Work Diary- Mapplethorpe Location

Evaluation

In this session the topic was Mapplethorpe loation. Having done Mapplethorpe studio prior to this shoot I was excited to do the location shoot because there were different backgrounds you could use. When going out to photograph Mapplethorpe location, it seemed quite easy to get started because the poses were similar to the ones used in the studio and there were plenty of new backgrounds to use such as trees, walls and buildings. However after a while it become quite limited as you had to continue to think of new poses which would reflect some aspects of Mapplethorpe within.

I feel that I did struggle when it came to shooting the photos because I kept on using only part of the frame and not the full frame so that there was in fact a larger proportion of background than there was portrait. After a while I did manage to capture some photographs which did in fact use most of the frame.

This photograph above is one of my best from the shoot for I feel that it does show aspects of Mapplethorpe as the whole frame is being occupied but also the image is in black and white which shows the difference in light throughout the frame. However, if I was going to improve this shoot I would try and photograph a more emotionless expression just to incorporate more elements of Mapplethorpe within the photo.

I like this photo above because of the pose done but however I feel I could improve this shot much more. The camera strap from the neck could possibly be remove and maybe even the hood taken down. The pose in this photo is quite nice but I would consider retaking the photograph at a different angle so that more face is exposed and demonstrated within the frame.

Progression

I would want to progress further in this topic as I feel that there is much room for improvement. I feel that from progressing further it would allow me to develop my skills and allow me to improve my composition by using more of the frame than I have done. To progress I would want to try and use natural locations such as forests and ponds but also more manmade built up areas such as residential and shopping areas. As well as developments in the location I would want to focus on different expressions which don't necessarily show emotion.

From studying Mapplethorpe, I have been inspired to focus on specific features within the face such as the eyes or even the mouth. I would want to look at eyes and mouth to see how they portray different emotions through different shapes and light differences.

Final 20 Photographs Presentation

Final 20 Photographs

Final Project Evaluation

I have enjoyed looking at the different topics covered in unit 1 and have enjoyed some more than others. I am glad in the sense that the project has finished because I have been able to develop my skills. When you look back to the first few topics covered in the unit like line and colour and then compare them to the more recent topics like Mapplethorpe I think you can see the improvements in the photographs. 

My least favourite topic was photo joiner for I found it quite difficult to make a good final photo but also because of the object you could make an effective photo from were quite limited and boring. I also disliked doing the second shoots of the contrast location and studio contrast because again I felt the choices of what you could do became quite limited and as a result quite boring.

I have particularly enjoyed working in the studio because it is something new but it also lets you see what effect the different lighting has on the whole frame. I liked doing the Mapplethorpe studio shoot for it allowed you to focus on simple elements and features of portraiture but still give an effective photograph. In addition I have enjoyed doing the walk shoots for it gave a nice change to photograph different locations and different objects which were along the way. It also allowed you to enhance on shoots which we had already done but with the use of different backgrounds. I definitely would want to do walks in the future through different locations to allow a greater variety of photographs. Also, I wish to work in the studio more to experiment with the different lighting and backgrounds to see what the different effects are.

I feel throughout the topic I have been able tot learn skills and develop my skills even further. I have learnt how to use photo hop to a good level having never used the software before. In the new topic I want to develop my photoshop skills even further to be able to edit my final pieces in the best way. I am looking forward to working on new topics and enhancing my photography skills much further to give better final pieces.

Connecting Essay 5

Connecting Essay 5

In this photograph there is a collection of leaves which are of various different autumn colours. The colours consist of yellows, oranges, reds and greens. The leaves fill the whole frame and it appears that they are all stacked in a pile so that you cannot see the ground beneath them. There are more yellows and oranges than there are reds. Because of this, you are drawn more towards the red which appears to have more elements of pinks. The variety of different colours demonstrate autumn for those are the ones associated with autumn.

The photograph I took above is of several leaves on the ground. The leaves are mainly yellow with the exception of oranges and reds. The leaves do not fill the whole frame and therefore you can see the ground beneath them. The leaves are also spread throughout the frame which helps you to identify the individual shapes and colours of the leaves.

The first photograph has used the full frame and is filled with leaves so that you cannot see the grind where as in the latter photograph you can see the ground. In the first photograph, there is also many colours which are associated with autumn such as reds, yellows and greens. However, in the latter photo there is only a small variety of different colour leaves, mainly yellow with the exception of a few oranges. The more effective photo of the two is the first because I feel that it shows autumn more than the second because of the fuller frame but also the greater variety of the different colours. 

Connecting Essay 4

Connecting Essay 4

This photograph is sourced from the internet and it shows colour. The colours shown are quite bold and bright colours. There is also the presence of contrast in the sense that the shoes are darker where as the grass surrounding is much lighter. Throughout the photo, there is difference in light from the outside of the grass towards the centre. The edge of frame is much lighter becoming darker as it goes into the centre of the photo. The pair of shoes is also towards the right of the frame rather than being in the centre of the photograph which helps to focus on the grass just as much as the shoes.

This photo is one I photographed and it is also a pair of shoes on some grass. I think this photograph shows colour, texture and form. It shows colour because the shoes and the grass are quite bold and vibrant colours but the colours of the shoes and the grass are of the same colour just different shades. There is an element of texture which is coming from the grass because there are different types of plants making it up. Also there is form because around the shoes is darker than other ares within the photo. Also in this image, the pair of shoes is the central focus of the image as it is in the centre of the frame.

Both of these photographs are similar as they are both composed of grass and shoes. Each photograph shows colour, form and texture to some extent. The first photo uses two different colours where as the second photo uses the same colours but just different shades. The first photo has the shoes being towards the right of the frame and do not take as much of the frame up. In contrast, the latter photo has the shoes in the centre of the frame and they take much more of the frame up, because of this the main focus in the photo is the shoes where as in the first photo there is equal focus of the grass and the shows. I feel that the first photo shows colour well because of the use of the two different colours but I also feel that the photograph I took shows colour just as well because it focuses on the two different shades of the photograph.

Connecting Essay 3

Connecting Essay 3

This photograph above shows a silhouette projected on concrete ground. The shadow is at a slight angle to the left and the shadow is quite distorted. The shadow is of a person doing a pose but overall the shadow appears to be slightly distorted. It is only slightly distorted because the legs are much larger where as the upper body is much smaller especially when it comes to the head and the arms around it. The fact the shadow is made much darker than the surface it is projected on emphasises the shape of the shadow and therefore making it much easier to view.

This photograph is one I photographed which I feel demonstrates the idea of shadow. The shadow is a silhouette of a person and again the shadow shows elements of the body being distorted. The legs are much longer where as the upper body and the head is much smaller in comparison. The shadow is very dark which makes it stand out much more because of the surface being quite lighter. Alongside the main shadow of the person, there are a couple of other shadows created from various objects such as a wall and a bar.

Both of these photographs show the concept of shadow and both in similar ways to each other. They are similar because they show a shadow of a person and both on similar surfaces as well. In addition, the shadows in both of the pictures are rather dark which highlights the shape of the shadow. Both shadows are distorted in a similar way as they both show a much longer lower body in comparison to the much smaller lower body. However, both of these photographs are different. The first shadow is a person doing a slightly different pose in comparison to the latter photograph where it is more natural. In the latter photograph, there is also the presence of other shadows which are created from other objects. Overall, I feel that the first image is slightly more effective because it is just the shadow of the person. To improve my photograph, I would make sure that there is just the one shadow of the person and not the other objects.