For this weeks workshop we were given the task to go out with cameras and different lenses to take portraiture images, experimenting with the frame structure and lighting texture.  The locations for the images I found when walking round Lincoln in my spare time.  I remember appreciating the tone of light and thought it would be a good place to capture some really inspiring and affective images.  It gave me the opportunity to experiment with depth of field, focusing on the individual and framing options. These are the top few which I found appealing to the eye from todays shoot. The lighting in each photograph, especially the stairwell shots, really are dramatically engaging. I wanted to get an eye for different lighting and working with the camera, to successful create an affective photograph.

Assessment Requirements Pt 1 – Create four portraits using a minimum of two subjects experimenting with lighting and composition using available light, modifiers and or the cameras’ built in flash.

What is portraiture?

“A portrait is a picture of a person that is engaged in a dialogue with the photographer.”

‘a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person, especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders’,

Portrait is of one sole person typically a medium shot that shows the subject emotions and expressions. Which is what Im going to be capturing for this brief.

A triptych is an image made up of three sections.

Nationalgallery.org.uk. (2016). Triptych | Glossary | National Gallery, London. Available at: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/glossary/triptych [Accessed 14 Apr. 2016].

I began by experimenting with objects I thought would be interesting to capture . I then began to experiment with lighting by discovering  what works and what doesn’t so much. I wanted to play around a little with the camera (canon 500D) and lightning together. So I took many shots, adjusting the light each time.  After uploading them I began to edit using Raw. I have never used it before so this was a good way to start learning the basics. I played around with the exposure, temperature, contrast, shadows etc to discover what creates a good composition.

I went for quite a dark image, using black as the backdrop. I find that the image is more in focus and attentive to the eye if it contrast against its background. Furthermore the shadowing elements are very strong, crushing the can created light to hit certain aspects of the can, emphasizing shadowing in certain places, creating texture on the can.

The 3 objects I was given was a pack of matches, a candle and some cigarettes. All these 3 objects are very different although link by the element of fire.  I researched into existing still life of each of my objects to give me inspiration and some background knowledge.  The following images are what caught my eye the most and I found visually pleasing. Therefore when coming to creating my 3 Still images I can reflect that inspiration through the camera and lighting process.

The artist is unknown for the candle photograph so i was unable to look further into their work. Although It did help me as it gave me and idea on how to photograph my candle.

The still image of the matches and the lighter was taken by a English photographer, Benjamin Norton. His work gave me the idea of standing my matches up right and setting them alight. I liked the lighting composition he had infiltrated in his work too, giving me the idea to reflect that in my work. The object and the dark background works very well, especially the flame bursting. The colours of red and orange are enriched, enhancing the heat of the flame. The matches also are in order from being lit to burning out. And this gave me the idea to organise my 3 photographs like this. The match lights the candle, the candle has a flame and the flame then lights the cigarette.

I took many shots, adjusting the light angles seeing which worked best. Then analysing over each one, I narrowed it down to my final 3 and began to edit them in Raw.

From looking at Nortons work I discovered that he makes it clear that the light is evened for the back drop . There is no shadowing in the background. It is pitch black throughout the back space and this is what I applied to my objects when photographing them. Editing through Raw, I adjusted the temperature to take away the yellow glow from the fire. This is a technique that Norton has also done on his photographs (lighter image). Furthermore on each photograph, I edited the white balances to create a more crisp and sharp image. Overall I am happy with my photographs and feel like it was a successful shoot. I had never done still life images before but I am happy with how it went.

I began by experimenting with objects I thought would be interesting to capture . I then began to experiment with lighting by discovering  what works and what doesn’t so much. I wanted to play around a little with the camera (canon 500D) and lightning together. So I took many shots, adjusting the light each time.  After uploading them I began to edit using Raw. I have never used it before so this was a good way to start learning the basics. I played around with the exposure, temperature, contrast, shadows etc to discover what creates a good composition.

I went for quite a dark image, using black as the backdrop. I find that the image is more in focus and attentive to the eye if it contrast against its background. Furthermore the shadowing elements are very strong, crushing the can created light to hit certain aspects of the can, emphasizing shadowing in certain places, creating texture on the can.

I really like the first image the most as I the way the light has reflected onto the can excites the photo completely. The only critique I have is the lighting in the top right hand corner. I should if shaded the background to be completely in darkness instead of the white lingering behind the can. But to say it was my first time shooting Still image it went well and I got some good images out of it. It helped me gain an understanding so when I did come to shooting my final shots for my triptych I had an idea of what I needed to do.