Evaluation

For this project I had to; complete a body of research that would include categorising, comparing and evaluating different types of specialist location photography. Present innovative and comprehensively ideas for location photography, and lastly produce imaginative specialist location photographs which fully realise the planned intention which would develop into a range of final outcomes. By the end of the project I aimed to achieve a photo book of successful images taken in my chosen location, using the techniques learnt within lessons.

I chose to make my images in my chosen location because whilst researching different types of specialist location photography and photographers I particularly enjoyed Bruce Davidson's Subway photographs. Which influenced me and gave me the idea to shoot in the location of train stations as well as on a train throughout the journey. After looking at Bruce Davidson's work and getting a slight idea for my intentions, i then researched into Stephen Shore which helped my idea along more and gave me more of an idea and a plan of what I wanted to photograph. Which is why I chose to shoot in this location.

The technical decisions I chose to make were to use two different cameras, both film and digital. With the digital camera I chose to use two different techniques using slow and fast shutter speeds. I chose to use fast shutter speeds to capture still images, as it will be within a moving train, fast shutter speeds will be needed. As well as slower shutter speeds to capture the movement, which whilst on a moving train works very well in creating motion blur and creates interesting outcomes. I chose to do this to show different techniques used as well as using ensuring that I had two different types of images to later decide which are more successful. After doing this I feel that using the slower shutter speeds often worked well while the train was moving as it proved to be easier than using faster shutter speeds. Whereas as the train was moving slower pulling into different stations is was easier to capture still images using faster shutter speeds.

I feel that my research strongly helped to inform the work that I had created, it helped me to get an idea on the location as well as the inspiration to create the work I planned and did create. I feel that if I had not researched all of the photographers I have researched that I would not have come up with the project plan I had, therefore I would not of created the outcomes I have. The original research into  different photographers and different locations helped me to create a rough idea and location I would photograph in, so I could then develop my research and ideas further by looking for and researching into different photographers in this category. Therefore by researching into this location, it helped me to get a more vague idea of my project plan, which I could then act on and create these images from these ideas.

There are a few strengths within my images, which are things such as the theme, which includes the theme of being on a train as well as the reflections. As I was shooting my images out of the window of a train, it was easy to get this themed pattern of reflections, which include the frame of what is outside of the train, as well as a reflection of what is inside of the train, which can give off a deep message and make the viewer think about the images a lot. Another strength of my my final images is also the framing, which is always important in creating these final images, because bad framing will more often than not result in unsuccessful outcomes. I also think that in creating these images I used photoshop well, to correct the exposure of the images as well as bring more colour into them to refrain them from looking dull and boring.

The areas for development when creating my final images would be to make sure my images are correctly exposed, many of my images that I had chosen to use for my final images because they was the most successful had been under exposed, which were from my first shoot, in which i struggled to get the correct exposure quick enough to capture the frame i wanted, which is a small disadvantage with the location i had chosen.

The mini project I enjoyed most was the music studio shoot. I enjoyed this the most because it gave me an outcome of a range of good images, I felt that I got some interesting images from this shoot and I enjoyed the atmosphere. From this I learnt the issues of shooting in this location, as well as the advantages of it. It also gave me the experience of photographing in a different type of location than I am used to.

Throughout this project I feel that the technical areas I have developed is composition. Developing on each shoot I had worked on getting a better composition which has had a good effect on my final images as I have created final images with a good composition.

My final body of work is imaginative and creative because it can be perceived with different messages and effects. The main one being of the reflections, where by photographing the outside of the train, from inside of the train, showing reflections of what is happening on the inside. Which can give off a deep and meaningful effect. From working within specialist locations as a photographer I have learnt ways to create imaginative and creative photographs within one location, which has helped me the think more creatively.

If I was to do this project again I would focus more on the reflections and get a bigger range of images using this idea. I would also focus on the camera settings and making sure that the images weren't under exposed, which I developed onto in the second shoot but had more successful images in the first shoot. Overall I feel I have made developments throughout this project and in the end have created a good, imaginative and creative set of final images that I am happy with and have a good effect.

Shoot 2

On my second shoot I went on the same journey, photographing the same way. As I knew I already had successful images within the stations from my first shoot, I focused differently for this shoot. Whilst on the train this time I focused more on the nature the train went past throughout this journey, but still capturing the window reflection. I also used the same techniques using slow and fast shutter speeds. Also as well as using my digital camera for this shoot, I used a film camera, to capture these aspects but get a different effect on the images.

I feel from the digital images that are shown on this post I have taken into account the things I needed to develop and have improved on them. I have exposed my images correctly and used the correct shutter speeds for the correct technique. I have also added in a different technique, once I had got to manchester I had photographed the big wheel, as well as other things around that area, then came back as it had got a little darker and photographed it again, which shows the comparison of how something can look different or better depending on the time of day.

From this shoot I have created a full range of successful images, sticking to my project plan as thoroughly as possible and using many techniques along the way, some of which will be used as final images to go towards my end project. I will move this on by creating a photo book, using many images from this shoot and my first shoot.

Shoot 1

I started off with my first shoot, with my plan in mind. As I had planned I got onto the train to Manchester and started my photographic journey. I started off taking a couple of images of Preston train station from the train as I was waiting for the train to depart. I then continued to photograph as the train moved along. Photographing the scenery and the fields that the train went past, as well as a few train stops that it had stopped at. I continued to photograph throughout the journey, trying to capture interesting images using different techniques. Sticking to the plan I used the techniques of capturing still images on a moving train using fast shutter speeds, as well as capturing movement using slow shutter speeds. 

As well as capturing the aspects of the train stations, as I planned to do, I also captured other people within the images of the train station, showing them waiting for their trains on the opposite platforms. At the time I was on this train it was fairly busy and was plenty of people around, waiting and catching all different trains, which made it easier for me to capture these interesting images. 

Whilst photographing from the train, as well as capturing aspects of the outside, my camera also captured the reflection of the window. Which I think makes a lot of these images even more successful. Once I realised that my camera was doing this I then started to try different techniques with it. Such as focusing on the shadow within the window which made whatever was visible through the window blurred, which I think is interesting and gives of a completely different message and could also have a deep meaning and tell a story. I also moved back a bit from photographing straight through the window and captured some aspects from the inside of the train as well as the outside, each time focusing on different things.

After capturing images on the train and finishing the train journey to my destination I went into Manchester and photographed a few things. Such as the big wheel and a couple of interesting buildings. I also used the technique of photographing from the hip of people walking by, which I think is a very good technique to use as it can often produce good outcomes.

From this shoot I feel I have captured some really strong and successful images, sticking to the plan and exploring different ways of photographing I feel I have created a range of images that could be used for my finals. There are many areas of strengths within these images which include things such as the composition and the many different techniques I used, as well as the aspects in what i have captured within the images and focusing on particular things and with all of these combined I created a range of successful outcomes that will be suitable for final images. As well as following my plan as closely as possible.

 Some areas for development are to ensure I am using the correct f number and iso for the shutter speeds I am using. Taking this into account and moving on to develop more successful images I will again shoot in this location and create another set of images.

Dance studio location shoot

For this shoot I went into the dance studio to photograph some of the dance students performing. As they was moving around I found it difficult to get a good still shot. I also found it difficult with the lighting conditions, as the sun reflected in through the window only at a certain part of the room, when the dancer moved into or away from that position my camera settings weren't correct for that lighting condition and the dancer didn't stay in one position for too long, so this was definitely an obstruction within taking these photographs. Although these things had been an obstruction I feel that a few of the images I captured turned out to be successful. 

Some of these images contain motion blur, due to having slower shutter speeds than needed. Which doesn't always necessarily make the image look bad and can sometimes turn out successful. Within these images there are a few images with motion blur within, some that look successful and some unsuccessful. I have also captured some successful and unsuccessful action shots. 

From where I had to stand while taking these photographs it was difficult to get a good composition within the images because I was only able to shoot from one angle, which meant when these dancers were moving around the composition within the images i was taking wasn't always a good composition. But I feel that in a range of these images there is a good composition within them which creates successful outcomes.

I think that there are a few strong images from this shoot, which are very powerful. They capture some of the strong point in the dancers routine that they was trying to express and the positions that they are in that can give out many different messages. Doing this shoot has taught me to create a good composition with a limit of being able to move around the room, as well as taught me the conditions of shooting in this location and what will create a successful images whilst photographing dancers. 

Stephen Shore

Stephen Shore is a very successful photographer who has been widely publishing and exhibiting his work for the past 40 years. I have looked into his work and have chosen to research into his work from the American beauty project. I have chosen to do this as I will use his work as inspiration in helping me to create my own works. I will use his work as inspiration because I feel with my idea of using train stations/travelling as my location and idea, it will help me to research into his work as I feel it could help me a lot as they seem to be a similar style etc to what I want my final outcomes to be. As well as researching and looking at the work he does I also found and watched this video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRM2X1GnNSQ . Which also helps to understand how and why he creates the work he does and helps me a lot more in creating my own work. I feel that I can successfully create my own work using Stephen Shore as my influential photographer as help along the way and in the end create successful images and a successful outcome which will be a photo book.

Studio location shoot

For this shoot I went into the music studio to photograph some of the music students recording and performing their music. Shooting in these locations was very experimental and has given me experience of shooting in these different conditions and had its advantages and disadvantages. In the recording studio I was able to get good images of the equipment as well of the students, but as they was recording they was often discussing things which made it difficult to get a range of images in the time I was in there, but I feel that the images I did shoot are very successful and effective. The lighting in there was good and helpful in getting sharp and clear images.

After photographing the students recording their music I then went to photograph the students performing, which was a little more difficult to photograph due to the lighting, it means I had to have slow shutter speeds which caused some movement to be blurred, and a high ISO which caused much image noise, I think a way to prevent this in these conditions in the future would be to have a lens that opens up to a wider aperture, therefore allowing me to have lower ISO which will cause less image blur, as well as faster shutter speeds which will allow me to capture movement. Apart from the these technical things being a problem I feel that I have produced a range of good outcomes from this.

When shooting in these locations I felt more comfortable taking images of the students who was performing because they was performing song after song with very little pauses in between, therefore I could continuously capture images, whereas with the recording students a lot of the time they spent putting the music together on the computer which felt slightly awkward and uncomfortable, but was in a way a good thing because it gave me time to capture images of equipment around the studio. Going to shoot in these locations was difficult at first, not knowing what it would be like, but after a while it becomes easier and more comfortable to do and easier for me to capture loads of great images and create a range of successful images to show on my blog post as a location shoot. It has also gave me the experience of shooting in these locations and conditions and will definitely help me in the future.

After shooting these images I went onto photoshop and edited some of them, ones that I felt needed correcting or ones that I wanted to edit. For example some needed correcting, because of the bad lighting, which I did, as well as editing some of them black and white, and also bringing colour back into some. But there are also a few images that I felt didn't need editing, which are the ones in the recording studio, as the lighting conditions in the room were good which enabled me to capture good images therefore not needing editing. But one image from this set I did edit into black and white and bring back in some colour on the guitar pick. With this being a bright green colour I thought it would bring the attention to this particular piece of equipment and help it to stand out. 

I think that some of the strengths within this shoot are that within some of the images I had one main focal point, whether it be the guitars, or one particular musician playing. I tried to capture them playing their instruments with only the instrument within the shot as well as capturing their whole body within it to see their facial expression as they played. I also captured action shots well and sometimes struggled to capture an image without blur due to having to use high iso and slower shutter speeds but managed to capture successful images even with this obstruction. Some areas for development would be to try using different techniques and shooting from many different angles and moving around instead of standing in one place.