Straight Images - Additional Shoot

Sense of Journey

Line

Depth

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.

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:

Straight Images - Location Contrast 2

To do list - 15/01/15 COMPLETED

Shoot Location Contrast 

Complete Work Diary for Location Contrast

Choose and Publish Final pieces 

Work Diary - Multiple Imagery

Evaluation 

I enjoyed taking the Multiple Imagery photographs because it was a lot of fun to take lots of photos, at all different angles and from different distances. I also liked the process of actually creating the multiple image itself. Obviously, it took some practice as there are so many different steps to do before the final image is actually completed, so at first i begun with only 9 images within one of my multiple imageries, and then i gradually progressed to 12 images, and then finally 16 images.  On my second attempt (12 images) i actually improved the colouring of the image by changing the "curves" on all the images together, so the entire set of images ended up looking brighter and much more appealing to look at. I also did this with the third and fourth multiple images. 

This is the first multiple image that i shot, and created, with only 9 images. I like some of the images included but others i think i could have taken them in a better way which would have made the entire multiple image look better. However, i still like this multiple image a lot because we are able to see different parts and sides of the camera, as well as at different distances. I especially like that i have placed the lens cap photo in the centre, because that is the first part of a camera people look at. 

This is the last multiple image that i shot and created, with 16 images. I like this multiple image because we are able to see the model's face from different viewpoints, angles and distances. I also like the colouring of the images, as some are a lot brighter than others with mimics how the natural light would be in reality. This multiple image was probably the hardest one to make because i kept switching the photos around, but overall i am pleased with the outcome. 

Progression

If i were to re-do or take more photographs for Multiple Imagery, i would use nature as a subject, such as flowers, plants or trees, basically something outside. This is because, most of these images were taken inside, and i haven't explored this topic outside with a wider variation of subjects. I would also like to be more creative with the angles from which i take the photos from, as well as zooming in as close as i can and as far away as i can, as i think this looks really appealing to look at within a multiple imagery. These are some of the multiple imageries that i have found on the internet which i aspire to achieve if i ever add to this topic:

Pre-completion Evaluation

I need to complete the Multiple Imagery work diary, Location Contrast shoot, Location Contrast work diary, 20 final pieces and the last few physical experiments. I think i can complete this work by and maybe even before the deadline if i manage my time correctly (and spend enough hours on my photography work per week), because i think i am able to do this, i am not panicking and i'm rather enjoying the work and working as efficiently as i can. This is the work that i absolutely need to complete before the deadline as i haven't even started them yet.

However, if i have time, before the deadline and i have completed all the work above, I would like to update and improve my colour and studio form shoots so that the photographs are better (as i think I can take much better, improved and different photos), as well as add photographs that I aspire to achieve within the progressions of my work diaries because i haven't actually done this yet. Of course, i will only have time to do these things that i would personally like to do, if i complete all the work that i need to do first, as that work is my top priority.

I think i have enough time to complete all the work that i need to do, as well as the work that i would like to add and improve. However, this will obviously only happen if i work hard enough with the determination to finish it all in time. (I'm not going to get myself stressed or panicked or worked up about it though, i want to stay calm about the workload).

If i have then completed all the work that i need to do, and the work that i've personally set myself, i then would like to add more detail to my image bank annotations as some are a lot smaller than others, and i would like to even them out.

To do list - 12/01/15 COMPLETED

• Pre completion Evaluation
• Work diary for Multiple Imagery 

• Shoot Location Contrast 

Straight Images - Multiple Imagery