New Progect...

I am really looking forward to getting into this project and really seeing were I can take it. I think that this is a refreshing break, even though I love portraiture work, it’s nice to be doing something else for a bit. And I think that it’s perfect timing to do so!

I really feel like I let myself down in the last project so I am really going to keep on top of my blog work. I really don’t want to get in the same position as last time.

At first glance of the brief I think that I am going to go down the ‘journey’ route and see what I can create. I am going to have a good think though before I truly set on a theme. For now research on books and layouts will be my starting point.

Overall Evaluation

Since the beginning of the year we have been undergoing the workshop project. This consisted of several mini projects under one brief. The aim being to explore new techniques and create new skills, overall producing an outcome for each one.

At the beginning of the project when we were given our brief I was excited to get back to work and get my teeth into something I could really work on. This enthusiasm lasted not long at all. This was the biggest disappointment and I feel like I really let myself down. I just didn't have the motivation I had in the beginning and found it really hard to get back on track through the project because of it. It wasn't until I got to my self-directed project that I really got this enthusiasm and drive back. I feel like this may have been too little too late. Areas like darkroom and also my blog had suffered because of my laziness and there is no one to blame but myself.

Surprisingly the areas that I have avoided in the past due to not enjoying them are the ones that have thrived in this project. Digital has never really been an interest of mine but this project has changed that. I found my fill flash and my self-directed project to be challenging but in a constructive way, overall being enjoyable and the time when I was most engaged in my work.

To do this time over I would have found areas that got me motivated and back on track. I love to blog and it’s a shame that this was affected by my motivation. If maybe I would have put some effort in and found artist work that got me fired up and ready to work this would have made my time be more well spent and possibly got more outcomes for the medium format work like I wanted to.

Even though I lacked motivation I’m so happy with all the outcomes for this project and think that each and every one responds to the brief strongly and is clear to see. 

Evaluation - Learner Agreement

Something I have always struggled with in photography is writing my own self-directed project. I don’t know why I have this problem as I have loads of inspiration that gives me great ideas for projects all the time. However when it comes to having to write one I never seem to be able to pull it off. I’m pleasantly surprised that this wasn't the case in this project. It may have took me a day or two to come to an actually definitive topic, but there was ideas flowing constantly.

Getting my project off the ground also seemed to be far too easy if you ask me. I had a group of models who were willing to have the pictures taken and seemed to be available whenever I needed them. This was a huge relief as it was a project based on having a different model for each shot. It wouldn't have worked as well if I only had a select few models. 

Research was one of the main components in this project and it really backed up my idea and influence it greatly. Artist such as Thomas Ruff and Corrine Day were the biggest influence to my work and I think that this is clear to see. These give my work more meaning and showed me different ways that photographers have basically approached the same kind of work.

If I was to re-visit my project I would maybe give myself more time for the later shoots I have produced. I feel like the pressure got to me and caused me to rush. I don’t think that is to visible apart from in the last shoot. I managed to amend this the best I could using light room and think I have been able to get it to a standard where it will stand next to the other images without being too noticeable and stand out too much.

Overall I’m extremely happy with how I have approached this project and also the outcome with it. I am surprised how smoothly everything ran and I think this shows in my final print as I have been able to spend time on it and not have to rush. 

Evaluation - Medium Format

This wasn't the first time that I had experience using medium format black and white film so it meant that I knew my way around the camera and I felt pretty confident when shooting and processing the film.  This being said I did run into some slight problems what turned out to be nothing more that careless mistakes on my part.

I feel a little let down with myself when it comes to this project because I like to finish things that I start. But I feel due to an ambitious self-directed project it didn't leave time to come back and revisit the medium format work. this is a shame as I think that with more time and a better direction to take my work I could have produced some really nice prints as in the black and white darkroom is where I feel most at home. 

Another reason I feel I let myself down in this project is that there are so many amazing photographers who produce medium format work out there and I feel I didn't even scratch the surface with research. This is again something that I could have delved deeper into with time.

Overall I think that I produced an adequate amount of work for this project considering it got abandoned not long after getting started. This being said I would have still liked to have produced the 9 final prints as a personal goal as I like to complete what I start. 

Medium Format - Shoot 3

This is the last shoot that I managed to get done before I realized that it was probably best to abandon the project to make sure that I would have time to really explore the self-directed project. I made sure that I used all the lens in this shoot so that I had experience with them all:

Reece – 50mm

Zeba – 80mm

Matty – 150mm

Enlargements:

I am really happy with the outcome of this shoot as I think that there are some really strong images that show my skills and I think that this is a high that I can leave the project on. If I have time I would really like to come back to this to revisit and shoot some more medium format work. 

Book Research - The Great Life Photographers

I know that these shots aren't medium format work but the reason I put them in is because I don’t think that its important what format the photographs are for them to be inspiring and give my tips and ideas that I can use in my medium format work. 

Robert Capa:

What I like about this image is the grit and grain of the image. This is what I like about film photography, it gives the image a rustic feel and real gives the image a quality that you can’t get in digital without a lot of editing. 

Andreas Feininger:

I would really like to know how the photographer has managed to get the lighting like this in this shot. I really don’t understand it but I really like it. I also like the detail how you can see the aperture in the lens of the camera that the model is holding up. 

Philippe Halsman:

I’m obsessed with portraits of old Hollywood a listers in this style. I wish I could simply touch upon the look and quality of images such as this one. They hold such grace!

Medium Format - Shoot 2

When I was discussing shooting my last roll of film with Tim and how the light meter told me how to correctly expose the shot but when they came out the light was too harsh and this was not what I wanted he give me some helpful advice. As you only get 12 shots with the medium format it could get really expensive if it keeps going wrong. He told me to take the digital back for the Hasselblad with me to the studio, set my lighting up and shoot using the digital back. The reason for this was to get the lighting and the expose right before I used the roll of film. This was such a good idea as all my images on the film came out exactly how I wanted and the lighting was perfect for the look I was going for. 

The lighting I had was one light facing the model using a soft box so that it subtly lit her face. But I also had a light behind the model aimed at the back of her head. The reason for this was to hopefully get the “old Hollywood” glow like famous film stars had in the day! I’m glad I chose to do this as in the past Rachel’s jet black hair got lost in the background. This way it stands out and you can see were her hair ends and the background begins.

Enlargements: