“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”
— Don McCullin
Statement Intent
My aim is to create a website of my photographs with my opinion of how I produced it and reflect it so as the examiner read through the information whilst looking at the work I've done they will see how well I developed my understanding of the project "Portrait". For my initial research I've search for 3 photographers Man Ray, Erik Almas and Renata Clarke. I've chose Man ray as he does self portrait when he uses different craft to empathises his understanding of portraits and he given me a variety of inspiration to be creative. I chose to search Erik Almas as he portray his work to see the beauty of his models personality whilst using a low light effect colours to show their emotions. I've chosen to search Renata Clarke as she produces her work in modern beauty and to show us how other women struggle to see themselves. I've chosen all 3 of the photographers as they represent different style of portraits and how I can present my work just as the famous photographers.
When I chosen the theme "Fashion" my initial thoughts was seeing people emotions like what they felt before and after I've taken their picture, What they think of themselves when they look at their pictures with to without makeup, when they're their comfortable position before the shoot started and how I would produce it to the people around me. After having lots of decisions I knew that there would be lots of routes for my work to be completed for example: location, equipment angles/position also the light for reflection.
To show my progression through my work I will start by choosing who will be my models and then try to do a photo-shoot at one of their houses in their back garden. After I would use Photoshop in the school to edit by using a range of filters and then snipping it to show the examiner my understanding of how I used the Photoshop with my explanation. If I decide that the pictures are all perfect with it all focused I can decided to go to any nearby parks and take pictures of them under the tree or when they face their whole body towards the sun it will catch the glimpse of the beauty of nature and whilst making the models feel spaced and free. I've thoughts of lots of idea to make sure that I could get the mark that is needed to get a good grade.
At first I would like to experiment with a range of techniques for practice then I would do the actual shoot. I would use a canon camera from home to shoot with my models and I would use the canon camera at school to do any extra practices with any props. I would also like to experiment with a aesthetic effect with colour to create a calm mood feeling. I would use "Fashion" as my theme because in my opinion I love how it has a contrasting effect of natural light and nature.
I have almost approximately 11-12 weeks which is like 2 months to complete the project with my final outcome. I have manage to complete my research on how I want my work to be produced. I need to do more photo-shoot in order to show my understanding of photography using the the theme "Portrait" and then using Photoshop to create the final outcome and how I managed to work through it.
As I make progression during the work I will use pictures to annotate during the work and making sure it all clear with sense. This would help me to reflect and where I went wrong. I am trying hard to push myself top a new grade and making I work beyond my regular grade I have now and I would also evaluate my work at the end show my opinion, what my strengths and weaknesses were during the work and how I improved it to the best standard I can.
When I chosen the theme "Fashion" my initial thoughts was seeing people emotions like what they felt before and after I've taken their picture, What they think of themselves when they look at their pictures with to without makeup, when they're their comfortable position before the shoot started and how I would produce it to the people around me. After having lots of decisions I knew that there would be lots of routes for my work to be completed for example: location, equipment angles/position also the light for reflection.
To show my progression through my work I will start by choosing who will be my models and then try to do a photo-shoot at one of their houses in their back garden. After I would use Photoshop in the school to edit by using a range of filters and then snipping it to show the examiner my understanding of how I used the Photoshop with my explanation. If I decide that the pictures are all perfect with it all focused I can decided to go to any nearby parks and take pictures of them under the tree or when they face their whole body towards the sun it will catch the glimpse of the beauty of nature and whilst making the models feel spaced and free. I've thoughts of lots of idea to make sure that I could get the mark that is needed to get a good grade.
At first I would like to experiment with a range of techniques for practice then I would do the actual shoot. I would use a canon camera from home to shoot with my models and I would use the canon camera at school to do any extra practices with any props. I would also like to experiment with a aesthetic effect with colour to create a calm mood feeling. I would use "Fashion" as my theme because in my opinion I love how it has a contrasting effect of natural light and nature.
I have almost approximately 11-12 weeks which is like 2 months to complete the project with my final outcome. I have manage to complete my research on how I want my work to be produced. I need to do more photo-shoot in order to show my understanding of photography using the the theme "Portrait" and then using Photoshop to create the final outcome and how I managed to work through it.
As I make progression during the work I will use pictures to annotate during the work and making sure it all clear with sense. This would help me to reflect and where I went wrong. I am trying hard to push myself top a new grade and making I work beyond my regular grade I have now and I would also evaluate my work at the end show my opinion, what my strengths and weaknesses were during the work and how I improved it to the best standard I can.
What is portraits?
Portrait photography or portraiture in photography is a photograph of a person or group of people that captures the personality of the subject by using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses. A portrait picture might be artistic, or it might be clinical, as part of a medical study.
Geoffrey Jones is an Australia photographer who take picture of visual art and loves capturing and creating beautiful things into an artistic expression.
I chose colour as my theme as it shows a vivid and aesthetic impression. I chosen these images as it shows us how colour can form a contrast of one model to another. This has an impacts as it can express how different colour can show a satisfying affect on a person.
Sally Mann is an American photographer whose take portraits of childhood, sexuality and death which was deemed as controversial.
I chose black and white as my theme as it gives us a dark and gloomy impression. I chose these images as they shows us how pain can be develop through dark makeup and how it can present how people maybe feeling. This can impact anyone as it explaining what people might be feeling or experiencing through a difficult time of their life.
Annie Leibovitz is an American photographer who is known for her dramatic, quirky and iconic portraits of variety of celebrities.
I chosen fashion as my theme as it show us a interesting and fascinating impression. I chose these images because it lit up your mood and it shows us how celebrities can make you feel about yourself. This shows an impacts by indicating that you can't keep yourself hidden from who you really are and you can show of your personality no matter who dislike it.
Photography research- 4 c's
Composition
The image eye level is the mother facial expression and it captures the moment where she shows a depressed and pain mood. The colour is black and white, this make the image stand out. They use Rule of Thirds- 2/3 on the body and 3/3 of the face and her children's. In my opinion this make me feel sorrow and depressed because it make us think that there is a war happening in the area or that they might be in poverty whilst living in a poor area. The white balance embraces that they taken it in a natural environment and the photo wasn't digital it might be from the colour. The leading line showing from the face to the children. The focus point is the mother because the photographer it captured a moment when she feel most affected and in distressed. The shutter speed is bit blurry from the background and it shows more focus on the mother and its children. The subject matter is about how feel a mother feel like being with her children alone without the father helping them and what might be happening right in front of them. In my opinion I love this image because it shows that if we were living their time we would be experiencing war and how it could affect their lives losing someone close to them. I don't think they used a camera tripod because they might've captured the moment at the right time and the from the view of point the image isn't. The background has an effect because it shows us an understanding that the image is from a poor background.
Content
The structure of the image is that it isn't showing that its been taken inside a building but it taken outside a cottage or near a pile of bean bags. The image look old because it been taken in the past and it doesn't look like it been renewed. The image is black and white because it show us that the mother seem in pain and the children seemed terrified by what happening in the area. The picture look like it been taken in a Desert poor country or city because in the background it look like it been taken from a poor area and the place may look dangerous from another person point of view. There might be people in the background which can explain what the crisis might be going on and the mother look like she was listening to the person despite showing us that she is calm and pain.
Connection
The theme is black and white because it represent the purity and innocent but on the other hand it can also show us how intimidating and conservative it look but it isn't relevant because my chosen theme is colour and it can represent how someone is feeling and it shows us how astonishing nature look like. The message behind the image can show that they either want us to remember the past and how the would treat women's and children's also how men can just leave their family behind without looking back. The image is black and white because it represent pain and sorrow but I would use the image in my project but the meaning is what will tempt you the most because you have to try and make it relevant and understanding.
Comment
What I like about the image it shows us empathy and it shows us how she feel by telling a story through one image and it shows a good use of Rule of thirds and Aperture. What I don't like about he image is that doesn't shows us a proper background the picture make you confuse. This will make you inspire because it shows us how people express themselves and the image itself shows a meaning without explaining it. The photographer took this image to show us how power can effect women's and their children whilst also showing that lots of industry can make people homeless as their homes would be destructed into lots of fashionable buildings. The picture doesn't show much art shape as there is more shade and blurred.
Mock exam
When I look at this image I could see how the photographer focused more on the eye level of the model face as it captured the mood as the they are looking to the left side of the room. I think they have taken this picture in a studio setting area instead of a natural setting for example the park or the outside environment. It doesn't look like a very old picture but a released picture from a magazine or normal photo-shoot. They have marvellously used the Photoshop to blend with the model upper body structure and face by using a forest or mountain settings. They successfully captured the person mood and how they are feeling as the photographer took this photo.
I think they used a middle ground as the image was taken not directly to the left but a bit to the right as the model is stood like a statue looking at the left direction of the photo. They could have also took this at the foreground of the model as they only focus from the upper body to the head by using Rule of Thirds. In my opinion the model has been expressing a low mood as they used less lighting at a dimmer point as around the eyes you could see how dark it is compared to how light it is from around the whole face. The leading lines were from the hair all the way down to the chest. The focus point was the man face as its demonstrating how he needs to be directly stood still focusing on area he cannot look away from. They used the tripod to take a clear shot in order to not have a blurry picture and make it impossible to add a different image to contrast the photo with.
What I like about this image is how they would used a human to contrast the natural environmental setting to make a show an unusual photo as well as how they used grass and the sky not the normal way but the other way how they would portray the image but turning it upside down so the grass mixes with the man facial hair not the body. This does link to mine a bit as I am trying to make my final images look more like it was outside but mix it with a studio setting as well.
I think they used a middle ground as the image was taken not directly to the left but a bit to the right as the model is stood like a statue looking at the left direction of the photo. They could have also took this at the foreground of the model as they only focus from the upper body to the head by using Rule of Thirds. In my opinion the model has been expressing a low mood as they used less lighting at a dimmer point as around the eyes you could see how dark it is compared to how light it is from around the whole face. The leading lines were from the hair all the way down to the chest. The focus point was the man face as its demonstrating how he needs to be directly stood still focusing on area he cannot look away from. They used the tripod to take a clear shot in order to not have a blurry picture and make it impossible to add a different image to contrast the photo with.
What I like about this image is how they would used a human to contrast the natural environmental setting to make a show an unusual photo as well as how they used grass and the sky not the normal way but the other way how they would portray the image but turning it upside down so the grass mixes with the man facial hair not the body. This does link to mine a bit as I am trying to make my final images look more like it was outside but mix it with a studio setting as well.
Reasons why I chose this image
I have chosen this image as it use shadowing on the left side of the model face and it shows light on the other side of her face to show us how the model is expressing herself to us. The image shows a abstract and dim atmosphere. This gave me an idea to choose Black and White as my theme as it gave us have different thoughts of why this picture was taken and how the model in the picture felt after taking this picture also how they use lighting to show effect on the mood.
Planning photoshoot
The equipment I'll be using is a Canon DSLR camera with a tripod and the background will be plain, black sheet to show the effect of lighting. I may need a dark room to show the effect of a dramatic shadowing on the model face or even closeup. I may use the manual setting of lighting on the white balance on auto. I may also use a reflector so when I take the picture the light it will reflect of the board and onto the face or background. I need to delete any images which aren't necessary of the camera and make sure it's fully charged.
My model will be either my sister's or my friends. I may tell them to look in different direction whilst expressing their emotion. I think this might be effective as it will help inspire me to create images of different people emotion. I will need to tell them to do their own makeup so it can show their features.
If my models are busy during my lesson or if they're unavailable to do the shoot than I might need to do the shoot after school in a dark room so it can give my model a better effect once the picture been taken.
My model will be either my sister's or my friends. I may tell them to look in different direction whilst expressing their emotion. I think this might be effective as it will help inspire me to create images of different people emotion. I will need to tell them to do their own makeup so it can show their features.
If my models are busy during my lesson or if they're unavailable to do the shoot than I might need to do the shoot after school in a dark room so it can give my model a better effect once the picture been taken.
Experiment with lights
Best worse
This is my best image as I have used composition as the model stood on one side. The lighting seem perfect and the colander I used as the props really brings out the pattern as it reflected on to the face. The image seem all in focus.
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This is my worse image as I haven't used the tripod and as I was about to take the picture it wasn't stable enough but the lighting seem okay but it need to be more focused.
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Model using edit app "Snap seed"
Photoshoping my images
outcome
Final outcome
outcome
Final outcome
outcome
Final outcome
Photoshop research
Lasso tool is helpful for drawing a free-form border around a selected object within an image. You can remove the selection you make with the tool, which comes in handy when you’re trying to remove a specific person or object from an image. For my image I can use it to remove any other bits on my model face which is not needed and try to brighten up the area with the brightness icon.
Magnetic Lasso tool allows you to draw around a shape automatically once chosen a point. It identify what is needed to be traced around and it detects image's edges and automatically selects the pixel. For my image I can use it to cut of pieces around the hair and faces to make the model looks more smoother. Polygonal tool where the shape you cut out will be done in straight lines. This would be useful when wanting to go around a shape which has straight sides. |
Photoshoot
Best Worse
Photoshop image
Outcome
Final gallery
Evaluation
My project theme is Fashion and to be honest it's a very fun and engaging theme to choose as I have to make sure that my model was concentrating as well as making sure there posture was correct in order for me to take the picture. The part I enjoyed was photoshop by snapping the steps on how I completed the full jpeg picture when I uploaded it to Weebly. I also enjoyed the photoshoots because in order for me to take a picture I have to communicate with my model in order to get them to pay attention on what I want them to do like their actions or facial expression.
The technique I experienced is changing the mode for example the brightness to make the image less attentive but more eye-looking. The closeups by changing the focus as well as zooming on the face where I can copy and paste a magazine vogue template to make it look like a realistic cover. Also the long shots where I can stand a distance even take a picture of my model from a different angle by zooming in extreme close. The techniques I enjoyed was capturing from birds eye view and worms eye view when I could have taken the pictures from a low view point to a high view point or the opposite ways. Techniques I would develop on is the angles . The photographers who influenced me was Annie Leibovitz who gave me the idea to do photographs in different environments or areas with action as well as Geoffrey Jones who gave me the idea to use different facial expressions to express their opinions.
What I feel like is the successful part of my project is taking pictures with the people I love and making them into a magazine cover to show of their natural beauties' of naturalness and self esteem to portray that all girls don't need to use makeup to hide behind their personal looks and express their opinions out. I encountered many problems for example taking the correct snaps placing them in orders on how it was produced as well as actually using the tools to make it look a lot presentable. I learnt from those mistakes by watching a varieties of tutorials which were still confusing but more understanding when your actually using the tools. If I was to do the project again I would take more photoshops snaps as well as more photoshoots with best and worse galleries.
The technique I experienced is changing the mode for example the brightness to make the image less attentive but more eye-looking. The closeups by changing the focus as well as zooming on the face where I can copy and paste a magazine vogue template to make it look like a realistic cover. Also the long shots where I can stand a distance even take a picture of my model from a different angle by zooming in extreme close. The techniques I enjoyed was capturing from birds eye view and worms eye view when I could have taken the pictures from a low view point to a high view point or the opposite ways. Techniques I would develop on is the angles . The photographers who influenced me was Annie Leibovitz who gave me the idea to do photographs in different environments or areas with action as well as Geoffrey Jones who gave me the idea to use different facial expressions to express their opinions.
What I feel like is the successful part of my project is taking pictures with the people I love and making them into a magazine cover to show of their natural beauties' of naturalness and self esteem to portray that all girls don't need to use makeup to hide behind their personal looks and express their opinions out. I encountered many problems for example taking the correct snaps placing them in orders on how it was produced as well as actually using the tools to make it look a lot presentable. I learnt from those mistakes by watching a varieties of tutorials which were still confusing but more understanding when your actually using the tools. If I was to do the project again I would take more photoshops snaps as well as more photoshoots with best and worse galleries.