Photography statement of intent
Landscape photography shows the locations within the world and the man made features of landscapes. These photographs contain themes such as cityscapes, urban scapes and seascapes. I aim to produce a portfolio of work consisting of my ideas, photographs, research and progress. I wish to portray comparing and contrasting landscapes throughout the themes I choose.
For my initial research I will start to look at diverse locations and photographs. Firstly I will be going on location to Anglesey Wales, to capture seascapes. Secondly I will be going on location to Manchester(town) and London to capture the cityscapes and the architecture that London has to offer. This will benefit my project as I will present first hand photographs and display the contrast of the seascapes and cityscapes. However I would like to include images from Manchester (my city) as I go into town and capture the buildings and the atmosphere of the city landscapes so that this project could have a personal feel.
On the other hand for my artist research,I will be researching Peter Watson as he specializes in the creation of unique and beautiful landscape photographs. I will use peter to research elements of sea scapes and landscapes for inspiration in my own work. For CityScapes I chose to research Andrew Prokos, Fabrice silly and Will Pearson I chose these photographers as they have different ways of portraying and editing there photos which inspires my work. Also I am intrigued in their Photoshop skills as they create highly developed photographs and present their ideas in unique ways.
The themes I have decided to go for are viewpoints and black and white photography. The elements of black and white photography really interest me as it displays simplicity, black and white is warm and natural which outlines a photo deeply. I chose viewpoints as photos with different viewpoints show have a unique look and pique interest with viewers. Different viewpoints such as birds eye and worms eye view can display effect photos.
I would like to experiment with a wide range of techniques within my project. I have a 18-55mm lens which I will take all my photographs on. The camera I will be using is DSLR which is exceptional.
Overall I hope to do well on this project and achieve the best grades possible.
For my initial research I will start to look at diverse locations and photographs. Firstly I will be going on location to Anglesey Wales, to capture seascapes. Secondly I will be going on location to Manchester(town) and London to capture the cityscapes and the architecture that London has to offer. This will benefit my project as I will present first hand photographs and display the contrast of the seascapes and cityscapes. However I would like to include images from Manchester (my city) as I go into town and capture the buildings and the atmosphere of the city landscapes so that this project could have a personal feel.
On the other hand for my artist research,I will be researching Peter Watson as he specializes in the creation of unique and beautiful landscape photographs. I will use peter to research elements of sea scapes and landscapes for inspiration in my own work. For CityScapes I chose to research Andrew Prokos, Fabrice silly and Will Pearson I chose these photographers as they have different ways of portraying and editing there photos which inspires my work. Also I am intrigued in their Photoshop skills as they create highly developed photographs and present their ideas in unique ways.
The themes I have decided to go for are viewpoints and black and white photography. The elements of black and white photography really interest me as it displays simplicity, black and white is warm and natural which outlines a photo deeply. I chose viewpoints as photos with different viewpoints show have a unique look and pique interest with viewers. Different viewpoints such as birds eye and worms eye view can display effect photos.
I would like to experiment with a wide range of techniques within my project. I have a 18-55mm lens which I will take all my photographs on. The camera I will be using is DSLR which is exceptional.
Overall I hope to do well on this project and achieve the best grades possible.
Artist Research
Peter watson
Peter Watson is an English landscape photographer whose career started in his teenage years when he photographed and produced his own black and white prints in a improvised darkroom. Peter specialises in the creation of unique and very beautiful landscape photographs. His work has been critically acclaimed and is widely published both in the UK and internationally.
This is my favorite photo as the sky catches my eye, the different shades of purple really stand out and build a contrast of dark/light colors. The photo is correctly exposed and I think it has been taken with a fast shutter speed to incorporate the movement of the clouds. The lighting has created texture and depth to the photo. The photo seems to be edited which exposes the purple sky and enriches the colors and enhances cloud detail. When looking at this photo the viewers attention are straight onto the tree as the strong leading lines are directed onto the tree. The one tree is very effective as it makes you think about what is happening on this land. The one tree simply drives the viewers attention straight as it is in the middle and a big eye catching prop. It also makes the photo look mysterious as there is only one tree in the middle of nowhere. The background looks dark and mysterious whereas the foreground looks bright and eye catching. I chose Peter Watson because he inspires me to focus on one thing in a landscape. For example the picture above shows the aperture and exposure on just the tree. The darkness above makes it stand out which makes me want my pictures to stand out. I hope to incorporate his creativity in my work.
Max Rive
Max Rive is a European photographer who began with taking photos in the winter of 2008 he wasn’t any different from a traveler with a camera. He wanted to capture his adventures in the mountains. He began to visit some well-known iconic places but he quickly shifted back to his adventurous style again. Finding something unique as a photographer made it his own and had given him the opportunity to do what he's good at, which is in his case, exploring the mountains.
I am really interested in this photo as this photo is eye catching as the exposure is sharp, there is a good detail in both the shadows and sky's as the vividness of the grey sky stands out. The long shadows have created texture and depth to the photo which displays a deep outline of the photographs features. The evening light of the photo gives the sky a dark contrast and a warm atmosphere. The fast shutter speed depicts the smooth lines of the water as you can see the small movement of the water. The photographer has used a small aperture to let the correct amount of light enter to showcase this. I chose Max Rive because I am inspired by his creativity and imagination to travel right on top of a high mountain for the perfect picture. He has great focus and originality on each different landscape which inspires me to trace his work in mine.
PLAN
Anglesey
As a starting point for my landscape project I am going to go to Anglesey during the winter to capture images of changing light, weather patterns and landscapes.
First day
Worst -
This is my worst photo because the picture is fuzzy and there is no main focus point. The photo is slightly over exposed which balances onto the lighter side this was something I wasn't hoping to achieve. On the side there is also a person that has come into my photo which ruins the photo as a whole.
Best -
This is my best photo as I like the colour contrast between the sky and the hill. This Is a very detailed photo which incorporates a lot of aspects of landscapes such as the rocks,weed,sea, sand etc. The composition is definitely something I really like as it withholds of all the landscape quality. However I would like to experiment with this photo on Photoshop and improve the lighting and the colour of the grey sky to make it seem more lively and less grim.
Photoshop
MY OUTCOME: I went on Photoshop and experimented on this photo with a number of filters and adjustment techniques, such as render, exposure, colour balance etc.
Second Day-
Worst
This is my worst image because it is overexposed which creates a misty photo. The photo also seems to be lop sided which doesn't display the simple landscape effect.
Best
This is my best image because I am proud with the depth and detail I have achieved through this photo, the way you can see the light flow of the waves and if you look closely it will feel like you can actually sense it moving. The contrast of the colors blue look perfect for the landscape.The sharp rocks show the clear detail of the landscape and the fast shutter speed. Also I have used a large aperture to incorporate a minimal detail of light.
MY OUTCOME: During photoshop I added a layer to the landscape to modify the outlook of this photo. I experimented with a simple background that I took. Then I adjusted the photo to black and white and experimented with different filters.
Best
I also love this photo as it is correctly exposed and I have taken this with a fast shutter speed to include the crashing waves against the rocks, this is effective as the photo incorporates a real life atmosphere. Furthermore the clouds display sharp detail and direct the viewers attention on the beautiful sky.
SEASCAPE TO CITYSCAPE
A transition from Seascape Photography to Urbanscape Photography has been made as I had wanted to explore the different types of landscapes that can be photographed. A focus on Seascapes allows it to contrast to Urbanscapes as the elements included in the pictures differ. There is more focus on more natural scenery however when we visit London it will be more man-made scenery as it will be a more developed location. Angelesy, Wales was a more quiet area with less people around allowing me to easily capture more scenes however London being the capital of England will be more lively. When we visited Anglesey it was Winter time however when we visit London it will be Summer - this may be acknowledged through the tones of the photographs.
MANCHESTER (Cityscapes)
ARCHITECTURE
LIGHT/ATMOSPHERE/TEXTURE
TRAM LINES
VIEWPOINTS
SHAPES
MANCHESTER SCENES
BEST PHOTOGRAPH
I have selected this photograph from the range of photos I have taken as I am in love with the style and the way this photo has been taken. This photo stands out among the photographs I have taken as it incorporates a light texture and a warm atmosphere. This is something different which I am really pleased with. On first glance the photographer sets a tone for the viewers which makes them intrigued with the style of this photo. There is a large aperture as the image is in the focus and the photograph is correctly exposed allowing the viewers to see the full detail of the architecture.
LONDON (Cityscapes)
Artist Research
Andrew Prokos
Andrew Prokos is a New York City based architecture, advertising, and fine art photographer. His fine art photographs incorporate architectural elements and sweeping natural and urban views. Personally I believe his work is highly detailed and lyrical in quality. Without a doubt this photo has a lot of quality, the photo is in monochrome which shows simplicity and minimalism. On first glance the cityscape shows a mysterious atmosphere. The greyscale on the sky shows how Andrew has created a contrast of these colours. The focus point of the photo is the very tall building in the background which sets the viewers attention straight onto the building. The strong leading lines on the tallest building are harsh and are visible to the viewers which sets a tone of different shapes and angles they can see. The lighting consists of a grey/white/black colour scheme that starts of white and gets darker as you look at the top of the photo this creates a soft contrast of colours. The photo is correctly exposed this means the photo is bright\dark enough to see a normal amount of detail in the picture. The composition of the photo is set right onto the bridge which is in middle. I think Andrew has used a long shutter speed to capture the movement of the water and the low-light backgrounds. From my perspective I really like this photo as the simplicity speaks out to me which I love about photos. The black and white theme is very natural and warm. This feature of the cityscape inspires me and I would really like to incorporate this into my work as it is something I want to do for my project. Over the course of this project I hope to achieve of my goal of using black and white photography as a main aspect in my work. I want my final outcome to be just as extravagant as Andrews work.
Fabrice Silly
Fabrice silly is a french photographer who take creative and aesthetically pleasing photos he qoutes "The intention is not to travel, but to transport us".I chose Fabrice silly work for my artist research because I love how bold his photos are. Each of his photographs seem dark and mysterious and shows the mystery beyond each cityscape. I am really interested in his choice of colours for the sky and how he manipulates the photos to match the buildings and surfaces. I like how the photos are positioned in different angles to show different types of composition , for example the view point on the tower seems to fade into the sky, which creates a creative effect. The vanishing point, directs the viewers attention straight on the midpoint of the photo. The bridge displays different shapes coming from diverse angles. Also from my point of view the water emerges out from the photo as it is bright and white which looks nice and clean. Furthermore the lack of colour shows how people wont know where or when the photo was taken. For me the main subject of this photo is the water which displays a bold and aesthetic look. The calming feel of the photo makes you feel relaxed and welcome. The main outlook of the photo is the simplicity. From my perspective it feels like I am walking on the platform and I am being guided towards the photos. Being able to imagine this is a very unique and compassionate feeling. The mere lighting in the background resembles the buildings are fading away and the path is getting longer.
Will Pearson
Will Pearson is a London Based panoramic Photographer. I chose Will as he goes along well with the project I'm doing. This is my favourite photographs taken from Will. Firstly the photo is correctly exposed which shows the normal amount of detail you expect to see. Will has documented lots of photos which display the true front of London. I think a small aperture has been used to bring all foreground and background detail in focus. The composition and contrast of the vibrant buildings in the foreground with the blue sky gives the photo a chilled look.The focal point of the photo is most definitely the big wheel as the white shines the most among the other buildings. The lighting is exquisite there is a clear gradient from the top of the photo to the bottom as it blends from the top of the light grey/blue sky to the dark blue water. The photograph has been strategically taken as it shows will has used a hard lighting technique. The lighting shines bright from the right and slowly seems to dim down which creates a huge impact on the way the photo has been taken. Will has definitely inspired me to take photos like this and focus more on the lighting and composition. His techniques are outstandingly creative and I hope to take effective photos like his. Furthermore I love how the photo seems realistic and unedited, the raw setting gives it a cool and calming feeling.
LONDON
WATER/BRIDGES
TRANSPORT/UNDERGROUND
INSIDE BUILDINGS/ARCHITETURE
OLD BUILDINGS
FRAMING
ARCHITECTURE
Cityscape
Will Pearson
Developing my ideas
I am researching the work of Thomas Struth as I am interested in his classical theme of work. His use of showing a deep depth of field and displaying the vanishing point creates sharp images. I think Thomas's work links to mine because he uses tall buildings and the birds eye view to create a range of photos. The focus point of his photos contrast with mine as it is something I have tried to achieve. I am going to use their work to inspire mine by focusing on the gradient and compositional features on my photos. This is going to show my development and my ability to compare my work with a professional photographer. Also his work links in with the concept of black and white I am going with, the simplicity and nostalgic black and white theme he has is something I wish to achieve.
Within the concept I aim to have a black and white theme throughout-
MY PHOTOS
FIRST PHOTOSHOP
SECOND PHOTOSHOP
THIRD PHOTOSHOP
FOURTH PHOTOSHOP
FIFTH PHOTOSHOP
FINAL PORTFOLIO
FINAL EXPERIMENTATION WITH MY PHOTOS-
During this photo I stretched my skills and experimented with rotating the photo. First and foremost I created layers and cropped this extended my skills as I used new tools and used a range of techniques to create this outcome.
Photoshop rotation 2
Photoshop rotation 3
EVALUATION
This project was called landscapes the aim for this project was create a series of photos of landscapes with different locations. In my project I visited many locations and presented a bespoke project full of photos. I was committed to go to different locations and capture the changing landscapes of our world. These locations included Anglesey (wales) , London, Manchester (town). During these visits I played an active role in capturing lots of photos. That I would use throughout my project.
For the first part of my project (seascapes) I researched Peter Watson and Max rive who inspired me to capture the peaceful nature. The way they presented their photos were quite unique due to them applying various filters and many Photoshop techniques. One thing I was quite interested in was Max rives depiction of landscapes and how he uses different filters to apply a more rigid layer surrounding the whole of the photograph. The edgy look gave me a idea to incorporate that in my photos.
At first I visited Anglesey to take photos of seascapes and get a glance of the nature of Landcapes. This trip was proven effective due to the mere fact I got a lot of photos I could work on and portray in my project. My favorite part was when we climbed the mountain to capture the sea from a birds eye view and also the sky within the background of the trees. I gained lots of photos from different viewpoint and broadened my knowledge of the camera by using different techniques e.g the rule of thirds.
Secondly I went to London to develop my project I decided to incorporate 'changing Landsacpes' and depict the modernism of London and the contrast between photos in Anglesey. The changing Landsacpes pushed my outcomes as I captured multiples of photos all linking within a theme e.g viewpoints, city scapes etc.
Then I went into Manchester (town) to get another bank of images that could lead me to develop my Photoshop skills and depict a various of locations I travelled to. Alongside this it gave me advantage to produce new ideas and explore the world of landscapes. To develop my photos I began to research another artist (Thomas Struth) as for my final outcomes I wanted my photos to consist of a theme. Struths black and white simplicity gave me a chance to select a wide range of photos from my portfolio and manipulate them in Photoshop. The best part was learning many skills from Photoshop and adding on new filters onto my photos. Also Struths classical theme of work gave me ideas to work along with and portray them on my photos.
I feel as though the best part of my whole project was travelling to different locations, especially Anglesey as I got to see different forms of landscapes and explore locations out of my comfort zone. One thing I disliked during my project was my lack of skills in photoshop gave me a disadvantage for my photos. However I tackled the problem and produced a various of final outcomes that enhanced my Photoshop knowledge. To end with, I brought together my Photoshop techniques and produced three final outcomes, that showed my explorations in Photoshop. I layered my photos and rotated them using them using the transform tool etc. This enabled me to produce three fantastic photos I manipulated in Photoshop.
For the first part of my project (seascapes) I researched Peter Watson and Max rive who inspired me to capture the peaceful nature. The way they presented their photos were quite unique due to them applying various filters and many Photoshop techniques. One thing I was quite interested in was Max rives depiction of landscapes and how he uses different filters to apply a more rigid layer surrounding the whole of the photograph. The edgy look gave me a idea to incorporate that in my photos.
At first I visited Anglesey to take photos of seascapes and get a glance of the nature of Landcapes. This trip was proven effective due to the mere fact I got a lot of photos I could work on and portray in my project. My favorite part was when we climbed the mountain to capture the sea from a birds eye view and also the sky within the background of the trees. I gained lots of photos from different viewpoint and broadened my knowledge of the camera by using different techniques e.g the rule of thirds.
Secondly I went to London to develop my project I decided to incorporate 'changing Landsacpes' and depict the modernism of London and the contrast between photos in Anglesey. The changing Landsacpes pushed my outcomes as I captured multiples of photos all linking within a theme e.g viewpoints, city scapes etc.
Then I went into Manchester (town) to get another bank of images that could lead me to develop my Photoshop skills and depict a various of locations I travelled to. Alongside this it gave me advantage to produce new ideas and explore the world of landscapes. To develop my photos I began to research another artist (Thomas Struth) as for my final outcomes I wanted my photos to consist of a theme. Struths black and white simplicity gave me a chance to select a wide range of photos from my portfolio and manipulate them in Photoshop. The best part was learning many skills from Photoshop and adding on new filters onto my photos. Also Struths classical theme of work gave me ideas to work along with and portray them on my photos.
I feel as though the best part of my whole project was travelling to different locations, especially Anglesey as I got to see different forms of landscapes and explore locations out of my comfort zone. One thing I disliked during my project was my lack of skills in photoshop gave me a disadvantage for my photos. However I tackled the problem and produced a various of final outcomes that enhanced my Photoshop knowledge. To end with, I brought together my Photoshop techniques and produced three final outcomes, that showed my explorations in Photoshop. I layered my photos and rotated them using them using the transform tool etc. This enabled me to produce three fantastic photos I manipulated in Photoshop.