Work diary - depth of field

Evaluation;

 During this shoot the focus was purely on how we could manipulate our cameras in different ways to have an outcome of shallow and deep depth of fields. This shoot was very technical and more about the way we did this rather than the content of the picture which I found to be helpful as it allowed room for experimentation and also meant that it was one less thing to focus on so we could get a handle on how to master these techniques. I think that this shoot actually was very successful as although we had worked on depth of field before it wasn't actually something that I understood fully. I think that my shoots for a shallow depth of field turned out better as I was more experimental with these as it was out of the two the one I found to be more interesting and have a better end result. 

This picture is my favorite from the shallow depth of field shoot due to the way that the tree is so in focus and you can see the texture so well, this makes the blurred background so much more bold, the contrasting tones in this picture also make me like it more, it makes both elements stick out, almost like a yin-yang effect.

This picture I also like this picture from the shallow depth of field shoot because it has the texture and the boldness of the subject but also has leads your eye in a curve to the background that is out of focus, the picture also seems to lead from dark colours and get lighter and lighter as it goes up which I think is adding an extra dimension to the picture.

Idea development;

This shoot has helped me to develop skills in using the depth of field to make a picture that much better, I definitely enjoyed doing the shallow depth of field shooting and would love to develop this on a level with maybe portraiture and also maybe incorporating the idea of animation with this maybe causing the background to go blurred whilst the person stays in focus.

Depth of field technique page

Depth of field is a term used to discuss the depth that a picture has, whether there is a lot of background in focus or not would be the simple way of describing it.  I will split this into two sections, how to shoot a shallow depth of field and how to shoot a deep depth of field.

Shallow;

Firstly to get a nice picture with a shallow depth of field we must place our subject in front of a background that will look nice when out of focus, however you must be a distance away from it or it will stay in focus. Before shooting our camera must be set up correctly so that we get the best results, we must change both the aperture and the zoom length. We want to set the aperture to as low a number as we can, so the depth of field is much shallower.  Then we need to go on and choose a zoom length that will make our subject in focus and our background out of focus, therefore we must set this at around the number 28/100/300, depending on the focal length you choose will mean how far away or close to your subject you will be standing, then we are ready to shoot, for my work I used a focal length of 300 because I wasn’t far away enough from my subject that I could get a nice balance between the background and them. You will then have a picture with a shallow depth of field; I found that portraits worked very well for this, as can be seen in my work elsewhere on the blog.

Deep;

Firstly for a deep depth of field photograph you need to choose what you want to shoot, and you must carefully think about the background because it will be very clear in these pictures, you want something where there is background that is far away so it looks deep also though. We will then need to change the settings on the camera again like with the shallow depth of field, however the aperture that we want for this type of photograph means that we want a higher number so the aperture is actually smaller. To add to this we want a wide angle to make the picture have more depth so a focal length of around 28 is the best to use as it gives you more to work with. You then just need to go out and shoot, with having a deep depth of field it is good to have layers in a picture so that it adds to the effect. If you follow all of this you will end up with a photograph with a deep depth of field.

Animation Technique Page

Animation is where there is a string of images put together to make it look like a moving image at the end. There are many different software paths that you can use to create this, however in my case when I made my animation I used Imovie which was downloaded on the Mac I was using prior to me doing this.

Firstly you must decide what you are going to animate, there isn't really a set rule for what you can and can’t animate, however you must think if it will make good viewing, the best type of thing to do would be an everyday activity that can be related to, and there must be some movement, there is no point doing an animation if it isn't going to move. Once you've decided what you are going to animate you need to section this out in a storyboard like way, you need to decide how many pictures you will need for this to work and to look good, this is to prepare you for shooting so you don’t waste time when shooting, and you also don’t come back in with holes in your animation.

Next you go out to shoot, this would look better if you had another person as your subject as the movement is easier to capture and it adds substance to what you are shooting, making it more interesting. This is where the story board idea comes in handy, you can then just go and choose your setting that fits what you want to shoot, and you follow the story board, depending on how long the animation is will vary the time in-between your shots being taken which should be around 1-3 seconds.

The hardest part of the process of animation is the editing to get the end result that you want for your animation. I am using Imovie, so for this I need to import all pictures into my software and then place them in the editing line, where we can put these pictures together, you must ensure that you put the pictures in order so the animation runs smoothly and makes sense. This is where you have to use your guessing skills, dependent on how long you want your animation to be, you have to chose how quickly you want the pictures to move, for my video I found that just under half a second ran smoothly, but mine was a big animation, whereas if it is shorter you may want the pictures further apart. With Imovie you can also add sounds to the animation, however if none of these sounds are what you are looking for you can import music into the software and add parts of this into your animation by placing it into the editing line, and cropping it to make sure it fits in with the timing you want.

Depth Of Field Practical Work

Depth Of Field Image Bank

All these photographs show the theme of depth of field, these photographs show it in many ways with both a shallow and deep depth of field. They mainly consist of items rather than people, however the technique works well with both objects living or not. The first picture that I shall evaluate is that of the woman on the bike, this shows a shallow depth of field as can be seen because she is in focus however the background isn't. This photograph works well due to the boldness of the girl and the motorbike, against a plain yet defining background, it makes her look more three dimensional and allows for that extra edge on the photograph and looks as if she is about to jump out of the picture towards you. The colour block of the background also means that her shape sticks out as it contrasts against it very well. The second picture that I shall evaluate will be that of a deep depth of field and is that of the street, this pictures basis is very reliant on lines, they are very prominent in the foreground of the picture, they then carry down the picture in a liner way to make the idea of this picture stretching on for a long way, the colours although very plain also add to this as the picture, the top of the picture is heavily coloured contrasting the base of the picture, making the street actually look longer.

Work diary for animation.

Evaluation;
The animation video that I produced on Friday using stop frame photography techniques was actually much more in my comfort zone than the other videoing techniques that we had used prior to this. The still frame photography is more my thing so this made it much easier for me to complete, however the forward thought that I had to use to ensure that the images fit together nicely was a little harder than simple singular still frame photography. I liked using this idea of journey which had been done previously by another student as it did seem like a logical thing to do, and the flicking of images gave this idea of stepping much more than simple photography, it was a challenge and was very time consuming but I did enjoy doing this in my work as it was experimenting more so with the camera rather than editing which is what was more concentrated on in my first two units. However using this technique wasn't exactly what I enjoy the most about photography, I like taking one simple thing and creating an idea that can allow the viewer to evaluate it in their own way and allows for so many different interpretations that can be seen by many.

Idea development;
Even experimentation is a good thing and this will help me, later next year I don't want to concentrate on these techniques as I don't find it to be what I want to get from this course. Despite that I think that I am coming out with some relatively good pieces to add to my portfolio. However if I was told that I had to shoot this again I think I would sit and plan it more so as my planning was pretty poor, I think I would also choose a shorter animation to shoot the would concentrate on a still background and a movement within this as i feel that this would be more in my comfort zone and would allow for me to end up with a better product.

Walking

Animation Image Bank

All these photographs show the theme of animation, this is shown in many ways, mostly they are all subtle changes that just add to the pictures to show an extra dimension and really does add to the photographs. They all show the movement differently, some show natural movements of humans, however some do show object changes. The first animation I shall evaluate is that of the cars going round the roundabout, this is a good animation because it shows a clear movement, and although expected does make the purpose of the picture really stand out, the way that the background is fairly dark and the light of the car lights going on this picture adds to this idea of movement. Also as they are traveling along a standing object and going in this curved motion means that your attention is drawn to every inch of the photograph whilst it moves. The second animation I shall evaluate will be that of the coffee mug steaming, this is an image that most people will be able to recall from their morning routine, which makes the picture more relate-able to people looking at it, it includes this idea of photography and every day life also in the background, however this is blurred making it seem less important than this cup of steaming coffee. The steam looks realistic also, giving such a good animation that is very believable, and makes the picture really stand out, giving viewers that feeling of recognition.

Focal Length Exercises

Sequencing Image Bank

These photographs all show the topic of sequencing, this is where there are multiple images combined into one photograph, this allows for an idea of movement within the topic of many different events to be combined into one photograph, this can be called stop frame photography. All the pictures show different yet similar ideas. Some show people doing a simple activity segmented into sections, others show animals also doing this, there is even ideas of natural occurring movements being sequenced. There are some that show great colour and others that are very plain yet effective also. The first picture out of the six that I shall evaluate is that of the skier, this is a great sequence for many reasons, firstly the idea that this man is moving is so clear and the way that he is moving in a clean yet subtle ‘S’ shape shows the skier from different angles. Also the way that because obviously the snow is very light and pristine with the pure white being the majority of the picture by breaking this up with such a bold colour as red makes the skier stand out so much more and the way that he does split the picture in half because he is central in the picture makes him so much more obvious and makes the picture much more interesting. The second picture that I shall evaluate is that of the person jumping on the beach. I like this picture because even though this is a sequence some of the aspects are faded which does give this really nice contrast in the actions and It also allows for you to see the sequence in a way that tells the story and the peak point of the movement. The background is also very plain which also brings focus onto the main focal point of the woman jumping.

Year Evaluation

This year in photography has been very new and very different to anything that I have done previously, it has helped me develop these different skills that have helped me develop a passion that I have had from childhood. I started off the year with a slight thought that this subject would be a breeze, I would be spending my time photographing and it would be relatively easy, however as the year went on I realised that actually, there is so much more to photography, and there is so much more to taking a good picture than just aiming and pressing a button. I have learnt how to tell a story through something, I have learnt how the saying 'A picture says a thousand words' is actually so accurate. I have learnt how to express myself in a different and creative way. This project at times has pushed me to my limits, with the sheer amount of work, and at times the emotional attachment that I have had to the topics that I have been shooting have made me think about myself and how I have grown as a person. The amount of contextual work was also very heavy, therefore I have also developed my evaluation skills. Unit 1 was hard to start off with as I hadn't used cameras in the way that we now do, so not only was I finding my feet with photography as a subject but also with my camera skills. The topics in this unit were very basic so this was more developing my skills rather than looking at the story behind what I was shooting, this came when we started adding developmental topics into this unit and going onto Unit 2, where I chose to do Issues, I took this topic very seriously and connected with it well, this is why I feel that this project was a turn around for me not only with my photographic skills but personally, and I think because of that my passion for photography grew and I learnt about myself and put everything that I had into the pictures which made them possibly show more emotion. Photography has also made me grow in confidence, having to work with others and ask models to act in certain ways has made me more confident around people, in my unit 2 I did a very exposed shoot which also meant that I came out of my shell with the people in my group. The work in the studio was so much more fun in my eyes as I like the control and the almost social aspect to the shoot. Going out and shooting on location there are so many more aspects that need to be controlled and so much more could go wrong, and you can do much more sensitive topics in the comfort of the studio. I think that in photography I have just loved spending time doing something that I just enjoy doing and making myself better at it, I'm a bit of a perfectionist and when setting tasks for myself I strive to do everything I can to make it to the best of my ability, so by doing this course I have meant that I can make my photography better and use this to my advantage in everyday life, however with photography I haven't liked the amount of contextual we have had to do, this obviously wasn't the area that I was most passionate about and it was very time consuming, however I still learnt from this and it has helped me to become good at juggling time pressures and developing my evaluative skills because although I find it easy to criticise my work I haven't ever really been able to compliment it, and these skills will help me personally as an individual but also with my other A Level subjects because there is always room to evaluate in your work!

As the world goes by

Video Evaluation - Video Techniques In Photography

Today I went out and shot a video as part of my A Level photography. I found this task actually relatively challenging as I am not used to using a technique such as this, with all the different camera angles that we learnt I found it hard to remember what these different shooting types were called and how I should use them to tell a whole story. I found it hard to grasp this transition of the item I was shooting to not be stationary any longer. However when I got into this I did find that I was enjoying myself more and more with the experimentation of using this. If I carry on to doing A2 Photography I think that the use of video would add extra dimension to the topic I choose and can give a different perspective on the topic that may not be able to be seen through any type of capturing the subject. I think that with this though I would definitely need to improve my techniques as the angles I used as they were not at a developed level they were very basic and very amateur. I would however like to develop this idea of spinning around an object for an angle as it is something that I think looks very good. The topic that I am thinking of doing for unit 3 is that of people and the way that they act in different situations and how they interact with each other as this is something that I would like to look into, or I would love to do something with landscapes and incorporate panoramic photography like I touched on in my unit 1 photography as this was an aspect that I did enjoy.

Video Techniques In Photography

See No Evil, Speak No Evil

Word To Do

Now that i have finished all of my contextual work for this unit the only thing i need to improve is certain aspects of my shoots to ensure my final pieces are the best that they can possibly be. I will be doing this by spending the next couple of weeks doing practical work to improve these areas. Here are some of the ideas that i have had;

• For my Multi-Storey shoot I want to experiment with different texts and the items that they are written on.
• I need to remove some of my work that doesn't fit the theme of my final piece folder so that it almost tells a storey throughout, i want this work to be exceptional not just mediocre. (done)
• With the shoot with the mouth covered i should develop this and maybe use photoshop to remove the mouth and use ideas such as 'see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil' (done)
• The final shoot where i use the words this is it, the words need to be moved on the page (done just print) and I should experiment with this wording and maybe doing another shoot to carry on with this idea.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Some Work From Unit 2

Electronic Portfolio

FINAL PPT from SumSumsPhotog

Exam Plan

Exam Plan ; 

Shoot Title; Environmental Issues 

I will go down to near the UGI plant and photograph the big chimney

I want to go down to the pinnacles and take pictures of GSK and the surrounding buildings around this area.

I will head into town and take pictures of abandoned shops. 

I will also take pictures of traffic and cars.

I will also take pictures of graffiti and litter around the town and the close surrounding areas, and if there is any in the other locations that I will travel to .

Once I have done these locations I will go back to college and upload and edit these. 

IF I STILL HAVE TIME LEFT; 

I want to shoot technology as an issue, this will be easy in different areas, using a wide background, using techniques with the camera as a main focus, this will be a good way to add to my work and an almost experiment at the end of my main idea. 

22/03/13

Targets;

Today I am going to catch up on my contextual work, I will firstly complete my outstanding work records, then i will add to my computer experiments if i have time after doing some contextual work.

20/03/13

Target;

By the end of this lesson you will have demonstrated a clear understanding of the potential and possibilities of your chosen topic by undertaking practical work that adds to the shoots in your practical folder.

How I am going to achieve this; 

I am going to do this by going into the studio and completing a shoot with the title 'Substance Abuse' this is an issue certainly associated with the younger generations, and i want to portray this in a way to show the controversial nature that this topic can bring, this is such a big problem that is not necessarily rising, but becoming more prominent in society, and the legality of it is becoming less and less.  

Suicide Note Modification

Practical Work Development.

Today me and paul went through my folder to look at my practical work so far and discussed how I can improve my work that I have already done and to develop new ideas from this work. The things I need to do are;

• Pill Shoot; 9 sectioned one falling off
• Enhance Background on Lincoln Shoot
• Blocks From Whiteboard shoot, Experiment with this
• Reshoot 'My Name Is Summer And I Survived'

15/03/13

Targets;

Today I want to complete some contextual work as I need to get some of it out of the way, I will endeavour to complete my research log with 20 entry's and possibly start on my next photographer as I am aware that we are gradually running out of time. I will also try and edit my shoot from wednesdays lesson.

13/3/13

Target;
By the end of this lesson you will have demonstrated a clear understanding of the potential and possibilities of your chosen topic by undertaking practical work that adds to the shoots in your practical folder.

How I Will Achieve This;
I am going to go into the studio and shoot the idea of how people feel about themselves and how words from others or bullying can affect the way they perceive themselves. I am going to use a prop to enhance this and hopefully will come out with a good shoot. I will then complete contact sheets and straight prints to add to my Unit 2 folder to add extra depth to my work, and aid my project.

8/03/13

Targets;

Today I am going to be doing contextual work for my progress check, I will firstly complete my work record for Wednesdays shoot, I will then go on to complete my Research log and hopefully go on to do at least my first photographer.

Personal Target;

I want to also plan for my shoot next week, and to ensure that I know I have all the materials I need.

6/03/13

Targets

Today's lesson is based on practical work, I am going to go into the studio and shoot with an idea of suicide notes, and things that people would say in this. I want to convey this in many different ways, using a person and not using a person. 

Personal Target; To complete edit my work using some element of black and white, to experiment with this technique as i have seen it throughout my research.

15/02/13

Today I am going to finish editing some of my pictures from wednesdays shoot that I didn't manage to complete in the lesson. I will then go on to complete some contextual work that i need to finish.

Personal Target; I need to start thinking about putting some editorial/photoshopping  into my straight pieces.

13/02/13

Today I am going out to shoot at the top of a multi-storey car park to get an image to portray the idea of suicide. I'm going to use a hand written note to add extra to this shoot, this will read a suggestive message. I will then come into the studio and photograph another idea that I have, this will be time consuming so I will probably finish then.

Me And My Issues

Am I Perfect?

8/02/13

Targets For Today; 

Today I am going to spend the first half of my lesson editing my first shoot on body image, which I went out and did on Wednesday. This is so that my work looks the standard that it should, and will also mean that I can manipulate the images in a way that is not possible whilst shooting.

I will then go on to finish my Image banks to give me ideas for further shoots that I will complete in the coming weeks/months. I will then go on to my Work Record if i have enough time in the lesson.

Sticking It Out

This week my Auntie said to me, i have to take a picture of what Autumn means to me, so we thought and thought about it, you could go for the obvious, above. Where you have the contrasting colours of the fallen leaves, yet with the bright green showing through. You can take this quite literally, so being the great niece i am, i took the photograph for her, i edited it a little, just to enhance the already present natural beauty. But with this i carried on think, what is autumn to me? To me, Autumn is about sticking it out, its not quite hot, yet its not quite cold. Everything in nature around you is starting to suffer, knowing that winter is near. Its about sticking together, and waiting for the storm that we know is just around the corner, yet we never give up. There's the winter and the Christmas time to look forward to, the beginning of a New-Year is in sight, yet its not quite as reachable as one may like. So from this i had the conundrum, how on earth do i photograph this? the answer simply came to me, I may not be able to show the unity in a way that possibly makes everyone think, THAT'S AUTUMN. I photograph what i see that says Autumn, and that is unity, that's my family, taking a picture of all my family would be ridiculous, so, i took a picture of the garden, where i grew up, where we congregate in the summer as a family, where we all play in the snow, where we all have so many memories. Where my family becomes a unit of fun, laughter and joy. That's what Autumn is to me!