Final Evaluation

Final Evaluation

My work has developed through my shoots from how I have learnt how to use my camera to how I learnt to use photoshop. The shoots have really helped as they have allowed me to really get to understand how my camera works and learn all the different things it can do. 

My research has had a large influence on the photos I have ended up taking. Peter Keetman was the first person I did some research on and ended up really liking his series called " a week at the factory". His impact came down to the fine detail within photos and how each component would work together. The lines used and how they pull you into a photo and made you follow them was really interesting for me and through most of my work I looked for ways I could draw in and engage the viewer of my photos. Imogen Cunningham was the next influence as this is the point were I really started to like and work with Black and White photos. In the post form I really learnt and engaged with the idea of black and white photography. As you look through my work you can see how I carry on and improve on my black and white work. I really liked working with photoshop to improve on this as it allowed me to learn and work on how to see what a photo would look like in black and white. This allowed me to understand in my head how to do a colour change with what I am looking and working with. When I did research for Tone I learnt about the zone system, shadows and highlights. This really helped me with my black and white work, and from the inspiration from Peter Keetman I looked at black and white fine detail work. This made my Form photos some of my favourites. They were hard to shoot as I had an idea of what to look for and what I liked and when I got the photos I was looking for I loved the idea more. Working with black and white even went in to my latest photos on my portraiture independent shoot where I used fine detail and my knowledge build from my other shoots. Annie Leibovitz was probably the last big influence from my research as it really got me to realize that you can put emotions and thoughts into the photo through someone. This really inspired me to look into it and try to bring emotions and thought into a photo. This had a big impact in my last independent shoot as the second shoot was all about emotion and personality through black and white photography.

I had no technical skill when I started this course. I had no idea about how my camera worked, what photoshop was and all the tools used in a studio. The first set of skills i learnt was how to use my camera. This included were all my setting were located on my camera and what each setting does. This made a large impact on my work as i was learning with every photo i took. All of this was learnt during my first post Line. Another thing in Line i learnt about was photoshop and how to use a couple of the basic tools. E.g. Brightness and Contrast tool and a how to apply a black and white filter.
This had a effect on my work as i was learning how to edit my photos to show there relation to the artists.
During Tone and also Form i developed on my camera knowledge. I started working with studio lighting and natural light. In the studio i used a cone cover on a light to make directed light in Tone and learnt how that form highlights and shadows. This also developed as i learnt in a controlled environment the shutter speed and aperture differences. As a result when i started working with continuously changing sunlight i was able to adjust the camera setting fast and according to how much light and quality of light there was. I also learnt in form how to shoot in black and white from my camera. My photoshop skills also developed as i started looking at curves and levels in order to edit and develop my photos further.
I learnt how to shoot at different times of day in landscape where i developed a better understanding of colour and the effects of light. This developed my work as i could then shoot in different lights and the changing light during the day didn't bother me as i knew how to counter act it. I also developed my photoshop skills really looking at how to use hue and saturation as an example due to not fully understanding from colour.
Lastly I challenged myself in portraiture and the independent shoots. In the first independent shoot i looked back at colour and took a different approach by looking a coloured glass and the shadows they form using sun light. This really developed my camera technique as i had to work fast with the sun and i had to frame the pictures just right in so i really had to look back at the rule of thirds and composition technique posts. In portraiture and the other independent shoot i changed how i used a background so in the studio i learnt look to set up the box lights and how to make them flash at the same time as i took the photo. I also looked at backgrounds so in the studio i learnt about the different colours but then i went one step further developing the idea by using textured backgrounds in the independent shoot. I also developed my photoshop skills as i learnt new tools like the healing brush and spot brush. Which i used to develop my photos in the independent shoots on portraiture along with the other technics.
All this has massively impacted my work as i developed an eye for taking photos and also being able to imagine how it would look in black and white. As well as this learning all the new skill means i can take photos outside as well as in a studio, and allowing me to be flexible a work with what i have. Photoshop plays a small part in how i can edit a photo slightly and now i'm able to correct / put a different interpretation into the photo.

The way i take a photo has changed through the course as i have developed and grown a liking to black and white photography. Before the course i just picked up a camera and took a photo and didn't think about what it would look like or even put much thought about what i was photographing. Now i have changed how i look for a photo i have improved by looking at the everyday and how i can interpret it differently. This came from my artists that i researched, e.g Imogen Cunningham, where she took something that is everyday and showed the flower in a different light and angle, bring out the beauty you would otherwise not see.

Some physical experiments i did was working with different backgrounds. I experimented with different coloured backgrounds as well as different textured background / unconditional backgrounds which some people may say are ' ugly'. Other experiments include working in black and white instead of colour, with the first post of this experiment being in form. As well as this in the post landscapes I also worked at dusk and night.
My computer experiments have been demonstrated as I have learnt to use Photoshop throughout the course. The first thing I demonstrated is that I could change the colour via black and white filters, contrasting and highlight using curves. I developed and learnt new skills in my post colour. This is because I was working with coloured photos, resulting in me learning how to use the colour balance tool. From this posts I used the curves, levels, black and white filter, hue saturation and colour balance in order to improve my photos and also improve this skills on the computer. The next big experiment was composite image making. During this I learnt to layer items and then transform them, or blend them in to another photo. I then demonstrated these new skills on the post with two more composite images. Lastly I learnt and demonstrated how to use the healing brush as well as develop my other skills. This aloud me to put out in my opinion some really great photos that are much more developed than they where. Improvement is really emphasised after I've experimented.

I think that my work is developing in black and white photography as I believe that this was one of my most successful areas. As well as that I think that I have a good eye for different framing and angles for photos. I also liked working up close to my subject like in my form posts, as well as working with someone in my portraiture and independent shoot photo genres. This are the areas of my work that i believe are successful.
I think the areas i was least successful in were documentary as i didn't really connect with the topic and it wasn't the most enjoyable posts. I also struggled with colour as i didn't understand what i was doing or how to make a link. This wasnt helped that i had no ideas. However in the independent shoots formal elements i took another look at colour and i really developed in that post. 

Portfolio Photo Genre

Portfolio Photo Genre

Best Images

Colour

Black and White

Independent Shoot Photo genres

2 Independent Shoot

Shoot 1 - I challenged myself to take coloured photos in ordinary, 'ugly' locations. Theses in clued: on some stairs, by an air vent, by a building and in a bush for some examples.

Best Photos

In the first photo i used the vertical lines on a stair case in the college, this was to portray her power to continue on going even when she is feeling trapped. With the bars on the stairs acting like bars as well as a symbol of power.

The second photo where she sat in front a really dirty window challenged me as i didn't what the dirty window to show. As a result i had to let as much light as i could get to the film in the camera so i had to have a slower shutter speed as the aperture was already low as the lighting in the building was poor.  However finding the perfect setting was difficult as the smallest change made a big difference in the outcome.

The next photo where she is looking straight and the camera however i way its been set up so she is sitting casually makes the view feel more like they are opposite a friend that is about to start talking. I had a narrow depth of field so the foreground was sightly blurred to help that casual feeling as it creates the same effect that your eyes would.

In this photo i took the photo through a tree that had same red berries. I blurred he foreground and used a small opening in the tree to frame the photo. I used f stop 8 with a shutter speed of 1/125. I love how this framed and really draws the focus to the person in the photo.

The next photo i used the indent where the lift is placed the wall. I really like how the tshirt and the stickers on the lift complemented each other. As well as the dark doors on the lift contrast the white walls drawing in the viewer.

In the next photo I zoomed in, i also tilted the camera. I really like the new angle and new perspective shown in this photo. I really like the pops of the colour forcing the viewers eyes to the centre of the photo where the subject is.

This next photo implies movement as with one foot in front of the other implies walking across the page from right to left. I really like how i used the flowers i the foreground to give the photo more depth. I had to use a high shutter speed tho capture them walking without motion blur and to cancel out some of the white light from the sun ( 1/160 ).

In this photo i used the brick wall of a building as a background and by laying on the floor i was able to cover the subjects feet which add a new angle to the photo. I really like how everything in the photo frames my friend.

The next photo in front of the air vent gave a sense of power to the photo with the strong defined lines in the background. This really draws in your eye following the lines to the main subject of the photo.
I used F stop 5.5 with a shutter speed of 1/ 125.

This photo still taken in front of the air vent still gives off a feeling of power and the facial expression and stance portrays that the person in the photo doesnt want to talk bringing a almost stand off feeling like they are trying to stare you down.

I next photo was taken from below my friend to make them seem a lot taller than they are. I used the lens and my knowledge of how the aperture and zoom can form distortion in order to make my friend look tall.

In the next photo i used the tree and the use of being on a lower angle to my friend to make them look taller, really extending the look of there body. I really like how everything is in focus and opens up the photo giving is breathing room.

In this photo i really wanted to obscure the face, however i didnt want it to be harsh so i used a bush with these flowers on. This made the obscuration soft as well as this is blurred the fore and back ground by creating a narrow depth of field.

This photo was taken in a odd rather colourful corner of a building. I like how the there different brick colours and tiles all work to frame the photo. This corner was really dirty so i used my friend to cover the worst and also used the chaos of the background to imply how much the subject is thinking, which is shown on her expression.

This photo was taken in front of a green shipping container. Where the container was located in the shadows i wanted to keep the darkness of the photo in order to evoke the idea of mystery. I like the dark and mysteriousness coming from the photo and as we is sitting in front of the doors it implies that she is protecting something.

In this photo of the tree i used the branches to break up the photo by having them stretch from one side to the other. This obscures anything behind it, allowing the concept of hiding something or from someone.

The last photo is my favourite from this shoot. This was taken on the edge of a oddly red bush in the college. As i was difficult to assess i had to frame the photo really well as i just wanted the red leaves and my subject in the centre. I wanted the photo to have a soft feeling which by the burst of colour and soft expression.

Needs improvement

Shoot 2 - I looked into photographing people 18 and younger, so i asked my friend and her sister if i could photograph them, as well as photographing my friends baby. In the photos i was looking to portray their personalities. This was really challenging as i didn't have much time and the baby kept laughing.

Best Photos

Serious. In the first photo i am was looking to portray the serious side of my friend, i like how i used the sun to create tone and sharpen up the jaw line. I used a narrow depth of field in order to keep everything really sharp and in focus. I also zoomed in to really show the facial features. 

Beauty. With in the second photo i really wanted to show off down beautiful my friends personality by portraying it through her outer beauty, to boost confidence. In this photo i used her long hair to frame her face and the textured fern background to soften the whole photo and make sure that the eye of the viewer it drawn straight to her face.

Openness. In this photo i was looking to show how open she is in showing her true self. I brought in this idea by her removing her hair so it can block or hide her face. I also made her take up as much frame as possible to show how she will share everything.

Composure. In the next photo i wasnt looking to show how composed she is however i captured this photo after she had just saved herself from falling into the bush. I really like how she almost being held up, and looks brassed for anything to happen. The F stop used was 5.5 and the shutter speed was 1/100, ISO 100.

Goofy. In this photo my friend was being really goofy by going into the bush and have the branches fall in front of her face and tickling her. This was a difficult picture to take as i was trying not to laugh and cause camera shake. I really like how the photo turned out with the slight differences in the zone system.

Thoughtful. This photo reminds me of all the times my friend will get stuck in deep thought. For this i used the ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/160 ( as the sun came out ) and and F stop of 8 ( allowing me to blur the background slightly ). By blurring the background it reminds me of when you start day dreaming and things around you fuzz.

Happy. For this photo i was looking to portray how happy my friend normally is, which is expressed when we meet and have been laughing. As a result i set up this by having her look over at me, i really like how she's not fully turned away from we as that would seem like a block where as with this its almost as she is turning around to talk to a friend.

Sensible. My friends sister is quite sensible and this comes out in her intelligence, which it above average for her age. As a result to show this i took her photo like you would have a school photo taken. I reason i did this is because to think of school and learning with school photos. For this i had to find a plain background and make sure she was wearing a shirt to form that link.

Giggly. My friends sister is very giggly and as a result when i was trying to get a sensible photo for her i also tried capturing her giggling. This was the easier photo as she is easy to make laugh however i had to make sure i didn't laugh as well to avoid camera shake. For both photos i used F stop 7, shutter speed 1/ 125 and ISO 100.

Love. In this photo i wanted to show the love my friend has for her child as well as show how much he loves her back. I really love this photo as i think it portrays this perfectly as both are looking at each other an smiling with genuine happiness and love between mother and son.

Confused. In this photo the baby i was taking photos of was really confused like he is with anything new as he hadnt seen a proper camera before. Also he was continuously moving so it was very difficult to take a photo as a result i had to use a fast shutter speed.

Cheerful. In this photo i was looking to show how he is always cheerful and smily. To show this i had to get him use to the camera and being photographed. I used a fast shutter speed again ( 1/165 ) as he kept moving, however i had to used a lower aperture to allow the difference in light. Meaning i needed to be careful of camera shake.

Talkative. My friends baby is really talkative for his age even though it is incoherent babble at the moment. In this photo i like how it shows really clearly that i has captured him in the middle of talking.  I captured this by using an F stop of 6 and a shutter speed of 1/125.

Needs improvement

Needs Improvement

Shoot 1

I have selected these photos as there are mainly framing and lighting issues with them, therefore not having the correct effect. For the first photo the lighting was to dark as a result i needed to change the shutter speed on my camera. Also i could have used the flash however i think that would have made the railings stand out more that my model.
The second photo, i was trying to use the grids on the door glass. However the glass was dirty and the grid patten wasnt dark and thick enough to be seen therefore the effect i was going for didnt work out.  As a result if i was to retake the photo i would make sure to use a better and darker patterned glass.
In this third photo i like the fact that the face is unknown however with this series of photos it doesnt fit the flow. With a different series this would be one of my better photos.
In the next photo i had the shutter speed set way to short as a result the photo came out way to dark. As well as this the framing is not quite right as the camera angle it sightly tilted, throwing off the effect i was going for.
In this photo the framing is not how i wanted it as i wanted to use the lines in the grates in order to give a more powerful feel to it. As a result i needed to have framed the photo by making sure the ground wasnt in it.
The last photo didnt turn out how i wanted it to as the framing and the angle was wrong. The angle of the photo was to high for what i was looking for where the model was looking. As well as this the frame made the background to busy and really distracts from the focus.

Shoot 2

In this photo the aperture is to narrow resulting in the lips blurred as well as this the framing doesn't really fit with the rest of the series. However this portrays the idea of goofing around and having fun.  
The second photo doesnt fit with the series of other images. The main focus of my photo also blinked and also is off centre. If i was to retake this photo i would get closer to my main focus so the was framing the upper body more. This would also allow me to check that they are in the centre.
In the third photo when i took it the sun came out, resulting in the person i was photographing to squint, as well as this is took the photo to face on, resulting in the photo not working with the other photos in the series. 
The next photo is out of focus and poorly farmed. It portrays a more serious tone though the facial expressions. If i retook the photo i would make sure the building wasnt in the background and i would make sure to cut out the persons knee. 
The last photo was to face on even though taken from a different angle. What i should have done is to get the person of intrest to continuous looking forward.  As i believe this would have changed the way the viewer would see the photo.  

 ( AO:3 ) - Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress )

Best Photos

Shoot 1

In the first photo i used the vertical lines on a stair case in the college, this was to portray her power to continue on going even when she is feeling trapped. With the bars on the stairs acting like bars as well as a symbol of power.
The second photo where she sat in front a really dirty window challenged me as i didn't what the dirty window to show. As a result i had to let as much light as i could get to the film in the camera so i had to have a slower shutter speed as the aperture was already low as the lighting in the building was poor.  However finding the perfect setting was difficult as the smallest change made a big difference in the outcome.
The next photo where she is looking straight and the camera however i way its been set up so she is sitting casually makes the view feel more like they are opposite a friend that is about to start talking. I had a narrow depth of field so the foreground was sightly blurred to help that casual feeling as it creates the same effect that your eyes would.
In this photo i took the photo through a tree that had same red berries. I blurred he foreground and used a small opening in the tree to frame the photo. I used f stop 8 with a shutter speed of 1/125. I love how this framed and really draws the focus to the person in the photo.
The next photo i used the indent where the lift is placed the wall. I really like how the tshirt and the stickers on the lift complemented each other. As well as the dark doors on the lift contrast the white walls drawing in the viewer.
In the next photo I zoomed in, i also tilted the camera. I really like the new angle and new perspective shown in this photo. I really like the pops of the colour forcing the viewers eyes to the centre of the photo where the subject is.
This next photo implies movement as with one foot in front of the other implies walking across the page from right to left. I really like how i used the flowers i the foreground to give the photo more depth. I had to use a high shutter speed tho capture them walking without motion blur and to cancel out some of the white light from the sun ( 1/160 ).
In this photo i used the brick wall of a building as a background and by laying on the floor i was able to cover the subjects feet which add a new angle to the photo. I really like how everything in the photo frames my friend.
The next photo in front of the air vent gave a sense of power to the photo with the strong defined lines in the background. This really draws in your eye following the lines to the main subject of the photo.
I used F stop 5.5 with a shutter speed of 1/ 125.
This photo still taken in front of the air vent still gives off a feeling of power and the facial expression and stance portrays that the person in the photo doesnt want to talk bringing a almost stand off feeling like they are trying to stare you down.
I next photo was taken from below my friend to make them seem a lot taller than they are. I used the lens and my knowledge of how the aperture and zoom can form distortion in order to make my friend look tall.
In the next photo i used the tree and the use of being on a lower angle to my friend to make them look taller, really extending the look of there body. I really like how everything is in focus and opens up the photo giving is breathing room.
In this photo i really wanted to obscure the face, however i didnt want it to be harsh so i used a bush with these flowers on. This made the obscuration soft as well as this is blurred the fore and back ground by creating a narrow depth of field.
This photo was taken in a odd rather colourful corner of a building. I like how the there different brick colours and tiles all work to frame the photo. This corner was really dirty so i used my friend to cover the worst and also used the chaos of the background to imply how much the subject is thinking, which is shown on her expression.
This photo was taken in front of a green shipping container. Where the container was located in the shadows i wanted to keep the darkness of the photo in order to evoke the idea of mystery. I like the dark and mysteriousness coming from the photo and as we is sitting in front of the doors it implies that she is protecting something.
In this photo of the tree i used the branches to break up the photo by having them stretch from one side to the other. This obscures anything behind it, allowing the concept of hiding something or from someone.
The last photo is my favourite from this shoot. This was taken on the edge of a oddly red bush in the college. As i was difficult to assess i had to frame the photo really well as i just wanted the red leaves and my subject in the centre. I wanted the photo to have a soft feeling which by the burst of colour and soft expression.

Shoot 2

Serious. In the first photo i am was looking to portray the serious side of my friend, i like how i used the sun to create tone and sharpen up the jaw line. I used a narrow depth of field in order to keep everything really sharp and in focus. I also zoomed in to really show the facial features.
Beauty. With in the second photo i really wanted to show off down beautiful my friends personality by portraying it through her outer beauty, to boost confidence. In this photo i used her long hair to frame her face and the textured fern background to soften the whole photo and make sure that the eye of the viewer it drawn straight to her face.
Openness. In this photo i was looking to show how open she is in showing her true self. I brought in this idea by her removing her hair so it can block or hide her face. I also made her take up as much frame as possible to show how she will share everything.
Composure. In the next photo i wasnt looking to show how composed she is however i captured this photo after she had just saved herself from falling into the bush. I really like how she almost being held up, and looks brassed for anything to happen. The F stop used was 5.5 and the shutter speed was 1/100, ISO 100.
Goofy. In this photo my friend was being really goofy by going into the bush and have the branches fall in front of her face and tickling her. This was a difficult picture to take as i was trying not to laugh and cause camera shake. I really like how the photo turned out with the slight differences in the zone system.
Thoughtful. This photo reminds me of all the times my friend will get stuck in deep thought. For this i used the ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/160 ( as the sun came out ) and and F stop of 8 ( allowing me to blur the background slightly ). By blurring the background it reminds me of when you start day dreaming and things around you fuzz.
Happy. For this photo i was looking to portray how happy my friend normally is, which is expressed when we meet and have been laughing. As a result i set up this by having her look over at me, i really like how she's not fully turned away from we as that would seem like a block where as with this its almost as she is turning around to talk to a friend.
Sensible. My friends sister is quite sensible and this comes out in her intelligence, which it above average for her age. As a result to show this i took her photo like you would have a school photo taken. I reason i did this is because to think of school and learning with school photos. For this i had to find a plain background and make sure she was wearing a shirt to form that link.
Giggly. My friends sister is very giggly and as a result when i was trying to get a sensible photo for her i also tried capturing her giggling. This was the easier photo as she is easy to make laugh however i had to make sure i didn't laugh as well to avoid camera shake. For both photos i used F stop 7, shutter speed 1/ 125 and ISO 100.
Love. In this photo i wanted to show the love my friend has for her child as well as show how much he loves her back. I really love this photo as i think it portrays this perfectly as both are looking at each other an smiling with genuine happiness and love between mother and son.
Confused. In this photo the baby i was taking photos of was really confused like he is with anything new as he hadnt seen a proper camera before. Also he was continuously moving so it was very difficult to take a photo as a result i had to use a fast shutter speed.
Cheerful. In this photo i was looking to show how he is always cheerful and smily. To show this i had to get him use to the camera and being photographed. I used a fast shutter speed again ( 1/165 ) as he kept moving, however i had to used a lower aperture to allow the difference in light. Meaning i needed to be careful of camera shake.
Talkative. My friends baby is really talkative for his age even though it is incoherent babble at the moment. In this photo i like how it shows really clearly that i has captured him in the middle of talking.  I captured this by using an F stop of 6 and a shutter speed of 1/125.

( AO:1 ) - Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding

Summery of shoots.

For both shoots i had to look back at my work not only in portraiture but also form, tone and line. As they all had a part to play with in one or multiple photos. I used a lot of lines in a few of my photos in my first shoot. I used them to imply certain things or to even help with the idea of travel. Form and tone played a large part in every photo in my second shoot and revisiting the zone system and black and white photography really helped me to appreciate and understand how i needed to look at the situation and the why light was going to effect the outcome of the image. This also helped me to remember that black and white can be just as beautiful and in some was more difficult to photograph.

( AO:4 ) - Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements

For both shoots i really like the outcomes, i believe that they are both strong series of photos.

Shoot 1 - For the first shoot using the 'ugly' backgrounds really challenged me to look for creative ways to use them in different ways and at different angles. This has really has made me see that nothing is an 'ugly' background, instead its a challenging background that i need to view in a different way. To improve them i'm going to use photoshop to sharpen some images and heighten the saturation levels on some of the others. As well as this i am going to play around with the healing brush to help correct some areas on the face.

Shoot 2 - For the second shoot were i was trying to show certain things was really difficult as i had limited time and constant changing light. To try and show different sides of someone in a short amount of time is really difficult and i found it extremely challenging, even more so with the baby where they where always moving around. As a result i did have to ask m y friend to hold him so he was a little more still. To improve i am going to crop and sharpen some of the photos and play with the contrast to see the effects. As well as this i'm going to look look at using the spot healing tool.

Best Edited

Shoot 1

Shoot 2