Portfolio

Experimenting

Throughout this project I used a lot of experimenting- not only in editing, but through the way I produced my images.

Firstly, I used experimenting in my work record 1 where I wanting to use cellophane to create a sense of gases polluting the earth. To create the filter, I used a lot of experimenting and looking into what materials I could use in order to make the effect I wanted. 

First I used the red cellophane and a lighter to try to create the bubbled brown look like, my artist research Seidler, as a film on top of my camera on my lens. This worked quite well because it created the burnt look I wanted.  However, the tint was too much red so I couldn't see through it or focus on the object behind it.

Secondly I tried burning trying different types of plastic- eg plastic wrapping, sleeve for paper. This didn't work well as both types of plastic just caught fire and didn't create any bubbles etc.

Next I tried the clear cellophane from a floweriest. This worked but didn't give the brown/burnt look

So I tried to add the brunt look. I did this by adding butter and Candle wax on top before burning the cellophane to see if it burnt more brownish. I then made coffee and gravy and put it on the already burned cellophane to try that look.

The end product. To create this, I burnt it, added coffee on top to dry then used face-paint to add black burnt bit around the edge and create a dirty look.

Step 1

step 4, the Candle wax

step 4, adding the coffee

End product

Another time I experimented was with my editing. Firstly, I edited in my work record 2 an experiment of different filters on my images. So I sat down and just fiddled with different aspects of Photoshop to see what I liked vs what didn't suit my investigation. The photo above is one of my experiment edits, in which I changed the photo to look like it was painted by watercolours. I then went on to add curves to add highlights and then burn and dodge to make the curves only effect the pieces of rubbish. All this together makes the picture look more dramatic and pop art like. This effect is very different to what I normally do but I liked how it turned out. 

Lastly, I used my images from my work record 8 to edit rubbish on top of beautiful images. I did this in front of Buckingham palace and in Trafalgar Square. To do this I quick selected the rubbish and pasted it onto the image. I then went onto blurring around the image slightly to make in blend in a bit more.

Work Record 8

Preparation:

In this shoot I wanted to focus on rubbish and east of food etc. I decided to add in pieces of waste food that had gone off in order to add a realistic look. I wanted to produce this shoot in the studio in a dark setting to make the message I wanted to portray git the audience in a harsher way.

Artist Research: 

Laurie Frankel & Diane Gatterdam:

The duo said “These photos highlight the extraordinary amount of disposable items we use for an instant but then live on for years, while nature renews itself in a seamless continual rhythm”

Laurie Frankel is a san Francisco based,award-winning photographer. She began her career as an retail graphic designer and creative director, where she got experience of communicating a message gracefully, clearly, and efficiently. However, one day, looking at her two young sons, she decided life was too precious to deny one's passions and switched to photography. Her style is contemporary and intimate, making the audience feel strongly about the topic photographed. 

Contact Sheet:

My Best Images:

Images that need Improving:

When taking my photos I struggled at first with finding the right settings. This meant that the top photo became fuzzy and orange-toned. The second picture needed improving because the angle and the set up of the rubbish meant that you could see the white paper underneath.

Editing &AO2:

I found that I dint need to edit my pictures much, as I liked the original dark look they presented. However I did decide the change the curves and brightness of certain parts of the images. I then went on to experiment with my editing, by putting the image of the rubbish overlapping on pretty setting like Buckingham palace. To do this I quick selected the rubbish and pasted it onto the image. I then went onto blurring around the image slightly to make in blend in a bit more.

A03:Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.

I think my shoot went well and reflected my idea of a dustructive world through environmental damage. My Research of Laurie Frankel & Diane Gatterdam was helpful in my work as it gave me the technique of a dark setting with a blue table and little light. The images came out as I expected, however I wish I had used rubbish I found in the street rather than my own in order to create a more realistic effect. I wanted my photos to show a miserable world, I think my images have portrayed this in many ways.

AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other

 sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

I believe that my artist research is really shown throughout my images. I think my images are very similar however they are more bright and saturated. I think my research of other waste photographers have also helped, as it inspired me to how i wanted my photos to turn out. 

AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.  

I believe that I have produced a strong series of images inspired by my research of environmental damage and the images of Laurie Frankel & Diane Gatterdam. The final images I have edited present a destructive world in different ways. The use of rubbish highlights the simple actions of leaving rubbish left around can affect the world but also make a place that should be pretty, look unpleasant.

Final Project Evaluation

Selecting my portfolio images was quite hard. Throughout my project I had taken a wide range of

images to explore every aspect of a destructive world that I liked. 

In order to create my portfolio I had to limit my images in order to create a cohesive body of

work. So first I decided to go through all my shoots and take out the images that did not fit, this

included my work records 3,4,5,6. These images-even though I believed some were good

images- looked at a more conflict side of destructive world and didn't focus on waste and

pollution, like the rest of my portfolio. This left me with my images from my work record

1,2,7,8. Next I had to decide which order to organise my images and if I wanted to have any

transition pages. I believed that starting with my work record 1- the cellophane images- would

start the portfolio of at a high and would instantly portray the message of pollution and world

destruction that wanted to highlight. I then realised I wanted to have two transition pages, one

with plastic on and one with burnt squashed cigarettes in order to make the portfolio to go ore

smoothly.

Research of my project has been extremely influential in my work. Looking into other images of

a destructive world and photographers, I found ideas that influenced me to take my pictures in a

certain way. For example, my first shoot in Work Record 1 is my cellophane mages. In this shoot

I had a vague idea of the message I wanted to portray of the poisonous air we breathe, however, I

wasn't sure how to create it. When I researched by photographer of Brandon Seidler, I was

influenced to use physical manipulation of my images. Seidler uses harsh chemicals that were

found at the site to soak the film of the images. The developed film become corroded and show

"bubble like" film, as if it was burnt. I liked this idea, however, It would be very hard and unsafe

for me to use this to create my images. So, instead I took inspiration of Seidler and came up with

the idea of using plastic to create a "film cover" for the camera to show a similar image of

poisonous gases and air we create in our everyday lives. 

As mentioned above, throughout this project I used a lot of experimenting- not only in editing,

but through the way I produced my images. The first example of this was, as mentioned, my

cellophane shoot. This shoot took a lot of research and experimenting before I could start the

shoot. In both my experimenting blog post and the Work Record 1, you can see the process step

by step of creating the film. This ended up being one of my favourite pieces of my project as it

was very bout of my comfort zone yet created a simple but inspiring image. Another time I

experimented was with my editing. Firstly, I edited in my work record 2 with an experiment of

different filters on my images. So I sat down and just fiddled with different aspects of Photoshop

to see what I liked vs what didn't suit my investigation. In this process, I changed the photo to

look like it was painted by watercolours. I then went on to add curves to add highlights and then

burn and dodge to make the curves only effect the pieces of rubbish. All this together makes the

picture look more dramatic and pop art like. The sharp effect became really attention grabbing

and made to photo look more interesting as the harsh waves and sand create a dark message
This project has made me realise my full potential of editing and experimental ideas. In this
project I have learnt how to make a cohesive piece of work and pick images out of the many
images i have taken. This was important as it made my photo book run more smoothly and look
more effective

Personal Project Image Bank