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.