Final Evaluation

When we started photography, we started looking at the ten formal elements to help us gain an understanding of the different ways to take photographs while highlighting different points. This included, line, colour, pattern, depth, texture, reflection, form, tone, shape and movement. Throughout these formal elements, before each shoot we would create a definition post and an image bank to help us define what each one meant. I looked at different varieties of ways to capture this image in the formal element. I think some of the topics were challenging but it helped me gain an outlook on what to expect in photography and expand my knowledge on the basis of the world around me. After each of the shoots, we created our contact sheets to choose our straight images and then create a work diary to look at how to improve in the future.

Starting with the different formal elements in photography was good as I had not previously done any photography work and it was very different than what I expected to photograph during this unit. These first lessons allowed me to gain a lot of experience looking at different compositions and different techniques to use during shooting. This development meant that in later lessons further on in the unit, I was able to apply knowledge I already had and adapt it to suit the different topics. One of my favourite topics in the formal elements was lines, colour and reflection. Line was great for me as it was the first topic we did in photography and it was the first choice for me to have a look at the world in a different perspective. Lines make up nearly every object and therefore there was a lot to photograph. Even now, two of the images that make up my final 20 pieces are from the lines topic as I think they are some of my best work in photography. One of the reasons I think this is because there was so much for me to photograph and because it was the first topic I had more ideas. 

Colour and Reflection were both my other favourite formal elements in this part of photography as it was different from the others we have taken. Colour on its own was fun as I enjoyed looking at the different aspects, there is a lot of inspiration on the internet and in general it was more exciting. I also like the contrasts and explanations I could right about this. Reflection similarly was one of my favourite as there was so many different reflections that I could photograph on that day and in other shoots alike when I went out. I like Reflection as it was different from the other topics like movement, however, I did not like movement as much as I found it too boring and I did not like the images that came out from the shoot. I also struggled with knowing what images to take and when. 

One of the things I said I wanted to improve on in the pre completion evaluation was maintaining the high amount of effort I put into the project and carrying it on at home to ensure that I can excel what is asked for and push boundaries. I feel like I have excelled my aspirations as I have kept it up and done more work. Another thing I wanted to improve upon was the composition of my work, so that the whole frame was valued and there was not much wasted space. By looking at the work of Mapplethorpe, I was able to see how he composed his work and I was able to take similar images. Looking at his work helped me a lot and I therefore enjoyed looking at his. I also like his work and the different lighting in the studio. As we spent a lot of time looking at portraiture, I enjoyed that topic in this project and it made me look at my photographs differently.

The next part in photography was one of my favourite part in photography as it was looking at different photographers and looking at aspiration from other work and carrying out similar styles in the studio and on different locations. I enjoyed this as I was able to look at professionals, and apply their work into different locations. Shooting in the studio is my favourite part of photography as there is no limits to what can be done. You can also change the lighting, different backgrounds and it is open any time so not dependent on the weather. When we apply this work to different locations, in the future I would like to take risks and use different locations as many of the images I have taken on location is in the same style of background. Overall, so far I feel like this unit has gone very well in photography as I have improved so many in my photographs and I have always been on time completing my work to the best of my ability. I am looking forward to next unit. 

Final Pieces

Final 20 Images ((40))

Connecting Essay 5

The first image is one I found online because it links to the topic depth. The depth is shown through the change in size from the platform closest to the camera, and the bit furthest away. This is highlighted through the composition as it takes up most of the frame, with the rest of it being the dark sky and the sea. The sense of depth in the image allows the audience to see distance and accumulate the proportion of it in real life. In the background, we see the mountain as very large and can compare it to the size of the much smaller platform. There are other formal elements present in this including tone. The different tones contrast from one another, for example, the light planks on the platform contrast to the dark green which takes up most of the backdrop. There are also different tones among the clouds which suggest the weather is not nice and create an eery, unpleasant feeling among the audience. There is also the formal element line featuring strongly as lines make up most of the image, from the railings either side of the platform to the slats of wood. Lines however do not allow the viewer to follow direction in this image as they are going in the other direction.  

In my image, the main formal elements shown are depth and tone. The depth in this image is created in a different way to other examples in this formal element. The low angle shot looking up at the lamp post makes it appear a lot bigger, while depth is created from the different it is too the top. The tree is a huge part of this image as it is composed so that there is no wasted space. With the tree featuring, the viewer is able to put the lamppost in perspective and realise it isn't actually as big as it looks when it is shown on its own. It is in the centre of the image and the focal point therefore making it the first thing that the viewer sees and therefore the main part of the image. Tone is also shown in the image as there is a contrast between the light grey colour of the lamppost with the dark green leaves. These both contrast with the white sky that is is placed on. There is also line obvious in this image as the centre of the lamppost is a long line which follows up to the narrower top, giving the audience direction as we look up to it using the line as a guideline.

Overall, these two images relate in several different ways. Although the actual image is completely different, the different formal elements are similar in so many ways. The first is through the use of depth, which is the strongest formal elements in both the images. In the first image it is shown and enhanced through the use of lines along the barriers which mean the eyes follow in the direction. In the second it is done through the straight lines that make up the post. Tone is also used in both images through the contrasting tones among the central focus point of the shot and making it stand out from the other parts of the frame. There are also some differences, while the first image features pattern through the slats of wood, the second image mainly just uses depth and it is one larger object as appose to multiple different parts. The colours in the first image are a lot darker and deeper giving a different feeling of isolation among the audience.

Connecting Essay 4

The first image I found off the internet shows the range of different colours found in autumn leaves. The way the image is composed means that the whole frame is bursting with different colours from the different leaves which over lap each other. There is not much of the frame that does not feature the formal element colour. Although there are other formal elements that are shown in the frame, for example, the use of the over lapping leaves creates form as there are different shadows and dark spots underneath the leaves. This gives a realistic and three dimensional approach to the image as we can see the different layers that the pile of leaves make up. I also like the different use of lines which are clear and in focus in the image, and there is also a sense of pattern. Different tones highlight different parts of the leaves which show different textures which make the leaves stand out to the audience.

The second image is one that came from my autumn walk topic in which we went on a walk to look at different aspects of autumn. This image is composed to be full of autumn colours while I also wanted to show the background in which they were situated, therefore there is a strong presence of greens which represent the grass. The main formal element in this is colour, as it is the main element shown in the image. Most of it is presented through different autumn colours which makes it stand out in the seasonal topic. The image is not very bold and therefore the different textures are not explored as deeply as they would be should it be closer to the camera. However, I like this effect as it shows different styles of leaves rather than one focused on. 

My image is similar to the one I found on the internet as the composition of the leaves is the same. They also use the same formal elements in which the image is based around colour, while also featuring form due to the different shadows. There are some differences in the images, with the first image I found from the internet being clearly and closer to the camera; allowing the audience to see the different textures and focusing more on the leaf more than the image itself. Where my images focus on different formal elements such as tone and form but mainly colour. 

Connecting Essay 3

The first image is one of Mapplethorpe's photos, showing a man pulling a shocked expression looking directly into the camera. This composition builds a relationship with the viewer as it allows us to look directly into his eyes. The emotions of the subject in this image are shown due to the plain composition. He is placed among a black background with a black and white effect put over the top, which empowers the different facial expressions he shows. This is because the soft lighting has a slight form from the highlighted shadows on his face. These highlights show different formal elements such as tone, as the different skin colour contrasts from the dark background. This is also similar with his hair colour which is dark and blends into the background and contrasts to his light skin tone. There are different shadows shown which illustrates where the light source is, and also shows him in 3D form giving a realistic feel to him. His texture is also illustrated through the different shadows which make him appear more lifelike and build a relationship with the audience.  

In my image, the subject is shown also looking directly into the camera which allows the audience to connect with Ellie. Her facial expression is shown through the composition in which she takes up most of the screen and there was no editing needed, nor wasted space. The dark background contrasts from the girl as her facial expression is light while the background is black. The girls face is smoother and there is not as much texture due to the bright lighting which gives a slight blur on her face although the image is so clear. I put the image in black and white to express these features more and enhance them. Ellie's facial expression in this image is happy, as she portrays a less serious tone than Mapplethorpe's other work. She is also compositioned in the centre of the shot which builds a relationship with the audience.

My photograph can be compared to the work of Mapplethorpe as our composition of the subject in the shot is the same. We convey the same formal elements including tone and placing our images in black and white in order to enhance the different emotions that the characters can show. The use of the black background allows the audience to compare the subject and highlights certain facial features. There are also differences in our work, with the expression, Ellie shows a happier approach while in Mapplethorpes work, the man looks more serious. Also the skin tone of the man is explored more and he is composed to take up more of the shot. Overall, I feel our work is good as it is similar to those of Mapplethorpes work. 

Walk2 Journey - Straight Images

Walk2 Autumn - Straight Images

Pre Completion Evaluation

As we are nearing the end of this unit in photography, I am evaluating how far I have come and what has gone well for me. When I look back at the work we did for the formal elements, my ambition to strive and do well meant that the amount of effort I put into my Definition posts and Image Banks was high. Over time, my level of work has maintained and I am working harder to achieve outstanding work. I thoroughly enjoyed doing work in the photographer research as I loved looking at the style of work professional photographers I had done. Similarly, looking at image banks meant that I had inspiration to take a range of different photographs which have improved significantly from the very beginning. One of my favourite topics from this unit was the portraiture one as we were given a set objective, which was to take portraits, but interpret them in our own style. As a part of this, we took images of the back of peoples heads in order for us to get out of the style we used to and look more at the work of Robert Mapplethorpe.

One of the things I said I wanted to improve on in the mid project evaluation was maintaining the high amount of effort I put into the project. I feel like I have excelled my aspirations as I have kept it and done more work. Another thing I wanted to improve upon was the composition of my work, so that the whole frame was valued and there was not much wasted space. By looking at the work of Mapplethorpe, I was able to see how he composed his work and I was able to take similar images. Looking at his work helped me a lot and I therefore enjoyed looking at his. I also like his work and the different lighting in the studio. As we spent a lot of time looking at portraiture, I enjoyed that topic in this project and it made me look at my photographs differently.

I have always pushed myself to keep on time with deadlines and so far I have not missed one. This is because I have taken on an approach to look at the checklist and make sure I do not fall behind. I enjoy this part of photography more than the formal elements section, however I understand why we did that as it allowed me to see the world in a different perspective. One thing I did not like as much in this half of the topic was Contrast as I found it quite boring and when we went out to reshoot I felt like I was taking images in the same style as before, although in the studio, it did improve as I found new ways to work with the people. I also think one big advantage for me was buying my own camera. This allowed me to take different images at home and put them into the different categories spontaneously. In the future I will look too take more shoots outside of college to enhance my work.                                                                                                            

Multiple Imagery - Image Bank

In these different types of multiple imagery, the average amount of photographs in each collage is around 9. The different amount of images means that the collage as a whole is based around a certain topic, while each photo breaks it up and allows us to see it from different parts and different angles. For example, with the face and the clock. We would only be able to see one part if it was just a singular image however the different parts of the face are captured which allow us to build up the 3D image. The clock is also shown in this light as different angles give us a range of views of the clock. The lights are quite dark in these two and the colours are very bland. 

In contrast in the next images, we see a burst of colour in the lips, which show the same style of image but capture different expressions. The use of colour in this image stands out to me as all of the other images are in black and white and feature dull colours. In contrast, this is a quirky image with a soft face and bright green and red lips. The following two images also subvert what we'd usually find as most multiple images feature around 9 images, however, the one with the man has double that by using 18 images and the third includes 15 images. These allow the viewer to see a much wider range of points of views from the image. The last two images like the first capture different parts of the tree and allow us to view them in different parts. I like these images as they are very similar in terms of links with the formal element of tone in the fourth image and different perspectives in the third. 

Back of Head - Image Bank

In this back of head image bank, I have included both images from a studio and location to show the range of shots you can take in portraiture without including the subjects face. The different backgrounds used are all different and interesting, with the second in particular being the main focus as the rest of the image is blurred out. I like this effect as it means we focus only on the hair, while the light tones of the blonde match the soft lighted background. Where the girl has the bright pink hair, the rest of the frame is all white which makes the colour stand out and is a great contrast. In the last two images, they have been shot in the studio on a white background which makes the hair contrast while also makes the image feel clean and fresh. I also like the different backgrounds, in the first one the hair is the same colour as the background and in the second it is also. This lack of contrast is good as it means that the hair is subtle and ties in with its surroundings enhancing the colour. 

The following image is different from the previous as the females composition is explored differently. In this image, the camera is faced at a side angle allowing us to see the side profile of her face. 

Studio Mapplethorpe - Work Diary

Evaluation:

Shooting like the style of Robert Mapplethorpe in the studio was one of my favourite shoots that I have done so far in photography as I feel I am enhancing my different skills and I am able to take images similar to the topics we have been given. One of the straight images from the shoots is the following. This image is very similar to that of Robert Mapplethorpe's who shot a photograph like this. I edited the image so that the background was more black and focus point was brighter. I like the composition of the photograph as Ellie takes up most of the image and I did not have to crop this.

The next image from the shoot is one that would have gone well if I had positioned it better. The way I could have improved this image was by taking it portrait instead of landscape to get all of Frankie's hair in it. This would be better as it would show the full extent of Mapplethorpe's work. There is quite a bit of wasted space to either side which I could have made better. I would do this in the future to include all of the hair and no space little space either side, but I could also zoom in even more to focus on specific parts of the face. 

Progression:

In the future, I will improve by taking images like the one above but in a portrait. This will ensure that the images are in the same style as Mapplethorpe's but the composition will be better. I will also look at a range of different backgrounds and lighting inspired by Mapplethorpe. In a lot of his work, he includes lighting this is only on side of the frame which creates different shadows and different focal points. For example, in the future I will include a light only on one side of the subject. This will leave the other side in darkness and convey a mysterious emotion among the audience. 

Location Mapplethorpe - Work Diary

Evaluation:

When we went out to shoot Location Mapplethorpe, I had looked at the work of Robert Mapplethorpe and how he styled his different images in the studio. The objective for this shoot was too shoot in the same style but place these on different backgrounds outside. These included composing my subject in the frame in the same way that he did, but putting them on brick walls and different colour backgrounds. One of my favourite images from the shoot was this one. I love the following image as I like the way Josh fills up the frame so that there is no wasted space. The rest of the image shows the clear bold orange background. There is a huge contrast from the black and blue to the orange and the close up signifies the work of Mapplethorpe. I aimed for my composition to be in the corner of the shot to follow in the style of Mapplethorpe. 

I also liked this image from the shoot as I like the way the person takes up most of the frame, however one of the main problems was the background it was on. It is not clear what location it is in and it is also quite blurred. To improve in the future, I will go back and take this image with the subject in different places so that I get the same style on different backgrounds. Overall, I enjoyed shooting location Mapplethorpe as it was fun and different from the other location shoots that I had done.

Progression:

In the future, when I go out to shoot location images; I will aim for my portraits to look like the work of Mapplethorpe and use his range of compositions in the images that I take. I enjoyed looking at the work of mapplethorpe and adapting it to use on different locations. I found this challenging as it meant that I had to look at more than just the composition of the shot but also the background and the different locations in which the picture would be set. I will look to incorporate more images in the future when I go back to reshoot location Mapplethorpe.