Digital Photography Elective 2010 London College of Communication University of the Arts, London Fda Digital Media Design Yr II - 2010/11 CAN08252955
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GAIA CANESTRARI
STUDIO PORTRAIT #1 Pondering, considering, evaluating. Debating. This photograph is intended to unsettle and involve: the subject scrutinizes the viewer, studies his reaction and expression, holds him responsible for his own confusion and mixed feelings.
Doubt.
The eyes are fixed on the onlooker and shoot out right through the camera lens. The tilted position of the head, chin downwards, eyes looking up, gives the composition a sense of direction and movement aimed at the observer. The hard light from the left intensifies the subject’s subtle frown and features; the same light, bounced off the right side onto his face, softens the severity of his expression, whilst the reddened shadows increase the sense of uncertainty of the piece.
STUDIO PORTRAIT #2 Can you touch your nose?
With this portrait I sought to capture the playful side of the subject. Since this was his first time as a model, in order to catch a genuine grin, rather than a forced smile, it was essential to make him feel comfortable with the camera. To achieve this, I asked him to do something unusual, silly and comical: pushing up the tip of his nose.
In this photo the playful effect is enhanced by the direction of the model’s glare, the amused eyes are looking slightly sideways at something that appears to be humorous, out of the viewer’s sight, leaving curiosity about what is happening where the onlookers cannot see.
Playful.
The result was a sincere chuckle and a placid smile that in the photo comes to light in the lines around his mouth, in the joviality of the eyes and in the twinkling lines of his forehead.
Photograph by BARON WOLMAN
Baron Wolman is the ultimate Rock Photographer, he has had the honour to meet and photograph rock legends, who, in turn, have had the honour to be photographed by him.
I tried to take inspiration from this shot of Hendrix playing live to recreate my own version of the photograph with Digital Imaging and a musician playing live at the Hootananny pub in Brixton, UK.
Jimi Hendrix.
He was able to capture the essence of the musicians to an intimate level.
In the style of BARON WOLMAN
Difficulties in trying to reproduce the strength of the photo by Baron Wolman has been the very low-light of the location, the fact that I could not engage on a personal level with the artist and, perhaps, the dancing mob that was all around me while I was trying to take a still.
Drum player.
This photo is inspired by Baron Wolman and retains some of features of the Hendrix shot in that of the subject (a musician playing), the Black and White form and low contrast of the greys.
This photograph is an entertaining take on my flat mates and their biweekly meeting on the couch watching the Football TV Program Match of the Day. I took particular care in directing the shot to achieve a dynamic image, reflecting on the subjects’ position related to couch, camera and the visual field of the shot.
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Adobe Bridge (Camera Raw):
Adobe Photoshop:
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• Masking • Median Filter
Recovery Fill Light Blacks Clarity Vibrance Saturation
• Tone curve • HSL • Lens & Post Crop Vignetting
Match of the Day.
With this photograph I continued exploring the possibilities of combining several images to create a unique shot, which is attractive and looks perfectly normal to the abstract onlooker, but which, at a second and more attentive look, causes the observer to blink and question what he’s seeing, even if for just a moment.
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Adobe Bridge (Camera Raw):
Adobe Photoshop:
• • • • • •
• Masking • Levels (layer) • Median Filter
Exposure Recovery Fill Light Blacks Clarity Vibrance
• Saturation • HSL • Post Crop Vignetting
Um... er..
Details I selected the following four images to describe me as photographer and person. I took inspiration from my own name, Gaia, which in ancient Greek Mythology is the name given to the Mother of the Earth. and in Italian means happy and joyous. I am proud and honoured to hold this name, and glad that it reflects my positive take on life and my fervent admiration of the beauty of Nature.
December 2010, Brixton, UK. Sprinkled Tree.
October 2010, Brixton, UK. Curious Snail.
October 2010, Brixton, UK. Laborious Spider.
November 2010, Newbury, UK. Berries.
Digital Photography Elective 2010 Gaia Canestrari University of the Arts, LCC, London Fda Digital Media Design Yr II - 2010/11 CAN08252955