My choice for a specific subject was flowers. To achieve a unified visual strategy, these are all cropped to a square and use an aperture of F/4 to create a blurred background. These images were shot on the same day for consistent lighting. In Photoshop a fibres filter was applied at 50% opacity to bring consistency to the background. The images are all closeups rather than a wide view of the garden. To take this a stage further, the series could have featured different varieties of one type of flower. The presentation in a grid (see learning log post, Creating Image Grids in Photoshop, for the process) is influenced by the work of Michael Wolf’s My Favourite Things discussed below.
In preparation for this series I looked at Gerhard richter’s Atlas. In this collection, Richter assembled collections of images, sketches, and newspaper cuttings that are related on to loose sheets of paper. Searle (2003), describes Richter’s collection as images that shock, chill and amuse as they range from family images to cities to concentration camps. The collections of images provide an insight into Richter’s thinking and inspiration for his art. There are many similarities to a composer (such as Beethoven) keeping sketch books where themes are explored, elaborated, and revisited as part of the creative process.
Another collection of work that uses a series is Michael Wolf’s My Favourite Things. Here the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, as collections of seeming mundane objects such as mops or string, provide a photographic documentary of the streets of Hong Kong. The uniformity of the grid and similarities of layout support a cohesive visual approach.
After looking at Michael Wolf’s Series My Favourite Things, and Gerhard Richter’s Atlas, I wanted to explore displaying photos in grids using Photoshop to display my work for exercise 3.2 Series.
I spent a very interesting afternoon walking round Keswick with a camera in hand, Though I have visited Keswick before, I have never explored with a camera in my hand. Starting near Derwent Water my route took me across Crow’s Park towards Keswick, up the Main street to the church, back down to Derwent water, a walk through Hope Park, finishing back in the market square. Over the space of three hours I took over three hundred photos, following what ever my eye found interesting. Not surprisingly for the Lake District, there were many changes of light from bright sunshine to moody grey skies. Walking around, I found myself drawn to a number of different themes, such as shop window displays, landscapes, bikes, trees, and the courtyards of Keswick. Contact sheets for the selected images are presented as three collections at the bottom of this page. They are presented in chronological order, reflecting my journey around Keswick
Searching Part 1: Crow Park to Keswick
Searching Part 2: Derwent Water to Keswick
Searching Part 3: The Court Yards of Keswick
I also used this an an opportunity to experiment more with photoshop and also Nik Collection plug ins. The experience produced some pleasant surprises, with some of my favourite images capturing a completely unplanned moment. An example of this is the image below bringing to life an otherwise ordinary landscape image.
Photobomb
I found this an eye opening experience and quite liberating to be able to take the time to walk around freely. Walking round with a camera and a long space of time definitely changes how I view a place, and I am much more drawn to details that I would otherwise miss. This approach is a valuable technique to try out different ideas and find new sources of inspiration. For example exploring the courtyards of Keswick, each of which has its own character. As a bonus, I also found new areas that I did not know existed. The image below, The Archway was taken in a street at the top of Keswick
The Archway
After each exercise and assignment, I have always come away thinking I should take more images with a wider range of angles, exposures, different compositions etc. This way of working and allowing more time meant that I had a wide range of images to choose from. I found the exercise was also very good at generating different ideas for themes, and felt more creative that in some of the previous images. Conversely, I found the large number of images overwhelming to work with until I split them into smaller more manageable groups. I took the opportunity to use this exercise a vehicle to develop my Photoshop editing skills, there are some photos I am very pleased with (Serenity), but others that may be dramatic, but are over processed to my taste (At Peace). The image below, Serenity, achieves a softer, more fairy tale like look by reducing the sharpness. The starburst sun, was produced in camera with a small aperture.
Serenity
At Peace
Though the point of the exercise was to search and to be open to a range of ideas and approaches, the diversity of subject and processing means that the images don’t work as a cohesive group. The selected images have been presented in chronological order, representing three areas of the search, but could have have also been grouped into themes such as shop windows, landscapes etc. with a more consistent approach to processing. The last set featuring the courtyards of Keswick are all in black and white and work together more effectively with a shared subject, and visual approach.
One of the contributory factors for things that went well in this exercise was allowing enough time. I had a free afternoon from work with no distractions and being able to explore generated lots of ideas. Reviewing the results in camera also contributed to a more successful set of images. When it came to editing and selecting, this took place over three weeks, which allowed plenty of time for me to view things in different ways and experiment. The following image uses the Lightroom infrared photo preset, which enhances the contrast in the foliage.
Reach for the Sky
Having completed this exercise, I would like to follow up with a more detailed exploration of just one area. Though the photos work as a journey, they do not work for me as balanced set of images (though that was not the point of the exercise). This has been the most thought provoking exercise completed so far and has raised my awareness of producing a set of work in a series and having a consistent approach. I took a photoshop course two years ago and slowly working with layers and masks is starting to make more sense. I will continue to develop this. Reviewing the photos as a whole, they very much reflect the place, rather than the people, which is consistent with much of my photography (unless I am shooting bands or cycling).
My development points are
Create a set of photos focussing on one specific subject (exercise 3.2)
Plan a single visual strategy for a series
Plan in enough time for the next exercises, even if it takes longer to complete the course
Continue to develop Photoshop skills, particularly working with masks and layers
Commissioned by The National Trust, We are Bess is a photography exhibition at Hardwick Hall featuring 20 modern women. It highlights the challenges faces by modern women and shows their response to the the story of the sixteenth-century Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick.
The images were taken by award winning documentary and portrait photographer Rachel Adams. I think she succeeded in her aim to create strong images of women and bring out their character. Though there are smiling faces on some the images, they all feel as if they relate to a personal story.
The exhibition includes
What makes the exhibition so striking is the way the images are exhibited in the Long Gallery alongside Tudor portraits of people who have been connected with Hardwick Hall and. For example, Bess of Hardwick sits side by side with Dame Mary Beard (Bottom left)
Using light painting for this assignment required trial and error to produce the final selection of six images, which were shot over two separate sessions. My research for this assignment included looking a night photography portraits. I was particularly drawn to the simplicity of black and white minimalist images where only part of the subject is revealed.
The final selection of six images below were taken using a tripod, long exposure and a torch with a tube of cardboard taped over the end acting as a snoot. A black background was used and the images were shot at night. Lots of trial shots were needed to get the length of exposure correct and the subject in focus between shots.
Experiments
In addition to the trial and error of the exposure time, the contact sheets show different areas highlighted, different poses, and movement. The image below experiments with movement, creating a ghostly effect as the hands were moved half way through the exposure and the light leak from the torch adds to the effect.
Post Processing
Images were initially processed in Lightroom with Photoshop used for dodging and burning putting into practice the techniques from Project 4.
Presentation/Exhibition
Before looking at the way Annette Message hung her photos for My Vows, and Wofgang Tillmans’ approach to displaying his work, my plan was to print all the images at the same size and present them in conventional pattern on the wall. Inspired by alternative approaches to displaying work I used an actual piano to display the images. Another change from the original plan was the use of smaller images for the pictures of hands. The black and white of the piano complements the monochrome images.
Final Exhibition Arrangement
In reality, a piano though fun is not the most practical way to display work. More conventional layouts, placed on the piano lid though suitable for a wall are shown below.
Alternative Exhibition Arrangements
Having completed this assignment, where my intent was for a collection of minimalist images, I would like to develop this work by experimenting with colour, and more use of props and movement. I was struck how my choice of images changed once they were presented as part of a set and also how the printed image was different from the computer screen. Contact sheets showing all the photos taken for the assignment over two sessions can be downloaded below.
Here is my day of selfies, taken on a weekend. All taken with an iPhone and many made good use of the timer and whatever stand I could find. One of the purposes of the exercises was to discover if I use photography to tell the truth or to lie. Naturally, people (myself included) usually want to present a good image of themself.
The images are all shots of part of my day, but I did pick and choose, and redid the photo if I didn’t like it. It is also an edited snapshot of a day presented for public consumption. They do reflect my preference for photos of people to show them doing something rather than an obviously posed shot.
One of the most used techniques to lighten (dodging) or darken (burning) parts of an image. It can be used to draw attention to or away from parts of an image. In the following example the face is lightened and the background foliage darkened. Having experimented with a couple of images, the challenge was to make a subtle change.
2.11 Split contrast
This exercise was more challenging and felt that the guidance had been written by someone who was an experienced Photoshop user, but didn’t fully consider people who are new to the programme. I felt like I was following the instructions without fully understanding the process. Photoshop is a powerful programme and using layers and masks allows you to edit whilst retaining the original image, though time and practice will be needed to master the techniques
Posture and Gesture: raised hand and arm, folded arms, resting on hands, sitting, standing, posed
Clothing: Traditional, vibrant, colourful, Indian, head dress, jewellery
Character of location: Western, trailer, untidy, overgrown bushes, poorly maintained grass.
On the surface this appears to be two small groups of young women in traditional colourful Indian dress engaged in conversation. The first group appear to be concentrating on one person has to say who is gesturing with her arm. The second group are looking in different directions and not engaged at all.
The image appears to be staged. Though the subjects are in traditional dress, their features are not Indian. The background is incongruous with the subjects. I don’t find this reminiscent of 19th century photographers like Henry Peach (who used models and created poses that could be from a painting) or Raphael, as the image does not feel authentic or as if it was imitating a painting.
The photo is from a series called Constructing the Exotic. The photographer’s aim was to ‘explore he conventions of the figure in painting and photography through the lens of historical colonial and Indian art’. The image is certainly constructed, I do not find it exotic. The image makes more sense as part of the whole series, but personally it does not succeed in being exotic or depicting a conversation. It is however, thought provoking and that may have been the intention of the photographer.
I attended an evening course in Flower Photography run by John Arnison. The evening was an interesting mix of looking at the work of other photographers, practical work, and processing using Lightroom and/or Photoshop. Due to another engagement I couldn’t stay for all the course, but thoroughly enjoyed the session and came away feeling quite inspired.
Photographers
We looked at several photographers, but the following were my favourites.
Anna Atkins (1799-1871)produced the first book of including photographic images. She used the cyanotype photographic process where the subject is placed onto the paper, which has been treated with ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. After 10 to 40 minutes in the sunlight the paper is washed in water. The mage appears as white on a cyan coloured background.
I was intrigued by the beautiful images of Dain Tasker (1872-1964) created using an X-ray machine. Something I won’t have access too! It could however be interesting to take several images of different parts of a flower and then reassemble in Photoshop, probably a project for a rainy day.
Tessa Traeger (1938) creates stunning still life images, often based around food. They can be playful and draw you in as you realise all is not what it seems. The imagery on this one suggests rockets taking off.
Practical Work
The importance of a suitable background was emphasised. We were shown an elegant and inexpensive solution with a translucent plastic sheet bought from an art shop. These are available in different colours. We started with the white sheet attached to the window with masking tape, which produced a beautiful back lit effect
We also looked at the effects of different coloured card used as a reflector to bring out particular colours in the flower (e.g. red). There was a lot of experimentation showing the effects of different shutter speeds and the effect on the colours.
To achieve a completely different look, we looked at using lighting and also considered the direction of the light. Though this is perhaps more conventional, I preferred the softer look of the backlit flower.
We also considered how you present the flowers and accessories such as jugs or bottles
Unfortunately, I had to leave half way through the workshop, but left feeling inspired to try new ideas and went shopping the next day for translucent backgrounds in white, orange and blue. I can’t wait to find time to put these into use. What I particularly enjoyed about the course was the emphasis on how easy it is to create stunning pictures without spending a lot of money on equipment.
This exercise explores different methods available to the photographer for night portrait photography, producing three full length portraits. In preparing for this project I looked at the work of New York photojournalist, WeeGee whose work included shots from many crime scenes making use of flash photography. His images tend to be high contrast from the powerful flash bulb.
Long exposure
5 minutes at f / 9.00, ISO 200
This image used a long exposure of 5 minutes requiring a tripod. Finding the correct length of exposure took trial and error. The lens did need light to be able to focus correctly. Auto focus was then turned off. This approach is not something I would use for night portraits, unless I wanted a blurred effect.
High ISO and outside lights
1.0 sec at f / 4.5. ISO 16000
This produced a more pleasing effect and was definitely preferred by the subject who didn’t have to try and stand still for two minutes. It was quick to set up and produces a natural look. I like the effect of the solar powered outside lights, which bring out the texture of the background.
Flash
1/160 sec at f/9.0, ISO 200
The flash produced a different effect. After experimenting, the power of the flash was turned down to achieve a more subtle look. Flash photography is an area where I would like to develop my skills, particularly with on camera flash.
Karen Gourlay: Foundations in Photography 