David Bailey

Edward S Curtis

Edward S Curtis

Edward S Curtis

Edward Sheriff Curtis took photographs of the American West and Native American people, after looking through some of his books, Im starting to realize how photographers have different styles and portray different emotions and how portraits can be so different. I like the sepia effect to his photographs, also how the portraits are very natural and not airbrushed like magazines. The images above convey a sense of closeness to that person as I feel I have a connection with the person just by looking at them.

Jill Greenberg

Jill Greenberg

Jill Greenberg

Jill Greenberg

I have took particular interest in Jill Greenberg's portraits after reading thoroughly into the brief and researched various photographers work who have captured portrait shots. I really like the contrast of her photographs, and also the background lighting - which are things I need to think about for my own portrait photographs - I like the expressions on the subjects above, I feel that you can grasp a sense of character from each photograph.

Final Evaluation and Final 5 Prints

When I was first introduced to the Brief 'Street Photography' I was quite nervous, I already knew about several Street Photographers from basic research and had viewed some street photographs in college, I looked at Henri Cartier Bresson's work and also Julien Legrand's. Having seen their work before and knowing how impressive it is, this is why I felt nervous; and also because I had never had the opportunity to experiment with film photography before. After being introduced to the darkrooms/developing and printing, I felt a little more eager to learn more and more; I must admit I was a little put-off at first when I got told all the information about the process' of film photography. However, with time it all became less daunting, I do agree with the saying 'It will become more clear when you start doing it yourself'.
I picked up a book from the library called 'The Darkroom Handbook" by Michael Langford, which also helped me a lot with assessing black and white negatives and checking whether the exposure was over or under exposed. Three out of my eleven rolls of film I shot were unsuccessful, one of them due to allowing the emulsion surface of the film to come into part contact with another surface - probably another loop of film. The second roll was unsuccessful due to not loading the film correctly and the third was underexposed, therefore, too dark to print any of the negatives.
During the process of developing my film I learnt about processing faults, such as if the developer has been exhausted - which is what happens if you use the same solution over and over again. Also if the film has uneven patches then it is likely that I had agitated the developing tank too roughly whilst developing.
During developing I started printing, after being introduced to an Enlarger, Timer, Bromide paper, Contact board, negative carrier, view finder. I began with contact sheets, doing test strips to show different exposure times and assessing which is best for your photograph/contact sheet. I feel like I struggled with my contact sheets; getting the right exposure, and redoing it over and over - I still don't feel completely satisfied with my contact sheets. However, I think having a contact sheet for each film I produce is necessary, so you are able to sit and identify your images one-by-one and choose the shots you want to print- also saves paper.
As I started enlarging my images 91/2 x 12 resin paper, I began by making a lot of faults - such as unwanted edge detail that distracted what I wanted the focus point of my shot to be, also obstruction, where the corner appears vignetted which did not appear on my negative. An unequal boarder was also a common fault; however I made mistakes the whole way through, but I learnt more and more each time, because I had knowledge of my faults and took more time to make sure they would not occur again - even though I think printing as a whole is quite difficult and the more I seemed to print the more I felt unsatisfied with my images as I was being too picky and paying too much attention to detail ( this is also a good thing ).
Over time I believe I have became more knowledgeable with my film camera (Pentax k1000), and developing and printing as a whole considering I went from knowing nothing at all about the specific field of photography.
After going out and shooting more, I also grew more confident infront of people, as I feel that relating to the brief it is an important part to be interacting with people and getting amongst street life - even though some people do not like their pictures being took!
Another vital part of my brief was to decide on the final five shots I was going to hand-in, I wanted my images to fit together and also look good together, I printed over 45 prints of street-life, and found it quite confusing to pick the five which I thought worked well together and portrayed street-life from my eyes. Anyhow, I decided on these five shots below, mainly because of different shadows and lighting in each shot, they all seem to work together really nicely.

'Out into the street'

This shot was taken during shooting my fourth roll of film, I took the shot from the inside window of The Claradon - I seen the man walking along the road and thought the shot would be quite appropriate. I like the dirt marks on the window and the darkness of the left hand side of the shot; I think the black and white contrast of puer darkness to light creates quite a dramatic effect.

'Street flow'

 I selected this photograph secondly, I took this shot in York. I like the sense of business created in the photograph, as the people are walking in different directions; which exaggerates street-life. I also like how the male at the front of the shot is in soft focus to the background. I feel it fits with the shot above because there is a male model in the window of the shop and in the first shot I took the shot from inside, looking outwards at the street. This shot looks at the street and inside the shop window.

'Workers'

This image was took whilst shooting my last roll of film, the man on the ladders was not best pleased that his photograph was being taken - as you can see from his facial expression as he was climbing down the ladders. Similarly to the two shots above the photograph includes windows, however, I particularly liked this shot as you can see the reflection of the church off the window, which made the shot more interesting. I also like the natural expression on the mans face and feel quite pleased how I have portrayed Street - life in the photograph. 

'Street shadows'

This shot was taken during my third roll of film, again the picture inclues windows (glass of the bar and the busstop), I like the reflections on the floor and shadows coming from the busstop. I also think the contrast works quite well as the image isn't too light or too dark.

I also like how when you look into the image, you look onto the empty street, and I feel it fits well with the people waiting at the busstop stood still, it creates quite a still, calm mood.

'Busstop faces'

This shot is the final shot I decided would fit nicely with the four above, it was also taken from my fourth roll of film. I like the natural facial expressions of the elderly people stood in the busstop. It it the same busstop from the photograph above, however, this shot is totally different as it does not focus on shadows, but more on figures of people and street reality. 

I like the light photo, I think it creates a sense of space within the photograph. When I look into the shot I look to the centre of the image; which looks as if it could be divided into four sections equally; I quite like the composition of the shot.

Overall, I feel as though my final five prints work well together, and that they portray street photography. If I was to begin the brief again I would of taken more time to do my contact sheets, and also shot more rolls of film in various different places; and get more close-up shots of peoples faces - like Bruce Gilden - As I feel he captured Street-life in a completely different light to me.

I have really thoroughly enjoyed learning to use different chemicals whilst developing and printing; and intend to print and take photos a lot more than before now I am knowledgeable about the film camera.

Street photography as a whole has opened me eyes to seeing the world in a complete new way; witnessing and shooting the street when before all I did was walk through the street, unaware of the beautiful photographs I could have been capturing.

Tulsa

"A devastating Portrait of an American Tragedy" - I remember looking at this book over a year ago, flicking through, not paying attention. After coming across this book in the library for the second time I felt a lot different. Realising the book was actually very graphic, extremely interesting and sad. The book is drugs and how Larry Clark shot a collection of photographs whilst shooting up - mainly amphetamine. Although not many of these shots could be classed as documentary, they certainly speak for themselves visually. A story of a man documenting his life; I didn't realise you could feel such emotion looking at photographs - this is why I found this relevant to my brief, I want my images to speak for themselves.

Leonard Freed

Most photographers in which I have looked at seem to have a connection; they are all interested in understanding the world through their own photography. If I had not did this brief I don't think I would start to feel this way about my photographs, thinking more into the photograph I like to imagine whats happened and who the people might be or what they have been doing that particular day before I took a photograph of them - Like what Bruce Gilden said about feeling close to the people in his images like they are his friends.
I also looked at a book called Black in White America, which looks deeply into the daily lives of African Americans during the civil rights era - which I was not completely knowledgeable about. I find his photographs real, moving, deep and some of them pure street.
Here is three shots I liked; however to be honest there was only a few of the Street Shots I wasn't too fussed about.

Leonard Freed - Black in White America

Leonard Freed - Black in White America

Leonard Freed - Black in White America

Walker Evans

Walker Evan's aims as a photographer was to make pictures that are literate, authoritative and transcending; By this I think he wanted his work to go beyond what anyone had done before, to exceed to his full potential and beyond. I borrowed a book from the library named "Masters of Photography aperture". The book talks about his life and how he had a 'reasoned artistic imagination; the text in the book was not written from his perspective, however, inspires me to be more thoughtful about taking photos as a whole.

I especially like this photograph, taken in 1929 named '42nd Street'. I like the woman's stern facial expression, totally unposed. I hope to portray some elements from Walker Evan's work, by taking my time and focusing on what will make the best photo I can take.

Magnum

During the course of the brief I have been reading several books, I am still currently reading bits from the book Magnum - Fifty years at the front line of history - The story of the legendary photo agency by Russell Miller. I can't imagine how good it would be to work for Magnum; "In the hands of a Magnum photographer, the camera is not just an objective eye, but an instrument to enlighten and inform, a stimulating force to influence opinion and sometimes to speak for those with no voice".
This quote is how I want people to view my work, I want the image to speak for itself without having to tell the viewer exactly what its about. To document the past and "help people understand an increasingly confusing world".

Reading

Throughout the brief I bought a magazine 'Black and white Photography' which I have been flicking through often and going back too. Quite some interesting stuff such as John Stezaker's work, were a set of collages are created from found photographs and images from books and magazines. Also I have looked at the Winners of the photography competition from 'Imaging warehouse' for inspiration and tips.

Susan Sontag - On Photography

"It seems positively unnatural to travel for pleasure without taking a camera along. Photographs will offer indisputable evidence that the trip was made, that the program was carried out, that fun was had. Photographs document sequences of consumption carried on outside the view of family, friends, neighbours." After reading more into Susan Sontag - On photography I come back to this section as I agree strongly, when we go on holiday or a trip it feels almost instinct to carry a camera along to capture our journeys and the way people allover the world live, even after taking random shots of people from Hartlepool has made me seen my hometown in a different light, almost unrealistic because the photographer is shooting the world go by. Susan Sontag not only looks at the photographer's perspective on photography but the subjects and viewers point of view aswel.

More prints

Three days until hand-in, still undecided about which final 5 shots to use.

I like this shot, however I feel it would be more appropriate for a different genre such as 'Fashion'.

I like the shadow of the males figure on the white wall behind him, however I wish I could re-take the shot so that the man was walking towards me; I just think it would be more effective.

I like the idea of this shot, I think it is a potential final image; how the man is stood in a desolate area, all sorts of thoughts come into my mind while looking at it. Such as the man is old, maybe his wife has died, the photo could be a symbol of isolation and loneliness with age. Im going a bit deep into it but its so easy to think of a story to go alongside my photographs. I dislike the side of someones shoulder in the right- hand corner, i think it spoils the image.

I don't really particularly like anything in this shot, I think its to dark and doesn't have much about it.

I like a lot about this photo, the way her trousers blend in with the bushes behind her, giving a sort of camouflage effect. Also the females facial expression giving off a "I don't care' expression. However I just don't feel as though it is a potential final shot as I think it would more suitable for a fashion or car genre.

Still printing and undecided about my final 5 street shots, was really disappointed today after developing a film and realising it had not been exposed, so typical when I had a good feeling about how the photos would have turned out. Stupid but I NEED to remember that when I load a new roll of film that the crank on the top is turning.

Bruce Gilden Quote

I love the people I photograph. I mean, they're my friends. I've never met most of them or I don't know them at all, yet through my images I live with them. At the same time, they are symbols. The people in my pictures aren't Mr. Jones or Mr. Smith or whatever; they're someone that crossed my path or I've crossed their path, and through the medium of photography I've been able to make a good picture of that encounter. They have a life of their own, but they are also are symbols. I would say that I respect the viewer, but I don't want to tell him everything. Hopefully, there's an element of mystery involved. I like him to look at a picture and say "Well, that that reminds me of someone," and make up a little story in his head, make him smile, brighten up his day. I think this is what I'm trying to achieve with my photographs.

Tony Ray Jones

This photograph taken by Tony Ray Jones (1968), I like this photo because it captures British society at this time, which shows us how everything changes so much decade after decade. I also like the sense of movement  that was going on when the photo was taken, with the girl skipping and the people walking in the background.

I really like this photo of the middle-aged man and his dog, taken at a dog show in London, mainly because of the bright white contrast of the poodle to the dark background. The black and white colours contrasting together really emphasises the shadows and highlights the lighter areas.

My first prints

I think this one could be a potential final shot, I just like how the composition is unequal, and how the window I took the shot through is dirty; giving off different textures. Also theres a sense of movement to the photo with the man captured during mid-walking.

I like this shot because of the expression on his face, however, I don't think it would be suitable regarding the genre 'street'.

I was pleased with this print, particularly the shadows created, and the people casually stood at the bus stop. I like how when I look into the photo I look to the centre; at the empty street. The shot has quite a peaceful mood to it, with no one walking the streets, just waiting for their bus patiently. 

This shot I like because you can see the expressions on the people's faces, however, It looks too posed and not natural.

I think this shot is really cute, only because there is two old couple sat chilling on a bench in the sun, reflecting on their lives or maybe killing time, no one knows. I like how I took the shot through a railing, giving off a sense of being trapped; which is like getting old, there is no way of getting out of it.
The contrast is a little too dark as I think it reflects a negative mood to the shot.

Again, this shot is all about shadows and a sense of movement from the busy pace of Street Life, I don't  like how all of the people are walking away and you can't see faces. The image I think isn't very interesting, however, I like the lighting.

This photograph, is also maybe going to be one of my final prints. If I had to name this shot I'd name is "Bus stop faces", before I began this project I didn't take notice of people in the street as much, as I was always too busy doing my own thing. However, I think its fascinating going past bus stops and seeing peoples faces - normally miserable I have found; looking fatigued and bored.

This print has come out a too dark, and the top half too light. Needs re-printing, however I don't really like the shot anyway- except the females face.

Again, this shot looks too posed - as you can see the subject is sort of smiling, but I do like it, I like the dark contrast, I think it makes the image more deep and the figure stand out.

This shot- I like how the man was moving past the camera fast when I shot this, with the rest of the picture in focus. For me this photo (taken in York) portrays day-to-day street life and I am considering it for a final shot.

I took this whilst waiting to cross the road, noticing people stood waiting to cross I took a quick shot, the print has come out quite dark, and even darker from the scanner.

I don't really like this photograph. However, I like how the print turned out and the shadows of the bus and woman's figure.

Contact sheets

2 of my film rolls turned out unsuccessful - one of them due to me not loading the film correctly, and the other was underexposed as the film came out too dark.

Alfred Eisenstaedt

After looking at a lot of Alfred Eisenstaedt's work, I took particular interest in this shot. After looking at posed photos that he had took of dancers and Marilyn Monroe I found that this has something else to it. Not everyday where I live do you see eight Jewish men walking down a street holding books underneath their left arms. The contrast of their dark outfits to the light background creates a dramatic effect, enhancing the males' silhouettes.

Robert Capa

 “If your photos aren’t good enough, then you’re not close enough” – Robert Capa

 

After getting a better insight of Street Photographers and their work, I feel inspired and influenced. However, I need to take the quote above quite literally; I need to learn to get amongst Street Life so i am able to take better close up shots, and be less anxious. Hopefully tomorrow I will succeed in getting some better close up shots of people in York.

Elliott Erwitt

This photograph was taken in Holland, Amsterdam 1972 by Elliott Erwitt. The reason why I took particular interest to this photograph is because it made me laugh. The large pointing hand towards the man creates an ironic impression as the man is picking his nose in the photo. However, the large hand is pointing to 'INGANG ON DE HOEK' which means 'ENTRANCE AROUND THE CORNER'. The photographs contrasting black and white colours exaggerate the shadows in the window and the male's figure against the light floor colour and darker background.

New York, Brooklyn 2011

This photograph was taken in October of 2011, whilst on a college trip to New York. The photograph relates to my Street Photography brief. The lamp post above the man's head is distracting to the shot, this is what makes me feel unsatisfied with the photograph however this could be humorous.

Lee Friedlander

Lee Friedlander, Las Vagas, Nevada, 2007. I like how the photograph conveys what has been (the reflection in the mirror of the car) and the presence/what could be ahead. (Hot babes!!)