Peer Assessment

This week we were put into groups and were asked to show our worked to each other. We were then given assessment criteria to assess each others work. This was very useful because not only did we learn more about each other and see how others are progressing,  but we also got advice from people in the same boat. I was given pretty good feedback and I was very happy to see my work paying off when I saw someone gave me some A's. But the grade wasn't the most important thing, the comments left are the most useful thing because it allows me to understand where I went wrong and right.

Moving forward, I need to take on board all the critique I got from my peers. The main things I need to consider are:

- Explore more areas of photography before choosing my main one.
- More research and development.

Major Brief

After understanding the brief more, I obtained a camera and began thinking of the direction I want to take. I have a few ideas (shown in previous posts) but the one that has stuck in my head is the idea of 'light painting'. Drawing inspiration from Denis Smith (a photographer I talked about in a previous post), I want to depict a panoramic moon cycle using 'light painting' techniques.

I realise that this was quite a tall order considering I have little prior experience in this department or even with proper cameras. So I began with basic 'light painting' shots to begin with. Here they are:

Path Light

This was my first shot and I was excited to see that I did have the potential to reach my goal. However this photo has its problems, namely I overexposed and the lights just flared too much and produced too much warm colour. I wanted to have the lines dotted (like in the top left).

Path Light 2

In this one, I chose a different light source and learning from my mistakes I reduced the time of the shoot. The flare is lessened and the colour is less warm. I am more pleased with this one, the lines produced more pronounced shapes and curvature which is key in how I envision the final photo. 

'Technicolour'

In this photo, I wanted to start using more colours because I was becoming more confident with the technique. I was sitting at my computer thinking of how to do the next photo and how to add colour. Then it struck me that I was facing plenty of lights; my study is full of lights because of my computer and various bits of tech. Also my window had lights from outside so I set my exposure and then stood up and the two light sources sort of merged. I really like this one so I named it 'Technicolour' because of various technological lights that created it.

'Light Clef'

This one is my favourite by far. I mentioned before how I like the dotted line effect. So I found a blinking light on my computer and consciously tried to make a shape. In this case I was attempting a Treble Clef because I love music. I think I managed to pull it off quite effectively! Once I had the photo, I ended up editing it a bit in Photoshop; not something that this brief is after, I know, but I really wanted to intensify the shape and colour. I also montaged it a bit to repeat the pattern. I ended up calling it the 'Light Clef'.

I really feel like I am ready to start working on the final photo now. I will be working on this constantly in the Christmas break and I think I can achieve my goal now. I just need to find a suitable place to take a landscape shot, luckily I live near Sutton Park. I am really looking forward to starting this. 

Task 4: The great Photographers

In this task, we had to research our favourite photographer and then present our findings to the group. I immediately knew who I wanted to base my presentations on, so I got to work. Here is the finished presentation:



My presentation was well received. One person liked how I chose a contemporary Photographer rather than a historical one. Some people liked how abstract and unique the photos were. The teacher was saying it was good to see someone explaining why this photographer started the hobby and how it changed his life for the better. I am debating if I want to base my brief on this sort of photography style.

Major Brief Ideas

After researching great Photographers, I started getting inspired on how I wanted my major brief to go. I really came up with two ideas that I thought could work pretty well if done right.

Album Art of the Years

My first idea was to do a panorama of album artwork covers following a particular band or genre's development through the years. I was thinking having the album covers as the centre pieces and the background would have things relating to that period of music whet he album was made. I thought of this because music is a very passionate interest and hobby of mine being a musician myself. I have made my fair share of album covers too which can be seen on my portfolio site (once it's complete).

Moon Cycle using Exposed Light

For this one, I was thinking about the work of Denis Smith who made 'Balls of Light'. I was thinking about how a moon cycles from full to eclipse. I then remembered a music album cover I made once:

I wanted to portray the cycle of a moon in a panorama using a similar style to Denis Smith's work, a Photographer I really like the work of. It would look something like this in an Ideal world:

I used the 'Ball of Light' Idea and adapted it to look like a moon cycle. I know this may be a very difficult thing to make a reality but I will try.

Task 3: Research and Brain Storming

So now that the major brief has been released, we have been tasked to research some of our favourite panoramas. Here are the ones I thought were pretty cool:

I like these because they aren't just basic panoramas. They have personality, I like the reflections and the varying colours.

Particular Favourite

This next one is a true favourite of mine. I like this photography (Denis Smith) to begin with but this panorama is so well composed. It fulfils the abstract appetite I am always craving.

I love all the lighting involved here. Even if they are man-made lights, they are still pretty special considering no Photoshop work is involved here. I imagine they used smoke by the 'Ball of Light' to catch the red light of the ball. This photo has a very spooky feel to it. Without the dynamic lighting and the ball, this photo would be so boring.

Week 4- Light & The Major Brief

This week we started looking at how light is used and how it effects Photography. We were also introduced to the Major brief of the module, but I will get to that further on.

The Kelvin Scale

When it comes to understanding light while taking photos, the Kelvin scale is a very useful tool, it is used to measure the temperature of light sources. This allows a Photograpehr to accurately adjust the setting of the camera for an optimal shoot in the different light conditions. Here it is:

Light Reflection

We then looked at how the angle of light on the subject can change the composition of the photo greatly depending on many scientific and practical variables. This is where the Light Reflector becomes handy. It allows a user to control the light more; it is important to only have subjects in shot that reinforce the message the Photographer wants to convey, and light plays a big part in this process.

The teacher showed us a Light Reflector and how it works. The idea is to have a shiny, reflective surface by the subject to direct the light in a controllable manner. The same principle is used with a dull surface which gives an opposite effect to light, diffusing it and dulling the subject. A typical Light reflector enhancing the temperature of a subject:

It is quite incredible how effective it can be.

The Major Brief

In this weeks lesson, we were also given the major brief. The brief was about creating a panorama expressing how a subject's reality can be exaggerated with various methods and camera settings. Given  examples of such effects include:

• A time lapse panorama

• Revealing something slow we cannot normally perceive

• Revealing something fast we cannot normally perceive

• Use a large depth of field and panoramic photography to either distorted or exaggerate perspective.

• Draw a viewers attention to aspects of a panorama that are at the same distance

  from the camera using selective focus (i.e. shallow depth of field)

• Enhance the sense of three-dimensionality in the panorama by the use of

  composition and depth of field. 

But considering I am a level 3 student in this module I also have to consider the context a photo will convey with issues such as:

• Environmental change

• Transition

• Nostalgia

• Modernity

• Decay

• Travel

• Event

• Or something of your choice

Now that I have the brief I can put all I have learned so far into practice.

Task 2 : Autumn

The next task is to take pictures of how we interpret Autumn. Taking pictures metaphorically is key here. Taking pictures of trees changing colour would be too boring and predictable so I tried to be more abstract. I hired a camera and had a look around. I took all my photos in the middle of the day for natural light, so far I have taken 30 photos but here are my favourite ones:

I took this photo because I thought it explained Autumn well. The hedge is starting to turn brown as Autumn arrives, yet you can still see a red bush through the gap. It shows a transition between what was and what is. I then went on to further develop this idea:

In this photo I wanted to focus on the transition of Autumn more effectively. You can see all the settings I used too. I focused on the hedge to show what is currently happening and I blurred out the red bush to show summer is fading. 

I then decided to use a person in the photo. It would add another layer and portray my idea better:

Once again I blurred the more vivid bush and focused on the hedge. However, the subject of this photo is definitely the person. Her expression shines through and is so strong that it counters the blur. She almost looks sad about the end of Summer as she stares at the turning hedge. I then moved onto a photo with a more obvious contrast:

This photo really showed represented the juxtaposistion of nature. I found a pond littered with moss-type growth. I then saw a leaf on it. It created such a contrast and described Autumn  perfectly. One of my favourites. 

Next I wanted to include a different living subject in my photo:

I took this because it shows how resilient nature can be. A spider's web can survive through all seasons. The web represents a security and how even if life changes around you (like the leaves changing colour) life still goes on. I like how the spider is the same colour as the brown leaves, it creates an accent.