Unit 2: Task 2 (AC 2.1, 2.2) Home is...

 Unit 2.2 Photographic images - Documentary photograph

Home is...

I think if you ask this question to a group of people everyone will come with a different answer. I started to move non stop since 2002 when I left Argentina. Every year or two years I moved sometimes even country! 

So my concept of home change a lot same as I was moving. At first I thought Home was where my stuff was, now after so many years I realized that Home is where I feel safe and my family is. 

During this lockdowns I got the time to enjoy my home. I learnt new recipes, played a lot of games, read lots of books. Even that my stay at home was nice I got some downfalls in my life. 

In my Home is I tried to document a bit of the ups and downs of Lockdown.

1. Come in

My entry way became the cleaning point, sanitize yourself and protect the rest. For more than a year my sideboard keep holding hand sanitizer, facemask, a lint roller and my keys. I'm allergic to Aloe Vera so I'm use to carry bottles of sanitizer with me just in case.

2. Banana nana na

One of my favourite things about lockdown is that I got more time to cook and experiment more in the kitchen. Banana Bread is the staple cake that everyone made around the world on lockdown. While my sister was isolating with covid and my brother in law couldnt leave the house, my mum and myself baked them cakes and cook them comfort food dishes to try to help them and support them. Banana bread with chocolate chips and walnuts was their favourite.

3. Home test

Sadly even that I rarelly left my home (due to health conditions) I got a few scares with Covid-19. During this year I got hometest done and a couple more at the hospital. My last one was in a walking testing site and it was a quite curious experience and it will be a future story for sure!

4.Zooming Zoom

Zoom lessons, teams meetings, skype calls, you name it. Sometimes life and family get in the middle. In my case I'm lucky my cats kind of behave most of the time... I think the trickiest part for me was taking my BSL lessons because as you sign the cats tend to like to play with your hands. 

5. Moving time

So, I moved out! Life got hard and complicated. Imagine being surrounded by boxes and try to take nice shots when you got stuff all over the place. 

Here are two of my favourite extras shoots:

Cleo and Toast made my lockdown 100% way better. I was so lucky to be able to spend more time with them during this pandemic. I have to say they are getting more comfortable with the camera been around them.

My sister Denise got Covid and was quite bad, it was one of the most scary things ever. After spending 3 weeks ill and 2 more isolating when she got the all clear, she went back to work as she is an essential worker. Even that she was tired she kept working during the whole pandemic. 

Unit 2: Task 1 (AC 1.1, 1.2) Home Sweet Home

Unit 2: The Photographic Project - Research

Learning Outcome 1 (LO1): Understand photographic research

 

Carry out research for a photographic project (AC 1.2)

Research other artists’ work. Analyse the way ideas, materials and techniques can be used to inform your own practise.

Photographers in Isolation

"PHOTOGRAPHERS. A lot of us are used to working in isolation so let’s use this time to continue our work and respond to this situation that we are all facing TOGETHER. I’m asking all photographers, wherever you are to join me in documenting your time in isolation using the hashtag #photographersinisolation So let’s stick together, spread the word, share your work and let’s begin 📷 #photographers #artistsupport"

Photographers in isolation  was founded by Rachael Munro-Fawcett at the start of the pandemic. I choose to showcase this Instagram page as it shows differents photographers from around the world on how the pandemic reflected on their lives and shoots.

stefaniabonfiglio
Mamma ma domani vado a scuola?

@billie_charity Saying goodbye 😢 January 2021

@heunjungkim 'Baek il' event in South Korea

                               Rachael Munro-Fawcett

Rachael Munro-Fawcett is a UK-based photographer whose work examines the relationships that exist between people and their environment. With a strong social and environmental focus, her practise is driven by an ardent belief in the power of photography to facilitate discussions that initiate positive change within societies. Her work explores a diverse range of cultures, communities and landscapes, broadening the scope of conversation to include worlds that exist beyond her own socio-economic and geographical boundaries. 

Funded by Arts Council England, her long term project To Walk In Your Shoes was an insight into the daily plight of asylum seekers and refugees living in the UK. The project partnered with City of Sanctuary Manchester and PAFRAS Leeds (Positive Action for Asylum Seekers and Refugees) and was widely exhibited across the north of England. Her two year project Hollin Lane WIP is a documentary exploration of a local allotment community in the North of England. 

Rachael lives in Leeds and in between projects freelances as a portrait and commercial photographer. She received a BA Hons degree in Photography from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2007 and is the founder and curator of Photographers In Isolation. 

Peter, Hollin Lane Allotments.

Mary, Hollin Lane Allotments. 

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

Tam Coc, Vietnam

Identify photographic resources to complete a photographic project (AC 2.1)

Living on a fast pace society and going in three lockdowns during a year has been a challenge. During the first lockdown we had the retrospective of our lives and have "all that time to do the to do list". My Home sweet Home project is being changing and evolving since day one as my own life is changing.

I plan to challenge myself and go out of my comfort zone. One of my main goals is tro try to incorporate all the techniques learnt before during this project.

UNIT 1 Task 5: One colour, Red

The task 5 was to take and choose a colour to shot, in my case I choose Red. 

My favourite colours are black, grey and navy so going for red is a huge change for me. One thing I love about this colour is the symbolism that carries around.

In ancient Rome, red was the color of Mars, the god of war, the planet Mars was named for him because of its red color. This resonates with me as my name means warrior and completly fills this asociation.

Red is the color that most attracts attention. Surveys show it is the color most frequently associated with visibility, proximity, and extroverts. It is also the color most associated with dynamism and activity. By a large margin is the color most commonly associated with seduction, sexuality, eroticism, possibly because of its close connection with passion and with danger.

Red was long seen as having a dark side, particularly in Christian theology. It was associated with sexual passion, anger, sin, and the devil.

Here are the photos I choose, hope you like them as I do!

1. Bishop's Palace Gardens

AV 1/160 F5.6 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
36MM

Nestling between the south-western edge of the Cathedral and the City Walls lie the beautiful Bishop’s Palace Gardens, a public park maintained by the city. 

2.  Roses are red...

AV 1/180 F3.5 ISO 1600
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
18MM

This shot was a tricky one. It was really windy and I loved the contrast of the colours of the flower with the wall. I'm extremly happy with the result and how aerie it is.

3.  Bognor Regis Pier

M1/200 F4.5 ISO 100
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
28MM

Bognor Regis Pier is one of the smallest I ever have the chance to visit. Storm damage in 1964 and 1965 caused the pavilion to sink into the sea. Nowadays the pier stands at 107m long. I love this photo because of the contrast ot the rusty light and locks against the different shades of blue of the sea and the sky.

4. Hiorne Tower

M 1/500 F8 ISO 100
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
41MM

Not far from Arundel is the 1797 Hiorne tower built by Francis Hiorne as he bid for the contract to rebuild the castle. Today, it stands alone in the landscape, a wonderful, purposeless folly. Hiorne never won the contract he desired, and he died two years later, but his Tower did achieve greatness. It went on to star in Doctor Who.

5. Special delivery!

M 1/125 F4.5 ISO 100
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
29MM

It was the first time I saw milk bottles on the street. That was not a thing in my country and I only saw it in films. What a great surprise! I also love how they reutilised the watercan as a plant pot!

1.2 Evaluation and reflection

I found this assignment really interesting. It helped me to discover how to focus on something specific like the colour red for my composition. I enjoyed doing this task and picking out the colour red. It is a very powerful colour and makes the subject pop out.

From my selection of shots, my favourite is "Hiorne Tower" in Arundel. The reason is because it is a landscape composition and it is quite deceptive. Over all the main colours are green, light blue, rusty and sandstone. The red represents only a very small part of the picture but this makes it all the more important.

The roses are red shot was very difficult to shoot because of simple interferance such as wind and trying to get the best angle and composition. I wanted the rose to really stand out. I believe I achieve this by using depths of field and a wide lens. It also stands out because of the dark background. I have worked on focusing on colour before but this time it has help me to be even more specific.

 

Task 5: One Colour Extra.

The task 5 was to take and choose a colour to shot, in my case I choose Red. 

My favourite colours are black, grey and navy so going for red is a huge change for me. One thing I love about this colour is the symbolism that carries around.

In ancient Rome, red was the color of Mars, the god of war, the planet Mars was named for him because of its red color. This resonates with me as my name means warrior and completly fills this asociation.

Red is the color that most attracts attention. Surveys show it is the color most frequently associated with visibility, proximity, and extroverts. It is also the color most associated with dynamism and activity. By a large margin is the color most commonly associated with seduction, sexuality, eroticism and immorality, possibly because of its close connection with passion and with danger.

Red was long seen as having a dark side, particularly in Christian theology. It was associated with sexual passion, anger, sin, and the devil.

Here are the photos I choose, hope you like them as I do!

1.  Luxo Sr. Sr.

AV 1/80 F4.0 ISO 80
6MM

This photo was taken in Birmingham. If you ever have the chance to go and see this beautiful piece of art you should totally go for it. You can find it in Severn Street framing the entrance of The Mailbox Birmingham.

2. El Ateneo

SM-G930F

AV 1/14 F 1.7 ISO 200

26MM

El Ateneo Grand Splendid is a bookstore in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Originally in 1919 was a Theatre but since 2007 it's this beautiful flagship bookstore. In 2019, it was named the "world's most beautiful bookstore" by the National Geographic.

3. Center Play

SM-G930F
AV 1/50 F1.7 ISO 400
26MM

Center Play is an old fashion arcade that you can find in the center of Mar de Ajó in Argentina. It brings so many good memories of joy.

4.  Kingston upon Thames

LYA-L09

AV 1/33 F 1.8 ISO 640
27MM

This photo was taken in Kingston Upon Thames on a rainy walk at night. I love how the reds pop in contrast with the darkness of the night.

5. Kentucky

LYA-L09

AV 1/50 F 1.8 ISO 200

27MM

Kentucky is a nice pizzeria in Belgrano, Argentina. If you ever go there, I totally recommend you to try the empanadas!

6. London Calling

LYA-L09

AV 1/303 F1.8 ISO 50
27MM

This shot is something I like to do a lot. I enjoy going on a bus in London and taking photos from above. If you are lucky enough you can take one of this old 15 buses to go to Tower Bridge.

7. The Profilée

LYA-L09

AV 1/50 F1.8 ISO 500
27MM

Christian Dior: Designer Of Dreams was an exhibition at V&A musuem an a masterpiece of Dior. This coat was one of my absolute favourite pieces from the collection.

8. Chinatown

LYA-L09

AV 1/358 F 1.8 ISO 50
32MM

Chinatown is a must if you go to London. You can go and try a nice restaurant, enjoy a delicious sweet or do some shopping. During the chinese New Year the decorations are wonderful.

9. New Malden

AV 1/60 F5.0 ISO 125

EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
29MM

New Malden's Town Hall is a beautiful combination of Edwardian Baroque style architecture and nature during Autumn.

10. Chichester

AV 1/160 F5.6 ISO 100

EF-S18-55MM

F/3.5-5.6 III 

29MM

Chichester has a beautiful garden next to the Cathedral. During my visit it was raining and I got to see two rainbows. Fun fact: My husband was covering me with his jacket so I could take the photo under the rain and keep my camera dry!

UNIT 1Task 5: Street Photographers

UNIT 2 RESEARCH COLOUR RED

Task 5 was to research for 3 street photographers. If you like to know more about the three that I choose feel free to click on their names to be link to their profiles. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Distortion

Base in London and travel enthusiastic is one of my top 3 photographers. I love how she shows very crisp and clean photos. I choose this one from Fushimi Inari-Taisha (Kyoto, Japan). My favourite thing about this photography is how beautiful she captures the lines of the Senbon Torii and colour.

Rubi

Base in Barcelona and a retro camera lover is one of my top 3 photographers. One of my favourite things about Rubi is the mix of digital and analogic cameras that uses. During his year living abroad in Japan he took amazing photographies of “the daily Japan”, it was refreshing to see a different point of view from the country and how he manage to capture that beautiful Cherry Blossom pink shade.

Kayeratia

Base in London, travel enthusiastic and architecture lover is one of my top 3 photographers. I choose this photo from Limehouse Basin Lock because it features a few things I love, you can see clear lines, reflection on the wáter, the symetry and the architecture. 

1.2 Evaluation and reflection

I enjoyed doing this task and picking out the colour red. It is a very powerful colour and makes the subject pop out.
From my selection of shots, my favourite is "Hiorne Tower" in Arundel. The reason is because it is a landscape composition and it is quite deceptive. Over all the main colours are green, light blue, rusty and sandstone. The red represents only a very small part of the picture but this makes it all the more important.
The roses are red shot was very difficult to shoot because of simple interferance such as wind and trying to get the best angle and composition. I wanted the rose to really stand out. I believe I achieve this by using depths of field and a wide lens. It also stands out because of the dark background. I have worked on focusing on colour before but this time it has help me to be even more specific.

UNIT 1 Task 4: Shutter Speed

Today at class we practiced the Shutter Speed task. We took our tripods and we head out to a close bridge next to the college. As winter is coming fast, the darkness helped to capture the light from the traffic and allow us to test the shutter speed.
Here are my favourite 5 shots from that night, hope you like them!

1. Blinding lights

AV 1/8 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
36MM

2. White Lights

AV 8" F7.1 ISO 100
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
18MM

3.Guiding light

AV 8" F10 ISO 100
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
45MM

4. 宇多田ヒカル - 光 

AV 1/6 F3.5 ISO 100
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
18MM

5. City of blinding lights

AV 10" F10 ISO 100
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
47MM

1.2 Evaluation and reflection 

On the second picture the shutter speed is fast at 1/1600s and everything on the picture is sharp and in focus. The first blur is noticeable on picture 5 at shutter speed 1/160s and still well defined at 1/60s. At 1/6s (picture 9) my son starts to be invisible and from 1/3s (picture 10) only some parts of boy's body are recognisable. On the last picture 12 , I used shutter speed 1s, his body basically disappeared. If I compare the picture 1 and 12 then I can confirm the definition of the exposure triangle - it is well balanced - the slower shutter speed the bigger aperture (1s, f/22 versus 1/1600s, f 2.8). ISO remained the same from 1/60s to 1s. 

I took more pictures practising the role of the shutter speed and realised that the pictures with shutter speed about 1/25s have a lovely creative flow movement for a special effect that I like. For some pictures like waterfalls and light tracking I would use even slower shutter speed. It is all about the creativity which is endless.

I especially enjoyed the panning technique, which needs a bit more practise. To get the best results with using a slow shutter speed I had to use a tripod to avoid camera shake and unwanted blur on my pictures.

UNIT1 Task 3: Composition

This week for Homework we had to take more composition, lines and repetition photos. I had fun going around with my camera and snapping interesting things. I choose my favourite fives and I hope you like them as I do!

1. Kingston Bridge

M 1/1449 F1.8 ISO 50
LYA-L09
27MM

2.Kitchen dots

M 1/30 F3.5 ISO 125
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
9MM

3. Paradise City

M 1/50 F1.8 ISO 320
LYA-L09
27MM

3. Up and Down

M 1/1 F11 ISO 200
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
15MM

5. Wood Street

M 1/125 F4.0 ISO 125
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
9MM

1.2 Evaluation and reflection

This assignment was really interesting, it helped me to use different techniques that I learned during the course. 

I'm a big fan of lines, repetition and composition, I would say it's one of my favourite things to shoot.  During this task I tried to pushed myself to go and try a bit more of "abstract photography". Doing this help me to appreciate the environment and world around me differently .

By constantly changing my camera settings and trying different angles, lights and sceanery I became more confident in what I want to achieve with my photos.

UNIT 1Task 2: ISO

Homework for this week (Task 2) was to play around with the ISO of our cameras. Sadly, because of health issues I couldn't take as many photos as I wanted. 

This short set was done from the Westminster Bridge. Even that the ISO was not at the highest, you can actually see the difference between them. The more ISO the photo has, more light and clear the photo turns; also you can tell it becomes more grainy little by little.

LYA-L09
F/1.8 1/17s 
ISO 2500

LYA-L09
F/1.8 1/17s 
ISO 4000

LYA-L09
F/1.8 1/17s 
ISO 5000

1.2 Evaluation and reflection

One thing I learn about this excersise is the higher the ISO the grain/noise you get is higher too. You obviously get more light but at the same time you are reducing the quality of the photo with the noise.

I found this exercise useful to understand ISO better and work with it as part of the exposure triangle. I definetly going to practice more the ISO with night/interior photographies as I think is one of the most challenging things to master. 

UNIT 1 Task 1: Research on the Bokeh effect by famous photographers

1.1 For Task 1 we had to shoot some photos showing the Bokeh Effect and choose the same from famous photographers, in my case I choose my 3 favourites ones.

 

Horacio Coppola (31 July 1906 – 18 June 2012) was an Argentine photographer and filmmaker, and the husband of the German photographer Grete Stern. He was one of the pioneers photographers from Argentina and a key figure in Modernism. One of the main reasons I choose him is because I was fortunate enough to see an exhibition of his work when I went to Argentina and it was exquisite.

1. La Recova (1936)

2. Calle Florida (1936)

3. Escaleras en Calle Corrientes( 1928)

Robert Capa (born Endre Ernő Friedmann;October 22, 1913 – May 25, 1954) was a Hungarian-American war photographer and photojournalist as well as the companion and professional partner of photographer Gerda Taro. He is considered by some to be the greatest combat and adventure photographer in history.

1. Woman runs away from the Bombs (Barcelona 1939)

2. Loyalist Militiaman at the moment of Death (1936)

3. The Magnificent Eleven ( June 1944)

Gerta Pohorylle (1 August 1910 – 26 July 1937), known professionally as Gerda Taro, was a German Jewish war photographer active during the Spanish Civil War. She is regarded as the first woman photojournalist to have died while covering the frontline in a war.

1. Refugee girl (Barcelona 1939)

2. Republican Militiawoman (Barcelona 1939)

3. Republicans next to Nationalist slogans (Brunete 1937)

The three of them used Leica cameras and even that they lived in the same period of time their photographies could not be more different. While I loved the work of Coppola showing the "Daily Argentina" style, I growed exposed to Capa and Taro work as they recorded the history of my family's country.  I admired their work and how they where commited to it to the point that both died during wars doing what they loved.

I really enjoyed this task, looking for their photos and learning their history.