Personal shoot 12 - Work Diary:

Personal shoot 12 - Work Diary

For this shoot i was again focusing on my documentary project, this was the last shoot that i decided to conduct for this. This time the subject for my shoot was my mum, the idea for this shoot was again to show some of the beauty products that she uses. I found that this shoot was harder to do as I was in a place that wasn't as well lit.

Progression:

This shoot is my least favourite from the 3, i think that there wasn't enough planning for this shoot and also the location of the shoot isn't the best. I found that many of my images came out over exposed and as a result were not of my best ability. When editing the images I decided to make them black and white, i felt that this helped to make them look less exposed and more professional. If i was to conduct this shoot again I would be more considerate of my setting as well as the lighting that I'm working with. 

The image above is an example of some of the beauty products owned by my mum. The composition of this photograph is something that could have been adapted to something that looks more attractive, however it is an accurate representation of the way that my mum keeps her products. I decided to keep this image in colour as i felt that it makes it easier to be able to look at the products and tell what they are. 

This is another image from my shoot, this concept is something that has been constant throughout my project, i've found that the angle of looking into the mirror is something that works well for the idea. For this image i decided to make it black and white. This make this shoot standout as its the only one that i decided to this for. 

Personal shoot 11 - Work Diary:

Personal shoot 11 - Work Diary:

For this shoot I was again focused on my documentary project. This time the style of photography was self portraiture as I was the subject for the shoot. Here I was photographing my own personal collection of makeup and the way that it is used. This shoot is a contrast of my pervious shoot as it is comparative between male and female. From my two shoots it becomes clear that females have a larger collection of beauty products. 

Progression:

This shoot was again kept simple, the only adjustments that were made were the aperture etc as i was shooting in a room that let in more light. Also for this shoot as it was self portraiture I was using a tripod to hold my camera as well as a timer for the images to be taken. I found shooting in this way to be quite simple and enjoyable as I was able to conduct everything in my own way and take my time. As a whole I am happy with the way that the shoot turned out as i think that it fits in well with my project and shows my photographic ability. 

These two images are examples of my work from this shoot. The image above is what I think is my best from the shoot. I think that in this image the lighting is well balanced, so as a result nothing is over exposed or too dark. I also like to the composition in this image as you can see my face in the mirror, the fact the you can see the whole reflection allows you to see what is happening in the image. I also like the angle which the photograph was taken, as you can see enough of the back of the head, but its not so much that the entire frame is taken up. 

The image below is my least favourite image from the shoot. One of the main issues i have with this image is the patch of light on my head. This light came from the large window that i decided to leave open, however i found that when the sun moved it meant that the lighting was becoming different in each of my images. Another thing that went wrong within this image is the composition, the amount of face that you can see in the reflection not as much as i had hoped for and the light bounces off of the mirror to make the image look over exposed. 

Personal Shoot 10 - Work diary:

Personal Shoot 10 - Work diary:

For my 10th shoot i started my documentary project. The aim for these shoots is to show different people with their beauty products, applying them and seeing what they use. This shoot is the only shoot in which i explore the male side to 'beauty'. For this I photographed my younger brothers products and him getting ready for school. This shows a different side to beauty as it is exploring the male aspect, something that i decided to not explore to throughly in my project. 

Progression:

The style of photography for this shoot was kept very simple. The only settings that were changed was the aperture, exposure and the ISO. By changing these settings I was left with images that used the appropriate amount of lighting, the best shutter speed, and a clear focus. As a whole I'm happy with the images that were produced as I think that the aim of the shoot was made clear. For the next aspect of this project I will focus on my own personal belongings and show this in my next shoot. 

This first image is an example of the products that my younger brother uses. The image shows the contrast in the amount as well as different types of products that are commonly used by boys and girls. The composition of this image works quite well as all of the items have a clear space and you can see the name and brand of each of them.

This second image is my favourite from the shoot. The composition of this image is more creative, as the image being taking from a low down angle adds a interesting aspect of depth to the image. The use of tone here also makes the image look more subtle. The reflection in the mirror is again a interesting angle for the image as your not looking at the subject directly but the their mirrored reflection. Also the fact that you can't see the whole face helps to make the composition more interesting. 

Personal shoot 9 - Work Diary:

Personal shoot 9 - Work Diary:

The aim for this shoot was to leave me with as may images as possible so that I could create a animation. This shoot was a re-shoot of shoot 2 where i photographed the different stages of Megan putting on her makeup. For this shoot i decided to do the same thing this time in the studio and then use the photos to create an animation. I felt that an animation would be an interesting way to demonstrate this idea and a way of contrasting with shoot 2.

Progression: 
This shoot was a follow up to a previous shoot, overall i think it was successful but some improvements could have been made. While i was happy with the images that were produced, while i was editing these together to attempt at making the animation i found that there was issues with the way that they were lining up. I think that if i was to recreate this idea i would be more precise with my shots. I would ensure that a tripod is used and that there is little if any movement between each of the images. 

(the animation can be found on my blog under the label 'animation')

Personal shoot 8 - Work Diary

Personal shoot 8 - Work Diary:

For this shoot I went on location around the area that I live. My aim for this shoot was to photograph beauty related items in weird and unexpected places. This idea would connect different styles as you have the style of beauty and makeup products contrasting with the different settings. I think that this shoot was an interesting concept as it is able to mix together different ideas as one. For this shoot I used natural lighting and my main focus was composition. As this was a more interesting and abstract shoot i felt that i had the opportunity to be a lot more creative and break some boundaries. 

Progression:

After this shoot i decided that i wouldn't be conducting a re-shoot as i have no other original ideas for the shoot. I feel like this shoot is able to so a new and fresh idea to some so variety with my project however it is not something that I wish to explore further. I am happy with how the final edits came out, although I decided to keep the over all edit simple i think that this was effective in this case as it means that the main focus is the style of the shoot itself and not the style of the editing. 

The image above is one of my favourite from the shoot, i think that the natural lighting compliments the photo as it doesn't look over exposed but you are able to clearly pick up the details in the trees as well as noticing the different colours in the pallet. I think that the composition here was interesting as its not a straight on view but from the side, this means that you getting a clearer view of the tree and how the makeup is sitting on it. I think that the blurred background is also effective as it shows how strong the focus is on the tree and the pallet. 

This image is again one of my favourite from this shoot. Here i think that the use of tone makes the photo a lot more interesting as it creates a sense of depth and helps to give the image a more dramatic feel to it. Here the composition helps to conform to this dramatic concept, the lower down angle allows you to see the whole of the bottle as well as the wall that its sitting on. This use of angle and lighting alongside the use of tone helps to make the image look as if it could be used for advertising due to how clear the image is and the spacing. 

Personal shoot 7 - Work Diary:

Personal shoot 7 - Work Diary:

For this shoot i went for a more personal approach and photographed the set up of my makeup. I think that this concept can show you an insight int a persons personality as you can see they makeup that they like to wear and the sort of colours that they choose. I think that this shoot went well as it gives a whole new direction to my chosen topic allowing me to explore new aspects. 

Progression:

After this shoot i will not be doing a direct re-shoot, however i will continue with the idea for a while as i think that this is another interesting topic to explore within style. I think that i can look at other peoples makeup and see how they choose to keep it as well as the things that they use. I could also do a shoot based around different peoples chosen makeup looks to see how they differ.

Above is an image of some makeup brushes on my makeup setup. I decided to do a close up of all the brushes to evidence the different colours and textures. I think that this was achieved by the way that the different textures of all the makeup brushes is clear as the use of high key lighting helped to pick up on this. The use of tone evidences the different colours in the image while giving the whole image a classic and subtle look. 

In this image i aimed to capture the other all setup of my makeup setup. I think that this image helps to show style as it shows someone who likes makeup and enjoys it as well as the way that they choose t  keep it. The fact that all of the different products haven't been arranged in a certain allows for some personality to one into the photograph as it is the genuine way it has been arranged. Here it think that the composition is effective as it isn't a direct straight on shot, but the slight angle makes it more interesting and adds more the image. The use of tone is also interesting as it makes the whole image look neutral and gives it a subtle effect. 

Personal shoot 6 - Work diary:

Personal shoot 6 - Work diary:

For this shoot i stuck to the idea of advertising but this time shot from home. I was using perfume bottles this time and photographing the different styles of them. I am happy with how this shoot came out as most of the images are what i had aimed for. I used my kitchen for this shoot and where i shot had large windows meaning that the bottles were well lit. I changed the composition a lot in this shoot choosing different angles for the different bottles to give each image something different. The natural background in the photographs makes them more interesting to look at but natural at the same time.

Progression:

Overall i am happy with how this shoot came out and think that it is one of my best shoots to date. I think that this shoot demonstrates and improvement in my technique and and advance meant with my project and i have taking advertising on further. For this reason i feel that a re-shoot is unnecessary. I feel that if i re-shoot this idea even with a different object i would just be wasting shoot that i could have used to develop new ideas and show new techniques. 

This is an example of one of my images that i think could be used for advertising. The composition of this shoot is interesting as it is at an interesting angle making the whole image look more interesting. I find the light in top corner of the image interesting as it makes one part of the bottle more lightly lit than the other. 

Personal shoot 5 - Work diary

Personal shoot 5 - Work diary:

For my fifth shoot i decided to do a re-shoot of my previous shoot. I was once again in the studio this time with a better background and better lighting. The overall aim for this shoot was to make my images look sharper and cleaner. I wanted to show an improvement in my work so for this reason i used a technique commonly used for still life, i used a lighting table to focus more directly on each of the products that i was photographing. 

Progression:

I think that this shoot achieved exactly what i want to do. This shoot came out looking better lit and more professional. Some of these images appear as if the could be used for advertising purposes due to the way that they were edited. For some of my images i changed the saturation or used tone to give a different effect to the image. I think that this worked well and evidences a development in both my techniques and my project itself. 

This is an example of my work from my re-shoot. This image is similar to one that i did in the first shoot, however this is is better composed and better lit. In this image the shadows are more apparent making the photograph more interesting. I also changed the saturation of the image making it appear darker but not black and white. I think that this makes the image look more interesting and more intriguing. 

This is another example of my work from my re-shoot. Here i arranged all of the makeup products coming out of the makeup bag and made them look as if they were spilling out. I think that this is an interesting concept as it changes the way that you can look at someones makeup items. The style here is the style of the makeup that is coming out of the makeup bag. It could also be the style of photography for the whole shoot as it is beginning to look like advertisements. For the editing of this image i again lowered the saturation however this time i didn't make it as dramatic and just created a light shadow with some muted colours. 

Personal shoot 4 - Work diary

Personal shoot 4 - Work diary:

For this shoot i decided to move to looking at the style of products and packaging. This shoot was completely studio based and i used studio lights to focus on my products. The aim for this shoot was to show the different styles of packaging that you can come across. This shoot also progressed slightly into looking at advertising as some of my images look as if they could be advertising that product. I kept my editing simple for this shoot just sharpening one of the images slightly and making sure that the lighting was as i wanted it. 

Progression:

I think that this shoot examples the beginning of a technique that i could advance further. While the overall technique is quite simple i think that if i take more time with my set up and advance my lighting slightly the whole shoot could improve. I think that with better lighting and setup the whole shoot could change and appear more professional. Therefore i am going to do a re-shoot, while i am happy with this shoot, the purpose of the re-shoot is to advance my technique and show some development with my shooting skills. 

The image above is an example of my work from this shoot. I like this image as i like the set up of the brushes and the way that they alternate colours. However i think that the composition of this image is slightly slanted making the image look off. I also think that the brushes themselves could have been better lit. The line across the middle of the frame should have also been considered when taking the photograph. If i was to shoot this image again i would take all of this into consideration to improve my work.

This image is another example of mine from this shoot. Personally I like the composition of the photograph. I like the use of depth as i think it adds something more to the photograph but you are still able to focus on the eyeshadows themselves. However i think that the lighting in this photograph is off as some of the colours in the eyeshadow palette look over exposed and to bright while others are not as clear. 

Personal shoot 3 - Work diary

Shoot 3 - Work Diary: 

For today's shoot i was based in the studio photographing my model wearing difference coloured lipsticks. The aim of this shoot was to focus on the why you can change a look with just one lipstick, essentially it was the style of lipsticks. For this shoot I was in the studio and used a strong light to make sure that my model was well lit. I wanted to make sure that she had clear definition in her face but still looked natural. I made sure to not over expose her while making sure it would be well lit when changed to black and white. For the overall edit i decided i was going to turn each of the photos black and white, and using the technique selective colour i kept the lips as the only piece of colour in the photograph. 

Progression:

Overall I think that the shoot itself went well, i found the lighting worked well for what i wanted to achieve and the overall setup was basic so that the model would be the main focus. However when it came to the editing i think that it could have been made cleaner. Looking back at the photographs now i think that some of them show lips that are not a natural shape and i think that this could have been improved upon. Taking this into consideration i have decided not to do a re-shoot, I am generally happy with the overall shoot, with a small minor part i could change. i think that a re-shoot is unnecessary as this shoot gets across the idea i was trying to achieve and this style of editing would not work with any of my other shoots. 

The image above is an example of one of the ones that i don't feel worked as well. When looking at her lips i don't think that the natural shape is clear and the look to drawn to me. I think that the lighting worked well and all of the shadows of the photograph are effective. The whole use of tone worked well as it simplifies the photos which is something that i had wanted to achieve. overall i personally think that the lips are what let this photo down. 

This image above is an example of what I feel is a more successful image from this shoot. Here i feel like the dark colour on her lips makes them look fuller and ensures that they are not lost in the photo. I also think that this example with the dark lip gives shows a clear contrast to the image above showing exactly what i intended to achieve with this shoot, which is the way that different lipsticks can change a persons look or style. Again i think that the use of tone is effective adding subtlety to the photograph and making it look clear and effective. 

Shoot 2 - Work diary:

Shoot 2 - work diary:

For my second shoot i decided to stock with the theme of beauty and makeup but this time look at the transition form no makeup to a full face of makeup. For this shoot i was again on location and based the shoot in my bedroom. I could not control the lighting however i am happy with the images that were produced and this that the changes in the face has been evidenced throughout the shoot. 

Progression:

For this shoot i decided to keep all of the images as straight images with simple use of editing. I think that this is a effective idea as it makes it easier to look at the differences after each piece if makeup has been applied. However i think that this style of shoot would  be a good type of shoot to use to to form a gif where you would be able to see the changes progress. For this reason i will be repeating this shoot at a later date and then creating a gif. 

This image above is the starting point of my shoot, it shows my subject without any makeup on and looking completely natural. There is no forced expression on her face nor a distracting background. The image is just left to be as basic as possible making the face the key subject. I think that this image shows a good starting point for my shoot as it clearly shows the beginning of the process. 

The image above is the last image that was taken for the shoot. This shows Megan's face once she has put on all of her makeup in her way showing her style of makeup. I think that this image is successful at showing the change in her face and how she choosing to where her makeup. I think that the over shoot was effective as it shows each individual change and how it changes her face. 

Multiple exposure - Work diary

Multiple exposure - Work diary:

In todays session we was learning a new technique called Multiple exposure. A multiple exposure is the submission of two or more exposures put together as one image. The result is effective and a interesting technique. I enjoyed this technique and i like the final result that is created. I think that if i can think of a way to effectively make this technique fit into my project then i will use to as i think its effective and easy to achieve. The ideas that i currently have is to photograph a makeup table with a mirror and then maybe put a photograph of someone with makeup on inside the mirror. I think that this would work with my project as makeup and beauty is an area that i would like to explore.

Above is an example of a multiple exposure, you can see the to different exposures that have been joined together. In this photo i like the use of the hands to cover the face as if she was trying to hide her face, but the use of this technique still allows the face to be seen. 

Below is another example of multiple exposure. In this image the two separate images have been joined together as one instead of being laid on top of each other. In this image you don't see the whole of the building nor do you see the whole head of the girl. I think that this is a successful multiple exposure as it looks clear and the aim has been achieved. 

The image below is my example of a multiple exposure. I think that my image was a good attempt at a more basic multiple exposure. However i think to improve on my work, attempting one like the image above would be more beneficial. 

slow sync and high key - work diary

Slow sync  and high key - work diary:

In todays session we was working on the technique slow sync.  Slow sync works with a long extended flash and slow shutter speed along with a movement that takes place during that flash. I found that the concept of the technique is quite easy, however i personally found that it was quite hard to think of movements to do that would show a effective slow sync photograph. 

Progression:

If i was to do this task again i would think about the images that i would be producing. I think that i would need to develop my ideas further to think about how i would like my final image to look. I think that in doing this i would be happier with the images that i produce and that they would be more effective and show a more developed idea of the technique. 

Above is an  example of slow sync, i think that this photograph examples this technique effectively as there is the part of the photograph that is well exposed and well lit, as well as the part of the photograph that is distorted and showing the movement that is being made.

The image above is another example of a slow sync photograph, the background is blurred and the light around the subject as been distorted. The subject being in focus helps to develop the technique by give the eye something to compare the movement to. 

Above and below are my attempts at slow sync photography. I think that the idea of what i was trying to achieve came across in the photo above as you can see the movement of the ball and where its traveling. However i think that the distortion of Lauren's face (on the left) lets the photo down as that would be the part of the image that i would want to keep in focus. 

I think that the photograph below is a better attempt as the parts of the photograph that i wanted in focus stayed that way, however in the photograph you can still see the movement yet they are not as defined as i had wanted. 

High key photography: 

In this session we was working on the technique of High Key, high key works with the use of lighting to define the subjects of your photograph. You generally have an all white background and use the lights t focus on the subject to get the photo a well defined as possible. 

Progression:
I enjoyed the session on high key as i found that it was quite easy to use and was a very simple but effective technique. I think that the photos that i produced worked well at demonstrating the technique, and i think that this technique could be something i continue to use during the rest of my project. I think that because my topic is style the technique will work well as it will be an effective way of demonstrating the different styles that i want to show.

Above and below are two examples of high key photography. In both the colours are all smooth and bright so that they stand out. The white background lets the two people standout without making them look washed out or pale. The effect also help to see all of the features of the face especially peoples eyes making the colours standout.

Above and below are my two examples of high key photography. I think that my photographs work because of the white background meaning that the subject stands out in the photograph. I like the way that the technique works to show the face and the clothes. I think that this will be a good technique for my project.

Shoot 1 - work diary:

Shoot 1 - work diary

For my first shoot i wanted to keep it simple and be a basic starting point for the rest of my project. For this shoot i was on ovation and decide to have natural makeup in a natural setting and just simply photograph it. Looking at the out come of the shoot, i think that there are some images that have come out quite well and are clear examples of beauty within the. The relation to my topic here is how the makeup is for the style of the person in the image and how it suits them. 

Progression:

If i was to shoot this same shoot again there would be somethings that i would change. I think that it may be best to do this type of shoot in the studio where i would have complete control over the lighting and the way that my subject looks. I feel like the images that i have produced have not been a great example of the quality that i wanted nor what i am capable of creating. I don't think that i will re-shoot this same shoot however, this is because i think that it was a good starting point and i now know for future shoots what i want to do. I think that this shoot has elements that has worked but does not need re-creating.

 I think that from this shoot, my most successful images that were produced are the ones that are captured looking into the mirror. I think that this clearly shows beauty which is the aspect of style i was focusing on.

This image and black and white is effective because i gives the idea of style when getting ready for a party or event. The use of the mirror reflection is effective because it gives the image a girly feel and is a more original way of shooting. 

I think that this image could be improved on however by being more considerate of my background and the things that will also be in the frame. 

This is another example of an image from my shoot. Again i think that the mirror reflection is effective and this time the use of colour makes the image look more interesting. I think that is image is one of the ones i am happy with as i think it shows beauty and style in the basic way that i had hoped for. 

Multiple flash- work diary

Multiple flash - work diary:

In todays session we was working on the technique multiple flash. This technique uses a number of flashes during the time that the shutter of the camera is shut, to pick up different movements or uses of light and expresses them in one photograph. I found this session to be quite similar to slow sync as the same sort of image is produced.

Progression:

I found that this was a good technique to use as it is a fun and creative way of using photography. However for me personally i don't really see a way that i could incorporate this technique into my project. 

The images above and below are both effective examples of multiple flash. In the image above you can see the dancer making their way across the stage  and the different movements her arms and legs take. I think that this is an idea that i would like to use if i choose to include this technique into my project.

The image below is like something that i have already attempted. In this image you can clearly make out all of the arms in each individual space that they take. Again this is a good example of a multiple flash photograph as the main effect has been achieved. 

Above and below are a example of my attempts at multiple flash photography. The image above is an attempt at photographing my class mate as she walks across the frame. I personally don't lie the image as i think that it has come out to squashed together, you can see this in her legs that are either had to make out or look to small. 

The image below is a better attempt at this although i still don't think its quite right. In this image Lauren has been photographed each time that she has turned around. The end result has produced Lauren looking in different directions. I think that to parts of the photo where she is looking at the two sides have worked for this photograph, however when she was looking front on, the image has merged with the others around it and has come our under exposed. 

Wide angle and close up - work diary

Wide angle and close up - Work diary:

In todays session we was focusing on the topics of wide angle and close ups. I found that this was quite an essay session to go out and shoot and the success of the photos all depended on the angle of the camera. I found that many of my photos in this shoot were quite successful, and i feel that i could continue to use this topic later in my project.

Above is my example of a close up. In the image the background is blurred and the main focus of the image takes up the majority of the frame. In the image the colour is clear and each single petal of the flower are defined. You can also see clearly the inside of the photo. I think that this is a successful close up photo.

Above is my attempt at a wide angle photograph. I feel like this is quite a successful image as the angle of the camera has helped to highlight the angle. In the image there is no one main focus point and the further in the distance of the photo the smaller the elements get.

Progression:

Both of these techniques have worked out well for me and i think that they could be useful in my project. They can help me to capture different elements of style without having to always use the same style of photograph.

Image within image - work diary

Image within image - Work diary:

In todays session we was again learning a new technique, we was combining two photos together in one image. I found that this was a successful task as i was quite happy with the two images that i produced. I have been enjoying the sessions where we are learning new techniques as i am able to think about how they could work in my project and how i can progress them further.

The image above is my first attempt at this technique. I feel that its not bad for a first true but you can clearly see some distortion in the image in the frame. This is a skill that i would practice if i chose to continue using it.

The image above is my second try where i am already seeing some improvement. However i am still not completely happy with it and feel that i need to practice this form of skill.

Progression:

If i choose to include this technique in my project i would make sure that i practice so that there is a development in what i produce.

Sequencing - Work diary

Sequencing work diary:

In todays session we focused on the topic of sequecning, we had to make around 4 different types of sequence. Personally i enjoyed this session, as i enjoyed the creative way that we got to edit out photos. My favourite edit from the session was my animation as i hadn't made something like this before and it was a new skill for me to learn. The skill that i need to improve is my sequence in one photo image as my photos were not correctly lined up and my final edit did not come out the way that i had hoped. I will continue to use sequencing throughout my project as it is a fun way of watching something progress from A to B.

Above is my image that i am not happy with. In my initial idea i had aimed to have a least one more shot of my brother in the image to fill the space in the left hand corner. I feel like this image could have been made a lot better and if i had lined my camera better.

I feel like that this image is a successful example of a simple sequence. The whole thing lines up well and you can clearly see each person sit down in each photograph. I think that these images are a good way to show something progressing and are a technique i will continue to use.

Progression:

Once my project has developed i feel that i will use sequencing to demonstrate some of my images. I think that i can make animations for ideas with style. I also think that i could think of many more creative ways to join style and sequencing together.