still life. Evaluation

Level 5 photography
Still Life
Evaluation

For the two weeks of each project the behind of I have produce was aiming to fit with each genre whilst also finding my own style of photography to help me choose whether I want to do fine art or commercial. The first project I was introduced to is food with Richard which the class and me have not met before in person but have learned a lot on how to improve editing using the curves as I did not realise that I could use the ink pickers on the image to brighten an image or making the whole image contrast. Doing the food photography I based it around on what I would actually eat so that I do not put in the bin if not my taste, I did enjoy a little but not to experiment more into my independent learning agreement as I like photographing people and so far perfumes, food photography looks so simple but no it is not, there is a lot of time to put into it and have a great eye on lighting food either being natural light or in the studio but I didn’t use the studio for food I did it in the natural light to be in my comfort zone.  I was influenced by my own ideas and what I had in my flat so that my funding for the 5 projects which overall helped to keep me motivated to work. My final outcome meets the requirements of the still life brief as I have printed 8 finals which all in gloss and sized 12x16 (A3) I just printed them out in the university asking the technicians to print my Tiff files which are in good quality and not too much money and presented in a portfolio box and labelled my prints and placed the prints in sleeves so they don’t get scratched or dirty. I would say I have developed skills in the studio when I was photographing products which I really liked but the lighting set up has still not really been taken in but probably due to not having much self -confidence, but do know how to set up the equipment’s to reflect light right using booms, clipping paper correctly to make the lighting subtle and keep in light using the white boards. One big goal I have achieved during this project is getting social context and colour balancing right in Photoshop but I do need to remember to shoot in Raw on my camera so I can enhance my images professionally, the tutors have time managed much better by only giving two weeks which is motivating if I have an idea in head quick but for documentary and independent learning agreement It was great to think up on meaning or story however digital montage was very difficult to attempt but think because didn't really know what the tutors were after so I felt like I was editing and hoping for the best and have to self- taught on cutting and composition the elements to fit together without defined lines, luckily I knew some manipulating skills but to be honest there is Youtube tutorials on editing skills so not the end of the world. How I did my digital montage I have related my work to Julia Geiser where she cuts into bodies in half and replace it to an piece from another source from internet e.g. rock. Julia likes to replace the human body to animals and cutting off the face.  There was a lot more self direction on this project which was challenging as I didn’t really motivate myself however I did overcome when having to do the tutorials on what I have achieved, without those tutorials I think it will be more of a struggle because not really discipline myself into doing it and leave it to last minute. I was challenged by the writing of an Independent Learning Agreement as this was something I have not done before and coming up with my own mini brief was daunting but is good practice for next year. Reflecting though my work I would of reshoot my food to be hands on food styling and push myself to go to the studio using the lights and glass to reflect the food and be lighten up and use the materials like the marbles and wood cut up work tops and balance it on stands and place my food so I will feel what an actual food photographer do to sell his images to food companies and could of gone to restaurants and asked if I can photograph their food and take out light from the workshop and use capture one on location. The Vanitas module was good team building exercise and to see if working in groups is for me but has taught me on how to make your own version from a 17^th Century painting which was fun but not for me to do for next year, being in groups wasn't everyone’s things as everyone has different ways in seeing a masterpiece so have to deal with commitments to opinions and not cause arguments and if something in the set up needs changing you have to have a necessary reason and be very strong in your own opinion and use your voice and go with instincts. Personally wanted my work to be able to have a connection with the viewer about the social context about my single mother project as socializing and still having fun with friends and feel like there is someone there that to be loved while have a child would that man look after someone else’s child and would the child accept that the mother has moved on and found a new father and the real father not cared and the love was just not there and seeing the child could possibly be a sad resemblance of memories of the mother but will feel that the love is gone and feel the child will not accept that and push the father to go back.