Thursday 21 May 2015

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Work Diary - Additional Shoot

Evaluation


Initially, I had no subject for this shoot as I had simply planned to go for a walk and take photos with my new camera. However, whilst out, I noticed there were some really good Sense of Journey photographs that I could take, and i ceased the opportunity to do so. This shoot was early morning on the weekend, which is why there isn't anybody about and I liked that, because it meant that there wouldn't be any interference's with my photos! I also like the way fog looks like in an image, and I shot a few images with the fog rising from the ground and the grass on the field i went across. I also shot a few photos of wet cobwebs as they are so intricate and interesting to look at. I enjoyed this shoot so much because i was free to take the photos that I wanted too, and as a result I came out with some really good shots which relate to some of my topics, that i could then add them too. 


This is one of my Sense of Journey images that I have added now. I like this photo a lot because in the distance, the fog is still there and so we can't see where the pathway leads too. I also like that the photo has natural lighting, which makes the photo look dim and dull due to the weather of the day - which creates an eerie atmosphere.


This is one of the images that has been added to my 'Lines' work. I like this image a lot because we can see depth because the trees closest have a lot more detail than the ones further away - which makes the furthest ones look colourless and blue. The only downside to this image is the fence at the bottom, however; after editing I will crop this part out. 

Progression

If i were to go on another walk or repeat the same walk again, I would try and focus on other subjects that i have worked on like all the formal elements, as well as contrast and maybe produce another photojoiner or multiple imagery. This would mean i could add more improved photos to all of my topics. I would also like to take photos in other weather types such as raining, snowy, sunny etc., because I like the atmosphere that a type of weather can create within an image. I'd especially like to work on fog photographs again, to focus on that only and see what other photos i could take. These are some of the images on the internet that i have found which include the topics that i have taken, which i aspire to achieve if i ever re-do this shoot again:














Monday 19 January 2015

Final Project Evaluation

To begin with, I wasn't too sure what to expect from AS Level Photography. I had previously studied GCSE Photography, and it was my favourite subject throughout Secondary School. Photography became my passion and something that I really loved and enjoyed, I'd like to say I'm quite good at it. However, the jump between GCSE to AS was always going to be huge, it felt like I had to forget everything i was taught for the past three years, and start from scratch. Obviously, I had some knowledge of how to use Photoshop, and I know how to use some of the tools on it, some of which we've been using throughout this course, but it genuinely felt like i was entering a whole new subject. Even the way i edit photographs now is different and I've enjoyed learning these new skills a lot. One of the first things i was taught was how to hold a camera properly and efficiently, and back then i was struggling to always hold it that way, but now it just comes naturally and i do it subconsciously. I think that's one of the many aspects that prove how much I've learned and adapted to this subject.

My love for Photography is still strong, and I've enjoyed the last few months studying the ten formal elements, which include: Line, Colour, Shape, Reflection, Movement, Pattern, Form, Texture, Tone and Depth. I think this was a great project to start the course with, as I now know what to look for within an image. Each shoot was different and I was able to explore each topic from my own perspective, whilst gathering other perspectives. These formal elements have allowed me to look at things a lot differently, and have helped me to notice and photograph subjects that i never usually would. I particularly enjoyed the topic Depth because i had already shot photos in a similar style at GCSE. I just love the idea that just by adjusting your camera at a different angle, you can create Depth within the photo, which makes it look like it's leading somewhere, and that's far more interesting than just taking a photo of a wall from straight ahead.

Some shoots were more difficult than others, and that was expected. It was difficult to keep conjuring new ideas and putting them to practice, but I think I've tried my best at each topic, and I'm willing to improve anything that's needed. I especially loved Walk 1 and 2, simply because it gave me the chance to venture out of College and use my new skills elsewhere. Autumn is my favourite season and as one of the topics was 'Autumn Colours', i was quite excited to go. I think some of the shots from the two walks are my favourite and best work, and i know i really enjoyed taking them. I also liked the topic 'Sense of Journey', as it enabled me to think on a wider scale. I didn't and wasn't going to restrict myself to only shooting photographs of pathways, instead i decided to take photos of signs, roads, benches etc., to portray the concept of 'Sense of Journey.'

One of the many skills that i have learnt is how to 'fit the frame' in an image. I was taught this in the lessons before we shot Mapplethorpe style images. This concept made me really think and question what i was taking a photograph of, and whether it fitted the frame. Especially in the studio, I concentrated on angling the camera correctly, zooming in to the right distance and whether the model was fit to the image. Even though this was a lot of hassle and took a lot more time than just snapping a photograph, i liked it, because it was a challenge that i wanted to succeed at, and therefore took extra care with it. I really like some of the shots from the studio shoot, as well as the Location version. My Location Mapplethorpe inspired images, are really appealing to me because during the time of the shoot, i was constantly thinking about the background and positioning of the image, and i think it is because of this, that has made these photographs some of my best work. I also really appreciated working with people as subjects for my images, rather than objects or places around college.

Predominantly, I've enjoyed this subject and the topics for shoots very much. Despite missing a lot of lessons over the past couple of months, I have caught up with the work and i'm now able to improve what i have done previously. I've tried my best to put the same amount of effort into each post and topic. I plan to take more photographs for Colour and Studio Form as i think they were my weakest shoots, and would like to focus on them and improve, or maybe even re-take some of the photographs that I have already shot for them. However, i'm really looking forward to the topics ahead and I'm ready to use my new skills and knowledge to help me create the best work that i can achieve in the future.

Thursday 15 January 2015

Final Pieces






















Work Diary - Location Contrast 2

Evaluation

At first, I thought shooting Location Contrast for the second time would be extremely difficult, and i wasn't sure what photos i could take which represent the topic well. Beforehand, I discussed the idea of thinking about all 10 formal elements, and how they can signify contrast. For instance, a photo of horizontal and vertical lines shows the contrast between the two ways in which the lines are heading, or two different colours contrasting against each other. I liked this idea and therefore, whilst taking photographs i decided to focus on it. I photographed arrows pointing in separate ways, grass against soil, different patterns against each other etc. I really enjoyed this perspective on contrast and believe that it has resulted in some well thought out, good photographs. 



This is one of the first images i took. Clearly, the contrast is between the horizontal and vertical lines. However, there is also a contrast between the white and brown colours. As well as the texture and material of the two subjects, as the top half is of plastic blinds against a window, and the bottom half is wooden panels. I like this photograph a lot because the window pane separates the two mediums, making the image look as though it's split in half. 


This is one of my favourite images I took during this shoot. Evidently, the contrast is between the puddle and the ground, as well as wet and dry. I like this image a lot because there isn't a direct, straight split between the two as the puddle is naturally occurring, and therefore has a wobbly edge. I think this makes the photo so much more interesting and definitely shows the realism of it. I also like that even though the divide between the puddle and the ground isn't straight, it is still in the centre of the image. 


Progression

If i were to continue with this topic or add more photographs, i would actually use the same subject of the contrast of formal elements, but try to use a lot more of them, such as shape, reflection and movement. I think these formal elements would also create amazing photographs, and would be extremely interesting to shoot. I would also like to shoot on another day, as today wasn't particularly sunny and bright, which made some of my photos quite dull. These are some of the contrast photographs that i have found on the internet which i aspire to achieve if i ever add to this topic: