For the photography exam I have chosen to focus on the theme of reflection. A reflection is created when something such as light reflects from a shiny surface such as a mirror. I have decided to choose unusual objects which capture reflections which aren't always noticed. This will create interesting images which can be edited to alter the images.
Plan/Research;
Shoot 1; Mirrors
Worst;
This photo wasn't good because the mirror was damaged which created a blurred effect which caused the reflection to be distorted. The focus point wasn't set correctly which effected the quality of the grass in the image. Next time I will use an undamaged mirror and check the focus point before I take a photo.
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Best:
This is my best photo. I really like this photo because you can see the results of the under-exposure which has highlighted the branches in the reflection. The perfect exposure and focus point have made this a very bold and effective photo.
Shoot 2; Convex/Concave Mirrors
For my second shoot I will use a different type of mirror in different locations to try and capture reflections
Worst:
This is my worst photo because it's over exposed. My aim was to capture the reflection of the window with the added detail of the coloured tissue paper. However, the reflection of the window is out of focus which means that the reflection is blurred. I am happy with the colour from the tissue paper though.
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Best:
This is my best photo because it was taken in the art room which is an interesting background for my image. It included paint bottles and paint brushes which adds more colour and I chose to use an artistic focus because it is effective in this type of photograph. The exposure and focus point is perfect as the image is clear, everything is visible.
Research Photographers:
Peter Adams-Shawn
Australia-based photographer Peter Adams-Shawn is a self taught photographer, he is most known for capturing the reflections at weddings through guests’ eyes. He took his first “Eyescape” in 2011, and has been taking them consistently since 2014. I think he's an amazing photographer because he finds unique ways to capture reflections which make his images really effective. Here is his website:http://www.memoriesoftomorrow.net/perth-wedding-photography/peter-adams-australian-wedding-photographer-biography.asp
This photo is great, the reflection is clearly visible, the image is clear and the exposure is perfect. I like the whole idea behind the shot and how the rings have been put to use, you can see the bride and groom from the reflection on the ring. The place where the photo was taken is also good because it uses good natural light to enhance the moment captured in the reflection within the wedding ring.
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Like the photo above Peter has used reflections to take wedding photos. This photo shows a boy watching his parents getting married. I like the concept behind these photos because it makes you feel like your watching through someone else's eyes. Everything in the photo is perfect like the focus point and exposure. The reflection of the people is clear. This is a great photograph!
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Working in the style of Peter Adams-Shawn
I was inspired by the work of Peter Adams-Shawn and thought I would focus on using eyes as a focal point when taking photographs, looking at the reflections produced. I tried my best to capture the reflections with my camera.
Worst:
Best:
This is a good photo because I have captured the reflection of myself in the eye through the glasses. It looks cool as the lens of the camera looks like the eye pupil. The exposure and focus point was correct as I was able to take a clear photo.
This is my best photo because I have captured a clear reflection of the trees and the sky in my photo. The image captures the different shades of the clouds, which creates contrast within the image.
Evaluation:
I enjoyed working in the style of Peter-Adams Shawn as it allowed me to explore the different ways you can capture reflections. I managed to take some good photos which were unique and interesting.
Naoya Hatakeyama
Naoya Hatakeyama is a photographer from Japan, he is well know for his 'River Series' which is images of the city reflected in a river. His style of reflection photography is mostly based around Water so this is what makes him unique. I like his photos because he uses a variety of different colours by using city lights. To see more of his photographs visit this website:http://liliphotography62.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/reflection-photography.html
This is a great photo, it looks as though it has been taken upside down. However, I love the contrast of colours in the water from reflections of the lights and buildings. It seems as though the focus point has been placed onto the ripples in the river hence the reflections are blurred. This creates an effect as it merges the colours together.
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This photo shows a variety of colours, again the focus point has been placed onto the ripples. The colours from the lights are spread out. I like the angle the photo has been taken at as it is distorted. This makes you look at the picture in a certain way. The colours stand out as the background is dark.
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Working in the style of Naoya Hatakeyama
For this shoot I focused on reflections with water. I got some great ideas when looking at the work of Naoya Hatakeyama.
Worst
Best
This is my best photo, because I like the way you can see the reflection of the tree on the bottom and the real tree on the top. The focus point and exposure was great.
Evaluation:
This was an interesting shoot, it was hard to capture certain reflections in the water. Next time I will focus more on capturing movement such as ripples as well as reflections in water.
Daniel Kukla
Daniel Kukla lives and works in New York City, he has captured some fantastic images of natures reflections. Kukla's method for taking these photos is simple, he places big painter's easel outside surrounded by natural settings with a large mirror and capturing the reflections on the mirror. His photos are so extraordinary that they don't look real but like genuine paintings! To see more on Daniel Kukla's visit his website: http://danielkukla.com/The-Edge-Effect
This photo is amazing, I love the way he has captured the sunset and the mountains in the mirror. The dark background really helps the reflection to stand out, the exposure also helps the image to stand out, the depth of field is high for this photo as everything is visible, it's all focused nothing is blurred.
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This photo looks great, the contrast of colours works well in the image, the reflection in the mirror is darker than the background so it stands out, again the depth of field is large in this image, and everything is in focus. I really like the idea behind his photos, I will try to recreate them but with my own twist.
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Working in the style of Daniel Kukla
Daniel Kukla was my inspiration for this shoot, this is why I used a easel. I focused on taking photos outdoors.
Worst:
Best;
This is the best even-though it's a little over-exposed, I think the exposure creates effect and places more focus onto the reflection in the mirror. This was taken on a snowy day, I had to take it at a certain angle to capture the tree.
Evaluation:
This shoot was done in the style of Daniel Kukla, I enjoyed this shoot as the whole idea behind it was interesting and unique. Using the easel can really create effect, it's a useful prop not only to hold the mirror but also to create effect with the reflections.
Shoot 3: Cars
Most photos in this shoot will be of reflections from cars windows and wing mirrors.
Worst:
Best:
This is a great photo which was taken from a coach window, I've captured the reflection of the seats, curtain and the other side of the road. The road on the right hand side has reflected onto the left side windows. You can see the cars and traffic lights being reflected.
Shoot 4: Mini easel
My plan for this shoot is to use a mini easel with a mirror to capture reflections. I am working in the style of Daniel Kukla.
Worst:
Best:
This is my best photo because I have a contrast of light, the left side is bright where as the right side is dark. I've captured the reflection of the flowers in the mirror, I like the way it's very clear and how the bright yellow colour stands out.
This is a great photo because of the reflection, it makes you think it's glass because of the angle which I placed it at, it creates and illusion that the mirror is see through.
Shoot 5: Water beads
Worst;
Best:
This is the best photo because the reflection is in focus. The background is blurred out along with the other bead which makes the reflection stand out more. The exposure was perfect for this image as you can see clearly. The depth of field was perfect for this image as all focus is on the first bead.
Exam Prep:
These photos were taken as part of my exam, the reason why I've chosen to focus on flowers is because I love the variety of colours which come from them. I think they brighten up my photos.
The process: Photoshop
I didn't edit many photos, most of my images didn't need editing. I used Photoshop to add text, change the brightness of my images and add filters. I experimented with changing the opacity and lighting.
PowerPoint:
I made a PowerPoint to present my images, I used a variety of different transitions and animations. The reason why I wanted to make it was to show my work as a series of photos, however after I had made this I found that the PowerPoint did not show the true quality of my work and that's why I made a collage to go along with it...
Click below to watch my final piece PowerPoints:
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Final Outcomes...
In the images above you can see the reflections clearly in the Water beads and easels,this met the criteria as reflections was my chosen theme. My artist research gave me some very good ideas as to what I could've done for my final piece, I decided to create my own plan with certain elements from the photographers, it was my own idea to use Water beads in my shoots as it's something which I've never seen before, it's an original idea. I was inspired by Daniel Kukla to use the easel, it seemed like a good addition include.