A2 Photography Exam

A2 Photography Blog / Max Searl / Spring 2016 / Plymouth College of Art

[a2photography]

Set 2

[a2photography]

Set 1

[a2photography]

Chosen Images

During the exam, I will be editing and presenting one photograph on a large scale. I will be producing an HDR through Photoshop, using the photographs from the most recent shoot on Dartmoor. I have chosen from this shoot because I personally feel that the shoot takes inspiration from all three artists I’ve looked at, Jared Fowler, William Blake and Nick White. Furthermore, due to the red tint in the sky, the photographs have a kick to them, compared to my photographs from previous shoots. It is the added touch of colour, which separates this shoot, from the darker, more overcast shoots. For the final image, I wanted it to be the best image from the entire project, which when printed can be compared to previous shoots, with the latest shoot shone above the rest.

The images from the shoot that I will be choosing is a series of three photos, that will be turned into a HDR.  There will be two sets of images from the shoot which I will bring with me into the exam, both focus upon the telegraph pole on top of the tor, with the mist behind. I have chosen two sets of images, because in the exam I can develop the both sets into a HDR, constantly comparing the two HDR’s before finalising on one before I print large scale. I will print both HDR’s off before at 6”x4” and annotate and critique the images before increasing the scale for the final print. I will need to ensure that the final image is presented and completed to a high standard before I send it to print. The two sets of images are shown in the next blog post.

As you can see with the images, one is under exposed, one is exposed correctly and one is over exposed. This is purposefully done in order to create the HDR, as with more information imbedded within the photograph to select areas of highlight and shadow. This means that I have more control when manipulating the selected areas of the photograph. I will be editing both photographs in the exam, comparing and contrasting the two, as well as my images compared to Jared Fowlers.

[a2photography]

Photography A2 Project Proposal

Stage 1:

For this Photography project, the working theme will be ‘Sublime’. Throughout the project, I will be using the word ‘Sublime’ as a stimuli for the work I will be producing, while exploring areas of photography that relate to the word sublime. During this project, the creative outcome will be bleak landscape shots of Dartmoor and the surrounding area. Dartmoor is considered an area of outstanding beauty, which seems fitting with the stimuli word.

In the Oxford English Dictionary, the word sublime is described as;

Adjective 1. Of very great excellence or beauty: ‘Mozart’s sublime piano concertos’ (as noun the sublime) ‘experiences that ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous

1.1 Producing an overwhelming sense of awe or other high emotion through being vast or grand: (as noun the sublime) ‘a sense of the sublime

From the dictionary reference I will be looking at the vast beauty of Dartmoor. I plan to take bleak, desolate photographs of the moorland, yet make it look beautiful in its own way.

Stage 2:

The two main influences for my project will be photographer Jared Fowler alongside poet and painter William Blake. I will be using Fowler as a visual reference, being influenced by his photographic style meanwhile take reference from William Blake. Blake will inform the landscape and how I portray the landscape through my photography.

Stage 3:

Throughout this project I will be working digitally, taking the photos on a digital camera, and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop. However, the photo will heavily rely on the time of day and the weather on that day. A dark overcast day will be better suited compared to a bright sunny day. Another factor will be the camera settings; The photo will have to be correctly exposed, taking into consideration both the light sky and the darker ground.

Stage 4:

For this project, I will produce a written evaluation during the 15-hour exam, which will be at the end of the project. I will critically analyse my project, highlighting the successful areas of my project, and also discussing the areas that weren’t so successful, analysing how I could improve upon them.

[a2photography]

Project Time Plan

Week 1 – 03/02/16 -  Research – In the first week I will start the underlying basis of my artist research. I will be looking into the artists processed, techniques and styles, and begin to dissect and critique the artists work. All of the work undertaken in this project will be presented in my blog.

Week 2-  10/02/16 - Research – Building upon the first week of research, I will continue to research into a second contemporary artist, following the same process of analysing the techniques, processes and styles of the artist.

Week 3 – 17/02/16 - Research – Completing my artist research, I will now begin to look at contextual research, researching areas of landscape photography that will have benefit project, or themes that have a connection or link to my potential outcome.

Week 4 –  24/02/16 - Research – Continuing research, I should be looking into a more contextual understanding, researching into techniques and wider artists as well as photographers.

Week 5 – 02/03/16 – Research – Completing research, I will be ensuring I have looked at a variety of artists, as well as techniques and contextual understanding. All of this written research will be presented on my blog.

Week 6 – 09/03/16 – Practical Work – This week not only marks half way through the exam, but also will be the week I start my practical work. Over the course of the next 4 weeks, I will conduct multiple shoots exploring techniques used by the artists I have previously researched.

Week 7 – 16/03/16 – Practical Work – Over the course of this project, I am aiming to conduct as many shoots as possible. This not only shows a sense of progression, but also understanding as I can critically reflect upon the previous shoot, highlighting areas that need improvement.

Week 8 – 23/03/16 Practical Work – Throughout the weeks of practical work, I will be producing contact sheets of the shoot, and posting them to the blog. Having every picture from the shoot in a concise format I can critically analysis successful images.

Week 9 – 30/03/16 – Practical Work – I will be critically comparing my work to those of the artists I have researched at the beginning of my project.  

Week 10 – 06/04/16 – Practical Work – Responding to the critical analysis, I will then aim to improve my practical work by assessing the critical writing from my previous shoot, and implementing the analysis into the next shoot. I will also begin to edit previous shoots, breaking down the editing process and posting a step by step guide to my blog.

Week 11 – 13/04/16 – Practical Work – Completing the practical work, all of the images will be posted to my blog, where critical comparisons between myself and the chosen artist will be presented via written analysis.

Week 12 – 20/04/16 – Exam Preparation – Throughout this week, I will be preparing for the 15 hour exam. I will be re-reading my blog, checking for mistakes and correcting prior to entering the exam.

[a2photography]

Jared Fowler

Jared Fowler will be the main influence for my photography project; Living in Australia, Fowler takes breath taking bold landscapes with muted tones. The photographs appear to have the colour bleached leaving a simple monotone image of beautiful landscapes.

The simplicity and minimalistic feel to Jared Fowlers photography is easy to see from the start. The bold and breath taking landscapes are captured with muted tones portraying a cold and lifeless feel to them. Based in Brisbane Australia, Fowlers work has been given a lot of interest on the internet, with his work being posted on websites such as Bēhance, Pinterest and Tumblr.

Jared Fowler ‘Moreton Bay’ (2013)

One major factor that is vital to the success of Fowler’s work is the weather. Looking at his bold and powerful landscapes, the weather is most often overcast, pulling the colour out of his photograph giving the aesthetically pleasing muted tone. This is the one major element of his work that I want to draw influence from. In order to achieve the same look, I will need to keep a close eye on the weather forecast and pick suitable days for taking the perfect overcast photograph. The ideal time to take the photograph is just after it has rained, the clouds will still be dark and grey, with very little break between the clouds.

Another major factor in achieving the same aesthetic as Jared Fowler is picking the right location. Through his work, he often chooses seascapes or open land, such as grass plains and moorland. In relation to accessible locations to my disposal, there is a large area of coastland being situated in the south west of England. Furthermore, there is Dartmoor National Park with is a half hour drive, giving me a completely different setting in contrast to the seascapes.

Jared Fowler, ‘Snowy Mountains Aus.’ (2014)

[a2photography]

Technical Photography

The major deciding factor to achieve the desired final aesthetic as photographer Jared Fowler will be the weather, however there will be some technical elements that will help to achieve the coveted style.

For any landscape image, a must is to use a tripod to steady the photograph. Using the tripod also allows the photographer to reduce the shutter speed; this in turn allows the photographer to expose for the sky and the ground, in two separate images yet keeping the landscape in the exact same point in the frame. This process is called Hyper Dynamic Range (HDR) and allows the photographer to expose for two highly contrasting areas in the same image such as the bright sky, and the darker ground. The minimum amount of photos to take a HDR is three; The first image should be under-exposed by one stop, the second image exposed correctly and the final image should be over-exposed by one stop. Putting that into more technical numbers, if the correct exposure for a landscape is f/16, two other photos should be taken at f/8, one stop-under exposed and f/22, one stop over exposed.

Bellissima Photography ‘Three Bracketed Images’ (2012)

Bellissima Photography  ‘In-Camera generated HDR image’ (2012)

The example of HDR above was undertaken by Bellissima Photography in a central London church and clearly displays the ability of a HDR. The final, out of camera HDR image should retain the detail from both the bright stain glass windows as well as the darker walls. The same process can be replicated with landscapes, which aim is to retain detail in both clouds and land. HDR requires heavy post production work, necessary to combine sections of the three images to make the final HDR image.

Another option to retaining detail in both clouds and land is to use a Neutral Density (ND) filter. These filters are able to clip on over the front of the lens, and feature half of the filter one to four stops under-exposed than the clear glass that makes up the other part of the filter. Using a neutral density filter lessens the amount of post production that will take place after the image is taken, compared to the time consuming HDR images that feature heavy post production processes.

Digital Camera World, ‘Slide on Neutral Density Filter’ (2015)

Just like a HDR image, the Neutral Density filter allows the photographer to expose the photograph for both the bright sky and the darker ground. In the image below, it is evident to see the use of the ND filter. Before the use of an ND filter, the sky is very over exposed, with no colour let alone detail visible in the sky. However with the use of an ND filter, the sky shows the bold punchy blue alongside some small detail of cloud. The one major perk of using an ND filter is it allows the photographer to expose for both the sky and the ground in one image. Post production can still be used for colour correction and minor adjustments in exposure, however it has dramatically reduced the amount of time spend in post production.

What Digital Camera, ‘Example of an image with no ND filter and the same image with an ND filter’ (2010)

[a2photography]

Camera Settings

There are certain settings that are used in landscape photography that enables the user to capture a sharp and clean image. The first and most important factor is using a small aperture such as f/22 f/32 and even f/64. Using such a small aperture means that there is a greater plane of focus compared to a large aperture of f/1.4 or f/1 which has a small plane of focus. This has a much greater use because it means a larger area of the picture will be in focus, and for a landscape, it is important that everything is in focus. With the whole picture in focus, important subjects in both the foreground and background will be sharp and in focus.

However, using a small aperture has its set backs; Because the diameter of the aperture blades are much smaller, it is naturally going to let in less light when using an aperture of f/22. Looking at the diagram below, an aperture or f/22 is much smaller than f/2.8 therefore the photographer is going to have to use a much longer shutter speed to allow the same amount of light onto the sensor to expose the photograph correctly. Shutter speeds of 30 seconds and even a minute can be used when using an aperture of f/22 to allow the correct amount of light into the sensor which then naturally causes another problem which is stability.

Art Book, ‘Depth of field is the sharpest part of the image whether that is focusing on a small area due to a smaller f number or the whole area due to larger f number’  (2014)

When using a long shutter speed of 30 seconds, it is important to keep the camera in a fixed position in order to reduce motion blur. In any landscape shot, and tripod is essential to keep the movement to a minimum. A stable shot is necessary to achieve the image with sharp focus across the whole image.

Furthermore, important settings such as ISO will be subject to change, depending of the light quality of the day. Because my images will be taken on a overcast day, there is a likelihood that the ISO will be set to either 400 or 800. These two settings will give the correct amount of light onto the sensor with the relevant settings I mentioned earlier.

[a2photography]

Compare and Contrast between Jared Fowler and Nicholas White

The photographic aesthetic between Australian photographer Jared Fowler and British born photographer Nicholas White are very similar despite the distance between which they work. White is a recent graduate from Plymouth College or Art, graduating in 2013 and has since become one of the leading landscape photographers in the UK recently commended in Landscape Photographer of the Year in 2015.

Both photographers demonstrate high technical skills within their photography, being able to define the saturated colour between the sky and the ground, leaving the sky bleak and grey, yet retaining colour in the ground. Not only do the both photographers have similarities of the colour within their images, but they also compose their photographs similarly. Both have the main focal point of the image directly in the centre of the frame, using another subject to lead the viewers eye to the central subject using leading lines.

Jared Fowler, Untitled (Ile Du Nord) (2013)

In Fowlers image (above) he used the horizontal line of the breaking wave to lead the viewers eye to the central subject of the trees, meanwhile in White’s photograph (below) he used the tracks in the ground to lead the eye to the misty flag in the centre of the image. Both of the images are balanced by the horizon, which in Fowlers image is perfectly straight in contrast to White’s image which used the brow of the hill as the horizon.

Nicholas White, Untitled (The militarisation of Dartmoor) (2013)

Another aesthetic which is similar to both images is a slight mystical sense; with the muted tones and bleak skies, the photographs has an eeriness and decollate feel to them. This is one aspect that I would like to replicate which my own practical work. I would like my images to feel lonely and isolated in the wilderness, with very little signs of civilisation nearby. Like Nicholas White, I will be using Dartmoor as a location, with is close proximity to where I live, combined with its natural beauty and drastic weather, it should make the perfect location to achieve a similar aesthetic to both Jared Fowler and Nicholas White.

[a2photography]

Test Shoot. 17th February 2016

These photographs were taken as part of a test shoot on 17th February 2016 for my working project on ‘Sublime’. My first impression of the shoot is a success, with the images achieving the desired aesthetic of the grey saturated skies and the muted tones on the ground. From the contact sheets you can grasp the idea that the weather was almost ideal for the desired outcome and the sky was mainly overcast with heavy cloud.

Later looking back at the photos, there were some adjustments that I will need to correct. First of all, in the future I will need to shoot in RAW format instead of JPEG, which was the case for the test shoot. Shooting in RAW means that the file retains more detail in both the highlights and the shadow, which can help in post production work on programs such as Photoshop. Secondly, I will need to shoot in a smaller aperture to give a wider plane of focus, thus increasing the depth of field. This in turn will lower my shutter speed; For the test shoot I was on average shooting at f/8 with a shutter speed of  1/160 of a second. More traditionally for a landscape, the photographer would be shooting at f/22 and 1/15 of a second to gain the maximum depth of field.

This was the first shoot, and despite the technical errors, the compositional side of my photography was a success, using both Jared Fowler and Nicholas White as influences to achieve the desired aesthetic.

[a2photography]

Comparison between my work and the work of Jared Fowler.

For a test shoot, I believe that my work was successful, however that are major areas for improvement. Firstly, one main area to perfect is the camera settings; the camera settings that I used produced reasonable images, however there are some changes that I can make to improve the photos. One starting point can be the aperture, which in the test shoot I used f/8 but by taking the aperture to f/22 it will increase the focal plane, insuring everything will be in focus. Secondly by reducing the aperture, I will need to lower the shutter speed. Again in the test shoot I was using a shutter speed of 1/160 of a second, but by lowering it to 1/15 or even 1/4 of a second it will allow me to use a smaller aperture.

Jared Fowler - Snowy Mountains Aus.  (2014)

My Photograph, ‘Dartmoor’, (2016)

Looking into Fowlers image further, you can detect the use of a small aperture via the range of focus. Everything from the snowy foreground to the ridgeline in the background is sharp and in focus. Further details such as the blurring of clouds suggests a slow shutter speed which is often used with small apertures. This is compared to my image with the clouds displaying strong outlines. Moreover, the focus in the image isn’t 100% perfect. The foreground is relatively sharp, however further inspection into the tor and one can see the ridgeline is soft and slightly out of focus. One major change will be in camera settings for the next shoot, making the aperture smaller and the shutter speed longer.

Comparing the image of Fowler to that of mine, the secondly thing that you notice is the lack tonal quality in the compared to that of Fowlers. There is the ability to gain tonal via the use of a neutral density filter, which I will use in later shoots. The neutral density filter will not only add tone to the image but also reduce colour saturation.  The clouds in my image are very close in colour, almost producing one block of grey in the sky, however with the use of a neutral density filter, there will be more variation in colour.

Further looking at formal elements, one similar comparison is the use of line within the photograph. Both image have the increase of line in the centre of the image, the image a natural focal point. One thing I could improve with my image is to move further to the right before taking the image. This would give the image more of a downward slope on the right more similar to the of Jared Fowler.

Jared Fowler, Ile Du Nord, (2013)

To experiment within the project, one variation I could make is the location on which I shoot. In the previous test shoot, I conducted the shoot on Dartmoor National Park in England, however to vary the images I could conduct a shoot at the coast. This will give the image another focal point yet an option to maintain the mundane colour such as Fowlers image above. The beauty of his photography is that the colour repeats itself; firstly, the sky blends closely with the sea, yet the strip of dark blue ocean is the defining line between the two. Then secondly, the moss green can be seen in the foreground as well as on the isolated island which is the main focal point with the photograph.

To conclude, I believe my test shoot was a success, yet there are many places to improve. The technical side of photography can be perfected using the correct setting such as the longer shutter speed and smaller aperture. Colour and tone can be redressed with a neutral density filter and finally experimentation can take place with the variation in location, which will naturally occur as I conduct more photographic shoots.

[a2photography]

Thomas Heaton Landscape Photography

Thomas Heaton is a professional photographer who runs a photographic based YouTube channel under his name. The channel consists of video log style videos where he discussed the aim, settings and outcomes from his landscape shoots he conducts. The videos he produces have become a great asset to myself as while on location, he explains his camera setting, suggestions and evaluates an images on why or why he isn’t taking a photo. There are a couple of his videos that have enabled me to learn about how a neutral density filter works alongside other information such as ideal shooting time, composition tips and how to expose properly, such as the one below.

Although Heaton produces an image that is different to my desired outcome, his videos further discuss HDR and how to bracket the photographs, exposing one stop above and one stop below the ideal exposure. The videos have helped myself visualise the possibilities of how I can use the techniques he demonstrates and related them to the images I wish to produce. Furthermore, watching the video has enabled me to see how the equipment is use which cuts down on the amount of time I will spend trying to learn how to use the equipment.

Thomas Heaton ‘Untitled’ (2015)

In the video featured above, Heaton discussed how to compose; The image you see above features leading lines, and a main focal point which is the lake. The river leads from the bottom of the image to sparse lake in the middle of the picture.

The videos that Thomas Heaton has produced have been a great insight and a help into understanding landscape photography more. They have given me a practical viewpoint on how to manage natural lighting situations and given me tips on what to look out for when I go and conduct a practical photoshoot.

[a2photography]

William Blake

William Blake a was poet, engraver and painter born in London in 1757. Mainly known for his progressive poetry, Blake also undertook painting landscapes in watercolour in his spare time. His watercolours were often quickly painted; he was working around the same time as Turner and Constable, who were both experimenting with new expressive ways of using colour and paint. Much like his poetry, Blake used his work to describe the sublime countryside of Felpham, where he spent a part of his life. His watercolours often depict the grandness and beauty of the English countryside, with some of his watercolours reflecting his poems such as ‘The New Jerusalem’. The opening stanza for ‘The New Jerusalem’ is;

And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen?

The natural English countryside can also be seen in his painting entitled ‘Landscape near Felpham’ c.1800. Although using a muted colour pallet, Blake as still be able to capture the quaint village nestled in the shadow of England’s mountain’s he describes in New Jerusalem. You can make out the faint outlines of the mountains and the ploughed fields, both of which are covered in a light blue wash almost like mist. Although over 200 years apart, comparisons can be made between the watercolours of William Blake and the photographs by Jared Fowler. Both show the natural countryside in a washout and bleak tone; Blake never adds a great deal of colour to his landscapes meanwhile Fowler selected the correct weather conditions to have a minimal amount of colour in his photographs.

William Blake ‘Landscape near Felpham’ c.1800

Jared Fowler, ‘Snowy Mountains Aus’ 2013

This example can be applied to Fowler’s photograph above; There is minimal colour portrayed in his photograph, only minor tonal differences in the clouds, and a small thin line of muddy brown sweeping across the horizon. Similarly, the vast majority of Blake’s watercolour has small tonal changes in the background between washed blues, and a larger block of black in the foreground. The lack of colour in Blake’s watercolour suggests a foggy element, with poor visibility.

Jared Fowler, ‘Maria Island’ 2013

William Blake, ‘A Wooded Landscape’ Unknown

Furthermore, comparisons can be made between subject matter. Both artists focus upon their natural surroundings, removing all evidence of life from their artwork. Neither artist shows any motion in their work, from people to animals. This means that the main focal point in their work is natural life, including tree’s, rolling hills and bold mountain peaks.

To conclude, area’s that I need to draw upon from both artists includes focusing upon the natural habit and selecting a time for muted colour. Typically, lighting for natural photography works best in ‘golden hour’ which is the time of day where the sun rises and sets. This produces a horizontal light that will either be behind the camera or in front of the camera, that gives a gentle glow to the image. It will be important that I choose the subject carefully and select the right spot to have a strong focal subject.

[a2photography]

Bantham Contact Sheet

[a2photography]

Bantham Shoot Analysis

Reflecting on the recent shoot at Bantham Beach, there are positives and also negatives to reflect upon. Building upon the moorland test, composition is again a strong aspect of the shoot; throughout the shoot I was highlighting multiple focal points that would give a main focal to an image. Focal points such as leading lines to the horizon which is commonly seen in the work of Jared Fowler.

My Photography, ‘Bantham’ 2016

Jared Fowler, ‘Moreton Bay’ 2013

Comparing the two images above, in compositional terms there are similarities. Firstly, there are leading lines that lead to the focal point which is situated on the horizon; In my image (top), the sandy pathway leads the viewers eyes to the focal point which is the white house on top of the hill. The house is on the horizon which is the main focal point and is positioned with the frame to draw the viewers eye from the foreground to the house, using the path as a device to draw the viewer through the image. This is reflected in Fowlers image, which in comparison, uses the river to draw the viewers eye to the mountains on the horizon.

There is however, still a few areas on which to improve my image. One major factor to take into consideration is the weather; the weather is Jared Fowlers images are often moody and overcast with thick dark cloud lining the sky. On the day of the shoot, the forecast predicted overcast weather, however it turned out to be a fairly nice day with clear skies. In the coming shoots, I should look at the weather class closer, working the out the ideal time of day to conduct the shoot, taking into consideration the time of day as well as weather conditions. 

[a2photography]

Dartmoor, 19th March 2016

This was the second shoot I conducted, and reflecting upon the shoot, it was much more successful than the photographic shoot at Bantham and the original test shoot. The first point is that the weather during the shoot was overcast and dark. Furthermore, I chose to conduct the shoot at 7:30 in the morning, just as day broke. This means that the light is lower in the sky, coming from one angle compared to shooting during the middle of the day where the sun would be situated high in the sky. Moreover, from looking at the weather forecast, shooting in the morning gives the weather less time to break as a clear skies, if the weather predicts an overcast day.

Overall I am very pleased with the outcome of the shoot, I personally believe the shoot has surpassed my pervious work, and is much more comparable to the work to Jared Fowler. 

[a2photography]

Evaluation so far.

Currently in my project, I believe that I have a strong set of images that are influenced by both Jared Fowler and William Blake. However I personally believe that I don’t have one set of images that stand out above the rest. For my final piece I’m looking for an impactful image, that incorporate the compositional styles, as well as similar techniques and finesse as Fowler.

The current images I have are of a good standard, but I want to capture an image that has impact. This is why for my next shoot, I am going to conduct it before sunrise. Therefore, I can capture the golden hour, where light is coming form a horizontal angle. Golden hour creates a soft red light, which if mixed with low lying cloud or mist which is often found on Dartmoor, could create a beautiful picture.

I am also going to go back to the same stop at the original shoot, as I felt the large telegraph mast creates a great focal point within the image. More over I will experiment with composition and positioning, trying different combinations with the mast in the centre of the frame, or over the third line.