Shoot 3
Plan for the shoot
For this shoot i want to look at more at how i am going to manipulate my photos for the shoot.
Location: 'The City' + Southwalk
As i wanted to look at manipulation i stayed within the same area as a result i could use more 'well known' areas of 'The City'. This means i could look at making the tourist areas and photos look different which was another part of my illustrated project proposal. I have been doing research on photographers who look at manipulation physical and computer. I am going to also try and continue the theme of movement in someway through my photos and i think that manipulation could be interesting. As a result i have set out and take more 'normal' and 'touristy' photos and then see how manipulation can change them.
Resources
- tripod
- Nikon D3100, 18 - 55mm camera
Techniques
- RAW shooting
Research influence
David Gutierrez series 'GREYSCALE'
(Elephant & Castle London Underground, London, UK)
This photo has inspired to me to also look at how photo can look in black and white. I chose this image from the series GREYSCALE because of how it was framed using the structure of the train itself. This also fits well with the next artist Steven Irwin as all his photos are black and white based.
Steven Irwin
The skyscrapers shown are the a black and white base background. Possibly taken with a black and white camera or had a filter applied. The photographer has then physically manipulated the photo with watercolour paints over the top. This is to create textures and bring colour into the image. The major feeling that comes from the photo is chaotic which places well with peoples views of a city. This is because when I think of a city I think chaotic and busy which this really brings that forward.
'When Cities Were Forests III'
In this skyline photo the buildings are still super prominent even in with the paint over the top due to the almost black buildings with a white haze. The paint is dark blue and a few other colours, its oil paint and looks like trees in after the leaves have fallen off. Forming the idea that maybe this was taken in the winter months. However it still gives off the same chaotic vibe. Due to the physical manipulation it has become hard to work out which city this photo is portraying.
Image Bank ( 3-5 )
This is the most common photo that people take when visiting tower bridge in London. As a result i want to take photos that are from different angles to this. One idea that i am going to do is take the photo from the other side of the bridge as when looking for photos of tower bridge there are hardly any form the other side.
This image was placed with in here as it is of city hall and tower bridge and it is an example of having two of the land marks with in one image. I may try this in my shoot however i am mostly not to as i'm planing on focusing on one land mark at a time. This is because with this photo its to compact and there's not enough space to move or something for the viewers eyes to follow with ease.
This view across the millennium bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral is using the bridge to pull the viewer into the photo and this fits the idea of movement within the photo. This is down to the way the views eye goes down the bridge to the cathedral in the background. I am going to try and capture a photo that is similar however where you can see more of the cathedral as its reasonably hidden here.
Contact sheets
Best Photos
Inspired by Steven's 'When Cities Were Forests III' where there is the dark city skyline. The photo took perception of the normal London skyline and has taken it from a different angle. This is so like Steven's photo the skyline is not instantly recognisable to the viewers eye. The great expanse of the river was really extenuated in order to pull the eyes of the view over it first to tell travel up the buildings where the tallest were centred. This causes the eyes to move slower creating a sense of build up.
This photo was taken with the idea of having a different angle on how tower bridge is portrayed. Due to this and still using the idea of movement the bridges swooping supports are used in conjunction with the base of the bridge to pull in the viewer from the right hand side of the photo to create a sweeping motion down to the base and then straight up the tower. This is highlighted by the clear sky behind really forcing the light grey of the towers to stand out.
This next photo took the same idea of having it taken from a different angle therefore this is taken from the other side of the bridge. Using the tree foliage and green grass together in order to frame the bridge within the photo. This has almost made a tunnel effect where your pulled into the photo and then straight down to the tower via the swooping C curve of the structure.
For the movement with in the photo i used the stairs which pulls the eyes up the gate and round the curvature of the actual building shape. This makes the viewers eyes take in the whole building and not just part of it. This photo was inspired by the image of city hall in my image bank for the use of curved lines and how they affect the photo.
This photo was taken with the idea i spoke about with in my image back where i wanted to still have the movement created by the narrow bridge but have more of a view of St. Paul's. For this photo i used the bridge extended to both bottom corners in order to make it seem like the viewer can step in to the photo. I then used the the buildings to force the eyes to the cathedral and up the columns to the top of the spire.
For the last photo i took inspiration from the first example of Steven's work and how he used vertical lines to create a feeling of grandeur. I used this idea to portray the grandness of the cathedral that you normally dont see or get through a photo of it. I really like how you can make out all the detail and that you dont miss any of it as the viewers eyes are drawn from the base up through the photo and out at the top.
Needs improvement
This photo needed to have been zoomed in to show just the white tower as the distance makes the giant building look tiny and really takes away from its effects in real life. As well as this if it had been narrowed the viewers eyes wont be as distracted from everything else along the shore line. This was inspired by Steven's 'When Cities Were Forests III' and its a shame it didn't have the right effect.
This was a really good photo inspired by Steven's first image example however the issue was that fact that people got in the way as i was trying to get the height of the tower in. This really degrades the photo as they are really large pieces and take up a massive section of the photo. I did manage to take retake the photo, 20191002_154132.jpg without the people by 'decisive moment' had passed by then'.
The thing that needs improvement in this photo is angles and framing as it is uninspiring and dull as there's nothing interesting. The angle is wrong as everything is not straight and at awkward angles that dont work with one another. The way I also framed the photo wasn't quite right. This is because the compositions of everything aren't quite there. I tired to retake this photo a few times however the composition was still incorrect and didn't really work out.
Lastly for this photo the camera must have been tilted as the whole frame is tilted to the left, as well as pushing the top away from the camera and bring the ground towards the camera. Due to this it throws the whole photo and it looks awkward.
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress
Best Photos
Inspired by Steven's 'When Cities Were Forests III' where there is the dark city skyline. The photo took perception of the normal London skyline and has taken it from a different angle. This is so like Steven's photo the skyline is not instantly recognisable to the viewers eye. The great expanse of the river was really extenuated in order to pull the eyes of the view over it first to tell travel up the buildings where the tallest were centred. This causes the eyes to move slower creating a sense of build up.
This photo was taken with the idea of having a different angle on how tower bridge is portrayed. Due to this and still using the idea of movement the bridges swooping supports are used in conjunction with the base of the bridge to pull in the viewer from the right hand side of the photo to create a sweeping motion down to the base and then straight up the tower. This is highlighted by the clear sky behind really forcing the light grey of the towers to stand out.
This next photo took the same idea of having it taken from a different angle therefore this is taken from the other side of the bridge. Using the tree foliage and green grass together in order to frame the bridge within the photo. This has almost made a tunnel effect where your pulled into the photo and then straight down to the tower via the swooping C curve of the structure.
For the movement with in the photo i used the stairs which pulls the eyes up the gate and round the curvature of the actual building shape. This makes the viewers eyes take in the whole building and not just part of it. This photo was inspired by the image of city hall in my image bank for the use of curved lines and how they affect the photo.
This photo was taken with the idea i spoke about with in my image back where i wanted to still have the movement created by the narrow bridge but have more of a view of St. Paul's. For this photo i used the bridge extended to both bottom corners in order to make it seem like the viewer can step in to the photo. I then used the the buildings to force the eyes to the cathedral and up the columns to the top of the spire.
For the last photo i took inspiration from the first example of Steven's work and how he used vertical lines to create a feeling of grandeur. I used this idea to portray the grandness of the cathedral that you normally dont see or get through a photo of it. I really like how you can make out all the detail and that you dont miss any of it as the viewers eyes are drawn from the base up through the photo and out at the top.
AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
For this shoot I used the my Nikon D3100, i had to change my settings continuously as the sun was moving through the sky and would suddenly go behind a building.
The most common settings i used where:
ISO 100
F stop 15
Shutter Speed 1/100
For all my images i am planning on making them all black and white using Photoshop. This is so they go with the inspiration from
David Gutierrez series 'GREYSCALE' as well as how the background base of all Steven's work was all black and white.
AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other source, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding
All of my photos i have decided to manipulate using a computer using the program Photoshop in order to place a black and white filter over my photos in order to have a stronger link with my Photographers research.
I place the black and white filter over the original image.
I then used the brightness and contrast tool in order to create a little more contrast to pull out the shadows and highlights while sharpening the details.
Then on only a few photos i used the curves tool to create a deeper field and a strong base. For example I made the sky a bit stronger in order to make the tower pop out more.
All screenshots where taken using Snipping Tool.
This photo also had a slight angle on it which i corrected with Lens correction in Photoshop.
AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, make connections between visual and other elements.
Photoshop - change to black and white
Paint - inspired by Steven Irwin.
Scanned in to the computer
Progression
In this shoot I think that using the idea of paint which was inspired by Steven Irwin was very interesting and has given a very different effect. I do like the first image of St.Paul the best as i think that the paint give a new texture and creates a chaotic feeling. The paint also reminds me of snow however i does also remind me of all the pigeons.
Overall i think that the experiment with paint was a good idea. As this got me looking at physical things i could do to the photos. However i'm not sure if i would do it again as the only ones i really like are the two of St. Pauls and the skyline which was very reminiscent of my artist.
Due to this outcome i like the idea of finding different ways to create movement. What i am planning on looking at is the idea of Motion Blur in my next shoot as this will be something i can do with the camera instead of editing or implying through the use of the streets and how the builds lay. The idea of using Motion Blur is because when working in London there are always people or cars that seem to get in the way of taking the photo that i am looking for. This technique will allow me to blur out these people and/or the cars, while also getting the idea of movement to continue through my work.
I think i am going to go as far as to look at the same location again. The reasoning behind this is there are a lot of people where as if i choose another location i may end up having the problem of there not being enough people.
What i am looking for:
- Movement however i am going to try and use the camera in order to create the movement this time instead of structure or editing / manipulation.
