Photography Exam Preparation

AS Photography Exam Encounters, ‘Experiences and Meetings’ Hannah Beedle

First Artist Analysis What I find particularly interesting about this photo is the composition. The power lines in the photo almost divide up the image into three sections. The main subject lies only in the bottom two sections, leaving blank sky above. I can also see that the photographer has used a fast shutter speed, and therefore is able to capture the flying birds which make the photo more interesting.

I like how the birds lie only in the middle of the photo, in between the power lines. The use of black and white helps to enhance the contrast between the positive and negative space, which definitely leaves us with an aesthetically pleasing photograph.

Aaron Brown – Birds and Chimney

I have chosen to take photographs involving a similar subject matter to this photo. I want to focus on how the sky meets the the highest points in photos i.e. rooftops, the top of trees etc. Similarly to Brown’s photo, I will edit my photos into black and white to boost the contrast between positive and negative space. The photo also has a tranquil atmosphere, which is something I want to achieve in my own.

First Initial Photographs

Initial Photographs

Initial Photographs

Initial Photographs

Evaluation of Photographs My original intention was to take photographs that explore the visual idea where sky meets or has an encounter with rooftops and trees at their highest points. In order to focus on this I had to consider the composition of the photos. For example, none of my photos reveal the full object, and the ground isn’t visible. I think I have achieved this effect quite well in my photos, particularly with the black and white editing.

When I took the photos I used quite a small aperture because I wanted everything to be in focus. Although it wasn’t sunny outside, it was quite bright, and a fast shutter speed allowed me to focus the photo properly without a tripod. In some ways I think the cloudy sky was beneficial to me because the sky is one white colour, so there’s a clear contrast between the blank sky and the subject. However, some sunlight may have had a completely different effect on the photos because they are quite dull. Some light areas and shadows on the rooftops may have improved them.

However, I’m generally pleased with the focusing and lighting in my photographs.

Overall, I am happy with the composition of my photographs, particularly the first and last photos because of the angle I took the photo at. The rooftops slant in in a diagonal fashion. I felt it was important to be more creative with angles instead of photographing them directly in front of me, just to make them more interesting. I also thought it was a good idea to have the trees fill the width of the frame, to create a clear meeting boundary between the sky and the treetop. I’m not as pleased with the composition of the fifth photograph, because of the angle the roof slants at.

However, I think the snow on the rooftop compliments the white sky, adding to the wintery atmosphere.

I think my photos will have a visual impact on the viewer visually. The contrast in the black and white editing is strong and draws attention to it. I asked other people what images came to mind when looking at the photos. They all said that they have a ‘cold’ or ‘bleak’ aspect to them, and remind them of winter. It was also said that it brings back memories from childhood, with the old­fashioned buildings and the paneled housing.

I wanted my photos to symbolize that winter atmosphere, and the great distance between the rooftops/trees and space. Although they technically ‘meet’ the sky in the photo, it’s hard to define or understand where the sky stops. It allows us to question what is beyond our reach. I think I achieved this in my photos, and I think some viewers would be able to understand it. However, I would consider including an explanation with the photos if they were on display.

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs Developments by Photoshop experimentation

Evaluation of Developmental Photographs My original intention was to produce a set of developmental photos from my original images, showing an encounter between two different places. This involved printing out the photos from my trip to Whitstable and Canterbury, and re­photographing them to replace objects in my area. For this developmental set, I also experimented with symmetry in Photoshop to show repetition with the same image, meeting itself. I think I have achieved what I wanted to, but probably not to the highest standard I could have.

I based my idea for my developments on photos like this that I have seen lots of times before, showing an encounter between the past and present with a photograph. However, mine is based on the idea of two different places meeting. I wanted the photo and the background to both be in focus, meaning I had to use a small aperture. The problem was that it was quite dark outside, despite it being daylight. After trial and error, I found an ISO of 800 worked. I would have liked the background to be focused more, so if I was to do this again I would have tried for longer. If it was brighter outside, I would have left the background of the photos in colour, to make them less dull. Although I was limited with the angles I could photograph from, I’m quite pleased with the composition. I wanted to use my digital skills too, and am pleased with the results from my symmetry experimentation in Photoshop. It’s interesting to see the abstract shapes that can be created. I particularly like the image with the triangular roofs.

I wanted my photos to have quite a strong visual impact on the audience, due to the black and white, and the contrast between the positive and negative space in the photographs. The same technique is used to combine old and new (like in the photo to the right.) I think this has more of an impact in regard to symbolism because it reflects history with the present. It looks at how things can change, but also how things can stay the same over time.

In my photos I wanted to symbolise two different places coming together. Although everywhere around the world is different, there are things that are still similar among these different places, which can make it hard to establish where they came from. This is quite visible in the photos involving the trees. The lamppost photo is interesting because although you cannot see the top of the lamppost in my street, it has a much more modern design compared to the one in the photo being held up (taken in the old beach town of Whitstable).

Second Artist Analysis I feel this photo is important because it gives us an insight into a different culture. This one is from a series of photos Leepaisal took in Thailand. The woman would seem quite poor, and perhaps cold as she is wrapped in a blanket/thick material. I find it interesting how most of her face is hidden, except her eye which is looking directly at the camera. This demonstrates an encounter/meeting between the photographer and the subject.

‘Hidden Face’ by Drussawin Leepaisal ­Documentary Photograph

“I found this woman waiting for her husband after finishing her work. Her eyes are very interesting for me.”

The woman’s eye is very bright and stands out in the photo, and also most of her face is covered. Unless a viewer researched into this photograph, it could be difficult to establish the nationality of this woman because of the black and white editing. I think this photo conveys a deep message that no matter where in the world you are from, or what colour skin you have, or how rich or poor you are, everyone has eyes; everyone has a nose and mouth. We are all human beings and everyone deserves the right to be treated in that way.

For my next initial set of photographs, I’m going to focus on the idea of the encounter between the photographer and subject, mainly focusing on that eye contact between them.

Second Initial Photographs

Evaluation of Photographs 

My original intention with these photographs was to focus on the encounter between the photographer/camera and the subject, through eye contact. To do this I had to ensure the eyes dominate each photo as much as possible, but in different ways, and I think I achieved this.

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In order to achieve the desired effect on the eyes, I had to adjust the focus correctly to produce a sharp image. I believe I have done this well, as none seem to be out of focus. I also softened the other areas surrounding the eyes on Photoshop to define them. I think the lighting was a very important aspect to consider. I decided to take the photographs outside with an ISO of 100 or 200 because it was a very bright day. The natural sunlight was beneficial to me because it cast good shadows and is soft on the face. The best thing about this sunlight was the reflections it made in the eyes. In some of the photographs this is very clear, and you can actually see me with the camera in the reflection. This is a good way of showing that meeting between the photographer and the subject. I edited a lot of the photos with a low vibrancy or in black and white, because I like the soft look it gives to the skin whilst allowing the eyes to stand out. Overall, I am pleased with the composition of my photos too. I tried to photograph from different angles where the eyes follow the camera, such as above and to the side, however I could have been more experimental with this.

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I asked people for their opinion on how the photos impact them. The people asked all said they see the eyes in the photos as the dominant part, and that they stand out the most. This feedback is good because it shows that I have achieved what I intended to. I think the photos make people want to look deeper into the photograph, and discover the thoughts or emotions of that person. I wanted my photographs to be symbolic of deeper feelings, through the well­known saying ‘your eyes are the windows to your soul.’ I think I achieved this level of symbolism while visually demonstrating the meeting/encounter between the photographer and the subject. I think if viewers were to look at the set of photos for quite a while, they could see this.

Third Artist Analysis Bellocq photographed prositutes in the early 1900’s as a ‘side project’ which wasn’t linked to any of the other photography he did for a career; this was simply a hobby of his. These photographs were only discovered in the 1970’s after he had died, hidden in a sofa. When found, people were astonished and somewhat disturbed at several images where the faces of the women had been scratched out on the negatives. The photos were re­printed for a major exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. To this day, people are unsure whether it was Bellocq himself who scratched out the faces, or whether it was somebody else who managed to get hold of the negatives. It could have even been the prostitutes themselves who wished to keep their identities secret. This is a possibility because in some of Bellocq’s other photos, the prostitutes wore masks to hide their faces.

I find this technique interesting because it is a great way of blocking that encounter with someone’s identity, as you are unable to identify who they are. I also particularly like the rough look it gives to the photos, making them look older and more worn. I want to almost counteract the idea from my initial set of photos. Whereas you are able to see into the subjects’ eyes clearly, with the developmental set, I will use scratching techniques on the prints. I have other techniques in mind such as copydex glue printing because this is a way to rub out sections of the photos, and to make the photos look worn. This could relate to the exam title because it involves the photos almost being destroyed/going through an experience. I also want to experiment with Photoshop techniques to enhance my photos.

Other Artist Influences Emil Schildt is a photographer with a collection called ‘Kill your darlings’ where the prints or the negatives have been scratched, or have had things spilt on them, as if the photos are going through their own experience through being destroyed. This has also given me ideas for how I can develop my photos, whether this is physically or with Photoshop experimentation to give them a slightly destroyed look. Printing with Copydex is a good physical method I can use to achieve this effect. These are some examples of Schildt’s work.

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs

Evaluation of Photographs My original intention with the developmental set of images was to create a lack of identity or anonymity. I decided to use techniques that would stop the encounter with someone’s eyes, thus not being able to see through the ‘windows’ into their soul. Some of the techniques actually created quite disturbing photos, however I think this works well. It is interesting how blocking the eyes out gives the photos a completely different atmosphere to the original.

I decided to use various methods to erase parts of the photographs. I experimented with a sharp knife to create white scratches on the eyes, and the mouth. I liked this technique because it almost looks like thread that’s been sewn onto the photo. It also adds quite a violent/angry aspect to the photo. I also used a black permanent marker which only worked in a few photos (the ones I kept for the set). I particularly like the fifth photo where I drew thick black lines to block out the eyes, nose, and mouth which are key facial features. In addition, I experimented with copydex printing to produce very distressed photos. This wasn’t such a good method of erasing the eyes as they could still be seen. However, I managed to fix this in Photoshop. I used Photoshop to enhance many of my photos, with brushes to create a worn effect, and I overlaid textures such as crinkled paper and additional scratches. I think this was a good way of making the photos look different also.

I think these photos have quite a strong impact on the viewer. They are quite scary to look at, and when I asked others they said the subjects (models) seem soul­less, like there is no personality there because the eyes are blocked out. Some of the photos even resemble similar faces seen in horror movies, where people are possessed by something. They have a sense of emptiness about them. This is what I wanted to achieve with these photos, and I think this can be quite clearly seen.

Fourth Artist Analysis These photos are from a set called ‘The Observer and The Observed’ by Susan Derges in 1991.

I feel that these photos are important because they provide an interesting look into something we take for granted everyday. The photo to the right looks as if the water is being poured, but very fast shutter speeds would allow us to see the specific drops. This isn’t a side of water we would See in our everyday lives.

The facial expression of the woman in the background of the photos create a sense of sadness, and it looks as if the woman is looking into the water for some sort of inspiration, as she looks lost. The photographer may have been influenced by her own emotions, or something that has occurred in her past which lead her to feel lost.

More Artist Inspiration Unknown Photograph by Alix Malka I find this photo interesting because I think it’s a good way of partially blocking the encounter with the photographer and the subject, but with a physical object. I like the ‘soft’ atmosphere the photo has, particularly with the backlighting that illuminates the hair. It’s interesting how this technique can also create a fashion­like photo. I also find interesting how the polka dots create a pattern across the photo, but don’t distract the viewer from the face.

In my next set of photographs, I want to experiment with using masks, veils etc that block the encounter with the person in a similar way. I will also use objects such as leaves. I also would like to experiment with similar backlighting. With this, I believe I could create good fashion­like photos while sticking to this theme.

More Initial Photographs

More Initial Photographs

More Initial Photographs

More Initial Photographs

More Initial Photographs

More Initial Photographs

More Initial Photographs

More Initial Photographs

Evaluation of Photographs My original intention with this set of photos was to explore different ways of blocking the encounter with the person. I decided to experiment in the style of Susan Derges, where the person is encountering an everyday object, as well as me (the photographer). The focus is on the object, leaving the person in the photo out of focus. I also wanted to experiment with different cloths/materials that would partially block the encounter. I think I achieved what I wanted to with this set.

The first 9 photos in the set rely on focusing to achieve the desired effect. I had to carefully focus manually, so I made sure there was enough natural light to allow for a fast shutter speed, as I didn’t use a tripod. I think I managed to do this well, as the subjects in the foreground of the photos are clear. The level of focus on the face in the background is good because you can make out the facial features, but it doesn’t distract from the object being observed. Similary to Susan Derges, I chose to edit most of them into black and white to create a strong contrast and dark shadows on the face e.g. around the eyes. I tried to think about composition carefully, so I tried to have the object in the middle of the photo, or have the object and the face at either sides. I think the water on the glass photo is particularly effective because the water streaks fall in line with the facial features.

The last 3 photos work together as a set in their own right, due to my technique (using fabrics). I like the textural effect these have on the photo, particularly with the second photo where the light catches the creases in the material. I chose to edit these in black and white to again create strong contrast. I think I could have been more experimental with angles here, as they are all from the front. However, it was difficult to do this without seeing the fabric being held up.

With the photos behind the fabric, I wanted to symbolise a feeling of being trapped, and not being able to express yourself as freely as you would usually. The different facial expressions show this aim to be free. In my other photographs I am trying to symbolise the idea of being so drawn into an object, and how everyday objects can actually be quite interesting. However, I don’t think people would really be able to see this, so these photos just have more of a visual impact on the viewer.

More Artist Inspiration For my last set of developmental photos, I want to try out the technique I am going to use in the exam. I want to experiment with having different photos meet, and combined into one image using Photoshop techniques. I found Bela Borsodi’s work quite interesting, and I believe I could create some good outcomes using methods similar to this.

For the last set of developmental photos, I am using the initial photos taken previously to just try out the technique. However, in the exam I will use different photos that focus on everyday experiences (everyday objects I encounter throughout the day), and having these meet each other in one image.

Examples of Bela Borsodi’s work

Developmental Photographs

Developmental Photographs

Evaluation of Photographs For this last set of developmental photos, my intention was to try out the sort of techniques I will be using on my photos in the exam. I like the technique of having the original photos meeting one another in a combined image. However, with the set of photos I was developing, it was quite hard to think of ideas on how to do this. The first photo contains original photos that all have a glass in them. So, on Photoshop I created a glass shape, and then experimented with the layers and arranging these photos into the shape. This will be easier when I photograph specific objects that are all related for my exam. Although I don’t have many in my developmental set, I think they’re quite successful pieces.

The Exam Period For the exam, I want to produce a ‘Blurb’ book as a display for my final set of photographs that I will edit in the exam time.

At the beginning of the exam, I plan to have plenty of photos that I can work with (about 20­30 photographs). They will all still relate to the theme of encounters, experiences and meetings, but will focus on the idea of everyday experiences, and I will have photographed objects/things that I encounter during the day.

In the first 2­3 hours, I plan to experiment with quite complicated Photoshop techniques to combine different photographs into one. In the next 3 hours, I plan to edit the original photos that went into those combined ones, experimenting with different effects.

In the remaining 2 hours, I will arrange my photos onto the online ‘Blurb’ site. I will display the initial edited photographs in categories e.g. food. I will then show the combined image with it. I will then pay online for the book to be published and posted before the end of the exam.

Exam Evaluation I am pleased with my sets of initial photographs, but I think the second set (face shots) is the strongest set.

This is because the natural lighting casts great shadows, and I experimented with a few different angles and varying shots, such as close ups. However I think the use of depth of field is effective in my last set of initial photos.

I think in terms of the exam theme Encounters, Experiences and Meetings I definitely explored it. I began with location­based photos, in Whitstable which was a new place I had experienced, and I focused on the idea of where the sky meets rooftops and trees. I then wanted to focus on portraiture and the idea of the encounter between the photographer and the subject. I then developed this idea by blocking the encounter using experimentation. I continued to explore the theme further, this time having the photographer and the person in the photo encountering/meeting an object which has the focus (depth of field shots). For my exam I used a separate set of photos which then focused on objects that I encounter myself on a daily basis. In terms of experimentation, I think my second set of developmental photographs were fun and interesting.

Scratching and drawing on photos is not something I had done before and I think it was an effective technique. I also liked the re­photographing method used for my first developmental location photos, and I think these work really well together as a set. Other than that, I didn’t really experiment with physical techniques, as I used Photoshop for my last developmental set and also in my exam. I think it would have been better to take the developmental sets even further with physical experimentation, so I don’t think I pushed my creative boundaries as much as I could have.

Exam Evaluation Overall I think my choice of artists definitely helped me. My analysis of Aaron Brown’s photo definitely inspired me so I had establish exactly what I wanted to take photos of in Whitstable. The photo by Drussawin Leepaisal also influenced me greatly because it made me want to really focus on eye contact for my second set of initial photos, that creates that encounter between the photographer/camera and the subject.

Because of this, I think those initial photos were strong. In total I looked at seven artists, which helped me to develop my ideas in relation to the exam title. Looking at the work of artists such as Bella Borsodi, Emil Schmidt and Bellocq really gave me inspiration for how I could develop my initial sets of photos, physically and digitally. On the whole I think the study of artists gave me that inspiration I needed for this exam.

I am happy with how the exam preparation evolved my exploration into the theme, and I am also happy with my final outcome (the blurb book) as it focuses on the idea of experiences with everyday objects that I hadn’t really explored in my prep work. My intention was to see how I could make everyday objects look more interesting, so this allowed me to photograph from different angles and use depth of field appropriately. I think the project allowed me to experiment with photographs in many different ways, and although my final piece was created digitally, I am pleased with the outcome. If I had longer time on the exam project I would have liked to explore the theme even further, and I would have liked to see what other physical techniques I could have used to develop my photographs and show my experimentation skills. As my final piece included some photos that were combined together, maybe I could have looked into doing this physically i.e. creating collages. However, I think I have produced a successful exam project.