Sofia Waiter Pintor
Candidate number 7401
Component 9PY02 ESA
Yr13 A LEVEL Photography
Pearson SIMPLE OR COMPLEX
Candidate number 7401
Component 9PY02 ESA
Yr13 A LEVEL Photography
Pearson SIMPLE OR COMPLEX
Lookingthroughtheexamquestionpaper, IreallylikedtheimagebyAlecSoth, includingtheflowerwiththeblue background.Ithoughtthiswasanice startingpointasIamabletobringinmy colourresearchfrommylastproject. Havingmanycolourstochoosefrom madeiteasyformetohaveavarietyof images.Istartedwiththeredbackground asIthoughtitwouldcontrastthepurple photosnicely.Ithinktheystandoutwell, butIdon’tthinkitisasvisuallypleasing, comparedtotheotherimages.Iadded someredacetatetothetabletoaddthe monochromaticeffectasittiesthewhole backgroundtogether.
Havingtakenthepreviousimageswiththepurpleflowers,Ithoughttheyweren’t aestheticallypleasing,soIchangedtheflowersused.Tomatchwiththe background,Ichosesomeyellowandorangeflowers,aswellassomepinkand purpletoaddvariety.IliketheseimagesmuchmoreasIthinktheyareeasieron theeye.Moreover,thetallerflowersfreeupsomespacewithintheimagewh ich makesitlookcalmerandlesscluttered.Ithinkitmakestheviewermoreinclined tolookatitbecausetheireyeisleadtodifferentareas.Thelightingwasreally hardtogetrightasIcouldn’tgetthepropersettingsonmycamera,andsome areaswerebrighterthanothers.Becauseofthis,IdidhavetotouchupinAdobe Lightroomjusttogetitright,butoverall,Ithinktheycameoutwell.
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D
Lens: 50mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/3.5; ISO 400
Ithenusedablue background.Iwantedto trythepurpleonthe blue,totryamore monochromaticimage.I likethismuchbetter thanthepurpleonthe redasitfitswellandis moreaesthetically pleasing.However,ifI weretodothisagain,I mightuseadifferent vasetonothavethe lightreflectonit.
Tofinishthissetwiththeblue background,Ichosetofocuson someotherflowers.Whilethese aren’tmyfavouriteimages,Ithink theyshowhowthedifferentcolours standoutwitheachbackground.I turnedoneoftheimagesintoblack andwhiteasIwantedtoseeifit mightbevisuallypleasing,however, Ithinkitistoodarkanddoesn’t intriguetheviewer.
Iwantedtofurthertheideaofflowersand developitwithameaningbehindthe image.Iusedtheshoestosymbolise people,whilesuggestingtheirfeelings. Forexample,thecolouryellowis associatedwithhappiness,soIhadone shoefilledwithyellowflowers,andthe otheroneempty.Theoppositeshereare usedtoindicatetheemptinessonemay feelandthehappinesstheotherfeels.
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D
Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
household object of wasteful food
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D
Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Here is a third example of me doing the same set with another household object of wasteful food packaging; I carried on the theme in presenting a short ‘before and after’ timescale of its use.
Ireallylikethefact thattheshoesare dirtyandwornout. Whilethisismuch moreaesthetically pleasingthanclean, whiteshoes,italso representstheway thepersonwouldfeel astheythemselves couldfeelwornout andbreakingdown. ThisiswhyIalsotook someimagescloseupoftheshoes themselves,aswell asfocusingonthe flowers.Theimageon therightisoneofmy favourite’sasIreally likethewaytheshoe isblurredandframes theshoewithflowers inthebackground. Thepinkbackground, whilequitelightisstill pleasingasIlikethe fadedlookinthe back.IfIweretohave usedreditwouldbe toobold.
Recording Observations 2
household object of wasteful food
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Recording Observations 2
household object of wasteful food
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Becauseofthepinkbackground,Iwantedtothenfollowthiswithusingavariety ofpinkflowers,indifferentshades.IreallyliketheseimagesasIthinktheylook visuallypleasingfortheviewer,withtheshadesvaryingfromwhitetoadarker pink.Whiletakingthesephotographs,Ithoughtitwouldbeaniceideatotiealace fromeachshoetogethertorepresentatietogether.Whileonemaybefilled of pinkflowers,whichsuggeststheloveasthisiswhatthecolourpinksymbolises,it thenaddsafurthermeaningtoitthroughthesharingoflove.Forme,italmost representstwopeopleholdinghands,whichIthinkaddsanotherlayerofmeaning totheimage.Becauseofthis,theimages aregreatlyuptointerpretationbythe audienceandeachpersoncouldthinkoftheirownmeaningbylookingatthe image.ThisissomethingIlikealotasI thinksinceeveryoneissounique,they cancreateameaningthatisverydifferenttowhatImighthavehadinmindwhen takingit.Therefore,whileImighthaveonemeaning,someonecouldconnectitto theirownexperiencesanditmakestheimagesmuchmorepersonal.
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D
Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Recording Observations 2
in presenting a short ‘before and
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D
Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
doing the same set with another
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D
Lens: 18‐55mm Mode: Av EXIF: f/4.5; 1/400 sec; ISO 800
Ireallylikethis imageasitis pleasingas wellasfullof meaning.The conceptforme isreally interestingas theredthread holdingthese peopletogether isquiteloosely wrapped, howeveritis stillconnecting them.Thisis furtheredby themholding eachothers' pinkies.
Becausethey arestanding back-to-back, theyare restrictedfrom doingmuch more,which couldsuggest thattheyare nottobe
together,buttheyaretryingtogetthemostofitsothissmallamountofcontactis alltheyareabletodo.Manyquestionsariseasaviewerlookingatallthe differentaspectsofthisimage,suchas,‘whoarethey?’,‘whatdoestheredstring represent?’,‘whatisthecontextofthisimage?’andsomanymore.ThisIthinkis whatisgreataboutphotographyasasingleimagecanholdsuchmeaningand cancreatealistofquestions,dependingonwhoislookingatit.Intermsof the colourscheme,itisverydarkandalmostgloomy-lookingasthenavy-blue clothesarethemaincolourinvolved,aswellastheredstring.Thecolourredis typicallyusedtosymbolisedangerwhichcouldbewhythephotographershave usedit,torepresentthattheymaybeindangerorthereissomethingwrong. Whilethereislittlecolour,Ithinkthatitisveryimpactfulasthiscould also highlightacertainmeaningfortheviewer.
Takingtheseimageswasalotharderthan IexpectedasIwasnotabletofindan anglethatworkedthebest.However,Ido thinkthattheyconveythecontrolaspect withthestringandtheholdingpinkies. Whiletheyellowisnotasimpactful,Ithen thoughtitmightbebetterinacoolerblack andwhite,asitaddsmoredepthtoit.Ido likeitmuchbetterwiththisfilter.
SinceIdidn’tliketheyellow string,IwantedtoseeifI couldchangethecolour. WhileIthinkthislooksbetter thantheredbackgroundand yellowstring,itisstillnotas impactful.IfIdidthisagain,I wouldtrywithdarker colouredstring,butalso clothesasthismightmakeit better.
Iwantedtotryagainwithmore toneddowncoloursandseeifit lookedbetter.WhileIdon’tthinkit lookasgoodasitcould,Ithinkit ismuchbetterthantheyellowand redthatwaswhatIused originally.IfIweretodothis again,Iwouldusedarkercolours asthiswould’vebeenmore aestheticallypleasing.
Forthisset,Iwantedtofurthertheideaofpeoplebeingcontrolledbutspecifyit moreintooneperson.IfoundtheseimagesandIthoughttheyfitperfectlywiththe ideathatIhad.Tome,theuseofthehangermakesitseemasthoughtheyare puppetsandareundercontrolofthepersonholdingthehanger.However,we don’tseethepersonholdingit,justthewaytheyarecontrolled.Ireallylikehow themodelontherighthasherheadhangingtheotherwayasthisshowsher almostasincapableofregainingcontrolandmimicsthewayapuppetslimbs hangswhennotinuse.Aswithmyothersets,thereisalsocolourinvolvedas the clothestheyarewearingarequitebright.Whendoingthisset,Iwouldlike to includeboththehangeraspect,wheretheyarebeingcontrolledlikepuppets,but alsobringintheuseofcolourthatIhavedonethroughouttheproject.Whilethe backgroundsintheseimagesarewhite,Ithinkitwouldbemuchmoreeffectiveon acolourfulbackgroundasitwouldhavealotmorecontrastandalotmorefor the viewertolookat.Theuseofthisoppositesofwiththebrightcolours,whichwould normallybeconsideredtochildishandamuchmorefunelement,isnowpaired withadarkmeaningofbeingcontrolledbyanunseenperson.Personally,thisis whatisthebestpartofthesephotographs,aswhenonefirstlooksatitthey seea personheldupbyahanger,butonceyoulookfurtherintothemeaning,you realisetheconnotationsandhiddenmeaningsbehindit,thatcanbeinterpreted differentlydependingonwholooksatit.
Whileplanningthisshoot,Ithoughtitwould bealoteasierthanhowitturnedouttobe.
Intermsofcolour,Ithoughtitwasquite jarringatfirstbutthenIlikedthecontrastof it.Iwantedtocontinueexperimentingwith colourabitmoreasIfeltIcoulddomore withit,soIchosearangeofshirtsand colouredbackgrounds.
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D
Lens: 18‐55mm EXIF: f/8; 1/100 sec; ISO 1600
Unlikeintheinspirationimages,Iwantedto furthertheideawiththehangerbyputtingit inmanydifferentplacesonher.WhileI likedtheconceptofthehangerintheshirt, Ididn’tlikeitwhenIdiditmyself,therefore, Ithoughtitwouldbeinterestingtotryitout indifferentways.Iwantedtouseherhair andclothestohookontoasIthinkthisstill showshowsheisbeingcontrolledandthe limitedmovementshecando.Inthe imagesabove,Itriedwithalowerangle however,thebackgroundrollswereinthe shot,whichIthenhadtousePhotoshopto getridof.WhileIdolikethelowangle image,Ithinkittookawayfromthehanger conceptandthoughtmaybeahigherangle wouldlookandfitbetter.
Fortheseimages,Iwas standingonachairtoget aslightlyhigherangle.I likethismuchbetterasit ismorevisuallypleasing, butalsobecauseit representshowsheisn’t incontrolandisbeneath therestassheislower.
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D Lens: 18‐55mm EXIF: f/8; 1/100 sec; ISO 1600
Camera: Canon EOS 1300D Lens: 18‐55mm EXIF: f/8; 1/100 sec; ISO 1600
Throughoutthisset,I’veusedalotof coloursandexperimentedwithboththe hangerplacement,aswellasmy models'positions,asIhadherlookingat thehangerandawayfromit.Thisadds negativespaceincertainareasand leadstheviewerseyethroughoutthe image.Whilethissetdidn’tturnouthowI initiallythoughtitwould,I’mpleasedon whatIwasabletodo.
InthissetIwantedtodevelopmy lastimagesintermsofadding quotesanddifferentbackgrounds. Thisfirstonewasatesterusing animageIfoundonlineandone frommylastset.Ididlikehowthis lookedanditgavemeideasfor otherimagesIcouldcreate, howeverthewordsblockedher, soItriedadifferentway.
InsteadofusingthewholeimageIdecidedit wouldbeeasiertosearchforablankbookpage. First,Iaddedthisontotheimageandchangedthe settingto‘Multiply’asthisleftthewritingand didn’tleavesuchaharshyellowcolourfromthe pageandthenrubbedoutthepagesthatwereon her,soshewouldstillbeclearlyvisible.Then usingthe‘MagicTool’Iselectedthelettersand pastedthemintoanewlayersothatIwasableto moveeachwordtowhereIwantedit.Aftertrying manydifferentformats,Ilikedthisonethebestas shewasn’tcoveredandthelayoutwaspleasingto theeyewithitallintherightside.Ireallylikehow thiscameoutasthequoteaddsevenmore meaningandlooksaestheticallypleasing.
Iwantedtotrythisideawithother images,soItookaquotethatIhad heardofpreviouslyandusedthe‘Text’ tooltoadditinwiththefontIliked.I thenwarpedthetextintothe‘Wave’ formasthismadeitmoreinteresting fortheviewerandledtheireyethrough thewords.Ifeltsomethingwasmissing fromit,soIwantedtoaddalotof colourandmakeitmorechildishwith addingacolourforeachletter.This hasallowedmetofurthermyideasand Ireallylikehowtheyareturningout.
Ichosemyfavouriteimage fromaprevioussetand addedaquoterelatedto flowers.Usingthe‘Warp’tool Iaddedmorefunaspectsthat curvearoundcertainareas, aswellasaddingother colourstotieitalltogether.
ThenIhadtousetherubberandtake awaythefacesthatwerecoveringher asthemainsubject.Ihadtothenhave herbodyfullyclearedofthefaces. ThenIalsohadtoruboutthefaceson thehangerusingareallysmallbrush. ThistookawhileasIneededtofocus onthelinesandnottheblueoutsideof thehanger.Thismakesthehanger standoutalotmore.
Iwantedto createonethat furtheredthe yellowandblue scheme.Forthis Iaddedinmany differentfaces andusedthem asabackground usingthe“Hard light”filterto mergeitintoit.
Initially,Ihadtheideatocontinuethecontrol andpuppetthemeinamoreliteralsense. LookingthroughmyprojectIthoughtofChitty ChittyBangBangandthoughtitwouldfitwell withtherestofmyproject.Iwantedtotakethe ideabutmakeitmoremodernandcomplexin thebackground.So,Istartedpaintingdifferent thingsthatIcouldputthemtogetherand Photoshopthemintoaninterestingbackground. Iwantedtoexperimentwithalotofcoloursand shapessothatIcouldreinforcethisthemeof colourthatIhavehadthroughout.
Withreferencetothe previousslide,formy outcomeIwanttohavea similaroutcometothe puppetsandcontrolidea. Thesearedifferent examplesIpaintedtohave asaspectsofmy backgroundtomakethe ideamoremodernandjust takeinspirationfromit.
Iwantedtohaveavisualwiththeidea,soI experimentedonPhotoshop.Usingtheimages,I tookofwhatIpainted,Iwasabletousedifferent filterstomakeitlookmoreinteresting.Intheleft imageIusedtheHuefilterandthenrepeated theimageseveraltimestomakeacooler backgroundthanjustasparseareaofblue background.WhilePhotoshopisnotmystrong suitandnotmystyle,Ithinkitwillstilllookgood andisafunidea.Itwillalsoaddtomyskillset asitisreallyusefultoknowhowtoworkitfor futureprojects.Iwouldliketodothisideawitha bitmoredevelopmentasmyoutcomes,sofor thisIhavebeenthinkingoftheclothesand backgroundsthatIwouldinclude.Iwillbe choosingcolourfuloutfits,butmoremodernand fun.WhileIthinktheshirtoutfitworkedwiththe investigation,Idon’tthinkitfitsthestyleIhavein mind,soI’mgoingtothinkofotheroutfitsto makeitlookmorecreativeandeditorial.
Afterspendingalotoftime thinkingaboutmyfinal outcome,Idecideditwould bebesttocreatesomething thatIammorecomfortable with.ThisiswhyIhave decidedtochangemyidea fortheoutcomes.WhileIlike mypreviousidea,Idon’tthink itshowcasesmytalentsandI coulddosomethingthatIam muchmorecomfortablewith. Whenlookingthrough PinterestIfoundthisstyle andIreallylikedthem becausetheyfurtheredthe ideaofcontrolastheylookas thoughtheyarebeingpulled butlooksmuchmoreeditorial aswellasfluidwhichisa style,Ilikemuchmore.
Oneofmyfavouriteaspectsofthese imagesisthesimplicityofitandhow abstracttheycanbe.WhileIhave interpreteditintermsofcontroland beingstrunglikeapuppet,othersmay seeitastheyareexpressing themselvesandarefree,whichis somethingIthinkmakesthemmuch moreopentointerpretationandmakes theimagemuchmorepersonaltoeach person.Whiletheseareinblackand white,Iwanttocontinuethecolour themeIhavehadduringthisprojectso IwillmakeitmorespecifictowhatI havedoneinthisproject.Iwillbe usingoutfitsthatarefullofcolourand loosetohavecontrastbetweenthe meaningandthentheoutfitsthey have.Iwillbedoinganinvestigation firsttoexperimentandthendevelopto createafinaloutcome.
Inthisinvestigation,Iwantedtohavea finallookatmovementandstillhavea lookatcolour.Igotinspiredbythe imagesinthepreviousslidesas capturingmovementissomethingthatI reallyenjoy.Iinterpreteditasbeing manipulatedalmostlikeapuppetasshe ismovingindifferentareasandlooksas thoughsheisbeingpulledfromherarms andlegs.Iwillthendevelopthisfurther formyfinaloutcomes.Iwantedtokeep withtheloosedressasthisaddedmore movementandmadeitvisuallypleasing.
Ithinktheseimagesworkincrediblywellwithmyideaformyoutcomebutisalso somethingthattiestogetherthewholeofmyproject.Ibroughtboththethemeof controlandcolourwelltogethertocreatemanyimagesthatconveythis.
InLightroomIfoundthatIreallyliked addingabitofatinttotheimages. Usingaslightpinkandyellowtint gavesomeoftheimagesamore interestinglookastheywereslightly faded.Ididnotdothiswithallof them,justtheonesIthoughtitsuited.
Ididnotwanthermovementsto alllookperfect,Iwantedamixof somecontrolledimagesaswellas looserandwilderasthisreinforces theconceptofbeinglikeapuppet. Itisalmostasifsheistryinggot getawayfromtheholdofthis invisiblething.
Whilemyfavouriteoutfitofthesetisthe whitedress,someoftheimageswith thisoutfitarealsoverynice.Theyare muchmoreblurredandhaveless instruction.Igavemymodelsomeideas andletherexperimentwithhowshe wantedtodothem.Whilenotallofthem worked,manydidandIamreally pleasedwithhowtheycameout.The toprighthastheperfectposeas, compositionallyitisverypleasing.
Theseshowher breakingfree fromwhatis controllingher. Notbeingableto seeherface leavestheviewer wantingtoknow moreandaddsa senseofmystery totheimages. Theoversized outfitaddstothis asit’ssomething laidbackandnot wellputtogether.
FormyoutcomesIhavedecidedtodigitallydrawontotheimagestofurtherthis senseofcontrol.Beforeshootingtheseimages,Ihadseeninspirationimageswith shapesbeingdrawnaroundthemodel,whichIhaveattemptedtodo.Ididmany ideaswithwhitewhichgoeswithherdress,however,Ialsowantedtoworkwith colouralittlebit.WhileIdidn’twantittobeoverwhelming,Iwantedtoaddsome touchesthatmaymakeitmorevisuallyinteresting.WhileIdolikeit,Idon’tthinkI willusethemasmyoutcomesasIprefermanyofthewhiteones.Inmyoutcomes I plantousesomeoftheimageswithdrawings,aswellastheoneswithoutasIthink manyofthemareverystrongandworkextremelywellasoutcomes.
Tocreatesomeofmyoutcomes,IusedProcreate.Iamverycomfortablewiththis softwareasIuseditofteninthepastwhichhasallowedmetoknowmyway aroundit.Iuseddifferentbrushesintheimagesandusedthemdependingon how theylooked.Iusedbrusheswithmanytexturesasthismadetheimagestandout moreandgaveitamore‘rugged’andnotperfectlook.Somethingthatannoyedme alotwasthevisiblebrastrapswhensheworethedress,soIeditedthemoutin someimageswheretheywereverynoticeableassomeitwasn’t.Tocreatethe perfectlookinmyoutcomes,IthenwentbackandeditedthemoutinonesIhadn’t donebeforeandIthinktheylookmuchcleanerandlessofadistraction.
Inmyoutcomes,IwantedtocontinuetousecolourasIhavebeenexperimenting withitalotoverthepasttwoyears,however,Ididnotwantittobeextremely colourful.BecauseofthisIdecidedtouseabluebackgroundandsometoned down colourssuchasblack,white,greyanddarkgrey-blueforherclothes.This has workedwellasthereisstillanelementofcolour,whilenotbeingoverwhelming.A keythingIfocusedonwastheshapesthatmymodelmakeswithherbodyandhow itfillstheframe.Wetriedmanydifferentideasandposesrangingfromlotsof movementtolessandintheend,Iwasabletoachievesomeveryintriguing images.Themovementsintheseimageshadtobecapturedveryquicklyasshe is notabletoholdthemforverylong.Whilethiswaschallengingatthebeginning,I becamemuchmorecomfortableasitwentonandIwasabletodirecthermoreinto differentposesIthoughtwouldwork. ThemainmeaningIwantedtoconveyin theseimageswasthatshewasbeingcontrolledasthoughshewasapuppet.I thoughtofafewideasonhowtofurtherthisidea,however,myfavouriteone was usingmovementtoportraythisbecause Icanimagineadanceroutinebasedon theideaofbeingcontrolled.Iwantedittobesubtlebutverycleariftheviewerwas toexaminetheimagemore.Whilethisis mykeymessage,itcanbeinterpretedby peopledifferentlyorintheirownway,whichissomethingIloveaseachpersonhas theirownviewsandcanresonatewith itdifferentlydependingontheirexperiences. IfIweretochangeanything,itwouldbeputtingmymodelinalongflowydress,but Idonotownone.Thisbeingsaid,Ithinktheseoutcomesturnedoutreallywellas theyconveythemeaningIwantedaswell aslookingveryaestheticallypleasingfor theviewerandIamreallyhappywiththewaytheyturnedout.
Intheseoutcomes,Idecidedtodo somedevelopmenttofurthertheideaof control.Initially,thisiswhatIhadplannedformostofmyoutcomes,however,I reallyliketheimageswithoutanydevelopmentandsodecidedtousebothideas.I tookinspirationfromanimagethathadtwolinesconnectingaman'sarms,whichI didstartdoing,howeverthisledtomeexperimentingandresultedintheimageon theleft.IammuchmorepleasedwiththisoutcomeasIthinkitclearlyrepresents theideaoffeelinglikeapuppetandbeingcontrolled.Ireallyenjoydrawingand creatingideassowhileitstartedoutastakinganideafromsomeone'swork,I quicklyturneditintomyownwithmany differenttexturedbrushesandpatterns. Notbeingabletoseeherfaceinthisphotorepresentstomethatsheisrestless andattemptingtobreakfreefromthiscontrolandIthinkboththeimageand the developmentcombinedclearlyshowthis,soIamextremelypleasedwithhow this outcometurnedout.Whenthinkingofhowtodeveloptheimageontheright,I foundmyselfgravitatingtowardstheideathatshelookedasthoughshewas being pulledfromtheside.Duetothis,Iwantedtotrydifferentideasofsomethingbeing tiedtoherpullingheraway.WhileIhadtheideaclearinmyhead,Icouldn’t draw theropeinawaythatlookedgoodtome,soItriedmanydifferentanglesand drewandredrewthemalot,untilIfinallyfoundalookthatIliked.IntheendIthink thesimplicityofthisimagemimicsaserenesettingeventhoughsheisstillbeing controlledwhichpresentsanopposition,intriguingtheviewer.Theseimages presentavividstoryinmyhead,andIthinktheywouldalsointheviewers. Therefore,withallthedifferentelementscombinedandtheoutcomesputtogether, Iamreallypleasedwiththemandthinktheywrapupmywholeprojectreallywell.