Shoot Two - Work Record

For my second shoot, I am wanted to capture similar images to in my first image, with a very close up macro shooting style, however, I felt that the documentary quality of my first shoot need to be expanded on. I decided to capture the photos over a period of a day while I was in college, in an attempt to create a photo narrative of what I did throughout my day. Similar to my previous shoot, I shot with my lens as wide as possible, using a narrow aperture to create a narrow depth of field.

This Photo was taken using a shutter speed of 1/100, with an aperture of f5.6 and the ISO set to 500. I chose this setting as I wanted a very narrow depth of field and needed the shutter speed to be above 1/60 to avoid camera shake. Because the room I shot this in was fairly dull in lighting, the ISO had to be moved up to 500 in order for the camera to be sensitive enough to the light that was there. This image also had some white balance issues, which I corrected in Photoshop using this method. This image makes use of texture, displaying some rough textures in the foreground on the wood of the table, which contrast to the shiny and smooth textures shown on the earphone pods. This can represent the fact that some everyday objects can appear to be unused despite being heavily used. The earphones themselves create a juxtaposition of moods, as the pod of the headphones is smooth and shiny, whereas there is a broken piece of plastic along the wire, representing the item's heavy use.

 I shot this image on a shutter speed of 1/125, with an aperture of f3.5 and an ISO of 200. I chose that aperture as I wanted to create a sense of depth in this image through having a narrow depth of field. I focussed on the sheets of paper on the table, as I wanted to create a snapshot of what I was doing while in college at the time. It also creates a narrative of me being focussed on my work, with the drink being out focus, suggesting that it's the less important object in my situation. The framing of the image helps create the narrative of the image, as it captures all aspects of what was on my desk at the time. You can see the keyboard, which represents the digital aspect of my work, as well as the storyboards, which represent the physical aspects of my work, and my phone being present as a representation of leisure periods between my work.

For my next shoot, I want to return to the setting of the household, capturing a similar style macro photography that I used throughout my first shoot, however, I would like to carry the documentary influences that I used throughout this shoot to create narratives throughout household objects without the use of words being featured in the images.

Shoot 5 - Contact Sheet

Shoot 5 - Straight Images

Shoot 4 - Contact Sheet

Shoot 4 - Straight Images

Discussion of Exam Paper

For my exam, I have chosen the topic of Everyday objects. I mindmapped the topics of Everyday objects and Manufactured structures, but I decided that manufactured structures is too similar to the work I have previously done and I want to try different styles of photography, which I feel Everyday objects would facilitate. Within Everyday objects, I want to focus on macro photography, while I am also able to implement documentary photography and studio portraits.

 

This is a photo by Andre Keretsz, a photographer who focuses on still life photography, often incorporating everyday objects. This image incorporates a very large tonal range, due to the use of black and white and the hard shadows the two mugs in the image cast. The hard shadows that the mugs cast create a every hard shadow, which creates some very dark tones. There are also dark tones in the background due the use of low key lighting. These are heavily contrasted by the light tones shown in the foreground and on the mugs themselves, which is cast from the lighting used in taking the photo. This image is relevant to me as it has been taken in a macro style; The camera was using a wide angle lens while the photographer was close to the subject, meaning the mugs in the image appear larger than life. As a result, a narrow depth of field has been captured, in which the background is out of focus. The use of the very grey filter with this image creates a very dull mood, which could be linked to the monotony of everyday life.

This is another similar image by Andre Keretsz. It has the similar hard shadow cast, as the lighting used is very low key, meaning a hard shadows is cast. I can tell that the source of the lighting has been positioned above the subject, leaning in from the top of the frame, as he shadow is angled towards the bottom side of the frame. The photographer captured a narrow depth of field, focusing sharply on the fork and leaving the bowl it's leaning on and the table out of focus. Due to the use of the very grey filtered black and white film, the image comes out in an almost duotone effect, which there is a strong contrast in the dark and light tones. The dark tones are displayed in the hard shadow that is cast on parts of the fork, whereas other parts of the fork as well as the bowl and the table on which the image was shot create some lighter tones which contrast this. The presence of both dark and light tones within the fork can represent the possible meanings a fork can have; for most, a fork is just another everyday object that has no significance and acts as a positive as it simply enables people to eat in order to survive. However, for some who have trouble with either under or over eating, it can be an everyday obstacle to their health, and therefore a symbol of struggle.

Image Bank

This is a macro photography style image; it captures some eggs in a close up nature, making them appear larger than life size. I chose this image as I felt that I could use a similar macro style throughout my project, and it creates ideas of how you can document everyday life through photographing food.

This has been taken using a very narrow depth of field, meaning the watch is in focus but the background isn't. The setting of rocks creates a strong sense of depth, as you can see which parts of the rock formation are in focus. This is relevant to me as it displays the use of photographing everyday objects within a non everyday environment, which is something I'd like to experiment with.

This creates a clear sense of narrative; it displays that the photographer has lit each match one by one, letting the match burn more each time, then lining them up in order of least to most burnt. This could create connotations of everyday life getting harder and harder, with the amount of the match unburnt representing the person's will to go through everyday activities. This is relevant to me as it demonstrates the use of several of the same object to create narrative.

I felt that this image showed a great deal of closeup detail, particularly in the formal element of texture. There are some very rough and weathered textures shown throughout this image, particularly on the ends of the screws. This creates a sense of uncertainty, which contrasts to the presence of the screw, as it should represent security and utility.