Final Project

The final project for the BTEC photography course is due tomorrow. This one was rather different to the previous assignments in that the theme and number of photographs to be produced was to be my own choice. A Statement of Intent was asked for and produced. It ran as follows –

 “The theme for the project will be the street performers, buskers and tourists along London's South Bank, roughly from the London Eye to London Bridge and additionally in Trafalgar Square, London

The final presentation will comprise a printed triptych. A triptych typically contains three elements, usually an image. Each of the three elements of the triptych itself will contain three images. This implies that a total of nine individual images are required. All nine images will have a connection in theme, content and mood. However the three images of each individual element will have a closer connection with each other, when compared to the other two elements”

So I took my walk down the South Bank, as per my statement of intent, but avoiding Trafalgar Square for now (another day?) taking photographs of what was going on.

Had them printed as 6x4 size from a one hour photo machine for group discussion in class – which has put me off using those machines again – the quality is so poor (I should have known previous experience).

The net result of the class group discussion was that I abandoned the original theme – think the word ‘contrived’ was used here – in favour of developing a theme of  ‘people and shadows’ began last year – see my previous post here.

Several of the images taken on my meander feature people – on their phones – and shadows.

Here is my selection

Not a triptych in sight. Pity. Don't think the triptych idea wasn't as contrived as was suggested to me - but I'm sure I'll get it done another day. And am happy with 5 pictures as selected.

Private - Public

My BTEC photography course is now in its last few weeks, it finishes mid July. The next to last assignment was to interpret the theme of  "Private - Public" -  on film. The selected images may be digitlly printed, but the original capture must be on film.

I used to take a lot of black & white photos in my pre-digital days. In those days I had access to a darkroom and spent many hours there printing. Alas those days are long gone, but as I kept some developing tanks (and my film camera, a Nikon N70) at least I could process the negatives. You don't actually need a darkroom for that. And I have a scanner - which can scan 35mm negatives - so any subsequent processing can be done in Photoshop and then printed digitally.

Picked up where I left off all those years ago with Black & White film - Ilford Delta 400, rated at 400 iso. The shoot was to be an odd experience for me - keeping to the one iso rating and only 36 shots per roll.

Suggested interpretations of the theme, earlier, were of people in a private moment in a public space. My take was rather different - private/public signs. I'd seen plenty while exploring central London on previous shoots, and this time was no exception. Private/Public signs ? Signs - with writing or graphics - aimed at the public indicating something private. The brief required seven images, so here are those I selected.

 

 

I processed the negatives in Kodak HC-110 for 9 minutes, and found the results more grainy (noisy ?) than I would have liked. Perhaps if I was processing negatives more frequently I'd get back into the optimum chemistry for my type of work; then again the the negatives have also been scanned and not printed digitally and not in a darkroom. Out of practice ?

Constructed Images - continued

My constructed image assignment for my BTEC class is due today. I’ve done the studio shoot and incorporated an image - a least part of an image from the shoot into another - and made up a composite. If you’ve read my previous post of a couple of days ago you’ll notice the composites were comprised of photographs captured on film. Here, the composite comprises all photographs which were captured digitally.

Here is the original background photograph - unprocessed

Here are a couple more - as originally takem - from which elements were extracted -

The location was Leake Street behind Waterloo Station in central London. Elements - the faces - were taken from them, using Photoshop CS4 and added to the background and placed appropriately in separate layers. I had to use the move tool extensivly here, and then change the opacity of each layer. This is most noticeable in the face on the right hand side - check out these image below for work in progress.

Further processing included blending and adjusting the colour balance.

The studio shoot yielded these tomatoes –

I’d originally shot some tins of soup (tomato again) with the idea of making up a Warhol type image, but as I need to hone up my product photography skills (apart from anything else) I wasn’t too happy with results. 

The hooded figure in the centre needed some “eyes”. Given the backround colour temperature, perhaps Tomato Eyes ? 

Some further processing on the eyes of the left hand side face and adjustment of the red colour of the background. I'm stopping there. I had to resist the temptation for further processing, but there is always a danger of overdoing it and using filters just because you can, not because the image demands it..   

Overdone already? Possibly?  Does it work as as image ? 

Constructed Images

The latest assignment for my BTEC class is due this coming week. This one combined a studio shoot and some location work. The idea was to was to shoot a studio still life and then combining it someway - either digitally, or even rephotographing - with a completely different background.

An idea proved to be a long time in coming. For inspiration took a look at some of the work by Barbara Kruger, Jerry Uelsmann, Duane Michals and Mari Mahr, all of whom produced composite type images – here are some examples …

I’d seen some images by Jerry Uelsmann previously, and had read that many of them have been produced in a traditional ‘wet’ darkroom.  I don’t have access to a darkroom any more and haven’t had for some time, so my efforts could look forward to some digital processing, ably assisted by Mr Adobe and Photoshop CS4.

Perhaps I should look for a job in that TV show “Blue Peter” …. here are some pictures I prepared earlier, from my pre digital camera days.  I took slides and black & white negatives then and scanned them.

Not so much a composite of 2 or more images, rather the inclusion of text into one image, written for me by a Chinese friend. If you can read the Chinese, I’d appreciate a translation.

 Here are some colour composite, comprised of images originally 35mm slides (Fuji) and scanned using a Canoscan dedicated film scanner. 

Comprised of 3 separate images – the pyramid is in Mexico, the sea in the foreground is the Atlantic coast of Ireland and the background mountains are in Morocco. Three Continents!

Again comprised of parts from 3 images, in multiple layers; the statue, glare and background building and sky are in Toronto, the scene within the statue is downtown New York, and the pattern within the “moon” is from the Centre Point building here in London, with the red colour added via Photoshop.

Will post the assignment in a day or so ....

Location

My BTEC photography class has long since resumed after the Christmas break and the latest assignment, set before the break, was due last week. The theme of this assignment was "Location"  and it came with a qualifying twist - the title was "Precious". The idea was explore location photography, but subject concept was something precious. A dictionary definition of "precious" could suggest something of great value of high price in monetary terms, but I was thinking of something non material and decided upon memories. And being on a photographic course, recording memories with a camera.

I'm fascinated with street photography, and like the work of Robert Doisneau, I've got book of his work in Paris. Here are some examples of his work -

I've recently become aware of the work of Vivian Maier, who photographed Chicago - you can view examples in a dedicated blog here. Fairly inspiring, so I thought "lets try some street photography".
 I don't have easy access to Chicago and couldn't get to Paris within the time constraints of the assignment, but as I live in London, there should not be any shortage of locations. Also, unlike the two above, I'd work in colour and digital capture. Folk tend to take many photos - of each other as well as the sights - in central London, so Trafalgar Square and the British Museum were to be the starting points. My take on the theme/concept was people recording precious memories of themselves and their friends out and about, whether on holidays or otherwise.

The British Museum may not the be obvious place for "street" photography, but it is the approach that counts in this case. Inside the lighting was mixed (daylight coming through the windows and of course artifical light, tungsten etc) and dull, so had to push the asa up to 1600 and not using a tripod - here are some possibles for final selection -

The light outside was almost as dull as inside that day of the shoot, so left the asa at 1600 (apart from two out of about 60 in total - see the final selection below - the light must have momentarily improved at the time of taking !)  Here are some more possibles from Trafalgar Square -

After discussion in class last week - I'd brought in my contacts and some prints - here is my final selection of 5 photos (the assignment required 5) - 

At one time - in pre digital days, I used HP5 (an excellent black & white film). It was nominally rated at 400 asa, but I uprated it to1600 and the results were GRAINY (that's NOISY in digital speak).There isn't the same level of grain in this lot. Improving technology ? Don't know. Can always add some noise via Photoshop. Probably not for colour work, think noise works better for black and white ?

Time of Day

I'm beginning to catch up with posting here my pictures taken for the exercises set in my BTEC photoclass. The brief for this one was "Time of Day", and was actually set, photographed and presented in class last October.

It was apparent during the discussion within the class when this assignment was set that one possible outcome - a photographic outcome at least - were photographs of the same place, building, whatever, taken at different different times of the day or night. For example, early morning, midday, afternoon and so. Different lighting, sun light from various directions.

I've had some experience of taking photographs to a theme in a special interest group of my local Photographic Society - it meets monthly and we're asked to bring in 2 photographs on a pre set theme which we all then comment upon. There can be a diverse interpretation of the theme set. So, thought maybe I'd try to do something a little different than the way the discussion was leading, and still perhaps meet the theme.

I haven't worn a wrist watch for several years. I actually have two - both with run down  batteries. There are enough clocks at home - my tuner,VCR, microwave, my PC - so I can see what the time is if I need to know. There's also one in my car and on my mobile phone. And additionally when I'm out and about there are plenty of clocks visible one to all in central London (Big Ben ....) Perhaps I use some of these clocks, at least photographically ?

Here is a (small) selection of my shoot... 

Look at the time in each photograph.

eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, one o'clock

Passage of time, Time of Day even ?

Not sure if like the images, whatever about meeting the brief of the assignment. Sunny October day, the light was harsher then I'd  like for this time of year.  A few days previously, a different shoot, covering most the same ground, but more pleasing light - and photos - you can my post of it here !