AO1 Contextual Understanding
'Develop their ideas through sustained and focsued investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstarting analytical and critical understanding'
Mind Map
Idea Sheets
For my final piece, I planned on having a circus tent in the centre, a merry-go-round behind the circus on the left, and a few council blocks on the right in the background to make it look like something realistic. After taking all of the photos, I realised that the merry-go-round was the most interesting thing in the picture, and so I should try and draw more attention towards it. So instead, I placed the merry-go-round at the front on the left, with the tent slightly behind it in the centre, with the council blocks still on the right in the background. Also, by doing this I am creating a more interesting composition.
Mauren Brodbeck- Artist Research
To make my photos in the style of Mauren Brodbeck, I used photoshop. I used the polygonal tool to highlight the sections of the photo I wanted to change, then painted it a redish colour, which I chose as I wanted it similar to the tree on the right. Then to add the shade, I made a layer where the red's opacity is less, so I could see the outline of which areas would be darker and lighter. Then I painted in the lighter parts a lighter red, and the darker parts a darker red. I also had to spend a lot of time going around the bush in the bottom left corner, as there are lots of different parts to go around.
Evaluating a Photographer's Work
This photograph is of a man with an abnormality, which clearly is that he is much taller and bigger than most people. He is standing up in a room, with his parents on the side looking up at him. It was taken in what looks like a family home, as there are pictures on the wall, and the room looks quite cosy, and his parents are there. I think it might have been taken in the 1930's or 1940's, as the fashion seems typical of that time. I think this photograph represents how hard it is for people with extreme abnormalities to live normal lives, and how they might try to hide away from the rest of society. This could be because the photograph is taken at an angle that makes him look like he is standing is a corner, at the very edge of the room. Also because you can see the floor and ceiling, I think it emphasises and exaggerates how big he is, by showing he can barely fit in an average sized room, and is crouching down with a cane because of it. His mother looks up at him, whilst his dad looks quite awkward, as if he is trying to avoid eye contact, maybe because he is ashamed or embarrassed of his son, which could be how a lot of people react towards people with abnormalities. The photograph is from Diane Arbus's 'Deviant and Marginal People' work, so I think this idea might have been based on circus people, as well as the obvious, giants. This is because people might pay a lot of money to see someone so big, which would make the person feel like a 'freak', like they belong in a circus.
The photo is completely in black and white, which is only because of the time it was taken in. However, I think the grey in the photograph connotes how gloomy that time was, and maybe how the 'giant' man feels, and that he is tired of being a 'freak'. The corners of the photos are black and slightly blurred. I think this is done because it makes it seem like a spot light is one him, which is maybe what would happen at the circus, or shows how much unwanted attention he gets. I don't think any of the rules of composition are obvious, although the black at the corners makes it look like the photograph is framed by a circular object. I think this photograph is very spontaneous as nothing looks too planned out, and nothing looks like it really needed planning out as there isn't anything to difficult to photograph. By both of his parents looking towards him, your attention is drawn to him, as well as the fact that his body takes up a lot of the room in the photograph. There are quite a few different patterns in the photograph, like on her dress, the furniture and the curtains, which I think just reflects the fashion of that time.
The photograph was taken inside, which makes it difficult to tell what time of day it is as the curtains are drawn. However, the curtains might be drawn because it is late so it might be dark outside. The room seems to be lit by the lamps in the room, or behind the camera, focusing more on the tall man. Although there are many different light/lamps in the room, I can only make out that the light behind the main subject is on, which draws attention to him. Because it is such a small light, I think there was probably more light, but behind the camera. I don't think that the photograph has been manipulated or distorted in any way. Also I don't think that Diane Arbus would manipulate very much, as she said that her aim was to capture the 'truth'.
This photograph makes me feel quite gloomy and depressed. I think this because of all the murky lighting and black and white colours, as well as the fact that it is taken of a man with abnormalities. This creates sympathy for him, and almost puts you in his shoes. The theme of the photograph, being 'circus freaks' definitely makes you sympathise for the subjects, and gives you an insight on how they live, and what reactions they get, and how they try to hide away. This shows their abnormality affects their whole lives, even though its probably not their fault they are the way they are, which would get sympathy from most people. Also, most people would look away and try not to stare at people with abnormalities, but if its in a photograph you are almost forced and allowed to look, which makes you understand more about them, and what they go through.
The photo is completely in black and white, which is only because of the time it was taken in. However, I think the grey in the photograph connotes how gloomy that time was, and maybe how the 'giant' man feels, and that he is tired of being a 'freak'. The corners of the photos are black and slightly blurred. I think this is done because it makes it seem like a spot light is one him, which is maybe what would happen at the circus, or shows how much unwanted attention he gets. I don't think any of the rules of composition are obvious, although the black at the corners makes it look like the photograph is framed by a circular object. I think this photograph is very spontaneous as nothing looks too planned out, and nothing looks like it really needed planning out as there isn't anything to difficult to photograph. By both of his parents looking towards him, your attention is drawn to him, as well as the fact that his body takes up a lot of the room in the photograph. There are quite a few different patterns in the photograph, like on her dress, the furniture and the curtains, which I think just reflects the fashion of that time.
The photograph was taken inside, which makes it difficult to tell what time of day it is as the curtains are drawn. However, the curtains might be drawn because it is late so it might be dark outside. The room seems to be lit by the lamps in the room, or behind the camera, focusing more on the tall man. Although there are many different light/lamps in the room, I can only make out that the light behind the main subject is on, which draws attention to him. Because it is such a small light, I think there was probably more light, but behind the camera. I don't think that the photograph has been manipulated or distorted in any way. Also I don't think that Diane Arbus would manipulate very much, as she said that her aim was to capture the 'truth'.
This photograph makes me feel quite gloomy and depressed. I think this because of all the murky lighting and black and white colours, as well as the fact that it is taken of a man with abnormalities. This creates sympathy for him, and almost puts you in his shoes. The theme of the photograph, being 'circus freaks' definitely makes you sympathise for the subjects, and gives you an insight on how they live, and what reactions they get, and how they try to hide away. This shows their abnormality affects their whole lives, even though its probably not their fault they are the way they are, which would get sympathy from most people. Also, most people would look away and try not to stare at people with abnormalities, but if its in a photograph you are almost forced and allowed to look, which makes you understand more about them, and what they go through.
Eugene Atget & Diane Arbus
Both photographers relate to my theme, 'that's entertainment', but in different ways. Diane Arbus shows more of a depressing side of a circus, focusing on people who are different, and are called 'freaks', whereas Eugene Atget shows more of the fun things that create excitement. Although both are very different, looking at their work has inspired me and given me more ideas for my final piece. I plan to include some of the more dark sides of a circus, which was explored more by looking at Diane Arbus's work.
My work in Eugene Atget's Style
This is my artist replication of Eugene Atget's work. Looking through his photos, I think they look like the effect, sepia. When doing my own artist replication, I decided to use my steam fair photos, as they look similar to the ones by Atget. Then on photoshop, I made the first two monochrome, then put the photo effect, 'sepia' on them. I like this effect a lot, and think by giving the photos an yellowish tint it makes them look a lot older. I like the top right one best, as I think the way I captured the movement by using a slow shutter speed well, and that makes the photo look more interesting. I also think by capturing the movement it represents how alive a fun fair is, and how exciting the rides can be. This contrasts with Atget style, as it looks very old fashioned ad simple.
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Will Pearson- Rule Of Thirds
AO2 Creative Making
'Experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops'
Experimentation
For this experimentation, the main thing I wanted to do was practice adding rain over photos, that I have taken when it wasn't raining. Each of the photos are different photos photoshopped onto different backgrounds. Then I added 'noise', and used motion blur to make the noise look at an angle as if it were raining. I think this worked quite well, and looks like rain which was useful practice for the final piece, and seeing if it would look realistic.
Introduction
Six Rules of Photography Composition
Filling the FrameFilling the frame is when you fill the frame with your subject, making it draw your attention. It is a way to focus on the main subject, as well as keeping out unwanted distractions.
Vantage PointVantage point is a way of making a photograph more interesting. It is done by taking the photo at a drastically different angle (vantage point), like crouching down on the ground, or climbing something for a higher angle.
Use of LineUse of lines is when a photo includes lines, which helps lead the eye through a photograph, and are used to suggest a mood. A horizontal line adds stillness and balance, a vertical line adds stability and tranquility and a diagonal line adds movement and action. The lines should point to the most important object, so it draws your attention there.
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Framing the SubjectFraming the subject is a way to draw attention around the subject, and compose the photo using natural or man made frames. Also, using a frame that links to the subject adds interest for the viewer.
Depth of FieldDepth of field is how much of the photograph is in focus. If a photo has narrow depth of field, it means only a small amount of the photo is in focus. Whereas, if the photo had a large depth of field, that would mean that a large amount of the photo is in focus.
Rule of ThirdsRule of thirds is a guideline you can use when composing a photo. The photo divides into thirds horizontally and vertically, and you try to align parts of the photo within the thirds. Using rule of thirds, it adds a lot more interest to the photo, and can make it much more aesthetically pleasing.
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Long Exposure
To take a photo using long exposure, you have to ensure that the camera is set to a long shutter speed to capture all of the movement and let in enough light, put it on self-timer so that you can avoid camera jog, also use a tripod to avoid camera jog, and have a light source. This makes the camera record where the light moves in focus, whilst the shutter is open, and so you see everywhere the light moved clearly.
Long Exposure-Richmond Photo shoot
ISO
ISO is the sensitivity of the film, and how much light is needed to expose the film. It used to be called the 'speed of film'. We describe the ISO by saying either 'grain', 'lossy', 'noise' or 'resolution'. All of these words mean similar things, however 'grain' and 'resolution' are used to describe how fine the photo is, and 'lossy' and 'noise' are how blurred the photo is. The ISO at 1600 is what is normally used for newspaper images, or sport photography, as there is a lot of light so theres a quick shutter speed. The photos come out grainy. However, when the ISO is at 60, a lot of light is needed but the photos come out with no so much grain, so you get a better photo with a higher resolution.
Exposure Compensation
+_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _|_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ -
Photo is brighter Photo is darker
Exposure Compensation is used when there is bad lighting conditions, or to bring out certain colours.
Photo is brighter Photo is darker
Exposure Compensation is used when there is bad lighting conditions, or to bring out certain colours.
Program Modes
AO3 Reflective Recording
'Record in visual and/or other forms ideas, observations, and insights relevant to intentions demonstrating an ability to reflect on work and progress'
Steam Fair Photoshoot
Location: White Waltham Berkshire
I went to the fair after finding out about it online, and saw that it was old fashioned, and much like a fun fair. For my final piece I need a merry-go-round, and I knew they would have one here. Also I thought it would be good inspiration for my 'that's entertainment' theme.
Camden Photoshoot
Location: Stables Yard, Camden
I went to Camden as I have been there before and knew that part of it is in an old stable, where there are lots of horse statues. I thought this would be useful as on the 'merry-go-round' I was planning on having some horses trying to escape from it, however I then changed the idea.
Buckingham Palace Photoshoot
Location: Buckingham Palace
I went here as in front of the circus I plan on having a gate surrounding it, showing it is dangerous. However, I am not going to use these gates as they are too elegant.
Circus Tent Photoshoot
Location: Wembley
I researched the circus online, and saw that the actual tent was quite close to what I wanted in my final piece. I only needed photos of the outside of the tent, however I could only really take photos from one angle to fit the whole tent in the frame. I found out about the circus a day before, so the day I went for the photoshoot was the last day, so I couldn't see it open.
AO4 Personal Presentation
'Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements'
Final Piece
Process
Evaluation
I feel I have learnt a lot throughout the course of the landscape unit. One thing that went well was planning my final piece, and having a clear image in mind of how I want it to look. The idea sheets really helped, as did the brainstorm I started with. I chose a few themes from the brainstorm and combined them to come up with the circus. If I were to do the landscape unit again, I would probably decide to do more than one final piece. This is because trying to put so many different objects into one final piece proved difficult, and so if I done it again, maybe I would have separate final pieces with a few things to do with a circus in them each. I think my photography skills have developed by using photoshop. I have learnt many things, for example, making it look like it's raining when it isn't, layering images over each other so that they look like their in the same place, and how to take landscape photos where everything is in focus. When planning out my final piece, my idea developed and changed a lot, but I think it looks like how I planned out in the end.