Danielle's Photography Blog: 2016

Monday, 2 May 2016

'Smoking Can Kill'

'Alcohol Addition'

Final Project - Final Image 6

'Energy'

'Fuel'

'Coke Consumption'

'Can of Calories'

Final Project - Final Image 2

'Sugar Sweet'

'Crisp Crunch'

Final Project - Photoshop Process

Step 1 -

Once I had placed the chosen photograph within Photoshop, I needed to duplicate the layer to create two identical layers. I achieved this by selecting the layer option in the side tool bar, right clicking for further options and selectioning the option of duplicating the layer, and then selecting the 'OK' button to place the second layer.

Step 2 -

After duplicating the layer, I made the adjustment of turning the layer from colour to black and white with the underneath layer remaining in colour. I selected the 'Image' option on the top tool bar, and then selected 'Adjustments' and clicked the option of 'Black and White'.

Step 3 -

Once the top layer was in black and white, I then began erasing the sections I wanted in colour. I chose the 'Erase Tool' in the side bar, and clicked on the areas of the image I wanted in colour, erasing the black and white sections, displayed in the two screenshots below.

Final Project - Photographer Inspiration

Photographer Inspiration

Photographer - Nicholas Goodden

Nicholas Goodden is a renowned urban photographer, along with photographing cinema graphs and time-lapse imagery, and founder of the Street Photography London Collective. He is particularly focused on photographing London through the medium of 'London Street Photography', 'Urban Landscape Photography' and 'Graffiti/Street Art Photography', all capturing different aspects of the city itself. Goodden is also known for his use of selective colouring within many of his photographs, highlighting the focal point in colour, with the remainder of the image in black and white. Though research I have not discovered a deeper reasoning or meaning behind Goodden's collection, apart from the simple fact that he finds photographing London in particular unique, with there always being something new and exciting to photograph and capture. It can be suggested that Goodden uses this technique of selective colouring to highlight his meaning or importance within the image, the focal point is most commonly selective in colour.

Figure 1 -
Upon reviewing this image, my attention is drawn towards the bold coloured section of the train station sign, with the red circle standing apart from the rest. The colour red is a popular colour used when using the technique of selective colouring, as it contrasts against the black and white background. A section of the image that also captures attention is the moving train on the right hand side of the image; it has created a blur, differing in appearance from the remainder of the photograph, which is crisp. By Goodden including this moving train, it creates this idea that he has captured this photograph in a real life situation rather than a set up scene. It emphasis this idea that he is reflecting a modern world within his collection, representing this urban environment of London. By Goodden using the rule of thirds within this photograph, it sections the image into three, placing the coloured sign in the first section on the left hand side.

Figure 2 -
Differing from Goodden's other photographs, this entire image is in colour, containing this technique of selective colouring, especially within the sign. The photograph is captured from a low point angle, emphasising the importance of the sign, the focal point. Also captured with a shallow depth of field, with the background being slightly out of focus. The whole image is surrounded with a red colouring creating an idea the photograph was captured at night time, indicated by dark blue sky behind.

Photographer - Ernst Haas

Photographer Ernst Hass is is acclaimed as one of the most influential and renowned photographers of the twentieth century, along with being considered one of the first to explore coloured photographic imagery. It was around 1951 when Haas began experimenting with 'Kodachrome' colour film, and becoming one of the leading colour photographers of the 1950's. Upon reviewing various collections of his work, it is obvious that Haas uses colour within the majority of his work and collections using bold and vibrant colours. In some of his photography Haas displays a small segment of colour. In many of Haas's photographs it is suggestive that he uses colour to make a bold statement and reflections upon society.

Figure 1 -

When viewing this photograph my attention is pulled towards the coloured sections of the ripper paper, creating an almost alive 3D effect through layering and ripping. The texture of this image is instantly apparent, it creates a sense of boldness. Although there are smaller segments of black and white with this photograph, the coloured sections out stand, holding a larger significance and importance, capturing mine and the viewers immediate attention. The ripping and layering changes the atmosphere of the photograph, it creates this idea that the colour is breaking free, representing that urbanisation within society has occurred. The atmosphere surrounding this photograph remains mysterious, yet holds this element of vibrancy through the bold colours. Mystery and a sense of the unknown is created. I like the simple use of multiple colours with Haas's work, it creates a more alive and vibrant photograph, but doesn't overcomplicate the image with the texture of ripping and layering bringing this image alive.

Figure 2 -

This particular photograph stands apart from the rest of his collections of work, through the simple lack of colour within. The only visible colour within this photograph is the outline of the yellow square, with the remainder of the photograph being in the darkness of the black and white. This is an unusual concept for Haas to present within his work, but arguably there is still this element of colour with his photograph that he is known for. Although there is such a small section of colour within this image, my attention is drawn towards this single outline in yellow, it remains alone. It portrays this message of a modern environment evolving, a reflection of the urbanisation that is proceeding. Haas has used to main technical features within this image, using both the rule of thirds and leading lines. The leading lines create those shapes and forms within the photograph, both for the squares and the surrounding shadows.

Both Goodden and Haas's photography collections and styles have inspired my final project theme of selective colouring and shaping as I aim to use this technique to express a statement about society or a statement of some sort to be made. Reviewing both photographers work they both use bright colouring within his photographs to select and attract the main focus, and this a technique I am to use within my own project, attracting the main focus of the image through the use of bright colouring.

Final Project - Mind Map

My Elevation Pitch

Elevation Pitch

My developing theme for my final project is surrounding 'Documenting in Colour', which is an element of photography I have always been interested in, shooting colourful subjects and using the tool of selective colouring. I have previously done a segment surrounding coloured photography at A-Level, but this time want to further it by exploring selective colouring.

Inspiration Photographer - Nicholas Godden

This photographer focuses on selective colouring, photographing London through the medium of 'London Street Photography'. He aims to focus on creating and highlighting a particular focal point.

Personal Statement -

I believe that the colouring of a photograph enables a statement to be made, creating a meaning behind the photograph, especially revolving around an area of selective colouring. Within the project I aim to explore this technique of colouring, and in particular selective colouring within the environment, experimenting with various locations of nature and the urban environment.

Colour Practise

Web Gallery Process

Web Gallery Process - Previously Shot Material

Step 1 -

I selected the folder I wanted to get my chosen images from and the folder open below in the content bar down the bottom. I think began choosing six images I wanted to make into a Web Gallery. In the next three shots, I go through the process of selecting two, then four and finally six images. I then activated these images by holding down 'cmd' key and clicked on each selected image.

Step 2 -

Once I had selected my six photographs I went to the top left hand corner of the Bridge panel and selected the 'OUTPUT' option, and then selected the Web Gallery option, changing it from a PDF.

Step 3 -

I then went onto selecting the template option to choose my display on my Web Gallery. For this I have chosen to select 'Slideshow'.

Step 4 -

Once I had done this I proceeded to add a title to my Web Gallery and any addition comments. I was also able to choose timings for my slideshow, and how long the photograph would display for. Once I had completed all of this, I think saved my Web Gallery.

Circulation & Authorship of the Photo-Image

This weeks presentation on Circulation and Authorship of the photo image was my study groups presentation and below are the notes I have made throughout the presentation and the explanations I gave to the rest of the class.

https://prezi.com/t2u1xbuznhxk/circulation-amp-authorship-of-the-photo-image/

Authorship -
The authorship of a photograph refers to the ownership of the image, for example the photographer who has captured the original image.

Circulation -
The movement in a circle or circuit, similar to sharing images online or with others.

“Analog to Digital: The Indexical Function of Photographic Images”
'[…] digital photography “accelerates” or “enlarges” traditional photographic processes.' - such as editing programmes, such as Photoshop, allowing this development of the photograph.

'Digital photography challenges the historical belief that photography is representative of reality.' - this is because of editing programmes, whereas with analogue photography the image is a true representation of reality at that time, no editing or developing involved.

'Viewers continue to read digital photographs as representative of reality, a function images maintain despite the transition from analog to digital.'

Analogue Photography -

Photography using an analogue camera or film.
Images are produced through the roll of film inserted into the camera.
The light entering the camera reacts to the chemicals in the film roll producing an image.

Digital Photography -

Digital photography 'uses cameras containing arrays of electronic photo-detectors to capture images focused by a lens.'
Digital images can be captured in multiple ways: with a digital camera, capturing a frame from a video clip
With digital photographs, editing programmes can be used to enhance an image.

Photographer - Richard Hamilton

Born in London - 1922-2011
Referred to as the 'father of Pop Art'
Engaged with mass media through his series of paintings, installations and prints
Career as a teacher in London Central School of Arts and Crafts and University of Newcastle

Photographer - Michael Wolf

Born in Germany, 1954 - was raised in US, Europe and Canada
Wolf's objective is to capture the essence of life in cities
Wolf's Google Street View Series questions how the general population reacts to being captured by surveillance
Tokyo Compression - The commuters expression were characterized in one review as traumatized and woeful - subjects didn't give him permission to capture the photographs
“Facebook’s business model is most certainly a contentious balancing act between stimulating users’ activity and exploiting it;”
José van Dijck, The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media

Photographer - Julian Stallabrass

Art historian, photographer and curator from London, UK
Professor at Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London
Photographs people, places and sculptures usually in vernacular style
Uses photography as a social commentary to enforce his own ideologies

Dzenko, Corey. ‘Analog to Digital: The Indexical Function of Photographic Images’ Afterimage vol.37 no.3 (Sep-Oct 2009) 19-23

Digital Imaging & Data Bending

'Digital Imaging & Photography: create an artificial or/and imaginary landscape using Photoshop'.

As part of our weekly task we were given the task of creating an artificial landscape using the editing programme of 'Photoshop'. Below are two images I have created through 'Photoshop', creating this artificial landscape, with a sense of surrealism surrounding it as these effects and changes have been edited in to create this effect. The first image is the original photograph I used to create this artificial landscape, with the second photograph below being the image I edited to create this artificial image. When viewing the second image, I have created this artificial landscape in multiple ways. To start I changed the sky within the image, replacing it with another more detailed one to create this stormy look within the image. I also edited in a cartoon image of a frog in the right hand corner.

Data Bending -

'Databending, a concept somewhat akin to circuit bending, is the purposeful creation of glitches within sound files, text, images or videos through esoteric computer wizardry.'

These three images below are all representations of data bending I have created, with glitches being made to make these effects. For example, the major colour change in these images, going from an original blue sky to a bright pinks sky. Also, parts of the original image have been moved into different areas, not fitting in directly.

What is a digital image? What consists within a digital photograph?

Various image files: JPEG – RAW – TIFF – GIF – PNG

- Compression is a term described ways of cutting the size of the file.

Bits of colour:

The simplest images may contain only two colours, such as black and white, and will need only 1 bit to represent each individual pixel.

Compression schemes can be lossy or lossless.

- A lossless compression algorithm discards no information; it looks for more efficient ways to represent an image, while making no compressions in accuracy. In contrast, lossy algorithms accept some degradation in the image in order to achieve smaller file size.

Flash Photography

Flash photography is an essential tool for photography as it allows this light to be portrayed upon the chosen subject, key to when capturing images in a dark sense or of a night time. Though it can be an extremely different aspect to get correct, along with the correct exposure, yet is key for a high quality photograph.

We were given the weekly task of shooting with a partner experimenting with the TTL flash in different locations and with different natural lighting. We chose to shoot in a corridor that had natural lighting entering at each end and we shot mainly in the middle of the corridor against a brick wall.

The top photograph of the leaf against the brick wall was taken with the flash but was taken from a further distance from the one below. The top photograph can be criticised as it is fairly darker than the photograph below due to the distance it was taken from, the green colour of the leaf is fair darker and the brick wall doesn't reflect much light either. The second photograph below is showing the use of the flash a lot clearer and is brighter than the previous photograph as this was taken closer up, creating a brighter image.

Both of these images below are taken from very similar points but the second photograph is captured using the zoom, creating a more close up shot. The first image can be criticised as we were shooting against glass in the background, which is known for reflecting a flash anyway, but the natural light is reacting with the flash causing a very bright blur surrounding the the subjects head and shoulder area, creating this bright blur. The second photograph was captured in the same spot against the glass but is zoomed in focusing more on the head and shoulders only, with the natural light behind almost being blocked out by the subjects head, creating a higher quality photograph.

Image Format

JPEG

JPEG is now the default setting on many new cameras when originally brought. A JPEG image is processed inside the camera, ready to be printed or edited within this format - these images are also instantly ready to be uploaded or shared online. However, a downside to using this JPEG format is that it is difficult and sometimes impossible to change certain elements of a processed JPEG formatted image. For example, if a JPEG image contains too much saturation, it is more difficult to remove these elements and can be impossible in post-production. Although there are many benefits of shooting in JPEG that I have listed below -

Processed within the camera, ready to print, upload etc.
Smaller size file than RAW images
Able to shoot more images in burst mode in JPEG

RAW

When capturing images in the RAW format, the RAW files capture all the possible information possible from the senior, all detailed included. However once the RAW file has been uploaded onto a computer, these files cannot be processed, these files are 'unfinished'. Though with images being captured in a RAW format, you are able to process RAW images in a variety of different ways, able to chose how to process and edit these images.

TOP TIP: JPEG OR RAW FORMAT?

If you are not wanting to process these images are capturing, then JPEG is the best and easiest option.

Cultural Imaginaries & Landscape Photography

Lauren Marsolier

'Located somewhere between fiction and reality, her images represent a mental landscape affected by a world of constant change.'

Laura Marsolier is a French photographer who aims to create 'phycological' landscapes of the modern day world we live in. Upon reviewing some of Marsolier's images they seem to hold a sense of abstraction around them, photographing senses that hold a strong shape about them. Both images below display this sense of shape through it's constant lines running through the image, the lining of the shadowing, of the lines painted on the floor etc. It is all contained within a neat and lined displayed photograph, with nothing seeming out of place, and this is where the abstraction is created.

Shop Keeper Task

Shop Keeper Task - Coffee Shop

As part our weekly task during week four, our photographic task was to -

'produce a set of shots of the shopkeeper as follows..'

A head and shoulders shot of the shopkeeper - meaning you need to interact with the subject and love them to a relent spot/area.
A wider shot of them in the workplace or outside the workplace area, posed at a more contextual point - for example standing outside by the workplace sign.
A shot of them working/doing an activity within their workplace or shop.
A shot of them interacting - for example serving a customer at the till or at the customers table.
A contextual shot without them - of an object, food, drink etc.

For this task I visited a local coffee shop and spoke to the manger of the shop, and explained I was doing a photography module at University and she was happy for me to produce my set of images here at her coffee shop.

These three photographs show the manager of the coffee shot outside the shop standing next to the logo and name of the coffee shop.

These set of photographs show a head and shoulders of the shop keeper in her work environment, putting a transaction through the till. With the two larger photographs below are showing her doing an activity within her workplace of making a coffee.