Assignment 3: Queen's Stamp Portrait Reproductions

This photo didn't work out as well as I'd hoped it could have, as the lighting, although exactly the same as the others, looks different due to his skin tone being far paler and pinker than the other models I selected so his skin reflects more lighting and almost blends with the background. I could have avoided this issue by finding another model with a less bleached skintone in this lighting, but it  was an issue that has only recently been noticed and recreating this lighting exactly the same (as is the point of these pictures) would be time consuming and less effective.

These photos, I feel, are an accomplishment and I am very proud of them. They are reproductions of this photo, taken by John Hedgecoe of Queen Elizabeth to be used on stamps and is one of the most reproduced photographs ever, 200 billion copies to be exact. To replicate this image, I used a white light perpendicular to the model's face and moved it back a good two metres to ensure there was no glare and to soften the shadows on the face. I kept the lighting, posture and position identical in each photo because I wanted the photos to be very similar but with clearly different elements e.g. race, gender, culture.

Assignment 3: Depth of Field - Perou

Definition

Link
this is a very good definition because not only does it give the meaning of the term, but it gives examples as well. it covers most aspects of depth and field, and those that aren't are mentioned in the below slideshare.

Comments

this photo is a great example of depth of field, although it was very hard to find one as many of Perou's works are against a plain white background and only contain a subject. this photo has a small depth of field due to isolation and a very prominent background. it doesn't follow the rule in the slideshare, that using the rule of thirds, splits up the image into three rows for the background, centre and foreground. although the fire is in focus, I feel it is the main point of the picture due to the strong contrast with the pale sky and its dominant presence engulfing the majority of the background, demonstrating that being in focus doesn't mean it has to be the subject.

Slideshare

Lesson 1b Depth Of Field from hweeling

Assignment 3: Lighting - John Hedgecoe

Definition

1. the act of igniting or illuminating.

2. the arrangement of lights to achieve particular effects.

3. an effect achieved by the arrangement of lights.

4. the way light falls upon a face, object, etc., esp. in a picture.

( link: http://www.thefreedictionary.com
/lighting)

Comments

This picture is a brilliant example of side lighting. it is used a lot in portraits to highlight distinctive features on the face e.g. wrinkles, creases, bone structure and to give the face more character and interest and can be achieved by lighting from the side of the face or placing your subject by a window. as well as side lighting, there are many other methods to use (see slideshare below), for example, back lighting, natural lighting and broad lighting.

3 Point Lighting for Photography from 614209
This slideshare is very useful for referencing as it goes into detail about how to achieve the techniques of lighting and when would be appropriate to use them.

Assignment 3: Focal Point - Vee Speers

Definition

Focal Point Definition
I agree with this definition, albeit a short one, but a focal point does not have to be in focus. the whole photo could be in focus but the main points are generally where the rule of thirds dictates, but this works both ways. this photo for example is mainly out of focus or blurred in editing, but you can tell the main focus point is the woman as there is no distracting background to confuse the eye.

Comments

I like this photo not just because of its dramatic yet luxurious feel, but also its simplicity. although it doesn't use any obvious focus or use of the rule of thirds, it fills the majority of the frame with the woman and uses a strong contrast to bring the attention to the mask and face. the mask has very bold, defined lines whilst the rest of the frame has a soft vignette leading into the face, something that in my opinion could only be done via post-shoot editing or a very skilled photographer.

Slideshare

Photography from Fiona

this slideshare is rather basic but there were little slideshares with any relevant information. this could be improved by going into more detail instead of giving a brief overview of the points.

Assignment 3: Composition - Annie Leibovitz

Link

Link to Composition Definition
 this link explains composition probably better than i could, however it is a very brief description. composition includes choice of lighting, colour schemes, contrasts and everything else that you can see in the photo.

Comments

this photo is a very good example of composition because if you added the power of three grid, the main points would be the princess, the shoe and the stairs. the castle however is not one of the main points as it is a part of the background. these photos, composition wise, would be quite easy to achieve, but other attributes such as quality, lighting etc. would be harder to get right.

Powerpoint

this powerpoint is a very useful one, it doesn't over complicate what it tries to get across but at the same time doesn't dumb it down so much it feels patronizing. (The only slides of relevance are 4-7.)

Basic Photography Lesson from hweeling

First Analysis - Vee Speers

Factual

Vee Speers is an Australian photographer who studied at Queensland College of Art and is currently based in Paris. Her work has been displayed and exhibited in a variety of places, such as the Sunday Times, Harpers & Queens, Arena, Esquire and black & White Magazine.

Context

This photo comes from a collection of photos - The Birthday Party - which is about the darker side of the child's imagination. Some of the photos go along with the conventional ideas of what children want to be, soldiers, princesses, fairies etc. whereas this image shows the darker more twisted side, the unconventional, some almost impossible to label.

Technical

This photo has very pale lighting which adds to the white background. both of the girls have pale skintones - whether this be down to their actual skintone or editing - it gives the photo a very washed out effect. The lighting appears to be cast from left and right shining into one point, therefore eliminating shadow. 

Aesthetic

I like this photo because of its sharp contrast and boldness. i particularly like how the girl on the left's face contrasts with her character. She appears to be dressed as a dark angel (or something along those lines) whereas she has a very innocent and timid face unlike the girl on the right, who has a very devious face. I also like how they both look like they've been forced into their costumes, which both look very grown up and to the taste of an adult, but the main feature of the photograph is how both girls have a very direct and unsettling glare which grabs your attention by the throat.