Without (shoot 7)- Work record

Basic information:
Date: 19/04/17
Location: My house, London, Harlow
Camera used: Fujifilm Instax mini
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014 
Camera settings: N/A

Plans for shoot:
For this shoot may aim is to remove myself from images which I have taken by editing the images in Photoshop CC 2014 by using the mask tool.  I have decided to remove myself from Instant film images due to their connotations of memories.

What I hope to achieve:
In this shoot I hope to achieve a series of images which explore my identity as a photographer and the influence which my presence has in the images that I am in my editing myself out of images which I have taken and am in.

I will be using bright pastel colours in this series to block myself out using the mask tool as I feel that these bright colours will help to symbolise my personal identity as a bright and bubbly person as well as reinforcing the identity of youth which I fall into due to the fact that pastels are colours traditionally associated with youth and childhood.
Outcome of shoot:
I was relatively happy with the outcome of this shoot as I achieved what I set out to in that I blocked myself out of a series of images and therefore demonstrated my absence and the effect that this had on the image.  I feel however that there may have been better ways of doing this for example by taking two images one with me in and one without me in in order to convey the same message.

Progression:
I feel that I will not be revisiting this technique in my exam due to the fact that I wish to carry out more collage based shoots however I may experiment with colour blocking in the sense of collage based colouring.  

If I were to revisit this technique I would experiment with ways to improve the smoothness of the line in each image.  I would also choose images where I am posed more dynamically as in several images I appear as a coloured blob and not a human shape.
Favourite image:

This is my favourite image from the series due to the fact that I am positioned slightly further away from the camera than I am in others and therefore have a more discernibly human shape.  This shape gives the image more meaning and helps it's message of personal identity to be better conveyed.

Denotation: This is an image of myself and a friend in which I have removed myself from the image by masking the area which I wished to colour in and carefully filling in my silhouette with a purple brush tool.  The image was shot on Instant film.  The purple colourisation here compliments the other cool tones in the image such as black and beige however it bright enough that it stands out against the more muted tones featured in the image.

Connotation: This image carries connotations of removal of identity.  I chose to use purple in this image due to the fact that it is my favourite colour and is therefore a large part of my identity.  The use of Instant film suggests a theme of memory and nostalgia throughout the shoot which is important as the shoot as a whole is intended as an examination of personal identity and what is more personal than a memory.

Context: This image was designed to symbolise my personal identity as a photographer and focus on the way that I fit into my images as well as the way that I fit into events with my friends and how my absence would alter them.

Least favourite image:

This image is my least favourite image because my silhouette here resembles a E.T or a miscellaneous blob opposed  to a person.  I feel that this detracts from the symbolism of the image and project as a whole and also feel that the green colourisation here does not compliment the image.

Denotation: The above image shows my face covered using the mask tool in order to show how a photo of myself and my friend is altered through my removal.  The colour I have used to block myself out is green which provides an interesting element of contrast with the red of my friends jacket.  I have shot this image using Instant film.

Connotation: The Instant film used creates a sense of nostalgia and channels the idea of memory which is significant in this shoot as I was focused on the way that self can be displayed in photography and a persons memory is a large part of their self identity.  The bright green used here provides childlike connotations to the image due to the garish brightness of the green.

Context: This image was designed to symbolise my personal identity as a photographer and focus on the way that I fit into my images as well as the way that I fit into events with my friends and how my absence would alter them.

Family (shoot 6)- Contact sheet

Easter family (shoot 6)- Work record

Basic information:
Date: 16/04/17
Location:Devon
Camera used: Nikon D5300
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014 
Camera settings: 1/125, F6.3, ISO 125

Plans for shoot:
In this shoot I will be documenting the more traditional aspects of Easter with my family.

What I hope to achieve:
I hope to achieve a documentary series using black and white photography in order to better convey the idea of traditionalism and memories associated with family gatherings.

I feel that the use of black and white photography will create a somewhat more sombre series to contrast with friends as I feel that people have different versions of themselves that the show to both family and friends.

Outcome of shoot:
I feel that this shoot was successful as I was able to achieve various strong images and feel that my final images tell a story however I also feel that I would be happier not carrying out a solely black and white shoot again.

Progression:
In the future I would like to work with this style of documentary photography again however I feel that coloured photography is more appropriate for my exam concept of youth culture.
Favourite image:

This is my favourite image as it uses a shallow depth of field to focus on the subject helping her to stand out against the rest of the image.  The fact that the subject is looking directly into the camera also appeals to me as it allows the viewer to gain a more emotive connection to the subject.

Denotation: A shallow depth of field is used her to draw focus to the subject.  Focus can also be seen through the way that the subject is positioned in the centre third of the image as this helots to draw the viewers eye to her.  The viewers eye is also drawn to the subject as a result of the strong tonal contrast present in the image created by the high contrast black and white colourisation.

Connotation: The rural imagery carries connotations of calm and rural Britain.  This adds to the theme of tradition throughout the shoot.  The fact that the subject is holding a glass carries connotations of festivity and happiness.

Context: This image is focused around my family and personal identity from that aspect of my life.

Least favourite image:

This image is my least favourite image due to the fact that the ducks are not clearly recognisable in the image.  This makes the images subject unclear to the viewer.

Denotation: The above image uses high contrast black and white colorisation in order to create an eye catching image due to the tonal contrast present.  The image has been shot in landscape orientation and is absent of an apparent subject.

Connotation: The rubber ducks floating in the river carry connotations of Easter and fun however they are not very easily visible due to their size and the lens used on my camera.

Context: This image is focused around my family and personal identity from that aspect of my life.

Portfolio

Easter friends (shoot 5)- Work record

Basic information:
Date: 13/04/17
Location: My House
Camera used: Nikon D5300
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014 
Camera settings: 1/125, f9, ISO 250

Plans for shoot:
In this shoot I will be shooting images throughout a day with my friends themed around an Easter egg hunt.  My aim for this shoot is to focus on the vibrance of youth.

What I hope to achieve:
I hope to achieve symbolism surrounding the vibrance of youth through merging colour and documentary techniques of Martin Parr and the style of David Shama.

I hope that by focusing on recording my own friends I will be able to convey a better understanding of youth as they will be calm and happy around my camera allowing the realities of youth to be conveyed opposed to the rebellious cold front often shown to society.

Outcome of shoot:
I was happy with the outcome of this shoot as it realistically portrayed youth and showed spontaneity and happiness through the content of the images.

I also like the way that cell phone culture is referenced in this series due and the importance of social media can be seen through the way that phones are used instead of socialising directly.  This is important to recognise as it is an important part of teen culture.

Progression:
In the future I would like to explore this style of photography whilst incorporating further techniques of collage and scrapbooking to create a more in depth analysis of the day.


Favourite image:

This is my favourite image as it showcases fashion of the time adding a sense of date context to the image.  I also feel that the subjects makeup does this well and these aspects show identity well.

Denotation: There is a shallow depth of field in this image which draws focus to the subject this is added to by her positioning in the centre of the image.  The vibrant and saturated colorisation makes the image appear striking and bold helping it to stand out to the viewer.

Connotation: The bright coloration of the image helps to convey the idea of joy and happiness found in youth.  The subjects expression shows the playful and competitive aspect of youth today.  The Easter egg alludes to childhood as well as showcasing a merging of cultures as Easter egg hunts are a largely American tradition.

Context: This image is focused around my friends and personal identity from the aspect of friendship.

Least favourite image:

This image is my least favourite image as I feel that it does not fit the theme of youth as well as the other images due to the absence of youth in the image.

Denotation: The above image features Easter eggs arranged on the floor the bright colours of the egg and increased saturation of the image make it appear bold and eye catching.

Connotation: The bright colours used carry connotations of youth happiness and summer whilst the egg is symbolic of Easter.

Context: This image is focused around my friends and personal identity from the aspect of friendship.

Life (shoot 1)- Work record

Basic information:
Date: 23/02/17
Location: Brixton, London, Harlow
Camera used: Fujifilm Instax mini
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014 
Camera settings: N/A

Plans for shoot:
In this shoot I will be focusing on the use of Instant film photography as a means of documenting a day out.  I will not be gathering souvenirs such as tickets as I wish to solely focus on the images captured on the day.

What I hope to achieve:
I hope to experiment with a different medium of photography through the use of Instant film this will challenge me to be creative with my lighting and framing as polaroid cameras have a fixed aperture and film cannot be edited post shoot.  I feel that Instant film is suitable for this project as a scrap book should be unaltered and unedited.  I also feel that this film will give the final image a nostalgic feel as polaroids were typically used for scrap booking in the past.

Outcome of shoot:
I was relatively happy with the outcome of this shoot due to the fact that I feel that I succeeded in capturing events in my life in an effective way.  I feel however that my documentary provides a somewhat warped view of my life due to the fact that I only focused on the more interesting days in my week opposed to my week as a whole.

Progression:
If I were to revisit this shoot I would consider adding items from the event that I attended in order to add more variety to my collage.  I would also consider experimenting with different sizes of instant film as I believe this would give my image a more engaging appearance.

I would also consider shooting my entire collage on one day instead of attempting to focus on more than one day per series.  I feel that this provides a more truthful look at my life as it shows one exciting day opposed to numerous consecutive fun days which were in reality not consecutive.

Favourite image:

This is my favourite collage form the series due to the fact that I liked the effect created as a result of the white space surrounding the images.  This use of white background gives the composite a similar appearance to some of Dash Snow's work.

Denotation: This is a composite image which is focused around a night out a gig in Brixton.  The Instant film varies in dimensions from landscape to portrait which gives the image as a whole a more uniform and fine art appearance.  The images are all well tied together as a result of the lighting used of the characteristic dark background with blown out colours as a result of the close range flash of an Instant film camera.

Connotation: The darkness of the image suggests that youth are rebellious as does the consumption of alcohol in one of the images.  An interest in music can be inferred from the gig setting as well as the image of the David Bowie memorial wall.  The gig poster provides a information as to where the images have been taken.  The use of Instant film provides a sense of nostalgia in the image.

Context: This image is based around the desire to remember the nights of out youth and times with our friends.

Least favourite image:

This is my least favourite image as whilst it has some strong images in it it does not fit as well together as the other set of images which I took.

Denotation: The above composite was shot around Harlow and features the things that I did in a day.  The images were shot on Instant film.

Connotation: The Instant film used creates a sense of nostalgia as this kind of composition with images is associated with scrapbooking and Instant film is a more historic form of photography.  The images all carry connotations of childhood and friendship with iconography such as bubble mixture which is a traditionally childish pass time.

Context: This image is based around the desire to remember the times of our youth that we sometimes forget but are the most important in reality.

Shoot plan- Exam

Interim Evaluation

I feel that my preparatory shoots have been successful due to the way that they have all been focused around the concept of Self Identity.  This linking concept allows them to fit into the exam brief of connected images.  I have also explored the concept of connected images through analysing artists work whom feature composite photography such as Dash Snow and Patrick Winfield.  I feel that my largest influence in regard to self expression would be David Shama due to the way that he focuses on a group of people in his shoots such as “7Eleven” enabling the viewer to form an emotive connection to the subjects of the shoot.  This connection is important to me as I want my final shoots to be about self indemnity of youth as a collective and to do this I will be involving my subjects in the personalisation of some of my images in order to better convey their personalities to the viewer.

In my preparatory shoots I have learnt about different mediums of photography such as Instant film and digital photography and the connotations associated with both forms of photography.  I have also focused on when it is appropriate to use certain forms of photography in relation to the need to alter image on Photoshop CC 2014 or to illustrate a certain tone as an Instant film image will generally have a standard form of colourisation of appearing bright and blown out at close range but dark in any distanced shadows as a result of the fixed aperture on most Instant film cameras.  However a digital camera is easier to alter settings on meaning that more diverse images can be created.  Digital images are also easier to effectively alter in editing programmes meaning they are more effective in a heavily edited piece.

I will be focusing on the use of collage techniques in my exam shoots as I feel that this allows for a great deal of personal expression in my photography as it allows for the subjects of my image to have input into the personalisation process of the images.  I will be shooting both in the studio using my experience in lighting techniques from Component 1 and also shooting externally using my documentary shoots from Component 2.  I feel that this blend of locations will best demonstrate my intentions of displaying personal identity.

Collage (shoot 4)- Work record

Basic information:
Date: 11/04/17
Location: Harlow Town Centre, My House
Camera used: Fugifilm Instax Wide Shot, Fujifilm Instax mini
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014 
Camera settings: 3m-Infintity, 0.9-3m

Plans for shoot:
In this shoot I will be shooting images throughout a day out and collating them in a scrap book format along with other items that I have collected over the day such as bus tickets and receipts.

What I hope to achieve:
In this shoot I hope to portray a day in my life to the viewer and therefore create a personal piece in my project.

I feel that this will be most clear demonstrated through the use of Instant film as it provides a more raw and unfiltered image allowing the viewer to see what was actually happening in the image opposed to a reconstructed version of events that is so commonly seen in modern society as a result of social media and world wide sharing.  This is due to the fact that due to our massive outreach everything has become a competition of who can have the best clothes or the most exciting day when in reality all that really matters is the memories and who you make them with.

Outcome of shoot:
I am extremely happy with the outcome of this shoot and feel that it was successful due to the fact that I captured several strong individual images.  I have found this to be important as the images are what tells the story in the piece and without them the message of the piece would not be clear.  

I feel that the final composite could have been improved by being on a larger scale but for this I would have had to organise a bigger gathering which I feel may have deducted from the unplanned appearance of the shoot and removed part of the meaning behind it of spontaneity of youth.
Progression:If I were to create a similar shoot to this again I would be interested in exploring the identity of youth as a whole as well as just my interpretation of youth and feel that this would be best translated in separate shoots.  I would like to further explore collage in my final project as it is a medium which interests me.

Favourite image:

This is my favourite collage form the series as I like the messy effect captured by the chaotic placement of the images and souvenirs.  I feel that this placement creates conveys the chaos of youth successfully making the piece more impactful.  I also like the way that this layout allows more images to fit onto the piece.

Denotation: This is a composite collage of various images and souvenirs taken throughout the day.  There is a high level of contrast in this image created by the blend of dark and shadowed Instant film images and the light background the images are arranged on.  This contrast is eye catching to the viewer and makes the images stand out and be easily seen.

Connotation: The bright coloration in the collage conveys the idea of happiness and youthful excitement to the viewer whilst the large amounts of white in the image create imagery of the purity of childhood.  The plaster in the image suggests carelessness and an aspect of adventure.  The use of instant film shows a sense of nostalgia for childhood and makes the viewer reminisce due to the fact that Instant film is often used for scrapbooking.  Instant film is also interesting to work with due to the fact that it is harder to effectively manipulate in editing programmes meaning that the final image is often truer to the actual events than is sometimes the case with digital photography.

Context: This image has a context of the desire to remember even the more mundane days in our lives and to value the important things like friendship as you are only young once.

Least favourite image:

This image is my least favourite image as a result of the fact that it is much more uniform than the previous image meaning that it lacks the essence of spontaneity of youth.

Denotation: The above image features a selection pictures and souvenirs gathered and taken over the course of the day.  The image has a regimented shape making it clear to see what is going on in each image.

Connotation: The Instant film used creates a sense of nostalgia due to the fact that this kind of composition with images is associated with scrapbooking and Instant film is a more historic form of photography.

Context: This image has a context of the desire to remember even the more mundane days in our lives and to value the important things like friendship as you are only young once.

I am... (Shoot 2)- Work record

Basic information:
Date: 11/03/17
Location: Studio
Camera used: Nikon D5300
Editing program: Photoshop CC 2014 
Camera settings: 1/125, f8, ISO 200

Plans for shoot:
In this shoot I will be focused on portrait photography and ways to explore peoples personal identity.  I plan to overlay font in my images during the photoshop process featuring one word that the subject feels describes them.

What I hope to achieve:
In this shoot I will be focusing on the way text can be used to convey personal identity in an image.  I will be experimenting with studio shoots and allowing the subjects of my image to choose the background colour which they wish to be presented with an attempt to enhance the personalisation of the image.

Outcome of shoot:
This shoot was overall successful as I found that the technique I used of placing a layer of font of the background layer of the image and then reducing it's opacity allowed for an interesting element of contrast to be present in the image.  I feel that the use of a darker background for this shoot worked best as it made the decreased saturation in the image around the world more striking and evident.  

Progression:
I feel that this shoot was successful overall as it conveyed the personal feelings of the subjects in a successful way however I believe that it may be more effective to gain a sense of personalisation through having the subjects physically alter an image.  For this reason in the coming weeks I plan to experiment with the use of Instant film photography as this will allow the subject to alter the images themselves.

Favourite image:

This is my favourite image due to the high level of contrast found between the areas of the subject covered with text and the layers without text.  This is particularly striking in this image as areas of the subject are in black and white where there is not text.

Denotation: This image features the text "Star" overlaid over an image of the subject who is posed in a dramatic way that evokes the mentality of a star this is important as it ties together the image and the text.  The dark background creates a nice sense of contrast between the subjects saturated areas crated by the text and the black and white areas without text.

Connotation: This image carries connotations of self identity and removal of gender roles in society as the subject is male and wearing lipstick as well as posing dramatically.  This is interesting as it is accepted in the current generation as a cultural norm however older generations may find this behaviour anti-masculine and odd.

Context: This images context is that of self expression of the subject and the way that the convey their identity through words and expressions.

Least favourite image:

This image is my least favourite image due to the way that the images saturation has not been decreased to a point of black and white and the fact that the text of "hyper" does not seem to fit well with the dark background of the image.

Denotation: The image features the subject with the words "hyper" overlaid over her with an energetic expression on her face.  The image is very dark and whist a good layer of contrast is created it is not as effective as the other images from this series.

Connotation: The dark colouration of the background here carries connotations of sadness and depression which contrasts heavily with the message of happiness and energy that is being converted through the subjects expression and text.  The phrase "hyper" conveys the idea of youthfulness and energy.

Context: This images context is that of self expression of the subject and the way that the convey their identity through words and expressions.