Week 4 - Portraits

This week we looked at portraits and what we can show through the lens width as well as the information given through the background. These are the images I took, the first three display the use of the lens. As you can see the differences between the images are dramatic, with a zoom and different distances we are able to show different aspects of the background and establish different tones.   

These are some more portraits I took that look at the subject in relation the the snowy background. I looked at the gaze also and in some of the images the subjects close their eyes, showing a serenity and peace. 

I enjoyed exploring portraits, but I feel this topic did not spark my interest as much as the look into the small country life last week. I feel I would enjoy exploring more landscapes and perhaps the idea of nature again.   

Gender, Gaze, Otherness and Photography

These are the slides that my group created on the topic of 'Gender, gaze, otherness and photography (I created slides 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14). 

By doing this presentation I have been able to see a new side of photography, through denoting and connoting I can now apply the idea of otherness to my own thoughts and concepts.  

Week 3 - composition and Themes

This week we took a trip to the park near the university. Our first task was to look around the park and try to make our names out of the surroundings. I managed to find the letters for my first name and later will look to see if I can find my last name through the week.

This task helped me to look at my surrounding and work on composition, I was able to look beyond the surface of the everyday to find something new. This idea leads onto the second task we did, in which we had to come up with a theme for photos we would take in the village. These are some of the images I took around the theme of 'The Downfall of Country Life'.

This task helped me to focus on a tone and theme for my images, I was able to think about what I wanted my photos to show as well as how I would show it. I took mostly dark images with subject matter linked to the idea of decay or the theme of falling apart while also trying to include the concept of a country life. 

Reading - 'Ways of Seeing'

'Ways of Seeing' by John Berger is a reading that explores the way in which we see things and read them. The reading begins by stating 'seeing becomes before words' meaning before we put words to an explanation of meaning our eyes and mind are registering and building an idea. Berger believes that when we see an images we bring our own experiences to it, and when seeing s landscape we put ourselves into it. Although we as a viewer make our own judgement of meaning the photographers intentions and views also play a part in the overall meaning. He later goes onto say that all images 'embodies a way of seeing', displaying the idea that the author of the image has captured how they see the subject and decide how the subject is portrayed and displayed.

This reading really opened my eyes to the idea of author intention as well as the audiences line of thinking, when considering these thing while taking a picture I feel my work will become stronger as I can put my ideas into the image while also trying to see what audiences see, to insure my message come across. 

Week 2: Depth

This week we looked at depth and how it can be achieved using aperture and distance. These are the images I took:

These again are not rather stylistic but I have been able to work with depth and Focal length.