Additional Shoot

Final Pieces

Electronic Portfolio

Overall Project Evaluation

At the beginning of this project, i decided straight away to go with Evidence, despite not knowing how to shoot images for the subject, or where it would lead me. I thought it was the most interesting out of all the topics given, even though I had no idea how it would go. After planning the mind-map for Evidence, i realised that there were many different ways in order to approach the topic. As a class, we looked at the evidence of crime, food being eaten, illnesses, existence, human beings etc. I liked the ideas that came with this topic, but still wasn't sure where to start.

Therefore, I began with human presence. My first shoot was short, and the photos were focused on old mugs with tea stains, and crushed coffee cups on the floor. I already knew after this initial response shoot that i didn't want to continue with those sort of images, this is because the shoot was uninteresting and the photos looked messy - which was the whole purpose, but i didn't like the look of it. When it came to shooting my actual first shoot, i decided to shoot in location and find objects that displayed human presence, such as bicycles, signs addressing the public etc. This shoot was much better because i looked at human precedes from a different context and perspective, which made my photos far more interesting and more appealing to look at. It also made the shoot more enjoyable because i actually liked the idea of the shoot. My third shoot was very similar, but instead i shot at home and formed a more personal shoot of human presence, i took photos of sale signs and house doors and roads. During this shoot i went on a walk and shot as i went, so the photos have collected different points of my journey.

This lead to my next topic, which i decided after shoot three, of personal possessions. At first, i shot at home again in location, taking photos of my own personal objects such as photos, jewelry, books etc., and then afterward, decided to do a shoot in the studio. I took influence from images that i had seen on the internet, and shot portraits of people and then took photos of their possessions. However, my first attempt went incredibly wrong as it was very difficult to adjust the right lighting, and find a table big enough to hold all the possessions, but short enough so i could stand over the table. It was also difficult to keep my hair and shadow out of the image. Therefore, i only got one decent photo out of this first attempt shoot, as the flash wasn't working in the studio either. Even though this shoot failed, it helped me plan and structure my next attempt shoot better, and i was able to achieve better images and lots more of them. I used an A3 white sheet of card on the floor, so that it was easier to shoot, and i adjusted the lighting and flash before i even started shooting. After shooting the images, I then edited them together, to show the face to the possessions within one image. I enjoyed this shoot a lot because it was the beginning of my understanding of how versatile the topic of Evidence is, and my ideas were starting to lead somewhere. I continued with the topic of personal possessions, and created many multiple imagery's which portrayed it, such as my own self portraits - each photo using/holding a different possession of mine. I also used models and shot possessions such as makeup, jewelry, glasses and trainers.

I felt i had reached the end of this topic, and decided to move onto ageing. I shot photos of different hands showing the difference between skin tones of an elderly person and a young person. I also used Photoshop to edit baby photos with a recent photograph to show the physical changes from ageing. I liked this hoot because it was simple, and as i already had the idea in mind, it was easy to shoot, and i was able to quickly produce the images. I also shot a different perspective of ageing, and travelled to Leigh on Sea to take photos of the old boats that have been abandoned, as well as other rusted objects that i could find, this was inspired by one of the photographers i researched, and it added a completely different style of photographs to my work. I enjoyed this shoot because it was a day out by the sea, but also because i am proud of the photos i produced of the rust on walls and old boats, and metal chains and locks. I think the idea in my head, was constructed very well in my photographs from this shoot, and it went exactly how i wanted it too.

After this, i shot rain images to show the evidence of weather, such as rain drops on a window, condensation, wet surfaces etc. However, each photo was shot at different times of day, different days with different lighting etc. As it was a location shoot. Therefore, it is a group of images displaying the same concept, but it wasn't an entire shoot. This is because the idea of shooting weather, is very difficult as obviously, it is weather dependent, but from this idea, I found my next topic - distortion. In my last shoot of the project, i shot various images which displayed distortion such as reflections in water, reflections through sunglasses, reflections on cars and even used clingfilm to distort a person's face. This shoot was extremely enjoyable because it was a whole new concept and i was able to gather ideas for my exam shoot, and practice for it too. The shoot went very well, as did my exam shoot. Each shoot i planned and constructed in my head, came out as well as a expected it too in my head, which i am very pleased about, particularly as my exam was the same.

Overall, I have liked the journey of this project and have enjoyed seeing my work progress into different topics, as well as learn new skills a long the way, such as editing and photographing techniques. Which i have learned from practice myself, but also from the photographers i have researched in depth. This project has created many different sub-topics, which i have enjoyed shooting and editing with Photoshop, as each photo was different, and each topic (unless following the previous topic) was separate and created new ideas and original images. I am pleased with all the work i have produced in this project, particularly my exam photographs as i worked extremely hard on editing them, as well as shooting them. My exam photographs needed a lot of editing, but the shoots were just as time-consuming. I still enjoyed them nonetheless.

Connecting Essay 5

My photograph:

This photo is from my Ageing - Decay shoot, when I visited Leigh-on-sea and took photos of the rust and mould forming on different boats and surfaces. I decided to shoot ageing from a different perspective and was influenced by one of my photographers to shoot decaying/weathering objects etc. I like this image a lot because the two boats are literally stranded in the centre of the image, with barely anything around them. The boats are the main focus because of the decay forming on them, but also, the ground around the boats portray ageing as it hasn't been looked after properly, and is therefore muddy and disgusting - the remains of what used to be the bottom surface of the sea. I think this photo could have many different meanings and i also like that there is very minimal colour, which also portrays the atmosphere of ageing, decay and weathering. 

Picture I have found:

This is a photo i found on the internet. In this image, there are two bumper cars left stranded, along with others in the background. There isn't much else in the image apart from trees and plants. I like this image because the two bumper cars are close to the camera, and we can see the detail of them, including the broken parts and decay. This place has obviously been left, and never cared for since as everything is just dumped in odd places, and the grass/plants are overgrown. Even some of the floor tiles are broken beside the closest bumper car. I chose this photo because it displays abandonment, and what happens after time passes, like ageing and growing up.

The connection:

These two photos are similar because they both portray abandonment, decay, weathering and ageing. Also, in both photos there are two objects in each that stand out, the two boats in my photo, and the two bumper cars in the picture i found. I like that these two photos have been taken in completely different places, of completely different things but still connect as they both show the same message. In both images we can see that no one has cared for the places, and so, the boats/bumper cars are left to decay and rot away. The concept of my own image was to display a new perspective of ageing, which i also think the picture i found displays too because as time passes, these objects have gotten older, they've decayed and are slowly weathering away.

Connecting Essay 4

My photograph:

This is a photograph from my first exam shoot. I lowered the shutter speed on my camera so i was able to capture the movement of the model. I like this image a lot because the movement is evident within the blur, and it looks as though the model has doubled facial features. I also like this image because the model is looking directly at the camera, but also looking right. I used a white, plain background so that the focus was solely on the movement of the model's head, and it has also enhanced the colour of her hair and eyes. This image is the evidence of distortion, as her face is distorted so that it looks like she has two faces. I think that this photo clearly displays what it is meant too. 

Picture I have found:

This is the photo that i found on the internet. I searched for distortion photography and found lots of low shutter speed movement images. I like that this photo is black and white because it gives it an eerie and mysterious atmosphere. I also like that the model in the image is looking directly at the camera. The reason why i chose this image is because the models head, hair and body are moving, so they are blurred, yet her eye is in complete focus, which makes the photo slightly discomforting. The background is completely plain black, so there isn't anything else in the image, leaving the focus onto her face, and particularly her eye. 

The connection:

The connection between these images is that they have both been taken with a low shutter speed, so it is the camera that has caught the movement instead of editing afterwards. They both use female models, and it is the face that has been distorted through the movement. The connection I find the most interesting between these two photos is that they both focus on the eyes of the model. In my own image, the eyes stand out the most as there is four of them, because of the movement. This makes my photo slightly discomforting and confusing to look at. Likewise, in the image that i have found, the eye that isn't hidden is what stands out the most because it is the only aspect of the photo that is in focus, because every other part of the model is moving, and so it is all blurred. I like that both these images create an awkward and tense atmosphere, as that proves the intensity of the distortion within the image.

Connecting Essay 3

My photograph:

This is a photo from my 'ageing' shoot. I used two separate images, one of me as a child, and a self portrait that i took in the studio. I then edited half of each image, so that i could re-create my face, with my young features against my current features. Because of the edit, i have been able to show the contrast between myself as a child, and currently. I like this photograph a lot because I was able to fit the facial features as well as i could, and so the hair, hairline, nose and mouth all match up - which recreates my face. Having the two images recreate one image, makes it easier to see the physical differences from growing, and ageing. This photo was influenced by Bobby Neel Adams work. 

Picture I have found: 

This is a photo from Bobby Neel Adams, who is a photographer that i have researched and have been influenced by. In this photo, he has used an old image of a model when she was young, and then he has also re-shot a similar image, of her currently as an adult. He has then merged the two images together to recreate the entire face, so that her young features match in line with her adult, current features. I like this project a lot because the message of the photos is clear, and it is also a clever way to show the changes within growing up. I also like that Bobby Neel Adams dresses the models in similar outfits to their childhood photograph, as well as makes the pose in the same way. Bobby Neel Adams shoots these images both in colour and black-and-white. 

The connection:

As my photograph was influenced by Bobby Neel Adams, the images are very similar. I have used a similar technique, as i have re-created the entire face with each half of the two images. I have also shot one image in colour, and have done another in black-and-white. In my photograph, i made sure that my hair was half tied up, so that i replicated the hairstyle i had in my childhood photo. However, i did not dress in a similar way as i did not have a similar outfit. Whereas in each of Bobby Neel Adams' images, he makes sure the outfits are similar or sometimes exactly the same. Both images display the same concept, of ageing from a young child to adulthood. They both also show the physical changes that come with ageing and growing up, such as bigger facial features, teeth, longer/different hair, different face shape etc. 

Connecting Essay 2

My photograph:

This is a photograph from my first 'ageing' shoot. I used an elderly model, and a young model and asked them to hold hands to express the contrast between youth and elderly. This also portrays the journey of growing up, and the physical changes that happen whilst growing. I like this image a lot as it is obvious as to what it is showing. I also like that this is representation of the evidence of growing, change and ageing. Whilst shooting these photos, i made sure the background was neutral, so nothing from the background distracted the focus away from the focal point. I also like that the background is blurred. Whilst editing this image, i made sure the lighting was brightened and the contrast was increased, so that the differences in skin tone were more explicit. 

Picture I have found:

This is a photo I have found on the internet. I like this image a lot because the message is clear, it is displaying the evidence of ageing. In this photo, a child is holding an elderly person's hand. From this, the contrast of the ages is obvious. This photo also presents the physical changes with ageing, as it shows the difference in skin tones and texture of the skin. The background in this image is extremely bland and blurred, so that there isn't anything other than the main subject in focus, which emphasises the concept of the image. 

The connection: 

The connection between these photos is that they both display the same concept of ageing. These photos are very similar, and both show the contrast between the young, and the elderly. They both also show the physical changes with ageing, as the skin tone and textures between the two models are different. The young person's arm and hand is tanned, and has smooth skin. Whereas the elderly person has wrinkly and veiny hands, and is quite pale. I like that the backgrounds in both photos are neutral and plain, so that the focus is solely on the hands of the models. In my photograph, i wanted the focus to be more on the elderly person's hand, so i asked the young model to hold the elders hand. Whereas in the photo from the internet, it is the other way around. 

Connecting Essay 1

My photograph:

This is an image from my 'Possessions' shoot. For this shoot, I shot portraits of models, and then shot images of their possessions which they had with them on a white background. This was done in the studio. I then used photoshop to edit the separate images, and then to put them together. Thus, this image displays the owner of the possessions, which conveys each models' personality and what is most important to them. For instance, this model decided to display a lot of makeup as her most important possessions, which shows she cares about her appearance. 

Picture I have found:

 

This is a photo from the internet which I researched before actually shooting the image above. In this image, the top half is a portrait of a woman, and then the bottom half is a table filled with all of her possessions such as her bag, notebooks, phone, camera, pens etc. You can tell a lot about a person from their most important, and everyday possessions and i like that these images display that. These images were taken on location, as the background in the top image is of a window. 

The connection:

 

These two images are very similar, as they are both displaying the same thing. In both images, we have a portrait of the model, who of which is the main subject in the image. We also have a photograph displaying all their vital possessions that they carry on a day-to-day basis. The two images convey the personality and type of person that the model has/is. I also like that these two images both create a story about the person in them. Having the portrait of the model makes the photograph easier to understand and much more interesting, as we match the face to the items. I like these images a lot as they create a story without giving too much away about the person, I also like that this sort of image can be shot in a studio as well as on location. 

Work Diary - Thirteenth Shoot

Evaluation

This shoot was a lot different to any other shoots that i have done, however i really enjoyed it. I think location was the best choice for this shoot as i wanted natural reflections and distortions as well, which the studio wouldn't have provided. I especially liked experimenting with different techniques such as tin foil, a red-coloured plastic cup, sunglasses etc., as these added something new and different to each photograph. I think this shoot was one of the most interesting because the photos look so strange and abnormal. However, it was quite difficult to shoot in reflections without getting myself in the actual shot, and it was also hard to figure out how to display a disfigured reflection in a photo because the camera couldn't capture what i saw. 

This is one of my favourite images from the shoot. I really enjoyed shooting reflections in water, and creating the ripples so that the reflections of the trees were disfigured and distorted. This photo is completely natural, showing the ripples in the water which makes the trees and the sky look wobbly and abnormal. 

I also used a model, whom i asked to lean over the bridge over the water, so i was able to capture their reflection in the water too. This image is one of the best that i took of the model, as the ripples in the water has made the bars of the bridge wobbly, and has also doubled the model so that it looks like there is two of him. I like this image a lot because it clearly displays the purpose of the shoot, which is distortion. 

Progression

This shoot was inspiration and leads to my exam shoot, as i plan to shoot more photos for distortion through different objects such as a broken mirror, a spoon, a bottle full of water. I will also use a low shutter speed on my camera to capture movement. After this, i plan to shoot optical illusions with two models, for example: one will be taller than the other, an apple will be bigger than the model, a model will be "standing" on top of the other models head and a bottle. 

Straight Images - Thirteenth Shoot