BABY FAITH

A lovely young mum contacted me asking if I would be willing to photograph her and her baby Faith - 10 weeks.
I was delighted to be asked and knew it would be really good and beneficial for my portfolio.
It was rather scary working with such a young baby but I really enjoyed the experience.

Inspiration for this photoshoot:

WINDWARDSKIES PHOTOGRAPHY

TINY MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY

(Below)
What I really like about this photograph is how the baby is cuddled up to its Mother which i think is really cute and makes a good photograph. There is also a good range of tones and I like the composition of this photograph. I generally prefer the baby photographs in black and white to colour as I feel it just looks better for this particular baby photograph theme.

(Below) Here I really like the glistening of baby Faith's eyes and lips. I am also really pleased how I captured the moment of her yawning. I like this photograph in colour as we can see she is wearing pink which particularly with baby's represents a girl. As when young its hard to determine their sex as they are so young.


(Below) Here i tried to get a close up of the baby's foot, as i wanted to get some close up detailed shots. I was particularly pleased I took these shoots especially at the end of the shoot when the mother commented on how much she loved Faith's feet. I also think it will be nice for the mother too keep to remember just how small her beautiful baby was and so she can remember her baby's feet and hands. I like how we can see the detail especially of her toe nails. I like the composition of this photograph and the depth of field and how we can see the background is blurred which makes her foot stand out.

(Below) I love the way i have cropped this close up of the Faith's face. I love the glistening the soft box gives to her eyes and I like the soft tones in the photograph. I really like how i have captured her soft skin and little nose. I much preferred this photograph in black and white to colour.

(Below) Here I really like how I managed to capture Faith smiling, Again really pleased how the soft box creates the glistening look to her eye and she looks beautiful smiling, Really like the soft range of tones again and the composition of the photograph

Overall I really enjoyed this photoshoot and felt it was nice to do something and experience something different if i could re do the photoshoot I defiantly wish I experimented more with poses or perhaps researched some more before the photoshoot.

Mannequin

(Taken Spring 2009)
Although I took these Photographs last year I thought I'd Include them as they are very alternative and different to many other photoshoots of mine.
This was for my GCSE art project where I was allowed to use photography for part of it, My art piece was based on Mannequins so I thought it would be an interesting concept for me to dress up as a mannequin so I painted myself white and wore a long bleach blonde wig, I also wore a dolly type dress, other props featured my mannequin (Jenny) which i rang up radio Cornwall for and House of Fraiser in Plymouth contacted me and gave me Jenny (Thank you very much), An apple, and flower petals) I had decorated Jenny before hand by splatting her with paint and covering her private parts with flowers.

Anyway.. I set the camera up on a tripod and set to self timer, I then posed in a doll like position.
What I really like about these photographs is that you can identify its me.


(Below) For this photograph I darkened the edges to give a dark grungy feel to the photograph it also contrasts nicely with my pale ghostly skin.

(Below) I really like the detail of this Photograph, I think the wig looks quite realistic in this photograph and I like how my lips look dry and cracked, I think this photograph definitely suits black and white and I like the strong contrast within the photograph.

(Below) This is definitely my favourite photograph of the set, I love the composition of this photograph and how the photograph is taken at the same height as me and not looking down on me. I also think i look the most doll-dead like in this photograph, I again gave the photograph a dark edge to give a grungy dark feel to the photograph which i really like and again how it contrasts with my pale skin.

My least favourite of the set, I don't like the cropping of the photograph and how half the mannequins foot isn't in the photograph. Maybe this was the way i positioned the camera on the tripod by accident. Plus i think i prefer it landspace. However i do think i portray the dead doll/mannequin well in this photograph.

Overall this shoot was really fun and I enjoyed doing this project for my art project, also it helped develop my photography skills, I do enjoy photographing dark alternative photographs and will look to doing some more of this style in the future.

Iam currently in the process with arranging a photoshoot with a model from Falmouth and we plan to do the theme "mummy in a graveyard" and some other dark alternative type photographs which I'm really looking forward too.

Lerryn Photoshoot

Here i decided to take some photographs on Film, This was taken with a Pentax K1000 and a ILFORD HP5 FILM. I wanted to get some landscape shots of Lerryn River, a truly beautiful place. I have taken some photographs of the river and mansion on film and digital before but fancied getting some more shots. Luckily the weather was really nice. I knew a lady who cleaned this Mansion right next to the river and checked on the house whilst the owners were away so i was lucky enough to walk around the private grounds. It was rather frightening on my own and it's a far way from the village and next to some "myth have it haunted woods" it certainly did feel spooky, especially with no mobile phone signal! at the same time it was very peaceful. the house certainly was right next to the river. Unfortunately I didn't get any shoots of the inside of the house. I think this shoot went well and was nice to do something different for a change.



(Below) Here is a view of part of the house through the gate of the garden. I photographed it from this particular angle to frame the photo of the house and garden I think the way it has been photographed and you can see the gate in the bottom of the photograph makes you feel more connected to the photograph and makes you feel like you could be there, looking at the house through the gate too. I like this photograph as there is a good range of tones and contrast within the photograph.



(Below) This photograph was taken with a zoom lense, Its a photograph of Lerryn Houses on the river. Im not sure if i like this photograph, the quality isnt very good and i think it may need straigtening

(Below) A very simple photograph of a sign and lamp, This was on the wall of the mansion, There isnt much to say about this photograph other than i quite like its simplisity for a change.

(Below) What I like about this photograph is the beautiful reflection of the trees in the water. It was an absolotly beautiful day and Its a shame you cannot tell this though the photograph. It was very peacefull and i enjoyed walking around the grounds.

Here is a painting of Lerryn river by Duncan Palmer

You can see from his painting how beautiful and calm the river is.

(Below) Again I love the reflection of the trees in the river and i really like the composition of this photograph.

(Below) Self Portait

Whilst on the river, I decided to take a self portait. This is the only self portrait I have taken myself on film in black and white. I can never make out if I like the photograph of me or not. I however quite like the lighting on my face and how I contrast from the busy but light background. I like the grain on the photograph as its unlike any other photographs of me.

(Below)

This photograph Is'nt in Lerryn I took it on the way to caerhays to check the surf and I see the telephone box and building thought it might look cool in a photography.

I like the composition of this photograph however it would be nice if there were lighter and darker tones within the photograph too.

Lomography fisheye 2

I seen this camera advertised brand new a few months ago and thought it was worth trying out,

Iv taken some photographs at a friends house party, I also got some shots of friends skateboarding and some photographs at Barbara Hepworth's garden in St Ives.

Here's a photograph of my Lomography Fisheye 2 camera:

I took my photographs on Black and white Ilford HP5 FILM.

These photographs I found on Flickr, I couldn't find the names of all the photographers unfortunately but I choose these photographs as they were inspiration and i felt they related to my work.

(Below) I generally love flowers and photographs of flowers, This looks like it could possibly be Japanese cherry blossom. Overall i think its a very beautiful photograph.

(Below) This photograph reminds me alot of my photo which i took of someone at a party. So i decided to include the photograph as i felt it had a strong link.

(Below) Sr. Baked Mussle on flickr posted: Lomography - Fisheye 2Lomography 35mm 100/36 ISO Fine Color Negative Filmwaking up still drunk in Sunday

I felt this multiple exposure photograph links to my multiple exposures, I like how his face is made up of lots of different photographs of his face and how it relates to hes still drunk and his fragmented mind and the way he may feel is symbolised with his multiple exposure.

(Below) Joe at Barbara Hepworth's Garden.

What I like about this photograph is how Joe is inside Hepworth's sculpture and how its round which gives the fisheye almost a double effect.

(Below) Skateboarding, I really like this photograph its 2 or 3 photographs overlayed, this is an effect on the camera, which i think works really well and helps create a distorted effect. I haven't used this camera much so i was just messing about trying to see what i could achieve with the camera. I like how you can see him skateboarding in the foreground and background and you can see my feet in the bottom of the photograph where i took it from.

(Below) Photograph of a flower at Barbara Hepworth's Garden, Not very clearly in focus, but i still think its beautiful and when i look at this photograph I feel really close to the flower almost as if im there and can reach out and touch it.

(Below) A photograph of me and Joe overlayed, again just playing about with the multiple exposures, creates a really distorted photograph. I like how we are blended together.

At my Friends house party, I think the theme is almost teen rebellion, partying and getting drunk, you can see some sort of drink stain on the girls top which surgests shes drunk. I didnt take this photograph on purpose I was trying to work out a feature on the camera and accidently took the photograph, but the fact its not perfect almost suits the the teen rebellion theme.

BOOKS THAT HAVE INSPIRED ME

(Information off amazon.com)


(Below) Advanced Digital Black and White Photography

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: ILEX (17 Sep 2007)
Language English
Product Dimensions: 25.2 x 18.2 x 1.6 cm

Product Description
Digital cameras may capture colour images, but many photographers love black and whites unique graphic qualities. A growing number have never owned a film camera but see in black and white and sense there must be more to it than simply throwing away the colour in Photoshop. While many books cater for both ambitious newcomers and advanced darkroom enthusiasts, black and white is too often treated as an afterthought. Its relegated to a few pages and outmoded techniques, and never explains how the special character of the black-and-white image affects how you work on the digital image. Advanced Digital Black and White Photography works at the frontier of black-and white photography and digital imaging techniques. After learning the best ways to make the picture black and white, the reader learns advanced methods of fine tonal control, how to fine-tune the monochrome image, and how to emphasize the subjects qualities. Suitable for beginners and experienced Photoshop workers, with both quick solutions and methods for finer control, this book places technique in a monochrome context and lets you produce the finest, most expressive black and- white interpretation of the picture. John Beardsworth is a London based photographer with a wealth of experience shooting both digitally and on film. His pictures have appeared in a number of photography books and magazines. He is the author of Step-by-Step Digital Black and White Photography, Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook for Digital Photographers, and Photoshop Fine Art Cookbook, also published by ILEX.

(Below) Blink offers a wide variation of photographs which is really helpful when looking for new photographers and photographs for inspiration. A really big book, If your looking for a book to buy/read which covers lots of different types and genres of photography then this book is good as its not dedicated to just one.

Hardcover: 440 pages
Publisher: Phaidon Press Ltd; illustrated edition edition (April 2002)
Language English
Product Dimensions: 34.8 x 23 x 4 cm

This book features David LaChapelle photographs, He is an amazing unique photographer, who's style is very alternative and experimental which also includes fashion.
I suggest if your looking for inspiration or playful ideas then this book will certainly inspire you. His concepts are outstanding, Beautiful and shocking.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Taschen GmbH; illustrated edition edition (2 Feb 2007)
Product Dimensions: 38.2 x 30 x 4 cm

(Below)

Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Aperture (18 April 2005)
Product Dimensions: 38.4 x 21 x 1.6 cm

Synopsis
David Hilliard's vibrant color photographs, usually triptychs or larger compositions, present elaborate narratives exploring a range of themes and situations, from the awkwardness of adolescence to masculinity disarmed. Formally, these staged photographs share the style of contemporary photographers Gregory Crewdson and Anna Gaskell, among others. Yet Hilliard draws less from the realm of the fantastic and instead looks to his immediate surroundings to draw inspiration, as he deftly fuses autobiography with fiction to engage a host of complex ideas. This lush monograph is the first major publication of Hilliard's work. Included are works from the artist's ongoing series about his father, which demonstrate Hilliard's ability to tangle fact with fiction. These images, underscored by the artist's wry outlook on the world, convey a distinct poignancy. Other works engage issues of intimacy, homoeroticism, and identity. The resulting scenes are often as elegiac as they are comical, always orchestrated with precision, and with a marriage of form and content that immerses the viewer in the visual narrative.

(Below) Hotel Lachapelle
Hardcover: 167 pages
Publisher: Skylight Edition (Oct 2006)
Product Dimensions: 37.6 x 29.8 x 2.6 cm

Reviews on the book:
If you like David Lachapelle's work and haven't yet bought any of his books, BUY THIS. You will NOT be sorry! It is so beautiful and breathtaking. It doesn't matter if you don't like the people on the pictures, or don't know them, it's still an amazing piece of work. Colour, details, (self) irony and pure genius. And lots of it. I truly love this book, and can only recommend it.

(Below) 360 Degrees New York - Nick Wood

Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Carlton Books Ltd (1 Sep 2003)
Language English
Product Dimensions: 32.6 x 16.8 x 2 cm

The first in a series devoted to the world's greatest cities, this lavishly produced book consists of stunning panoramic colour photos of the Big Apple - with a CD-Rom of moving images thrown in for good measure. All of the landmarks are here - from Grand Central Station and Union Square to Broadway and Bloomingdale's - in a combination of exterior and interior shots, gatefolds and montages. The book also pleasingly combines its breathtaking wide-angle images of the Manhattan skyline at night, with less expected ones from inside diners, museums and Dylan's Candy Store. If you know the city, it's a wonderful (if slightly idealised) reminder of its delights. If you don't, it's the kind of visual celebration that makes you want to be there, ASAP.
Product Description

360 degrees is a totally new concept, a way of seeing the world in the round. In New York, the nightlife of Times Square, the granduer of Grand Central and the art deco gallery of the Chrysler Building are just some of the scenes that take on fascinating new angles when photographed this way. (Below) Photo/Stoner

Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (26 Jan 2007)
Language English
Product Dimensions: 28.4 x 25.7 x 2 cm

In 1965, coastal Southern California truly was the promised land. Surf photographer Ron Stoner effortlessly captured all of its graces--its balmy beaches and bikini-clad girls and achingly beautiful waves. Several years after cementing his reputation as the best surf photographer in the business, Ron Stoner mysteriously walked off this sunny stage, never to be seen again. For the first time ever, Stoner's strange story is recounted by surfing historian Matt Warshaw, alongside Stoner's best work, hand selected by photography legend Jeff Divine. More than a monograph, Photo: Ron Stoner is a poignant ode to a lost era and a lost man.

(Below) Scott Kelby

This book by Scott Kelby is particularly helpful as he explains how to do so much in photoshop, if your stuck in photoshop or want to find ways of improving your photographs, this book will really help guide you.

Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: New Riders; 1 edition (23 Dec 2008)
Language English

Product Dimensions: 25.1 x 20.3 x 2.8 cm


Reviews:
"I just Loves Scott Kelbys Books and have many. He has taught a complete photoshop novice over the years to do some sunning things in photoshop. I bought this book when i up grades to the new CS4 and was disappointed as i have the CS3 version of this book and it is almost the same. New photos and different cover but covers almost all the same things. So if you have the CS3 book don't bother with this one, if you don't it is a fantastic book from the Master of Photoshop!"

(Below) The Photo Book

Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Phaidon Press Ltd; Midi ed edition (20 April 2005)
Language English
Product Dimensions: 24.4 x 20.3 x 2.5 cm

The concept for this book is simple: 500 photographers, 500 pages. Arranged alphabetically, each of the photographers--from contemporary Dutch cameraman Hans Aarsman to mid-century New York shutterbug James Van Der Zee--gets a full, over sized page. On it is a large, expertly reproduced image and a concise caption packed with information about the photographer and his or her work. The coincidental alignment of photos of different eras and aesthetic sensibilities provides unusual and exciting contrasts that add an extra dimension to readers' perception of the work. Rineke Dijkstra's color-saturated shot of a bikini-clad beachgoer in South Carolina faces a Mike Disfarmer portrait of a rural Arkansas couple in 1943. Imogen Cunningham's inimitable Nude is here, along with a more surprising image--My Mother, Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire, a color-photo collage by painter David Hockney. With iconic photographs like Alfred Eisenstaedt's shot of a sailor and a nurse kissing in Times Square on V-J Day, historic ones like Larry Burrows's shot of wounded U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, and pop images like David LaChapelle's picture of a bodybuilder posing amid a cluster of little boys aping his stance, the scope of this visual encyclopedia is truly epic. And with its incredibly low price tag, there's no better value out there for fans of photography.

(Below) John Hedgecoe - The Book Of Photography

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley; illustrated edition edition (7 April 2005)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1405304383
ISBN-13: 978-1405304382
Product Dimensions: 27.6 x 23.4 x 2.6 cm

Product Description
Whether you are a complete novice or proficient amateur, this classic guide is now updated and expanded to help you to take even better photographs. Features practical, easy-to-follow advice on everything from taking still-life portraits to shooting exciting action sequences. With new images and all the latest information on digital and manual cameras, plus developments in image manipulation, this is the must-have guide to taking not just good pictures – but great pictures.

About the Author
John Hedgecoe is a former professor of photography at the Royal College of Art and an eminent writer, with his work appearing in The Times, The Observer, Paris Match, Life and Vogue among many others. His photographs are on permanent display in major collections in New York and London and he is the recipient of several major awards. He is also the author of The New Manual of Photography. John lives in Norwich.

(Below)

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Rankin Photography (2 Aug 2007)
Language English
Product Dimensions: 32.4 x 25.8 x 3 cm

Product Description
This unique book draws together two decade's worth of work by the ubiquitous British photographer Rankin. Acting as a retrospective, Visually Hungry documents the iconic creative genius throughout an extraordinary career in which he has shot many of the world's leading personalities, models and celebrities. This collection spans Rankin's extensive back catalogue, including seminal work from his early career, right through to his era-defining portraiture, genre-challenging fashion and his impossibly erotic nudes. It is - in short - a selection of Rankin's favourites.

Overall I found all of these books particularly helpful and inspirational and I would suggest them to anyone who would like inspiration or help trying to achieve professional quality and looking photographs.

MY CHOSEN IMAGE

My Chosen Image (A NEW BRIEF ON MY NATIONAL DIPLOMA)

Robert Doisneau - Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville (Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville) 1950

This is a photograph of a couple kissing in the busy streets of Paris, which was taken outside of the l'hôtel de ville which is the building housing the City of Paris's administration. The two cars in the background support the fact it was taken in 1950 as it’s an old classic car. The couple become the focus of this photograph and are positioned almost central in the photograph but slightly to the left hand side. The way the photograph has been taken with the man’s hat in the foreground suggests Doisneau was sitting in a street side open cafe. We can see other men and woman walking past the couple kissing; the lamppost has been positioned on the left hand side of the photograph near the rule of thirds and we can see a grand building in the background. In this photograph we see a nice contrast and range of tones, the couple and people seem to be quite dark and stand out against the light street and buildings in the background. The cars and lamppost seem to be dark and stand out too but we are attracted to look at the couple as they are the ones mainly in focus.

The way the photograph has been constructed and positioned, knowing Doisneau was in the cafe makes it easy for us to believe Doisneau had captured the moment outside the l'hôtel de ville in Paris. However it is revealed that the photograph was a set up. In an interview in 1992, Doisneau said: "I would have never dared to photograph people like that. Lovers kissing in the street, those couples are rarely legitimate."

From what I personally know there wasn’t a series of photographs of this couple however at the time Frenchman Doisneau was working on a photo spread about Paris lovers for Life magazine.

This photograph represents a couple’s passionate and romantic private kiss to be seen in one of the most public and exposed places to share this spontaneous and intimate moment. Doisneau is very successful with his composition of this photograph as he fulfills his intention of convincing people that this photograph is spare of the moment. The fact the photograph was captured in Paris may too convince people the photograph was true and spare of the moment as Paris is believed to be one of the most romantic cities in the world.

I believe that due to the composition of this photograph and the way it was taken giving the impression it was taken from a street cafe, and the composition of the man’s hat in the foreground allows us to feel we are too inside the cafe looking out onto the street of the couple kissing. The audience is able to feel more connected to the photograph thanks to Doisneau’s composition and therefore believe the photograph was taken spare of the moment rather than a set up.

Here are some photographs I have linked to the Photograph "Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville"

Top Left - My choosen Image

Top Right - The Cover of Life Magazine, The same year Doisneau took the photograph "Le baiser de l'hotel de ville" Doisneau was taking the photographs for Life Magazine. On the cover is actress Miroslava Stern

Bottom Left - Photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt - VJ day in Times Square - August 14th 1945 - New York

Bottom Right - Galatea of the Spheres is a painting by Salvador Dalí made in 1952. It depicts Dali's muse, Gala, as pieced together through a series of spheres.

This is my Joined photograph

This photograph was achieved by taking lots of different photographs of Fern (model) and the surroundings from lots of different viewpoints. I Tried merging the photograph together in photoshop, but it didn't work, so I joined the photograph myself in photoshop, I didn't want everything to look perfect and I like the jumbled look of how everything doesn't fit together.
Overall I'm surprised it turned out so well, and I actually really like this photograph. I'll defiantly be uploading some more soon.

WEEK 5

Brooke's Location and Studio Shoot

Here is a photograph of Brooke and 9 different expressions, I brought the wig to experiment with and create some funny beauty type photographs. This was done with the bowens portable lighting kit in my living room, using a low key background, I much prefer this photograph in black and white as it creates a nice contrast especially between the wig and low key background. Overall i really like this photograph and am extreamly pleased with the final outcome. Again I used the photograph of Kate moss doing 9 expressions for inspiration.

(Below) Here is Brooke at a local beach (5 minuits away from my house). I wanted to do a location shoot, as i havent photographed on location for a while and it was nice to have a change from the studio. I didnt need to photoshop my model, however i did make the sky and sea more blue.

(Below) For this photograph i simply turned the saturation down so it was inbetween colour and black and white.

THE BOX - TRAFFIC LIGHT PARTY - OFFICE, TRURO

THE BOX - TRAFFIC LIGHT PARTY - OFFICE, TRURO


This week I was asked if I was interested in photographing the traffic light party for the box on tuesday 9th of March.

I really wanted to photograph the event, as it is good experience for me and helps get myself known. I handed out buisness cards to people who were interested in my photography.


I love capturing the different colours off the lights at night clubs, and i like to photograph people enjoying themselves.


I used a fisheye lens to help create distorted funny photographs and people like to look back and laugh at the photographs from the night. The fisheye lens proves to be extreamly popular with people when photographing events at night clubs.

I also used a Canon flashgun as night clubs tend to be dark.


I like the colours in this photograph and how everythings blurred which surrgests people dancing apart from the man on the right who is in focus.

These are some of the hundreds of photographs I took on the night, Just friends enjoying themselves and having a good time.