Photographs

David Bailey Photography

David Bailey is a British photographer born in 1938. In the late 50’s he became a photographic assistant at the John French studio, and in May 1960, he was a photographer for John Cole's Studio Five before being contracted as a fashion photographer for British Vogue magazine later that year. Along with Terence Donovan and Brian Duffy, he captured and helped create the 'Swinging London' of the 1960s: a culture of high fashion and celebrity chic. The three photographers socialised with actors, musicians and royalty, and found themselves elevated to celebrity status. Together, they were the first real celebrity photographers. Wikipedia

I very much like the photography taken by David Bailey and feel it to be very influential. The model is posing, and the photograph is heavily constructed. The model appears to be very confident in front of the camera just my friend Fay is. In particular I like the composition of the photograph, the model fills the frame from head to waist yet as a view I personally am drawn to her face.

August Sander

August Sander was a German portrait and documentary photographer. Sander's first book Face of our Time was published in 1929. Sander has been described as "the most important German portrait photographer of the early twentieth century. During military service, August Sander was an assistant in a photographic studio in Trier; he then spent the following two years working in various studios elsewhere. By 1904 he had opened his own studio in Linz, Austria, where he met with success. He moved to a suburb of Cologne in 1909 and soon began to photograph the rural farmers nearby. Around three years later Sander abandoned his urban studio in favour of photographing in the field, finding subjects along the roads he travelled by bicycle. Man of the Twentieth Century" was Sander's monumental, lifelong photographic project to document the people of his native Westerwald, near Cologne, stating that we know that people are formed by the light and air, by their inherited traits, and their actions. We can tell from appearance the work someone does or does not do; we can read in his face whether he is happy or troubled," Sander photographed subjects from all walks of life and created a typological catalogue of more than six hundred photographs of the German people. Although the Nazis banned the portraits in the 1930s because the subjects did not adhere to the ideal Aryan type, Sander continued to make photographs. After 1934 his work turned increasingly to nature and architectural studies. - Wikipedia

August Sander’s work I find both influential and inspirational. Without being over constructed, over manipulated or in general just over the top he manages to photograph the natural human face as a portrait. His photographic collection is very effective and powerful and really makes you look and question the photograph. Whilst looking through August Sander’s work I noticed that a lot of his portraits although the subject is posed they show truth and realistically he is documenting the area and people surrounding him. I especially like the above photograph as it shows masculinity in its own right, I want to take all of my inspirations and interpret them using similar techniques when photographing Joe.  

Gina Chong and Chris Chong Photography

I very much like the photographic work of Gina and Chris Chong. I chose to feature there work in my blog as I find it influential. There collection or work photographing couples is what I intend to do for my shoot with Fay and Joe. As Fay and Joe are confident out going friends of mine my intentions were to get them to pose for the camera – not over pose as I don’t want that effect for my photographs. The photographs above I feel capture the beauty, trust and happiness from the couple – you can’t help but smile when you see them. I especially like the framing of the photographs – the subjects are always in the middle and the location out of focus, this works well as it makes the subjects being the couple the main focus. Once again these inspiring photographs aren’t over made up or heaving manipulated which was well in particular for this shoot as it doesn’t contradict the natural happiness and essence of the photographs. I intend and look forward to photographing using similar styles and techniques to Gina and Chris Chong.

Shoot 4 - Fay and Joe

‘When you find yourself beginning to feel a bond between yourself and the people you photograph, when you laugh and cry with their laughter and tears, you will know you are on the right track. - Arthur Fellig

To develop my assignment further and to get an insight into how to develop my photography work into a final series of photographs I have decided to do another photography shoot based on portraiture capturing my friend Fay Venetia Williams and her boyfriend Joe Mullarky. I have photographed Fay before and was thoroughly happy with my outcomes as Fay seemed immediately at ease and comfortable with the process, she was confident, comfortable and enjoyed the process and this came across in the images which communicated so perfectly the focus of the image taken – Personality and Fay’s confidence, self assurance, outgoing side, joy, care freeness, happiness – all key features of her personality, came through in the final outcome. Joe her boyfriend and close friend of mine is a very confident out going, self assured Rugby player. Together I just know that I will get some fabulous shots of them, showing not only there friendship but relationship. They have been together for over five years and I feel confident that this will become apparent in my photographs as they adore each other. I also intend on photographing them by them selves – just to expand the variety of shots taken.

Once again I have decided as this is just a minor project to act as a starting point for my development towards my final series of photographs. Therefore I am going back to my favourite location being Latchford Locks to photograph as I’ve successfully shot there in the past. The setting provides many features which make a perfect back drop for a constructed photo shoot. To make my photo shoot stand out and differ to previous shoots I have done there, I intend to go on a dull/cloudy day where these is no sun and use my reflector. This sounds silly when you first read it, however I want to photograph and experiment with the lighting, find out what works – by doing this I will get different photographs altogether with a different backdrop. I have found the lighting at Latchford Locks is key to the photographs you intend to take. If this is successful and works better then photographs with bright natural sunlight I may consider doing this again but at a different location.

'Tom & Laura Say I Do' Final Photographs

Julia Margaret Cameron

Julia Margaret Cameron (11 June 1815 – 26 January 1879) was a British photographer. She became known for her portraits of celebrities of the time, and for photographs with Arthurian and other legendary themes. Cameron's photographic career was short, spanning eleven years of her life (1864–1875). She took up photography at the relatively late age of 48, when she was given a camera as a present.  Although her style was not widely appreciated in her own day, her work has had an impact on modern photographers, especially her closely cropped portraits. Wikipedia

Although this photograph is not a Wedding Photograph by any means I find it very inspirational. Firstly I appreciate the close up cropped portrait resulting in a square photographic outcome. Secondly I like the composition, the flowers remind me of a wedding bouquet and in my head, I see them as a bouquet. The four subjects in the photograph I see as the bride, groom and parents. Of course this is only my imagination in my head, clearly the subjects in this particular photograph are females, however it is photographs like this from almost a century ago that can still inspire today. I especially like the way the subjects have been placed, although this photograph has been cropped, together the four females stand heads close creating a portrait shot. You can clearly see the emotion in the photograph, to me I feel as if the subjects look sad, there eyes all glancing in a different location gives of the impression that they feel uncomfortable, almost lost. Maybe they have lost someone? Maybe they are sad? It makes me wonder about the photographer’s intentions and what she was trying to capture. This is what I love about photography, the not knowing; when I look at this photograph I see a personal story, just like everybody else will create their own narrative.

Stacey Able Photography

Stacy Able Photography is modern boutique photographer based in Columbus, Indiana.

I very much like the photography work of Stacey Able – whist looking through her work I noticed that every photograph captures a moment of emotion whether it be laughter, love or happiness. Her photographs are narrative and tell the story of a wedding with a selection of photographs of guests, family, best man, bride’s maids and friends. Often the bride and groom don’t see a lot of there day, therefore wedding photography is very important and often what they relay on to get an insight of there day from a guests perspective. I find Stacey Able’s inspiring because I particularly like the contempary continues style she uses. Her framing in photographs to me is perfect, not to close to the face showing background and the wedding location but close enough to capture the joy and happiness emotions. I also like the way she manipulates her photographs – there not over powering or heavily made up but subtly manipulated giving a professional finish.

The ‘photograph is still, first and foremost for me a means of expression.’ Jean Moir  ‘Another Way of Telling’  John Berger – Chapter 2 ‘Appearances’

Shoot 3 - Tom and Laura say 'I Do'

 ‘Time will never stand still and those moments that bring us such joy become memories in an instant. To capture such a moment and record it forever is truly monumental.’ - Joshua Atticks

As part of my assignment ‘Research Blog’ I have decided to base one of my projects on a Family Wedding I am to shoot. It is an occasion I have been asked to photograph. The wedding is at The Church of St John Evangelist, a beautiful church with gardens, the photographic opportunity is endless.

To research my project, as the photographer of the wedding I intend to visit the church and look for areas where I’ll be photographing. On the day there will be pressure and there is no time for test shoots, so when asked to do a wedding I always visit the location and somebody to photograph – sometimes more than once. I’ll be looking at the entrance of the Church and working out where would be best to stand to photograph, I’ll be looking at the where the ceremony will take place. It’s important to know and have a plan in your head so you know where you need to be to get the best photographs for the family you are photographing, after all it is their day to remember and their ideas and wishes are paramount. I’ll also walk around the gardens and beautiful setting to see where would be best to capture the Bride, Groom and Guests.

To continue my research further I will also be undertaking a variety of research into various Wedding Photographers, this will help me learn and inspire me in so many ways. New photographers are always creating websites and personal blogs and I’ve found through personal research of my own and through assignment research you can always learn a lot from them. I’ll especially be looking at camera angles, lighting, ways of manipulation and different ways of which to photograph a Bride and Groom.

My cousin, the Bride to be and her husband have stated to me that they want natural unconstructed Photographs taken; they don’t want to be ‘over posed’ or acting for the camera. Wedding days are one of the most natural, happy days in the world spent with the ones you love and I for one believe that wedding photography should reflect that naturally. Their valuable day should not be taken up with roll calls and staged situations. Instead, I want to blend a combiation of happiness with a classic style to create an entirely natural, unique series of photographs that tell the complete story of their wedding day. 

Photographs according to Berger capture the present moment – so as viewers we are always looking at the past. A photograph shows ‘an instant of the past arrested’ ‘Another Way of Telling’  John Berger – Chapter 2 ‘Appearances’ page 86.

I intend be with the family and guests throughout their special day and capture every moment of it; from the bride getting ready before the ceremony, to the wedding car driving away after the reception and right up until the first dance of the evening. My aim is to please my family and especially my cousin the groom. All the things that make their day special will be captured and timelessly preserved.

Annie's Shoot - Photographs

As I now have an idea for my Portrait shoot, a location and model I have decided to research portraits once again using Flickr. One of the reasons I use Flickr as part of my research is because I especially enjoy viewing other photographers work as it gives me a better understanding of contempary ideas and it is a good source of inspiration or a starting point for my own work.

I came across the work of ‘Lighthack’ Unfortunately the name of the photographer remains anonymous without a blog, website or facebook page – however I find his work remarkable. Lighthack has written ‘I am a self-proclaimed photography hack. I'm not a pro, I've never taken any lessons and I haven't been taking pictures with a DSLR very long (about a year), but I really enjoy taking pictures, so I hope that my enjoyment comes through in my photos.’ When looking through Lighthack’s work I see the emotions captures, the photographs I have chosen to feature in my blog show confidence, personality, individuality all of which I intend to try and convey in photographs I am to take. I especially love the way Lighthack has edited his photographs – the contrast with focus of the subject and blur in the background gives of such a sticking effect. I especially like the colours within the photographs, as he has subtly changed them giving a ‘vintage washed out’ look yet contempary finish which works really well. Its something I have never done yet will do, experimenting on Photoshop using ‘Curves and Selective Colour’.

Jan Kocoviski

After a lot of thought and consideration I decided that for my subject matter I want to develop my idea focusing on capturing Personality and Identity through Portraiture style. I intend to communicate personality as the main focus. Therefore I have chosen to photograph my friend Annie Keating, a performer and dancer. I have photographed Annie before and found her wonderful to work with, because of her performing background Annie is aware of the camera and very confident resulting in good photographs. I want Annie to pose for the camera in order to communicate personality and individuality.

For my shoot after a lot of planning and thought, I have decided my location will be Walton Hall and Gardens which is a beautiful outdoor park with gardens and walk paths set in the Cheshire countryside. The photographic opportunity is endless and I am very excited.

I particularly like to work and photograph outdoors, however even with outdoor lighting, shadow can be a problem when capturing portraits. To modify or improve available light sources I will use my reflector. I’d never used a reflector before until last year on shoot and was very pleased with the outcomes from such a relatively simple low tech device so much so, every portrait shoot I now do – my reflector comes with me.

Continuously throughout the shoot I used the reflector to control the light source, either block light creating shadows on the face or to enhance the natural day light reflecting on the subjects face. In the future I will continue when necessary to use a reflector to enhance or improve the final outcome.

Jan Kocoviski

Jan Kocoviski's photography - insperation found on Flickr.

Jan Kocoviski

‘I am not a photographer by profession, but a photographer by passion.’ - Jan Kocoviski.

Jan Kocoviski is a creative commercial, beauty, portrait and fashion photographer working close to Frankfurt/Main Germany. His professional work is strongly affected by a combination of personal approach and delivering a highly professional product at the same time.

“Every shot conveys a style, an emotion, a passion. Jan and his team create a whole new story, almost ethereal air of life spiced with simplicity and ease. Special care is given to digital manipulation for an effortless look of luxury and sophistication.” - Jan Kocoviski. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jankocovski/with/4048790527/

Shoot 2 - Annie at Walton Hall Gardens

'A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he or she is being photographed.' - Richard Avedon 1933

As a starting point for my second set of photographs as part of my assignment I decided to undertake some primary research to gain ideas and inspiration. To help prepare and gain inspiration I used a website called Flickr. Flickr has been described as ‘almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world’. I’m in strong agreement. One of the reasons I used Flickr as part of my research is because I especially enjoy viewing other photographers work as it gives me a better  understanding of ideas and is a good source of inspiration or a starting point for my own work. There is so much on the net and Flickr is contemporary and exciting in the way it exhibits others work and gives an insight to the big world of photography and what is out there. It also helps with development of my own ideas and expression when researching a particular subject in relation to my own photographs. - www.flickr.co.uk

Shoot 1 - Four Film Final Photographs

Andrew on Film - 4 Photographs
Below are four Final Film photographs of my brother Andew.

Andrew is confident, outgoing and self assured in personality so when photographed I feel that natural un constructed shots work best. From past shoots I’ve noticed that it becomes apparent that when Andrew is aware of the camera he poses. Andrew almost plays up to the role of being confident when aware of the camera, so when unaware of my presence, it’s nice to capture him simply laughing or smiling when oblivious of the camera. I intend to develop my film practice and shoot Andrew using Ilford 400 Black and White film rolls.

Location for Andrew's Shoot

After walking around searching for the ideal location, I decided upon Latchford Locks.  The Manchester Ship Canal opened on New Year's Day, 1894. It is the eighth-longest ship canal in the world, (36-miles) only slightly shorter than the Panama Canal.

At Latchford the locks stop tidal action, and the canal is fed by the waters of the rivers Mersey and Irwell from that point to Manchester, only one of the locks is used on a daily basis.

I chose Latchford Locks as my location as I’ve successfully shot there in the past. The setting provides many features which makes a a perfect back drop for a constructed photo shoot. Because of the canal water and natural day light there is plenty opportunity to benefit and experiment with reflection and shadow.

Yousuf Karsh - Nelson Mandela



























Yousuf Karsh - Nelson Mandela

I chose to write about this photograph of Nelson Mandela, as I feel it’s one of the greatest photographs Yousuf Karsh has captured. I was drawn to the naturalness of the human face which is not over manipulated and adds the impact of the photograph. The genuine expression and natural smile captured from a worldwide classic icon that fought for human rights, I feel was Yousuf Karsh’s initial intention.  The emotion in this photograph is overpowering with joy, optimism, cheerfulness and has a strong sense of happiness and hope – you almost can’t help but smile yourself when viewing this photograph. I feel the black and white colour tones work well with this photograph, the lighting is subtle yet effective capturing and highlighting Nelson’s facial features, being the central focus. The subject has been posed and the photograph set up, Nelson and Yousuf could have even been in mid conversation when the photograph was taken,  however I believe the smile is an entirely natural expression captured superbly by Karsh at the perfect moment to convey to a viewing audience the genuine ‘person’ of Nelson Mandela.. In particular, I like the fact that the subject fits the full frame, I feel it works well and is a good way to draw the viewers in to the photograph empathising power and authority from such an iconic man such as Nelson Mandela.

Yousuf Karsh - Humphrey Bogart

  


Yousuf Karsh - Humphrey Bogart

I very much like this photograph of Humphrey Bogart taken by Yousuf Karsh. The subject looks like he’s in mid conversation, gesturing almost as if he’s oblivious to the photographer’s presence.  Yousuf Karsh captured a particular expression and gesture when photographing the subject. I personally feel that he was trying to capture a natural un-posed shot of the subject and that the gesture we see is a sympathetic gentle gesture showing honesty; however that is only my opinion. The question is, who was the subject communicating with? The expression on subjects face suggests questioning, with eyebrows raised. The subject holds a cigarette in his hand and wears a suit, shirt and tie. It could be said that this photograph shows a sense of wealth and power. Yousuf Karsh’s intentions are left to the imagination of the public, I feel this was deliberate. The lighting works especially well with this photograph, highlighting the features on the subjects face, contrasting against the dark back drop and shadow created.

Yousuf Karsh

My focus and main inspiration for shooting Andrew is Canadian Photographer is Yousuf Karsh. Research is important to me, it helps plan shoots, develop ideas, learn and experiment with inspirational iconic photographers.

‘Yousuf Karsh CC (December 23, 1908 – July 13, 2002) was a Canadian photographer of Armenian heritage,  and one of the most famous and accomplished portrait photographers of all time. Karsh’s parents sent Yousuf to live with his uncle George Nakash, a photographer in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Karsh briefly attended school there and assisted in his uncle’s studio. Nakash saw great potential in his nephew and in 1928 arranged for Karsh to apprentice with portrait photographer John Garo in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.’ – Wikipedia

‘There is a brief moment when all there is in a man's mind and soul and spirit is reflected through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the moment to record.’ - Yousuf Karsh

‘The revelation, if it comes at all, will come in a small fraction of a second with an unconscious gesture, a gleam of the eye, a brief lifting of the mask that all humans wear to conceal their innermost selves from the world. In that fleeting interval of opportunity the photographer must act or lose his prize.’ - Yousuf Karsh

‘I try to photograph people's spirits and thoughts. As to the soul-taking by the photographer, I don't feel I take away, but rather that the sitter and I give to each other. It becomes an act of mutual participation.’ - Yousuf Karsh

Ted Grant

Quote from Ted Grant

“When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes.  But when you photograph people in B&W, you photograph their souls!” - Ted Grant

Shoot 1 - Andrew on Film

‘There is a brief moment when all there is in a man's mind and soul and spirit is reflected through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the moment to record.’ Yousuf Karsh

As part of my assignment I am to undertake a variety of Photographic projects progressively developing into a final series of photographs.

I for the first time last year shot using a film Camera 35mm which I thoroughly enjoyed. At first I found it almost daunting as it was something I had never done before, I had previously always stuck to digital camera’s as I had never known to do otherwise, shooting digital was what I knew and what I felt I was good at. However this year I really want to learn more about the photographic film industry and the craft of photography I  propose to start to use both digital and film cameras as I feel they each serve a different purpose. Film and digital capture are completely different media. They are used for similar purposes, but they themselves are completely unrelated to each other. It may be easier, quicker and cheaper to get great results from digital, however final film prints have a distinctly different look to them.

I have decided capture and photograph my brother Andrew inspired by a variety of past and contemporary photographs. A lot of research and thought has been undertaken which I feel will help with my development and photographic outcomes.

Intentions

As part of my Assignment I am to produce a Research Blog developing and my critical and practical skills on the completion of a range of appropriate projects, producing a body of work gaining a sense of direction for my practice.

As my photographic work progressively develops, ideas will form about my subject matter and more shoots will be undertaken creating an awareness of the expectations for the area of industry I see myself working in.

The assignment I intend to undertake aims to build a body of work suitable for public exhibition or publication. I will continue to reflect of the development of my practice and consider the possibilities and practical issues around presenting my work.

Professional Practice

The creation of my blog is part of my module entitled 'Professional Practice' which aims to develop professional, practical and creative skills and enable students to undertake a Research Blog developing our ideas and photographic work through inspiration and influences from practitioners.

I aim to move away from the typical journal work book and create instead an online research journal, through a blog - documenting my thoughts, intentions, practitioners, research, photographs and personal development and interviews producing a case study; however this is the first blog I have ever made.