Overall project Evaluation

Overall project Evaluation

Throughout this whole project, I have found that the work produced has been interesting and generally fun to learn. I have finally learnt through the formal elements that not a 'perfect' picture needs to be taken to make a photo interesting, when the more original looking photos really matter. The formal elements we have photographed are lines, colour, pattern, depth, texture, reflection, form, tones, shape and movement. The way I found photographing these formal elements easier, was because I had my three levelled mind map with examples, to fall back on for ideas. To begin with on my practical work, I found taking photos to complete a good amount of work hard, this was because I generally found it hard to not take the 'perfect' photo. Progressing through the formal elements, I took a lot more photos and have come to terms that if the photo is not deeply thought about while being captured, the photo's appearance and style looks a lot better and more imaginative for the audience. For the contextual work, I found this a lot more harder to begin with. During the beginning of this project, I lacked at a large amount with completing the 6 photographs and annotations for each formal element but also the work diaries. Completing these later during the course, I came to realisation, that they were simple and easy tasks compared to the rest of the project. 

What I found really hard to begin with was the research log. I found this part of the project hard to begin with because many photographers, I closely looked out were either repetitive or they closely related. This frustrated me, due to the fact I wanted to range my photographers out with all the different formal elements. In the end, I managed to finally complete this task before moving onto selecting my five chosen photographers who inspired me. This was more easily to explain and select due to spending days carefully selecting the photographers for my research log. Furthering on from this, I managed to select five photographers work which connected with some of my own completed work, during this essay I would analysis both my own work and the photographers work before analysing and explaining how they both connect together. 

Through the practical section of this work with the computer experiments, I found this section extremely fun. I have managed to play around and complete different photos which are more unique and professional looking. As well this, I explored the computer print techniques which are soft focus, selective colour, weave, cluster, photo joiner, duotone, curves and black and white. These are also effective methods of editing a photograph and easy to remember. Progressing on this, I had to use my photographs and create physical experiments. Physical experiments, I believe are a little more difficult to complete as I do not want them to be repetitive and the ideas are hard to think of to complete on these photographs. 

Finally completing this overall project, I had development work to complete following the same method I used throughout. This development work was; Walk one and two, Studio one, Free - Studio, Contrast one and two, Mapplethorpe - Location, Mapplethorpe - Studio and Self portraits - Studio. This development work has a large exploration throughout and has helped me express photos in a more unique way to play around with. Overall I enjoy using the studio a lot more as I am able to control the lighting than going outside. My two chosen development work areas I have enjoyed taking are the self portraits in the studio and the Mapplethorpe studio work. During my development  work, I believe I have really pushed my self out there to complete all my given work in this project and make it stand out. The development work has given me the realisation of the given world that can be explored in so many ways, whether inside a studio or outside. 

If I could go back and give myself advice about this project, I would really tell myself to not leave anything to the last minute. At the beginning, I believed that leaving everything behind would be just a simple movement and would not matter, but as I reached to my last few months of this project, my thought pattern had quickly changed. Happily enough, I spent an extreme amount of time extra on completing this work to make sure my project would be complete way before my due date came along. For my next project, I will make sure to complete the work and set myself targets so I don't loose track. 

Electronic portfolio. - Best work overall.

Electronic portfolio. - Best work overall

Connecting Essay. - 5.

Connecting Essay. - 5

John Need: 

This is one of John Need's close up portrait photographs. In this photograph we can see the close up of someones eye, while the hair covers it slightly. While the rest of the photograph is shown to be in a light black and white colour, the eye itself is kept in its original colour of blue. The positive point of this photograph is the eye, this is a positive factor because by having the eye in colour, it becomes the focus point while also showing emotion such as depression and loneliness. The negative point of this photograph is the hair covering the eye, this is a negative factor because it becomes a distraction in the photograph, leading the attention away from the main focus of the photograph. An improvement I would make to this photograph is to select the eye colour and darken it a little more with the levels and curves to draw the attention away from the dark hair. 

This is one of my original photos taken in the studio.  In this photograph we can see the black and white colour clashing against the pupil colour of my model. While this is happening, a close up shot of the eye with a lot of background shown to one side is used. The positive point of this photograph is that the eye is the clear focus point with nothing covering it, this is a positive factor because the eye continues to stay the focus point with no distractions, which means it's easier for the viewer to interpret their own story to the photograph . I believe that this photo does not have a negative factor to reveal. An improvement I would like to make to this photo would be too use the soft focus upon the hair, this would then subtle the wispy parts out of view. 

These two photos connect between the editing styles (Keeping the eye in colour and the rest in black and white), but also the camera angle that the photo is taken. These photos both focus on a close up of the eye, but also part of the face to really show the audience emotion. If I could improve my photo to make a closer connection between these photos, I would lighten the black and white colour and change the eye colour of the model. 

Connecting Essay. - 4

Connecting Essay - 4.

Mike Dwyer:

This is one of Mike Dwyer's portrait photographs. In this photograph, we can see a close up shot of a young women's face as she stares into the camera lens. This photo is also revealed to be black and white  while the models head is only tilted slightly. The positive point of this photograph is that the camera angle and models positioning, this is a positive factor because by having the camera shot so close up with the models head tilted, not only does the real detail of the portrait stand out but also the eyes catch the viewers attention and draws them in. I believe that this photo does not have a negative factor to reveal. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to use the levels and curves tool too lighten the colour of the models skin, this is because the models skin matches closely to the background colour.

This is my selected photograph I have shot in the studio, creating a white background. In this photograph, we can see a close up photograph of a young girl who's head is shown to be tilted while her eyes look directly into the camera. The positive point of this photograph is how clear the models are shown to be and how they stand out against the rest of her face, this is a positive factor because while the eyes become the main outstanding feature, it also causes the rest of the face to become soft and un-noticed. The negative point of this photograph is that the colouring is shown to be a mixture between black and white and sepia, this is a negative factor because it can cause confusion for the audience as they would become more focused on figuring out the colour than actually interpreting the photograph. An improvement I would make to this photograph, would be to darken the colour more to keep it black and white instead of a mixture with black and white.

These two photographs connect through colour and the positioning of the camera. The way this connects is because they both have a mixture of black and white and sepia colouring while the camera is positioned to be close up. The way their eyes also look straight out of the photograph to the audience are also exact even though they may have different positions. As an improvement to my photograph, to get a closer connection between the two, I would take the photo a little further back but with the same camera position and may get the model to change her position slightly. 

Targets. - January completion.

Lesson Targets

10/01/14

In todays lesson, I will be finishing off my straight prints for the studio work and Mapplethorpe style (Loc). When this is complete, I will finish off my work diary for the Mapplethorpe style (LOC.)

Completed. - In todays lesson, I managed to finish off the two sections of my free shoot with the straight prints. After this, I chose to complete more straight prints for the Mapplethorpe style (Loc). Once all of this was completed and my folder was sorted, I completed my work diary for Walk One, before nearly finishing my second work diary for the Free shoot.

13/01/14
Today for my revision lesson, I decided to complete most of my photography work. Because I had no plan, I decided to complete my last eight work diaries. These were:
. Walk one
. Walk two
. Studio One
. Free
. Contrast One
. Contrast two
. Mapplethorpe style - Location
. Mapplethorpe style - Studio.

14/01/14
In todays lesson, I shall complete my Chosen photographers summaries properly. After that I shall move on and complete my last two physical experiments.

Completed. - In todays lesson, I managed to complete my set targets.

16/01/14
In todays lesson, I shall complete both my project evaluation, before selecting my best 30 photographs on a powerpoint. I shall leave my final prints for friday. 

Shape

Shape - Image Bank.

In this photograph we can see the shape of a circle at the beginning of the building structure, we can also see the arch shaped windows coming down towards the camera from all angles. The shape is shown through the window holes and the top opening. The positive point of this photograph is that circle shape at the beginning of the structure is the focus point, this is a positive factor because the eye focus point brings the attention to all the arched shapes windows after the circle shape. The negative point of this photo is that the photo is very basic, this is a negative factor because the photo does not stand out clearly like others towards the audience. An improvement I would make to this photo is too apply a shaped cloud inside the circle to really draw in the attention. 

In this photograph we can see the shape of a heart in a locket form against an old fenced panel. The shape of this heart with its patterns also draws in the attention as the focus point and creates the audience to think of topics as love, couples, loneliness. The positive point of this photo is by having a heart locket against an old fence panel, the heart shape has an ambiguous meaning towards the audience, this is a positive factor because it keeps their attention and creates their minds too wander. I believe that this photo does not have a negative point or improvement to reveal. 

In this photograph, we can see the three dimensional shape of a red pear but also the two dimensional shape of a heart placed inside. Even though pears are not actually the colour red, this photo reveals more ambiguous meanings to the audience, creating them to have separate views. The positive point of this photo is that there is two different dimensional shapes placed inside of each other, this is a positive factor because it gives the audiences different opinions on it's uniqueness of its man-made shape. I believe that this photo does not have a negative factor. An improvement I would make to this photo would be to crop most of the wooden table away to get a closer view of the pear. 

In this photograph, we can see the circle shape of marbles. These marbles also have a link in with reflection as they seem to reflect the background behind the camera on them. The shape of these marbles stand out clearly against the dark background, this is a positive factor because it catches the audiences eye as they may pass by this photo alone. The negative point of this photo is that it is extremely basic and will create the viewer to become very uninterested. An improvement I would make to this photo is to change the colours of all the marbles.
es or lines. 

In this photograph, we can see the shape of a star placed in someones cupped hands. This photo was also taken in black and white so the start stands out in white against the greyness of the models hands. The positive factor of this photograph is the fact it was taken in black and white, this is a positive factor because the star then stands out as the focus point as if it was lightness against darkness. The negative point of this photo is the paper in the bottom right hand corner, this is a negative factor because it becomes a distraction to the audience so their attention is pulled away from the star. An improvement I would like to make to this photo would be to feather the cupped hands before placing them onto a black background so they stand out even more. 

In this photograph, we can see the shape of a circle for the wedding room before the shadow of it is transformed into the shape of a heart. Even though this photo is in colour, the gold of the wedding ring and the redness of the heart stands out against the black and white book clearly. The positive point of this photograph is the fact the gold and red of the two shapes stands out against the black and white, this is a positive factor because the items become the focus point of the photo. I believe that this photo does not have a negative point or improvement to reveal. 

Form

Form - Image Bank

In this photograph, we can see a close up shot of a flower from a side view. The form in this photo is shown through the structure of he flower which is defined against the black background. The positive point of this photograph is the fact that the form of the structure of the flower is defined extremely well against a black background, this is a positive factor because it lets the audience understand and see how a simple object such as a flower can look so unique and special against being seen in everyday life. I believe that his photo does not have a negative factor or improvement to reveal.



In this photograph, we can see a black and white portrait shot of an old women. Half of her face is shown to be in the shadows while the other half is shown in light. She is also shown to wear a black top so the skin only stands out on her neck and face but also hair. The positive point of this photo is that the lighting effect creates the portrait to become more interesting and outstanding, this is a positive factor because it draws in a lot of attention and focuses on the form of the facial expression, which then tells a story. The negative factor of this photo is the shadows are a little too dark on half of the subjects face, this is a negative factor because it does not reveal the whole form of the old women's face to the audience clearly. An improvement I would make to this photo, would be too lighten the shadows up more.

In this photograph we can see the form of an unclothed women laying half out of a pool of water. In this picture, the contrast between forms is strongly shown as the water is shown to be smooth while there is only a few ripples against the smoothness and finely structured body of the model. The positive point of this photo is the structure of the models body is shown against the smoothness of the water, this is a positive factor because the forms of natural and structured is shown together linked in but also with a contrast. I believe that this photo does not have a negative point or improvement to reveal. 

In this photograph we can see the form of a hand again a black background. This photo is also taken in black and white creating a contrast between the fact the colour is ageing while the hand is shown to be extremely young. The positive point of this photo the shadowing upon the young hand can draw in attention to it's structure, this is a positive factor because the audience then focus on the structure of how the young child's hand is forming and how it compare to the audiences own hands. The negative point of this photo is that the hand is cut off into against the black background, this is n a negative factor because it becomes unrealistic for the audience. An improvement I would make to this photo, would be to feather around the edges of the hand so the hand blends in more with the black background.

In this photograph we can see the form of raindrops across blades of leaves. This photo was taken in black and white, which creates the raindrops to stand out more against the blades of grass. The positive points of this photograph is that one blade of grass is shown in focus while the rest is blurred, this is a positive factor because the audience are then drawn into one focus point which is located on most of the raindrops. The negative point of this photo is the main focus blade of grass is as light as the raindrops, this is a negative factor because the rain drops then blend in with the grass blade which means the raindrops cannot be seen by the audience. An improvement I would make to this photo is to use the magic wand tool and select the blade, before using the levels and curves to darken the selected blade of grass down.

In this photograph we can see a black and white macro shot of an eyeless mask against the black background. The shadowing and lightness from the lighting positioning, create the features of the mask to stand out clearly. The positive point of this photo is that the features of the mask stand out, this is a positive factor because the audience are able to become confused and thoughtful on whether the face shown is real or fake. I believe that this photo does not have a negative point or improvement to reveal.