Sunrise over the Red Sea

Sunrise over the Red Sea

I was lucky enough to spend New Year in Sharm el Sheikh,  and I am pleased that I made the effort to get out of bed to capture the sunrise.  

I planned my session over a number of days:  

• Identifying where the sun would rise
• Checking the time of the sun rise 
• Considering what I wanted to include in the image 

I practiced by taking some images at dusk.

I was generally pleased with the results, but would have faired better with a tripod.

ISO 250, f10, 1/60

ISO 250, f13, 1/320

ISO 250, f11, 1/250

ISO 250, f13, 1/250

ISO 250, f11, 1/250

Assignment 211: Presenting Photo Images - A Montage

Laughter Portraits

I wanted to practice my photoshop skills by creating a montage of my laughter portraits.

I had to decide the canvas side, and the orientation. I thought about creating a montage that had a random selection of different sized images but then I decided that the montage would look better if all of the images were black and white, and sized the same.

The skills used here were sizing of the image, working with multiple layers - and moving these around to create the symmetry.

A montage is a great way to present a selection of images that could be framed and presented as a gift for a family or friends.  

I need to do a little more work on my photo selection, and sizing - some of the images on the left hand side would lose a little of the image in framing, and here is the occasional line showing between the images.  So perhaps I will have another go!

Assignment 208: Location Photography: Research Theme 1: Personalities by Eve Arnold/ Magnum Photos

In this video Eve Arnold talks about her work - Eve demonstrates a great deal of respect for her models - this is particular evident in her work with Joan Crawford when she refused to publish images of Joan naked.

A common theme that comes through all of the portrait photographers that I have researched emphasise the relationship between them and their models.  It is very clear that portrait photography, good portrait photography, is about building a relationship that allows you to capture the essence of the person.

Assignment 208: Location Photography - Research Theme 2: Martin Parr [part 1]

The second of two videos talking about how Martin Parr works.

In this video he talks about not wanting to hide what he is doing - wandering around with a big camera, mounted with a flash.

Listening to Martin talk about the work within this video he is very fascinated with a suburban lifestyle he himself didn't experience growing up as a very middle class child.  He gives a sense that those scene's he is capturing are of people 'beneath' him - actually hearing Martin talk about his work has taken away the sense of fun, of laughing at you - not with you.

Assignment 208: Location Photography: Research Theme 2: Martin Parr [part 2]

This video is one of two exploring the work of Martin Parr.

Martin doesn't talk about how he has taken the picture, the equipment he used or how he engaged with his subjects.  What Martin does do is talk about his motivation for his work - the reason behind his projects - what he was trying to capture about the topic or subject.

He focuses on style and content - and many of his themes could almost be viewed as derogative about the way people live.

Assignment 208: Location Photography: Theme 1 Research - Steve Pyke MIND THE GAP - Steve Pyke

This video captures Steve Pyke talking about shooting using a Rollieflex camera - how it changes the relationship between you and the model.

I interested in his view of how much more intimate he felt this style of camera made the taking of a persons portrait.

He also talks about his work of capturing images of philosophers - how out of an hour's sitting only ten minutes it take up with photography - the rest is about building the rapport, relaxing the model and capturing a moment of compassion.

All of his portraits are naturally lit and his looking to capture a spontaneous moment created between him and the sitter.

Assignment 208: Location Photography - Final 10 Images - Theme1

Assignment 208: Location Photography

Final 10 Images - Theme 1

Portraits 

My first theme was centred around portraits of individuals in natural surroundings using natural light.  My work was inspired by images published by the likes of Eve Arnold, Steve Pyke and Jane Bowen.  The images had to be very tightly composed, with the focus being facial expression and texture, capturing something about that person that helps to identify and define them.

All of the images were taken during visits to the models homes, I would spend time setting up, showing them the equipment, explaining what I wanted to achieve and then just have a coffee, and talk - capturing images along the way.  None of the images were posed for.

I am pleased with the final ten images, but feel I still have room to develop in this genre - whilst I feel I have managed to keep the composition to my brief the images would have benefited from greater attention to the background, lighting and depth of field.  I also used flash more that I would like and would want to work on my low light techniques going forward.

All of the images were taken in colour and converted to black and white, with additional manipulation around colour saturation.

Boredom
ISO 200, f3, 1/125

This picture has made the final ten as it reminded me of Jane Bowens picture of Sinead O'Conner, with the cigarette behind the ear - and the expression captured conveys a sense of boredom and sadness that represents a lot of the youth today.  I like the grainy texture to this image which add depth, and the fact that he hasn't shaved that day adds to the whole sense of a lost youth.

Concentration
ISO 200, f3.5, 1/80

I chose this image because of the way in which the hair frames around the face,  you can also see the slight frown on what is an otherwise smooth clear complexion. I also liked the fact that it captured the tattoo in the wrist which reveals a little more about this person.

Despair
ISO 200, f3.5, 1/80

I like this image as I have managed to catch a defining moment for the model - she was very frustrated over her emails and getting them up and running was important as she was trying to buy something on line - this is the point that the email failed to send and her frustration boiled over - she has very dark hair and very pale smooth skin which creates lovely contrast - I like the fact that she is wearing a ring on her little finger as this again adds a dimension about this person that gives the picture additional interest.

Freedom
ISO 200, f3, 1/200

I've called this image freedom because it takes a certain amount of freedom to let a belly laugh go.  This is my brother-in-law and when he laughs it really does come from his belly - a true expression of joy.  This image reminded me of Jane Bowen's Mick Jagger - I can't remember what we talking about but something just made him throw his head back and howl with laughter and I was pleased that I managed to capture that moment.

Angel
ISO 200, f3, 1/80

I loved this image when I first saw it on the display on my camera, I was a bit disappointed that because of the shallow depth of field it wasn't in total sharp focus - but then I decided this added to the image - softness to the image adds an 'angelic look' to the child - and draws you into the important bit - the bright eyes.

Thinking
ISO 250, f3, 1/60

We were just talking about what it was like to cope with two younger brothers, what he was expecting for Christmas and his hobbies.  To begin with he was very shy and wouldn't look at me or towards me - so I was really pleased when I looked back and had captured this image of him looking directly at the camera - you still get a sense of shyness with the hand to the mouth - but the eyes convey a slight hint of a smile hiding behind that hand.

Relaxed
ISO 200, f3.5, 1/200

This is my sister - on the day of this shoot, although it was October, we were treated to a bit of sunshine so we did the shoot outside in the garden.  The sun had just broken through the clouds, she thought I was taking photo's of someone else - but I managed to capture this moment of her head turned towards the sun - looking to soak up those precious warm rays. 

Contemplation
ISO 200, f3, 1/13

I have chosen this image as it works with the concept of waiting for the person to make a gesture or strike a pose that helps you to capture something about them.  With this image I like the facial expression around the mouth and the fact that her face is resting on her clenched fist draws you to this.  There is a distinct difference between the soft texture of the hand and the slight graininess of the face that helps add interest.

Lived In
ISO 200, f3, 1/60

I love Steve's face - it has such texture, and he has great facial expressions.  This image and the last one remind me of the image taken by Steve Pyke of the war veteran.  As with Steve Pyke's image the texture in the skin, the lines and folds tell you something about this person.  The earring adds additional interest to the character.

Lived In II
ISO 200, f3.5, 1/80