Abstract Imagery

Here are some abstract images I took, using a long shutter speed. All images are straight from camera with the colour saturated in Photoshop

An abstract photograph strips real world imagery of its message and meaning and leaves only raw emotion and arbitrary associations, which might be different for each person viewing it. So it's not so much an artistic expression, more like a game of introspection offered to the potential viewer.

Risk Assessment - "Broken" Production - The Lowry Theatre

Risk Assessment - "Broken" - The Lowry Theatre

Poor Lighting - This may result in me falling over a prop on stage or another person, This is overcome by not moving around during black out and photographing from one place.

Electricity Cables - If left trailing i could trip over these, ensure there are none left lying around, if they are left on stage they need to be stuck down with gaffer tape.

Trips and falls - Tripping over stage equipment, this can be avoided by staying out of the way during set changes.

Fire Risk - Make myself aware of where the fire exits are and fire extinguishers in case of emergency.

Temperature - It gets hot, so drink lots of water to prevent dehydrating

Risk Assessment - "A Lot Of It About" Production - The Lowry Theatre

Risk Assessment - "A Lot Of It About" - The Lowry Theatre

Poor Lighting - This may result in me falling over a prop on stage or another person, This is overcome by not moving around during black out and photographing from one place.

Electricity Cables - If left trailing i could trip over these, ensure there are none left lying around, if they are left on stage they need to be stuck down with gaffer tape.

Trips and falls - Tripping over stage equipment, this can be avoided by staying out of the way during set changes.

Fire Risk - Make myself aware of where the fire exits are and fire extinguishers in case of emergency.

Temperature - It gets hot, so drink lots of water to prevent dehydrating

Health & Safety - Photography

Health & Safety

Darkroom

Safe working practices when working in a darkroom:

1. The use of personal Protective equipment - Gloves, masks, goggles, tongues etc

2. Free from obstructions to avoid, slip, trips and falls

3. Correct ventilation

4. First Aid Kit to include Eye wash

5. Chemicals clearly labelled and stored correctly to conform with COSHH regulations

COSHH - The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 

In Layman's terms what this means is that every substance we use that could cause any kind of danger to us needs to be labelled properly, used as intended and stored correctly.

Substances used at work that can cause ill health if handled correctly will not or almost never do so.

Substances can cause ill health through, breathing in, skin contact, swallowing, getting into eyes.

All substances that are harmful have some form of symbol on them, it is imperative when dealing with chemicals that you are aware of what symbols mean what. The 10 main symbols are toxic, very toxic, harmful, irritant, highly flammable, extremely flammable, explosive, dangerous to the environment, oxidising, and corrosive.

Any risks should be identified and controled

The Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998)

To ensure that work equipment is suitable for the purpose that is intended and that it is used correctly so as not to pose any health and safety threat to oneself or others.

All portable appliances must be PAT tested annually to ensure they are safe for work, the test will include ensuring correct fuses are used, cables are not frayed or damaged, and that it is earthed and the plug wired correctly.

If ladders are to be used, correct training must be given.

Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992

Working with VDU's can cause a range of health problems but good working practice and design can prevent most.

Headaches caused by screen glare can be reduced by adding a screen filter to the screen. Regular breaks must be taken away from the VDU. Correct posture and chair height to prevent back pain.

Chairs must be adjustable and suitable lighting available

When using a laptop ensure you are sitting comfortably and angle the screen to see clearly and take regular breaks and when possible place on a hard surface at the right height to use the keyboard correctly.

Employers have to:

Analyse workstations and do a risk assessment

Ensure workstations meet minimum requirements

Changes in activity and regular breaks

arrange eye tests

provide health and safety training

Northern Quarter Manchester - Music Trail

A visit to the Northern Quarter in Manchester to photograph the areas links to music. Everywhere you turn in

The Northern Quarter its links to music are apparent but for me the first port of call had to be the Roadhouse.

Roadhouse

The Roadhouse has played host to many famous bands over the years. Manchester band Elbow played early gigs there and most of them worked there behind the bar and on the door before hitting the big time and are still best mates with the owner Kate. Local bands I Am Kloot who's music is produced by Elbow's Craig and Guy have also strong links to the Roadhouse along with The Rainband who are currently taking the music industry by storm. From Coldplay to Texas, they,ve all played here.

The Castle Hotel

The Castle now hosts a small intimate music venue of its own. The Castle is more notebly known for its link to Joy Division's Ian Curtis who was interviewed here by John Peel back in 1979

Night & Day

Night & Day has played host to thousands of bands over the years and is one of Manchesters most respected music venues. Elbow's Guy Garvey is reported to have spent so much time here in the early years  that he gave out the venues number as his home number to record companies

Matt & Phreds

Matt & Phreds is now a jazz bar but was once P J Bells, P J Bells once again saw the likes of Elbow gracing its stage in their early years

Posters, advertising, iconic buildings, record shops dotted around the Northern Quarter

I did have a few more images but blogger wont let me upload any more. I'd like to go and reshoot some of the venues, I shall be doing a further post on music venues around Manchester so will reshoot then. I will also go more indepth in to Manchester Music and its icons

Music Photography

Van Morrison's - Brown Eyed Girl

 

A song I often sing to my Brown Eyed other half

 

 

 

 

Ive done this one as it appeals to my sense of humour

 

Dean Martin's - Standing On the corner

 

 

 

I went to a bird of prey park on Sunday and captured the above Vulture, he really made me laugh the way he was just sat there watching everyone go past, he probably wanted to eat them but hey ho!

 

 

 

Studio Submission

Here are my final images for my studio brief. When it comes to lighting I still have a lot to learn, i've tried to mix up my submission by including both still life and portrait.

Image 1 - Converse

 

The above was lit with a softbox, that gives it a soft even light, however with using the reflectors, this highlighted areas of the watch and rock, it also highlighted the table as it was a gloss top so these were smudged out in PS

Lighting setup for the above image

 

 

 

 

Image 2 - Glass
 

 

This was placed on a still life table which was lit from behind with a softbox flash slightly to the left of the subject. The softbox gave it a nice soft even light which stops any glare reflecting off the glass itself but still shows the detail in the glass.

 

 

Lighting Set Up for above image

 

 

 

 

Image 3 - Skull

 

 

The subject was placed on a perspex sheet with further subject matter underneath. The underneath was lit from behind with an halogen spotlight with barndoors and set in front of the spotlight was a honeycomb grill. The honeycomb grill diffuses the direct glare from the spotlight and allows just enough light to light the subject matter underneath whilst not affecting the light to the main subject. The top was lit using a discharge tube light within a beauty dish, this gives a much harsher light than a softbox.

 

Lighting setup for the above image

 

 

 

 

Image 4 - Low Key

 

 

The boards either side of the light ensure that the light is directed straight onto the subject. The deep reflector gives a harsh directional light that is good for shooting "mean & moody" shots and is perfect for low key

Lighting set up for the above image

 

 

Image 5 - Rose

 

The above image was placed on a still life table, to the right rear was a continuous light with barn doors, to the front right was a flash with honeycomb grill, the honeycomb grill allows you to put a strong directional light upon the subject, which is good for highlighting a particular part of a subject. The above image was deliberately over exposed and a slow shutter speed used to give the above effect.

lighting set up for the above image

 

 

 

Image 6 - Serrano Inspired

 

 

Background lit by constant light source with a softbox to the right of the subject. The softbox gives a a nice soft even light that does not produce shadows and is perfect for use on portraits.

 

 

 

 

Image 7 - The Doc

 

 

The above image was lit using a lounge uprighter lamp balanced on top of an ironing board with a tinfoil reflector to the left of the face, I had quite a bit of natural light from the right hand side from a window

 

Lighting setup for the above image

 

 

 

Evaluation

 

Overall I am very pleased with the level of my submission, I still have a lot to learn in terms of lighting but I think the images show I have the ability to light various subjects. During the studio work I constantly found myself altering the lighting setups to try out various other options to the ones set up prior to the shoot. I also tried to think outside the box in terms of how I shot a subject like the Rose, the Glass and the doc images show.

 

 

 

A Bit More On Studio

 

 

Lighting in the studio:

 

Flash:-

 

Softbox - Diffuses Light

Beauty Dish - Contrasted for a more dramatic effect

Snoot - Produces a small pool of light, good for still life and highlighting

Honeycomb - Produces small patch of light

Deep Reflector - Deep & Moody - good for low key

Constant Source:-

Red head

Discharge Tube Light

 

Here are a few more images good and bad from my time in the studio: