Techniques: Animated Gif: Work Diary Evaluation -

Animated Gif - 

Equipment Used: 
Canon EOS 450D, standard lens, tripod. 

Settings: 
1/100, F/6.3, ISO 100

Lighting: 
Natural outdoor lighting.

Theory: 
Ann Gould: Youth subculture; rebellious, artificial tribe.
Albert Cohen: Youth subculture; moral panic, fold devils: subverting conventions. 

Favourite:

This gif is my favourite of the series for a few reasons. Firstly, the object is designed to show movement and thus the gif captures it well. Also, the images overlapped well as I used the continuous shooting mode which means the movement is more flowing that if I took a few more sporadic photographs. Furthermore, the flowing of the fabric and hair also adds another dimension of movement for the gif to display. Additionally, the clean backdrop landscape of the photo ensures that the viewer's attention is solely on the subject. Moreover, the lighting for this particular photograph is good in that the image does not appear too bright due to the limited section of sky within the photograph compared to the image featured below as least favourite. Also, the timing that I chose in Photoshop to create this gif works in cohesion with the movement in that it does not appear too fast or too slow; this could link to the concept of children growing up too fast and adults taking life too slow and responsible whereas teenagers are victims of both. Therefore, the concept of the series is also another thing that I think this image depicts nicely; the difficulty faced by teenagers to find a place where they belong for they are busy negotiating similar choices as adults but still needing certain reassurances and senses of belonging like a child.

Least Favourite:

This image is my least favourite of the series. To begin with, the climbing frame used to capture the gif was a bad composition choice on my part in that it fails to show movement as well as the other elements did; in addition to this, the limited space meant that fewer frames could be used to make the gif. Consequently, the fewer frames but same Photoshop time frame as used in the photograph above created a jumpy and sporadic movement, which is a technique some photographers like from gifs but was not what I was aiming for, is another reason this image is my least favourite. Additionally, the lighting in this image is marginally too bright and could have benefitted from me changing the F/stop value or the shutter speed as the ISO is already very low; for example, I could have increased the shutter speed to around 1/125 or possibly even up to 1/160. Also, the background is not as clean as in the previous gif as there is movement from a person in the background in the bottom right segment of the grid which distracts from the main subject of the photograph. Despite this, the concept for this photograph is still a redeeming feature. The image metaphorically depicts the climb down, as a teenager, from an elevated time of imagination in childhood to a more realistic grounded view from the bottom which symbolises adulthood.

Evaluation and Development - 

This particular experimentation of possible techniques that could be implemented in future shoots has been enjoyable and as a result has created dynamic final photographic outcomes that has lead to engaging and entertaining moving images. The success lies in the landscape and props used which resulted in a more interesting final gif than a series of photographs that were in themselves mostly static.

I would like to use this technique again in the future to incorporate surrealist ideologies; for instance, the idea of a static photograph showing movement inside its framing is in itself surreal. It would also be interesting to explore fashion surrealism in movement; a photograph shown to the masses displaying fashion in movement like on the catwalk but in reality.

Techniques: Animated Gif: Straight Images -

Gif - 

Gifs: An Study of Kidulthood:

Techniques: Animated Gif: Image Bank -

Animated Gif -

Definitions:

• Gif 1: Use of multiple images to create an animated effect.
• Gif 2: Image files that are compressed to reduce transfer time.
• Gif 3: Graphics Interchange Format.

Examples:

(Matthias Brown)

(Julien Douvier)

(Nicholas Max)

(Cari Vander Yacht)

(Nicholas Monterrat)

Techniques: Focal Length: Work Diary Evaluation -

Focal Length - 

Equipment Used: 
Canon EOS 450D, standard lens, tripod. 

Settings: 
1/100, F/6.3, ISO 100

Lighting: 
Natural outdoor lighting.

Theory: 
N/A

Favourite Series:

The above images are my favourite series in the experimentation of focal length for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the composition of the subject is well placed within the landscape so that the difference in focal length can easily be seen. Additionally, the lighting was slightly better for this series as I configured the settings for this series rather than the second; due to the lighting the images appear crisper.

Least Favourite Series:

This series is the lesser in comparison to the first. The subject kept perfectly still for this shoot which is one good feature although some of the qualities that make it my least favourite of the two shoots is that the lighting could have been changed for example through an increase in the shutter speed to around 1/125 and also by increasing the f/stop which would have meant that the images would appear crisper as they are in the above series.

Evaluation and Development - 

This technique exploration has been successful mostly due to its simplicity and purpose which intends to teach the control of a camera. It also encourages photographers to explore various focal lengths when completing a photoshoot. This series is successful due to its natural lighting, use of a tripod and interesting background. 

I may be using this technique in the future to ensure the framing of my photographs well fit the subject; whether that incorporates a surreal landscape or fashion item I will need to consider this technique. 

Techniques: Focal Length: Straight Images -

Focal Length - 

Series 1 (18-55mm):

18mm

24mm

35mm

55mm

Series 2 (18-55mm):

18mm

24mm

35mm

55mm

Techniques: Focal Length: Image Bank -

Focal Length - 

Definitions: 

• Focal Length: The distance between the centre of a lens and its subject. 
• Field of View (FOV): What can be seen. (Determined by angle of view from the lens to the scene (Horizontally and or vertically). 
• Wide Angle: A lens with a short focal length than standard and this provides a wide field of view.  
• Standard Lens: A lens with a focal length of 50mm is considered normal; they work without reducing or magnifying the images; reflect the way we see with the naked eye (Angle of 46 degrees). 
• Prime Lens: Fixed focal length which does not change (Higher quality).
• Zoom Lens: Allows the user to alter the focal length (More versatile).
• Telephoto Lens: A lens with a larger focal length than a standard; provides a narrow field of view with a magnified image. 

Examples:

Telephoto:

Standard:

Wide Angle:

Techniques: Sequencing: Work Diary Evaluation -

Sequencing -

Equipment Used:
Canon EOS 450D, tripod, standard lens (18mm-55mm). 

Settings:
1/125, F/6.3, ISO 100

Lighting:
Natural outdoor lighting.

Theory: 
Ann Gould: Youth subculture; rebellious, artificial tribe, nihilistic. 

Favourite:

This image is my favourite of the series as all of the components came together well. The chosen landscape for the photograph allowed for a diverse series of poses and more than two image two be joined. The image also provides a good juxtaposition of age; the subject is a teenager in a playground made for children which could imply, in a surreal manner, the difficulties that teenagers feel in a sense of belonging to an age group. Another reason is that the implementation of a tripod allowed for a smooth post-production joining. However, due to the nature of taking a series of photographs, and the unpredictable weather, some of the photographs had to be discarded as the lighting had been changed too much and Photoshop would be too noticeable. Furthermore, the standard lens was a good fit for this brief as the ability to use a relatively wide angle when taking the photographs meant that I was able to take more portraits within the frame to later stitch into a sequence.

Least Favourite:

This image is my least favourite of the sequencing series for a variety of reasons. I was unable to capture many frames within this landscape which meant I didn't receive as surreal a photograph that I wanted to. Furthermore, I feel that I should have increased the ISO in this particular photograph as the image is somewhat darker than expected. Although, a good aspect about this final outcome is that the image stitched together very well due to the use of a tripod.

Evaluation and Development - 

I find that this shoot was well executed and provided an intriguing example of the technique. The only negative of this technique is routed in the respect that different locations allow for fewer numbers of repeated subjects such as the least favourite example shown above. Moreover, the natural landscape in some backgrounds move naturally and mean that joining the images becomes more difficult. As such, if I do use this technique then I will have to consider this and ways to amend it such as shooting in controlled environments or understanding how to accurately use the clone stamp tool in Photoshop. 

I plan to use this techniques as it is very surreal in its nature; the ability to use one subject but form a final outcome with multiple characters lends itself well to my ideas of fashion and surrealism. Specifically, within the more sinister photoshoots that I have planned such as shoot 6 where I intend on capturing subjects wearing a variety of masks. 

One specific idea that I plan to create is an Alice in Wonderland idea with one person wearing a white rabbit mask and leading another through woodland; this would work well with sequencing. Although, this may not become a shoot in itself unless I adapt my initial plan for shoot 6 involving masks. 

Techniques: Sequencing: Straight Images -

Sequencing -

Sequencing:

Techniques: Sequencing: Image Bank -

Sequencing - 

Definitions:

• Sequencing: A serial arrangement in which things follow a logical order or a recurrent pattern. Stitching multiple images together. A form of time-lapse photography. Subjects moving across a static background.

Examples: 

Techniques: Wide Angle/ Close Up/ Macro: Work Diary Evaluation -

Wide Angle/ Close Up/ Macro - 

Equipment Used: 
Wide Angle/ Close Up - Canon EOS 450D, Canon lens 18mm-55mm
Macro - Nikon D300, Sigma 105mm lens, tripod, light diffuser, tripod

Settings:  
Indoors - 1/10, F/11, ISO 400
Outdoors -  1/125, F/10, ISO 200
Studio - 1/125, F/8, ISO 200

Lighting: 
Indoors - Natural indoor lighting
Studio - 1/8 

Theory: 
N/A

Wide Angle/ Close Up:

Favourite:

This image is my favourite as it accurately depicts the outlined topic of wide angle photography. Additionally, the setting that I implemented indoors were suitable here due to the windows which let natural light in and thus my ISO and aperture settings worked well. Also, the composition shows the distortion as created through the use of a wide angle lens at a wide and short focal length of about 18mm. Furthermore, the composition allows the foreground to be the central focus but also display the importance of context and setting.

Least Favourite:

This image is my least favourite, however, because the stylistic features of wide angle photography are not as prominent. Firstly, whilst the background does appear smaller than the foreground the other factors reduce the quality of this photograph. Moreover, this indoor setting was much darker and due to time pressures I failed to adjust the ISO, aperture and shutter speed to fit the less well lit environment. Additionally, the use of the flash meant that the foreground was vibrant whilst the background became less highly saturated in colour and was under exposed. If I was to improve this photograph I would implement the use of a tripod, change my camera settings and possibly change lens to one more compatible for wide angle photography with a smaller focal length. Although, there is one good thing about this particular image and this is that it creates a surreal outcome due to the size of the origami crane in comparison to the people in the background.

Macro:

Favourite:

This is my favourite photograph from the sub category of macro for a few reasons. Firstly, the studio setting more accurately allowed the lighting and camera settings to prevail over other conditions such as weather. Additionally, the magnification and thus the ratio of object size in this photograph is larger than life size and is roughly 2:1. Furthermore, the Nikon camera and Sigma lens use within the studio allowed for a good working distance due to the length of the lens. Moreover, I implemented strategies for improving this image such as use of a tripod, additional lighting (and diffuser) and finally manually focusing the camera. Finally, the implication of this image was to think about the huge monetary worth of something so little to some people and the macro aided this through connotation.

Least Favourite:

This is my least favourite photograph for various points. The set-up of the studio was easier to manipulate although the positioning of the subject in this photograph was too close to the lighting which meant that, despite the use of a light metre, the image is over exposed. Furthermore, the magnification and ratio is roughly 1:1 which is not larger than life as expected in macro photography. Moreover, I could have improved the overall image by more accurately using the manual focus.

Evaluation and Development - 

This shoot was a mixture of successful and unsuccessful photographs in that some displayed the technique relatively well whilst the ones placed in the position of least favourite were either less of an exemplification of the technique or more simply were less aesthetically pleasing. 

I will most likely use the technique of wide angle photography as my idea incorporates surrealism and fashion and therefore will need to show landscapes and clothing effectively from a wide  angle perspective especially if I wish to incorporate the aesthetic skill of distortion. 

I will not be using the technique of macro as the framing would not allow for me to display my surreal/ fashion ideas in such small framing unless I implement this skill within my fourth planned photoshoot where I intend on using train models to create a surreal change of scale in the style of the photographer Slinkachu. 

Techniques: Wide Angle/ Close Up/ Macro: Straight Images -

Wide Angle/ Close Up/ Macro - 

Wide Angle/ Close Up:

Macro: