As before I thought it useful to keep a record here of my tutor's feedback on this latest assignment. One area where I have been conscious of the need for improvement is how I present my work using prints and comments here are particularly helpful. So here are my tutor's comments :
Overall Comments
This is a
strong and well-prepared submission with prints and reflective notes with thumbnails
(hard copy), and a disc with digital versions. A much more and streamlined
process, thanks.
You chose to
work to a theme, which is a good idea, and allows you to focus on the elements
of the assignment in a unifying way, and although it is not the case here, you
need to be wary of trying to ‘fit the square peg into the round hole’ with this
approach. In this set you demonstrate a good eye for detail and a strong
composition in a familiar neighborhood.
The images, notes and technical details are very good indeed. Your observations about working in colour and
black and white are interesting. My
feeling is that this process requires a good deal of skill and experience, and
this is as good a place to start thinking about and exploring that as any.
Feedback: Elements of Design
The first image, ‘single point’, although quite a large single focal point in the frame, works well. The street sculpture dominates the frame and the balance of the composition provides some context. A step to the left would have separated the signpost from the subject, and a tighter crop removed the half rock on the edge of frame right. The black and white conversion works well enough, but be wary of the contrast levels, with the darker areas losing their detail.
P205: f10 @ 1/100: ISO 100: 21mm cropped
‘Two Points’
is a nice lyrical shot with the two workmen playing out the ‘one doing and one
watching scenario’. The eye moves from one to the other, down the pickaxe and
along to the spade and then explores the background detail. There is just a touch of clipping in the
white areas on their helmets – pushing the limits of your camera’s dynamic
range.
P206: f18 @ 1/40 : ISO 200 : 77mm cropped
‘Several
Points..’ It took me a while to work out what I was looking at, and of course
that can be part of the fun and intrigue, finding the every day and choosing an
angle that makes it appear quite alien. There is a good range of shape and
texture here. A slightly lower position might have framed the lower section a
little better. As you say in your notes,
the collected water in the holes provides a brighter level of detail through
the reflected light
P207 : f3.2 @1/100 : ISO 80 : 5mm
.
P208: f11 @1/500 : ISO 200 : 55mm cropped
You capture
the modern architectural detail nicely for ‘Horizontal and Vertical’, a strong
range of shoes and grids, colour and light and shadow. It might have been interesting to include the
rest of that tree at the bottom left, just to add some complementary organic
material in this concrete environment.
Here you don’t quite crop it enough to eliminate it altogether.
The second
image for this element is reminiscent of that Cartier Bresson photograph, and I
like the fact that you make reference to an influential practitioner. Although
you provide a POV, maybe some additional detail, a hand on the edge of the
window might ad interest; I do think that this is the kind of shot that would
be stronger perhaps if you had a foreground subject peering through, especially
as there is nothing of real interest beyond the window.
P209: f22 @ 1/50 : ISO 200 : 18mm
‘Diagonals’
is a striking image, with that white paint marking beneath the cracked pane,
but also, balancing that, the wedge of bright orange at the top right. It’s
fascinating the way that the cracks in the glass pick up and reflect that
colour. I also like the motion blur
cropped legs walking away from the scene
P210: f14 @ 1/25 : ISO 200 : 27mm cropped
In the second
shot you make great use of colour and texture in a very well balance
composition with the angle of the building criss crossing the frame. It could
be the perfect subject for an abstract painting, with a really good contrast
between the orange rendered wall and the blue sky, and the layers of flaking
paint between – and that odd pair of hooks to the top right. Very good
reference point for the next assignment, which deals with colour.
P211: f8 @ 1/1250 : ISO 800 : 9mm
Following
that, the image for curved looks quite bland, although the black and whole
conversion does remove any colour distraction from the graphic elements. This
shot is certainly an illustration of curved, the eye follows the paving. But is
it an interesting enough composition … ?
P212: f10 @ 1/160 : ISO 200 : 25mm cropped
The bronze
statues and brightly painted shields in this offering for ‘distinct but
irregular shapes’ works well, although the angle might be changed to get a
better definition of the form and shape – perhaps lower, against the sky
(probably not possible), or a longer lens and wide aperture to reduce the depth
of field and throw the background into soft focus?
P213: f10 @ 1/125 : ISO 100 : 18mm cropped
There is a
very distinct ‘implied triangle’ in this shot of a mother pushing her child in
pram, you can sense immediately the movement of the eye from head to feet to
wheels and back. What I would ask you is, what do you want your viewer to take
away from this image? It certainly illustrates the concept well enough, but
there isn’t a great deal to look at
P214: f22 @ 1/125 : ISO 800 : 209mm cropped
We return to the street workers for the second shot, a variation, but
not as successful (obvious) as the previous.
The problem with long lens shots, is that they compress the focal
planes, which often makes for a congestion of information as in this shot – so
much detail, workers, one half hidden, barrow, paint signs and paper signs on
the window… it feels quite confusing
P 215: f18 @ 1/50 : ISO 400 : 109mm cropped
In contrast,
the following and third example of ‘ITs’ works really well. The high angle provides an overhead POV that
divides the frame into three sections, umbrella, shade and the trio of boys in
the sun – a nicely balanced composition. There is a sense of intrigue here, as
we don’t know what they are looking at, and of course why the photographer is
in this position.
P216 : f8 @ 1/400 : ISO 200 : 18mm cropped
P217: f14 @ 1/800 : ISO 800: 55mm cropped
The final two
elements, Pattern and Rhythm, are the quirky part of the set and a pair that
most people find quite difficult to identify, separate and capture. But these two shots work very well. You mentioned graffiti in your opening notes,
and the row of heads on this painted wall, partially overlapping circles, the
beats of the eyes, and the direction leading to that bright red heart, captured
a rhythm. The following collection of seemingly random cigarette lighters –
such an unusual angle - also works vey
well. You can sense, even from this
detail, the unfolding of a wider pattern, the kind of thing where people would
search for a repeat or a shape. The colours and the chrome elements complement
each other nicely, creating a rich variation across the field.
P218: f10 @ 1/80 : ISO 400 : 40mm cropped
The prints
are pretty good, strong colours, perhaps a touch over saturated, and a little
contrasty – look to the dark areas and try to make sire that there is at least
a hint of shadow detail.
To conclude,
you demonstrate here, in a well-considered submission, a very good working
knowledge of the graphic elements, which help create strength and depth in
composition, and of course underlying lines and shapes that guide the eye
around the frame.
Learning Logs/Critical
essays
Your Blog continues to reflect the
good work that you are doing in the exercises and your level of commitment.
Suggested
reading/viewing
The next
assignment deals with aspects of colour, and beyond the good material in the
handbook, you might want to explore the work of photographers who specialize in
this area. The Ney York based
photographer Jay Maisel (jay.maisel.com) is one such.
