UNIT1 Task 6: Portrait with Props

During the same session at the studio, we used our professor as a model but this time we introduce props.  

One of the many uses of props is to tell a story, evoke memories or represent something visually. 

For the first set of photos we used a globe for the composition. On the first image we can apreciate how the prop covers completly the face of the model, making it the center of the atention of the shot. Also we can see how the Globe manage to capture most of the light leaving behind the model in darkness.

1. The Globe

M 1/125 F5.0 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
43MM

On the following photos the prop goes to the background as the model rises his hand.  

2. History

M 1/125 F4.0 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
27MM

3. I swear

M 1/125 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
30MM

For the next set of pictures we use a skeleton as a prop (which we called Steve) and a mask to tell a completly different story from the previous set.

M 1/125 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
37MM

When you take one of the props out of the photo, the shot itself tells a different tale. In this case with this photo we were trying to inspire tenderness.

M 1/400 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
34MM

On the contrary if you change the place or position of the prop plus the expression of the model, you will be telling something completly different. This photo in particular makes you feel sorrow or solitude, the pose remembers "Pietà"

M 1/200 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
32MM

At the very end we decided to change the background for a lighter version and we used the same prop adding a facemask on top to change the backstory.

When we changed the background for a lighter version we can see the difference and the contrast  between the previous set with this one.

M 1/125 F4.0 ISO 3200
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
27MM

In this last photo the model goes at the front telling the story while the props stays behind adding more details to the story.

1.2 Evolution and reflection

Coming from an art background this assignment was fun and really interesting for me. It was the first time that I was using professional lights and even a softbox. 

I shot loads of photos that night trying different settings from the exposure triangle, more ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture.

This assignment helped me to understand how I can create different looks and types of portraits using different lighting, backgrounds, angles and professional equiptment such as a softbox or props. As I enjoy taking photos with natural light (I know the perfect light time at home) for my shots, I would love to explore more the professional lights and the softbox. Portraits is something that I never tried before really and since this task I'm getting in to it.

UNIT1 Task 6: Portrait, Studio Fix.

The first three photos were shot to see the effect that light has on the face and how it affects the subject depending on the line that comes from.

On the first 2 pictures I used a light on the left side of the model, while on the third photography I used 2 lights, one on each side to create that effect.

1. One light

M 1/500 F4.5 ISO 1600
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
33MM

2. One light 2.0

M 1/500 F4.5 ISO 12800
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
18MM

3. One light on each side

M 1/500 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
18MM

After I took some photos using a more profesional black background and a softbox to see the contrast and how it affects the lights, making them more smooth. This first shot has the background and1 light on eachside with a softbox on them. 

M 1/100 F5.6 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
50MM

Also I tried as well the "Halo effect" that you can manage to get while you take a photo and one of the lights if behind the model and the other light comes from the front left (in this case). For this photos I used one of my classmates as she has curly hair and was wearing a cardigan. 

M 1/500 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
28MM

For the second photo I only used the light without the softbox and no other light. This helped to create a "Halo effect" more intense and at the same time put some shadows on her face.

M 1/500 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
32MM

At last but not least, this photo is one of my favourites from this session. Our lovely teacher decided to be the model for the portraits and portraits with props. 

What I like from this shot it that he was no posing our doing anything special for the shot, he was just helping another classmate with her camera settings.

M 1/100 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
36MM

1.2 Evaluation and reflection

Coming from an art background this assignment was fun and really interesting for me. It was the first time that I was using professional lights and even a softbox. 
I shot loads of photos that night trying different settings from the exposure triangle, more ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture.

This assignment helped me to understand how I can create different looks and types of portraits using different lighting, backgrounds, angles and professional equiptment such as a softbox. As I enjoy taking photos with natural light (I know the perfect light time at home) for my shots, I would love to explore more the professional lights and the softbox. Portraits is something that I never tried before really and since this task I'm getting in to it.

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.