Here are my Tutor's comments on Assignment 5:
Overall
Comments
For
this final assignment you chose to document the Brighton and Hove Pride
Parade. You document your approach to
this project very well in your introductory notes. You include in your submission the original
images in hard copy, a mockup of the magazine (although you tend to focus on
the images rather than refined design elements of publication), a set of
detailed notes and accompanying thumbnails, and an additional DVD of the
originals; comprehensive and thorough documentation.
One
off events like this are not at all easy to capture, and as you pointed out in
your notes, many photographers choose a vantage point to get a handful of good
images; they of course probably only have to find one or two for publication.
Your decision to be more mobile, ‘get inside’ the parade and move with it was a
good one, and even though this presents a number of problems, technical,
logistical and creative, you will get a better set of shots, a sense of place,
a real feel for the parade and it’s atmosphere, and potentially a much more
varied set of shots. It’s a calculated risk, and you were well aware of that,
and prepared for it.
Indeed
you do capture a good feel of the celebration and unity of the parade and
community, and a set of colourful images, full of life and character, even
though they may not be as compositionally considered or technically perfect as
you may have wished for.
Feedback
Applying the
techniques of Illustration and Narrative
‘United
Colours of Pride’
Cover Shot
In
this opening shot you capture the symbolic colours and sense of fun of the
parade with this giant head leading a float, and the participant wrapped in the
rainbow flag in the foreground. The composition is a bit of a squeeze at the
tight of frame, but essentially the focal point is the eye of the figurehead.
The print is slightly wider, and the rendition of colors and textures more
vibrant and detailed. On some of the
prints, the saturation seems to be too strong and leaves the surrounding
buildings looking pale and a touch ‘thin’, although I’m not sure why. I would
go for a little less saturation and intensity.
On
Page One, there is one central image that occupies two thirds of the page and
introduces us to the participants as they make their way through the town. Ass
you say in your notes, there is a good sense of movement in this shot, with the
group holding a giant flag above their heads. You capture some of the context,
those who have turned out to watch, and a depth to the march. A slightly wider angle
might have provided you with more of this detail and a greater sense of place,
but this image works well. The
description in the text is informative without being overly detailed and the
caption works well.
‘Political
Protest or Carnival’ is the title of the two images on the following page, with
the top shot showing the strong left wing political support, banners and flags,
and the lower image is about gay awareness. Here you explain in the text what
we can see in the shots, unnecessary duplication perhaps, also, while both
shots again capture the feel and energy of the march, they are quite similar. I
would certainly favour a tighter crop on the lower image, concentrating on the
QYN banner and the people carrying this.
On
the following, third page, you offer three great shots which really bring
across the eccentric nature of this event, the freedom of expression through
outrageous and fun costumes. The top and bottom are very well composed and
complement each other in terms of colour and activity very well; the middle
image is a little less successful as it captures the backs of the subject and
the eye is drawn to the EasyJet banner at the left of frame. My other comment
here is about the layout, and the tilted and overlapping shots which I feel detracts
from the power of the images; better I think to use just the two stronger
images, perhaps.
Page
Four, ‘A Community Event’, reveals and illustrates the level of support and
engagement from local people, lining the streets, and getting into the spirit
of the event both with costume and flags. This busy but well constructed shot
gets that across well, with good foreground subject matter, and a great sense
of depth and place looking following the marchers down the street. This is a
good example of the strength of colour in the foreground and the weakness of
definition in the surrounding buildings, which appear to have lost contrast.
The
caption you use on Page 5, ‘Getting Nearer to Preston Park’ has little to do
with shots and doesn’t really enlighten the viewer, so might be better left
out? The shot looking up at the open
first floor window draped with flags and supporters captures a different side
to the community. The central shot doesn’t quite work for me; the electronic
road sign isn’t very interesting, and we already know what we’re looking at;
but the figure in the mask below is good, although cropped here. The third image on the page once again
captures the mood of festivity and celebration and the volume of people who
have turned out in support, but it is repetitive and I wonder if you can find
an alternative and complementary shot – one which brings additional information
to the set?
The
final page, ‘The Park Event’ has a layout of three images at the end of the
parade, and offer details about some of the other activities taking place. The
first shot might be an alternative cover image or a final, closing one, with a
sign advertising the vent and the local council support; it’s a shame you have
only the back of this figure. The central image might be wider to reveal more
of what is going on here, education about gay matters. The final shot – why the
tilt? – show people at rest, and would perhaps benefit from either a closer
crop of the two youngsters with their bright dyed hair; or wider composition
with more detail and clearer sense of relaxation of people sitting outside the
beer tent. This subject would feel
better composed in a landscape format, I think.
To
sum up, there are pros and cons for taking a more mobile approach to capturing
an event like this, essentially you can and you have captured much more of a
sense of participant and community interaction, and also a better sense of
place. Clearly you have had to react and
respond quickly to capture this set of shots and sometimes that means the
composition isn’t as strong as it might be. However, the end result works very
well.
Learning
Logs/Critical essays
The exercises and research undertaken for this final
section of the course is well documented in your online Blog, and this reveals
a good approach to your preparation for the last assignment, looking at both
the local area where your assignment will take place and the work of other
practitioners exploring image and narrative. This also reveals some of your
early thinking and considerations for suitable subject matter for the final
assignment, and a good approach to reflection. You also write about recent
visits to exhibitions and work that you find compelling.
