Statement of Intent:
I aim to produce a portfolio demonstrating my ideas, development and manipulation of images in Photoshop based around the theme of Landscape. At the end of my exam preparation time, I wish to present an in depth analysis of photographers and use their work to influence my own.
For my initial research I will start by looking at Studnia Miodu as they particularly relate to my work as she takes images of great varied landscapes. I chose another photographer who relates more to Anglesey his name is Simon Kitchin he produces amazing final outcomes of Anglesey images. He utilises the use of manipulation and I aspire to manipulate my images to such a level.
When I chose this theme, my initial thoughts were the sea lapping gently and to contrast this violently against sandy shores and rocks this is why we chose to go to Anglesey, however we strive for a contrast so soon later after we planned a trip to London. The contrast in environment was also multiplied by the time we went, for Anglesey we went in February whereas we went to London in July.
I wish to experiment with many techniques for this project. For example, I am going to alter my shutter speed to get a range of close-ups on different locations. I wish to also refine my skills with my white balance and aperture to see what affect that has with the different natural lighting. I also wish to experiment with the water and how I can get natural reflections from the water.
To show progression and contrast I will start ,as previously stated, at a rural landscape in Anglesey and then will move to London and show man made beauty. However I don't feel like that this solely is enough and so I shall wish to go out to more locations for example; Manchester and Salford Quays to capture more urbanised landscapes and the Lake District to capture more rural landscapes.
This project will take me a year to produce for my portfolio, I aim to complete my initial research within the first few weeks so that I can focus on photographing for this portfolio in order to show progression. I wish to finish before the year time constraint so that I can focus on the manipulation of these images.
As my project progresses I will use Photoshop to manipulate images furthering my grade and taking
For my initial research I will start by looking at Studnia Miodu as they particularly relate to my work as she takes images of great varied landscapes. I chose another photographer who relates more to Anglesey his name is Simon Kitchin he produces amazing final outcomes of Anglesey images. He utilises the use of manipulation and I aspire to manipulate my images to such a level.
When I chose this theme, my initial thoughts were the sea lapping gently and to contrast this violently against sandy shores and rocks this is why we chose to go to Anglesey, however we strive for a contrast so soon later after we planned a trip to London. The contrast in environment was also multiplied by the time we went, for Anglesey we went in February whereas we went to London in July.
I wish to experiment with many techniques for this project. For example, I am going to alter my shutter speed to get a range of close-ups on different locations. I wish to also refine my skills with my white balance and aperture to see what affect that has with the different natural lighting. I also wish to experiment with the water and how I can get natural reflections from the water.
To show progression and contrast I will start ,as previously stated, at a rural landscape in Anglesey and then will move to London and show man made beauty. However I don't feel like that this solely is enough and so I shall wish to go out to more locations for example; Manchester and Salford Quays to capture more urbanised landscapes and the Lake District to capture more rural landscapes.
This project will take me a year to produce for my portfolio, I aim to complete my initial research within the first few weeks so that I can focus on photographing for this portfolio in order to show progression. I wish to finish before the year time constraint so that I can focus on the manipulation of these images.
As my project progresses I will use Photoshop to manipulate images furthering my grade and taking
Picture Analysis:
Llandwyn island twr mwr lighthouse~Adam Burton
In this image the photographer has captured a light house and a calm sea. The picture depicts a seaside landscape in which there is a contrast of sandy dunes and grasslands. The composition of the image positions the light house on a "sweet spot" so that the viewer's eyes are drawn to it instantly (a sweet spot is when one of the horizontal lines and one of the vertical lines meet when talking about the rule of three grid). The photographer has used a large depth of field he has done this to enhance every corner of the picture, so that everything in shot is in focus. The image was taken on Llandwyn island, Anglesey, Wale. I believe that the image was taken to show the contrast a natural landscape can have. This connects with my work as my project of landscapes as I also wish to take pictures of a rural landscape. Overall I like this image but personally I would have used a lower depth of field to focus on the purpose of the image.
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Battersea power station~Andrew Verdie
In this image Andrew Verdie has captured a power station which is polluting the air being breathed in by the rest of London. Verdie is clearly showcasing that the poisonous fumes is suffocating society's views on industrialisation. The photographer has positioned the factory in the centre of the rule of thirds and has later manipulated the image in photoshop to make it black and white to give it an earlier generation feel. The photographer has made the factory take up the foreground whilst the sky is in the background. I believe the image was taken to educate people on the harsh conditions people may have had to work. It connects to my landscape portfolio as I would like to give my images an authentic feel.
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After the Bomb~Len Grant
The image shows a man labouring around steel pipes dangling in the air whereas the scene behind him is a picturesque background. Len Grant has positioned the man underneath a tall building. The composition of the picture makes us feel sorry for the man who has to work as he is struggling to bring prosperity back from the wreckage. However in my opinion I dislike this photo as it doesn't use many techniques nor appeal to me much as well as the the colors seem to fairly saturated with a lack of rich detail as well as I find it hard to link this to my theme of Landscapes as we cannot really capture a picture like this in the current period.
To improve this photo I would capture the same shot in the landscape orientation and a wide angle lens to capture more of the scene showing more buildings and without the man in the middle being there also I would capture it just before sunset for more of a dramatic lighting effect. |
Mind Map for Anglesey:
Anglesey:
People Within the Landscape:
Best: |
Worst: |
Water:
Sea, Sky and Rocks:
Nature:
Sunset:
Peculiar:
Texture:
Best: |
Worst: |
Best Images:
Manipulation:
Winter Wonderland:
Trees:
Flowers:
Human:
Linking paragraph:
As part of my landscape portfolio, I partook in a trip to Anglesey in February. The conditions for photography were good, due to the winter dew and the soft lighting, this means that we would use a fast shutter speed and a low aperture to enhance our images. In Anglesey, we could capture natural beauty. To contrast this we will being going to London in the summer this meant we were in under a very harsh light so we would be at risk of over exposing our images because of this we had to take precautions for example a fast shutter speed and a high aperture and changes in white balance. The differences in the landscape ,I believe, were enhanced by the suitable weather conditions. The camera was set to manual so we can quickly correct our shutter speed and our aperture to produce better outcomes. Personally I believe that Anglesey will be better than London as Anglesey was a residential allowing me to get a wider embankment of images.
Fairies, London Fields~ Nick Waplington
This London-based image is clearly taken at a communal event. It transforms the little children (at the front of the image) into fairies. This effect is enhanced by the composition particularly the lighting effects. The bleached background make us focus upon the focal point which in this case is the little children it also helps reinforce the idea of the children being angelic. The trees in the background help break up the vivid imagery this changes the overall effect of the image but still helps reinforce the idea of fairy like children inhabiting a forest. Nick Waplington is well known for taking photographs for things he has experienced first hand. I believe he has taken not only this picture but many like it to chronicle life in East London. A lot of his images are exhibited in galleries and so may explain as to why he chooses to highlight East London. This picture does connect to my work as I like the overall message which I believe to be 'No matter how industrialized a city may be we can always find the natural beauty within it.' I believe that this idea is reinforced by the tower in the background which distorts the magical light emitted from the background. I like this image because I think it portrays the modern 21st century excellently. However if I were to criticise it I would say that the depth of field is too large and should be shortened to highlight the focal point of this image.
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London:
Architecture:
The British Museum
Tate Modern:
Borough Markets
This picture was taken by Studnia Miodu. The picture was taken in Borough Markets. It contains an in depth insight into the structural features of the markets, I definitely would like to take a picture like this as I like the compositional techniques Miodu has used.The colour in the picture highlights the structural features. The compisitional techniques the photographer has used is the rule of thirds in which it highlights many features due to them landing on 'sweet spots' this sweet spot falls on the man holding the carrier bag which directly contrast against the dark concrete. They also use a deep depth of field so that the foreground and the background is in focus. There is a clear vanishing point in the rafters of the building, where the picture suddenly is to bleached this is due to the depth of field not reaching that point in the picture. The white balance is perfect and I feel like the photographer uses the sunny setting to counter the harsh summer sun.The shrubbery helps break up the darkened background and helps lead into the green bars and the rafters.I like this image and it will inspire my work as it evidently as my theme of Borough Market can be easily conveyed as we are planning to visit the markets. In my opinion I feel like their is no under laying message to this image. I do really like this image as the picture captures the hidden beauty of the Markets. However I feel like the image would've looked better if it was taken when more people were there, on the other hand there is a chance that more people would ruin the picture as it may mess with the shutter speed and aperture. Contextually I feel like the photographer took the picture to just show the busy, beautiful Victorian marketplace.
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People:
Skyline:
St Paul's:
Inside St Paul's:
Travel:
My best images:
Manchester:
Our journey:
Our journey to Manchester started with a tram journey from Old Trafford to Deansgate-Castlefield. We then walked down the canal and stopped near a hotel to take a range of pictures. Afterwards we walked down through the town centre passing places like the Museum of Science and Industry following our route to the Opera House. We approached the John Ryland's Library and used the opportunity to capture images of the picturesque stained glass windows we then moved down to the Royal Exchange Theatre. We then decided to go to market street and took some pictures of the Christmas markets and used the tram to get back to school.
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Light:
Architecture:
Skyline:
My best images:
Images from personal trips:
The Lake District:
Stretford and Salford Quays:
Lyme Park:
Manipulation:
From now on I wish to manipulate my images by making the background black and white and highlighting a certain splash of colour. I shall be using all images I have collected so far. Inspired by Nicolas Goodden
Furthering my manipulation:
Using these two images I created multiple outcomes:
I accomplished this by manipulating the layers, opacity, colour and the images used.
Using these three images I created multiple outcomes:
Following the rejuvenation of the Salford Quays area of 1982 many organisations decided to move to the area like the BBC, ITV and recently the poppies to commemorate the centenary of World War 1 the poppies were originally placed in London however were moved to Salford Quays outside the Imperial War Museum. This was a big factor when I decided to venture out to the Quays I felt compelled to take these pictures.
Using this image:
I made many outcomes:
First I screenshotted a section of the image and manipulated it:
First I screenshotted a section of the image and manipulated it:
From this point I realised that I lost my screenshots of the process so I shall explain it:
I created a new canvas. and moved my cropped image into one of the corners.
I then rotated it so it was a mirror opposite of the image and flipped these two images so that their were two of the same images underneath it.
I then rearranged which bits were black and white.
I created a new canvas. and moved my cropped image into one of the corners.
I then rotated it so it was a mirror opposite of the image and flipped these two images so that their were two of the same images underneath it.
I then rearranged which bits were black and white.
Using this image:
I cropped the photo to this section;
I then created this by using the same steps as before:
Changing the canvas size and copying and pasting the image several times:
I then decided to overlay this onto the original image and the original section I cropped out:
Manipulation:
Manipulation:
My Final Portfolio:
Evaluation:
The project theme was landscapes and I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed taking the photographs and the process of manipulation as I explored the new tools I could use with an upgraded version of Photoshop I really enjoyed the patterns I started to create towards the end of the project. I would like to develop my overall outcomes further and carry onto improve my skills at manipulation. During this project I researched Simon Kitchin and Studnia Miodu and they influenced heavily the pictures I took as I wished to recreate the images that they had taken. Throughout the project I experienced very little problems and the problems that I did experience were easily fixed by adjusting the camera settings. An example of this could be if I used f11 for my aperture and the picture came over exposed so adjusting this to f7.2 would make it less exposed. If I were to re-do my project I would only change one thing and this is to take more pictures when I went to different places this would help improve my number of outcomes.