Photography Exam Module

Photography Keeley Eastwood

Change

Deformed

Life and Death Transformed

Transition Transforming Manipulations

Man Made Nature Differences

Mixed Media

Deconstruction Solid to Liquid

Comparing Images

Start and Finish New Form

Altered States Decay

Remade Repetition

Mental Disorder

Adapt Drugs Opposites Change of Appearance

Surrealism

Contrasting Images Before and After

Materials

Reflections

Altered State of Mind

Adjusted

Hypnosis

Rural

Nocturnal

Nightlife Hidden in the night

Nature

Sky

Urban

Landscapes Fantasy

Beginning to End Peoples lives

Life and Death

People’s activities from dusk till dawn

Time Negative and Positive

Dusk Till Dawn

Sunset and Sunrise

Different appearances at day and at night Twilight

Shadows Light and Dark

Stars

Travel

Repetition images

Time-lapse

Emotions Colour

Darkness

Areas in the morning and night Nocturnal Animals Lighting Horizon

Spacing

Analyse Mixed Media Bring Together

Revive Old Medium

Stitch

Glue

Mirrors

Portraits

Upgrade

Deconstruct, Rearrange and then Reassemble

Expose Flaws

Revealing

Scatter Collage Jigsaw

Change Appearance Make up of an object Fragmentation Shattered

Reorganise

Patchwork

Puzzle

Restore

Design

How Something Works

Mosaic

Construct something new from something old

Shapes Take Apart

Examine

Build Fix Up

Process Piece Together Layers Wreak Havoc

Shoot Ideas – Investigate Components : Life Within the theme of Investigating Components, I think an area that I would look at would be the idea of life. This could lead the project into different aspects of people’s lives and shows the different components that make up their daily lifestyles.

Personal Items – Using the idea of components of people’s lives, I would be interested in photographing collections of people’s belongings.

These belonging could be items of value to them, or items that make up parts of their daily lives. These items could be things such as a phone, a bag, photographs. This would be done in the studio to give a crisp appearance that enables all the items to be seen in a professional setting instead of being anywhere.

Homes – I think that it would be interesting to look into the places that people consider to be home. This would include taking photographs of the exterior and interior of these places. Doing this will explore different components of what makes a person feel at home in their environment. This shoot would enable me to use a range of techniques rather than being restricted to only one.

Family Portraits – These family portraits look into the different aspects of people’s family. It could show the different relationship between family members or who is involved in the make up of the family.

I would either do these in the studio, to get professional look to the images or in the subjects home. This would give the images a more personal feel to them rather than being very formal.

College – This would be an interesting shoot that could be done from my own perspective or if I followed someone else through their college day. This shoot could document the whole day from arriving at college to leaving. It would show the different components of how somebodies day is made up, from their lessons to walking down the corridor. Each shot would have a different appearance and feel to it as it is an environment which is always changing in atmosphere.

Hobbies – This shoot would show a range of what people get up to in their spare time. This could include events such as competitions, sports, charity events. It could also show more typical things such as shopping or going to the cinema.

Each of these show a different component that is involved in people’s lives rather than just what makes them who they are.

Shoot Ideas – It’s In The Details : Hidden Details Within the theme of It’s In The Details, I thought it would be interesting to look at Hidden Details. This would make the work that I produce more interesting as it isn’t something that you may come across in everyday life.

Hidden Items Within A Scene – This could be a shoot that is constructed. As the photographer, it would enable me to set up something that I know of, but make it hard, yet not impossible, for the viewer to find. It would work well with landscape photography which would make interesting shots that include smaller details that the viewer has to look closely to find what they are looking for.

Personal Marks – With this, a shoot would include people showing off their hidden marks. These marks could be scars that they don’t show, tattoos that they hide or other marks that remain hidden away. This would be a shoot that would allow people to remain anonymous and still remain personal to them. I feel that this could be interesting to work up with people who hide part of who they actually are. This could show the idea that people hide themselves in order to be accepted by others.

Graffiti – Shoots that include graffiti would bring me to doing urban shoots.

This would include architecture photography due to this work being on buildings. It could also lead into working with graffiti artists as they construct their work.

This would enable me to capture the details of their work as they produce them. Graffiti could bring to my work areas of the city that has also been more hidden away and contains amazing details that otherwise are lost amongst everything.

Inner Workings – This shoot could include taking images of items that are made up of different parts. It could be that I take photographs of the parts as they are. Or I could take it all apart and photograph them in a collection, showing off all the details that are hidden by the exteriors that we are used to seeing. I feel that this shoot would be a way of showing off the idea of cataloguing items, such as the mechanisms of a clock, or the parts of a toy car.

Macro PhotographyUsing macro photography in a shoot would enable me to get closer into the details of objects that appear differently up close than they do from a far. The shoot could take place both in the studio and on location. It would work well to show the same object, one at a distance and then the finer details of it up close. This shoot would show that difference between what our eyes see and what a camera can capture.

Shoot Ideas – Debris : Glass Instead of looking at Debris as a whole, focusing on glass could work in many ways. With one type of debris, it is open to many different interpretations instead of going and finding a load of unconnected debris that links in no way. Focusing on one area will make a more controlled project.

Reflections – A shoot for this could include using windows in different locations. The windows could act as a way to connect with people. It seems like a distanced idea from the theme of debris, but it could link with the idea of how the world seems so fragmented and separated from each other, as if through glass. This could work in a variety of places as long as the windows are clear enough to see through and not frosted over.

Broken Glass – For this shoot, I could look into how the has come to be broken in such a way. This could include photographing the glass itself, the general surroundings and also where the glass used to reside. The shoot may be involving the smaller details of the glass, and the place it has come from to show the journey it has taken to get from one pane of glass to being in pieces.

Projections – I had the idea of projecting different images onto glass. This could work with broken up glass or even shattered glass. It would give the work more texture and seem more interesting. The portraits would need to be taken in the studio, I feel, to get a crisp appearance that would juxtapose against the texture that they would be displayed on. It could work with street photography, however, I feel that we would lose the person within the image if also layers with this texture.

Stained Glass Windows – This is a shoot that interests me as it

gives the opportunity to explore more than just the windows. The windows let light be cast through them, casting a colour on that around it. This is something that would be interesting to see. Also, I could photograph the finer details of the window. This could be either using macro or simply cropping my images to create something new using these fragments.

Through Different Glasses – This idea involves actually shooting through different pieces of glass. It would mean using different types of glass that would affect the way that the image looks when photographed through it. I could use a range of types of glass, including transparent, opaque, patterned, moulded. Using these different types would break up the image making it appear more broken and separated from its original form. This links to the theme of debris as everything is being broken down.

Project Plan Ideas – Dusk Till Dawn I have decided that I want to look into the theme of Dusk Till Dawn.

This is the brief that stood out to me the most, and is something that I would find interesting to explore.

I feel that this brief would give me the opportunity to go down many different avenues of how to approach this single theme. Doing this would broaden my skills as a photographer and make me more knowledgeable in areas that I could improve in. It would also give me the chance to explore new techniques that I haven’t had the opportunity to try.

I could explore the theme of Dusk till Dawn in more detail by referring back to the mind map that I produced. As it contains words that link to the theme, it will provide constant inspiration for me to generate ideas from and move the project forward.

This project would enable me to look at different techniques and styles. I could look into: • Time-lapse • Street Photography • Motion Blur • Nature Photography • Portraiture • Colour • Lighting And much more.

With this project brief, there are many different styles that could be incorporated into the work that I produce. The technical side also has a wide range to offer to enhance what I am producing. Each different technique and style will make the project more interesting rather than sticking solely to one area of photography.

I would also get the opportunity to work with other equipment that I haven’t used before. A wide angle lens would be interesting to work with when doing time-lapse photography. Or using filter on the camera to give the lighting a different tone to it to see what effect it has on the overall appearance of the images in portraiture or even nature photography.

What I Would Look For: I will look for many things during the project. I will look for interesting places to do shoots while out on location. By having a variety of locations, it gives the work variance rather than photographing the same place all the time. Also, I will look for interesting subjects to focus that work well with the environment in which they will be photographed.

Where Would I Go: This would give me a wide range of options to go and photography in nearly any place I wanted to. I could photograph in the urban environment of Manchester City Centre, or in contrast head out to the more rural areas that surround the city. This gives me the chance to make the most of the brief and what it has to offer. I also am taking the opportunity to take images while in Berlin that will link with this project. Again, this could include different aspects that will work for the many areas of this brief.

Project Plan Ideas – Dusk Till Dawn After interpreting the different ideas behind the title of the theme, I have come up with some shoot ideas. These are not ones that I am definitely going to do, but they will provide a solid foundation to start with and work from, either to get the project going or to make better shoot plans from.

Architecture – I have found in the past that I have an interest in architecture photography, however have only done this during the daytime. I feel that using the city centre and surrounding areas, I could capture the buildings in a way that is different from the average way they look in the daylight. I would hope to capture building that use light to emphasise them and make them look more interesting. This could work well with both old and new building types.

Time lapse – I am interested in working with time-lapse photography. This could work in two different situations. I would use this to capture the sunsets and sunrises. I could also use it to capture the sky and night.

This is a technique that really interests me and is testing to get the correct settings for a perfect picture. I like the idea of the movement that otherwise goes unnoticed and unappreciated.

Sunrise/Sunset – I would be interested in shooting at the sunsets and/or the sunrises.

This would be interesting to capture over a period of time to show the differences of how the sun appears on different days. It could be interesting to compare the colours and appearance of how the sky looks at the same time each day. This could work well with a long exposure to capture the gradient effect of the sunrise and sunsets.

Urban Photography – I have done urban shoots in the past which have been of an interest for me. Looking into different areas of urban photography at dusk till dawn gives a wide range of areas to explore. I would be interested to see how the light effects how the city looks in different areas. I could also look into the emptiness of the city during the night time in comparison to the rush of day.

Urban photography can open so many doors that lead down a new path and also link into other shoots that I have planned, such as architecture.

Intentions My primary intention for this project is to explore different aspects of the theme 'Dusk till Dawn.' I want to explore different interpretations of this theme and see the different directions in which this takes me.

Having thought up initial ideas, I will take these further and develop them. Also, by creating a mind map on this theme, I am able to look back at any given time and pick a new word and work from there. I have included some shoot ideas on another page, giving details of where I could go and what I would do/photograph. This will give me a starting block to work from. I may not stick exactly to these plans, however I have some basic ideas of what I could potentially do.

Throughout this project, I will research different artists who will provide me with inspiration for the work that I produce. I don’t want to copy the artists, but I would like to find inspiration from what they have produced and let it influence my work and help to guide me towards making my own work interesting. A few artists that I may look into are: Simon Kennedy, Paul Reiffer and Michael Bosanko. I feel that these artists could take me down very different routes within photography, thus letting me explore this theme more explicitly rather than focusing solely in one area.

Simon Kennedy works with architecture. This would enable me to photograph to city during the night and see how it looks. Paul Reiffer is more focused on landscapes. I feel that this would take my work in a complete different direction that the work of Simon Kennedy. Michael Bosanko does work with light trails. I think that this would be interesting to look into during the night. It could show that changes of the environment in which I shoot.

As well as secondary research, I will conduct primary research. This primary research will come from books, museums and galleries. I will use the books from the library to give an alternate point instead of that from the internet. I will visit museums/galleries during a trip to Berlin, which will provide me with inspiration and also a different set of art that I haven't seen before.

Gallery Research – Museum fßr Fotografie The Museum fur Fotografie is located in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin. It was first opened in 2004 and has since been a focal point for the photographic community. The museum has had over 1 million visitors in the past few years to visit their exhibitions, including the Helmut Newton Foundation. The work that is exhibited at the Museum fur Fotografie has a broad spectrum within the confines of what the artists have produced. The vast amount of space that is on offer for the work to be displayed allows the work to be exhibited in a format which brings the visitors from one room to another.

The museum is currently displaying the work of Helmut Newton and Greg Gorman. Newton's work is from the collection named: Pages From The Glossies. This work focuses on the photographic work he produced for different magazines such as Vogue and Elle.

These images are drawn from the pages of the magazines in which they were shown, and for the first time displayed in an exhibition form. His photographs do contain some nudity however, there are other pieces which may be more appealing to others based around the fashion industry. Showing his work across two floors shows the magnitude of how much he has produced over the four decades in which he was working.

The museum is also home to the work by Greg Gorman known as Color Works. This small scale exhibition is based around the portraits of prominent people in the art scene. Gorman's work includes the portraits of people involved in art, music and films.

His work juxtaposes again Helmut Newton as color is very prominent within his work. Examples of people who he has photographed are: David Bowie, Grace Jones, Andy Warhol and Julianne Moore.

Gallery Research – CAMERA WORK Photogalerie CAMERA WORK is a photo gallery located in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin. The gallery specializes in the contemporary art, and has done since its opening in 1997. They have said that their aim is to show off the work of both iconic artists such as Diane Arbus, but also the work of modern day artists. I feel that this is important as it shows the transition between the historic to modern work and visitors are able to see how the work has been influenced.

The gallery has a range of contemporary works. This work ranges from nude portraits, fashion photography, architectural and landscape photography. By housing these different types of photographs, it widens the attraction to visitors as there will be something for everyone.

CAMERA WORK has put emphasis on wanting to support artists who they feel have potential to make it within the photographic community. For a gallery to do this, it shows that they aren't solely interested in the iconic work that people have seen time and time again. By showcasing the work of lesser known artists, it offers them an opportunity to show how diverse their gallery is and also helps the artists to get noticed on a larger scale.

With the popularity of the gallery, they have opened up a secondary gallery. This is on a smaller scale but has the same ideologies as the main gallery. Although it is smaller, it still has the capacity to host exhibitions in a more exclusive way.

The building in which the art is housed is itself contemporary. This fits well with the aesthetic of the gallery and makes it seem like a whole rather than two separate entities. Looking at the display below, I feel that this is something that is important to showing off this contemporary work. It isn't too cluttered, but also isn't too spread out. Having large pieces, such as the Jack Nicholson portrait is a focal point which leads into the room, then is surrounded by other works.

Gallery Visit – Museum fßr Fotografie

The image is of a woman, modelling a pant suit in a street. I would describe this image as dark, mysterious and fashionable. The reason I chose these words are because it sums the image up technically and stylistically. This image's purpose was for publication in Vogue. Being set for this purpose, the image has fulfilled the necessary specifications of showing the outfit that the model is wearing. The image reminds me of a very Parisian lifestyle through both the setting and outfit that the woman is wearing. I believe that this was published in the French Vogue, so this would be fitting for the audience who read the magazine. Formal elements have been taken into consideration when taking this image.

Colour has been kept to monochrome, which I think is effective, especially for this editorial piece. By keeping to the black and white tones, I think it helps in creating the mood that the audience feel when looking at the image. The darkness of the image contrasts with the lighter areas, also creating more tones and shadowing, which adds to the various interpretations that could be taken from this. Space has also been used well, allowing the model to be seen as the main subject, with the setting blending into the background. Having this space give the woman the most attention, which is clearly what was intended due to the purpose of this image, to sell the clothes. I believe that having the majority of the lighting placed behind the subject, it makes the image appear more mysterious.

Backlighting the model allows for there to be a glow from behind. It also makes the impression that this person is potentially quite dark and powerful, which goes well with the strong outfit that she is wearing. The way in which the model is presented makes me believe that the photographer was trying to make the woman to appear as a femme-fatale.

I think this has done well due to the strong pose that the model has, as well as the structure of the outfit that makes her appear formal yet dangerous. The overall appearance of the image helps to set the scene and backstory of this woman yet without revealing who she is. It also fulfills its need to draw attention to the clothing.

Lighting

Fashion

Dark

Contrast Feminine

Rule of Thirds

Night

Iconic

Mystery Strong

Composition Sophisticated

Black and White

This image is of a woman stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin. The purpose of this image was for publication in German Vogue. I would describe the image as being recognizable, fashionable and cinematic. The reason that I chose these words are because, the gate is an iconic landmark, allowing people to get a sense of where this is. Fashionable, was due to the clothing the subject is wearing, plus the notion that this was taken for an editorial magazine, Cinematic came to mind, as the whole image appears in a way that could have come straight out of a film. The image combines both architectural photography with portraiture. I like how the woman is positioned in the foreground, as she is meant to be the main focus, however the Brandenburg Gate also pulls the attention of the audience. The formal element that is most prominent are tone/colour. Although the image is black and white, it has a great impact on the overall appearance of the image. By keeping to the monochrome colours, it allows for more tones to be seen, rather than a spectrum of colour. The tones in the image range from bright white, to very dark black. This makes the image have depth to it and appear as if you are right there in the moment. It also has created a stark contrast in areas, such as the dress with the woman's porcelain skin. By having this contrast, it draws the audience in to these areas, because it catches their eye more than a dull grey tone would. Space has been used effectively in this image, as it gives the woman enough space around her without letting her get lost amongst the background. There is a good balance between the negative and positive space. I believe that the most interesting part of the image is the woman. This is because she doesn’t look particularly happy or sad. There is a look of contentment on her face that makes me wonder what she is thinking.

This is something that I think is interesting due to the purpose that this was taken for. As it is an editorial shot, I would expect the image to focus more on the model and the clothing, yet there isnt too much of an interest in her, but rather her within the setting.

Artist Research – Paul Reiffer Paul Reiffer is one of Britain's multi award winning photographers. For many years, he has been travelling around the world capturing landscapes, people, and commercial images. As a landscape photographer, he has captured some of the most aesthetically pleasing locations, in a way that draws people in even more than they already were. The locations he travels to are iconic and he makes them appear extremely vibrant. With the locations he visits, he makes them visually more enticing, due to the colours and composition.

Reiffer's work is something that stood out to me when looking for artists who inspire me. The way in which he captures the sunset is something that is found to be interesting. I believe that his work is trying to show both the architectural aspects from around the world, while still showing off the beauty of the natural world. What I particularly like about his work in general is the colours that he is able to capture during the time in which he has taken the pictures. You can tell when looking at any of his images, that he has taken time to scope out the precise location that he is going to shoot from, and also that he has thought about every aspect of the image, from composition to perspective.

Paul Reiffer’s work stood out to me as they all capture different locations around the world in ways that people may not always get to see. I have an interest in travel so this is something that also appeals to me on a personal land professional level.

Strong

Attracts Attention

Distinctive Memorable Striking High Vantage Point Aesthetic Value

Iconic

Stylish

Atmospheric Colourful

What I like about this image is the high vantage point as it gives a wider view of the location. I also like the colours that the artists has been able to capture. These are both things that I would like to incorporate into my own work and see if I can achieve similar effects.

Harmonious

This photograph is called Curtain Call, and was taken by Paul Reiffer in Los Angeles, California. The subject of the image is the sun setting over LA, taken from the top of the Hollywood Hills. Sunset photography is something that Reiffer is known for, and this is an image that particularly captured this theme for me. I don’t believe that this image has an intended audience due to it being a landscape. There isn't anything particular that would mean that a certain group of people would not be interested in it. It is clear that this image is representing LA, due to the use of the Hollywood sign. Using the sign gives the audience some context as to where this is without having to personally tell them. I feel that this image is something that sticks in the mind of people who have seen it. This is because, we are normally used to seeing images of the sign, however, this turns the perspective and we are looking down on the city. Usually, images are taken showing the sign, but this allows the audience to see the city in a way that they probably haven't before. Having this high vantage point has allowed the photographer to capture more of the landscape than they would have from a lower point, such as the ground level. This is an advantage as it gives him the opportunity to capture both the city below, and also the sky during the sunset. It gives the image as sense of these two being as one, rather than separate. The composition of the image is important as it helps in making the picture a whole. Reiffer has used the rule of thirds to separate the image into sections. The sign is in the foreground and the lower third of the image, making it the first thing that you see when you look at this. The city is in the midground and the middle third, this makes it the passing through point of the image. The sky takes up the top third and background. This is the place that we are drawn to but have to look at the other sections before we get there. By using this type of composition, it makes the image feel as if the audience were actually stood there and this is the view that they were seeing. The colours within the image help to set the mood that the audience will feel.

This has a range of colours, from blue to oranges. The blue/purple hues have a calming effect while the oranges brighten up the mood. Overall, the images colours make the audience feel drawn in and makes them feel involved.

Shoot Plan – Fernsehturm de Berlin

While on a trip to Berlin, I am going to do a shoot inspired by the work of Paul Reiffer. After looking at his work I was inspired to create my own set of image that capture similar aspects as his work does. Berlin is home to the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) which has a viewing platform located at 203 m. I have chosen this location because it has a very high vantage point. This will enable me to see further than I would from the ground, and also links back to the work of Paul Reiffer. Also by using this location, it will offer me a 360 degree view of the city to work with. This gives me opportunities to change where I stand and the angle I get on the sunset.

For this shoot, I plan on going up the tower before the sun sets. I will then wait and capture photographs as the before, during and after the sunset. I want to do this as it will fit well with my theme of Dusk Till Dawn, and also draws from the work that I have been looking at. By going up the tower before the sun starts to set, it will provide me enough time to find a spot to shoot from that will help my images look the best that they can.

During this shoot, I will look for different ways of showing the sunset. I want to try and capture the different colours that are produced during the transition between day and night. I also will be looking for ways to incorporate the city below into the images, in harmony with the sky above.

These are some of the best images from the shoot that I did at the Fernsehturm. I think that these images are impactful in their own way.

I have produced a physical contact sheet rather than putting them all in the sketchbook. I believe that the shoot went well and I got a range of different results throughout the duration of the sunset.

Contrast

Sunlight

Aesthetic Value

Direct Framing

Stylish Bright Harmonious Warm Tones

Striking Strong

Metadata: ISO – 800 f/ 5.6 1/3200

Colour

This is my best image from the shoot that I did while at the Berlin TV Tower. I think that this is an impactful image that captures the attention of the audience straight away. The image was taken at the top of the tower during the sunset. It captures the sun glinting amongst the clouds, and also the city below. I wanted to try and capture the harmony between the sky and the bustling city below and I feel that I have achieved that. This is obviously a landscape image yet focusing more of the horizon rather than the actual location. The formal element of colour and tone are the most prominent in the image. The orange colour that is captured gives off a warming and happy aura that is picked up by the audience when looking at this. Having captured the different tones, in the clouds and city, it gives more depth and creates more of an atmosphere than if there wasn’t any. I think that this is also impactful as an image as it takes on a different perspective of the city than people may be used to seeing. This high vantage point allows the audience to see the world below in a different way than before. Usually I wouldn’t be happy with the way in which the sun has been captured, however, I feel that having the light beams coming off it makes it appear as if it is reach out to the audience, making the feel more involved. I feel that on a personal level, this image captures the beauty of the city of Berlin. The warmth of the image encapsulates my personal visit to the city and therefore has positive connotations for me.

When I look at the image, I feel as if I am transported back to this moment. I feel that it has a god-like feel to it due to the high vantage point. Also, when looking at the image, it makes me think of the peaceful and calm moments in life that are relaxing and this image sums that up for me. In the current situation that the world is going through, this image reminds me of the moments of serenity and the beauty of the world. Overall I am happy with the way in which the image has come out and the impact it has on the people that see it.

Rembrandt Lighting Rembrandt lighting is a technique that is very popular within portraiture photography. The setup allows the subject to have a half lit effect. One side of the face is in shadows while the other is fully illuminated. There is also the feature of the triangle that appears under the eye of the subject, on the shadowed side of the face.

The lighting technique is named after the 17th Century Dutch artist Rembrandt.

This technique was prominent within his paintings. He used this technique to a great effect in his work. When looking at his work it is clear to see the effect that it has, and how it appears in a similar way to a vignette.

The darkened edges make the portraits appear more dramatic and focused on the subject.

To achieve this effect, there is a particular way in which everything must be set up. One key light must be set up, usually at a 45 degree angle from the subject, and also above the subjects eye level to be angled downwards. The subject should be positioned somewhere in between the camera and the key light.

Having them positioned in this way will allow the shadow to be captured and hopefully fall in the right place.

The camera should be primarily set on 1/125 and f/5.6 to begin with. This can be changed if the image is too dark or too grainy. This is something that has to be changed during the shoot as it may not be achieving the same effect as you were hoping for. The camera and lighting should be linked with a trigger flash as the in built flash will completely alter the appearance of the image if it raises when the shot is taken.

Shoot Plan – Rembrandt Lighting I was inspired by the technique of Rembrandt Lighting. It is something that I think would be interesting to look at and would link well to my theme of ‘Dusk till Dawn.’ The darkness of the images would link to my theme and I feel that this would make my work go in a different direction. For the shoot, I will be using the studio. This will enable me to have consistent lighting that wont change and effect the look of my images. I will have the black background down to give the image a darkened setting, while making the room darker by turning off all of light except for the one to light my subject. I will be making this shoot focus on portraiture. I feel that this is something that my work so far is missing, so this technique would lend itself well to it. I want to create a set of images that are dramatic in style and that have the onlooker be drawn in.

The shoot will need to be set up in a particular way to achieve the Rembrandt effect. To do this, a single light will be shone onto my subject at an angle which will illuminate only half of her face. The other side will be in near to total darkness. There mustn't be any light on the background, as otherwise it wont have the correct appearance. I will be using the honeycomb and barn doors on the light, so I can change how much or little light I want on my subject.

The camera settings that I will begin with are f/5.6 and 1/125. These settings should work, however I will change them accordingly to make the images better. I will also be using the trigger flash to make sure the light flashes in sync with the camera taking the image.

I looked back at the photographs that I took during this shoot and thought that these were the best six. They each offer something different. I turned them black and white to relate to make the more dramatic.

I also used some other post production techniques to enhance the images, such as Gaussian blur, levels and colour correction. This allowed me to make the images appear how I wished they would.

This is the best image that I took on my shoot that was inspired by the Rembrandt Lighting effect. In the photograph, there is a female in close up. I wanted to create a piece that looked aesthetically pleasing while dramatic at the same time. The image has been edited to make it have better contrast, highlights and balance. I believe that I have achieve the lighting technique, which is a replica of Rembrandt's signature style. This is a portrait, however, I didn’t want to focus on the whole face, rather just one half. I also wanted to make my subject appear content which I did by getting her to pose in such a way. By removing the aspect of the subject looking into the camera, it makes them appear relax and as if they were unaware of the photograph being taken. To capture this, I used the settings that I stated in my shoot plan, as they work well and achieve the effect that I wanted. I wanted to focus on the light as a formal element within this image. I feel that I have used the light in a way that has enabled the overall appearance to be dramatic and impactful for the audience. With the light coming in from one side, it allows there to be contrast with the shadows that are created on the other half of the subject's face. I also think that by using the barn doors on the lamp, it made it easier to limit the amount of light coming through. Having this equipment meant that I could see the contrast straight away and change the opening size to suit hat I desired. I chose to create negative space around the subject because it allows for the audience to be drawn to the focal point of her face. If there were no negative space, I don’t feel that the image would be as impactful as this is. Shadow adds to the image in a way that I was surprised. There are areas, such as the eyelid, that have natural shadowing due the structure of the model's face. This makes the image appear more natural. When I look at this image, it makes me curious as to what the subject if thinking about. As she isn't making eye contact, it leads to some enigma being created rather than being able to read her emotions from her face. The shadowing also adds to the mystery in the image. It could be interpreted that the darkness is hiding something, whether this be a secret, or it could be a metaphor for emotions. If I were to take this photo again, I would aim for capture some more detail in her face, and maybe some more emotion.

Artist Research – Michael Bosanko Michael Bosanko has been capturing photographs of light for over ten years.

The work he produces are based around light and the way it can be manipulated. His work has been published in on various platforms: magazines, tabloids, books. Also, he writes for a photographic magazine, giving his knowledge in this area. Bosanko has some well established clients, such as: British Airways, O2, The X Factor, Rolls Royce. He is renowned for his light drawings that he has made over the years. These range from simplistic pieces, to replica's of other artists work, such as Da Vinci and Van Gogh. These light drawings show the manipulation that Bosanko is able to create using his creative flare. He also captures light trails in various places. The images that he captures of these light trails use the aspects of nature in harmony with the urban aspect of a car. His work with the trails is something that is eye catching as he doesn’t always just capture the light straight on. He plays with angles, making it appear as if the rest of the world is frozen and only this section of the image remains free to move. I am most interested in his work with light trails and feel that this is something that I would like to try out as it links well to my theme of 'Dusk till Dawn'.

The work of Michael Bosanko caught my eye, as he captures light in ways that take you on a journey around the image and show you the environment in which he took it. This makes me think that he is trying to show more than just the light.

The photograph is of the light trails that are left behind by the cars passing underneath. It is clear that this was taken from a higher vantage point, most likely a bridge. The main reason I was drawn to this image was due to the contrast between the light with the darkness of the nature surrounding the road. This contrast allows the audience to focus on the light, which is the main feature of the image. I don’t believe that this image can be put in a specific genre as it pulls elements from various. Looking at this image, I can tell that it was taken with a long exposure, to allow for the light to be captured in this way. Also, it has to of been taken on a tripod as there isn't any camera shake/movement visible. The image is focused around the lines created by the lights. This focal point of one of the formal elements helps the image to appear more structured and thought out. The lines aid the audience as it guides them around the image. By having them central, it means that the audiences eyes are drawn to them and then follow them, in either direction. I find it also takes you further into the photograph, as there is a curve as the end of the road. This makes me think that the photographer is trying to make the audience think about what could be around this bend, and where it leads to. Another formal element that this image captures is the use of colour.

There is a high contrast between the white and red, as well as with the black areas. Again, this draws the audience in, however, it makes them aware of the space between the two different colours. This could be interpreted as the people driving these cars are on the same path, yet somehow their paths differ, despite being the same. What I find interesting about this work is how light can depict the journeys that people are taking, and how taking a picture from a different angle can show this is a different way. I have been inspired by this work and feel that this is something that I would like to pursue within my work, potentially incorporating other aspects of the artists work.

Contrast

High Vantage Point

Eye Catching Road

Light Bright

Night Separation Nature

Lines

Shoot Plan – Light Trails For this shoot, I want to capture light trails in different ways. To do this I will try various techniques and see what the effects of this are on my images. I was inspired by the work of Michael Bosanko, and how he captures the light of cars during the night. I would like to attempt to capture similar images to him. However, on the same shoot, I would also like to put my own twist on his work and capture light in a different way rather than remaining still. For this shoot I will be going out after it has gone dark. This will enable me to capture the light more clearly. The locations that I will go to are obviously outdoors, due to the nature of the subjects that I want to capture. I aim to do some shots on the roadside, which will show off the urban environment. The issue that I may face with this is light pollution from surrounding buildings. This is something that I could potentially edit during postproduction. Another location that I am going to go to is some bridges that look over the motorway. These bridges will allow me to have a high vantage point, that will give me different angles to the shots that I would have received if I was on the same level as the subject. It will also give me the opportunity to explore angle further, by looking into the distance or straight down below. I think this will show how light appears differently when taken at different perspectives. While travelling to, from and in between locations, I am also going to be capturing images, but from within the car. This is something that I thought would be interesting as it isn’t how light trails are traditionally captured. I am not sure exactly how the images will turn out, yet I feel that this is a way to experiment within my work. Also, I think that the technique of moving, rather than the subject moving, may create some abstract effects that have their own flare.

For this shoot, I require a camera and tripod. The tripod will give me stability when taking the photographs. The settings that I will begin with will be: Shutter Speed – 25” / ISO 100. I will shoot in shutter priority as this will allow me to capture the motion of the light.

These are the best six images from the shoot that I did to capture light trails. The shoot itself went well and I captured light trails in various ways. The images that I think worked best was ones that I captured in darker areas, as there is less light pollution from buildings, meaning that the light from cars is more prominent. I found that when capturing the images while in the car, they produced some effects which were quite interesting, like the two in the center. By moving myself, rather than other subjects moving by, it allowed for more experimental photography, rather than the typical effects that you would normally see. I am pleased with the way that most of the images have turned out as this was the first attempt of me doing this. If I was to do it again, I would like to find different locations with alternative heights and viewing platforms and see what the different effects of this are.

I believe that this is the best image that I have taken from the shoot that I did inspired by Michael Bosanko. The image is of a motorway during the night, with the cars passing by on either side of the carriageway. The image could be placed within landscape, but with an urban twist. To create this photography, I used a slow shutter speed and set the camera up on a tripod. The issue I faced however was that due to the height that I was taking the images from, it was quite windy so the camera may have shaken slightly. The photograph reminds me of the journeys people take, and the ones I have taken. It also makes me think about the endless possibilities of where the people are going, who left these light trails. I, like Michael Bosanko, have focused of the formal element of line. I wanted to see how the light moved with the cars and how it changes as the cars move from lane to lane. Similarly to the artist, the line that have been created lead the audience around the image and into the distance. I like how the colours have turned out in the light trails, as they aren't all one shade of either red or white. Within the trails there are strong and weak areas of the colours, showing where was most densely populated. I have used negative space because it allows for the light to be the main focus of the image, rather than having a background that took away from what I was trying to show. When I look at this image, it makes me feel curious because I wonder where there light trials will stop. I have an interest in travel, so I think about where the destination for these light will be and how long they could go on for. Another interpretation for this could be good and bad, the white being the good, while the red is bad. As they are going on two separate paths, this could be an underlying meaning about the right path to take. If I were to take this image again, I would make sure there was no movement at all and I would try to make sure that the sky was completely dark in order to make the most of what I want to show.

Photoshop – Cut Text from an Image I created these two outcomes by cutting text from an image and then playing around with the layout. To create these: • Open an image, preferable with some colour.

• Use the Type Tool to write a word over the image. Make sure the font is rather bold.

• Adjust the size of the text to your choosing.

• Double click the background layer to convert to regular layer.

• Drag image to top of layers palette.

• With image layer selected, Layer > Clipping Mask • Add some extra effect by duplicating the image layer. Drag this duplicate to the bottom of the layers.

• If desired you could: add inner glow or drop shadow to the text.

Also, you could play around with the blend mode of the text.

Initially I wasn’t happy with this tutorial when I first found out about it. However, upon creating my outcomes I am rather pleased. I think that the images that I have used work well for this.

The top image is my favourite out of the two. I think it works well to play with the blend mode and make the use of the word more effective. Also I think that by making the word hidden is interesting. I do still like the bottom image, as the word I chose links with the image and the placement. With the image being of light trials I chose the word movement. To further the link between the text, I moved it from it’s original position to be more visible as it didn’t work in the same situation as the top image. I would consider doing this again, as I think it could work to create images that are edgy and have hidden details to them, which could potentially connect to my theme of Dusk till Dawn.

Artist Research – Simon Kennedy Simon Kennedy is a photographer who specializes in architecture and interiors. These areas are something that shines through within his work in a professional manner. Not only does Kennedy have an interest in photographing this particular type, but he also has a background in architecture, due to being qualified as one and teaching it at postgraduate level. I believe that this is a factor that helps in making his work be the best that it can be. By having this prior knowledge, not just thinking the buildings look good, he can take a different approach to his images. As an architect and photographer, he is able to pick up on areas of buildings and structures that other photographs may look over or completely miss. To be able to bring different areas of your knowledge together, you can create images that are impactful and specific for the purpose of why you are taking them.

His work captures architectural structures in harmony with the night. This is something that I would like to try. His work shows the different angles and perspectives that buildings can be captured, which makes them appear more appealing to any audience. I like the way that Kennedy frames the buildings in different ways, and his work isn't all the same. There are different scales and angles that allow for the buildings to be seen as a whole collection or specifically one section. This is something that I would like to try when doing my own shoots.

Simon Kennedy stood out to me as an artist who captures both the old and the new in a way that anybody can appreciate, whether or not they like architecture. Also, he doesn’t just take photos of buildings in the same way as every other architectural photographer. It’s as if he gets amongst the buildings and gets to know them.

Nighttime

Cool Tones

Curvature

Minimalist Lighting

Leading Lines Simplistic

Point of View

Business

What I like about this image is the way that Simon Kennedy has capture the lighting in a way that is harmonious with the building. Also, I like how the building is presented in a way that is captivating to the audience. These are both things that I would like to incorporate into my work as I think they would help to make the work appear more professional.

This image was taken in London at a corporate building. It is an architectural image that captures the way in which the building looks and the way it connects with the lighting. I believe that the image was taken for corporate purposes, such as a companies website, to show the building in different ways to get people interested. Having the image taken at night gives a different view on the building than the one that people will have seen during the day. I feel that the image is suited to the corporate appearance as it is very crisp and clean cut rather than being cluttered. The image is composed well and is effective at drawing the audience in.

As this is a corporate building, it most likely won't appeal to everybody. However, even if you did come across this image, and it isn't your type of image, you are still drawn in due to the way in which it is presented. Simon Kennedy has framed the building so that is goes out of the edges of the image. This works to make it seem as if the audience is actually stood there, as the building would go out of their peripheral vision. Also, the angle that the image has been taken at makes it appear rather large, which would be the effect as if you were there in person. There is a good use of leading lines in the image that work well alongside the shape of the building. The lines of the lights lead the audiences eyes from one side, down the building to the curve and back to the other side. By capturing this, it allows the audience to be shown around the image with ease and see all of the details that the photographer wants them to see. Blue tones are used in the image, both from the lights and the sky. These tones make the image have a calming effect which projects onto the audience when they look at it. I feel that the blue tones help to convey the idea this becoming a calm place during the night, as everybody has left, and there is some peace after a busy day at work. I like this image as I feel that the artist has presented it in a way that suits the purpose of promoting this corporate building. The techniques that they have used to make the image have made the image seem composed and structured, linking to the ideologies of a business.

This image has inspired me to look more closely at my own composition when photographing a subject, in order to make it fit the purpose of what I am trying to portray.

Shoot Plan – Simon Kennedy Inspired After looking at the work of Simon Kennedy, I have been inspired to do my own shot based on the style of his collection. For this shoot, I will be focusing on photographing architecture during the night. I want to do this as it will capture the different ways in which the building are lit up. This links back to the work of Kennedy, as he takes images of building during this same time. I will be photographing in the city center as it has a range of different building types, from classic architecture to modern designs. This is something that I feel will be interesting to look at how the buildings photograph due to the way in which the are lit. Also, using this location will allow me a lot of area to cover, rather than being restricted to one place.

During the shoot, I will be looking for ways to capture the light in a way that presents the buildings in an aesthetically pleasing way. I would also like to see how the different buildings are portrayed during the night. Some building may be more colourful, while others may simply be lit with plain white lights. I think this could be something to look into the differences between the way this makes it look and if it has anything to do with the type of building it is.

These are some of the best images from a shoot that I did at Media City that was inspired by the work of Simon Kennedy. Unfortunately this shoot has to be cut short due to the weather conditions that were not good to shoot in. Despite the weather conditions, I did manage to get some good shots that I feel take some inspiration from the artist, but with my own take on it.

Photoshop – Black and White Channel Mixer To achieve these outcomes, I followed a tutorial about Black and White Channel Mixing. This allowed me to turn my image black and white, with a high contrast. To do this I: • Load an image in colour.

• Image > Adjustments > Channel Mixer • Tick the Monochrome box. The image will go black and white.

• Adjust the Red, Green and Blue sliders until the image is to your liking.

• Image > Adjustment > Levels • Drag end slider inwards to make more contrast.

• Filter > Convert for Smart Filters • Filter > Lens Correction, click custom and the option for vignette. This will darken the edges of the image. (But this should only be subtle.)

There are two optional things that can be done on top of the previous.

• Apply a diffuse glow • Add noise/grain I chose not to add either of these as I didn’t feel that my images needed them, however in some cases it may enhance the image further.

I am pleased with the three outcomes that I have made using this tutorial. I would definitely use this again, as I feel that it works well with my theme.

The contrast that is created works with the light that is already in my images but makes it stand out more so. I believe that these three images also work well together as a set and show off the location of Media City in a subtle way rather than with the usual neon lighting.

Before (above) After (right)

The image above is of the Imperial War Museum North. The words I would use to describe the images are industrial, geometric and contrasting. The contents of the image are very industrial looking, with the metal buildings which create eye-catching geometric shapes. It reminds me of the more industrial side of Manchester and taking it back to the history of the city. The formal elements are important to this image. Light is a major factor in this, as it helps to create a stark contrast between the black and white. With the black and white, it makes the image have a depth to it, creating shadows and highlights. The highlights bring out the areas that otherwise would be lost amongst the darkness. The darkness in the image creates a lot of negative space around the buildings, which works well with allowing there to be room in the image. If the image was a close up, I don’t feel that this image would work as well as it could have. Overall, I am pleased with the way that this has turned out and out definitely use this again.

Photoshop – Colour Masking

Before

To achieve this, I followed a tutorial on colour masking. This allowed me to pick selected colour from my image which would have an impact. To do this I: • Opened the image that I wanted to work with (top right) • Duplicated the layer • Turned the duplicate layer black and white using the Black and White Channel Mixer tutorial • Applied a layer mask • Used the paint brush tool to reveal the areas that I wanted to have colour.

I am pleased with the way that this has turned out. I chose to use an image that was simplistic but showed off the way in which the tutorial worked. By combining this tutorial with the Black and White Channel Mixer, it gave the image a higher contrast with the sky becoming whiter. The pipes work well as they are all different colours. This is something that I thought would be a good image to use for this reason.

Even though I do think that this tutorial is impactful, I don’t think that I would use it again in my work. With my theme being, Dusk till Dawn, I don’t believe that this is or would be relevant to the work that I produce. If I did think that this would be useful for my body of work, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it as it is easy to do and doesn’t require a lot of time, which makes it time efficient.

After

Artist Research – George Shiras George Shiras is considered the 'father of wildlife photography' according to National Geographic. He used early methods of capturing images of wildlife through using techniques similar to those of hunters. The technique he used were camera traps and flash photography. Through this, he gained this accolade. His work stood out to me as something that changed the photographic world. The images that he captures encapsulate exactly what everyone misses. It shows to the audience what happens during the night that we are unaware of. I think that the work that Shiras has produced is able to be enjoyed by anybody as it isn't hard to understand what is going on in the images. Photographing these animals in their natural habitat is something that I think is pure artistry as it is hard to show these wild animals in a way that appears as natural as this, rather than forcing them into this situation.

The reason that I chose to look at George Shiras is because he is a historical artist. This makes him differ from the rest of the artists that I have looked at. I think this is important to do as it gives a different perspective on what Dusk till Dawn photography is depending on when it was done.

I chose this image to analyze because it was the one that stood out to me the most, of all of George Shiras's work. The image is of a moose in what appears to be a river or lake.

The special thing about this image is this image was the discovery of a subspecies of moose in Yellowstone National Park. I would describe this image as naturalistic due to the overall appearance of it. It isn't a constructed image which makes it more appealing for wildlife photography. This was taken using the camera traps that Shiras was known for. This allows for the animals to be captured doing what they would naturally do. It is obvious that this image was taken in black and white, however it still manages to capture the multiple tones within the setting. What I find particularly interesting is the way that the fog creates extra depth and tonal range.

The darkness of the photography works well with the light to create a dramatic contrast that frames the subject. Although I don’t believe this to be intentional, the moose is placed in the middle of the dark and the light, which draws more attention to it. Space has been used to an advantage as the animal isn't in the foreground. This allows there to be distance yet still being able to see what it is. I think this makes the image more appealing as it is like the audience are there seeing this for themselves, as they wouldn’t want to get too close. When I look at this image, I feel close to nature. This is because the image allows for the audience to feel involved. It also shows an animal which I haven't had the experience to see in person, so it gives the opportunity to see something that I haven't but also in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Astrophotography What is Astrophotography?

Astrophotography is a specific type of photography that focuses on capturing images of the night sky. It is a method a photography that allows for astronomical objects to be captured.

These object include: the moon, planets, nebulae and galaxies. It allows for the camera to capture images of astrological objects that are invisible to the human eye.

History of Astrophotography It was in 1840 when the first image was taken of the moon. Despite this, it wasn’t until much later in the 19th Century that technology had advanced enough to allow for more detailed images to be captured. It is obvious that the reason that this genre of photography was developed. It began as part of experiments by amateur astronomers. It developed into what we have in modern day through both the advances in astronomy and photography. This type of photography can be used as a scientific record or for aesthetic purposes. It has become more popular over that past years as more people are becoming interesting in this area.

Techniques There are multiple methods of capturing astrological images. The four methods that I know of are: Camera Only, Piggyback Method, Afocal Method and Prime Focus.

Camera Only is the simplest out of all of the method, to take image straight away of the night sky.

Piggyback Method is using a telescope in order to track the stars as they move.

Afocal Method is the best for digital cameras and holding the camera up to the eyepiece of the telescope.

Prime Focus uses the telescope as a long lens to give the opportunity to see further.

It depends on how much detail you want to capture in your images and the difficulty you are willing to go to, to get the results that you desire.

Artist Research – Jerry Lodriguss Jerry Lodriguss is a a professional photographer who specializes in both sport and astrophotography. I am interested in his work capturing images of the universe.

Lodriguss has had an interest in astronomy since a young age and made his own telescope to take images through, to document what he saw. Since having this interest from being young, it has enabled him to become more educated in the subject in personal and professional ways. Through his knowledge, he has taken images that capture the wonders of the universe. His work has been published in multiple publications over the years, from NASA's Astronomy Photo of the Day, National Geographic Society to American Museum of Natural History and many more.

Lodriguss is considered to be an expert in DSLR Astrophotography and the digital correction of images of deep space. This is something that I find interesting as this is a type of photography that he became interested in over many years. With all of his knowledge and experience in this area, he has written four book on the subject that are aimed to help others learn about this area.

I found when looking at the work that he has produced that, I was intrigued about the way that you could pick out individual details that are completely invisible to the human eye. The images stood out to me as I think they make us more aware of the world around us and the things that we are oblivious to. He manages to show the world in a way that gives colour and a new perspective on everything around us.

What I like about Jerry Lodriguss's work is that it captures the world in a way that people aren't always aware of. I think that these images show a different side to the world that we live in instead of what we see every day. The images encapsulate the world in a alternative state which I find interesting .

Focal Length: 1040mm Focal Ratio: f/8 Exposure: Single 1/16000 Mode: Raw ISO: 800 White Balance: Custom Filter: None Date: August 20, 2010 Time: 10:26:46 pm Location: Winslow, Township,NJ

The reason that I chose this image is because it stood out to me as something that everyone would be interested in. The image shows the moon which everyone can see yet in more detail. I think this is an image which could make people want to get involved with astrology.

Title: ISS Lunar Transit

This image is of Earth's moon in the waxing gibbous phase of the cycle. When enlarged you can see the international space station that is visible just off center. I would put this image in the documentary genre, as it is capture something that is of interest to academics but also to people with an interest in astrology in general. Formal elements are important within the image. Tone is created naturally due to the nature of the subject, with the darker areas which are craters. This allows for this to be seen as a 3D object isn't of 2D. There is also texture in the image, again that comes from the subject. The texture is the landscape of the moon that we normally don’t see. I think that this attention to detail is important to making this image impactful. I believe this because without this detail, it would just appear to same as what we see with our eyes. Yet with this detail, we see it in a completely different way. Negative space is used well in this image as it allows for the moon to be isolated in the image, instead of being surrounded by other astrological objects. With the space around the moon being so dark, it helps with the effect of the phase that the moon is in. It could be said that the image is similar to the Rembrandt lighting, with part of the subject in darkness. What interests me the most about this is how you can see all of the details of the moon. This isn't something that everyone gets the chance to see. It also interests me as it gives the opportunity to see what else is out there in the universe. I think that this image is trying to show the moon to people in a way that they wouldn’t usually get to see from where they are in the world. The image, to me, is aesthetically pleasing and is a photograph that I find quite calming. The whole image allows for a sense of relaxation but gives the audience something to think about. That something is what else is out there, rather than just what surrounds them. Through looking into all the work of Jerry Lodriguss, I have seen parts of the universe that I never knew existed, which is something that is a lasting image in my mind. That to me sums up an impactful photograph and photographer.

Shoot Plan – Astrophotography For this shoot, I intend to capture different astrological objects. The astrological objects that I wish to capture are the moon and stars. The shoot may take place over a few locations to allow me to see what the effects are depending on where the images are taken. For example, the results will likely be better in a secluded area, away from light pollution. However, wont necessarily have access to this so will have to work with the conditions that I have. This shoot can only be done under good weather conditions, as cloud cover means that the sky cannot be seen and won’t allow me to capture what I want. I am looking to capture the moon as this is something that is considered more basic within the field of astrophotography, and I believe that this is a good place to start as I have never done this before. I will also attempt to capture images of the stars but there is no guarantee to whether or not this will happen.

In order to do this, I require more equipment that just a camera. To capture images of astrological images, I am going to use a telescope. This will allow for my camera to see further than with a standard lens. To attach my camera to the telescope I require a Tring and adapter. With these, it allows for the camera to fit exactly where the eye piece is and the telescope then acts as the camera’s lens.

Astrophotography Attempt 1 These are some of the images from my first attempt at Astrophotography. This attempt had many varied results as I wasn’t 100 percent sure on what settings I should use. With this in mind, I researched online of what is recommended but these settings didn’t give me any good results. I played around with the ISO and shutter speed. I had no control of the Aperture due to the camera being connected to the telescope. I did face some issues with camera shake. This was due to the telescope being very light weight in comparison to the camera. Because of this weight, the camera was pulling the tripod and telescope over, meaning I had to hold the camera to support its weight. Two other issues I faced were: living in a urban area that has light pollution and there was a significant cloud coverage on this shoot, cutting it short. I do feel that some of these images are of a good standard for somebody who hasn’t ever done this type of photography before.

I think that this is the best image from my first attempt from the first shoot that I have done. I know that this isn’t a perfect shot, however I think that it is a reasonable attempt at something that is relatively hard, given the circumstances. I know what is wrong with the image and hope to improve upon this and make my work better in this area of photography and see if I can get better shots.

Firstly, I can acknowledge that this image is not up to the same standard as other astrological photographers. Despite this, I am still quite impressed that I was able to capture the moon in this way. When I tried to take the images on this shoot there were a lot of conditions that weren’t perfect, but I still think that this image is good. There are some details on the image that I believe are marks on my camera, which could be solved through a professional clean, yet at the time of this shoot, I wasn’t able to get this, meaning these small marks are visible. The image isn’t completely in focus. This is because, as I explained previously, I was having to hold the camera to support its weight. Although it isn’t in focus fully, I think that you can still pick out the details of the moon, with the darker areas which are craters and natural shadowing on the moon’s surface. With the image that I captured, you can see the atmosphere around the moon which I find interesting as with the human eye you cant see this. I am pleased with this image being it a first attempt. I would like to improve on this if given the chance. This is a type of photography that I have enjoyed and would maybe progress with, if I can figure out a way to stabilise the equipment and focus the images properly.

Photoshop – HDR Editing To achieve this, I followed a tutorial on creating HDR digitally.

To do this I: • Open an image of your choosing and convert to a smart object.

• Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlights and adjust the settings so the details can be seen without appearing to be fake.

• Add a Halo effect - Filters > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. Set the radius to 250.

• Add black and white adjustment layer – Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black and White. Set the mode to Overlay.

• Add grain to the image – Layers > New Layer. Set mode to Overlay. Check the fill with overlay – neutral colour.

• Add noise – Filters > Noise > Add Noise. Check Monochromatic.

• Blur the noise – Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set radius at 0.3 • Increase the contrast of layer with Auto Levels – Image > Adjustments > Auto Levels. Reduce the opacity of this level until you get it to how you like.

I think that this tutorial has worked well for what it aimed to do.

The image after being edited is of more clarity and the details are of a higher quality. I also think that the tones within the image are more visible which makes it have more of an impact overall.

I may consider using this technique again, however at this point I cant be sure. I think that it is useful to be able to do this in post production as well as within the camera. This gives more options within the editing phase to have the original and this new version.

It could lead to making my images more defined with more impact.

Before

After

Photoshop – Day to Night To create the final outcome, I followed two tutorials that I found online that would enable me to turn an image that was taken during the day, into what appears to be night. The process was: - Turning Day to Night – • Open an image • Add Curves Adjustment Layer - Go to the Red, Green and Blue Curves channels individually and bring the top-right points about 60% of the way down.

• Balance the midtones - Going through each Curves colour channel again, taking the mid-tones down to create a slightly warmer light in the mid-tones.

• Curve Dodge - Curves layer with the mid-tones brought right up, creating a brightening effect, and a hide-all mask applied.

We can now paint in this brightening effect using a soft white brush on the mask layer.

• Balancing the colour – To soften this effect, hide the brush strokes and, to add a bit of glow, we can add some blur to our mask. With the mask selected, go to Gaussian Blur, in the Blur menu and select a high value of around 50 to 100px.

- Add Stars – • Open a black document • New fill layer. Fill with black.

• Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Tick Monochrome and Amount should be 120% • Add Gaussian Blur with 0.3 pix • Drag this layer into other file.

• Apply a layer mask and use paint brush to reveal the image underneath, leaving the stars visible.

• Reduce the noise to create stars. Then change blend mode to screen.

Before

After

The process of making this outcome was rather lengthy. It initially seemed like something that your could do in under 20 minutes. This wasn’t the case, and took much longer. The image that I started with had more detail than the example piece, and the effects that each step had didn’t always appear the same. This meant that I had to play around with the way that the image looked and tweaked it to suit what the tutorial wanted. Even though this tutorial took longer than I thought, I think it is worth it and looks convincing. I think that I would definitely use this tutorial again and I feel that it has showed me more ways to use Photoshop to enhance/change my photographs.

The image above is the outcome that I produced by following a tutorial to make an image turn from day into night. The photograph was taken from outside the Jewish Museum in Berlin. It shows the city and the ever changing nature of it. I feel that the image looks convincing and is believable that this could have been taken at night. I chose to use this picture because I felt that the crane would be a focal point even though the image is quite dark. I also believe that it leads the audiences eyes up to the sky making them aware of the stars. For the image, I wanted to make the sky have different shades and tones to it. This brings in the formal element of tone. I think it makes it more realistic because there tends to be some cloud coverage, and this use of the darker and lighter areas recreate this. I chose to incorporate stars into the image. I felt that it made the image complete as the sky looked very bare without them. I wasn’t sure exactly how convincing this image was until I asked people what they thought of it. Of the people I asked, all of them thought that I had taken this during the night and were shocked to see the difference between the before and after images. I am very pleased with the overall appearance of this image and would try this again.

Midpoint Evaluation At this point in the project, I thought it would be a good time to look back at the work that I have done so far. I have done research into different areas of photography that links to the theme that I chose, Dusk till Dawn. The research that I have conducted involved looking into the works of other photographers that work in similar areas to what I thought would be good for my work. I wanted to find a range of artists, rather than sticking to ones who all do the same thing. This has allowed for me to explore a range of techniques, and given me the opportunity to test myself as a photographer.

Paul Reiffer was the first artist that inspired me in this project. His work stood out to me on a personal and academic level. This is something that I have rarely found before. His work made me want to go and do the photoshoot straight away. I was fortunate enough to be able to do this shoot while in Berlin, giving me access to the Berlin TV Tower. I feel that this set of images are ones that don't need to be explained and speak for themselves, which is something I am proud of. All the time, I was thinking of the artists work, and how I could draw inspiration from them. I chose to look at the Rembrandt technique, taken from Rembrandt. This was another area which I highly enjoyed. I enjoy doing portraiture and this allowed me to link it to my theme as the technique is very dark, similar to that of the night. I felt that I learnt more about myself as a photographer, the studio and the camera during the process of this shoot.

The outcomes that I produced are ones that again are proud of.

Michael Bosanko is another artist that I enjoyed looking at. His work with light trails is very simplistic and I immediately knew that this was something that I wanted to try my hand at. I took inspiration from the artist and put my own twist on it by using his methods and taking them in a different direction. I am pleased with the majority of the images but feel that I have enjoyed the work of this artist.

Simon Kennedy is an artist whose work I liked but wasn't as interested in, in comparison to other artists. This however is a personal opinion. I do believe that the work that he produces is of a very high standard, but it isn't the type of photography that I find myself being drawn to. The experience of photographing similar subject was rather drawn out and I didn't find it enjoyable. I did get some shots that I think are ok but overall I wasn't too encapsulated by the overall idea of this artist. However, I am glad that I have looked at his work as I now know this isn't an area I want to go into.

I looked briefly into the work of George Shiras. I think that the work that he produced was amazing for the time in which he took the images. I found it interesting to see what he was capable of. I didn't respond to this artist as I knew that it isn't an area that I wish to go into. Despite this, the work that he produced is some of the most eye-catching images that I have seen.

The final artist I have looked at is Jerry Lodriguss. I chose to look at his work as this is an area of photography that I find unbelievable. I think that the work he produced stood out in a way similar to that of Paul Reiffer's. The images he captured inspired me to try my hand at astrophotography and see what I could produce at an amateur level.

The gallery visits that I have been on showed me works that I have never seen before. Although I haven’t taken the work further than what I saw, I still feel that it has had an impact on my work and that way in which I approach all subject matters. I have done multiple digital editing techniques on Photoshop. I chose to do them because I felt that I needed to show that I could not just take the images, but make them into something more. Through doing them, I have found different ways to enhance and change my work and methods that I may use again.

Looking forward, I intend to create outcomes through the use of mixed media. This will offer me more ways to play with the images I have and give them a different look. These may develop into more ideas for outcomes for my final piece. I currently am unsure of which area I want to focus in on as I have enjoyed multiple areas of each artist I have taken inspiration from.

Mixed Media - Inspiration

The images both above and below are ones that interest me. I feel that I can take inspiration from both of them. I think that I could do something similar by incorporating the two ideas together. I like the idea of the geometric lines which I may use, but I would stitch rather than digitally drawing the lines on the images.

To further my exploration into my theme of Dusk till Dawn, I am going to look into mixed media techniques that could take my work in a new direction.

Techniques that I may explore are: • Stitching • Drawing • Scanography • Tracing • Acetone Transfers • Monoprinting Having a range of different techniques will give me the opportunity to see what different outcomes I can produced based around my theme. I am going to try and link all of the outcomes to my theme, making them stay relevant while still being impactful.

I feel that certain techniques will be more relevant to certain photographs I have taken than others. Stitching would come in useful to bring out details or add details to an image.

Drawing and tracing would act in a similar way to stitching. Acetone transfers could potentially work for any of the shoots I have done, as it brings a grittiness to the images. Monoprinting would work the best with architectural images like the ones taken at Media City.

I am intrigued by the image above as it has a surreal effect by dragging the image out. I feel this would work well with the images I captured for my light trails.

Mixed Media - Stitching HOW I DID THIS: For this technique, I stitched into the images that I had printed on photo paper. I chose to use a simple stitch to keep the overall appearance simplistic.

WHAT EFFECT DID THIS HAVE? Using stitching has brought an element of texture to my images. It also creates shape in the moon image, while highlighting certain lines in the Brandenburg Gate image.

HOW DOES THIS LINK TO THE THEME OF ‘DUSK TILL DAWN’?

It links because I have used images from my shoots and have incorporated the stitching to make them more impactful.

WOULD I USE THIS TECHNIQUE AGAIN? I would use this technique again as I think it is useful for bringing more formal elements to the image, such as shape and line.

Mixed Media – Stitching When exploring stitching within my mixed media experiments, I wanted to use different ways to brings this element in. For some of the images, I simply followed the lines that were in the images. This brought emphasis to the sections. In the top image, I followed the lines that were created by the cars. I chose to use the same coloured thread as the light trails to give a textured effect while keeping it true to what it was. In another image (previous page), I used small lines that converged to a point. This brought more detail to the image of the moon. On this page at the bottom, the image of the moon used a different technique of stitching. I made of point in the center of the moon and repeatedly stitched to the edge and then back to the center again. I did this until I had a section that was completely covered by the thread. My initial intention was to cover the whole moon, however once I got to this stage, I thought that I looked interesting. Also, if I were to cover the whole moon, it would have taken the photographic element away from my work.

I am pleased with the way that the images have turned out. I feel that using stitching, it has enhanced my work in ways that make them more intriguing to those who look at them.

Mixed Media - Scanography

HOW I DID THIS: To create, I scanned my image using the scanner. While the scanner was scanning the image, I moved the image along to create this elongated effect.

WHAT EFFECT DID THIS HAVE? This made the lines on the image longer. This also changed the size of the image, rather than being the traditional 6x4 size.

HOW DOES THIS LINK TO THE THEME OF ‘DUSK TILL DAWN’?

This links to the light trails work that I have previously done. I wanted to take this further and make it have more of an impact.

WOULD I USE THIS TECHNIQUE AGAIN? I wouldn’t use this technique again as I don’t feel like it would work for what I want to do next. Although this looks good, I don’t believe that it would help in taking my project further.

Mixed Media - Tracing I chose to do some tracing as part of my mixed media experiments. Doing this, I selected certain areas which I wanted to highlight. I also chose to use two colours as it creates more of a contrast. I scanned the traced lines, and used them as a guide as to where I was going to draw. I drew lines in similar locations on my original image. I chose to draw them on Photoshop as it allowed for me to create the shape that I wanted without being restricted. I feel that by doing this I am able to bring attention to areas of the photographs that may have otherwise been disregarded or quickly looked over.

Mixed Media – Development To develop my work further from what I produced during the mixed media experiments, I decided to use the same technique of tracing but digitally. To do this, I used the paintbrush tool in two different colours to highlight different areas on the images. I traced the lines in areas that I wanted to draw attention to and make the image have an impact. Having the two different colours allows for them to contrast with each other. The red and green are opposite each other on the colour wheel. This makes them stand out against one another. The red and white also stand out when placed together. I have found with both of these images below, that the colours I have used to trace with, work really well with the images due to them being in black and white.

I intentionally chose the areas that I did because I felt that they would bring the most attention to the image and also had good shapes. On the left image, the nose creates a fluid movements in the image, similar to the lines on the chin in the right image. I also chose to have some strong straight lines that contrast with the curves. The section that I like the best in the left image is the eye. I think that this is impactful. When deciding on this section, I was inspired by the costume design in A Clockwork Orange. The costume design in A Clockwork Orange draws the attention to the eyes of the characters. From my knowledge of film, I decided to draw on this and include this in my own work.

Mixed Media – Other Techniques

Idea Refinement What is the overall theme?

The overall theme for my project is Dusk till Dawn. This theme has allowed for me to explore different areas within.

What has been most interesting?

During my research, I have found that I have enjoyed the architectural shoot. Despite the weather conditions during this shoot, I still found that I was able to get images that I thought were affective. This is the area that I am going to focus on for the remainder of the project. I think this will be something that I enjoy and also will be able to produce quality work through.

Shoots that link to this idea I have previously done a shoot for this idea, and will potentially use some of the image from this during the rest of the project.

I am planning to go back and shoot some more in the city center as well as in Media City.

These to places offer a variety of different building types which would allow for their to be differences, instead of having just modern buildings.

The shoots that I will do will take place when it has gone dark, due to the lighting of the buildings to show off the details in a way that isn’t seen during the day. I think that it is interesting to show how the city looks during the night, as people don’t always get to see it during this time.

For the shoots, I want to capture the structures in both close up and distant shots, showing the details but also having the chance to see what they look like in their whole environment.

What to do next?

The next step in taking this project further is to develop my ideas in one specific area. Once I have chose which area that I want to focus more specifically on, I will start by generating ideas of what I could do with the images I already have. Following this, I will plan for some more shoots to give me more material to work with.

I will generate ideas through small sketches that will help me with the presentation of my final piece.

These sketches will also allow for me to get the ideas in a basic form that show what I want to do without being too complicated.

Layout

Light

Black and White Layering

Shadow Angles

Form

Exposure Cropping

Combining Images

Photoshop

Dusk Till Dawn Refinement

Scale

Tone

Typology Colour Collage Composition

Line

Enlargement

Vantage Points Pattern Texture Shape

Drawing

Photo Manipulation Mixed Media

Leading Lines

Dusk Till Dawn Refinement Ideas

Detailed Shots

Scale

One point perspective

Structural

Lighting Sky and Buildings Geometric Shapes Streets

One point perspective

Landscapes

Low angles

Repetition

Dusk Till Dawn Refinement Ideas

Shapes

Windows

Lights

Angles

Old and New Buildings Cropping Geometric Shapes

Close ups

Details

Lines

Focal Length

Distance

Media City Shoot These are a selection of images from my shoot in Media City. On either side, you can see a variety of different images, showing off the ways in which I captured various structures in the area surrounding and in Media City.

On my contact sheet, I have highlighted the best images from the shoot. These are ones that I may use further during my refinement process.

I am pleased with the way that the images have turned out. I feel that they capture the essence of what this area of Manchester is all about. With this area being populated by the media, the vibrant neon lights are a major feature.

Despite this, it still incorporates the industrial side of the city. I believe that the images that I have capture show both sides of this in a way that would work well together.

The only issue I faced on this shoot was that due to the lights, there are some light beams coming off of the artificial lighting.

Manchester City Centre Shoot These are a selection of images from my shoot in Manchester City Centre. On the left, you can see a variety of different images, showing off the ways in which I captured the city during the night.

On my contact sheet, I have highlighted the best images from the shoot. These are ones that I may use further during my refinement process.

I feel that the shoot went well overall.

There was some issues that I faced while on location. The main issue was that in some images, the sky appears to be very blue rather than black. This is due to the light pollution in the city. To solve this issue, I had to wait until quite late into the night. Another way to solve this issue is to edit the images in post production to make the sky darker.

I am pleased with the way that the images look overall. I feel that I have captured the City Centre in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and could be enjoyed by many people.

Camera Raw Editing To refine my work, I used the images from my second Media City shoot. I used Adobe Bridge to edit my images using the Camera Raw option. This option allows you to edit the images you have without having more complex options on the screen. The options that are available are the same as in Photoshop and are easier to alter, also giving a more aesthetic appearance to the images.

I am particularly pleased with the way that this has made my images look and will use this for my final piece. I feel that this technique has enhanced my images and makes them more impactful than the way they looked initially, without editing.

After (left)

Before (above)

Through exploring this technique of editing, I feel that I have found that it enhances my images to a higher standard. It allows for the colours in the image to be altered in ways that bring out the details in other areas. This is something that has made my images have more of an impact than they did in their unedited forms.

The image above is the image that I took initially, while to the left is the image after editing in Camera Raw on Adobe Bridge. Using Camera Raw has enabled me to change the way that the image looks and so it has more of an impact. Using this technique is something that I would definitely use again, as it makes the images appear better than they originally did.

The image that I used is of a bridge, located in Media City. The image captures both the structure and some of the buildings around it.

When editing the image, I reduced the yellow in the image, adding more blue tones. Doing this made the image have a more subtle look rather than being overpowered by the yellow tones coming from the lights. I think that by making this change in the colours, it changes the mood that it projected from this photograph. When looking at the edited image, there is a more calming and relaxed appearance which compliments the water which also has connotations of relaxation. In the editing process, I also made the blacks darker in the image. I chose to do this because it made a stronger contrast than when the blacks were a greyed tone. The overall appearance of the image is better than what it originally was. Through the changing of the colours, it changes the image, making it more impactful that it is with the yellow tones. Having more blue tones, the red colour in the image is more vibrant in comparison to the original, where it looks slightly orange.

Collage To create this, I used a picture the I took on my refinement shoot at Media City. I chose to use this picture because of the vibrant colour that are in the image. The process of creating this was to select sections of the image, copy them and paste them into a new document. From there I layered them up and moved them about from the original location that they should have been. Doing this makes the image look more segmented. The aim of this is to change the way that the image looks and intrigue the audience into looking closer to see which parts have been moved about.

I won’t be taking this any further in my project as I do not feel that it shows off my work to the best that it could. Although this technique is interesting, it doesn’t enhance my images in any way. I also don’t feel that it really fits with what I want to achieve.

If I were to do this technique again, I would use an image that is closer to the subject as I think that it would show off the technique better than the landscape shot that I have used. I do like the image however, I want to create something that is more focused on the appearance of the structures rather than the different mixed media techniques that could be used.

Colour Masking I chose to revisit the technique of colour masking that I tried during my exploration into digital mixed media. I particularly liked this technique when I first tried it. The images that I have chosen to use are ones that I have taken in my refinement shoots. I believe that these images work well with this technique as it makes the images have a intriguing quality that draws you in. I selected these particular image as they all have sections of colour that work well when placed within the black and white. Each image is impactful and makes you look closer to see the other details.

I would definitely consider using some of these images as part of my final outcome. I feel that these images work well together or alone.

They would create a nice composition when placed together in a set. I think that these images are strong and have something that draws the audience in. I also find them easy to look at, due to the colour drawing out certain sections, thus enhancing the image’s overall appearance.

Best Colour Masking The image below is of a bridge at Media City. The image was originally taken in colour but I have edited it using Camera Raw in Adobe Bridge and the using the colour masking technique to put colour back into it. I would describe this image as impactful, eye catching and vibrant. I chose these words as I feel that they sum up what this image is in a very simple way. The genre of this image is architectural photography, due to the subject being a structure. The image captures not only the bridge but the reflections on the water below. The image reminds me of the history of Manchester with the importance that the water ways held, and also the industrial nature of the city. The formal elements of photography have been taken into consideration throughout the process of the whole image, from capturing it to editing. There is a strong sense of shape and line in the image; shape is created from the lines in the structure of the bridge. Colour was made prominent in post production. I made the image black and white, then used the colour masking technique to bring the red back into the image. The colour red has connotations of importance which I believe makes the image more impactful as people are drawn into this. There is a strong contrast between the black, white and red. This is something that makes the photograph have vibrant and a stylish appearance.

The framing of the image was important because without there being composition, the image wouldn’t be as impactful. I positioned myself so when I took the photograph the water would be in the foreground and the bridge in the midground. I feel this makes the image feel and look like a whole, as you can still pick up details of the surroundings in the reflections. The sky is very dark in the background. This acts as a backdrop for the bridge, bringing more clarity to it. I think it is important to this image to have the sky in the background as it completes the image, making it clear that this is a night shot, rather than just a shot of a bridge.

Final Outcome Plan For my final outcome, I want to create a set of images that work together in harmony to make an aesthetic piece. The idea that I have for this piece is to use images that I have taken during my refinement shoots, as I feel these work best for the outcome is wish to produce. Using these images shows the different types of architecture around Manchester during the night.

The Layout: I am going to keep the layout simplistic, as I think it would take away the detail and impact of the images if the layout were extreme or complex. The layout will be in a grid formation, as it keeps the images in a formation that isn’t distracting from the content of the images.

The Images: The images that I plan to use are going to be a mixture of simple black and white, and with some of the images that I produced during my refinement process. From the refinement, I plan on using a selection of the colour masking images. I think that by using some images with a little bit of colour, it will make the overall appearance of the piece become more interesting. I will keep some images simple black and white. My decision to do this is because it will create a contrast between the solid black and white, with the ones with the small sections of colour.

Layout Idea Sketches

This idea is the layout my images in a 2 x 2 grid. This would allow for the four images to be seen at the same size and have the same amount of impact as each other. It also keeps to a simple layout which is aesthetically pleasing to look at.

There is also a balance as there isn’t anything to surreal about the layout; it keeps it minimalistic, which I think works well for my images.

This idea is to layout the images in different sizes. Two of the images would be A3 and the other four would be A5. The A5 images would be positioned down the short side of the A3 pieces. This creates a good composition while keeping it formalised. Having the different sizes allows for there to be a range in the images instead of all being the same and being over powering.

This layout idea is of eight images, displayed in a 2 x 4 grid. The size of the images would be either A4 or A5, depending on which images I chose. A4 would show the images in a way that was noticeable from a distance, yet A5 would draw people closer to get a better look. I think either size would work well for my project as there isn’t a specific way that architectural images should be shown.

Final Images These are the images that I am using for my final piece. They will appear as they do below. I have edited them to the way that I want them to. There are four images that use colour masking to show sections of colour. The other two are simply in black and white. I have chose this combination as I believe it make the set stand out more so than if the images were all simply black and white. By incorporating colour in small sections, I think that the images draw the audience in more so. By pairing this with solid black and white, it allows for there to be a difference, yet it makes the each other stand out. I chose these specific images as they show the different types of architecture around Manchester during the night.

Final Outcome Layout

Evaluation My exam project theme was ‘Dusk till Dawn’. For this, I explored different areas of this theme by doing photo shoots that would link overall. Throughout, I did multiple photo shoots, which were: sunrises, Rembrandt lighting, light trails, architectural and astrological. I wanted to explore different aspects of the theme to allow for my project to be varied to a point and then could be focused into a certain area towards the end of this.

I looked into a photographer for each different shoot that I did. I also looked at another photographer, who I didn’t explore, as it had a more historical reference than the rest of my artists. The reason that I chose not to explore the work of George Shiras was because this is an area of photography that does not interest me and I wouldn’t feel that I would be producing quality work. The first artist I looked into was Paul Reiffer. I enjoyed the work of Reiffer on both an educational and personal level. The work that he produces inspired me to do my own shoot based on the sunset. I believe that the images that I captured based on his work took into consideration what I learnt from researching into him; this also made my work have more of an impact as I knew what to focus on based on his work. After this I looked into Rembrandt lighting, which was inspired by the paintings produced by Rembrandt. I chose to do this studio shoot as I wanted to try something different, knowing that most of my shoots would be outdoors. I also thought that having a studio shoot would allow to explore another area of the theme. I like the images that I produced for this, and feel that this was something that came in useful later in my mixed media experiments. Another artist I researched was Michael Bosanko. His work with light trails struck my interest as it was something that I knew I would be capable to do. I took this idea of light trails and did it in the traditional way but also when the camera was moving as well as the subject. This was interesting to see what effects were produced. Simon Kennedy was my next source of inspiration with his work in night time architectural photography. I felt that living in a city would give me many places to explore for this genre. I enjoyed doing these shoots as it allows for the city to be seen in a different way than the way that everyone sees it during the day. The final artist I looked at was Jerry Lodriguss. I was in awe of the work that he produced and wanted to try my hand at astrophotography. I knew that I would not get the same results as he does, due to having limited knowledge of this area. I found that this was the shoot I found the hardest, mainly because of location and the equipment issues I faced. Despite this, I still feel that I have accomplished something despite the images not being of a great quality.

To further my exploration into the theme, I did different Photoshop tutorials throughout. The reason behind doing this was to develop the images that I had captured rather than simply taking them and leaving them like they were. Each tutorial brought something different to the work that I produced. I feel that some of them were more appropriate to my theme than others. However, through this exploration, I discovered the techniques which worked best and the ones that did not. This gave me the opportunity to use these same techniques again later in the project. Another way I furthered my work was by exploring mixed media. In the mixed media section, I tried different techniques to see how they would change my images. The technique I found the most interesting was the stitching, because it allowed for me to highlight areas of the image without having to do anything too complex.

Issues that I faced varied from shoot to shoots. As almost all shoots were outdoors, it meant that I was relying on the weather being up to standard so that the weather conditions would not affect my images. On some occasions, the weather changed during the shoot, meaning that the shoot had to be abandoned until a later date. Another issue I faced with the astrology shoot was the equipment was very light weight meaning the camera made the tripod topple over unless supported by myself, meaning there was camera shake, thus resulting in blurriness in the images.

I then went on to refining my work. I chose to focus on an area which I enjoyed. This was architectural photography. I did two shoots for this refinement section to give me more images to work with. Following this, I explored different ways to change and edit my images. I looked into the Camera Raw editing option in Adobe Bridge, collaging and colour masking. I chose these three as I thought that they would allow for different areas to be explored. I chose two of these techniques to further my images for my final outcome images. I chose Camera Raw and colour masking. These two worked well together and made my images have an impact. If I were to do anything again, I would have done another shoot for the refinement stage to give an even wider variety of image to work with.

For my exhibition, I used six images. Two image came from the Media City shoot, while the other four were from the City Center shoot. I chose to mix them up because it would allow for there to be a variety in building types. The way I chose to display my work was on foam board. I wanted to display it like this because it keeps it very simple and the layout is easy to sort out. I went with the decision on having a grid layout, with two large prints and four smaller prints. I wanted to do this because it would bring people closer to the work rather than just standing at a distance. The images I chose were: two black and white, and four images that use colour masking. Each image got its own piece of foam board so to keep to the grid formation. Overall, I am pleased with the way that my outcomes have turned out, and I think that this is due to the extensive amount of research and development that I have put into the project. Without research, I would not have been as knowledgeable in the areas that I have explored. Also the research has enabled me to find different areas of photography that I enjoy and have strengths in. Without development, I would not have explored the different aspects of both mixed media and digital manipulation.

Without both of these, I would not have achieve what I have done, so it has been very much worth it.