Final Evaluation

Image from Discussion of exam paper blog post.

When originally looking at the exam paper, I really struggled on what topic to explore. However, after looking into a couple of different ones- Manufactured Structures and Everyday objects, I discovered that I may find that everyday objects may become tedious for me to complete a whole project on. So therefore, I decided to commence my project on manufactured structures. The exam paper massively helped steam the framework of my preparatory shoots, thus leading on to my exam project. For example one of the key terms on the exam paper that stood out to me was Architectural facade-  The building is often the most important aspect from a design standpoint as it sets the tone for the rest of the building- it's as if the front of the building is the face of the entire building, when looking at the front of the building you are able to build up a mental image of what  the rest of the building looks like- from inside. This then gave me an idea of experimenting with different churches within Waltham Abbey. My initial shoot ideas consisted on; Churches, old houses, war structures, historic remains, shops and pubs and then finally “before and after”. If you were to look at my final pieces on my preparatory unit alone, you can see that the initial ideas were not consistent across my project. This is because when conducting the project, I decided not to use certain ideas because some of them were not approachable. For example, I was going to allocate a whole shoot just on war structures which would have meant a visit to Waltham Abbey 

Image from Unit 2 shoot 6.

Gunpowder Mills, which in the end I never ended up conducting because alongside having to have the time to go when it was actually open was quite hard because the availability was restricted but also when I thought about the final images which I could gain, they wouldn’t have been very successful because it would have been behind a fence and I would have been able to position the framing as I would like to. As the project progressed, I focused on not only the Architectural aspect of structures but also the term of a Facade that symbolically has the meaning of a decepted outward appearance- this term therefore helped the framework of my houses and shop front shoots. This is because it showed me the symbolic meaning of structures that is doesn't matter how "pretty" or "nice" the outside of a building looks like, the inside could be completely different. 

Image from Lewis Baltz- Discussion of exam paper and
photographer research blog posts.

Image from shoot 3
on exam shoot

As a whole, my photographer research and research log was very useful in helping the creation of this project. For example, Lewis Baltz was one of the key photographers that helped influence my work. Firstly, I discussed his work in my exam paper discussion and then completed a detailed photographer research on his work. In my research, I learnt how his work was included in the group called the New Topographic, which defined the work of photographers with very similar aesthetics with the composition of head on, and the simplicity in editing through black and white. This project also taught me how Baltz’ work was also inspired by different painters which I find is quite clear in certain images. Examples of how Baltz has helped influence my work from the preparatory shoots include my houses shoot- a head on approach including the front stretch of the house, making it much more appealing for my audience than just a standard house. Then continuing on Baltz’ work rolled over to helped complete my exam shoots because I took the experimentation of his work style in my test shoots to complete my shop exam shoot. The image I have shown here, I find very useful in 

Image from William Eggleston in Unit 1 blogger research,

displaying how my work was influenced by Lewis Baltz but, I also believe that I have been able to take my learning from my photography course as a whole- from AS all the way to now as I have learned a variety of different famous photographer who's work I keep in the back of my mind. For my image here especially, when I went out and conducted this shoot, I saw these two doors together and I automatically found symbolism which has also been used in the work of William Eggleston.

Image from Jason E. Powell shown in my research log post.

Moreover, photographers such as Jason E.Powell combined with the style of Bernd and Hilla Becher massively helped influence my work of my Old Vs New shoots in both my preparatory shoots and my exam shoots. I found the test shoots really successful in teaching me the technique of how to approach this idea. For example, the work of E.Powell included holding up the old image directly and taking a photo of the photo with the rest of the location surrounding the frame, however, I attempted this outside the shoots before actually conducting any of the shoots and struggles with it because there was too much I had to focus on. Therefore, I produced shoots of images that were edited next to the old images- directly showing the difference. I then used Bernd and Hilla’s work to help blend these images together because I wanted to make my “new” images, very similar to the older ones in terms of the editing style. Therefore their work continued to help me in my exam shoot because during my test shoots I came across different techniques which did not work, for example the use of a tripod in my test shoots was unsuccessful because I struggled to get the same height and angle as the original photo; therefore in my exam shoot, I deiced not to use a tripod for my new Vs old shoot as it was 

Image from Shoot 2 on exam blogger.

much easier to complete similar images with a hand held camera instead. Furthermore, through experimentation I discovered different ways of editing to help my creation of the final pieces. An example of this is that to start with, I tried to recreate the colour edit from the older image onto the newer image, which I found very unsuccessful because the old images were different colours that were quite hard to recreate through Adobe PhotoShop and was therefore not happy with that outcome. Therefore when I came to editing my work in my exam, instead of doing this, I made them all black and white- making the old one the same style of black and white as my new photo as apposed to tea stained. Furthermore, to make as equal photos as possible, my experimentation in my test shoots showed me that in my exam shoots, I should place the images on top of each other, lower the opacity and then aline the photos. This had a much more successful result. As shown in the image here of my image, I think it is clear how my work was influenced by Jason E. Powell but also when looking at the editing I think it has very successfully highlighted my influence of Bernd and Hilla.

Image from Vivian Maier from my
photographer research in unit 1
of AS photography

Image from Robert Adams from
photographers research in A2 unit 2
blogger.

Furthermore, an aesthetic in which I found successful when completing my test shoots was the use of framing in an image. Framing in a photo was an element which I learnt in the first unit in the first year (AS Level) which I hadn't really touched upon since last year. However, as a whole, I found this aesthetic when combined with the aesthetic of a "straight" head on composition of an image really successful because it was almost as if my work was creating doors into the other world. Originally, I completed this in my first shoot in my test shoots and approach this element purely through coincidence however found it worked really well so therefore decided to use this style when completing my exam shoot. Moreover, I believe this therefore shows how the work in my first year was helped influenced and has extended the worked of everything I have learnt during my photography course because I used the famous work of Vivian Maier. Maier's work also links with this unit of work of Manufactured Structures because within my photographers research I researched the work of Robert Adams (another New topographic photographer) who in some of his work also captured framing in a  photo which I found really interesting and successful- this is because it gives the audience more depth to an image, they are given the main meaning of the structure but then if you look deeper into the image you are presented with something else, as if it was a completely different image. When you look at my image shown here, I think it is very successful in showing two things. One is how my photographer research helped the creation of my final project in my exam shoots. Then a second factor which I believe this image presents is how my test shoots have successfully influenced my final shoots for my exam because if you look on my component 2 blog of my preparatory shoots, I created a very similar image which I found really successful so I decided to revisit this location for my exam shoot. Moreover, I decided to improve on the image in my test shoot by extending my exploration further through interlinking the work of Henri-Cariter Bresson who's work was useful in my unit 1 of my second year of photography, of the decisive moment that if I were to have taken my photo a moment later, the subject shown walking between the two trees would no longer be in the same position.


In the section of the manufactured structures, the exam explains a variety of different photographers such as Andreas Gurskey and Lewis Baltz whom carefully frame their images using a similar composition across their whole series of photos. I believe this is one of the main factors of the exam paper in which displays how I have successful responded to the topic that I have chosen. Moreover, I believe I extended the work on the examples given because I gave it my own interpretation for example using symbolism in showing structural facade and personification of buildings- shooting a series of shop fronts and doors. As a whole I believe I have been able to successfully gain a strong final series of images in this project through the help of photographers such as Baltz and Gurskey. Across this project I believe the strongest part is how I was able to incorporate work from my entire course of photography- using influence from work I learnt in AS level but also across this second year. When looking at all three of my shoots, I believe my shoot three of doors and arches was my strongest series of images because as already mentioned I believe these gain the most symbolism but also show how my research across my project has helped the creation of my work. If I were to have more time to improve this project and it were forceable, I would like to extend my project further than Waltham Abbey, using other towns that are seen as historic and capture known buildings there- this way I believe the images would still interlink because I would be capturing in the same style as the photos shown here though there would be more death and it would be more representative- generalisable across the world. 

Final Pieces

https://34ferndisney56.wixsite.com/examfinalpieces

For my final pieces, I wanted to display them on a website which I have created. This is because I think it is much more of a professional way of presenting my work. When you open the website, you are able to expand each image and move across to see what images I have decided to include in my work. On a couple of images I have explained why I have chosen them on my final pieces and what photographers work influenced me to create these pieces. Although this is explained in much more detail on my final evaluation.

Personally, as a whole I believe my final pieces clearly display how my preparatory shoots helped influence my work because it showed me what aspects of this project worked and what didn't- for example focusing a whole shoot on Waltham Abbey's ruins wasn't that successful, although images that showed framing in a photo were successful so I decided to combine that with pictures of doors. Furthermore, I think these final pieces are also relevant in displaying the research which I completed to create this project because the New Topographics movement photographers such as Lewis Baltz highly influenced the composition and framing of my photos- in a head on style. This is because I found this style much more aesthetically intriguing for my audience to look at.

Physical Experiments

For my physical experiments, I decided to only complete one, this is because for my test shoots, I created one similar to this through experimentation and I think it was very successful and therefore I wanted to show it in my exam shoot. To complete this task, I printed out two images, the new image which I shot and the old image which I found online, I then placed the town images on top of each other and ripped them in different ways, then I placed them on a piece of paper deciding what parts to use from my image and what ones to use from the old image. the key part of this image which I wanted to show the difference with is the road in the foreground- the old image reveals a dirty "track" which leads to an empty field, then if you look on the newer part, there are traffic lights, this is because this road is now a very long road with lots of houses on and this junction is actually very busy now- thus showing how societies have massively changed.

Computer Experiments

1.

This is my computer experiment that I have decided to complete for this project. This is the combination of the two images as shown on the left and right. I think this is an interesting way of showing the new and old lifestyle. For example, I have added cars to the older image because it is clear that in the there wasn't many cars around in the time that the original image was taken. Although I wanted to keep the bus sign in the image because it shows that even though it doesn't appear to be, this is actually a road, it is just so empty- something that wouldn't be heard of nowadays. 

The creation of this computer experiment was quite simple. Using the lasso tool, I selected around the areas in which I hoped to keep and then, because I didn't want the contrast to be too much in the difference, I clicked 

Select, Refine Edge...

Then when the drop down opened, I moved the smooth and feather slider higher, this meant the selection around the new/ old image wouldn't be a sharp difference.

2.

Collage. I decided to use this as one of my computer experiments because as shown on the image on the left, one of the main ways in which Bernd and Hilla Becher presented their work of the same/ similar structures, they placed them on the same canvas- which is what I decided to do here. The reason I choose these two particular images was because I thought they linked together the best in my door shoot- there were right by each other. I didn't think this technique would have worked the same if I had used doors which were completely different.

3.



For this computer experiment, I decided to use the selection tool, then inverse the selection and make it black and white- selective colour. I believe this is symbolic and links to my project really well because it shows how the framing element of this image could be a completely different image, a different story. My reason behind making the wall black and white was to highlight the historic aspect of it. The wall here is very old and is the key element to this photo, yet then the historical aspect is continued over through looking at the tree- due to the grand scale of the size, it is clear that it is too very old, just not as old as the wall itself.

4.


To complete this image. I placed the new image on top of the old image and using the rectangular marquee tool, I selected random selections and deleted them to reveal the older image. I decided to use these images for this experiment because of the qualities of both images are quite similar as I decided to screen shot the newer one giving it the distortion which the older image has due to the technology/ camera used. When you first look at this experiment, it can look quite confusing although if you pay more attention to it, you can clearly work out what the old image is and what the new image is. The main difference between these two locations is that originally the church was surrounded with gravestones, although now there isn't as many shown here, there is the occasional one, one of which is believed to be King Harold's grave. The reason behind the church yard no longer being filled with graves is due to the destruction caused within World War 2, as the church and the Waltham Abbey Gunpowder Mills were both targets they got destroyed through bombings and I though this was really interesting context to include when presenting these images.

5.


For this experiment, I wanted to create a Sepia toned effect however, through different experiments just playing about on photo shop during my preparatory shoots I found a different way of gaining the effect which I came across accidentally. Using the "Levels" drop down effect, I used the middle pipet which I normally use to white balance the image and then I clicked on the whitest part of the image and this made the image gain a warmer tone. Then using the sponge tool, I dragged it around the whole image and that lowered the saturation in those sections which I think worked really well. Even though I believe this is successful and complies with my topic, I do not think I will use this as one of my final pieces because I believe it would stand out too much as it isn't in black and white.

6.


To create this joiner of the combination of new and old images I opened both photos in PhotoShop. Then I used the keyboard shortcut of command R to open up the rulers and equally measured out sections on each photo. Then using the Rectangular Marquee tool I selected each section highlight by the rulers and used to keyboard shortcut of command C to copy and then opened up an new empty document and typed command V to paste that section, I then followed this routine until I had all the sections of each images on this document. I then alined the parts together deciding what parts to use from the old image and what ones in the new image. Then when the image was completed together I went back to the rectangular marquee tool and randomly selected sections to delete, this is because it makes it look much more like a joiner as there are parts missing.

Shoot 3- Doors and arches; Work Record

Plans for the shoot, What I hope to achieve:

For this shoot I aim to capture images in the similar style of the work by Andreas Gursky, this is because his style of composition really stood out to me when I done my research for my preparatory shoots. My main aim for this shoot will be to capture images of door and arches. This is because this will be a combination of two shoots that I conducted during my preparatory shoots that I found really successful in displaying my ideas for this project, displaying the historic factor whilst capturing buildings and structures in Waltham Abbey. Therefore, in this shoot, I hope to achieve similar images to the work that I conducted in my practice shoots alongside incorporating the work that I found would be better if- for example in my shoot of ruins (I will be using this as inspiration for the arches part of this shoot) I discovered that a portrait framing was very successful as the use of framing helped me frame the actual arch way. Furthermore, I discover that the locations in which I use are very important in the creation of my work- not to use places that are in the shadows because they might end up appearing flat and not create a very interesting photo. Furthermore, I have planned that this shoot also works alongside photographers such as Lewis Baltz (who is discussed in this section of the exam paper) and Bernd and Hilla Becher, both of which are part of the new typographics. I think this therefore shows the important of this movement because the photographers who were including in the new typographics are mentioned throughout my research.

This is a google maps screenshot of the route I have planned to take for this shoot, the circles are places in which I intend and aim to go to to take photos at. This is a combination of places in which I went in my test shoots but also other places which I have discovered since starting and researching for this project.

What I actually achieved:

As a whole, I believe this is my strongest image within this shoot. I find that this image clearly shows my plans and aimed for this shoot because this is one of locations I went to in my preparatory shoots and took a very similar image to this one. Although I find that this image actually develops on from my work in my test shoots because I believe I can incorporate the work of Henri-Cartier Bresson as this image conforms to his definition of the decisive moment because in the background of this image I have captured two tree trunks and in between them, I have captured a passer by which I find is really intriguing because if I were have taken this image just a moment later the person would have either been behind the other tree trunk or the other side of the tree, or just not in frame at all. Furthermore, I find that this image is really successful in complying with my aim for this whole project because I have managed to capture the some history in the creation of this image. For example, I have used an arch to frame around my image which is actually a wall that was originally build to protect the Abbey Church hundreds of years ago. Furthermore, I find that this image captures the a key use of texture just signifying the age of the wall. Another reason why I decided to revisit this location for my exam shoot is because I find the use of arches framing my image really interesting, this is because it is almost as if I have edited two different images together- the image of the wall but also the image of the tree in the middle. I think that image can resemble the work of Vivian Maier because even though she isn't a photographer that I have included in my research of structures, I still believe the use of framing is very similar and can be transferred over to my work. Furthermore, I do believe that I have successfully captured an image which resembles the work of photography Andreas Gursky as mentioned in my plans for this shoot because of the composition.

This is another image in which I find has successful captured my aims for this shoot. Firstly, I wanted to included this in my work dairy because I believe it can convey deeper symbolic messaging much like the work of William Eggleston. This is because the paint of each door is something you would have seen in America 50 years ago, suggesting a separation between ethnicity. I also find this a very strong image within this shoot because I think it has been successful in displaying my aims of focusing on the composition of the images- making images head on. Some people however may look at this image and believe that it doesn't show any historic aspects- which is what my project is about- Although when you look at the context of this image I find it very successful in displaying my hopes for this shoot. Moreover looking at the symbolism work that is helped conveyed through Eggleston, this is a photo of on of the oldest pubs in Waltham Abbey which I think is shown here through the style of the windows- the classic pub windows. Furthermore, I find the context important for my audience to know/ understand why I have included this image, this is pub which is a very good example of a "typical working-class pub", a pub where people would go after work and watch the football. In terms of the structure it self, I believe this image has successful captured and shown the influence of photographers work such as Lewis Baltz showing the arch ways of the door in the main centre of the frame.

I believe that this is my weakest image in this shoot because I do not think it works well in the series of the other images which I have used in this shoot. I also do not think it works in terms of capturing doors and arches because it is actually a gate that hides the bins. I thought this was going to be a good idea to include in my project because it is quite run down and looks quite old. However I believe it captures a different type of rundown in comparison to the other two images shown in this work record alone. Furthermore, I believe that this has to be one of my weakest images in this shoot because I believe it is one of the images which don't show my plans and influence of this shoot as much as the other images have. I think if I were to have re done this shoot, I do not think I would improve this image as such, I juts wouldn't take an image of this location because I juts do not think it was successful. Moreover this, I find the location quite weak in helping me portray my aims of composition, the surroundings weren't directly reflective which I believe is important when taking photos such as this project because it then makes the final image of a head on photo much more interesting and aesthetic for my audience to look at.

Shoot 3-Doors and arches; Straight Images

Editing Technique:

Due to me wanting as closely related images as possible, I have decided that throughout my shoots I will be using the same style of editing on the images in which I shoot (obviously the second shoot editing has varied a little). So to display work similar to the work of photographers who have influenced my work, including Bernd and Hilla Becher, the main source of editing will be putting all of my photos in black and white.

This is because I find this most successful in complying with my work. I am doing manufactured structures but incorporating it with the historic aspect of Waltham Abbey. I believe if I were to leave them in colour, the images appear too new and to me that created an irony which I didn't want to include- I was focusing on history but adding the modern day using of colour technology.

Furthermore, much like the other shoots, the other style of editing I have used to edit the following images is the use of curves so that my final products have contrast and are not "flat" but have contrast.

As already mentioned, the final series of images in which I intend to capture is a head on composition which some images did not so I used the editing tool of cropping to readjust the alinement.

Camera Settings:

Focal Length: when completing this shoot, I didn't find that it was necessary for me to have the same focal length for each image because the aspects in which I was focusing on were all different sizes so I would have to change the focal length to adjust it depending on each structure.

F.Stop and ISO: Much like the other shoots, I kept the f.stop and ISO the same this is so that my final images would be as similar as possible. My reason behind these particular settings is that I wanted a long enough ISO so that I have a smooth and clear image and a low F.stop.

Shutter speed: As I was keeping my ISO and F.stop the same to help the images suit the lighting of the different changing weather, I changed the shutter speed, if there was more light I needed a faster shutter speed this is so not as much light is exposed to the lens.

Shoot 3- Doors and arches; Contact Sheet