Connections ?
Connections is my chosen question. On the line of photography it is in which you capture a relation between something or someone. In addition to this it is the action of linking one thing with another.I believe through my photographs the viewers are exposed to what is connected either between people or objects and for them to make interpretations based on their sole beliefs and thoughts.
Statment of intent
I aim to produce a portfolio of a various of photographs, Ideas and research which will express my final project in the best possible way.
Throughout deciding my exam question I deeply thought about what is right for me and the impact it would have on my final project. I had my mind on a few questions however this question really connected with me. Throughout my projects I have always struggled on giving my photographs a personal feel, however this question enables me to express my personal feelings on all my photographs which gives me a chance to express my creativity through many personal aspects. I selected Connections as this theme can be interpreted in many ways which allows me to display many different ideas.
To begin with I will start with my initial research as I create mood boards and explore photographers that connect with my question.Firstly I have chosen Tim booth who portrays a different theme of connections through 'a show of hands' his work speaks out to me and is something I am looking on doing. Secondly I have chosen Sally Mann as she portrays mysterious connections and relationships between families and groups of people. Next I have chosen Kirsten Lewis who documents her family life and presents the topic of connections through the documentation of feelings,happiness and life experiences. Lastly I have chosen Marie Jacobs and Julie Strathmann, two photographers who create still life photography and show connections between objects and relationships of unique ideas. I have picked these photographers as they display unique ideas and interpretations that link to the topic and question of connections. These photographers display compassion and creativity through their work.
Within this theme I aim to explore many interpretations of connections such as connections between people and objects. Both Interpretations give me the power to produce many photographs and ideas.
I am going to experiment with lots of different techniques, first and foremost being camera techniques as I want to produce a quality of photographs. I will use techniques such as aperture, depth of field and many compositional rules. In this project Photoshop may not play a big part as I want to produce simple black and white or natural colour photos. I will also use many techniques such as lighting and use studio lighting to present the examiner with a range of quality pictures.
To show my growth and development I want to try and go to different locations and to also give my personal feeling I aim to take lots of photographs outside of school and mostly at home. As the topic is the connection between people I hope to use my own family to show the relationship I have with this topic. From then I want use a range of objects to display the connection between objects. I hope to do at least 4-5 shoots given the time frame. Overall I want to produce a range of photos that clearly depict the true meaning of connections between family and objects . I want my final Project to be extraordinary and memorable and I hope to achieve a good grade through my hard work and dedication to photography.
Throughout deciding my exam question I deeply thought about what is right for me and the impact it would have on my final project. I had my mind on a few questions however this question really connected with me. Throughout my projects I have always struggled on giving my photographs a personal feel, however this question enables me to express my personal feelings on all my photographs which gives me a chance to express my creativity through many personal aspects. I selected Connections as this theme can be interpreted in many ways which allows me to display many different ideas.
To begin with I will start with my initial research as I create mood boards and explore photographers that connect with my question.Firstly I have chosen Tim booth who portrays a different theme of connections through 'a show of hands' his work speaks out to me and is something I am looking on doing. Secondly I have chosen Sally Mann as she portrays mysterious connections and relationships between families and groups of people. Next I have chosen Kirsten Lewis who documents her family life and presents the topic of connections through the documentation of feelings,happiness and life experiences. Lastly I have chosen Marie Jacobs and Julie Strathmann, two photographers who create still life photography and show connections between objects and relationships of unique ideas. I have picked these photographers as they display unique ideas and interpretations that link to the topic and question of connections. These photographers display compassion and creativity through their work.
Within this theme I aim to explore many interpretations of connections such as connections between people and objects. Both Interpretations give me the power to produce many photographs and ideas.
I am going to experiment with lots of different techniques, first and foremost being camera techniques as I want to produce a quality of photographs. I will use techniques such as aperture, depth of field and many compositional rules. In this project Photoshop may not play a big part as I want to produce simple black and white or natural colour photos. I will also use many techniques such as lighting and use studio lighting to present the examiner with a range of quality pictures.
To show my growth and development I want to try and go to different locations and to also give my personal feeling I aim to take lots of photographs outside of school and mostly at home. As the topic is the connection between people I hope to use my own family to show the relationship I have with this topic. From then I want use a range of objects to display the connection between objects. I hope to do at least 4-5 shoots given the time frame. Overall I want to produce a range of photos that clearly depict the true meaning of connections between family and objects . I want my final Project to be extraordinary and memorable and I hope to achieve a good grade through my hard work and dedication to photography.
Connections:
OBJECTS/STILL LIFE
PEOPLE
ARTIST RESEARCH
TIM BOOTH
Tim booth has been working as a photographer since the 1980s, he focuses on interpretive fine art work while capturing exceptional photographs. While researching Booth I was mesmerised by his creative portfolio called 'A show of hands' where he captures the fine detail and simplicity of connections with hands and objects. I was instantly intrigued by this portfolio as connections with hands is something I wanted to do from the start. Tim booth presented me with a variety of inspiration and outstanding photos which gives me multiple ideas for my exam.
This photo is from Booths portfolio 'a show of hands' this photo is one I liked the most as the photo occupied the hands as the viewpoint. This photo evidently shows the theme of connections as it displays the idea of hands as a center piece and depicts the simplicity of connections. My eyes were instantly caught on this photo as the detail and minimalist touch on the photograph intrigued me and heightened the theme of connections. In contrast with this photo this was something I wished to incorporate in my photos which was the main aspect of hands.
Its a black and white image so the lack of colour drives the viewers straight onto the hands allowing you not to be distracted and focusing on viewing the connection between the hands holding the small piece from the clock. The colourless effect enhances the detail of the hands and displays a sharp contrasting effect with the hands and the small object. A majority of the photo is in focus however the edges around the clock seem slightly blurred which allows the viewers to only focus on the hands, this shows how the photographer is showing the importance of the hands. A deep depth of field has been applied to the entire photo to portray minimal blur. The minimal blur is shown along the edges of the photo to enhance the detail of the clock and more over the hands. The shutter speed has been set well as there is no motion or blur movement as the photo is fixed in one places. This makes the photo very still which is seen through a lot of Booths photos he makes the picture look extremely defined with a clear message of what he is showing. The aperture is set perfectly too as the photograph is not overly exposed nor under exposed. The composition is extremely proportioned and seems to be have taken from a birds eye view as when you look at the photo you are looking directly downwards. This highlights the strong connection of hands as we look down upon them. Furthermore this allows us to observe the detail and the constructive leading lines between the hand and tiny object. Looking down there are many shapes and lines which makes the viewers focus more. The background is slightly blurred out which could mean Booth used an large aperture of about F/1.4 or F/5.6.
Personally, I think that the photo is extremely powerful and clearly depicts the strong ongoing connections of hands and the interpretations connections between hands withholds. The photo itself sends a clear message of simplicity and true creativity through the ideas of Booth. One thing I love about the photo is the use of old objects to give the photo a classic vibe. Also my favorite thing is the lighting and how the hands form shadows across the clock.
Its a black and white image so the lack of colour drives the viewers straight onto the hands allowing you not to be distracted and focusing on viewing the connection between the hands holding the small piece from the clock. The colourless effect enhances the detail of the hands and displays a sharp contrasting effect with the hands and the small object. A majority of the photo is in focus however the edges around the clock seem slightly blurred which allows the viewers to only focus on the hands, this shows how the photographer is showing the importance of the hands. A deep depth of field has been applied to the entire photo to portray minimal blur. The minimal blur is shown along the edges of the photo to enhance the detail of the clock and more over the hands. The shutter speed has been set well as there is no motion or blur movement as the photo is fixed in one places. This makes the photo very still which is seen through a lot of Booths photos he makes the picture look extremely defined with a clear message of what he is showing. The aperture is set perfectly too as the photograph is not overly exposed nor under exposed. The composition is extremely proportioned and seems to be have taken from a birds eye view as when you look at the photo you are looking directly downwards. This highlights the strong connection of hands as we look down upon them. Furthermore this allows us to observe the detail and the constructive leading lines between the hand and tiny object. Looking down there are many shapes and lines which makes the viewers focus more. The background is slightly blurred out which could mean Booth used an large aperture of about F/1.4 or F/5.6.
Personally, I think that the photo is extremely powerful and clearly depicts the strong ongoing connections of hands and the interpretations connections between hands withholds. The photo itself sends a clear message of simplicity and true creativity through the ideas of Booth. One thing I love about the photo is the use of old objects to give the photo a classic vibe. Also my favorite thing is the lighting and how the hands form shadows across the clock.
SALLY MANN
Sally Mann is one of Americas renowned photographs, she is best known for her black and white photographs and she depicts emotional and personal photos of people who question society's views and the connections of motherhood and families. Sally Mann's simplicity shines through her photographs. The simplicity of each of her photographs catches viewers eyes it is as if her photos are expressing a story and we are interpreting each photograph.
In this picture the depth of field is deep because I can see not only the figures in the foreground but also the detail of the trees in the background. The background helps to frame the shot because the neutral trees acts like a frame around the girls and the vehicle. The way that Sally Mann has cropped the image is very effective as on the right hand side she has half the dog and on the left hand side a section of the truck, this tight cropping enables us to focus on the two girls in the center. In the shot I think she has captured the photo through the lens and hasn't experimented in Photoshop. However she may have converted the colour to black and white using a Photoshop filter. The leading lines of the shadows on the ground are coming from the right hand side to somewhere behind the horizon. This helps the photo give definition to the composition. As the viewpoint is on the same eye levels as the girls this helps the viewer make a connection with the young children. Sally Mann hasn't used the rule of thirds in this photo but rather she has positioned the children in the center of the photo this gives the image a powerful impact. There is a natural light in this photo which falls on the two young girls lighting them up. However the dark shadow on the path created by the truck adds a contrast to the lighting which helps you focus on the two main figures. I have also noticed the long shadows tell us the picture was taken in the early evening. which makes the photo atmospheric. In my opinion Sally Mann seems to have to caught the moment, so rather than a studio shot this seems more like a opportunistic shot which makes the photo more natural. This is a technique I am going to try in my work.
What I really admire about Sally Mann's work is the way she has structured the image. The dirty leaves on the floor are enhanced by the reflections. The two girls seem to outline the connection of two sisters who seem to be taking care of each other despite the condition they are in. The black and white photo suggests this is a really old photo but we know this has been taken fairly recently. I like this photograph as it clearly links with my question and symbolises the connections question. The simple bond between these two girls highlights the connection of their relationship that is clearly shown through this beautiful photograph. Just like sally Mann I am going to explore the theme of simple bonds in everyday settings.
What I really admire about Sally Mann's work is the way she has structured the image. The dirty leaves on the floor are enhanced by the reflections. The two girls seem to outline the connection of two sisters who seem to be taking care of each other despite the condition they are in. The black and white photo suggests this is a really old photo but we know this has been taken fairly recently. I like this photograph as it clearly links with my question and symbolises the connections question. The simple bond between these two girls highlights the connection of their relationship that is clearly shown through this beautiful photograph. Just like sally Mann I am going to explore the theme of simple bonds in everyday settings.
KIRSTEN LEWIS
Kirsten Lewis is a documentary family photographer based in Denver who spends time capturing her family life experience, fears, emotions and happiness. She focuses on moments throughout the day ,her artistic point of view is capturing her family and the never ending moments between her family and groups of people. Her simple black and white theme illustrates the creativity and compassion she puts in her work. Something I wish to present in my photographs.
I really love this photo. Kirsten has displayed someone capturing a photo of a special moment as she is doing the same. The creative idea behind this really symbolises the connection between a family and how capturing simple moments exemplifies the connection. Within this photo Kirsten has used a small aperture to add dimension to the photograph, the small aperture blurs the background so the viewers are able to focus on the 4 people. The photo is also underexposed as it is dark. I think Kirsten has used a large depth of field due to the small aperture to create a blur around the background. The foreground is exposed correctly as we can clearly see the facial expressions and emotions presented by the 4 people. The rule of thirds has been used to make the photo look fuller and complete. Kirsten has used many compositional rules the shape of the phone in the window is blurred as we are only supposed to see a snippet of it. The photo has a silky texture to it as it is displaying many emotions of happiness. I think the photo was taken in colour as the photo seems to be desaturated and edited in Photoshop. Kirsten seems to have used a natural source of light as the shadows and reflections seem natural which adds definition and sharpness to the detail of the photograph.
What I think is very effective about this photo is the way we see two images at the same time and I'm not absolutely sure how this has been achieved. One idea I have is that they may have used a mirror to capture the reverse reflection of the people in the background as they are taking the photo. This could be quite hard to do as you would have to set up the mirror in a fixed position. The other way they could have done this is by taking two separate photos and layering them on top of each other in Photoshop using the layer tool and the opacity tool. This may have also been a lucky shot that Kirsten may have taken through a window.
The idea behind this photo is quite intriguing and what it helps the viewer to do is to focus on the two characters on the steps . KIrstens personal outcomes on her photos is something I also wish to have on all my photos however the reverse reflection is something I'm not so interested in exploring. Like Sally Mann I also feel her work is capturing the every day connections and that is why I am more interested in researching her.
What I think is very effective about this photo is the way we see two images at the same time and I'm not absolutely sure how this has been achieved. One idea I have is that they may have used a mirror to capture the reverse reflection of the people in the background as they are taking the photo. This could be quite hard to do as you would have to set up the mirror in a fixed position. The other way they could have done this is by taking two separate photos and layering them on top of each other in Photoshop using the layer tool and the opacity tool. This may have also been a lucky shot that Kirsten may have taken through a window.
The idea behind this photo is quite intriguing and what it helps the viewer to do is to focus on the two characters on the steps . KIrstens personal outcomes on her photos is something I also wish to have on all my photos however the reverse reflection is something I'm not so interested in exploring. Like Sally Mann I also feel her work is capturing the every day connections and that is why I am more interested in researching her.
JACOB | REISCHEL
Marie Jacob & Julia Strathmann
Marie Jacob a photographer and Julia Strathmann a graphic designer come together to create works of perfect aesthetic harmony. Officialy they have a brand name called JACOB REISCHEL. Their nature of work consists of a various of projects as they present us with a balance through colour and objects. Their work includes design projects for magazines and web pages but they focus largely on creating concepts and making still lives. I have chosen to research these two photographers as their work incorporates features of connections between objects. Their ongoing uniqueness inspires me to create a mix of photographs like theirs using the idea of still life object.
Jacob and Strathmann have amazingly taken this photo with the simple idea of the still life creativity. The main focus point of this photograph is the plain white notebook and bright glasses. This photo presents a calm and cool feeling to the viewers as this gives out a aesthetic vibe. The photographer has placed a pair of glasses on a white notebook to implement the topic of connections. The two things together imply the connection of a notebook and the glasses giving someone the ability to read it. The photograph is correctly exposed as it is neither too dark nor too light. Jacob has examined the simple white theme to create a smooth and calm texture to the photograph. The looming shadows in the photograph enhance the detail of the photograph , they shift the viewers focus of the notebook and glasses. Furthermore the dark tone of the shadows stand out against the neutral background which displays an eye catching figure. The photo has a deep depth of field as the whole image is in focus to orchestrate the connection of the two objects. Lastly the photo has been taken with a birds eye view to frame the whole photo. I really like the simplicity and eye catching feel of this photo, the contrast of the two objects exemplify the topic of connections, which is something I wish to include in all my photos.
From choosing this question (connections) I was determined to carry the first part of my project with a theme to link all my photographs with. After researching artists I have been inspired with the ideas of 'Hands' as it links with the start up of my shoots which is objects. I wish to show the connections of objects through the use of hands and the connection of using simple objects with hands. Personally I think the hands symbolise how people need them and without them we wouldn't be able to do anything. This will result in my shoots being more meaningful as I am giving this a personal feel.
Shoot 1 (Plan)
For my first shoot I intend on experimenting with different pairs of hands and focusing first on the simplicity and minimalist outcome I could get with my first shoot. I hope to present my first set of pictures to give a glimpse on what I am going to be doing with connections and how I will be developing that in my further shoots. I feel as though this shoot will be interesting as it instantly conveys my message of connections between hands. Firstly I will be using three different models and getting them to hold hands as I wish to show the first glance of the main aspect of my theme which is hands. I aim for the models to hold hands in different ways to portray the different connections the hands withhold. I will be using a Dark red background setup and use a tripod to capture the hands. I am going to use a fast shutter speed to capture the sharp detail and the soft touch of the hands holding each other. The setup will include me directing the models and zooming in with lens to take many snapshots of the hands. I intend on getting many sophisticated and warm photos. I want to get really close shots as well to show the main focus of hands.
SHOOT 1
BEST |
WORST |
This is my best photo because the hands are at the main view point of the photo. There is a deep depth of field and I used a fast shutter speed to depict the action and the sharpness of the hands. The hands together symbolize the connection of hands. The background is really sharp and defined and contrasts with the the warm tone of the hands. The reddish background highlights the hands more.
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This is not my best photo as the hands are blurred so you can't see the sharpness of the hands. The hands are also very bleached and white blurs the depth of the photo. I do not like how the photo is zoomed in too much on the hands.
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Photo Outcomes -
This is my photo outcome as I have successfully given my personal attributes to the photo. For my first shoot I wanted to start to showcase my main theme of 'hands'. The hands represent the simplicity of the connections and we can connect with anything through our body parts. Hands is the chosen theme I went with as I can present the different aspects of connections with objects ( which I will be showing in several of my next shoots). The simplistic view of this photo gives the viewers to think about the connections in many perspectives, this is what I wish to present throughout my project and the different ideas connections withholds. To take this photo I used 3 models and a black background and took the photo using a tripod to get a clear and steady photo. I used a fast shutter speed to capture the sharp detail of the hands and the motion of the models holding each others hands. Furthermore In photoshop I used the adjustment settings to balance the contrast of the photo and turned the photo black and white using the desaturating tool. I feel as though this shoot was a great success as I am pleased with the way my images my turned out.
Shoot 2 (plan)
For my second shoot carrying on with the theme of 'connections between hands' I intend on capturing the motion of hands while playing with flour. I will show how people are connected with everyday essentials in this case 'food'. For my setup I will be using a desk lamp as a spotlight for the photo to portray a warm neutral background. I will use one model and their hands to capture them playing with the flour whilst I photograph the motion of the model. I hope to capture freeze frames to grasp sharp defined detail of my photos.
I plan on being indoors hence why The location will be in school and in a small dark room to enhance the darkness around the setting and to use the light effectively. I require a white background to display a contrast between the black and white theme I am going for. I aim to use a fast shutter speed as I will be capturing the motion of the hands and the actions of the model while they are playing with flour. My inspiration from this shoot has come from Tim booth as he portrays the objects within hands. However I will be doing my own take on this and capturing the action of the flour. This photoshoot came from a range of inspiration through my research and looking online.
I plan on being indoors hence why The location will be in school and in a small dark room to enhance the darkness around the setting and to use the light effectively. I require a white background to display a contrast between the black and white theme I am going for. I aim to use a fast shutter speed as I will be capturing the motion of the hands and the actions of the model while they are playing with flour. My inspiration from this shoot has come from Tim booth as he portrays the objects within hands. However I will be doing my own take on this and capturing the action of the flour. This photoshoot came from a range of inspiration through my research and looking online.
SHOOT 2
BEST |
WORST |
This is my best photograph as it clearly shows the movement of the flour and the sharp detail of the hand movement. I used a fast shutter speed to capture the motion of the hands as the subject mixes with the flour. I used a black background and one desk top lamp to focus the viewers attentions on the hands. The lighting also shows the contrast of the black and white neutral colors. The dark background creates a shadow which is perfect to heighten the detail of the whiteness of the flour moving.
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This picture is clearly my worst as the photo is not in focus and there is a shallow depth of field. we also cannot see the movement of the subject and there is no detail or depth to the photo. There is also a looming shadow on the hands which is not what I wanted as it blocks the main focus of the photo.
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Photo Outcome -
This is my final outcome as I feel I have embedded the black and white filter to portray the simplicity of my photo.while doing my shoot, first and foremost I took some test shots to gain a glimpse of what my idea looks like in reality. It took quite a lot of time to adjust the spotlight as it kept creating cirlces around the base of the bowl which could distract the viewers from the main focus. However later I used two lights to form a balnce of lighting .Then the lighting enhanced even more due to the sharpness of the black contrast and the two lights. The black and white contrasts heavily with the flour as it is naturally white which emphasizes the meaning of connections and the symbolism of the hands. During Photoshop, I first desaturated the photo to start with a plain image to work on then I worked on enhancing black and white around the edges through the curves tool. After I made small adjustments to the exposure and color balance which proved to be an effective outcome for this photo.
Shoot 3 (plan)
For this shoot I decided to do a part two of shoot two and broaden my photos with experimenting with connections between objects (food). Previously I depicted the motion of flour with hands and now with this shoot I plan showing a model rolling out the dough and showing the sense of touch between hands and food. I will use a ready made dough and a rolling pin, bowl and cutters to present a realistic kitchen setting. I aim to use a tripod to get a clear proportional photo. I will also use two desk lamps to create a warm neutral atmosphere within the lighting. I want the model to roll out the dough and act natural as possible. In photoshop I aim to turn the photo in black and white to match along with the other flour image from shoot two.
SET UP
SHOOT 3
BEST |
WORST |
This is my best photo due to the fact it has everything I visioned in my plan. The lighting is perfect and the image is correctly exposed. I love the way the model has the dough in her hands and you can see the sharp detail outlining the connections between hands.
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I don't like this photo as it is very dark and there is no main focus. The lighting overshadows the hands and I specifically dislike the way the photo is angle due to the fact I took it from a different position. However experimenting from a birds eye view was a good learning curve for me. I feel as though the way it is positioned looks unnatural something I didn't want to have included in my photo.
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Photo outcome
Within this shoot it took a lot of time to setup mostly because of the lighting and getting right set crisp picture. I first took a set of photos without a tripod and they were really bad and unprofessional. So then I used a tripod a set up the lighting with two desk lamps. However it was quite hard to cut out the lights from my photos. In photoshop I changed the photo to black and white and cropped the black lights we see around the edge. For a clean image I used the curves tool to balance out the darkness around the edges and give it a clear and correctly exposed outlook. I feel as though I have clearly presented my ideas and what I wanted to achieve throughout this photo. I have captured the connections between objects through the theme of 'hands.
Shoot 4 (plan)
For this shoot I will be travelling to Town (Manchester) and using buildings and the scenery as a prop for my hands shoot. I want my photos to be natural and simplistic so I feel that will be shown through using and experimenting with objects and materials in town. Therefore with this shoot I will use black metal bars on a gate and direct my model to grip onto them to portray the connections within my town and the feeling of being warm and safe within our city. My model gripping onto the bars is really effective as it shows a different form of connections within my shoots and is quite unique from all my other shoots. This shoot really demonstrates my ability to to go out and come up with creative ideas and things I can use within my city. The form of connections displays how connections can be formed with anything and anyone.
SHOOT 4
BEST |
WORST |
This is one of my best images as the photo is exceptionally taken with correct camera settings. To take this photo I used a fast shutter speed with a deep depth of field to achieve some blur around the edges of the photo. To experiment with this photo I put the camera settings on creative auto and changed the filter to monochrome to achieve a full black and white image. I love the reflections of the cloud in the water that makes the photo stand out more. I believe the strong grip of the hands on the metal bars really give a true sense of aura and speech to the photo.
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I don't like this photo as it is slightly cropped and one sided which looks quite unprofessional. Furthermore the image is blurred right in the center which is something I did not want to achieve. Also the hands are not in the correct position and the we cant really see the full size image of the hand something I dislike.
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Photo outcome -
Within this photo I did not need to use Photoshop as I took the photo in black and white and achieved the perfect photograph. This photo emphasizes the meaning of connections within man made materials of my city. I feel as though the hands represent a deep meaning of connection as we hold onto the life that is our city. I aimed for a crisp black and white photo and that was what I achieved.
Shoot 5(Plan)
For this shoot I again want to take a second part of photos for shoot 4 in Manchester (town). I will take a series of photos in hope to achieve photos that showcase a symbolic connection within my city. I chose to use the Manchester Bee which is symbolic for our city as it represents our cities hardworking achievements. The connections within can be meaningful for many viewers as the viewers are able to relate and 'connect' with my photographs. So I aim to go into town and take a variety of photos where the Manchester bee is located. I will use a model to place their hands over the bee or on top to portray the connections between 'man' and the 'bee'. The hands represent how touch can leave a stain on something and feel the connection within. I want to use a natural setting with a White balance of 'Cloudy' to use the natural lighting and atmosphere around me.
SHOOT 5
BEST |
WORST |
This is my best photo as the photo is in focus and is at a set angle which will help me when I manipulate this photo in photoshop. I like the natural setting and background as it is easier for me to turn into black and white. The focus of the photo is the Bee which then crossovers over with the hands. I like the way the model has position her hands as it forms a shape around the bee.
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This is my worst photo as I don't like the way the photo is positioned. Also I think it is too zoomed in for my liking which would be hard to work in during photoshop. I also don't like how I've angled the photo.
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Photo outcome-
Within this shoot I aimed to show off my Photoshop skills by applying layers and applying new filters to change up my photos. Firstly I took a few photos however they weren't coming out right due to the camera quality and the lighting wasn't at its best. Later on in the day I decided to try again and firstly adjusted all my camera settings. I took many photos at different angles and used a model to display their hands on the Bee. At the end I was left with a minimum amount of photos and just enough to work with. With this shoot I decided to do something different which was use two sets of hands in order to create a more meaningful and bespoke photo. The use of two sets of hands was effective as it represents the mass community I was trying to show within representing the bee. Firstly I uploaded two pictures on photo shop and began to use the layers tool to add another set of hands above the bee. I cut out the hands of the first photo and added them on the other photo. ( It is most clear on the photos above). Then I went ahead and changed the photo to black and white as I want all my photos in black and white. I believe I came out with a really successful experimentation of using the layers tool and creating a beautiful and meaningful photo. To depict the connections of the hands.
As I chose to go on a route of a certain theme of 'hands' I took a various of photos incorporating objects and displaying the connections within that theme. However I really wanted to take photos including people and showing the connection between people. So forth I decided to take pictures of my sister and cousin as I didn't want to do anything random and wanted to show the personal aspect of my photographs. I chose to take pictures of there strong connection and bond they have and also the laughs and memories they share.
Shoot 1 (plan)
For this shoot I will use two models ( my cousin and sister) and direct them to stand together and act playful. However due to them being quite small it may take some time to get them together. For the location it will be at my home in my living room. I want to go with this setting to show the homely and personal setting in my photos. I aim to use a fast shutter speed and take a various of photo as it will be hard getting them together. I want to capture them playing together, but also show a bit of my theme of hands and get them to hold hands together.
SHOOT 1
BestThis is my best photo as I love the way the models are smiling and the fixed position they in. The photo seems very natural and personal and just shows a simplistic view of what I was trying to capture . The connections between people. Looking at this photo it makes the viewers smile and gives a true sense of emotion. I love the soft lighting and the small shadows that create a detailed effect.
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WorstIt is clearly shown in the photo why it is my worst due to the fact we can not see the models. This photo was taken as a slip and it doesn't depict what I wanted to show.
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Photo Outcome:
To begin with I feel as though this was a very successful shoot , despite worrying about the difficulties I'd face working with two children. The two models were great and acted as I directed. Within this shoot I aimed to get natural photos within a natural setting. I used a fast shutter speed and kept my white balance at 'tungsten'. I wanted to show the connections between two sisters and how they are connected through laughter, fun and games. In photoshop I decided to keep this photo as natural and simple and possible and went with just changing this photo in black and white , to match the theme of all my photos.
Although I really enjoyed doing connections with people I felt my strongest point was the theme of hands and I have decided to go through with the connections of objects. I loved experimenting with portraying the connections between people but I want to end my exam with the connections between object through my main concept 'Hands'.
Although I really enjoyed doing connections with people I felt my strongest point was the theme of hands and I have decided to go through with the connections of objects. I loved experimenting with portraying the connections between people but I want to end my exam with the connections between object through my main concept 'Hands'.
Plan for final exam -
For my final exam portfolio I'm really going to focus on the connections between objects within the theme of 'hands' and to make it a personal outcome I have chosen to take images of my family working with the objects they use everyday. In my opinion I think this makes the connections powerful and meaningful. I've chosen a various of photos to manipulate in photoshop. To create a powerful and personal outcome I aim to create a book that displays the everyday objects showing the connections between my family. I will build a book that has small pouches (enevelopes) and enclosed will be the images I have chosen.
This is an idea of how it will look like. I hope to gain a successful outcome and display the journey of my photographs. I will choose multiple images from my previous shoots, mainly the flour ones. However I aim to take a new set of photos at home of my parents hands working with their everyday objects. My parents specialise in sewing and so I will take photos of them sewing, and using the machines they use to earn a living. I feel as though this shows a really deep connection with the everyday objects and portrays the personal outcomes I have wanted to present throughout my whole exam.
During the exam, I will be manipulating the photographs I will be using in photoshop for the first three hours. Then I will print out my photos and proceed to making my book. I want it too look like a personal photo album which is deigned to present the connections I have captured. Enclosed will be my photos in envelopes and I will be making little notes such as what the photos mean to me and the connections they hold within to finish of my final piece. Alongside I have taken two sets of shoots of my parents sewing to finish of my final piece. Below is the set of photos I have taken and I will choose a couple to photoshop in the exam and input in my book.
During the exam, I will be manipulating the photographs I will be using in photoshop for the first three hours. Then I will print out my photos and proceed to making my book. I want it too look like a personal photo album which is deigned to present the connections I have captured. Enclosed will be my photos in envelopes and I will be making little notes such as what the photos mean to me and the connections they hold within to finish of my final piece. Alongside I have taken two sets of shoots of my parents sewing to finish of my final piece. Below is the set of photos I have taken and I will choose a couple to photoshop in the exam and input in my book.
SET OF PHOTOS I TOOK SPECIFICALLY FOR THE EXAM-
MY DADS HANDS -
MY MUMS HANDS-
IMAGES I WILL BE USING FOR THE EXAM :
Evaluation
I chose the the question (Q7) Connections and I interpreted it in ways to deliver a personal outcome . Within the project I was determined to go with a certain theme. After a elongated time of deciding my instincts gave me the idea of the theme of 'Hands'. This opened a various of doors for me as I was able to use the theme in multiple ways, it also gave me the opportunity to present different forms of 'connections between hands'. Exploring diverse connections enhanced my learning and I was able to portray that in my photographs. Connections is a very explicative theme which is one of the main reasons why I instantly chose to it. I took this questions in many ways , from studio shots, going on location to town and even taking personal photos at home of my family. I feels as though I was able to present my ideas and creativity.
I believe the theme fits me perfectly as I certainly did enjoy every aspect of this exam process. I enjoyed working on the whole project however coming up with a theme and taking different sets of shoots was what I had enjoyed the most. This was mainly because of the vision that I had and seeing that coming to life in my photos really gave me a sense of happiness and control over my work. I loved the way all my shoots turned out and I owe it all to time, effort and planning that went into it. I thank the models I used and my parents who played a part in being hand models for portraying the connections between objects. I was exceptionally happy with all my outcomes due to the mere fact I wanted my project to be as personal as possible, I feel as though all my shoots reflect that. Within my project the most interesting part was coming up with many ideas that showed the connections between hands and objects. I loved planning and setting up in location for all my shoots, however one thing I honestly did dislike was getting all the lighting setup due to the fact it took quite a bit of time to get the right amount of lighting I needed for each of my shoots. The struggle of constantly moving the lights and placing them in a fixed position was sometimes aggravating, however along the process of getting my exam together I learnt many techniques.
During this process I learnt multiple techniques I thought I never would be able to do or even think of using in my photos. First and foremost setting up and planning shoots are so important for a successful outcome. This was an extreme learning curve as I planned all my shoots and took my time to set them up. The main technique I used in my photos was certainly the lighting and portraying that was necessary to gain a powerful black and white photo in photoshop. I used desk lamps and professional photoshoot lights during school holidays to get professional photos. One technique I did learn was to take a few photos first to get the the accurate amount of lighting. This helped because once my lighting was perfectly set I was able to take amazing photos , as seen above. Another technique I learned and used throughout my project was in photoshop. As my main idea was to turn all my photos black and white , I first desaturated the photo before anything to start with a clean and simple photo. I belive this was helpful as it gave me a chance to expirement with the curves tool and adjustment levels. I wanted a sharp black and white colour around the edged and throughout the images. One last technique I used was fast shutter speed is most important while taking fast motion pictures. This was effective capturing the fine detail of each picture to make it more defined and fixed.
I researched a various of artist as seen above however on main artist I was instantly drawn to was Tim Booth, His portfolio really inspired me and from them I came up with the idea of connections between hands and objects. I feel as though his work was unique and something different than what most photographers had of their intrepration of connections. I feel as though Booth introduced me to a variety of ideas I could implement in my phtotos. I was very inspired with how Booth presented and captured in photos, the fine black and white detail of the hands is something I noticed first while researching him, this influenced me to make my photos black and white to show the simple and powerful side of my photos. Furthermore I loved the way Booth used multiple objects to display the connections of hands. I wanted to do something similar however I added my own interpration with the idea of the sewing machine. Lastly the main aspect of Booths photos I was intrigued by was the natural approach he had to capturing the photo, this was something I wanted to work on throughout my shoots and was successful in doing so by using Booth
work as an example.
Finally, I believe as though I have managed and presented a very successful exam. I have taken oppourtunites throughout the exam and grasped onto every idea I had. This whole exam has been exceptional, I am proud of the hard work and determination I had. Given the time period I feel as though I have done way more than I thought I could, hence why I am pleased with the outcome.
I believe the theme fits me perfectly as I certainly did enjoy every aspect of this exam process. I enjoyed working on the whole project however coming up with a theme and taking different sets of shoots was what I had enjoyed the most. This was mainly because of the vision that I had and seeing that coming to life in my photos really gave me a sense of happiness and control over my work. I loved the way all my shoots turned out and I owe it all to time, effort and planning that went into it. I thank the models I used and my parents who played a part in being hand models for portraying the connections between objects. I was exceptionally happy with all my outcomes due to the mere fact I wanted my project to be as personal as possible, I feel as though all my shoots reflect that. Within my project the most interesting part was coming up with many ideas that showed the connections between hands and objects. I loved planning and setting up in location for all my shoots, however one thing I honestly did dislike was getting all the lighting setup due to the fact it took quite a bit of time to get the right amount of lighting I needed for each of my shoots. The struggle of constantly moving the lights and placing them in a fixed position was sometimes aggravating, however along the process of getting my exam together I learnt many techniques.
During this process I learnt multiple techniques I thought I never would be able to do or even think of using in my photos. First and foremost setting up and planning shoots are so important for a successful outcome. This was an extreme learning curve as I planned all my shoots and took my time to set them up. The main technique I used in my photos was certainly the lighting and portraying that was necessary to gain a powerful black and white photo in photoshop. I used desk lamps and professional photoshoot lights during school holidays to get professional photos. One technique I did learn was to take a few photos first to get the the accurate amount of lighting. This helped because once my lighting was perfectly set I was able to take amazing photos , as seen above. Another technique I learned and used throughout my project was in photoshop. As my main idea was to turn all my photos black and white , I first desaturated the photo before anything to start with a clean and simple photo. I belive this was helpful as it gave me a chance to expirement with the curves tool and adjustment levels. I wanted a sharp black and white colour around the edged and throughout the images. One last technique I used was fast shutter speed is most important while taking fast motion pictures. This was effective capturing the fine detail of each picture to make it more defined and fixed.
I researched a various of artist as seen above however on main artist I was instantly drawn to was Tim Booth, His portfolio really inspired me and from them I came up with the idea of connections between hands and objects. I feel as though his work was unique and something different than what most photographers had of their intrepration of connections. I feel as though Booth introduced me to a variety of ideas I could implement in my phtotos. I was very inspired with how Booth presented and captured in photos, the fine black and white detail of the hands is something I noticed first while researching him, this influenced me to make my photos black and white to show the simple and powerful side of my photos. Furthermore I loved the way Booth used multiple objects to display the connections of hands. I wanted to do something similar however I added my own interpration with the idea of the sewing machine. Lastly the main aspect of Booths photos I was intrigued by was the natural approach he had to capturing the photo, this was something I wanted to work on throughout my shoots and was successful in doing so by using Booth
work as an example.
Finally, I believe as though I have managed and presented a very successful exam. I have taken oppourtunites throughout the exam and grasped onto every idea I had. This whole exam has been exceptional, I am proud of the hard work and determination I had. Given the time period I feel as though I have done way more than I thought I could, hence why I am pleased with the outcome.
27/04/18
From this point all my work has been done in exam time.
Editing chosen photos in photoshop-
I wanted my photos to consist of the same black and white theme throughout as wanted my book to be simplistic yet powerful. I feel as though all my final photos being black and white conveyed a simplistic message of connections.
Process of Making the book-
First and foremost, at home I made the book due to the kind of design I wanted to put it on. I decided to make the template and fold the book at home as I wanted Sewing patterns along the rims of my book. I cut the right size of paper at school then took it home to fold and make it into the book. I also cut little pieces of cards to stick my photos on and make them look like Polaroids. As I can't sew I asked my dad to just do the sewing along the edges. I thought this would be a great design as it correlates well with my theme and the 2 photos of my mum and dad sewing included in my book. I also wanted my book to be quite edgy and realistic, which embeds the personal feel throughout.
On the second exam day, I printed out my photos via a photo shop and the size was (6x4) to get the best quality pictures for my book. I brought them into school and then began to stick them onto the white cards. One struggle was that I had to keep cutting the cards so they fit into the little pouches and fit along the size of the book. I tested the card size buy putting them into the little pouches. Then I began to stick my photos on the white card using a glue stick. This was the most easiest part!
On the third exam day, I planned to add some writing onto my book under the photos I stuck on to card. I wanted all the attention to be on the photos hence why I only wrote small amounts about each photo and gave my interpretation of what each photo meant to me and the connection the individual photo portrayed. I feel as though I have put a lot of effort into my book and I am extremely happy with the outcome.
The book shows the process of my journey with portraying the 'connections of hands between objects'. I wanted to demonstrate the ongoing series of hands and how I have interpreted the connections question. I feel as though when looking/ opening the book, it is as if it is a photo album. It jumps out to the viewers and the simplistic black&white speaks out to each individual. What I wanted to portray and think about the connections may be different to people who view my photos, which is why the question is so advanced we can manipulate it in multiple ways.
On the second exam day, I printed out my photos via a photo shop and the size was (6x4) to get the best quality pictures for my book. I brought them into school and then began to stick them onto the white cards. One struggle was that I had to keep cutting the cards so they fit into the little pouches and fit along the size of the book. I tested the card size buy putting them into the little pouches. Then I began to stick my photos on the white card using a glue stick. This was the most easiest part!
On the third exam day, I planned to add some writing onto my book under the photos I stuck on to card. I wanted all the attention to be on the photos hence why I only wrote small amounts about each photo and gave my interpretation of what each photo meant to me and the connection the individual photo portrayed. I feel as though I have put a lot of effort into my book and I am extremely happy with the outcome.
The book shows the process of my journey with portraying the 'connections of hands between objects'. I wanted to demonstrate the ongoing series of hands and how I have interpreted the connections question. I feel as though when looking/ opening the book, it is as if it is a photo album. It jumps out to the viewers and the simplistic black&white speaks out to each individual. What I wanted to portray and think about the connections may be different to people who view my photos, which is why the question is so advanced we can manipulate it in multiple ways.
Making the book at home -
Making the book at school -
Using the book:
I did some experimentation of using the book in my exam, I produced these wonderful pictures. I wanted to make my book seem realistic hence why I showcased it in a kitchen setting. The background was perfect alongside my book.