Location Contrast 2 Work Diary

Evaluation

This particular session of location contrast was very much on the natural side rather than man made. I found differences in texture of plant, for example, or differences between the colour of flowers. One of my favourite images, however, was the photograph showing the contrasts and differences between a man made and a natural ground. This difference is shown by a very clear line, which is one of the formal elements.

The second photograph shows the contrast between the colour and tone of these leaves. This photograph is particularly good in my opinion due to the sharpness shown within the leaves, as well as the clear difference shown. This is the photograph: 

Progression:

Although it was a nice change to take photographs of mostly only natural contrasts in my second location contrast shoot, I think this decision made all the pictures look very similar, due to the lack of man made objects. So if I was given the opportunity to go out and shoot location contrast once more, I would definitely include more man made objects, and less natural objects, and try and find a balance between them. An example of a photograph that has two man made objects comparing to each other is by Ellie. 

Location Contrast 2 Straight Images

Top Forty Photographs

David Bailey

The fifth photographer that I will be analysing in greater detail is David Bailey. In this detailed log, I will be writing about who David Bailey is, what style of photography he uses, why I have chosen him, what it is about his photography that I like, and how his work relates to any of the formal elements commonly used by photographers. This photographer is famous for his portraits of famous people, both black and white and coloured (though almost always black and white). The first photograph of his that I saw was this portrait, taken from a very slight high angle and is black and white. I liked this photograph because of the use of shadow's across his face (which is also use of the one of the formal elements, form).

A second photograph by David Bailey that I like was a portrait of a man wearing a coat with a fur hood. I liked this photograph especially due to the use of the formal element of texture found within the fur hood. The photograph has been taken at such an angle that allows the texture of the hood to be noticeable, which is a good way to take a professional photograph due to the fact that texture is one of the formal elements used by every photographer to be able to describe what is shown within their photograph.

 The third photograph that I liked was also a portrait, but this time it portrays two people instead of just one. This photograph in particular includes specifically one of the formal elements that I identified straight away. This formal element is contrast. The contrasts that can be identified within this portrait is the contrast between male and female, between their skin colour, and the contrast between the emotions of the two people in the photograph. Due to this, I find this photograph works quite effectively in terms of how professional it looks.

The final photograph by David Bailey is probably one of my favourite photographs by him. It includes the formal element of tone, which is effective due to the fact that the viewer is able to identify colour through a black and white photograph. The portrait also features the formal element of texture, which is used to allow us to be reminded of what an object or person feels like, making the picture seem more realistic.

David Bailey has influenced me to not be apprehensive about taking photographs of people, due to the closeness in which he gets to the people. I also have taken to how the use of black and white photographs can actually be more effective in terms of portraying emotion, rather than using colours. Another influence from David Bailey is the fact that he includes texture in his portraits, which I think works well. An example of a photograph which shows that I have gotten closer to people without fear of invading their personal space is from my Mapplethorpe location shoot. This photograph of my classmate, Keir, is similar to the work of David Bailey due to the detail that can be seen in his skin and hair. Here is the photograph:

To summarise, David Bailey is a photographer that specialises in portraits, particularly of famous celebrities. He manages to capture emotion, and many of the formal elements in his portraits, such as texture, contrast and tone. All of the images I've seen of him are similar in the aspect that they all have blank, white background, which I also think works well, for the viewer is made to focus on the people and not be distracted.                                                              

Extended Mapplethorpe Notes (With Illustrations)

From the Internet:

Name: Robert Mapplethorpe

Born: 4th November 1946

Died: 9th March 1989 (aged 43)
Attended the Pratt Institute

He was born in New York

He died from AIDS.

He is known for his black and white portraits

He mainly sold his portraits to the rich
The homoeroticism of this work fuelled a national debate over the public funding of controversial artwork.
He was influenced by artists such as Joseph Cornell and Marcel Duchamp
He moved into Chelsea Hotel with Patti Smith in 1970
In the same year, he acquired a polaroid camera so that he could incorporate his own photographs into collages, saying he felt that way was more "honest".

From the Video:

He controversially documented Manhattan's gay community in the 60's and 70's.

Brought up Catholic

At sixteen, he moved to Brooklyn because of the lack of excitement in the place that he was brought up in

He was known to have had a close relationship with famous artist Andy Warhol

Many portraits of celebrities were taken by him.

His work has been described to be "A statement about how we're living"

He described some of his work as pornography, for he was attempting to arouse the viewer, but it could also be seen as high art.
Mapplethorpe began his photography using polaroids
His first portrait was of Patti Smith
Mapplethorpe's work became 'respectable' due to the fact that he decreased his photographing of what could be labelled as pornography, and focused on classical work.

He took many self portraits:

Here are examples of the celebrities that he took photographs of:

Multiple Imagery Work Diary

Evaluation

Multiple Imagery was perhaps one of the most bizarre shots that I took part in, simply because I wasn't entirely aware of what would be the result of all of the photographs. However, during the eventual editing of the photographs, I realised what it was I was creating, and had a lot more of an idea of what could be made from my photographs. Below is the final image I made, which consists of the many different angles of a tree.

Progression

If I were to go out and shoot multiple imagery again, I would definitely have more of an idea of what I would be taking photographs of, and therefore would be able to take a lot more photographs than I had in actuality. I may even take the time to redo it simply because of the lack of variety within my photographs. An example of multiple imagery that I found particularly inspiring was by George, who took a photograph of his hand in various locations. I think this technique is rather clever, and I would try to do something similar if I did the session again.

Studio Contrast 2 Work Diary

Evaluation

I was given advice ever since the last studio contrast shoot as to what could count as contrast and what doesn't count as contrast, so I was lucky that I was given another chance to capture it. For example, in the photograph below, I showed the contrast between the emotions between two of my photography classmates.

Another example of a photograph that I captured the contrast of in the second time of being in the studio was the contrast between male and female. This is evident through the use of showing their full face. I used curves and lines to make the photograph look brighter, due to the fact that it came out slightly dark without editing. The below photograph is the result of this editing:

Progression:

If I was given yet another chance to take photographs of contrast, I think I would try and change the background and use more of a variety of people. An example of what I could have taken a photograph of is the contrast between the colour of clothing, or the contrast between young and old, or even the contrast between violence and calmness. Here is a photograph taken by George, showing the contrast in colour of clothing, which I would aspire to do if given the chance to do a third shoot of studio contrast.