Followers

Thursday 25 October 2012

Photographer Research - Martin Parr

Parr's approach to documentary photography is intimate, anthropological and satirical. Macro lenses, ring flash, high-saturation colour film, and since it became an easier format to work in, digital photography, all allow 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 humour. For example, to create his book Signs of the Times: A Portrait of the Nation's Tastes. (1992), Parr entered ordinary people's homes and took pictures of the mundane aspects of his hosts' lives, combining the images with quotes from his subjects to bring viewers uncomfortably close to them. The result of Parr's technique has been said to leave viewers with ambiguous emotional reactions, unsure whether to laugh or cry.



On first looking at Parr's work my first thought was "boring", I
just didn't get it. After further research into the man and his work I began to really like his work, how he manages to shoot mundane objects along with real life and make them interesting when produced as a collection of images. He really captures the quirkiness and humour in life. UNlike most photographers he leaves in shadows and objects that most people would edit out, this to me gives a more realistic feel to his photographs.









Monday 22 October 2012

Sunday Morning Stroll - Exterior Practise Shots

Sunday morning out and about practising depth of field and shutter speed and doing some test shots for my exterior shoot based "Water"

Here are a few randomly selected unedited shots

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday 19 October 2012

Photoshop - An Introduction -Fruitman

Having never used Photoshop in my life before we were given the task of making a fruitman out of images of fruit......here is my attempt, not very good but at least i picked up 1 or 2 commands that will put me in good sted for future editing of photos.

I've never been a fan of photoshop as a lot of commercial images of today are photoshopped to hell and bare little resemblance to the original photograph taken, taking out a spot or a bit of red eye, or cropping something im ok with, but total image manipulation i don't really agree with. However if one is to try and succeed in this field when everyone else is using photoshop then one has to shove ones opinions where the sun doesn't shine and just get on with it!


I had a go at total manipulation of an image this morning and heres the finished product!


Interior Brief Photographer Research - Bridget Smith

As part of my interior brief i want to photograph the bustling life of theatres and entertainment venues, Bridget Smith captures these spaces in a completely different way

Bridget Smith works within the documentary genre but she photographs places of fantasy and escapism. Smith is interested in the places where people go to seek refuge from the outside world: to escape boredom, to be diverted, transported, absorbed – places to lose oneself, where pretence and reality are often confused.
Smith’s photographs have documented the construction of fantasy and the architecture of entertainment, the function of which is to disconnect people from their everyday lives and concerns.












I like the stillness and quietness of these photos, she captures places that are normally bustling with people and noise such as theatres, cinemas and community halls and makes them dreamlike awaiting the onslaught of people and noise.
Bibliography Frith Street Gallery

Photographer Research - Sarah Lucas

Sarah Lucas

In an iconic series of twelve self-portrait photographs, the artist Sarah Lucas explored her own identity as a woman and as an artist over a number of years. Lucas’s androgynous appearance, masculine poses and use of visual puns challenge stereotypical representations of gender and sexuality, whilst revealing the vulnerability of the artist. Sarah Lucas studied at Goldsmiths College and was part of the Young British Artists movement in the 1990s.

 


 
 
I personally love Sarah's work and the way her work pushes the boundaries as well as showing her identity as a woman in a bold yet daring way.
 


Bibliography - National Portrait Museum
                        Tate Gallery
 

Photographer Research - Mary Ellen Mark

Mary Ellen Mark

Mary Ellen Mark is recognised as one of today's most respected and influential photographers in the world. For over four decades, she has traveled extensively to make pictures that reflect a high degree of humanism. Her images of our world's diverse cultures have become landmarks in the field of documentary photography. She has achieved worldwide visibility through her numerous books, exhibitions and editorial magazine work. She is a contributing photographer to The New Yorker and has published photo-essays and portraits in such publications as LIFE, New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair. She is drawn to those on the fringes of society,such as the homeless, drug addicts, prostitutes and gypsies.

She is also a Stills photographer and has worked on various blockbusters

Q. What do you believe is your ultimate responsibility as a photographer?

Mary Ellen:
If you’re a documentary photographer being honest and fair is your ultimate responsibility.

I really like Mary ellen and the way she captures the fringes of society, her images are very raw and thought provoking.










 
 

Photographer Research - Matt Stuart - Street Photographer

Matt Stuart - Street Photographer

Matt has been shooting the streets of London for over 14 years. Matt Stuart, with his mix of quirky and accidental images, is quickly becoming one of today's best street photographer.


I absolutely love Matt's work, if ever a photographer captured my personality and sense of humour its this guy.