Shoot 1 Work Diary

For my first shoot within the subject of journey, I wanted to explore a more story driven experience. I wanted to use an idea of discovery. I imagined a concept of someone discovering an old photograph and journeying to the place it was taken in order to replicate the sight of the image. I was inspired by this concept when I found photographers such as Lucas Saugen who would merge the past and present into one image. The image causes the audience to sense nostalgia within the frame as the person blends a memory with the location. This can imply that the person has reached the end of the journey. This is a theme that I would like to communicate within my own experimentation with the subject of journey, focusing on themes of contrast that can be seen between old and new. The effect can create powerful contrasts and cause the audience to analyse the significance of the image that is being held up by the photographer. As I am using Photoshop in order to simulate the style that is present within Saugen's photography. This digital construction will allow me to alter themes of contrast and enhance themes of ageing by changing the use of colour within the frame. As I was photographing in bright conditions, it was important to adjust my camera settings in order to not let the image appear over exposed. I had a shutter speed of 1/1500, an f stop of 2 and an ISO of 32.

Lucas Saugen influence:

My images:

This image features a busy walkway in New York. Within the frame, some diverse buildings and structures can be seen which contrast with the scenery of everyday life. I have highlighted a structure that would have remained intact for many years, which helps to imply the idea that the image was taken many years ago.

I used a similar technique within each image in order to achieve my effect. I used the marquee tool in order to select an area in which I wanted to turn into the older image. Once the scale was set to what I wanted, I copied the selection to another layer by pressing cmd and J. This would allow me to manipulate the selection independently from the surrounding image. I used a clipping mask on both hue/saturation and levels. I selected colourise, lowered the saturation, raised the lightness and adjusted the colour within the image to a more brown tone. I used levels in order to raise the lighter tones within the image. All of this accumulates to give the effect that the image is very old and has been exposed to light over a duration of years, causing the image to appear faded.

I then converted the selection image to a smart object. This would allow me to adjust any filters that I apply whenever I need. I then went to Filter, Filter Gallery, and selected grain. I adjusted the intensity and contrast in order to create the desired effect, then I went back to the original image. This would cause the image to appear of a grainy quality, suggesting that it was taken from a less advanced camera from an older time.

I then selected the selection layer and used the stroke tool in order to create a border around the image. I gave the border a cream colour in order to blend with the image better. I then used ripple and began adjusting the amount to 336, giving the border a more realistic look. I selected the selection layer again with other layers that were attached and used the free transform option in order to manipulate the image. I made the image larger and rotated it slightly. This helps to show that the person is holding up the image so items within the image will not match perfectly. I then took an image of my hand replicating the action of holding a photograph. I used the quick selection tool with refine edge in order to make an accurate selection of my hand. I then copied the selection and pasted the image into the old photo image. I then created a layer mask on the pasted layer and began to erase the areas of the hand which will be covered by the polaroid. I also added a photo filter to the image in order to add a warming colour to the hand. I adjusted the intensity until the image appeared to blend with the sunny weather of the background image.

This image shows the polaroid effect within a vast background. The saturated colours of the green field and light blue sky contrast heavily with the brown tones of the image being held within the frame. I used grain and saturation in order to make the polaroid image appear older and more damaged from the sun overtime. This helps emphasise the contrasts within the image, causing the audience's attention to be directed to the frame. This allows the audience to analyse the image, paying attention to how the landscape has changed overtime.

Progress:

This shoot has allowed me to consider different ways of metaphorically depicting journey, leaving enough information within the frame and directing the audience's attention in a way to imply that journey has taken place. If I were to develop this shoot, I may attempt to replicate the style using real photographs like Saugen. I could use this to highlight the themes within the image of old age by presenting it in a more believable way. For my next shoot I will explore journey through the use of suggestion again, highlighting what the person is thinking and showing where they want to travel through the use of Photoshop techniques such as multiple exposure.

Shoot 1 Contact Sheet

Shoot 1

Tomer Ifrah

Tomer Ifrah is an Israel born photographer. He specialises in documentary photography, he attempts to address social issues and daily life stories. Since he travels to vastly different locations for each of his photography shoots and comes into contact with many different living conditions and ways of life. Within his photography he reflects different emotions through means such as colour which can then inform the reader on the location and its connotations.

This image features a mountain side in Azerbaijan. The image depicts an old way of life that can be found within this area. The audience can see this as the frame consists only of nature with animals roaming free. This is not a common sight within urban life. This idea of a more traditional location is emphasised through the use of a black and white filter which offers connotations to another time.

This image depicts the metro within Moscow. Here we see a woman sitting on a train carriage. This image depicts journey as being an isolated experience. The composition of the image emphasises this idea as the woman is made small within the image and she is also placed within the frame of a window with so much vacant space surrounding her. This image also depicts ideas of Russia being a more traditional state as the image shows the woman wearing very old fashioned clothing. Tones of brown are used within the image in order to depict a more vintage style of image.

This image shows a group of people standing by the bank of the river. The audience is given a sense that there is something out of the ordinary as they can see a mattress on the floor, suggesting that the people have been sleeping there. This theme of being out of place is emphasised by the use of a black and white filter which helps enhance contrasts within the image, making the people seem completely separate from their environment. This offers a sense of journey as it implies that the people are completely out of their comfort zone since they clearly do not belong within this setting and have decided to travel and sleep within this location.

This image shows journey through the use of a story. We can see a couple kissing within a train station as a train carriage zooms past. The frame focuses less on the couple, allowing for more space within the frame. This allows more contextual information to be stored, for example the train zooming past demonstrates the setting for the image. The outfit of the man indicates that he is going somewhere while the woman contrasts with her different and darker attire. This implies that they are not going to the same place. This final piece of context implies that this is actually a goodbye kiss, showing the more emotional effects of journey.

Summary

To summarise, Tomer Ifrah carefully analyses the locations and cultures in which he photographs and attempts to fill the frame with as much references to these aspects as possible. He communicates the different tones of each location through the use of colour and focuses on what each location means to a person. He demonstrates this through framing and composition.

Stephen Shore

Stephen Shore is an American photographer known for his images of diverse landscape and objects within the United States, and for his pioneering use of color in art photography. He analyses different aspects of American life showing contrasting images of bustling intersections and roads compared to desolate landscapes of the desert. His images mainly take place on location which gives the audience a sense of journey as they are able to experience these different environments from different lifestyles and cultures first hand.

This image features an empty dirt-road. The audience are offered connotations to loneliness within journey and a sense of travelling into the unknown. The image accomplishes this with its use of minimalism, deciding to focus on the lone dirt-road instead of any life within the frame. It is clear that no life exists here apart from the man and his dog within the image as the sun bakes the desert landscape. This sense of abandonment is intensified by the use of brown filters which help to wash out colour within the image clearly stating that the landscape is dried up and inhabitable.

This image shows journey over time. What appears to be a drive in movie theatre sign. However the audience can clearly see that the sign is distressed as its paint is chipped and fading and the body has been damaged over years of being in the sun. The worn down nature of the image gives the sign a vintage appearance. This allows the audience to draw connotations to another moment in time. The contrast of an empty background compared to the giant size of the sign makes the object seem even more out of place and unique to the audience. The sign acts almost as a piece of history that stands out within our modern day world. This evokes a sense of discovery within audiences which is a key theme of journey.

This image shows a busy junction, focusing on two cars at a set of traffic lights. This image depicts journey in a general way by showing other people and the routes that they take within their own journeys. The most notable aspect of this image is how Shore decides to represent a most basic form of journey. The two cars appear similar in height and build filling space in opposite sides of the frame, however the cars are shown as completely different. Shore uses parallel colours of red and blue along with the parallel position of the cars in order to depict differences. This can show the different directions and form that journey can take.

This image depicts two different rooms. Contrast is one of the main themes within the image as it shows two rooms, one of which being pink and the other being a standard beige colour. The pink room offers connotations to excitement and intrigue while the other offers connotations to the mundane nature of everyday life. The image is composed in a way so the audience can see everyday life through a frame, consisting of two open doors. This can depict journey as it shows that the photographer has decided to walk from their normal life into a more exciting reality.

Summary:

To summarise, Steven shore uses different aspects of American life ranging from different moments in time to contrasting landscapes and backdrops in order to evoke a sense of journey through his variety of work. He uses simple visual indicators such as minimalism, contrast, or composition in order to evoke certain feelings that may be felt along a journey and translate them to the audience.

William Eggleston

William Eggleston is an American photographer from Memphis, Tennessee. His early work was inspired by Robert Frank who would analyse aspects of American life and represent them within his work. He has clearly taken this idea of analyses within the world and has propelled it through the use of colour photography that can transport the audience into different locations and times through the use of connotations. He focuses mainly on location photography which depicts a vast range of journey, however it is his use of colour which helps elevate his photography. He uses pastel colours and other out of place items in order to achieve this. The aspects in which he highlights gives the audience an insight into American culture and life. Eggleston's work is great to study for journey as his work was literally the documentation of his own journeys, highlighting places and people that he would come across along the way.

This image features a petrol station, which manages to draw connotations to a different moment in time. The bright colours of the image within the building and structures give impressions of the 1950s era. The cracked and patchy paint used imply that the building has been there for some time. This demonstrates journey as the image is different from anything that will be found today with its vintage apparel. This acts as a piece of history that can be found almost abandoned on your journey.

This image features a famous doughnut shop within America. The scale of the image will take the audience by surprise as it is such an absurd sight. The image exaggerates this strange sight through the use of contrasts. Eggleston has composed the image so that the monumental diner stands tall above low objects. The low angle in which the image is shot makes the doughnut shop appear slightly distorted too. This culminates to present a reality that is almost dreamlike and nothing like everyday life. This can create connotations to journey as this idea of new places and objects is a massive part of the journey process.

This image features a street which is being lit by only one street lamp. This image can be associated with journey as it addresses the sense of moving into the unknown. This is expressed through a number of factors. The one light creates intense shadows around the sides of the image, creating an almost vignette effect that offers connotations of mystery within all of the darkness. The streetlamp is green, lighting the building with the same colour. The colour of green offers connotations to mystery and even sic-fi which delves into the unknown. It is also not a common sight to see a green streetlight, which also makes this location even more unique.

This image features a liquor store. This image takes an ordinary setting and makes it appear otherworldly. Eggleston achieves this by using a black and white filter which causes the contrasts to be extremely highlighted as the neon signs act as almost a beacon amongst the darkness. The darkness surrounding the image causes the building to remain isolated which adds to the mystery surrounding the place.

Summary:

To summarise, William Eggleston is able to easily evoke connotations within the audience of journey. His location style of portraiture makes the audience feel as if they are being placed onto the journey themselves. He achieves connotations such as this through his bold imagery and intelligent use of colours which transport audiences to different moments in time. He uses these effects combined with interesting locations in order to highlight a reality that is completely different to our everyday lives.