Final Pieces

Overall Evaluation

This unit brief was an exam brief where I was given a list of topics and the one I chose was the portfolio I created with the guidelines of that question. As well as using the topic for my 15 hour exam. The topics that I had a choice from were:

Aspects of landscape

Contact sheets

Multiple imagery

Unusual portraiture

Documenting in color 

Challenging traditional representations  

New realities 

view point and composition.

The three topics that I decided to look further into to make a final decision was

Multiple imagery

Aspects of landscape

Documenting color 

To make my decision I created three mind maps that included ideas that related to the topic, photographers that related to the topic and possible shoot ideas. I found that aspect of landscape was something that I hadn't done before and felt that their was more inspiration from existing photographers therefore the photographs I saw were ideas that I could develop and gain influences from especially in the scale aspect.This project contrasted with my unit 3 as this project was more focusing on color and close up photography. This allowed me to see a different view of photography not keep me intrigued. Furthermore the topic being aspect of landscape gave me more of a broad approach to the project as I could photograph any aspect I liked without having to follow a set of guidelines. This allowed me to show my journey in more of a variety and to try different aspects to see which one is more successful and effective. 

After I had decided I was photographing aspects of landscape I then had to complete several tasks to get a better understanding before I captured my shoots. I firstly made a definition page this consisted of a dictionary definition, 4 annotated photographs, a list of related words and my own definition. The idea of this task was to get an idea of what the project means focusing on what specific elements the photographs include. I then made an image bank on 30 photographs related to aspects of landscape annotating them all. This was very helpful as it allowed me to see a bigger selection of inspiration. In addition I also completed research into 5 photographers which was a massive part of my project this was because it allowed me to look deeply further into the 5 of my choice and see the reasons behind their photographs and the decisions that were made regarding their photographs. The task involved the detailed annotation of 4 of the photographers, why I chose the photographer,the influences I gained from them and a summary of my opinion on their work overall. By researching into all 5 photographers allowed me to see what starting point I was going to begin with and what style I was aiming for in my first couple of shoots. 

In my large mind map that I created I had planned each shoot in advance to allow me to plan where I am going and how I'm getting their so that I get the variety of landscapes I want to show. Therefore referring back to this mind map and from all the tasks above I had completed I had a rough idea of all my shoots but I was certain for my first couple. This therefore meant I could start shooting and from all the planning they all were very successful. In addition after all my shoots straight after I had to complete a work record for each one. This included 2 annotated photographs from that shoot and a paragraph saying how I am going to connect this with my next shoot or future ideas for my next shoot. The idea for this which I showed was to refer back to this if I forgot my shoot plan and to make sure I was following a journey that had connections between each shoot. This also allowed me to evaluate my photographs to see the elements of what I did well and parts where I need improvement. 

After I had completed all 10 photography shoots I had to write 5 connecting essays to show with evidence my work reflected inspiration I have already researched into. This involved choosing a photograph that I had captured myself and a photograph that already exists to connect it with. Within these connecting essays I had to annotate both photographs in detail highlighting the aspect,the angle of the shot, the location, the colors, textures and tones and the message behind it. This then lead onto a paragraph explaining how they connect indicating their similarities. 

During this project I had to complete print techniques that gave my work a more creative edge and showed my skills using the software Adobe Photoshop. The print techniques were:

Dutone

Soft focus

Black and white

Repetition 

Framing

Selective color

Overlay

Monatge

Weaving Cluster

Image and text

Photo joiner

Image within image.

These print techniques ranged from being very simple to very complex therefore they enhanced my skills and allowed me to have a challenge as well. I also created on Adobe Photoshop a range of computer techniques. This was when I was freely allowed to create an experiment on the photographs of my choice by changing the colors, the focus, blurring them, crystallizing them or even swirling them so that they look totally different. This allowed my creativity to be shown and to show how my creative mind works.

The skills that I have developed from this unit 4 aspects of landscape project are to view a large scale landscape and to identify where certain aspects of the bigger picture can be captured to form a more affect photograph. For example the aspect of depth from growth in my project was the aspect that was most successful in my eyes. Therefore by improving my skill of depth of field and capturing the photographs in different angles allowed these photographs to look very interesting. This project also allowed my organisation skill to grow as this time I planned each shoot before capturing them and the locations were all planned with allowed this project to be less stressful and easier to enjoy.

I also completed a 15 hour exam that was planned in advance before I had done the shoots required for it. The exam was exploring aspects of landscape further and the exam was influenced by previous work I had already done in my unit 4 project. I had planned all my shoots in advance and the locations that they will be taken at. The locations were a cemetery, London Hyde park, London embankment, Moorhen and the town park. I had planned all my ideas in advance for each shoot and planned the times for when I will arrive and location and have to come away. Being organised was something that I felt I done well as it allowed me to use my time efficiently and less stress to be caused. In my exam I had only planned 4 shoots as I didn't think that I would have any time remaining however I did therefore I organised a fifth shoot which was at the local town park to make sure I had used all my time. I also went through all my editing straight photographs to make sure there was no errors and if their was any other photographs I could edit to make my exam even better. Overall I feel through my planning and organisational skills my exam went very well and with time remaining allowed me to develop my improvements to make sure there was no mistakes.

Overall this unit has shown all my skills and improvement from AS and unit 3 to now. This project showed my confidence in photographing something new and different each time without getting worried that it won't look right as that's the whole idea of improvement from my mistakes. It has also given me the confidence in my own ideas and that experimenting with different to show variety. From photographing landscapes allowed me to get a new interest in a different type of photography therefore allowing myself to take more photographs so that when I came to editing them I had a larger selection to chose from.  

Top Twenty presentation

Top twenty from ameliabarrett16

Work diary (Shoot 10)

This photograph was taken for my aspects of landscapes shoot and was taken from a low angle to enhance the height of the object. This photograph shows the aspect of depth in this photograph and this shown from the angle that this photograph was taken at. I feel that the sky in this photograph is very iconic and the tones of blues in the sky are shown very well as this makes the photograph very bright and positive to look at. This photograph shows the aspect of man made in the photograph and contrasts with the photograph below and its showing the nature in a landscape.

This photograph was for my aspects of landscape shoot and is a photograph taken in a large landscape. This photograph enhances the aspect of scale and this is done through the use of the element depth. The depth in this photograph was taken from a low angle to allow the texture of the grass to stand out. The texture of the grass is very smooth and the tones in the grass range from very dark to light depending on the sun reflecting from it. I feel that this photograph shows the element of colour very well as the different shades of green create this landscape to look very bright and healthy looking. The tree in the distance is very captivating and this is because its seen far in the distance to empathise the use of the element depth even more.


This aspects of landscape shoot was connected to all my natural landscape shoots and this is because all the practise I have done with the element of depth is reflected in this shoot and especially these two photographs. I feel that this shoot shows the journey that I have taken during this project and how depth and natural landscapes are my strong point that I have concluded with in this aspects of landscape shoot.

Aspects of landscapes (Shoot 10)

Work diary (Shoot 9)

This photograph was taken as part of my aspect of landscape project and is a close up of an unusual shapes pair of flowers. This photograph shows the aspect of close up and this allows the texture, tones and color to stand out. Firstly the texture's of the flowers are seen very clearly and this is because the smooth and delicate textures are close up to make the beauty of these flowers stand out. Also the tones in the flowers stand out and the sunlight shining on them allows dark and light shadows to be seen and makes the flowers look very three dimensional instead of flat. Lastly the colors in the flowers are very soft and neutral and create a very graceful affect to the photograph.This photograph was taken from a birds eye view to get more detail in the flowers as the shape of them are very interesting.

This photograph is part of my aspects of landscapes project and shows the technique of multiple imagery. The photographs in this multiple imagery are close up photography and show the different angles of the flower. The shape of this flower's petals are very interesting and make this multiple imagery very bold and stunning to look at. In the editing process I converted all the photographs to black and white and this was to create the tones to stand out even more. The tones in the flowers range from dark and light and allow the petals to stand out as the shadows on them are very intriguing.I feel that enhancing the aspect of close up was a very good idea as it makes multiple imagery photographs more striking.

This photography shoot was done as I at the beginning of my project I learnt a set of techniques and close up photography was one of them I then continued this technique in my unit 3 project and felt that it was very successful. Therefore to create a variety in my aspects of landscape project  felt that I had done a lot on the depth of landscapes therefore by showing close ups in landscapes still created a sense of depth however developed from this and created some stunning photographs.

Aspects of Landscapes (Shoot 9)