to the photo and compensates for the brightness of the rest of it.

Shoot 1 Contact Sheet

SHOOT 1 - CONTACT SHEET

Physical Images Definition

PHYSICAL IMAGES

Photo Manipulation - involves transforming or altering a photograph using various methods and techniques to achieve desired results. 

How does Gilliam's animations link to Hannah Hoch's photo-composites? 

Gilliam and Hoch's work are linked as they both hand manipulate the photos by putting different images together. Neither of them always use their own images, sometimes they get the photos from different sources. Gilliam's is more for comedy purposes whereas Hoch does it for art purposes and to convert a meaning sometimes political. 

How is meaning changed through creating photo-composites? 

The meaning is changed as the different parts of the photo are taken out of their original context and put somewhere completely new that doesn't necessarily relate. For example the composite photo of the old lady on the motorbike which is her been taken out of her original context and put somewhere comical. 

George Logan Research Note

GEORGE LOGAN 

        George Logan is well-known for his composite images that are interesting but sometimes thought provoking. George was born in Bellshill, Glasgow, Scotland until he moved to London where he is now based as a photographer. He is a multi-talented artist who works with people, animals, locations and still life. George currently has three travelling exhibitions in the UK and his work has been exhibited in Shanghai China because of its popularity. The images are all composed by him to introduce new, funny and interesting ideas to people.  

This image is photographed and edited by George Logan who creates composite images. The image shows a small animal that appears to be a small monkey chasing a zebra. We know that a small animal like this would not scare a bigger animal like a zebra and cause it to run away. However George is trying to explore different ways of looking at things and making slightly comical and strange. Therefore we know that this photo is a composite, this means that the different aspects have been edited together. He would've had an image of one of the animals running across the same background and then would've edited the other animal in to make it appear like a chase. The image is very well composed in terms of the background being slightly blurred and covered in fog, this allows us to focus on the foreground of the two animals. If the background was in full detail then we might not notice the small animal at first. 

This image by Logan is of a cow on a diving board. It is a very interesting and comical image of a scenario that we wouldn't expect which informs us that this is a composite photo. It appears in the photo that the cow has a towel round his neck and a swimming hat on which adds to the comedy of it as we know that this is not a possible situation. The images is very well composed in terms of the symmetry of it. I really like the way that there are definite lines going across the photo which give it a very polished and perfect feel, reflecting the  background of the photo which also appears very flawless. The lines are mainly across the centre of the picture which break the photo up whilst also leading your eyes across the image. The image is very striking in my opinion in terms of the brightness and colours. The very saturated blue and green really strike your eyes and draw you in to a place that seems almost unreal.  

This photograph by Logan is different to the ones before as it doesn't have that comical aspect to it. Instead he has used his artistic skill of integrating animals into the human world to convey an important message. We can see from the photo that there is a monkey on the streets with a sign and rubbish around him. The sign next to him reads 'thousands of animals are made homeless every month' this is due to the human impacts we have on their environment like deforestation and using them for our own entertainment. Therefore it is our responsibility that they are loosing their homes but we don't realise this until someone explains it to us. The image therefore mirrors a person on the street who is homeless and needs help, they (like the monkey) have lost their home therefore it is the same concept however taken slightly out of context. I think this is a really powerful image as it gives you a realisation of what we are doing to the animals home and that we care more that humans have no home when the same is happening to the other life forms around us. 

Barbara Kruger Research Note

BARBARA KRUGER

Barbara Kruger was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1945.Kruger obtained a design job at Condé Nast Publications. Working for Mademoiselle Magazine. She layers found photographs from existing sources with pithy and aggressive text that involves the viewer in the struggle for power and control that her captions speak to. Much of her text questions the viewer about feminism, classicism, consumerism, and individual autonomy and desire, although her black-and-white images are culled from the mainstream magazines that sell the very ideas she is disputing. 

 

This image by Barbara Kruger is a good example of physical manipulation. The message that she lays over the top of her images are very powerful in terms of feminism. As we can see this one reads 'Your body is a battlefield' which as soon as you read, provokes thoughts in your head about what she actually means by this. The image behind the writing shows a face with a dark and light side which to me represents two emotions fighting against each other. This links to the text about the body being a battlefield because as we know a battlefield has two sides. Therefore Barbara referring to the body being a battle field could mean that the good parts and the bad parts of our body fight each other in our own eyes. We have contradicting thoughts about ourself (especially women but also men) which cause us to make the bad parts fight the good. I think this is a powerful message from Kruger as it represents her stance in feminism and the pressure women feel to have the perfect appearance. The way the image is presented is very eye catching and portrays the message loud and clear in a simple but effective way. 

To me this is a very powerful image that addresses a current issue in society. The issue that girls are going up too quickly and looking up to models at such a young age and trying to follow that example. I can tell from this photo that the little girl is from a beauty pageant and has clearly been made to dress this way so that she loos 'pretty'. Even from first glance at this image we can see that she is far too young to be wearing the amount of makeup she is and to have her hair done that way. I think the message that is over the top of the photo is very clever as it plays on the words 'I never want to grow up' but instead replaces it with 'ugly'. This shows that this girl is already grown up and instead of not wanting to be an adult she doesn't want to be ugly. This is a true and very extreme example of girl culture and the pressure to look a certain way. The look on the girls face isn't happy and smiling like we would expect from a young child getting their photo taken. Instead she looks like she has been made to do this against her own will and therefore doesn't have real happiness. 

 

This image by Barbara Kruger is of a lady with ice cubes on her face that reads 'Super rich, Ultra gorgeous, Extra skinny, Forever young'. I think this image is very powerful as it outlines what society see's as our ultimate goal and if you don't fit that criteria then that is what you should be working towards. The image of the lady is very different as she has ice cubes all around her face which to us is a strange concept. It isn't typically what we'd expect her to be doing however it could be showing the lengths people go to, to achieve these standards. The photograph definitely reflects who Barbara Kruger is as she is a feminist. Therefore for her to be addressing what we see as perfect for women is proving her point of unrealistic goals set for women. She uses very powerful words in the writing such as 'Super, Ultra, Extra and Forever' this makes the concepts seem even more above average as they are emphasised. Overall the tone of the photograph shows quite an oblivious culture that aspires to unrealistic standards that try to make us all the same. 

Connecting Essay 4

CONNECTING ESSAY 4 

http://www.artspace.com/thomas_ruff

This is a portrait taken by Thomas Ruff of a young lady who is acting as his model. When looking at the lady she appears to be emotionless, without hint of happiness or sadness she is just blank staring into the camera lens. This is apparent in many of Ruff's works when taking photos of people. He seems to adopt the style of just concentrating on faces and not trying to portray any message or emotion. Even though the image doesn't have any message it is still quite interesting, the reason for this is the colours that Ruff has included in the shot. He has put the lady who is wearing a green jumper in front of a pink background which are complimentary colours. In my perspective this gives the photo a very fun, statement look, it makes her stand out from the background but also brings the otherwise boring photo to life.

This image of Ellie is my take on the Thomas Ruff photo. When taking this photo I decided to use the bright pink background the same as the Ruff picture. In this photo you can tell that there isn't really any emotion being portrayed on Ellie's face. She looks quite serious and is not doing anything to suggest her mood. She is wearing a white jumper which contrasts to the bright pink background very well, they don't blend into each other but instead play off of each other. When editing this photo all I done was increase the saturation to make the individual colours stand out more. 

I think these images are very similar in terms of the colour saturation and the way the models are. In both images there is the use of the pink background which is very saturated and compliments the models well. You can also tell from this that they are edited in a similar way, by turing up the saturation to make the colour pop almost unrealistically. Both of the photos also show no emotion as the models are just staring into the camera lens and not moving or trying to portray an emotion. This is effective in both images as you can interpret the photo how you want, it allows the viewer to concentrate on the face rather than the meaning behind it. 

Connecting Essay 3

CONNECTING ESSAY 3 

http://www.campinglife.com/feature-stories/ansel-adams-outdoor-photography/

This image by Ansel Adams is from his 'outdoor photography' collection. Most of the photographs from this collection are close ups that shows the texture and detail of objects. This image is of a leaf that is in the centre and then other parts of leafs round the outside. However the main focus is on the centre as this is the one that the camera has brought the detail out on. We can see the intricate lines on the leaf, how the centre sprouts out to reach down each part and the slight water droplets that have accumulated on it. This image makes you feel very close to nature as you get to look at the leaf in a detail that you wouldn't usually do, this gives you a realisation of how we can miss a lot of detail when we don't take the time to look. 

 

This is my own image that I took for form and is a loose take on the work of Ansel Adams. My image was taken in an indoor setting so that I could use the hard lighting to my advantage, to help me extenuate the detail of the leaf. I decided to take the photo from this angle as it had more texture than the top of the leaf. Also by having the stalk at the bottom of the image it acts as a leading line with the curve going through the centre of the leaf. I like the effect this has as it shows something very natural and beautiful which at the same time is tranquil just from the shape it has. 

My image was only loosely based around Ansel Adams image as I didn't take the photo in the natural setting, I decided it would be more effective to have it in the studio. However both images still show the texture and detail of the leaf and the shape that it takes. Upon looking at both images it is evident to me that they show the beauty of natural form, a thing that we cannot control but instead can appreciate. When editing the photo I wanted to take on the style of Ansel Adams, black and white. I think this is particularly effective in this image as it helps to make the detail more prominent but also makes you focus on the shape and texture more. 

Connecting Essay 2

CONNECTING ESSAY 2 

 

http://www.vivianmaier.com/gallery/self-portraits/#slide-22

This photo by Vivian Maier is part of her 'self-portrait' collection. Whereby she used reflection to her advantage, to take a photo of a frame but including herself within the frame. This inspired me in my work for reflection as it is very possible to recreate in my own style. I especially love this image as it appears to be in Vivian's bedroom. To me this means that what is in front of her reflects part of who she is and the style she has adopted within her life. As it is nicely decorated with a pretty mirror, light and a chair it shows me that she could afford some luxuries or lived with a family that provided her with them. This just allows us a little bit more insight into Vivian's quite closed personality. The lighting of this photo is particularly effective as it casts light areas all around the mirror and lights up the chair. If the whole image would have been dark then that calming and angelic feeling wouldn't be shown like it is. Overall, this photo gives me an all round idea of who Vivian is, where she feels comfortable and the condition of the place that she lived. This is why it is important that she is included in the frame through reflection. 

  

The image above is my take on using reflection to show a self portrait. In the image I tried to use a white background as I wanted the blue wall behind me to be very prominent and the main colour of the photo. To take the image I got my sister to hold the mirror in front of her face whilst I took the image from in front of her. I think this worked well in terms of composition as I am in the centre of the photo and the border around me works well with the background. I also like the effect that where my head and shoulders end my insisters body begins, making it appear like a puzzle at first glance. 

Both photos are similar in appearance, however I took the idea of the border representing myself and instead went for a more simplistic look. Instead of showing possessions that reflect me I used my sister who is very close to me which shows a big part of my life within the photo. Similar to what it makes you feel about Vivian it shows a little bit about who I am. I like one of the main differences between the photos is the time difference, as you can see I m using a phone to take my image and Vivian is using an old camera. This shows the development in technology between the two dates that the photos were taken. 

Connecting Essay 1

CONNECTING ESSAY 1 

When taking my landscape photos I was inspired by Stephen Shore and his 'Uncommon Places' collection of images. I was intrigued by these photos due to the fact that to majority of people they aren't recognisable therefore to recreate the photos they could be taken anywhere. 

http://www.stephenshore.net/photographs/six/index.php?page=8&menu=photographs 

I was especially drawn to this photo because of the composition of it. I like the perspective of looking down this rundown, dark and abandoned road to what looks like a rich, bright and well kept home. This contrast shows rural to urban but also rich to poor. One other aspect that I liked about this photo was the way the light is used to the photographers advantage. The use of shadows over the foreground of the image emphasises the background (it almost acts as a leading line). I think this image is interesting do the the rarity of it, it is quite an 'uncommon' contrast to see in this way. 

When taking photos for landscape I went to the top of a car park near college. I decided to take photos up there because I was thinking about Stephen Shore's 'Uncommon Places'. When taking this photo I wanted to work on the composition of it to make it more intriguing, to do this I made the building on the left side the main focus of the image that leads you out into the background. I really like how due to the height that I took the photo from it means that I got the tops of buildings in the background. The light of the photo is very soft which indicates the time of day that it was taken at, the colours of the sky are also reflected off the ground of the photo which really ties the image together.

I believe that my image and Stephen Shore's image connects through the similar composition. Both photos include the building at the front standing out and being the main focus of the image which then draws your eyes to the background. I also tried to use the light to my advantage similar to how Stephen did in his photo, however on mine I used the soft evening light to give a soft and quiet feel to the image. Lastly I tried to keep the theme the same, of using uncommon places to reflect how landscape images are all around us even when we can't recognise them. 

Henri Cartier Bresson Research Note

Henri Cartier Bresson 

Henri Cartier Bresson was a documentary photographer who's discovery of the art came from Martin Munkácsi in the arts magazine Arts et Métiers Graphiques which he discovered in 1931. His first photographic experience of documenting photographs was to Europe with his friends Leonor Fini and Pieyre de Mandiargues. During the war in 1940 he joined the film and photography with the Third Army which influenced him to take photos of the people around him at the time. In 1948-50 he spent three years in the Far East: in India for the death of Gandhi, in China for the last six months of the Kuomintang and the first six months of the People’s Republic, and in Indonesia for its independence. His photographs are published all over the world. This is where majority of his famous photos came from. 

The 'decisive moment' in photography is especially important when documenting a moment. Capturing the right seconds can include emotion and the perfect framing and be the difference between an amazing photo and something that doesn't have much meaning. This photo for example was taken just at the right moment, this was taken at the The Swan Ballet in Soviet Union, Moscow, Bolchoi Theatre, 1954. It is part of his 'Soviet Union' portfolio of images, he was one of the first photographers to be allowed into the USSR during the Cold War. The photo really represents the story of the ballet as well as showing the romance and femininity of the show, the soft outline of the ballerinas reflects the elegance of the dance. In front of the line of dancers are what appears to be the main characters, holding each other and looking at each other, this shows the connection between them and the love which we all see develop on stage in front of our eyes. As i mentioned before there is a desicvie moment within photography which we can see here, Henri chose the perfect moment to take this image as the dancers are perfectly still and positioned in a meaningful way but there is still some blur showing motion of the dance. In the foreground of the image you can also see the orchestra which adds to the atmosphere of the theatre which he is trying to portray. 

This photograph by Henri Cartier Bresson was taken in Leningrad on the 9th May 1973. It is part of the Soviet Union portfolio when he was one of the first photographers allowed in the country to take photos. The photo is of people commemorating the victory over the Nazis. I think this image has a lot of emotion behind it but also a feeling of patriotism and proudness of their country. The decisive moment of this image shows so much emotion due to the facial expressions and body language of the people. The young girl at the front of the photo could be seen as the main focus of the image as her sweetness stands out against the harshness of the wall of soldiers. The flowers she is holding show a sign of peace and remembrance which implies that soldiers were lost in the pursuit of this victory. The line of soldiers really emphasises the proudness of those who fought and their emotion behind what they have been through. The man at the front of the line is looking slightly past the camera and the facial expression he has looks upset. To me he appears to be someone of authority due to him wearing a different hat to the other men, this could show that he was the leader of the men when they came to victory. I think this photo is very important to be preserved as it shows a countries heritage and proudness which should be kept for years to come. The people in the image have fought for their country and this photo shows the emotion that they feel when thinking about what they have been through. 




This photo was taken by Henri Cartier Bresson and is part of the India portfolio taken in 1947. It was taken in North India, Kuinkshaha and is of a muslim refugee train from Delhi to Lahore in Pakistan. The image is very thought provoking and causes you to feel empathy for the people involved. One of the most important aspects of this photo is the lack of emotion shown by the people, their blank faces are just staring into the camera lens, showing no curiosity, happiness or even sadness. The empathy that we feel for them is brought about by the conditions we see them in. They have resulted to this unsafe way to leave a country because its their only choice. There are men, women and even children all cramped together trying to flee the area they live in. All of the people are wrapped in sheets with only a small amount of luggage with them, this tells us that they are going to be traveling through the night as it might get cold and they need to protect themselves from getting ill. The fact that this photo is in black and white emphasises the empathy that we feel for the people as it doesn't include any bright colours so only reflects a dark sad feeling. The perspective of the photograph is very interesting as we are drawn through the image from the main focus at the front to the end of the train. 

Stephen Shore Research Note

Stephen Shore Research Note 

Stephen Shore was born in 1947 and has been displaying his work for the last 45 years. A well-known style of his landscape photography which are generally of abandoned and desolate places. His work is mainly based in the United States however one of his portfolios was based in Ukraine. He is well known for incorporating interesting colour into his art photography. For a self-taught photographer his work has developed massively from his self made darkroom to books of his work which have been sold worldwide. 

     This image taken by Stephen Shore was taken on July 13th, 1974. It was taken in Holden Street, North Adams, Massachusetts. This image really caught my eye and is very interesting in terms of the location of it. Stephen has chosen to take this image in this exact location because of the contrast between the foreground and background. The foreground of the image shows a desolate and abounded street with buildings that don't look in very good condition. It is the sort of scene you would see in an area which has been left and doesn't have any life to it. The shadow that has been cast over the foreground of the image adds to this feel of abandonment and darkness. This is a really good way of using light to your advantage and within the image the shadow splits it up into two different emotions. The background of the image is something you would expect to see on a postcard, its very aesthetically pleasing and looks well kept. The brightness of the background makes its look more hopeful and happy against the rather depressing foreground. 

      This image was taken on July 18th 1973, in Room 125, Westbank Motel, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The feel of this image is very common, its nothing fancy in fact its quite boring. It is a very different way of looking at a landscape and some people might not class it as one however it is a modern interpretation of it. The photo lacks a lot of detail that you would expect from a landscape however this makes it interesting to me. There isn't a lot of colour within the photo, it is all quite brown and dull but this gives a rundown and desolate feel. The era of the image is displayed very well and could be guessed based on objects within the photo. For example the TV shows that it is aged, even the style of shoe and jeans gives an indication that the photo isn't modern. Overall I think this is a really good photo because its a scene that most people would over look and not find interesting but when taken in this context its a  photo that can be thought about. 





This photo by Stephen Shore is from the 'Uncommon Places' collection. I think this is the right collection of images for it to belong to as it seems unpopulated and quite quiet due to the lack of people and action going on in the image. I really like this photograph due to the distinct difference between the foreground and background. There almost appears to be a gradient of natural colours, at the front theres the blue of the water then sand then the green of the trees. The natural tones of this image makes it appear very attractive and very surreal due to how perfect it looks. To me it looks like a painting because of how every aspect of the image looks perfectly places and the colours tie in well and look saturated. One aspect of the photo that I particularly like is the clouds in the sky as they add a lot of detail to the photo. It means that there is no blank space, all of the image has detail and texture. 

Joel Meyerowitz Research Note

Joel Meyerowitz Research Note 

Joel Meyerwitz was born in 1938 and didn't start taking photos until 1962. He is a street photographer who is well known for his use of colour. Many photos before his were taken in black and white but he decided to take images in colour as he thought it would capture more of the atmosphere. He changed peoples perspective on colour photography from acceptance to widely appreciated. Joel based his work around Henri Cartier Bresson's images who was one of his early inspirations. Through out his career he has produced many books, many of which have been bestsellers. He was also given exclusive access to Ground Zero after 9/11 whereby he captured the devastation after the attacks, these photos have now travelled to over 200 cities to be displayed. 

    This image taken by Joel Meyerowitz in 1978 is part of his Empire State series. It is said to have been taken on 34th Street and 9th Avenue which appears to be near to the famous Empire State Building. It is of a 'Young Dancer' who seems to be waiting for someone of something. It is clear to us from the image that she is a dancer from the clothes she is wearing and the way her hair is tied back. I think the reason that this image is so striking is due to the complimentary colours between the green of her dress and the red on the building behind her. This makes her stand out so much more than if she was wearing dark coloured clothing. The lighting of the image is quite soft which could signify that the image was taken at sunset, it isn't bright but there is still some light that we can see however it seems that it may be approaching night. This adds a very quiet and relaxed feel to the image. We can see that there isn't the usual hustle and bustle of the city going on around the girl which again implies the time of day that it might be getting late and is after 'working hours'. I really like this image because it shows you a different side the the 'city that never sleeps' with the Empire State Building it is quite a classic image which represents New York very well. 

This photograph was taken in 1975 at Grand Central, 41st St. and Park Ave. I really like this photo as it shows a very casual scene in New York that you would still see today. The general hustle and bustle of workers commuting around Grand Central Station. The decisive moment of this photo was taken so that the people within the image looked relaxed and very casual, none of them have seen the camera so are still going about their daily life. The style of the people reflects the year it was taken, 1975, the fashion around that time is displayed in the photo giving us today a good feel for what it would have been like to be in this situation. I think the way the photo has been composed is really interesting as their isn't any emphasis on just one person. As Joel Meyerowitz said, a good street photograph can be viewed from any part of the image and show a different photo, there are so many details to be taken in and interpreted in a different way. 





This photo taken by Stephen Shore was shot in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, in 1960. It is a documentary photograph which is reflected by the natural emotions that both ladies are showing in the photo. In my perspective from the clothes they are wearing and the location they are in I think they must be upper class. The older lady who appears to be the mother is dressed very smartly and looks well looked after, similarly the younger girl is wearing a nice dress which was a luxury around the 1960's. The apparent body language of both women shows that they may be in a disagreement. I think this because the way the mother is looking at the girl is like she's warning her about something and seems unimpressed by her reaction. Plus the young girl doesn't have eye contact with her mother and appears to be ignoring what she has to say, or is showing disinterest. I like the fact that this photo is in black and white as it adds to the classic nature of the image. It also adds to the mood being portrayed as the darkness of the photo could be showing the dark situation that they are in. 

Aperture and Blur

APERTURE AND BLUR 

F-STOPS - 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 The lower the F stop the shallower the depth of field and the bigger the aperture the more in focus the photo is and the wider the depth of field.

Depth of field- the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects giving a focused image. 

Importance of aperture - allows the photographer to explore the depth of field and keep certain objects in focus and also allows you to shoot in low light if you have a wide enough lens. 



       

These photos are taken with an F5 and an ISO 200. They were taken in the studio with hard lighting and a bright pink background. In both photos Hannah is in focus as she is in the foreground and Ellie is out of focus.

These photos were taken on F22, this means that everything in the photo is in focus as it is a wide depth of field. I like how this looks as you still has a foreground and background but they are both equally as detailed. 

Portraiture Work Diary

PORTRAITURE WORK DIARY 

IMAGE  1 

Evaluation - I really like the way this photo turned out with the soft, natural lighting that was used, it gave the image a very feminine and bright feel. The colours that are in the photo really reflect the natural background as they are mainly neutral. I think that went well about this photo is the closeness of the photo, as it is just of Ellie's face it shows the expression she has much more than it would from a distance. 

Editing - When editing this image I wanted to keep the natural feel that I mentioned before, therefore I didn't want to over saturate the photo. Therefore I used the 'curves' tool the brighten some of the tones in the photo. This gave it a really natural glow whereby the colours and the expression stood out so much more than when there were lots of shadows. 

Development - If I was to take this image again I would make sure that there wasn't anyone in the background which I didn't notice at the time. I would also move Ellie slightly to the left more in order to have a more interesting composition in the image. 

IMAGE 2 

Evaluation - This image was in the style of Richard Avedon as it was a shot of most of Ellie's body. To take this image we got Ellie to pick out props and just have fun with thrum which resulted in a naturally happy and interesting image rather than it being very staged and obvious that we told her what to do. I really like how the picture looks in black and white as it gives it a more defined look which again follows the style of Richard Avedon. 

Editing - When editing this photo I wanted it to be black and white to fit the Richard Avedon style. To do this I used the Black and White tool which allowed me to darken certain colours if I wanted to. As you can see I darken the reds particularly as it made shadows darker and lightened cyan so it made Ellie's jeans look more detailed. 

Development - I don't think I would change anything about this photo if I took it again because I like the way it was an in the moment photo that couldn't be replicated if we done the shoot again. 

IMAGE THAT REQUIRES DEVELOPMENT 

I think out of all the images I took this one requires the most improvement as it is quite dark and quite distant. These two aspects combined together means that it is hard to read the expression on Ellie's face and it lacks a lot of detail. Although it is still a good image, it could be retaken when the sun is at a different place so that more light is on Ellie. 

Portraiture Straight Images

PORTRAITURE STRAIGHT IMAGES 

These photos were in the style of Thomas Ruff because of the set up. The photos only include a close up of the person of just their shoulders and their head. The bright pink background of the image is also in the style of Ruff as he commonly uses bright colours to contrast with the person. The emotion on the girls faces also follows the style of Ruff as in many of the images there isn't much emotion shown, usually just straight faces looking at the camera. 

These photos are in the style of Richard Avedon, as he takes photos of people from the waist up usually against white backgrounds. To make these images more in the style of Avedon I think I will convert them into black and white so that they are more striking against the background and it will also mean that I can change the emotion of the image.   

Lastly I took photos of Ellie outdoors so that I could show natural lighting and how that differs from hard, studio lighting. I really like the natural feel that these photos have, without editing. As the lighting is very soft the colours are quite dull however the blonde tone of Ellie's hair stands out the most.  The close up image is my favourite as you really get to see the the emotion within the expression Ellie has. 

Portraiture Contact Sheet

PORTRAIT CONTACT SHEET