Sunday, 29 April 2018

Work record four

Research plan

  • Train station
  • Lee Friedlander (WINDOWS)
  • Using photoshop more for this work record
Contact sheet

My best images


This image was taken on the way too Stratford, I captured the scenery through the train window - which creates a frame. The photo is of what could be a town centre or something like this as there are many cars and people walking about. I enjoy taking pictures like this because I get to show my journey, where I am and what I can see - this gives the viewer a more personal experience when looking at the images.

This was taken in the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, even though the image is blurred I like this because it gives the sense of motion, I took this as I was going up an escalator, I had the shutter speed on the wrong setting but I still like the outcome. When editing this image I will be sorting out the colour balance as there is a yellow tinge to the image due to the natural lights. The framing device here is the glass barriers which frame the people and the escalator is also a frame.

This was taken in the Westham football stadium during half time, where they waved the flags of the different Westham badges. The framing device here is the people's heads as the flag is perfectly framed between them. I believe I captured the flag at the right time as the flag is facing towards me and you can see the badge on it clearly. I used a shutter speed of 1/125 to capture the flag like this. Also using a shallow depth of field but I focused on the flag instead of the man in front of the camera.

This was taken on the way home. This shows a man standing near the train doors, he was standing in front of the little window so I took this opportunity and took a photograph of the man. The framing device is the little window as it frames the man in it.






Images that require improvement
This image needs improvement because the shutter speed is incorrect and the light settings were not correct either. This caused the image to not look nice as it looks to bright and blurred. If I were too reshoot this image I would quickly double check my settings and then take multiple photos so I have choice between multiple images to choose my favourite.

This was taken on the way home. It was meant to be of my brother's reflection in the train window but it didn't turn out right because it was too dark on the outside. You can barely see the reflection and if I changed the settings anymore it would have turned out worse. If I were to reshoot this image I would wait until there is some light or do it at a different time of day.






AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.

I made sure to photograph my journey so I took photos of what I can see. I faced the problem of being distracted and not taking enough photos, this happens a lot to me as I get distracted by the people around me and stop taking photos. Also, my camera battery was almost dead which discouraged me to take photos as I didn't want my camera to die - I still managed to take a few photos but they were quite rushed. I used my mini tripod so I can hold my camera a bit better and my photos would be slightly better.

AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.

I used the same camera as always, which is the Samsung NX20 20.3 MP SLR. I took a range of photos, but there are lots of reflections and windows, this was inspired by Vivian Maier who did a lot of reflection photography which I found very interesting. I feel I could do this shoot or something similar to this because some of these images are quite rushed as I was continually walking and doing something, I have some good images but I know I can do better. I will be using photoshop to edit these images and experiment with what I can do.

AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

I feel I still need to experiment physically with the images, I hope to achieve this soon as I will find it very fascinating to do. I am curious as to what I can do when physically experimenting and I will plan it out soon. I took photos of different frames; people, windows, etc - this was inspired by Vivian Maier. There are a few of my images that do not reflect her work, but they're images that I felt was appropriate for framing devices.


Progression section

This shoot was done conveniently as there was a spare ticket for me to go so I took the opportunity and took some photos. I was with my two brothers and my dad, so I could have asked them to be my subjects but that didn't really happen I just photographed the other things that were around me instead. I could have taken more images that relate to other photographers just so there is more of a range. Too improve on this shoot I could have taken more photos and slowed down a bit so I could take my time sorting out the settings and taking the photos. The main thing I need to do is slow down. How I edited an image & why:

For this image I intended it to be blurred in order for it to make an effect of seeing with a blind eye - where your vision would be a bit blurred. I was inspired by Rankin (research log post) and how he creates a pattern so there is a specific focus in the image - so for this image I have made the focus on the flags in the Westham stadium. I experimented with photoshop to see what I can do to make this image seem different and interesting, the screenshots show my process of editing. What I was aiming to achieve with this image was too create a more clear frame which I have done with the circle.


The first annotated image is a basis of how I edited this image, I explained my influence and intentions for this picture. I like the outcome of this edit as it wasn't what I intended when starting the editing process but then after experimenting I am pleased with this. I feel I achieved a similar style to Rankin and I will be doing some more edits like these in a different work record. Rankin's work is very unique and interesting as he uses it too advertise a product which is very appealing to a viewer.


The second annotated image was taken in the the train station. It is of a person walking and the shutter speed was fast therefore the woman is blurred. I then edited this so that there are lines going across making frames for different parts of the image. There was no particular influence for this image I was just experimenting with the different filters and tools just too see what would happen.










Edited images







Comparisons

My work -- Lee Friedlander
My image was taken in the train station, I edited this so that the shadow of the two people are more darkened so they can be seen more clearly. I was inspired by this concept Lee Friedlander has in this photo - he has captured a shadow on an object - so I wanted to do something similar therefore I took this photo and just enhanced the two shadows to present a story of distance between two people.

My work -- Rankin
I was inspired by Rankin's work and his way of framing so I wanted to do something similar but put a different meaning behind it and make the affect more in depth than what is seen. Rankin does this too advertise celebrities and products (make up, etc) to make it more appealing to viewers as it is an interesting concept.

Monday, 16 April 2018

Work record seven

Research plan

  • Brighton day two
  • Windows, reflections
  • People

Contact Sheet



My best images



Work record six

Research plan

  • Brighton
  • Car journey - Lee Friedlander
Contact Sheet

 My best images

This image was taken whilst on the way to Brighton. I decided to capture the view of the back seat.I like teh darkness surrounding the driver and the windshield as if the darkness is trying to swallow everything up.








This was taken on the Brighton Pier. I decided to frame the sea because the waves were really big this day and wanted to show this in my photo. 










This was taken on the opposite side of the pier from the photo above. On this side there was more beach, this meant the waves were more free to crash onto the beach and there were more people. I have captured the moment when the waves have just crashed and is now retreating back ready to return.








Images that need improvement


This image needs improvement because the ISO was incorrect and the focus was off. I was aiming to achieve a similar photo to the one above, but from a different angle. If I were too reshoot this image I would correct the settings and then change the angle.







This was taken on the way to Brighton, I somehow managed to change the settings by accident and this photo turned out not how I wanted it, it was on a slow shutter speed. This means that the shutter was slow when taking the photo causing the image to be 'blurred'. If I were to reshoot this image I would double check the settings.






AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.



I enjoyed doing this shoot because I was with my family therefore I was enjoying my time aswell as taking photos. For this shoot I wanted to take photos of windows, which I have done, because I was in the car a lot of the time so I took this opportunity and took photos of what was outside - so the viewer could see what I could see. I am pleased with my photos even though I should have concentrated on the settings. I could of experimented with this shoot by printing of an image of a urban town and put it over an area of beach to compare them both - I could do this on photoshop.

AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.

I used a Samsung NX20 20.3 MP SLR. I started the car journey photographs when we got onto the motorway because you would get many different views to take pictures of - which I have done. I believe I have done good with my photos because they all mostly represent a framing device, which is my aim for my shoots. However, there were some missed opportunities due to embarrassment, because I get very nervous when taking pictures in public as I don't particularly enjoy if people look at me when photographing - but this is something I can get over.

AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

I focused on windows for this shoot because it was a convenient thing for me to concentrate on. I was inspired by Lee Friedlander as he photographs his car window as he travels through America - to show his viewers what he sees when travelling.  

Progression section

For this shoot I aimed to achieve a range of photos. I wanted to take photos of windows because that was a consistent part of the journey. I am pleased with this shoot because I was able to take a range of images when in Brighton, my family were okay with me taking photos of them so I used them as my objects - I mostly took photos of them when they were acting natural/normal as then it doesn't seem so forced. Too improve on this shoot I believe I could experiment more and take more photos in which I could combine together. How I edited an image & why: