#unitfourandtwentynine

[nathancutler]

Evaluation of Environmental Portraiture

To finish my project I decided to experiment with putting my final images in a newspaper type layout. I went onto Wikipedia to find some generic text about Brighton so that I could use this to show the images with writing. I have used a very simple lay out and font like may be in a newspaper. I think that they work well accompanied by text, as they are fairly simple photographs that aren’t too distracting.

I am especially happy with some of the photos I produced on my colour film for this project and feel that they work well as street portraits. I enjoyed approaching people and interacting with the public to take portraits. However I would like to redo this project at a later date and generate a stronger idea to bring my images together. I would like to continue to use 120 colour film and take portraits of different groups of people but have much more context and story presented with the photos. Instead of asking people on the street where I have to rush to take a photo I would also like to contact people and set a time to do a longer photo shoot. This would give me more time to talk to them and gather some back story then attempt to show this in the way I photograph them. 

[nathancutler]

Evaluation of Black and White Shoot and Plan for Ring Flash

I think that this shoot has gone well and I have produced well exposed negatives showing some characters from around Brighton. The images in this film all have a similar composition meaning they work well as a series. I have now done 2 medium format films so would like to experiment with a different way of working. After my experiments with lighting I feel that a ring flash would fit this work well. I have decided to a similar shoot, asking people in the street to take their photo, however this time I will use a ring flash. I would like to make image with the subject well exposed against a dark background in a low key style so will work at night.

[nathancutler]

Start of Still Life - Objects of Desire

To start my still life project I have decided to research a range of images made in the studio. There are 2 main ways of showing objects - Denotatively or Connotative.

Denotative is the standard pack shot used to show an object clearly and not convey much meaning about the subject. Connotative is where a range of ideas and messages are conveyed about the object. There are many methods used to convey meaning such as lighting, focus and positioning. Popular ideas in connotative still lifes include anxiety, death and desire.

Plan – To start my project I have decided to look at a range of different still life images and research the origins of the genre. I will create one connotative image with meaning and one denotative pack shot.

[nathancutler]

Environmental Portraiture – First Shoot Plan

To start my project I have decided to walk around the streets in Brighton and ask members of the public if I can take their portrait. I will shoot on both colour and black and white 120mm film. For the black and white film I will use a Mamiya giving me 6x7 images and for colour I will use a Yashica producing square 6x6 photos. I am keen to experiment with different methods before choosing how to want to make the main body of my work. This first shoot will hopefully make me feel my comfortable approaching people I don’t know to photograph them and also improve my portraiture skills. The only equipment needed for this shoot is film, camera and a light metre. 

[nathancutler]

Evaluation

I am happy with my work produced from these shoots. I think that the edit has helped bring out the light beams making the lights look more cinematic and less light standard street lights. I like how the different coloured lights works together.  The flash comes out a cold blue and the tungsten street lights give a warm yellow, these are complimentary colours so make each other stand out. Although I think some of the portrait images have worked well I am not sure whether to use them as I don’t know if the main photos need them. If I was to do this shoot again I think I would put more emphasis on the set up of the scene and use more furniture to push this idea further. I am happy with the with the work I have produced through this project and feel I have learnt about using external flash guns.

[nathancutler]

Idea and Work so far in Strange Environments

After looking back at the work that I have done so far in this project I have decided that I want to find interesting locations and then set up Gregory Crewdson style scenes in them. The common theme for these shoots will be taking furniture and indoor things outside; this will hopefully achieve the strange feel I want to capture. I will try and juxtapose the cold night time urban environment with objects associated with comfort. My main shots will look on from a distance with the model looking away from the camera to attempt to create a feeling of a real situation.

After looking at the work of Richard Billingham I had the idea of trying to remove the context of the situation with a close up portrait of the model. I want the portrait to not show any environment so it will look more normal I will then present the two images together and the work will be about context and situation. I think that this idea will be difficult to do but if it’s successful it will make really strong images that fit well with the project brief.

To continue with my work I will firstly do some research on portrait photographers in order to gain inspiration for my close up portraits and the plan different shoots. 

[nathancutler]

My Pinterest board showing inspirational images for Strange Environments 

[nathancutler]

Strange Environments – Shoot one planning

After researching the work of Gregory Crewdson I have decided to do my first shoot trying to find locations to photograph in. I wanted to do this at night so I could try and get the same dramatic lighting that Crewdson creates in his images. I first went to Stanmer Park and looked for different places to shoot in the woods but I didn’t feel this worked that well. I have decided to try the car park at the Marina as I feel this will have good artificial light while also being a strange environment.