Week 7 – Self Portrait

When first told about this blog post I immediately thought that I didn’t want to be in the image but the only idea that came to mind was an image of me at a park with lots of leads like I was a dog walker but at the end of the leads have all my different cameras that I’ve collected over the years. I battled with this idea for ages as I didn’t want to be completely visible in the image and this idea would require me to be. Eventually I came up with this idea but sitting down and talking with my sister about my first idea and the problems around that one. I knew that I wanted to incorporate photography in my self portrait as that is the biggest aspect of my life at the moment so while talking to my sister about it (and also having it in the back of my mind that a lot of others in the class were only having their hands in the picture) I came up with the idea of setting up as if I was going to sit down and take a traditional self portrait but taking the shot from the other side so I didn’t have to be in it. When taking the photo I experimented with taking it so the focus was on the camera and my hand was out of focus, the other way around and also having the entire image in focus. I chose to have the focal point as my hand as it is a self portrait so this is where I spot metered at to get my hand in focus and the background slightly blurred out, not enough so that you couldn’t make out what it was but just enough so that the focus would remain on my hand. I chose to use my Diana f+ camera as it is the most fun to play around with when I don’t have to take myself or my photography serious, its just to play around with and for fun. I also chose it because it is the only one of my cameras with colour on it, the rest are just plain blacks and greys. I think the fact that there is a slash of colour amongst the bland colours in the image also represents myself. And finally the last reason I chose this camera was because if you look closely there is a pattern on the top of the camera, which also runs though to the back. This pattern reminds my of my Grandma as she used to have an extensive tea set in this same pattern, which was passed onto my mother and one day will be passed on to myself and my sister, the fact that I could include a bit of family history into my image made me very happy. I think this image is successful as it shows the prep work of a photographer as well as capturing different aspects of me.

Moral Rights and Copyright

1. Moral rights are the personal rights of the creator of the work in question when it is copyrighted. They are solely  for the creator and cannot be transferred, assigned or sold. The breach of moral rights can be punishable in court, however there are a number of exceptions and loop holes when talking about infringements of moral rights. When working as a professional photographer you have the right to ask someone who has used your images on their own blog to reference you as the original photographer and link them to your own page. If they have not asked permission to use your images and have not linked or referenced them back to you, then matters can be taken further. 
2. As a wedding photographer, if you have taken photos for a couple who went to get enlargements done of your pictures and the shop owner advertises them in the shop front window, you have the right to asked to be credited as the original photographer so people who see it know that it is your work. The responsibility to ask permission to use your photos in the shopfront firstly lies with the shop owner as he is the one advertising them, and secondly with the couple as they have hired you to take pictures for them so you trust that your work is going to them only. Another way to cover yourself is to write up a written agreement between you and the shop owner stating that he does not have permission to use those photos for anything else other than advertising his enragement work in the shopfront window. 
3. When working as an advertising photographer, if you are asked to shoot an image of a building and cityscape that is only to be used for an A3 brochure, internal marketing and for the clients website for up to 12 months only in Australia and these terms are written up in a binding contract and your client is to break them, you as the photographer and owner of those images have the right to take further action as a legal contract was in place to protect yourself and your work. If you see your work being used for any other means outside of the contract you can contact your client and ask that you be credited or that further action is to be taken to get your images back or you can take further action yourself. 

Week 10 – Interview Questions

– What kind of gear do you generally use?
Camera body:
Lens:
Tripod:
Filters:
Flash:
Camera bag:
Any others:
– What methods do you use for post processing?
– What sort of things do you do to better yourself as a photographer or increase your knowledge?
– What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started out as a photographer?
– Whose work influences you the most?
– What inspires you to go out on a shoot?
– Where do you get the ideas for the meanings and messages behind your work?
– How would you describe your style of photography?
– What is your state of mind like when you are out shooting or on a job?
– What would be your dream photo shoot/assignment/job and where in the world would it be?

 

 

 

Design Principles and Elements

• Line: A mark or stroke made when drawing, painting or when the length of a line or shape meets to make a shape or leads to something. Two connected points form a line and every line has a length, width, and direction if it is straight.
• Shape: An area that stands out or is separate from the rest of the area or picture. All objects are composed of shapes and all other ‘Elements of Design’ are shapes in some way. 
• Size: Can include large or small, deep or shallow, fat or thin.
• Texture: Can include: fine or coarse, smooth or rough, sharp or dull.
• Colour: Can include: grey scale or colour, light or dark.
• Balance: A state of equalisation in a picture, can be calm balance or not so calm.
• Repetition: The use of one thing over and over again in an image. 
• Contrast: When two complete opposites are placed together. Can be contrasting colours, shapes, lines, textures and sizes.
• Space: A two-dimensional design that is essentially flat and has height and width, but no depth. Can create a three demential feel to an artwork. Many different principles and elements can create the illusion of space in the mind of the viewer. 

Week 10 – Exhibition Critique

Exhibition Critique

The Heide Museum of Modern Art is located in Bulleen, Victoria. Since 1981 Heide has been home to the contemporary artwork of many Australian artists.  On the grounds there are many different buildings that are used as galleries for the different exhibitions that are running. The museum has all different types of art works using different media and different format size as well as meanings and messages. The Heide Museum was overall a positive experience for me, I enjoyed walking around the different galleries and interacting with the artworks as well as exploring the outside scenery and gardens that led to more galleries. I think The Heide Museum of Modern Art is well laid out and offers a lot of historical importance to the community and would not hesitate to recommend it to others.

This classic Albert Tucker painting depicts a haunting figure sat in nature, gazing off into the distance. The dark shadowed man is typical of a Tucker painting in the way that he is tall and lanky and has an abstract sort of face with sharp and ridged edges, creating shape and texture in the image. The repetition of earthy colours throughout the painting as well as the nature landscape represents Tuckers attraction to the Australian outback. Many of Tuckers painting have a 3D element to them, whether it be scrunched up paper, bark, or what seems to be a type of cement that has been painted over to add texture and shape to his paintings. The different colours used in the tree to create shape, also creates a sense of texture and three dimension to the tree to give it more of a likeness to reality. Theres a sense of contrast in the image. When looking at the background we get a feel of an Australian outback, or somewhere in nature compared to when looking at the subjects clothes which seem to be quite formal, that is apart from the hat. This could represent the distance Tucker felt when returning to Australia after a long period spent aboard. These different techniques that Tucker has incorporated into his work, for me, is what makes the image so successful. By using the different design principles and elements in this image Tucker has created a successful piece of art.

Week 5 – Memorable Images

When thinking about famous artworks, The Girl With a Pearl Earring comes to mind. Visually we remember this image as it is a portrait but not in the typical sense. The stance of the girl is different to that of an average portrait, we also notice that the picture is slightly off balance due to her headpiece and the focal point is her pearl earring instead of the traditional focal point of the features on the subjects face. The juxtaposition of what seems to be a maids outfit with that of the pearl earring is another point that makes this picture quite memorable. The way the subject is glancing gives you a feeling of involvement in the picture but can also evoke a lot of emotion in the viewer. When I see this picture the solemn stare of the subject personally makes me feel as though she is hiding a pain from the world, which makes me feel sympathy. All these different point combined is what makes The Girl With a Pearl Earring a standout, memorable image for me.

The first image that comes to mind when thinking about musical performers is The Beatles album cover for their album Abbey Road. This image is memorable because it was so famous just like The Beatles. The image is also one to remember, as it is aesthetically pleasing with its leading line and repetition in the crossing and the four band members in the same stance. The image is clear and not distracting as your eye is drawn to the bright white crossing and lead straight to the band where it stops, as this is the focal point.

This Ad was used in 1943 to inspire and boost worker morale. The image is memorable for many reasons. The image itself is pleasing to the eye due to the bright, complimentary colours used throughout. The image is clean, clear and distinct as the composition is very different to anything else of that time. The stance that the subject is in is one that would not have been done by many women around the time of this poster. Its message is read loud and clear, “We Can Do It!” supports the message of why the poster was produced in the first place, to inspire and encourage. Although initially made during the 1940s the poster resurfaced during the 80s and was later used for a lot of feminist causes.

Week 8 – Authenticity

This image of Martin Luther King Jr was taken during the African-American Civil Rights Movement. It is a good example of an authentic photograph in history as it is one that has been documented so many times and has no digital imaging, enhancement or manipulation. As Martin Luther King Jr was a very famous historical figure he was photographed a lot in his time, especially during the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Therefore the only controversy that would have surrounded his pictures could have been the message that was coming across as a result of these images rather than the way in which they were actually taken.

 

This picture represents the unrealistic aspect of photography. On the left we can see the original photo pre-Photoshop and on the right we can see the end result post-Photoshop. This type of digital manipulation has caused a lot of up roar especially lately in the media as it is an unrealistic depiction of ‘beautiful’ and is sending the wrong message to young girls about body types and body image. The fact that models are being Photoshopped to look a certain way that doesn’t depict the truth causes a lot of controversy amongst many.

Week 6 – Terry Barrett’s Types of Photographs

Ethically evaluative photographs are photos that raise awareness of a certain ethical or social issue. Photojournalism usually comes under Ethically evaluative photography as photojournalists tend to reveal truths or document different events through their photos, which can sometimes be confronting. Terry Barrett said “Ethically evaluative photographs make moral judgments, take political stances, promote social causes, and are often passionate pleas to right wrongs. This photo is a good example of Ethically Evaluative photography as is documents a time in history that was a social and ethical problem, that for many strikes confronting emotions.

 

Interpretive photographs are just as the name suggests, open for interpretation. The artist may have had a certain idea or message behind the work when creating it but when the viewer sees the work, it is up for interpretation by anyone and could have different meanings to different people depending on who sees it. Interpretive
photographs are usually fictive, poetic, and metaphoric and can use actors, models, or situations directed by the photographer. This photo is a good example of Interpretive photographs as it could have any number of meanings depending on who views it and was obviously directed by the photographer to get a certain desired effect or message.

 

Week 4 – Gestalt Portrait

This image of a mans face was made up by buttons, safety pins, paper clips and pasta. First I made the head shape by using mostly white buttons. By adding similar colours to white into the mix it gave the head a more textured and toned look. I then added glasses using buttons and safety pins and other facial features such as pasta eyebrows, black button ear rings and a moustache made from all different sizes of black buttons. Finally I added three red paperclips to make a mohawk and bent some white ones to make a bow tie. This idea of making faces from other objects came from Gestalts theory of perception and how the brain can recognise pictures, for example faces, as a whole rather than seeing their individual parts first, the buttons.

 

Week 3 – Point of View

Aperture: f/25 | Shutter: 1/250 | ISO: 400
This front view was probably the easiest to shoot. I actually took this at the very start along with my test shoots while I was trying to get the lighting right. When I saw how the dark background forces you to focus on the statue itself and how good the contrast between the dark background and the highlights of the face and body worked well together I decided to keep these similar camera settings for the whole series. The plain colours and soft tones create a calm and relaxed feeling for the overall photo.

Aperture: f/22 | Shutter: 1/250 | ISO: 400
In this photo the mood changes by only a slight movement and positioning of the camera. By angling the camera to look slightly above the statue it gives a sense of power or importance. When I first took this picture I didn’t like the shadow on the statues face as it was caused from me standing in front of one of the flashes but the longer I looked at it the more I started to like this look and the more it started to look premeditated. In the end I think the shadows casting on the statue make for good suspense and gives the overall photo a more dramatic feel to it.

Aperture: f/22 | Shutter: 1/200 | ISO: 400
In this one the mood changes again. For this angle I get the feeling of praying, as if whatever is going on in front of the statute he is in prayer. I think I get this feeling because we are looking from behind and cannot read his facial expressions so there is room for interpretation.

Aperture: f/14 | Shutter: 1/200 | ISO: 400
I like this angle the best, as you are still able to see the whole statue but from a completely different point of view than any other. The fact that he is a religious figure and the amount of reflection in the picture gives the sense of walking on water. For this picture I tried many different ways of capturing the reflection but I found that by including from the feet right down to the top of the reflection it was easier to distinguish where he really started and the reflection began. I think by doing this it made for an overall more effective look.

Aperture: f/14 | Shutter: 1/200 | ISO: 100
This photo shows a completely different point of view. Looking above makes the statue seem a lot smaller than what it really is. The dark tones and small amount of highlights on the statues face again makes the scene very moody, it gives of a calm and relaxing vibe, but what makes this point of view feel different from the others is that this one seems slightly mysterious also.