new project PHOTO BOOK

New project photo book starts today
 and well i have a vague idea what's mines gonna be about, need some filler as it were cause i don't want it to be just a book with photo's and titles in.

This project (Assignment) explores the nature and history of the photo book. This is a practical project and the emphasis is on taking photographs and editing. You will  be expected to continue researching other photographers by using the library (primary research) to study photo books. this will inform and guide you as you design and produce your own interpretation of a photographic book. 

5" by 4" portraiture and depth of field exercise evaluation

As part of the brief i took part in a workshop on depth of field using large format 5" by 4" camera's, there was a few issues during this part of the brief mainly they were out of my hands, and i had no control over certain aspects of the development process and the procuring of film were two of the issues i faced, the later coming only when the store ran out of large format film. Other than those few issues i think this part of the brief went the best for me and i am really happy with the outcomes. It was my first attempt with colour large format and the print process that accompanies this, and i must say it was difficult printing in complete darkness but strangely i enjoyed it. The colour aspect one a new one as i have never used any type of analog colour film but i would definitely consider it in the future. I have begun to fall in love with large format, after last years landscapes and new topographic's project and this project both being in large format it has well and truly sparked a love affair. You can definitely the difference between a large format hand made c-type and a digital c-type. The difference being immediately apparent, nothing comes close to the detail you can get from large format hand made c-type when its done right, though when you do make mistakes they are a lot more apparent.
    

Ian Mcdonald
Young Lad, Houseboat side
I really can not express my love for his work enough, inspirational in the highest sense of the word makes me want to go and shoot in 5"by4" a lot more, i enjoy shooting in large format already but i doubt my own work will ever get to this standard.

 http://we-english.co.uk/blog/?p=2483

Ian Mcdonald
Young John Allison
another expert example of large format portraiture. long depth of field this time.

http://we-english.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Young-John-Allison.png

Ian Mcdonald

i cant think of anything bad to day about this image of Ken Robinson by Ian Mcdonald.
suburb example of medium depth of field using large format. i love the contrast in the this image the mid-tones highlights and blacks are all pretty much perfect. The reflection of the boat in the window reflects ken robinsons love of fishing and the shack behind him is like his second home.

 http://we-english.co.uk/blog/?p=2483

self directed brief evaluation
As part of the learning agreement i had write myself a brief, this was by no means easy and the writing the brief took quite a while for me to complete. I started by thinking about what camera i most enjoyed using, which turned out to be the medium format Hasselblad 507. Then i thought about myself and what i enjoy. I have always found it easier to converse with and befriend females, and out this came the title Ladies. So i now had a title for the project and started writing the actual brief. Turns out this was a lot easier than i was making it be, and was just a matter of chopping up and rewording the actual brief. So i finally got that sorted/botched together and started researching medium format portraiture. Having researched i moved on to the shooting of the actual photo's. This where it all started going wrong as i made simple mistakes which led to having to re-shoot, so i started the re-shoot. The idea behind the shoots was to keep them simple using only natural lighting and the same backdrop across all of the different shoots. This simplicity idea, actually made things a little difficult  as their are only so many daylight hours in the day and the light had to be good. When i finally got the a shoot done i processed one of the films, and found out i needed to over developer by at least 5 minuets because the negatives were coming out a bit thin. After all these problems it was getting close to deadline and i still had film to develop and prints to make, i need to rush things along a bit and didn't want this to affect my final prints so i stopped back later than i usually would to get my film developed and prints made. I was confident in my print making skills and believe this to be one of my strongest area's, while making the final prints i sore from my contact sheets that they didn't need a lot of work and i could enhance my original idea by simply having the prints viewed in a certain way. The subject seem to be looking at themselves, from one print to another. If i had the chance to redo this i would take more time when shooting and not try to rush things.

Fill Flash portraiture evaluation

With this brief i had to produce one 20" by 24" digital c-type print that showed use of fill flash. At the start i had no idea what a Metz flash was or what it even looked like. Now though i feel i am apt at applying flash to my photography and understand the advantages and disadvantages that come with this equipment. To begin with it wasn't easy balancing the amount of flash i put onto the subject and background, as my confidence grew i realized how versatile Metz was and could be. i started bouncing the flash off the surroundings to light the backdrop or the subject individually. putting more of the flash onto one or the other. when it came time to shoot i coupled the Metz with a 5D mark II. i was sufficiently confident with both that i was able to achieve the desired effects in only a couple of shoots giving me plenty of time to edit using capture one software. This being my first time using capture one, it felt a little awkward to begin with, i usually use Lightroom. Capture one is actually quite easy to pick up and actually sped up workflow as it has a lot of handy features that Lightroom doesn't. After using capture one and researching a bit about it i found out that professionals use it more often than not. Also i found out that my uni was actually starting a capture one course costing about £350, and if passed this gives me open access to capture one and a nice certificate which will look really good with my C.V. 

Terry Richardson

terry has a very unique style of using flash which emphasis the harsh nature of the flash he uses

Terry Richardson
http://www.highsnobiety.com/2012/11/07/barack-obama-by-terry-richardson/
terry Richardson uses fill flash in a white studio to create harsh on the backdrop he has also deliberately cropped out some of the frame, the flash adds a sophisticated feel to this shot.

here from the same shoot head and shoulders a better example of portraiture, and the rules of portraiture

Ladies final prints 

This came out a self directed project, it was a challenge to say the least being the first self written brief. So i thought about me, and the fact that iv always got on better with females than i have males and that brought about whats here.

Really happy with the outcome, all came together a bit last minuet but don't all the best things? 

  

Kristal Rutty 

Rochelle Oliphant 

Steph Reed 

Rose Llewellyn

the ideas is that they are viewing themselves being themselves, which you can not really see from the way they are layed out on here.

Learning Agreement

Name:  Reece Handley                         

Programme: BA honors Photography                  

Level: 5                           

Module:                         

Module Code:             

Credit points:              

Study hours:               

Tutor(s): Jamie                         

Synopsis of study

        I plan to take photographic portraits of my female friends, using medium format. The reason for me only taking photo’s of my female friends is because I have more female friends than male friends and I have always got on better with females than I have males.

        I will be using Hasselblad exclusively for this project as I find the square format of the negatives easier to work with than large format, but feel as though it gives more detail than 35”mill.

        I will hand in prints, one of each of the friends I shoot, along with the negatives. The prints will be hand made c-type’s, the prints will be presented in a presentation box along with the negatives. For the shoot its self I aim to keep it as simple as possible using natural light where possible, and when not I will use one positional light.

        I aim to do these photographs in the style of Irving Penn and Steve Pyke, as I feel the simplicity of there styles will work well with what I plan to do.

       

Aims 

.  I aim to take Photographic portraits of female friends

. I will use Medium format

. I aim to shoot min three rolls

. I will make hand printed c-type prints

. i will endeavor to KEEP IT SIMPLE

. I aim to photograph in the style of steve pyke and irving penn

       

Learning outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes — Knowledge and Understanding	ü
§  Demonstrate an ability to experiment  (Evidence of extended subject knowledge) (Ability to generate and negotiate ideas)	ü
Learning Outcomes — Cognitive/Intellectual Skills	ü
§  Apply a creative thought process in the production of images (Evidence of individual focus for ideas development)	ü
§  Develop and explore a range of ideas (Evidence of linking theory to practice in problem-solving) (Evidence of intellectual enquiry)	ü
Learning Outcomes — Practical/Professional Skills	ü
§  Demonstrate a range of advanced techniques and processes (Increasingly independent application of practical, technical and professional skills)	ü
§  Select and use a range of materials and equipment  (Increasingly independent application of materials, equipment and technologies)	ü
§  Apply knowledge and skills in the planning of special projects (Evidence of intellectual enquiry)	ü
Learning Outcomes — Key Transferable Skills	ü
§  Communicate effectively in a range of formats (Evidence of appropriate communication skills) (Evidence of appropriate IT skills)	ü
§  Ability to manage own work and increase independence  (Ability to manage own work with increasing independence)	ü

Assessment Requirements

I will produce a series of new portraits (minimum 6 prints) to be handed in portfolio sleeves and box.

I will produce a Research Journal / blog which reflects the exploration development of project work and idea generation

Action plan/time plan

First week : research and blogging

Second week : shoot and process

Third : print and process

        

 

Steve Pyke

the black backdrop works well with the natural lighting, the tight focus on the face also works well
contasty and gritty

Steve Pyke

i realy like his use of natural lighting, the idea that this makes things simple is also great
but in practice this is not always the case as you can never control the weather

http://hungryeyemagazine.com/the-daily-eyephotographer-steve-pykediscusss-his-approachto-his-still-life-imagespart-one/

Irving Penn
theirs an air of mystery to this shot, half his face is in shadow and the high collar and hat all add to it

http://www.photographyoffice.com/2011/01/classic-fashion-and-celebrity-photography-by-irving-penn/

Irving Penn
http://www.photographyoffice.com/2011/01/classic-fashion-and-celebrity-photography-by-irving-penn/

the focus here is clear as everything else falls away and fades to black, her face stays prominent and theirs a real connection between the viewer and the subject through the eyes

 JFK
Richard Avedon
 you only get to photograph people like this by being one of the best at what you do, and Avedon is that and more. all taken with a medium format camera



Marilyn Monroe

























                                               Tilda Swinton






http://ffffound.com/home/dolan/post/
http://malengall.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/richard-avedon.html
http://loveisspeed.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/richard-avedon-photographydivine.html

Richard Avedon
http://youthvoices.net/discussion/richard-avedon
Avedon probably the best known medium format photographer
love the contrast-y-ness to this shot it adds a real sense of grittiness that Avedon achieves a lot of the time, also the blank white backdrop brings the subject forward and makes him stand out

Irving Penn
http://www.shotnlust.com/Irving-Penn

portrait by Irving Penn, it is a close up shot and there is balance between the light and shadows that creates harmony . i assume its medium format.