Project Special processing

Exercise: Selective processing and prominence


For this exercise I have experimented with a photo I shot while covering assignment 2.

to make the person more prominent i used some colour poping techniques to first bring out the foreground and secondly bring out the background. I'm not completely convinced by the overall effect, maybe a more suitable subject may have reflected a slightly better outcome. A useful exercise anyhow.

Project A matter of balance

Exercise: Balancing figure and space

By the time I have Finished this module I am sure there will be talent scouts all over the country rushing to sign up my good friend Andy, who has been a willing Guinea pig for may of my shoots.
Anyway back to the subject at hand, Balancing figure and space.

The location for this was Leeds town hall, I chose this location for its variety of architecture in which to shoot in and around,

I tried shooting Andy in a number of locations around the town hall and in the end opted for the lions on the steps.

I particularly like the second shot with the Lions gaze trained on Andy, and in-turn Andy looking at the camera.

Balancing figure and space 1

Balancing figure and space 2

Project People-unrecognisable

Exercise: Making figures anonymous


I have seen many images of a very similar picture that reminded me of this particular scenario, the image is that of a single person stood perfectly still on a train station concourse, with blurs of people moving around them. This is what prompted me to experiment with a similar location. I believe the shot that i have seen previously was one of the old grand railway stations in London, unfortunately I was not going be able to reproduce the same shot at Leeds railway station as the architecture and layout did not lend itself to that particular shot. However I achieved a few interesting results, which ultimately fulfilled the criteria for the exercise.

I am however very keen to reproduce the shot I have seen in magazines and when time and location allows will en devour to complete it for my own personnel satisfaction.

Making figures anonymous 1

Making figures anonymous 2

Making figures anonymous 3

Making figures anonymous 4

Project, Quiet Places, Busy Places 2

Exercise: Busy traffic

Busy traffic 1

Busy traffic 2

Project, Quiet Places, Busy Places

Exercise: A single Figure small

A single Figure small 1

A single Figure small 2

A single Figure small 3

Photographer Profile

Jim Mortram - Market town

 

 

I first came across this documentary photographer  while browsing the pages of the metro whilst on my way to work. I was instantly struck by the raw power of some of his images. The aim of this three year project was to delve into the lives of people that live alongside him in Norfolk.

The pictures portray real life, nothing staged or set which is quite evident when browsing some of the images. From the article it was quite apparent that during the Market Town project Jim went on a journey that ultimately brought him closer together with his local community. One of the most fascinating insights is that of Simon, a man living with epilepsy, although some people may find the pictures quite disturbing there are genuine real life situations that happen all around us that if not for talents such as Jim Mortram would be confined to hushed wisp as and quiet conversations.


Simon

The main body of Jim's work can be found here, This is a photographer well worth a look.

Small town inertia

Last wedding of the year

I can now breath a big sigh of relief, I have just completed my 4th wedding this year. The wedding was that of Neil and Liz, I have known Neil for around 4 years he is a friend and colleague who asked me to photograph his wedding last year.

As with all the weddings I photographed this year all but one of the couples were known to me, but I tried to get out as much as I could from each experience building on the knowledge and some mistakes of previous weddings to try and produce the best set of images I could on the day.
I have certainly learned some valuable lessons along the way, the most important being KEEP CHECKING YOUR SETTINGS. These are not situations you can go back and shoot at your leisure. they have to right first time. Luckily as this mantra kept rolling round my head there were only ever a handful of shots that could not be rescued.

The location of this particular wedding was in the village of Oxenhope  nestled in the West Yorkshire pennines, followed by a reception at an historic Jacobean Manor house located in Halifax from the 1600's.

As with all the venues I shot at this year  a certain amount of homework was required to establish best places for photograph, what the bride and groom were looking for as well as setting there expectations. Without this groundwork I would have certainly come unstuck.

One thing I wasn't prepared for this year was just how much time all of these would take up, what with theses weddings and a fair amount of foreign travel with work my OCA work consequently has had to take a back seat for a couple of months.

I'm not sure yet if I will take on any more weddings, it has been enjoyable and invaluable experience, but massively time consuming also having to take into account a full time Job and family to entertain as well.

A selection of images from Neil and Liz's wedding can be found below.