Still Life and Landscape Evaluation

When I first seen the brief I was nervous because I wasn't confident with working in the studio and also I did not know how to use a large format camera. I began my first four weeks by researching still life and landscape artists, however, focusing more on my still life work. I began my still life brief by looking for things I could photograph that had some personal significance to myself and that also would look effective as my final 20x24 digital print. I experimented several times in the studio photographing my childhood teddybears, my street photographs, books and an instrument. After getting used to setting up lights and the equipment I finally started feeling more comfortable working in the studio alone. I gained a lot of knowledge by demonstrations and by going in the studio several times. I am happy with my final print of my viola as it was my first time aiming for a big print- however I feel the pixelation of the print has let me down. This has made me aware for the future that I need to plan my time management to ensure I will be able to correct mistakes before deadlines. I preferred the Landscape brief to the Still Life- mainly because I enjoyed being outside and using a new film camera. I also prefer using a film camera to a digital camera because I think that a film camera allows the photographer to be unsure about the end result, because you cannot see the photograph until you have developed the film, which creates a sense of mystery about whether your photograph has come out like you have been imagining it in your head. I personally think the digital camera takes the sense of mystery away as you can see your photograph straight after you have taken it- not that this is a bad thing.
The 5x4 camera really scared me at the start of the brief, It looked really complicated to use, and  although after several weeks and experimenting I really really like the camera and feel comfortable using it - after wasting a lot of money on negatives that I made mistakes on. I have also learnt how to develop 5x4 negatives, I learnt a lot by making mistakes, but it was worth it.  I wanted to create five photographs that portrayed what we see everyday- with elements of the industrial landscapes here and now. To conclude I am happy with my five final photographs although each one could be improved dramatically in different ways- I am satisfied because I have gained inspiration and also learnt how to use and create my own prints by using a large format camera in a short space of time.

FINAL STILL LIFE PRINT

This is my final still life print taken in the studio. I decided to take my photograph using a Canon 5D, I took the photograph using natural sunlight as I felt it emphasised the shadow going through the middle of the image. I set up the lights but I felt that the natural sunlight created a more dramatic effect. After experimenting with the instrument in different positions I felt this photograph portrayed the best composition. The black and white contrast really emphasises the instrument in comparison to the background - which is meant to be my main focus. The photograph is personal to me because I wish I still played this instrument, when I see people who can play this instrument professionally I feel inspired and let down that I gave it up three years ago. If I was to re-do my final print I would have sent it to be printed earlier than I did, so that I could have had time to realize my mistake before it was too late- as the outline of the viola is pixelated.
Overall I am satisfied with the outcome of my final still life print, because I have gained experience using the studio and also experimenting with natural light. I feel excited and a lot more confident about using the studio in the future.

FINAL 5 LANDSCAPE PRINTS

This photograph was taken at the Headland, Hartlepool. I have chosen this particular image as one of my final five not only because I feel it was one of my best negatives but also I think that it portrays the type of landscape we all live in. It is the opposite to the common landscape - sea,land,mountains,sky - it doesn't appear as beautiful. I am pleased with the outcome of this photo as I feel it is appropriate to the brief. I like the contrast of the image and the shadows create quite a dramatic effect. 

I took this photograph near the Power Station, Hartlepool. I chosen this as my second final photograph, mainly because of the contrast of the fence to the light background. When I look at the image I look at the grass then upwards, I like the gradual colour change from darker to light. I found it hard to create a print I was happy with as I struggled to get the contrast right. The photograph in my eyes demonstrates the environment we live in and see everyday.

My third final photograph was taken at the Headland Dock, Hartlepool. I chosen this photograph because it reminded me of a film we watched when we first got the landscape brief, 'Manufactured Landscapes'. The film demonstrated environmental ethics by a photographer named Ed Burtynsky who used large format field camera. The film made me see the world in another way, it made me realize all landscapes are not always the same in photographs we see and how they can be beautiful but in a different way to a typical land see, sky landscape. I like how the boat was captured in motion, with the still background of rubbish and cranes. I do not feel this is one of my strongest prints and if I was too have more time I would have taken more time to create a better contrast, particularly in the sky.

My fourth final shot was taken behind CCAD, Hartlepool. I felt this image was suitable because it shows the landscape for how we see it everyday, here and now. I like the contrast and shadows and also the airiness of the image. I re-printed the shot to crop out the mark in the right hand corner, however I only had one sheet of paper left and re-printed the negative out of focus slightly. If I was to re-do this print I would have taken more time to look for minor mistakes instead of the day after printing it. 

This is my final landscape photograph, taken at the Headland. I like the composition of the image and the space of the road narrowing. Also including the element of the industrial landscape with the two cranes at the end of the street. I like the contrast of the roofs of the houses to the bright sky, however I feel the sky lacks contrast. My five final photographs all include an element from the industrial landscape, portraying how we live today and showing how it can be beautiful - but only in a photograph.

Contact Sheets

Here are some of my contact sheets. The problem with my contact sheets is I used four 5x4 negs on one sheet of paper because I was running low on paper. If I had more time Id of spent a lot more time in the dark room on each negative to get the right amount of light from the lens in the enlarger on each one.
Overall I am happy with the outcome because I have learnt a lot about a new camera, and ventured out taking photographs of different industrial/natural areas of Hartlepool and Elwick. In the future I am now able to take out a 5x4 camera without having to worry about how to work it and hopefully produce impressive photos compared to these ones.

Final still life preparation

I finally decided to take photographs of my Viola. The shots above were just in preparation to my final photograph as I wanted to try out different arrangements of the instrument. I also decided to use the natural light as I really liked the shadow that it created in the studio rather than the lights I set up. I took over 50 shots of the photograph as I struggled to get an arrangement I felt looked the best.

The viola is personal to me because I used to play a lot of instruments and the viola is one that I never carried on playing. I wish I could have carried on playing and had the determination, but at the time I was younger and did not want to play anymore as I grew bored - however now I see someone playing I envy their talent. My aim for my final shot is to produce a photograph that shows the beauty of the instrument itself and also hear it being played in your ears. 

Todd Hido - A Road Divided

"I often think concept is overrated. I want to feel when I see a photograph; I don't necessarily have to think."

I really like Todd Hido's landscapes which I first seen in foam- international photography magazine. I find his landscapes are very expressive.

Juan Sanchez Cotan

Juan Sanchez Cotan was a Spanish painter. I find her work quite typical and expected. Before I started this brief Juan Cotan's work is the sort of images I had in my head that represented still life as a whole. When I thought of the word still life Id think of a bowl of fruit and an arrangement of wines and food. However, now I see still life in a whole new light I realized still life can be anything. Although I really appreciate the talent in her work and I really like the way everything has been positioned.

Robert Cumming

Robert Cumming's still life is unusual in my eyes. He is well known for his conceptual drawings and constructions which is really interesting. Whilst researching his background and how he works I found out some really inspirational information. Cumming makes a photograph of still life and then draws it in the negative, then photographs the drawing and then places them side by side. 

Still life shoot

After being in the studio several times, I decided to change my idea of using my childhood teddy bears to photographs. I changed my idea because I felt Photographs were more personal to me than my teddy's. I also liked the idea of a photograph of a photograph. However, after looking through all of my photographs from the shoot I did not like any of the arrangements of my photographs and felt it was not good enough for my final still life picture. I feel the photograph looks quite messy and I did not like the lighting I used as I felt it reflected too much on the glossy paper of my prints. 

I am glad I experimented using different objects in the studio because it has given me more experience in the studio using the equipment. 

Printing

I went back to the Headland after the shoot prior. I felt more confident with the light meter and focusing the camera - as you can see the photograph is a big improvement of the last one. I like how the landscape is unnatural with the industrial cranes which is also more appropriate to the brief. 

More Printing

I took this photograph at the Headland, Steetly. I was unsure about the light meter at the time, as you can see the photograph is under exposed. I quite like the darkness of the heap of rubbish - which you can only see the shape of due to my faults. However, I am really disappointed about the turn out of the shot as I think it could of been a potential final shot which really fits in with the brief - moving away from picturesque typical landscape photographs. It is quite ironic how the photograph turned out under exposed because it actually looks like a typical landscape because the heap of rubbish is too dark. 

Getting to know the 5x4 camera

I took this photograph in Greatham Woods whilst experimenting with how to use the 5x4 camera properly. 

Although this photograph is quite typical of a landscape I will be steering away from the natural world with my final photographs. However, I am happy with this photograph because of the contrast and the shot is in focus (which I had a lot of trouble with at first). The mood of this photograph in my eyes is quite dull with the black outlines of the trees everywhere in the image only allowing a small amount of light in between the gaps. 

John Schott

John Schott's landscapes remind me of Henry Wessel's landscapes. I love the airiness of all of their shots.  

Henry Wessel

Lewis Baltz

The black and white of Baltz landscape images really emphasizes what is actually inside the photograph rather than being distracted by colours. When I look at his photographs above I think of an open mind, an empty space and loneliness. To me his photographs create a lot of impact on the viewer, as his photographs are quite still and do not include any sort of movement- which makes the viewer stare into them to try and get an explanation. I find his images quite hard to understand if that makes sense. Mainly because its quite ironic how his pictures are of empty car parks and seem to have no motion at all. 

Stephan Shore

I really really like Stephan Shore's work for a lot of reasons, but mainly because of his composition. His photographs look as though the natural world is in sync to a man made world- for example in the top photograph there is the natural sky with clouds and grass which contrasts with the man made bill board in the center of the image. The top image reminds me of the photograph I took below in New York.

Still life

After experimenting in the studio and getting used to using different equipment and lights, I have come to my own conclusion of what still life is really about to me personally. Still life is about how the photographer makes the photograph, rather than just taking a photograph of something. For example the third time I was in the studio I took photos of my own photographs, and my own photographs were of places I had been and wanted to shoot. However, when taking photographs of my photographs I found it was all about the arrangement and composition within the photograph, rather than taking a photograph of a landscape that I can't change.

Victoria Ivanova

I found Victoria Ivanova's still life work quite funny, to me the pears look as though they are having a conversation amongst 'eachother'. The way that the pears are positioned is very effective, leaning in towards the centre photograph of another pear; this makes the pears look as though they are all gathering in almost to have a conversation. I found it really interesting that Victoria Ivanova actually goes around a lot of fruit shops just to find the perfect pears for her still life shoots.
I also think that the black and white of the photograph makes it very dramatic, because instead of the photograph being in colour I think the viewer would be distracted by the colours of the fruit. Where as when the photograph is black and white you look more into whats actually happening in the photograph rather than being distracted by colours.

Robert Dale Williams

I come across this still life painting above by Robert Dale Williams, which I thought was quite dramatic and effective. I like the way that the harp and viola are positioned, I also think the green background really goes well with the brown wood of the instruments which makes them stand out in a subtle way.

This painting has given me some inspiration towards my final still life print, mainly because I used to play the viola myself three years ago. I think the painting demonstrates a lot of emotions, when I look at the painting I can hear the harp and viola being played in my head. This is what I want to portray in my own final still life shot, I want my photograph to not only look effective but also demonstrate something that used to me a lot to me.