marks

Hi has anyone had their level 1 worked marked yet??? I still haven't heard anything.  I hope level 2 is going well for all those who went on to do it.

Health and safety

When thinking about Health and Safety and photography, it got me a bit stumped to start with.  The more I thought about it though I realised that you are always doing safety checks in everyday life.  As all my photos were taken around water this is biggy with health and safety.
My photoshoot at the marina had lots of safety implications as all my photographs were taken near the water.  I had to make sure that I wasn't too close and followed any warning signs along the way.  I also had to watch out for my son who came with me.  I did take some pictures of swans and ducks which as everyone knows can be quite vicious, I had to keep distance and make sure not to scare them.
When I took the pictures at bath time, I had to be extra vigilant as I was bathing my son at the time and he is only 2 years old.  Also as explained previously in one of my blogs my son loves bath time and can get a little excited, therefore I had to make sure he didn't splash my camera.
With all my photo sessions I had to be careful and assess each situation to make sure myself and others were safe

The End

Thats it I think I am all finished.  I have done everything that I can do now, I just hope it's enough.  I'm hoping nothing is missing or doesn't have enough detail as I'm whacked now and need a well deserved break!

Lenses

There are so many different types of lenses available on the market and having one for every occasion would be great!!

The standard lense which comes with most cameras is the one I have and the only one that I used this is a 50mm lens.

Here are some other lenses:

Wide Angled Lens:  These type of lenses are predominantly used by landscape photographers keeping the foreground as a focus.

Telephoto Lens:  This lens is great for bringing images that are in the distance close to you, making them the focus of the picture and the background out of focus.  Can be used to capture sporting events also.  Which I suppose you would say that this lens is the complete opposite of the wide angle lens.

Macro Lens:  I would love to have one of these lenses as close up photography can be really beautiful.  The quality of this lens is usually very good and get yo up close and personal with your chosen subject.

Fisheye Lens:  This lens has a full 180% angle and can make a picture look like the centre of it is coming out at you.  It reminds me of looking through a telescope.

Shift/perspective Control Lenses:  It helps you to take pictures of tall buildings so you don't have to tilt the camera.  Sounds all very technical to me and very expensive.  I'm sure only the dedicated photographer would have one of these lenses.

Evaluation of overall course

Well here we are at the end of this C&G in photography course, which to be honest never thought I would get to.

All my images were taken with my Sony DSLR a390, also for some images I used a tripod and photoshop.  My theme was water therefore all my images had water in them or something to do with water.  From the start of the course my theme was always going to be water therefore my ideas didn't change.

When I started this course I wanted to learn the art of taking a good photograph.  I have learnt what techniques to use, eg. using the aperture and shutter speed correctly (I'm impressed I actually took it all in to be honest).  I have also learnt to use my camera on manual now rather than auto and I don't think I would use auto very often now.  I've also discovered that you need a good eye to take a half decent photograph and I do now look at surroundings and situations differently and want to start snapping away.

I do wish now though that I had done the recreational photography course first as I found I spent so much time learning and worrying about how to use 'The Blog' (frustrating at times) and 'Photoshop' (fun, but also frustrating at times) that I didn't spend enough time learning and practising taking photographs (which is what I came to do).  I'm not very good at asking for help and there wasn't enough of Marie to go around, therefore I did struggle a lot of the time and hoped I was doing the right thing.  Although the course content was interesting I did think it was a lot to cram into 16 weeks especially for someone like me who had no knowledge in photography, blogging or photoshop.

I found researching other photographers quite hard to get into at first, but once I searched the Internet I found some images that I loved and therefore found it easy to research.  I found looking at manipulated images really interesting, the time and effort that goes into creating an image like that is just phenomenal.  I would love to at some point be that confident with photoshop and I'm sure with time and practise I could produce some amazing images.  Eric Johansson is by far my favourite photographer, his eye for detail is just great.  I also love the work of Anne Geddes, I eventually want to photograph children therefore her work really inspires me.

I enjoyed working in the studio, playing around with lighting and different poses, I just wish there had been more time for this.  Unfortunately with the strict criteria I found myself concentrating on getting my blog up to date rather than learning new things.

I don't feel at this point I will be going on to do Level 2, purely because I would like to get to know my camera better and learn more about taking pictures without the pressure of assignments and deadlines.

Unit 108-task 1a and 1b (image 4)

 Unit 108-Task 1a (image manipulation)

Original images:

f5.6 1/160 iso 100



f5.6 1/60 iso 100 using the flash

Final image



The boy in the boot

Unit 108-Task 1b (supporting evidence)

I manipulated these images using photoshop cs4.  I started off cropping the image of the boots, to cut out some of the background.  I then cut around my son using the magnetic lasso tool, this takes a steady hand so I'm not sure it is perfect.  I then went to edit-copy and pasted it onto the boot picture using edit-paste.  I then shrunk him down and moved him around the boot.  I wanted to give the impression of him swimming in the boot to give an unreal, but qwerky image.  Once he was in the position I wanted I changed the opacity to blend him into the boot.

I'm happy with the image and that I have used all my own photographs.

All pictures are my own and were taken with my sony DSLR a390 using manual setting and auto focus. I have manipulated my own images to create an unreal fun image. 



Unit 107-intro to presenting photo images

Unit 107 Task 1b

To present my 6 images I got them printed off and enlarged to 8x6, I thought 10x8 maybe just a little too big.  I will put my images into a photo album, purely for cost reasons really.  I'm not totally happy with this choice and think they would have looked better using another format, but whats done is done.  It is a shame that there is so much empty space in the album, but given time I will fill it I just hope that this doesn't effect the marking.  I would have liked to have framed my images, but it became too expensive therefore I opted for the album.  I would have liked to have made a collage of my prints in a large frame, but thought it would be too large and heavy to carry around (selfish really).  I also thought about making a photo book, but firstly they take a while to produce and get printed off and secondly I don't really have enough prints to fill it.  At some point I would like to produce a photobook of my images as I feel they show off images really well.  I know from experience as I had my wedding pictures presented in this way.
There are many ways in which images can be presented examples are:

I have highlighted in red some ways in which you can present images, here are a couple of other ways:

A slide show is a quick and simple method of presenting images.  You just need to save the desired pictures onto a memory stick, load them into your computer and click slideshow...so easy even I can do it!

Canvas prints are a gorgeous way of presenting images, can be quite expensive, but very effective.

Unit 108-task 1a and 1b (image 3)

Unit 108-Task 1a (image manipulation)

Original images:

f5.6 1/40 iso 200 saved using JPEG

f5.6 1/60 iso 200 saved using JPEG

Final image:



Splash!

Unit 108-Task 1b (supporting evidence)

To manipulate these images I used photoshop CS4 at college. To start I brought up the image of the fish and used the magnetic lasso tool to cut around the fish, I then copy and paste it into the mini waterfall image.  I didn't like the look of the fish just sitting in the water so I played about with the opacity to fade him into the water.  I still wasn't happy so used the eraser tool to rub out his tail, I feel this gives the impression of him jumping out of the water. I thought the image would look good with a border therefore made a new layer and used the brush tool to make the lines for the border.  I then went to filter-blur-guassian blur to create a softer looking border.

The picture itself shows how it relates to the water theme and I'm sure it doesn't need explaining.

All pictures are my own and were taken with my sony DSLR a390 using manual setting and auto focus. I have manipulated my own images to create an unreal fun image. 

Unit 108-task 1a and 1b (image 2)

Unit 108-Task 1a (image manipulation)

Original images:



f11 1/80 iso 100 saved using JPEG




f5.6 1/25 iso 1600 saved using JPEG



Final image



Surfing

Unit 108-Task 1b (supporting evidence)

To create this image I took all the colour from the sea picture by going into image-adjustments-desaturate.  I wanted to give the photo a cold look and thought draining out what colour was in the photo would give the look I wanted.  I then took the picture of my cute little olly the octopus and destaurated him using the same technique as before.  I used the magnetic lasso tool to cut around the octopus and went into edit-copy.  I then opened up the sea picture and went to edit-paste to put the octopus into the image.  I shrunk him down and moved him around the screen until I eventually ended up putting him here bouncing on the waves.  I added some text to the image using a splash of colour.  I wanted to give the impression of the words bouncing on the waves which I feel I have done.  
I'm happy with the image created, but perhaps a border may have finished the picture off.

All pictures are my own and were taken with my sony DSLR a390 using manual setting and auto focus. I have manipulated my own images to create an unreal fun image. 

Unit 108-task 1a and 1b (image 1)

Unit 108-Task 1a (image manipulation)

Original images:

f.11 1/80 iso 100 saved as JPEG

f5.6 1/125 iso 400 saved as JPEG

Final image



 


The ghostly river



Unit 108-Task 1b (supporting evidence)

I manipulated these image by using photoshop ps3 which I have at home.  I started by copy and pasting the road image onto the river image, by selecting all of the image the going to edit and copying this image.  I then opened up the river picture and went into edit then paste.  Once the images were together I played with the opacity level which gave me the final image.  I didn't think this was enough so I thought I'd add a border.  I did this by, making a new layer and using the brush tool to make lines from each corner.  I then went into filter-blur-guassian blur to give it that rustic look.  I thought a bit of text would just finish the image off, so I used the text tool and arched it over ther river looking like a bridge.  Once the image was complete I flattened it to make one layer and saved it onto my desktop for easy use to put onto my blog.

I'm happy with this final image and it did take a lot of playing about with hence the reason for there not being any screen shots and just words to explain what I did.  The image looks quite ghostly to me and plays  with the mind as to what is really there.

All pictures are my own and were taken with my sony DSLR a390 using manual setting and auto focus. I have manipulated my own images to create an unreal fun image. 

Unit 108-Manipulation intro.

For the manipulation assignment we have to create 4 images using photoshop.  I must admit I have never used photoshop before, but will give it my best shot at creating some images.

For this assignment I think I am going to go with the same theme which I have been using and this is WATER.  I just have lots of photos of water that I should be able to find some to manipulate well together.  I haven't had many ideas of what images I'm going to create, I'm thinking I'll go quite basic by layering images and perhaps adding text.  I'll have to have a think and play about to see what I come up with.

Research-David Bailey

David Bailey has got to be one of the most famous portrait photographers to date. An English photographer born in 1938.  He became a photography assistant in 1959 and worked his way to fashion photography and a lot freelance work.  What I was totally shocked about is that Bailey directed TV commercials and documentaries.  Bailey is most famous for working with the Rolling Stones.  Bailey says that he likes to take pictures that don't date and goes for simplicity.  Bailey has also worked with Oasis like Dennis Morris.  Bailey has written many books over his long successful career.
This is a really fun photo and a very clever use of composition.  There is only slight changes in each image in fact looks very much like a negative.  The image makes you study it just to see if you can see anything different.

The Rolling Stones by David Bailey, 1968. THEN – copyright David Bailey

A famous picture of the Kray brothers. The image feels very  intimidating by having their faces filling the frame.



London gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray.

All images on this blog page have been taken off the internet and are copyright to David Bailey.


Research-Dennis Morris

I first came across Dennis Morris when he did a talk at the local library.  I'd seen his photographs before, but not really paid much attention to them to be honest.  Sitting in on the lecture and listening to his stories really made me realise his passion for photography.  He is a British photographer most famous for taking photos of Bob Marley, The Sex Pistols and many more.  Dennis has held many exhibitions around the world including The Sydney Opera House.  Dennis worked with Bob Marley taking pictures whilst on tour from 1973-1981. Here is some of his earlier work:


This portrait has a nice feel about it .  Bob Marley looks really relaxed and natural in this image.  Dennis looks like he has used some studio lighting and reflectors for this shoot. Morris uses the balance of tone well in this image, have Bob Marley against this striking white background really shows off his strong features.  Being a black and white image also gives good texture.

King's Road, London 01



This is a very early image of Bob Marley and he looks deep in thought.  Bob Marley had a love for football and this shows in this photo.  Everything else in this shot looks slightly blurred out showing Bob Marley as being the focus.  Again a black and white image shows a moodiness in the in the photo. 

Bob Marley, Leeds 1974

You can see from his work that he loves to photograph really natural shots and all his pictures tell a story.  When he takes a photo they really mean something to him.


This is one of the last images taken of Bob Marley, quite a sad picture really.  Bob Marley has been placed against another striking white background showing him off really well.

Bob Marley
Redemption Song, 1981

All images on this blog page have been taken off the internet and are copyright to Dennis Morris

Research-Ann Geddes

Ann Geddes is an Australian portraiture photographer and clothing designer.  She is mostly famous for her images of baby photographs dressed as flowers and fairies etc.  You uses these images to make calendars, diaries and much more.  They can be bought as sinlge prints also. Ann Geddes' images are very popular and sell very well in lots of countries.  She has photographed babies for the past 25 years now and is influenced by their delicate beauty from the moment they are born.  I have always admired Ann's work, but since having my son I can really connect with her photographs.  Ann uses studio lighting with reflectors and fans to get the best photographs.

Cabbage Kids

I love this photograph, it's just so cute.  This is one of Ann's first photographed of her twins.  I think this series of photographs is the most famous.  I think most people would recognise her work from this series.

I'm sure some people may think that taking these photographs are cruel, but I think they are cute.  I'm sure all pictures are taken humanly as she is a mother herself and even uses her own children in the images.

All images on this blog page have been taken off the internet and are copyright to Anne Geddes

Research-Michael Busselle

The late Michael Busselle had written books on photography, wine and travel.  He ran a photography studio in London which was very successful.

This is such a lovely landscape photograph of sunset.  The way the clouds have formed give the photo the image quite an eerie feel.  The sun is lighting up the sky which is the source of light used.  It's such a natural photo with lots of natural elements for example sun, sea and sand.  This image I feel illustrates pattern very well with the clouds and sea making their own natural patterns.  All of the image is in good focus.  I have taken sunset pictires myself, here is an example:

I think I played around with this image on photoshop I could get a much crisper photo and enhance the colouring.

This is a lovely calming landscape picture.  It illustrates leading lines, colours and distance brilliantly.  The photographer uses the natural light and may have even manipulated the image to get this shade of colour.

All images on this blog page have been taken off the internet and are copyright to Michael Busselle

Research-Eric Johansson

Eric Johansson is a computer engineer student from Sweden.  Eric likes to capture everyday images and manipulate them to give an unreal picture.  I find photo manipulation very fascinating and really enjoyable to look at especially Eric's work.  The way in which he manipulates images is flawless, the more I look at his work the more believable it seems to become. 

This picture is a brilliant image I could just keep looking at it trying to figure out how it has been manipulated. 




Eric uses the same lighting and shoots images from different angles to combine photos.  Some of his work can take up to 30 hours to create which I can believe as some of it is so intricate.

Vertical Turn

Common Sense Crossing

I would love to be able to manipulate images to this standard, looking at the photographs just makes me want to learn more about photoshop and how to use it to its full potential

All images on this blog page have been taken off the internet and are copyright to Eric Johansson

Research-Andy Goldworthy

Andy Goldworthy is a sculptor, photographer and environmentalist who lives in Scotland and was born in Cheshire.  He uses natural objects in his art work such as icicles, mud and snow etc.



Waterfall/Rainforest



This is a lovely landscape image showing  a wide depth of field.  The eye is drawn to the wonderful waterfall which is the main focus, but on the other hand seeing the sun glistening on the water is also a very good focus on the photograph.  Andy Goldworthy uses the natural light and natural surrounding really well.  This photograph reminds me of any Bond film, I can just picture Bond and one of his ladies bathing in the waterfall with his arch rivals looking on.



He has taken such beautiful images, both close up and landscape.  I'm unsure if they are manipulated in any way, but they have been well thought out.



Snow Circles



This is a very clever image, the way the light is shining through the centre of the ice. The colour white is very striking and shows the use of patterns well with the circles. 

Andy's work consists of materials that grow, stay and decay.  I suppose you could say it's like the circle of life.

All images on this blog page have been taken off the internet and are copyright to Andy Goldworthy

Research-Martin Waugh

Martin Waugh's photography is brilliant in my eyes.  So good that I gave it a go myself to try and take similar images.  I don't think I really give his photography justice, but I had lots of fun trying.  You can see my attempt of a water droplet from my final images and I'm sure with practice they will get better.



Martin Waugh-classic01







My attempt using a very slow shutter speed and tripod.  Using a standard lens as I don't have a macro lens.



Martin has a degree in physics and uses his knowledge of science to create these wonderful images.  He lives in Portland and exhibits his work in museums and it can also be bought for corporate and private collectors.

Martin Waugh explains below about his artwork:


'What you see on this site are high-resolution photographs of liquids in motion, captured with high-speed flash photography. I use Photoshop to clean up the background, balance the color and tidy up a bit. I don't alter the shapes or composition. What you see is what nature provided. (One exception: the lips in "Big Wet One Red" were crying for red lipstick, which Photoshop provided.)'



Big wet one


All images on this blog page have been taken off the internet and are copyright to Martin Waugh





Research-Chris Gloag

Chris Gloag is a portraiture photographer working in London for corporate and advertising clients.  The business was set up in 2000 with many years experience. Most of his photographs are taken for magazine purpose. Chris' photography does fascinate me with all the famous people he has photographed.

I love Gok Wan and seeing some of the images that Chris has taken really drew me to his photography.  This is from his work titled New Work and is quite recent.  These photos have obviously been taken in a studio environment with studio lighting.  He has placed Gok off centre which also leads the eye to the shadowing of the staircase. 

Here is some of Chris' corporate work:

I really like this image, I love the way the temple is faded out in thebackground showing a narrow depth of field.  To me it looks like it has been taken by the Taj Mahal, but I'm really not sure.  Chris has used location lighting for the shoot and you can see that he has used reflectors to enhance the models face and clothes.



This image actually looks like it has been manipulated, but I can't find anywhere on his wedsite that says anything about it.  I like the way the sun is reflecting, but it looks like there is also some location lighting being used.

All images on this blog page have been taken off the internet and are copyright to Chris Gloag