Media Unit 57 Mood board Task 1

I was able to source images for my health fitness double page spread with ideas from the internet and source photos that I took using a camera. I was able to source relevant images that are linked with fitness and health that would help me use images for my final page spread. I was able to use existing material from websites like Men's Health or Fitness.Com which would help me improve the style of the magazine.

Unit 57- Notes on Video

What was the task? 

*****Technical Difficulties with the text size***********

We had to make notes on a photography video.



How will this help you in the future of this course? - Gives me the pros and cons of becoming a photographer.


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Negative Effects

• Oversaturation: Some critics believe technology has led television and the Internet to focus on images instead of information. They note that reports from correspondents in the field provide only "tiny microviews" of the war. Seeing small slices from the frontlines could lead to misunderstandings about the big picture.

• Desensitizing: Some photojournalists fear that oversaturation of the war tends to distance viewers from the reality of war. For example, the bombing of Iraq was shown on network and cable channels night after night.  Photojournalists were given the task of capturing as many bombs and missiles in the U.S. arsenal as possible. Consequently, some critics argued that this continual bombardment of weapons photos contributed to the notion of war as a video game and thus stripped the conflict of its humanity.

• Graphic footage: Some television photojournalists were mandated to sanitize their shots so they could be shown to mass audiences. A study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism of war coverage by ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox early in the Iraq conflict found that about half the reports from embedded photojournalists showed combat action, but not a single story featured pictures of severely injured military personnel. Casualties were shown from afar on television, but a number of newspapers and magazines featured graphic still photos of wounded soldiers on the frontlines.

Unit 57- Further Research (Photo of Harrison Ford )

The portrait Harrison Ford by Terry O'Neil

This photo Harrison Ford, is really interesting as the shade and tone is very effective. The black and white form helps create  a cool crisp look. It's also interesting to see the background; the composition of the bus and pedestrians helps create a very smart sophisticated subject.  The choice of clothes, helps create shape and form as judging from the picture we can get to see the texture of the smooth leather jacket.

Unit 57 - Focal Point

What was the task? 

We had to research into focal points.
 
What you learnt?I learnt that photography is in more depth.


How will this help you in the future of this course? - It will give me an insight into the type of photos that is used to create meaning. 



Focal point and Rule of thirds:
Focal point
The focal point doesn't have to be big to do the job. Colour can help, a splash of bright colour will bring attention. 

Eg a yellow flower will construct with a red. It creates a visual tension, a picture doesn't have to have one clear focal point. Two or more focal points produce powerful images- stands out.  More to look at.

Example of a focus point
Imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally an vertically) so you have 9 parts. 

Aperture is one of the three pillars of photography, the other two being ISO and Shutter Speed. Without a doubt, it is the most talked about subject, because aperture either adds a dimension to a photograph by blurring the background, or magically brings everything in focus.

The f/stop also affects shutter speed. Using a low f/stop means more light is entering the lens and therefore the 


All lenses have a maximum aperture, and all NIKKOR lenses list the widest possible aperture on the lens barrel. Some zoom lenses will detail something like f/3.5-5.6 on the lens barrel or 1:3.5-5.6 (below right). 

These numbers, the 3.5 and the 5.6, are referring to the maximum aperture or widest opening the lens can achieve for each end of the zoom range. Some higher end lenses can maintain the largest aperture throughout the entire zoom range, so only one number is detailed (below left)

Unit 57 photography research

What was the task? 

We had to research into photographs.  


How will this help you in the future of this course? - It will give me an insight into the type of art that is used to create purpose. 


The history of photography has roots in remote antiquity with the discovery of the principle of the camera obscura and the observation that some substances are visibly altered by exposure to light. As far as is known, nobody thought of bringing these two phenomena together to capture camera images in permanent form until around 1800, when Thomas Wedgwood made the first reliably documented although unsuccessful attempt. In the mid-1820s, Nicéphore Niépce succeeded, but several days of exposure in the camera were required and the earliest results were very crude. Niépce's associate Louis Daguerre went on to develop the daguerreotype process, the first publicly announced photographic process, which required only minutes of exposure in the camera and produced clear, finely detailed results. It was commercially introduced in 1839, a date generally accepted as the birth year of practical photography.The First Photograph, or more specifically, the earliest known surviving photograph made in a camera, was taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 or 1827. The image depicts the view from an upstairs window at Niépce's estate, Le Gras, in the Burgundy region of France.Louis Le Prince makes Roundhay Garden Scene, believed to be the first motion picture on film ever made. 1889 – The first commercially available transparent celluloid roll film is introduced by the Eastman Company, later renamed the Eastman Kodak Company and commonly known as Kodak.Polaroid introduces the instant camera, February 21, 1947. Polaroid founder Edwin Land first demonstrated the instant camera on February 21, 1947 at a meeting of the Optical Society of America in New York City.Steven Sasson as an engineer at Eastman Kodak invented and built the first electronic camera using a charge-coupled device image sensor in 1975.Taking photos means a lot to me as it means you can cherish and look back at moments: family moments. It also is a way to show other people holidays and show them what I did. Also, the rise of selfies have become a popular thing especially with younger people.

Unit 57 Photography- Different Photographers

What was the task? 

 ***** Technical Difficulties- the size of the text isn't working.**********

We had to research famous photographers.


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What you learnt? - Their background, story, choices, fact. 
How will this help you in the future of this course? - It will give me better knowledge in my photography unit. 



Don McCullin's most celebrated image is his portrait of a dazed American soldier, known as the  Shellshocked US Marine, Hue, Vietnam. It was taken during the battle for the city of Hue in 1968 and, in its stillness it says as much about the effects of war on the individual as many of McCullin's more graphic depictions of conflict and carnage. The eyes that stare out beneath the grimy helmet are not staring at the camera lens, but beyond it, into nowhere.

During McCullin's period of National Service in the RAF he was posted to the Canal Zone during the 1956 Suez Crisis, where he worked as a photographer's assistant. He failed to pass the written theory paper necessary to become a photographer in the RAF, and so spent his service in the darkroom. During this period McCullin bought his first camera, a Rolleicord. On return to Britain shortage of funds led to his pawning the camera. His mother used her own money to redeem the pledge. In 1968, his Nikon camera stopped a bullet intended for him

McCullin took huge risks in order to take his photographs. He was threatened with a knife at a Muslim checkpoint in Beirut for having a Falangist press pass, blinded by CS gas during a riot in Derry, and wounded by fragments of mortar shell inCambodia. But he reports having been most frightened when arrested by Idi Amin’s thugs in Uganda and taken to a notorious prison where they were murdering hundreds of people every day with sledgehammers.

He survived; but damaged. He has a head full of demons, and bears a heavy burden of doubt and guilt. ‘Sometimes it felt like I was carrying pieces of human flesh back home with me, not negatives. It’s as if you are carrying the suffering of the people you have photographed.’

I choose this photo on the right, as the form of it really sticks out. The use of the two black children placed at the centre of the photo and the writing on the wall with the help from the over growing bushes shows a tense mood and atmosphere. The use of the black and white filter and a council estate in the background shows the location is quite rough.  The way the boys look at the camera and the way they are dressed illustatres a dangerous time the 50s were. 

David Bailey

Bailey began working with prestigious fashion brand Jaeger in the late 1950's when Jean Muir landed the role of designer. After working alongside other fashion photographers such as the late Norman Parkinson, Bailey was officially commissioned by Vogue in 1962.

His first shoot in New York was of young model Jean Shrimpton, who wore a range of Jaeger and Susan Small clothing, including a camel suit with a green blouse and a suede coat worn with kitten heels. The shoot was titled 'Young Idea Goes West'.

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William Eggliston 

William Eggleston (born July 27, 1939), is an American photographer. He is widely credited with increasing recognition for color photography as a legitimate artistic medium to display in art galleries.

At the age of 15, Eggleston was sent to the Webb School, a boarding establishment. Eggleston later recalled few fond memories of the school, telling a reporter, "It had a kind of Spartan routine to 'build character'. I never knew what that was supposed to mean. It was so callous and dumb. It was the kind of place where it was considered effeminate to like music and painting." 

Eggleston's early photographic efforts were inspired by the work of Swiss-born photographer Robert Frank, and by French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson's book, The Decisive Moment. Eggleston later recalled that the book was "the first serious book I found, from many awful books...I didn't understand it a bit, and then it sank in, and I realized, my God, this is a great one.”

Eggleston's early photographic efforts were inspired by the work of Swiss-born photographer Robert Frank, and by French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson's book, The Decisive Moment. Eggleston later recalled that the book was "the first serious book I found, from many awful books...I didn't understand it a bit, and then it sank in, and I realized, my God, this is a great one.”

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Martin Parr born 23 May 1952 is a British documentary photographer photojournalist and photobook collector. He is known for his photographic projects that take an intimate, satirical and anthropological look at aspects of modern life.

In an interview Parr said:

"The fundamental thing I'm exploring constantly is the difference between the mythology of the place and the reality of it... Remember I make serious photographs disguised as entertainment. That's part of my mantra. I make the pictures acceptable in order to find the audience but deep down there is actually a lot going on that's not sharply written in your face. If you want to read it you can read it".

Parr's aesthetic is close-up, through use of a macro lens, and employing saturated colour, a result of either the type of film and/or use of a ring flash. This allows him to put his subjects "under the microscope" in their own environment, giving them space to expose their lives and values in ways that often involve inadvertent humours.

Unit 57 Photography- Composition

What was the task? 

We had to research into the composition and rule of third in photos.  


What you learnt? The challenges?  I learnt that there is more in photography than simply taking a photo. It was difficult to find at first the rule of third, however with more research its clearer. 

How will this help you in the future of this course? - It will give me an insight into the type of photos taken.

What makes a good photo?

Good subject

Good lighting 

Good compostiton 

Leading lines-

If a photo has strong lines, make sure the lines lead the eye into the fram rather than out of it. The lines should lead to the main point of interest. 

Viewpoint/Angles

Vary Angels: Shoot at varying angles to capture a subject from a different view point. Move the camera higher or lower. For a dramatic effect, take some photos from a birds eye or a worms eye view. 

Dramatic lighting adds interest to a photo.

Silhouettes - subject made dark by photographing it against  a light background.

Framing- a subject by zooming or moving closer it draws attention to it.

Symmetry- An identical or near identical image of its other half. Use of symmetry often provides a formal balance. 

Unit 57 Contact Sheet

What was the task? 

We had to create  a 20 image contact sheet. Our images could be in any style you wish (Portrait, Landscape). We had to focus on one setting. 

What images do you like and why? - 

 The images with the black border are the ones which are the best ones. Starting with the top left  picture (third image in), this one is better than the others  due to the good composition, subject and lighting. The image has a strong focal point, and there isn't much noise in the background. The second photo, has a striking focal point and the use of framing enables people to look at it closely. 

The lighting is good, as it adds interest to a photo and it determines what the photo is before composing it. The third photo is one of my best images as it's simple. It helps keeps composition simple, it avoids a busy background that can distract someone. My fourth photo is another best one as I took it from a low angle as I wanted more depth to the photo and to make it more dramatic.

The focal point has a strong centre of image and a lot of vibrant colours. Lastly, the fifth photo (bottom right) is one of my best as the subject I took this photo from a low angle, the lighting helps show the depth and filter to the image. 

How will this help you in the future of this course? - It will give me an insight into the use of a contact sheet.

Unit 57 Photography- Contact Sheet

Unit 57 Photography - Fine Art

What was the task? 

We had to research fine art  and the origins and traditions of this art. 


What you learnt? The challenges, and what images do you like and why? - I learnt that fine art is more in depth, in what I have thought, 

How will this help you in the future of this course? - It will give me an insight into the type of art that is used to create purpose. 

In Western European academic traditions, fine art is art developed primarily for aesthetics or beauty, distinguishing it from applied art that also has to serve some practical function.

Historically, the five main fine arts were painting, sculpture, architecture, music and poetry, with performing arts including theatre and dance.

One definition of fine art is "a visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic and intellectual purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness, specifically, painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, graphics, and architecture."In that sense, there are conceptual differences between the fine arts and the applied arts. As originally conceived, and as understood for much of the modern era, the perception of aesthetic qualities required a refined judgment usually referred to as having good taste, which differentiated fine art from popular art and entertainment.However, in the Postmodern era, the value of good taste is disappearing, to the point that having bad taste has become synonymous with be avant-garde. The term "fine art" is now rarely found in art history, but remains common in the art trade and as a title for university departments and degrees, even if rarely used in teaching.

The word "fine" does not so much denote the quality of the artwork in question, but the purity of the discipline according to traditional Western European. This definition originally excluded the applied or decorative arts, and the products of what were regarded as crafts. In contemporary practice these distinctions and restrictions have become essentially meaningless, as the concept or intention of the artist is given primacy, regardless of the means through which this is expressed.

Texture- we spend a lot of time getting the perfect landscape or portatit.shutter doesn't need to stay open as long to make a correct exposure which translates into a faster shutter speed. 



Rather than focus on the content of the picture, focus on the form for some 
interesting pics.
Texture, everything has a surface - even glass. Taking pics of textures will produce amazing pics. Texture- grass wind rain- has to be in focus. Make sure the flash is off.
Colour:

Eli Annotated Article

Photos unit 57 Photography

What was the task? 

We had to take 10 photos using special cameras focusing on texture and detail. 


What you learnt? The challenges, and what images do you like and why? - I learnt how to operate specific cameras and their shutter speed. The images I like are the ones which have picked up the details in the photos, like the detail lines in the leaf. 

How will this help you in the future of this course? - It will give me more experience when I am able to take the real photos for my course. 

I really like the composition of the snail, the detail is amazing and the lighting captures the cold feel texture with the bricks. 











I really like the close up of the water drops, the texture has been picked up. The lighting has been caught using the high angle shot. 









I really like the texture and contrast with the trees. The lines have been caught, the composition is really good. 

The above 2 images are a contrast between photoshopped and not. The top one looks neat, sophisticated- the black and white filter captures the mood. 

The photo looks very good due to the detail of the rocks and sticks, its caught the lighting. 

Picture of Article