Physical Experiments

This image is very reminiscent of print technique which I had developed for unit 4. Instead of creqating the image digitally, i have instead opted to sketch the image in a graffiti style. The quote remains the same and is very famous and is often associated with the process of journey.

This image attempts to replicate a shell shaded art style. This is massively popular within cartoons and other media related premises. I used this to present a means of presenting an ordinary environment in an other worldly way, enhancing the audience's experience with the image.

For these images, I used scissors in order to highlight the theme of paths within the image.s This creates a clear contrast and the audience are immediately attracted by the focal point of the image.

End Project Evaluation

When I began unit 4, I had just finished a project which contrasted completely with the subject that I was about to undertake. I had previously been dependent on Photoshop and had developed my skills throughout the unit 3 project, however I wanted to have an opportunity to explore different examples of photography by choosing a subject unlike hyperreality. For this I made mind maps for three subjects which I debated choosing. Out of the three, I looked into people and possessions, water, and finally journey. All three of these differentiated from my previous project of hyperreality, however I saw more potential within the journey subject to explore it on both a literal and metaphorical level. To start off my shoots, I had an idea which I had actually wanted to use since the start of the year, however due to the constraints of my previous projects I hadn't been able to use it. I managed to link my first shoot to my subject by showing a journey through time as well as location by communicating a story, by holding an old photograph within the image. I was unable to achieve the images that I wanted practically, so I had used my Photoshop skills that I had developed throughout the year in order to create a convincing result. I wanted to address some issues that I had within my last unit. I wanted to support my work with a wide range of support information by studying photographers and linking my work to theirs as well as taking influence. I believe that I managed to consistently do this throughout the year of a better standard than my last unit.

As I progressed through my project, I wanted to keep my ideas within the subject new and interesting, never dwelling on the same meaning of an image for longer than was needed. This was something that I thought could have been better within the start of my unit 3 project. I wanted to pay attention to the progression of my shoots and think about ways that I could develop my work in a way that causes the images to work well as a series of shoots instead of appearing mixed in meaning. I believe that it would make my project appear stronger as a whole and communicate elements of journey better to the audience. I began to utilise a form of travel photography within my work which I had not had the opportunity to use where I would remove the need of Photoshop and focus on aspects of whatever location I was photographing and highlight what made each location unique. I developed each one by looking at different photographers such as Ansel Adams, William Eggleston and Robert Frank in order to influence each shoot to make each one appear visually unique. I also took inspiration from my last unit in the form of a Print Technique which in my unit 3 shoot held little purpose, however I saw how I could apply image and text in a way that would compliment the subject of journey greatly while creating a series of images which complimented each other to highlight a different location independently.

For my final two shoots, I wanted to create shoots that differentiated from anything which I had attempted before within photography. I wanted to do this in order to round off the project memorably and to contrast the previous three shoots of travel photography which I had developed. For this I decided to experiment with technology in a way that I have never attempted. I used a drone for one shoot, allowing me to capture journey on a grand scale, revealing aspects of the environment that have remained previously out of reach from me. I created images that worked as a series in order to highlight how different locations are unique from each other. For my final shoot I experimented with a program which I have never used. I used Final Cut Pro in order to create my time-lapse. The result created some of the most visually unique pieces of photography that I have ever produced.

Overall, I feel that I have addressed the issues that I had with my previous subject and have looked to create work which shows this. I have attempted to present my work as one cohesive project which does not unevenly work together but does show some experimentation. I have used the subject of journey as a platform to explore physical journey, emotional journey, and implied journey with reference to influential photographers who helped boost the quality of my work by motivating the direction I took. I feel that it has been a very successful project and I have managed to create diverse and interesting work which services the subject well while working well with my previous unit, by experimenting with unknown forms of photography and trying to push the quality of my work to the next level.

Connecting Essay 5

This image features an empty path that has been carved through the environment, showing evidence of the many journeys that have been taken by animals an people over time. I have used the black and white filter in order to adjust elements of contrast within the image. Green areas have been darkened  while the brown tones remain brighter. This highlights the presence of the path as it forms its way through the imagined wraps around the image, out of frame. This path contrasts heavily with the rest of the environment, causing the audience to pay attention to the uneven ground of the path. Within the image, the black and white filter helps to highlight the texture of the ground. Here, the audience can see both foot prints and paw prints that have collected over the years to form a path. This has been caused by both people and animals and is used to highlight the  vastly different journeys that have occurred within this location in the past and how it has left its mark and has changed the environment.

This image features an empty road which is accompanied by a vast backdrop which is fills the remainder of the frame with nature and different types of plant life. The audience appear to be framed within the perspective of a car driving down this lonesome road. The road itself creates great contrasts against the endless nature, causing the audience to pay attention to the way that it carves through the environment. The abundance of nature within the backdrop imply connotations to venturing into the unknown. The tree line appears to be endless, suggesting how daunting a journey can be. The road curves around, continuing out of frame which further implies to the audience that this journey has just begun. The use of the winding road also offers connotations to spontaneity and not knowing what to expect when embarking onto a journey.

These images link under a number of different features. Both depict journey as a lonesome experience as their is no life within the image. The journey is represented through the use of pathways that have been carved within a nature environment, creating intense contrasts. The pathways wrap around the frame, eventually disappearing. This means that both of the images highlight the mysterious aspects of journey. This evokes a sense of spontaneity and travelling into the unknown which is a common theme associated with the journey process.

Connecting Essay 4

 This image is used to round off a series of images within the  subject of journey. They all link under the theme of journey which is refleted as the focus of the image through the use of the word. A sense of journey is implied through the use of three different locations and the contrasts in connotations associated with each one. The forest area to the left of the frame is represented through thin text that curves almost like a vine and features the colour green which offers connotations to the environment and forest areas. This then blends in to the middle image which is representing New York. The empty forest is contrasted heavily by the vast landscape shot of the city. This contrast is emphasised further through the use of thick text which contrasts with the twig-like text of the forest location. The use of pink/purple is used to imply the neon aspects associated with the city life. This image ends by blending into the southend area. The more traditional seaside area is represented by sophisticated text associated with an older time. The use of sky blue is used to offer connotations to the hot, clear weather of seaside holidays within locations such as this. As a result, these images cause the audience to feel a sense of journey by experiencing vastly different locations through the use of connotations and contrast.

This image focuses around the term 'never look back'. This theme is translated through a number of different themes and connotations. The most notable feature within the image is the feature of contrast of the image and the text. The text features lens flares and an almost reflective surface. This is used to simulate a car interior mirror, highlighting how you should put the past behind you. Colours are used in order to offer connotations within the image. Colours of blue and orange are used in order to offer connotations to things such as a sun rising. A sun rising is used to simulate a new beginning of another day or a new story. This is very much in keeping with this theme of not looking back and embracing your future and where you are. This idea of the sun rising is suggested through the feature of lens flares within the frame suggesting the sun is glaring into the camera. The use of contrast within the text allows for the text to stand out against the sky background.

These two images link under a number of key themes and features. Both use connotations of colour in order to reflect the key themes within their photographs. They both achieve this with specific colours that help communicate these contrasts. Both images rely on heavy themes of contrast in order to highlight the texts within their respective backgrounds. Both can link under a sensation of journey. Both show an idea of exploring new horizons and experiencing different places and escaping your everyday reality through new and exciting places.

Connecting Essay 3

This image highlights a tree as the focal point of the image. The composition highlights a tree carving which features a couple's name. These contrasts of the dark carvings against the green tree stands out within the image. The discolouration of the tree carvings imply that they have been there for a number of years as they have begun to blend into the bark. This tree aslo shows a story of events through the texture of the bark. One of the carvings can be seen on the side of the tree, however, the lower section of the carving appears split and carved roughly. Since the second name on the tree is scratched out, this implies that the person has removed their name from the tree after years. This suggests that the couple have broken up and in order to reflect this one of the couple has scratched out one of the names. This can be used to show an emotional journey as we can see evidence of the couple being together however as time passed they appear to have broken up.

This image features two people, one of which is walking while the other stands in the foreground. There is a heavy reliance on depth of field within the frame, as the woman remains in focus while the background remains obscure. This image is attempting to show a relationship ending. This can be seen from the male walking away into the distance, blurred along with the background. By having the woman in focus and the man out of focus this implies a sense of disconnection between the couple, if they were on the same level, they would both be in focus but since they are literally separated they remain in their own areas. The woman clearly is devastated from the way that she is cradling her head, in a way of trying to comfort herself. The use of colour within the black and white image helps to emphasise these serious and depressing tones as the colours offer connotations to depression and gloom.

These two images link under a number of different themes. Both images utilise different tones within colour in order to highlight contrasts, drawing the audience's attention to aspects such as the people within the frame or the carvings on the tree. The images find different ways of communicating the same story. Both images show an emotional journey showing a relationship as it begins to end, highlighting the implications of the end of the journey.

Connecting Essay 2

This image features a persons face combined with a background of an important football match. This image is used to highlight a personal journey which has been taken by the person within the image. The image is attempting to show a person reflecting on a journey that they have been on within their life as he reminisces about a monumental football match that he played at the end of his teams journey. In this case the memory being shown is a cup final match. The combination of images allows me to communicate this, starting with the use of portraiture. The person is looking up with a proud posture. It is clear that the person is not staring at anything and is instead thinking back fondly to this memory. The image fades into the background image as the audience can a group of players converging around a goal. This implies that the person may have scored the winning goal of this match. This reflects journey on a personal and emotional level and a journey of the team to victory. This image shows how much this experience means to the person as he looks back on the memory.

This image by Andre de Freitas features the use of multiple exposure. Within the frame, there are two images that are seamlessly blended into one. The first is a portrait which shows a girl looking up with her head tilted slightly. The second image features a landscape image which features lights, possibly from a city setting. The expression of the girl within the photo suggests that she is thinking of something or even reminiscing about a fond memory. This links to the other image which is framed within the person's head. This shows that this is the place that she is thinking about. There are heavy themes of contrast present within the images as the lighter tones blend in to the background while the darker tones create the base of the portrait.

These images link under a number of different areas. The most immediate similarity is the fact that both images utilise the same technique of multiple exposure. This theme links within the use of black and white and the feature of heavy contrasts within the frame. The themes that are used within the images involve reflection and reminiscing on memories. The boy in the image is thinking fondly to an event within his life while the girl in the second image is reminiscing fondly about a specific location.

Shoot 9 Work Record

For this shoot, I wanted to experiment with the use of a technique which I had no experience with much like my previous shoot with drone photography. I wanted to push my photography to a visual extent that is unlike anything I have featured within my experimentation with journey photography. It was clear that timelapse could give me the type of result that will produce dynamic photography. I researched other examples of time lapse photography and looked for ways in which I could apply some of these inspirations to my own work and develop the idea for hyperreality. I found inspiration particularly from a gif which depicted time lapse that showed an environment change from day to night. The clouds move along with the light in order to show time passing at a great speed. As a result, I realised that I could implement a journey through time by showing how an environment changes over a duration of time, highlighting different areas of the location such as the light and the clouds moving over at great speeds. In order to achieve this, I would need to use my DSLR camera complete with a tripod in order to ensure that there is no change to the positioning of the camera in order to achieve a consistent effect. For the first time within photography, I also have to utilise Final Cut Pro in order to manipulate the footage after.

In order to achieve this effect, I set up the camera with the composition that I wanted and adjusted the settings on the camera in order to suit the lighting conditions. I then filmed for periods of around 20 minutes and then took the footage into Final Cut Pro. I changed the speed of the footage to 4000% in order to allow the footage to show time passing at an extremely fast rate, allowing the audiences to notice the changes within the image easier. Both time lapses focus on representing journey through time by highlighting the activity of street. Here the audience can see clouds changing and moving allong with cars driving down the street. The second video introduces the use of contrasts in order to direct the audience's attention to these time-changing aspects. The bright orange reflections on the clouds show the way the sun is setting while the clouds continue to pass. This moment is highlight through the use of tone that the light gives to the clouds. The video continues this journey through time until the light lowers, gently removing more and more details from the image as the video change to darkness.

Progression:

These time lapses proved to offer dynamic photography which differentiated from other photography which I have used before while still merging into the subject of journey. If I were to develop this shoot further, I would travel to a place such as London or Southend in order to capture how city life changes visually over time or documenting the movement of waves as the tide slowly moves out over a passage of time.

Shoot 8 Work Record

For this shoot, I wanted to explore a more experimental style of journey photography by using a new technology such as a drone in order to capture interesting aerial photographs. I would create a series of images which would capture different locations and the unique aspects of it in order to evoke a sense of journey within the audience. Since I have not had any experience with this form of photography, I wanted to research photographers who had used similar techniques in order to achieve vast landscape photographs. I found a photographer named Steven Hawkes, his imagery is vast and shows how environments can be presented in diverse ways as a result of this form of photography. This is a technique which will work greatly within my subject of journey as I can take my previous experience with landscape photography and develop it in a visually dynamic way. I will use a drone which utilises a 4k camera and compose my images through the use of the live camera feed on the controller. I am going to be photographing various environments including a forest, field, and buildings. I am photographing these images on a day which is mostly clouded, fortunately the drone compensates for these conditions by changing the camera settings in order to create a balanced image which is not over exposed and captures immense details.

Steven Hawkes influence:

My images:

This image features countryside hillsides. The image featured camera settings which allowed for the image to be captured in great detail. The camera used a shutter speed of 1/1000, an f stop of 3 and an ISO of 100. This allows for a crisp image to be captured, not being affected by any camera movement which may cause blur. As a result, colours within the image appear vibrant. The use of aerial photography causes the individual flowers to form a solid colour. This causes the hillsides to appear of a vibrant yellow colour. This type of sight is only possible from this height and is unique to this location, contrasting with seaside and city life. Highlighting a sense of joinery within the image.

This image focuses on the use of pathways. Within the frame, there are two different pathways which divert into different directions. The pathways contrast within the shades of green and carve through the environment. This is used to represent the choices that come with journey as the people on the pathway can take multiple forms, branching off from different directions. The image was taken within the use of a shutter speed of 1/170, an f stop of 3, and an ISO of 100. This allowed for the camera to balance some of the darker aspects of the image by letting more light into the lens with a lower shutter speed.

Progression:

I was able to create a series of different definitions of journey within this form of photography which presented landscape in a way that is unlike any I've used before. These images also work in a series to convey a sense of journey, highlighting different aspects of each location in which I visited. For my next shoot, I would like to continue to experiment with different photography techniques in order to show jounrey. In order to achieve this, I will feature a technique such as time lapse which I have never used before in order to create an interesting result to communicate journey through time.

Shoot 7 Work Record

For this shoot, I wanted to develop my last shoot which utilised travel photography with a minimal focus on Photoshop in order to evoke a sensation of journey by creating a series of shoots which showed unique aspects of different environments. I wanted to focus on people within an environment and highlight their impact on their journeys as well as the metaphorical significance of what they do.  In preparation for my travel photography styled shoot, I began to research other photographers who I had featured within my research log. Within my research, I looked at photographers such as Jane Dorn whose work depicts the influence of people on an environment after they have left. These are the types of themes that I could translate into my work easily as I could highlight someone's journey by the impact that they have had on the environment after they have left. I am photographing in a forest location as it is a location which can be easily manipulated by people and animals passing through on journeys. I am photographing these images on a day which features mostly clouded weather. In order to not over expose my images and maintain detail within some of the darker areas of the tree line, I will adjust my camera settings appropriately. 

Jane Dorn inspiration:

My images:

For this image, I used a shutter speed of 1/125, an f stop of 4 and an ISO of 100. This would allow me to capture detail within the environment while not letting the bright white clouds of the image remove detail within the image. I have used the black and white filter in order to adjust elements of contrast within the image. I have darkened green areas while leaving the colour of the mud lighter. This highlights the fact that there is a path that is carving its way through the environment. This path contrasts heavily with the rest of the environment, causing the audience to pay attention to the uneven ground of the path. This has been caused by both people and animals and is used to highlight the different journeys that have occurred within this location in the past and how it has affected the location.

This image is used to highlight a more emotional journey that has been captured within the environment of the forest. To capture this image, I used a shutter speed of 1/32, an f stop of 4, and an ISO of 200. This allows for the lens to open more, allowing more light into the camera within this low lit area. The image focuses on an individual tree which has taken on a purpose of holding the carvings of couples. This is shown by focusing a carving within the centre of the image. This can show evidence of an emotional journey, especially within a carving that can be seen within the left of the tree. It appears there were originally two names carved into the tree, however, where the second name appears to be, the bark of the tree has split. This implies that one of the people have crossed out their name on the tree. This suggests that the couple have broken up. This shows the evidence of an emotional journey from the beginning of the relationship to the end.

Progression:

I have developed my photography of the forest location by reflecting other aspects of the area which make it unique from other locations. This adds to my overall work within the subject of journey, creating diverse documentations of different areas. For my next shoot, I wish to photograph journey from a completely new perspective, using different technologies such as a drone in order to achieve a diverse series of images.

Shoot 6 Work Record

For this shoot, I wanted to develop my last shoot which utilised travel photography with a minimal focus on Photoshop in order to evoke a sensation of journey by creating a series of shoots which showed unique aspects of different environments. I wanted the images within this shoot to vary in style and themes than the last shoot. In order to achieve this, I began to research other photographers who I had featured within my research log. As a result, this shoot draws influence from photographers Robert Frank and William Eggleston. I appreciated the way that Robert Frank focused on different cultures of people, highlighting unique aspects of the people and places that he came across. William Eggleston would use colours and their connotations in order to give his images a feeling that was unique to the area that he was photographing. I could easily translate these themes into my subject of journey allowing my images to depict unique aspects of different locations in order to form a sense of travel photography. I am photographing in a seaside location of southend in order to contrast the images with my previous shoot by highlighting the different aspects if each location. I am photographing these images on a day which features bright weather, in order to further contrast with the previous shoot as it featured cloudy weather. As I am taking pictures within this bright weather, I will need to adjust my camera settings appropriately in order to ensure that the images are not over exposed, maintaining enough detail within the environment.

This image focuses on an obscure structure which over looks the sea. The object is made the focus of the image through the use of composition. The tower looms mysteriously within the centre of the frame, partially hidden by the haze of the fog. This idea of mystery is what drives the theme of journey within the image. It is supposed to evoke a curiosity to explore which is commonly found within the subject of journey. In order to capture this image, I adjusted my camera settings in order to compensate for the distance of the image, and the bright weather. I used a shutter speed of 1/526, an f stop of 16, and an ISO of 200. This would allow me to capture a vast image while, causing the object in the distance to remain slightly obscured.

This image features journey within two areas. I have used my influence from Robert Frank by highlighting aspects of life and different cultures that are unique to the area of the seaside. I have also taken inspiration from William Eggleston by focusing mainly on colour, using the slight blue theme within the image to offer connotations to sun and sea which is commonly associated with the seaside. The composition of the image also creates a sense of literal journey. Framing the boat moving from the right of the frame to the left, the image is presented with a sensation of journey through the environment. In order to capture the kinetic aspects of the image such as the boat moving from right to left, I had to adjust my camera settings. I used a shutter speed of 1/400, an f stop of 13 and an ISO of 200. This would allow me to capture the movement of the boat while minimising blur. I also compensated from any light which is lost from the higher shutter speed by adjusting the ISO accordingly.

Progression:

I was able to achieve a shoot which developed themes which I had explored in my previous shoot while giving the location its own unique aspects which offer a sense of progression through environments within my work. If I were to develop this shoot, I would focus more on people within the places that I visit, highlighting their impact on the world.

Shoot 5 Work Record

For this shoot, I wanted to explore a more traditional style of journey photography by using a simple form of travel photography. I would focus on giving the audience a sense of journey through the use of composition and connotations. I have researched this style of photography within my research logs and photographer research. As a result, I have analysed the work of photographers such as Stephen Shore and Ansel Adams. I would introduce elements of their work by using the large scale landscape imagery of Ansel Adams with a focus on elements such as colour in order to make the location appear unique in a similar way to Stephen Shore. These elements will blend into my project of journey, allowing me to document my own journey in a way that the audience can feel immersed in. I am photographing within a forest environment as I will be able to contrast it with follow up shoots within visually different environments. I will also be able to highlight the biodiversity which is present within the location as a means to enhance these themes of contrasts, adding to the sense of journey that the audience will feel when they analyse the body of work that I will create over the unit. I am photographing these images on a day which is clouded, this means that I will need to adjust my camera settings appropriately in order to ensure that the sky does not make the large landscape images feel over exposed, while maintaining enough detail within the environment.

Ansel Adams and Stephen Shore influences:

My Images:

This image focuses on a sight that is common within a forest environment but is harder to find in another place. As well as highlighting unique aspects of the area, this image also delves into themes of journey through time. I used a composition that will fill the entire frame with detail, causing the audience to analyse the state of the tree. This is a silver birch tree, which appears to have been within this location for a vast number of years. This image highlights the aftermath of this tree's journey through time. Tone and contrast are used in order to reveal the effects of ageing within the tree. The audience can see where the bark has cracked under exposure from the sun over years and how areas have been chipped away while leaving some remnants of the original tree.

This image features a forest environment which features a pathway that curves out of the frame. This image is attempting to highlight elements of journey through the use of pathways. The brown pathway contrasts heavily with the vibrant green grass. This path has been carved through the environment by animals and people over the years making the same joinery through the environment. The composition of the image causes the pathway to twist around a corner and out of the frame. This is used to imply some of the more spontaneous and mysterious aspects of journey, not always knowing where the path may take you.

Progression:

I feel that I was able to highlight aspects of journey within the forest environment by focusing on aspects of the environment that are unique to this location. I was able to use my inspiration of Ansel Adams and Stephen Shore in a way that utilised landscape photography and unique colours and tones. I will develop this style of photography by going to other locations such as a seaside area in order to create a series of images which contrast in terms of location in order to evoke feelings of journey when looking at the images together. As I develop these shoots, I will draw inspiration from other travel photographers in order to make my images more diverse.

Top 20

Two of my top 20 are featured in video form. You will need to scroll down to click the videos.

Top Forty

Computer Experiment

This image could relate to journey through time as the colorise effect along with desaturation and grain has caused the image to appear old.

These images show how an environment can be manipulated in order to make the image more dynamic. The first image features a cinematic film colour grade, the second features what was once an old building is made new again through the use of saturation to make faded colours vibrant again, the final image uses levels in order to make a storm effect which can be used in order to conjure up a number of negative connotations.

This image can enhance the way that the audience looks at an image by highlighting specific aspects of the image. For example, the pathway is highlighted by making the grass look dead through the use of desaturation.

Threshold has been used in order to create a clear contrasted image which highlights the texture of the bark further.

This image uses vibrance in order to make colours vivid and make an environment seem more diverse.

This image uses posterise in order to present simple environments in the form of art pieces.

This image heightens the use of connotations in that already exist within the image by making them more prominent within the image.

This image uses a selective colour effect by removing areas of black and white in order to create clear pathways within an image, highlighting the key aspect of this image to the audience.