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

Work Diary - Twelfth Shoot

Evaluation

This was my first shoot of taking photos of Evidence of Rainy Weather. I enjoyed this topic a lot, and grasped every opportunity i had to take these photos, so they have been taken on different days and times as i shot when it rained, because of this, i won't be shooting weather again as it is very unreliable and it was only when i had the chance and time to take these photos whilst it was raining. I also couldn't take many photographs outside because the rain was extremely heavy and would have damages my camera. Although i will not continue this topic, i do think it has added more variety to the shoots i have already done, and has shown that i have experimented with different subjects. 

Once it rained, i immediately took the opportunity to take photographs of the rain against my window. I like this image a lot because the focus is on the condensation and rain droplets. However, because the surface is a window, we can see the background and image behind it, which is now blurred and distorted due to the rain smudging the surface. 

This is another photo from the shoot, I like that the image is focused in the foreground so that the rain drops are the sole focus. However, i also like that some of the rain droplets in the background are blurred, as it makes the wooden surfaced look smudged. In addition to this, i took the image extremely close-up, so there isn't anything else in the image distracting from the rain droplets, and so the purpose of the image is clear.

Progression

As this was my first shoot on Evidence of Weather, I decided that i wouldn't continue with the topic because the weather is very unreliable, and all the photos i shot were taken at different times and days. However, i think the end result of these images came out very well, and enjoyed this shoot a lot. As this was the only shoot on Weather, I have decided to move onto another topic. However, this shoot was my influence, as the images through the windows has given me the idea of shooting distorted images. So, for my next shoot i plan to take photos using different transparent but patterned objects, and shooting through them at landscapes and objects. This will make the image through them either a different colour, different shape, patterned and overall, distorted. I will also use photoshop to create my own distortions. These a few of the images which have inspired my next shoot: 

Work Diary - Eleventh Shoot

Evaluation 

This shoot is a follow-up of my previous 'ageing' shoot, however this time i decided to focus on a new perspective of ageing, and shot at Leigh on Sea, where i found rusted chains, decaying boats and wood etc. I enjoyed shooting this, especially because it is a different scenery and background to my other photos. I was lucky enough that it was a nice day so the sky was blue, and my camera was able to shoot without a flash. I also liked using more close-up shots, as previously in this project i have focused on portraits and mid-shots. I enjoyed zooming into rusted areas, and my camera was able to pick up the texture of the surfaces which made the photograph much more effective. Overall, I am happy with the result of this shoot, the photos are just as i would have liked them and i was able to shoot the photos i already had in mind, initially before taking the images.

This is one of the shots i took, and is one of my favourites. I like the contrast between the blue, cloudy sky and the rusted chains. I also like that photo shows the texture of the chains, and the rust forming on them. I think this photo is a perfect example of the evidence of 'ageing.' 

This is another photograph from the shoot. I like this photo particularly because of the contrast between the colours of the interior of the boats that still vibrant and visible, and everything else that is weathering away. I also like that it is clear that the photo is displaying the 'ageing' of the boats. 

Progression

In my next shoot, I plan to move on from 'Evidence of Ageing' onto rainy weather. This will include photos of rain droplets against surfaces and streaming down windows. These photos will display evidence of 'bad weather', and i will solely focus on the rain itself, like droplets, puddles etc. These are a few of the photos that i found that have influenced this shoot: 

Exam Plan

I am going to shoot from home to begin with, and will be taking photos of distorted images, such as portraits in the reflection of a spoon, kettle and a broken mirror. I will also be shooting landscapes through different perspex so that the image will be distorted through different patterns. This idea will be copied throughout the shoot with different transparent objects so that i shoot images in all sorts of different ways and distort them individually.
I also plan to take photographs of natural reflections from the windows on buildings, shiny surfaces like cars/car windows, mirrors. Another idea that i had in mind was to use a bendy, shiny surface like reflective card or plastic, and distort images so that they look different in the reflection.
I will also try to experiment with water photographs, as the ripple in the water will make the image of the subject (such as a hand or an object) look distorted.
After this, I plan to travel to the Town Park, someone is going to drive me. I will use 2 models to take photos of optical illusions, for instance: one model will be taller than the other,  a small object will be taller than the model, a model taller than a building etc.
I also want to use photoshop in the editing process to distort images artificially, like changing the reflection of a mirror in a photo, to a different image than what it is in reality.

These photos are my influence for this shoot:

Straight Images - Twelfth Shoot