I aim to produce a portfolio of work containing my research and progress on landscapes. Landscape photographs may contain cityscapes and seascapes and I hope you enjoy throughout my journey.
For my initial research I will start by looking into street photographers.At the moment I have one in my mind that I want to look at." Nomadic Pursuits." I chose Nomadic Pursuits from the fact that I like the way he takes his pictures with the deep depth of field and the beautiful composition he uses in his pictures.Furthermore he is very inspiring as in most of his pictures there are leading lines that all meet up at a vanishing point which clearly tells us that Nomadic pursuits plans and has a lot of thinking within his pictures.
When I chose this theme, my initial thoughts were that this theme was boring and I was confused to the fact that I cannot show my camera skills. However as I progressed I became more interested as I can show different seasons and also day and light,catch leading lines and also focus on aperture depending on the exposure.
To show progression throughout my work I will start by going to Anglesey as this will allow me to take images of sea, sand rock and forests areas, then I will be going to London as this will give me a contrast approach to Landscape as the images I will capture will be urban scenes. I will then develop these images by editing them also further on in the year I will be going to my local town Manchester to capture the city vibe. I will then use Photoshop to manipulate my photographs developing my skills through using different tool and techniques to gain a professional finish to my images.
I would like to experiment with a wide range of techniques within my work,using a DSLR camera with 18-55mm lens that I will catch my photos with. I will also push myself to be more creative within Photoshop to touch up my images.
As my project progresses I will use annotations throughout my portfolio labeling my ideas and development clearly. This will also help me reflect on the work I produce. I will mainly seek advice from my teachers and my peers on how to make my work better through out my journey I would like to push myself to new levels and to reach my grade. When I create of my final piece which will consist of a gallery of my best photos I will write a final evaluation on the project as a whole .
Mind map
Nomadic Pursuits/Artist Research
Content This picture was taken in Central London by Nomadic Pursuits. Within the picture it is showing the House of Parliament, Big Ben,The River Thames and the bridge alongside on the right hand side of the photo. Furthermore the photo also has dark clouds in the sky crating a gloomy dull tone also the shadow across the Big Ben gives off that dim effect. Composition Nomadic Pursuits had definitely took this picture purposefully, catching the deep depth of field on the bridge and still be getting the Big Ben straight in the middle caching your eye and he has caught this photo crisp by catching half water/ground and half sky cramming all these beautiful icons into one picture.Furthermore there are really strong leading lines from the bridge, House of parliaments and also the up right lines of the Big Ben all meeting at one point also seen as the vanishing point also immediately catching your eye. The lighting in the picture seems to be a steamy blue, Nomadic definitely thought about the timing of taking the picture which seems to be early evening in addition to this it looks like he has used Photoshop to give off this beautiful lighting off the buildings contrasting with the sun set deep in the foreground. Finally in my opinion Nomadic pursuits has used a tripod Context This photo in London was taken to show the world these well known astonishing icons to help the less unfortunate see what its like to live in such a beautiful city and also have the same feeling as the photographer as he took the photo"this place is awesome" Connection This links with my work as I am going to go London myself with school and this has inspired me as it can help me with how i can set out my pictures with a broad cityscape view and also help me with little facts like using a low aperture as the photographer doesn't have a lot of light shining directly at the camera Comment In my opinion Nomadic Pursuits has taken this picture to show the beauty of London ,giving us the feeling of getting off the tube going upstairs and having these alluring icons stare at you in the face. Also I think that Nomadic pursuit has also took a lot of time out and thought long and hard on this picture as he has got the perfect pink/blue intimate light in the sky, contrasting with the orange lights coming out of the house of Parliament.
From now on I am going to be working on my landscape project but firstly I am going to be going Anglesey with my school in February and you will see how I edit my photos in photoshop, furthermore as I make progress within photography you will also see how I refine my pictures and come out with more outcomes.
Anglesey Wales light house
Context "Adam Burton is one of the Uk's leading landscape photographers and author of five books. A full time professional landscape photographer, Adam regularly supplies imagery and undertakes commissions for a wide range of clients. He has photographed five of the seven continents and now specialises in the landscapes of the UK, particularly Southwest England. Adam favours the rich colours of dawn and dusk when natural light is at its most special. He uses equipment to enable him to capture magical moments authentically at the picture taking stage, rather than relying on computer enhancements afterwards. Although he now shoots exclusively digitally, his beginnings in film photography engendered a strong desire to record the landscape at its natural best, and nothing more. As a result Adam's photography captures authentic and natural moments in time, free from computer manipulation." Comment I really like this picture as it has this unique tinge and the way that the photographer has made the photo landscape so that he captures a lot of features like the lighthouse,rocks,grass,mountains and the sea. The meaning of this picture could be to show the public how beautiful wales is and to enhance the purity and tranquility behind it. (celebrating the beauty of nature). Content This picture was taken in Anglesey Wales.It is a landscape/seascape photo it has a unique creamy tinge so I suggest it was taken in the morning around sunrise also I think that it is purposely kept in colour as it really brings out the beauty of the landscape.The meaning of this picture could be to show the public how beautiful wales is and to enhance the purity and tranquility behind it. Connection This links to my own work a lot as I will be going to Anglesey with my school in February.So as I am going there with my school I should take some ideas from this photo and use this in my own photography. A lot of thought has been put into this photo as there is a beautiful soft creamy tinge to it from this I can infer that the picture was taken early in the morning,which I may be considering to do myself. Composition The photographer has definitely has took a lot of thinking and thought into this picture as he has used the rule of thirds 2/3 ground,water and 1/3 sky, the lighthouse sits on 1/3 this is very useful as it is in a sweet spot, sitting on the horizon which is a very good leading line and makes the lighthouse stand out. Furthermore there is another leading line of the pathway as that also leads up to the lighthouse. The pinky tinge suggest that the photographer has taken this picture early in the morning and also I think he used a tripod and also used a seep depth of field as he has perfectly caught the mountains in the background. The warm light hitting the green grass and the rocks gives off a beautiful texture.
Len Grant after the bomb in Manchester
Content his image has many objects within it and there is a lonely man rebuilding a building bang on in the centre of the photo showing hope and that you should never give up. The photographer easily catches your eye onto the lonely man because he is in the centre of the picture repairing a building and as the picture goes on more and more, buildings are added into the picture it is like a triangle we are at the peak and as the picture goes on it naturally spreads out. This picture was taken to show the impact the bomb made in Manchester.The Photographer has taken this to express the drive and hard work the builder has put into these buildings and also expresses the mass the bomb actually destroyed. Context "Arguably this is most significant event in Manchester’s recent regeneration in history that happened at 11:17 am on 15th June 1996. My first reaction might appear strange for a photographer, but when the bomb went off I wasn’t compelled to dash into the city and gawp. In fact, it was several weeks before I went anywhere near the ‘epicentre’. The IRA bomb that destroyed much of the city’s core became the catalyst to a remarkable rebuilding programme co-ordinated by the City Council’s Manchester Millennium task force. Old buildings were rejuvenated, new stores and cultural landmarks built and much-needed open spaces created. Commissioned both by Millennium Manchester and Richardson Developments (the developers of The Printworks entertainment complex) my images were exhibited on a 100-metre hoarding in the city center for over two years." Connection This links to my work as I will be going into the Manchester city center in December,this will show the contrast between how the city was left in rubble after the Manchester bombing to how much of a beautiful city it is now. Composition There is no composition used in this photo as the man is straight in the middle of the photograph which makes him the centre of attention but also it highlights the contrast of how small this man is compared to the buildings what he is repairing which makes you feel sympathy for this man as it looks like he is working all by himself. Furthermore Len Grant seems to be at eye level with the man and it seems like Len is not standing on anything which makes you question how he got up there Comment This helps us understand how much work this/these men put in to make this beautiful city but I dislike the fact it shows the proportion of the amount of lives lost in these buildings but the main message is to always to get back up and drive to success as now in 2018 when I go to the city centre there are always new buildings and it looks beautiful
Battersea Power station by Andrew Verdie
Context This photograph is HDR (High Dynamic Range) which is the combination of three images, one under exposed, one the correct exposure and the third is over exposed, these are then combined through specialist software to produce the look of the HDR image. This is then converted to black and white and adjusted further and printed on titanium paper which gives the photo a high quality finish and a metallic sheen. HDR photography is very well suited to buildings and architecture but there is still quite an art to gaining this much detail in an image. The photo was taken in early 2014 from Grosvenor Road. The power station has been undergoing huge changes as part of a big re-development programme and, as such, will never look like this again. Content This picture seems to be very old as it is black and white also the building is on its own so it makes you imagine the building is abandoned Composition It seems like Andrew is looking up which makes this picture quite majestic and he has caught the clouds giving strong leading lines and also the contrast of the white chimneys and the dark top of the building also making this look very dramatic. He has used 2/3 sky and 1/3 foreground of the chimneys which makes this look very industrial and suggest that work is currently going on. Furthermore the building is going back in perspective. There is rule of thirds used in this picture to balance out the 2/3 of sky and building showing and 1/3 of the water. In addition to this around the edges of the picture is dark and then fades into a lighter grey in the middle which creates an effective contrast This picture is taken in London around early 2000's and it has been put into black and white to create a sinister mood which makes the picture come off gloomy and uneasy tone to it making you feel confused and uncomfortable. Connection This picture has a really dark and sinister mood so I think it would fit into a dystopian theme as it looks scary and unpleasant also it is a power station and this effects the world in a negative way(global warming) in my opinion this is taken to highlight the dark side of the power station Comment This is taken to express the dark side of the power station and the mystery along with it and the chemical fumes they let out which makes a big impact on global warming but the photographer has shown it in a different way and just made it a dark,gloomy and eere tone/mood
Photographs in Anglesey
rocks/seaweed/lipids
Best
Worst
Texture
Best Worst
Texture in the sand
Best Worst
Cliffs
Best Worst
sunset
Beach
Best Worst
Light house
Best Worst
Trees
Best Worst
Globe
Worst Best
This is my worst picture as my aperture is too low making my picture over exposed.
Landmarks
Best of Anglesy
Winter Landscape
close ups
small depth of field
medium depth
trial
Manchester
Buildings
depth of field
Bridges
Christmas setting
Landscape
Best of Manchester
Linking paragraph
I have been to Anglesey in February where I captured the soft winter light over the sea as I was able to take photographs of beaches ,lighthouses rocks cliffs and the sunsets. As Anglesey is a rural area. I used my camera on manual this helped me as I was able to use different setting such as a high aperture to catch a crisp image of the seascape. I was looking forward to going to this rural area as it is a perfect place for coastline landscape that is a direct contrast to the city scene that I am surrounded by everyday. I also went to London in July as it was summer there was blue sky and bright light. Where I was able to capture a harsh summer light within a urban area which was full of people,the complete opposite from Anglesey. In London I focused on buildings,bridges and tried to capture the urban feeling in my photographs. From having the opportunity of going on these two trips I feel confident and more inspired by my Anglesey pictures so I am going to work on them for my next project.
Mock exam
This picture was taken in London by lain MacMillian on Abbey Road,1966. Showing the Beatles walk across the road,with many things in the background.
The Beatles are walking in a certain formation and the photographer has perfectly catched a specific picture with all of them in the same position, the only way the photographer could've done this was by putting on a very fast shutter speed on his camera which catches the Beatles in focus even-though they are moving,also as everything in the background is basically in focus this means that the photographer has also used a deep depth of field otherwise the background would've been out of focus. Furthermore in background the sky peaking out which is a very light blue, this catches your eye immediately as there are leading lines for example the pavement,cars,trees and houses all lead to an vanishing point which is the sky also you can see the shadows perfectly line up in the same way showing that the photographer thought about the time of day.
This links to my work as I will be going London soon with my photography class and I can pull ideas out of this photo and use them in my own photography but the one thing that inspires me the most is the leading lines to a vanishing point it really emphasizes the amount of time and effort you put into your photos as you are getting natural features all lead up to one point until you cannot see them anymore or if you get them all to lead up to the main part of the picture but you want people to find that out them-self. Overall i think that the photographer has really thought about this picture as the Beatles were really famous and unique people and they have been caught in a unique formation maybe trying to highlight the unique/strong relationship between these men this is a really good strength in my opinion
London Landscape
Best Worst
boltz n archetexture
Best Worst
Street buildings
St paul's cathedral
Bridges
British museum
Burogh market
Best Worst
vegetables and food
Manchester
Photoshop experiment
At first with my experiment I wanted to start basic with black and white and slightly refine my pictures.
I have used drawing with light in this picture as I have used the glow tool in the new adjustment layer in photoshop to add more of an effect in the sky making the mountains in the background look more eere and dramatic.
Furthermore as I got more confident with Photoshop I started to combine Black and White with colour to create an illusion in the eye and make people say "How did he do that?" I have used drawing with light in this photo as I have changed the opacity and rotated the picture creating an illusion in the eye.
I have used drawing with light here as I have copied the picture, made the bottom layer colour and the top layer black and white then I used the eraser tool to and rubbed out certain parts of the picture (creating the colour) .
Now that I am fully confident in Photoshop I started to manipulate my globe picture ,as soon as I took this picture I in visioned many outcomes of manipulation in Photoshop and that I can really take this picture on a journey. I have used drawing in this picture as I have copied the picture and used the eraser tool to create colour, black and white.
Final outcome gallery
Evaluation
The project I've been working on this year is called landscapes. This project has took so long as I wanted to visit different places in different seasons to catch the contrast between them. For example I went to Anglesey in February(Spring) 2018, I went to London in July(Summer) 2018 and also I took pictures in my schools local area in December(Winter). Furthermore I went into Manchester city central as it got dark to catch the contrast of the landscape when its light and dark to improve my grade.
I found this project quite creative as a lot of creativity and thought went in to create it. Throughout this project I have gathered many ideas and gained inspiration off many photographers.Overall I enjoyed this project as I have been taught new things and been places I haven't been before. The are of the project I enjoyed the most was going to Anglesey as I went to many places I haven't been before and also I enjoyed capturing exotic pictures. for example in beaches and off cliffs.
Throughout this project I have found out how to use many features in Photoshop. And throughout I have used the skills I have learnt in Photoshop to manipulate my pictures. I have learnt how to use the "add a vector layer mask"+ "brush tool" in order for me to create an illusion and combine textures. The
The first photographer I researched and gained inspiration from was Nomadic Pursuits, The way he uses contrast and lighting is just perfect in my opinion.