i have been working on my website:
http://www.rebeccahudsonphotography.com
maybe spending a bit too much time on it! i keep on finding myself spending hours changing bits, adding images, retouching....
I think that a photographers website is a crucial part of their practice, as you can be producing award winning images, however if you don't have a website that will profile them well or that will do them justice then you may find yourself loosing work.
website should be clear, easy to navigate and simple and sharp!
I continually like to receive feedback for my website.
some feedback has been:
FRONTPAGE:
image is very large- need to make smaller so that it fits on one page
ABOUT:
Clare Hewitt - have i asked permission to use her name on my site?
PORTRAITS:
on the homepage for this section is just plain, should i put an image here? or maybe some writing as an intro to the work that the viewer is about to see in the two folders i currently have?
TRAVEL:
same as porttait section feedback
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Monday, 25 March 2013
i was reading.....
was interested in an article that i was reading. that spoke about the 'truth' of an image. and how a photograph can never identity in concrete terms this 'truth'. in a photograph we are shown a moment - a moment 'caught' 'stolen' or 'given' - and from this we are represented with certain visual details. I have though a lot about how truthful an image can be and is a huge subject for discussion. I think that an image isn't necessarily truthful, however what it does do is it lays down a mood/ feeling.
in this article there was a paticular sentence which really stuck out, as if i am honest i just DID NOT understand:
"Atmosphere and truth in flux are greater than absolutes or fixed meaning, and an antidote to the ineptitude of truth"
(i decided to highlight the words that confused me! )
in this article there was a paticular sentence which really stuck out, as if i am honest i just DID NOT understand:
"Atmosphere and truth in flux are greater than absolutes or fixed meaning, and an antidote to the ineptitude of truth"
(i decided to highlight the words that confused me! )
WHAT A MOUTHFUL!
so..... i decided to try simplify this, so that i understood.... and came up with:
atmosphere and truth within variation of images is much better than sticking to confines or fixed meanings. This creates a cure to the incapability of displaying truth
it still is a bit of a mouthful, but it does seem to make more sense! and i do agree with it. I think that this is why experimentation is good and i should ensure that i never feel myself falling into the confines of only producing work in a particular way.
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Image selection up to date!
I decided to go through the work that i had produced so far in this project and decide on which images i think have been my most successful and why! ( most importantly reflecting on why!!!!)
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Friday, 22 March 2013
After speaking to tutors about my prints. Overall the consensus was fairly similar to what i was thinking. Obviously being my first time using large format the images weren't going to be award winning standard! however Angus and Nick agreed that it was a good start for me.
It wasn't as clear when it was a smaller image. However the image taken of Fanny with the large format were slightly out of focus. and this became clear when i enlarged the images.
Therefore as Angus told me, i need to ensure my focus if accurate and that the camera is straight.
I spoke to them about how, like Roversi, I was interested in using natural light. They agreed that this would be a good experimentation to have and that i should obviously be aware that my shutter speed would be a lot slower and therefore my model would need to be patient.
It wasn't as clear when it was a smaller image. However the image taken of Fanny with the large format were slightly out of focus. and this became clear when i enlarged the images.
Therefore as Angus told me, i need to ensure my focus if accurate and that the camera is straight.
I spoke to them about how, like Roversi, I was interested in using natural light. They agreed that this would be a good experimentation to have and that i should obviously be aware that my shutter speed would be a lot slower and therefore my model would need to be patient.
Thursday, 21 March 2013
LARGE FORMAT
in total i took 6 images on the large format. Next time i think i may look at using colour film. now that i have a feel for how it works :) i think that need to enlarge some of these images. I think that the top right image is more successful than the top left as i feel there is a better tonal range. however in both i feel that there is too much white in the top half of the image and that my framing was off! i think that the bottom left image isnt as succesful as the previous image i posted in my last post of her. and the bottom right image was just a test!
Especially when using large format i need to be careful and really take my time and consider my framing.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!
i am excited to use more large format and to improve!
time for feedback and to chat to nick! :)
LARGE FORMAT
the result is......
LARGE FORMAT
i used large format for the first time! Frank was so helpful in reminding me and showing me what to do!
After processing them i then went into the dark room and created contact sheets.
TEST STRIP
starting with 8s, and with the contrast on 3
1st - 8s x 2 = 32seconds
2nd - 8s = 16 seconds
3rd - 4s = 8 seconds
4th - 2s = 4 seconds
5th - 2s = 2 seconds
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TEST STRIP SO........... i am going for 4 seconds, however i am upping the contrast to 4! lets see what happens! |
Large format
some technical stuff:
- using the 210 lens - if the bellows length = 210
NO COMPENSATION NEEDED
- if bellows = double the length of the lens, so...... 210mm lens = 410mm bellows extension
YOU NEED TO PLUS 2 STOPS
- if bellows = half the length aditional to the lens, so....... 210mm lens = 210 + 105 = 315mm bellows
YOU NEED TO PLUS 1 STOP
TODAY
i am using the 210mm lens and the bellows are 25cm. As a result i need to add half, so half a stop.
instead of adding stops i am changing the light instead as i want to keep at f.16. Therefore my light is now on 378
instead of adding stops i am changing the light instead as i want to keep at f.16. Therefore my light is now on 378
words!
need to get better with verbalising myself/ expressing what i am thinking/ looking at!
need to go back and look at talking more around my work!!!
time to go to library and get out 'graham clarke - the portrait' and 'the theatre of the face'
need to go back and look at talking more around my work!!!
time to go to library and get out 'graham clarke - the portrait' and 'the theatre of the face'
TIME TO READ!
shoot with Martina - this time in the studio!
1. i like that this is just showing the hair and hiding the face/ her identity. however you can slightly see the chair by the left hand side of her body and this looks tacky! |
2. this is a bit lifeless. It doesn't really engage with the viewer or tell us much about the subject pictured. Which i think is vital in producing a great image! |
not sure if this works with the jeans in the image,..... |
i like this idea of her being upside down... can't decide if it works?? |
THUMBNAILS
Black and white....
Shoot with Fanny
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4 |
purely focused on the hair! colour! i really like this image, i think that the framing works well and shows off the red hair well. |
5 |
this works much better in the studio. shows the hair colour off better. while still being able to see part of the face. |
6 |
facial expression isn't right in this image... however i like the movement in the hair here |
THUMBNAILS
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
My studio shoot
angus's tips
so... i will be using large format in my next studio shoot. Angus's tips:
- for 5 x 10 - 210 lens is the optimum lens to use
- ensure that i am using lots of bellows
- use f.16
fujilab.co.uk is a good website to buy film from
- pro 160
- fp100c (instant)
- 5 x 4 Polaroid (ebay)
Guy Farrow
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studio portrait - very focused and posed. the hair color is shown off well against the black backdrop. something i woudn't of considered (using a black backdrop) |
Matt Harris
Nadav Kandar
very posed
perhaps tooo posed for my liking. I think that i like something slightly more natural and softer (like spencer murphy's photography. For my work i am not sure that Nadav Kandars work is the most suitable to look at...
After looking at this work i was reminded of a project that she did entitled bodies: 6 women 1 man:
Paul Thompson
Close up, intimate portraits. Within my portraits i would like to look to photographing something intimate like this. looking at this work has made me consider that using the studio will give more of a definition to my portraits and is something i should look at using from now on.
spoke to angus
look at:
- Spencer Murphy
- Paul Thompson
- Nadav Kander
- Matt Harris (uses b and w film with a red filter)
- Bob noris
- Paul Noris
- Paul Murphy
- Guy Farrow
Tutorial with Nick
- how does my work exist through the wider work?
- pick apart essays/ reviews
- reading about portraiture - graham clarke (the portrait)
- read - the theatre of the face
- show that i am informing my project
- what do i want to leave with? ( commercial)
FOR SHOOT NEXT WEEK:
- large format and digital hasselblad
Monday, 11 March 2013
so what am i thinking??
up to date i feel that my research was at its strongest when i began this project. i feel that i need to include a lot more research and look into more photographers. i feel my shoots need more variety and hopefully i will achieve this through my next shoots. i need to book the studio and experiment in there as well as hoping to use the large format camera.
i need to start to think more about what i WANT and what i am looking to achieve. how do i envisage these images looking? the hair flicking with Andrea i feel was successful. unfortunately she isn't ginger but i do hope to recreate this with a shoot with someone who is.
Martina - being very photogenic/ natural in front of the camera. i feel this shoot was the most successful to date. however i need to re shoot her. i think in the studio and instead of the bland expression across the images.. look to get more from her like Roversi captures in his portraits.
With Daisy i was looking more at vivid colors and how this would work. it's very different from other work that i have done, however i feel that these images showcase the type of person she is.
Also VARIATION.... is good!
uncle paul was an interesting shoot... he has so much character.. however because of the light at the time it was very difficult to photograph him.
I have a lot i still need to do and i still feel that the main substance of work is missing from my project at the moment. I think in the comning weeks i just need to constantly be shooting and most importantly concentrate on getting feedback on what i am doing!!
not long now.... FINAL PUSH!!
i need to start to think more about what i WANT and what i am looking to achieve. how do i envisage these images looking? the hair flicking with Andrea i feel was successful. unfortunately she isn't ginger but i do hope to recreate this with a shoot with someone who is.
Martina - being very photogenic/ natural in front of the camera. i feel this shoot was the most successful to date. however i need to re shoot her. i think in the studio and instead of the bland expression across the images.. look to get more from her like Roversi captures in his portraits.
With Daisy i was looking more at vivid colors and how this would work. it's very different from other work that i have done, however i feel that these images showcase the type of person she is.
Also VARIATION.... is good!
uncle paul was an interesting shoot... he has so much character.. however because of the light at the time it was very difficult to photograph him.
I have a lot i still need to do and i still feel that the main substance of work is missing from my project at the moment. I think in the comning weeks i just need to constantly be shooting and most importantly concentrate on getting feedback on what i am doing!!
not long now.... FINAL PUSH!!
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Uncle paul - black and white
As I said in previous post - i wanted to try these two images out in black and white. And i am very happy with the outcome and feel that they work a lot better this way! The tonal range seems to adopt well in this gradient, as does the levels of light/ dark tones.
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Uncle Paul shoot with D800 and natural/ indoor light
2. Looking back i needed to light the beard more and have more of my concentration there. its a shame his eyes are shut here. Would of connected viewers more. |
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3. He is an avid smoker. Therefore wanted to show this, however slightly blurred the image. i think that this would look better in b and w. |
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4. AGAIN this yellow light! need to stop going back to it! this image is too much like an every day image that anyone could take. Nothing special about it! |
Thumbnails
Friday, 8 March 2013
9 weeks left!!
The plan may seem vague.. however is how i best plan things:
next 4 weeks - i want to continue to shoot lots!
i ant to do some studio based shoots
and continue with location stuff
MUST USE LARGE FORMAT.... at least once!!
then REVIEW!!!
1 more week of shoots! (concentrating on feedback and final outcome!)
final 4 weeks... post production... and sorting final image/ outcome!
next 4 weeks - i want to continue to shoot lots!
i ant to do some studio based shoots
and continue with location stuff
MUST USE LARGE FORMAT.... at least once!!
then REVIEW!!!
1 more week of shoots! (concentrating on feedback and final outcome!)
final 4 weeks... post production... and sorting final image/ outcome!
Daisy (shoot) using D800 and indoor light.
After looking at the work 'root ginger' by Jenny Wicks. It made me consider that perhaps i should try step outside of my comfort zone and shoot in a completely different style and see what i thought.
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Thumbnails
I think that from looking at the thumbnails here. It is clear that i am not taking a enough pride and thinking enough about my images. I don't even know where to begin in talking about this shoot. I knew from the start that the lighting was wrong - yet i continued and the outcome is shocking. The yellow light Never works and because the lighting is so shocking, the focus and overall look of the images just doesn't look or feel right. A lot of post production work was involved in producing the above images which i have singled out. images 1 - 5. This included colour enhancing and changing levels/ brightness and contrast.
The overall feel of these images is that they are heavily enhanced and while this may suit some photographers styles, i feel that with mine it just doesn't work and i feel that the images look fairly empyt as a result. Similar to how i found the images in the project ' i collect gingers"
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