Assignment 1 research

Assignment One Research:

Photographers who I have researched and used the ‘Square Mile’ as a theme.

Gawain Barnard – Maybe we’ll be Soldiers – http://www.ffotogallery.org/gawain-barnard-maybe-well-be-soldiers

http://aestheticamagazine.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/maybe-well-be-soldiers-gawain-barnard.html

This exhibition looks at teenagers growing up and their surroundings.

Karen Knorr – http://karenknorr.com/photography/belgravia/

http://karenknorr.com/about/

Jodi Taylor – http://weareoca.com/photography/photography-and-nostalgia/

– an OCA student using nostalgic shots of her youth.

The photographers given to us on the OCA information sheet have confused me a bit as some of the links have worked others have not and Im not sure why OCA included them. I can understand they need to give us variations of styles and that is why they were on there, but I think the assignment was basic enough to understand and it was supposed to be about how ‘you’ saw your environment and your way of photographing your square mile to show the tutor ‘your’ work.

I have researched new techniques for my assignment and here are some of the sites I have looked at and used –

ADVANCED TECHNIQUES for the Canon 5d iii – http://www.lynda.com/D-Mark-III-training-tutorials/1442-0.html

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/11/09/canon-5d-mark-iii-5-quick-tips-to-get-more-from-your-eos-camera/

Research on Multiple Exposure technique:

http://www.lynda.com/5D-Mark-III-tutorials/Creating-multiple-exposures/107422/116170-4.html

http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2014/04/how-to-shoot-camera-double-exposure-photo

This multiple exposure technique has fascinated me. I love the way photographers produce them and intend to learn how to master this technique by studying it further, but the fact that my camera has the ability to do it is a big plus. This is part of my life at the moment being a carer for my mum I never sit down and feel I am constantly on the move!

https://uk.pinterest.com/search/?q=multiple+exposure this is a page on pinterest and the different images on multiple exposures are over whelming. I hope I will be able produce work as good as this eventually.

Images which didn’t work –

Thoughts – I tried using a tripod but it was such a windy day no matter what I did the camera moved in the 2/3 multiple exposure shots. So even though the original shots were not blurred the final merged shot does look blurred. The only way i can stop this is to wait for a windless day. As I was using myself as the ‘model’ it was quite hard to see what I was actually taking eg head missing in the second shot and you can see in some of the shots of me pointing the remote at the camera, even though I tried to disguise it. I also had an issue with sun flare, which is nothing I could do about until the sun is higher in the sky later in the year. I will try this experiment again!

I have recently seen another technique by another photographer using sphere panaramic ‘planet’ photographs and would love to have a go at this, but it is way out of my ‘comfort zone’. Here is a google search of images of them. This would be an excellent way of showing off my village in one image.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sphere+panoramic&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=799&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=C_nxVM7PJtGp7AaI6YAo&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

My learning log is worth a look as research for this assignment too

Researching Polly Braden’s work –

Paternoster Square 2006 http://pollybraden.com/work/london-square-mile/

I’ve chosen 2 images they both come from her Square Mile exhibition. This image is almost black and white in tone as you have the graphic image of the buildings behind the sculpture. The buildings are straight and square; while the sculpture still being graphic is diagonal and fights against the building, the highlights and shadows on it make it three dimensional. The sculpture leads you into the picture as do the square tiles of the pavement. This image wouldn’t work if it didn’t have the suited lady in the foreground, holding all the files rushing through the scene. It tells a story. Its abstract in appearance.

One New Change 2012 http://pollybraden.com/work/london-square-mile/

I really like this image, you can see what it is immediately, the story the photographer is trying to portray. The image is quite bland colour wise – almost black and white in appearance. The reflections of the buildings in the windows gives the image depth. You can see the expression on the woman’s face as she is resigned to the fact that she’s going to get wet if she goes outside. The lights above the woman make her stand out.

Problems I’ve had with this assignment –

– using a new camera which is much more advanced to anything I’ve used before. Focusing has been a challenge but by doing a google search I have found I’m not the only one so will just keep plugging away at it. Found some ‘Youtube’ videos have been uploaded on their site and shown ways to set the focusing for various subjects. Its also very heavy! Im really hoping my photos will improve as I get used to the camera.

– understanding the photographers given to us by OCA and the way their images connect to this assignment. In fact I had to more or less forget what I saw and go out and rethink the way I was going to shoot the pictures. But I think this is the process where OCA have tried to get us to think about research and give us somewhere to start, even though it stopped me doing the assignment for a week or two as I was trying to understand what I was supposed to do? I never struggle with producing my own ideas on a brief – just with what the person writing the brief is asking and panic if my idea isn’t correct. I must learn to trust my interpretation…

– maybe I am trying to run before i can walk with doing ‘multiple exposure’ images, but I have really gotten into doing these and wanted to include some even though the notes said not to manipulate the imagery too much. The shots were done ‘in camera’, so think I have every right to include them as this is what my camera can do?

– doubting myself and kept changing the submission date as I was afraid it wasn’t good enough.

– having to rely on the cameras automatic settings as I was the model, it was much too complicated trying to be behind and in front of the camera.

– keeping both a physical and online journal. I can keep the physical journal with me all the time and jot ideas down, but the online journal is harder to keep going as you have to switch computer on etc…