Portfolio Image Critique

The next stage of my final photography project is to write a critical evaluation of the development of the project, the success of your objectives, an awareness of an audience, appropriate decision making for the exhibition and presentation of the work.  This post will review three of the 12 images that were submitted for the portfolio looking at technical and artistic elements.

Image 1

This is my favourite image from the collection; there is an ethereal glow to the light dancing on the sand and the reflection of the cooling towers on the sand looks like it could have been there in real life, seamlessly blending the two images from completely different locations.  As a single image the cooling towers create an imposing feeling in the viewer from their monolithic size and thoughts that are conjured in the viewer's mind through association with the vapors and gasses emitted into the air.  When viewed in conjunction with the beach scene it reminds the viewer of the very real things this pollution could impact upon; therefore communicating the intended message of raising awareness of the damage humans are causing to the environment.

The image uses a wide depth of field so that all elements in the frame are in focus.  There is some lens distortion to the top of the cooling tower on the left which can be distracting as it is the most prominent tower.  This will require further work in post-production before the image is printed for the exhibition.

The eye is drawn up the image, with the seagulls landing and taking off first capturing the gaze, then drifting up to the unexpectedness of the cooling towers.  Initially the image may be classed as a broad landscape photograph, however, on closer inspection the individual details of the scenery are revealed from the hedgerows and fencing trying to contain the towers, to the Another Place figures identifying the beach as Crosby Beach.

Image 2

Image 2 is an example of one of the macro perspective images from the collection.  It uses purple tones to merge an image of saltwater mussels and shells found on beach-combing trips throughout the UK with the graffitied word "FEAr..." found on the side of the sea wall in Margate, Kent.  This image is one of a pair, combined with another close-up of the shells found in rock pools, that was merged with a coating of petrol floating on water.  As a pair the colours work well to link them and strengthen the message, however, as a stand alone image, this does not work so well.  As part of the collection the word seeks to reinforce the message of the sometimes unknown damage that is being done to our environment with human hands.  As an independent image this could be interpreted as fear of the sea and what can be found in it, rather than the intended message of the project.

The mussel in the bottom left-hand corner is out of focus, however, this is hidden by the filmy sheen of the wall the graffiti was sprayed on.  Also the translucency of the wording makes it difficult to clearly read the writing.  If I was to make this image again I would like to experiment with a more staged approach to the arrangement of the shells, using their shape to help spell out the wording and support the message.  None of the images from this project were artificial scenes, and so this approach may not fit with the 'found' and natural elements of the project, but would be worth exploring to see if it produced a more aesthetically pleasing image.

Image 3

The third image is one of three images intended to be displayed together that feature the white chalky cliffs of Kent.  I love the drama of this image, with the majestic cliffs seemingly dwarfing The Shard, the tallest building in Europe.  The repeated triangle shapes of the building and arch in the cliff strengthen the viewer's enjoyment of the image, bouncing the gaze along from left to right, ending in an awe-inspiring blue expanse of sky.

As with the Image 1, this uses a wide depth of field so that all elements of the photographs are in focus, the viewer could even read the bus stop location of St Georges Circus if they so wished.  However, the bus stop and construction boards do provide some clutter to the image; taking them out, or recomposing the scene, may improve the image and more effectively concentrate the gaze on the buildings.

As a sample of the Looking into the Depths project, these three images show the different macro and micro perspectives that were explored.  I will extend this critique process to the remaining nine images and use this, alongside Assignment 2: Critical Reflection to inform my choice of final images to be displayed at the exhibition in June.

Portfolio Submission

It is very nearly assignment deadline time.  Since the beginning of October I have been working on a personal photography project for my final year at university.  This assignment required me to demonstrate my research and exploration of an in-depth photographic project.  We were given free rein on the choice of topic and I chose to focus on the damaging affects we are having on our coastal areas.

My research has given me an insight into how other photographers and creatives portray this subject and the many different ways of getting this message across to an audience.  In this blog I have discussed why I decided to focus on this theme; the research undertaken; experiments I carried out with cyanotypes; the history of photography exhibitions and their audiences; the charities and organisations working on these issues; and other artists who have exhibited their work.

Working on this project has been thoroughly satisfying, not because I am heartened by the news stories I have come across, far from it, but because I had the opportunity to work on something I feel very passionate about.  If only one person who sees my images has a rethink about changing their recycling habits, or conserving water, or turning off a light when they are not that room, I feel I will have achieved what I set out to do at the start of this project.

Here are my final 12 images that will be submitted for my assignment.

Final images produced for "Looking into the Depths" project

Curation and Exhibition Research for Looking Into the Depths

With a final few tweaks to go and some paperwork to finish off, my personal photography project portfolio is nearly finished.  I now need to start researching in further depth how I will exhibit this collection of images in May.

We have a gallery space on campus for around 10 of us to display our work and this will be divided between us, but as yet we are unaware as to who will have what space, and how much of it.  I will start my in-depth research based on this space and adapt my idea once I have more details on how the space can be used.

In keeping with the environmental theme of my project I would like the viewer to feel as if they are at the coast when they come to my section of the exhibition.  I want to create an impression of bringing the natural world inside and make this an experience for the viewer.  I need to fully consider the logistics for how I can achieve this however, I would like to combine my images with unpleasant smells from the pollution depicted, such as drains, stagnant water, smoke.

Here are a couple of examples of environmental exhibitions:

In February 2015 Nemo 33 hosted an underwater photography exhibition of the work of Fred Buyle.  14 large format prints could be seen through windows, or by free diving or scuba diving into a swimming pool in Brussels.  Buyle is a free diver who captures unique moments of marine life who also works with marine biologists to assist them with their field work.

Image courtesy of Fred Buyle

Judith and Richard Lang unceasingly comb the beaches of California clearing them of plastic and then use that marine litter to produce works of art that are sold for hundreds of dollars and exhibited in galleries and museums from Singapore to San Francisco.  Half of their net profits go towards Ocean Recovery Alliance, a Californian charity that co-ordinates projects to help improve our ocean environment.

Image courtesy of Judith and Richard Lang

The Tate Sensorium use advanced technology to replicate the five senses and bring a whole new dimension to experiencing art at the Tate Britain.  The BBC World Service broadcast full details the Tate's IK Prize 2015 winner created by Tom Pursey and Peter Law of Flying Objects.

Image courtesy of BBC World Service

I will continue my research into how I can use these exhibitions, and others, as inspiration for my own exhibition.

Looking Into The Depth Project Update

I have been working on this photography project for four months now and it is now starting to feel like the end point is in sight.  I have seven blended images that I will use in my final portfolio and five more to work on so that they are a cohesive body of work.

The images that have made the cut so far are expansive landscape vistas and the blending is not jarring in any way or does not look too harsh.  The images I am struggling with are those that are closer to the subject of the image, so scale is sometimes an issue.

As in this image, the seagulls and cigarettes don't look quite right as the cigarettes are a lot larger than the seagulls, which is not the case in real life.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be experimenting with other images in post-production to get the blending as smooth as possible and so that the final photograph does not shock the viewer.  I want the portfolio as a whole to generate a reaction in the viewer, not one or two images that feel they do not fit in the project and so take the emphasis away from the key theme of raising awareness of the impact humans are having on our coastal areas.

In Other News...

An advert on Channel 4 had caught my eye recently, Drones in Forbidden Zones, as the cooling towers looked very similar to those I had photographed at Willington.  Low and behold, it was one and the same location.  The video is less than three minutes and well worth a watch.  It includes stories from people who worked there, it is so much more damaging to the environment than I realised.  It makes you think when you see the farmers' fields so close to somewhere that handled radiation, would any of that seeped into the crops that end up in our food chain?  Just as the plastic in our oceans ends up in the fish that gets served up on dinner plates.  Food for thought.

Making It Count

Its my second week back at university and the assignments are coming thick and fast now.  After my trips out over the Christmas holidays I am starting to feel like my final photography project is coming together now.  I've spent time in the digital darkroom blending images together to see how they work and if this idea would be successful, and good enough to submit as my final piece of work.

So far I'm pleased with the results, some are working better than others, but I've still got a few weeks before my deadline so have time to tweak and work out how I can group the images so that the final body of work is a cohesive one.

Here's a couple of my favourites:

And one I'm not so sure about:

I'd love to know what you think.

Making This Project Count

As my project is about the affect pollution and humans have on our shorelines I wanted to link it with charities that work to protect the coast.  There are so many more out there than I thought there would be and it seems like it is becoming more widely reported in the media.  Which I know is a bad thing because of the levels of pollution and damage that is being done, but it also has to have a small silver lining because it is raising awareness and emerging in more mainstream media.  For example, the article More Plastic Than Fish in the Sea by 2050 was published in The Guardian and features comments from  Dame Ellen MacArthur, who broke the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2005.  I sincerely hope, by making more people aware of these atrocities we can start to make changes and reduce the damage that is being done.

To do my little bit to help I would like to support three charities through raising awareness of them at my final exhibition.  They are:

• Two Minute Beach Clean
• Surfers Against Sewage
• Break the Bag Habit

Two Minute Beach Clean is breeding a community of beach-loving volunteers helping to rid the world's beaches of marine litter and plastic pollution two minutes at a time.  People are encouraged to spend two minute picking up rubbish on their next visit to the beach, take a photograph and post it on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #2minutebeachclean.  Why not give it a go and earn some social media fame.

Surfers Against Sewage is an environmental charity protecting the UK's oceans, beaches and waves so they can be enjoyed long term.  Their campaigns include targeting marine litter, protecting our waves, improving water quality, taking action on climate change, and increasing the education around these issues.  Take a look on their website for what is happening in your region and how you can support this cause.

Break the Bag Habit is a campaign targeting the reduction of single-use bags.  Not only do they contribute to litter on our streets, but they use resources such as trees and water to produce them, and take over hundreds of thousands of years to break down.  You'll also save on the 5p bag charge introduced by the Government last year.  Win win.  Its easy to sign up to the pledge and shows your support.

There are so many more I could mention, but it all gets a bit overwhelming so I have chosen those mainly targeting the UK and are easy to build into your daily lives.  We've all heard the messages to turn off lights when we're not in the room, to not leave the tap running when we are brushing our teeth, but what else can you do to reduce waste?

Happy New Year - Plans for 2016

Happy New Year!  I hope you enjoyed the fireworks last night and are starting 2016 off with lots of good intentions.  I’m not really one for New Year’s Resolutions, but I do have a few goals that I want to achieve this year.

This is it, my final year at university and it will all to be decided within six months time.  I’ll be shooting and soaring, bounding and leaping, into a brand new career and way of life.  How very exciting, and not even a little bit scary (well, maybe a morsel).

As have a lot of people, I've been thinking about what I learned in 2015 and reviewing the year.  It feels such a long time ago now, but back in February I organised an American Pancake Brunch with my fellow Event Management students; went to Costa Rica for five weeks in May learning Spanish, saving turtles and bird watching at an eco-lodge; and started planning what I'd like to do when I graduate university.

I've read a few other blog posts in the run up to the big NYE and a couple stood out for me.  The first was Monica Galvan's Choose to Live a Creative Life and the phrase "create more than you consume".  It's going to be my phrase (I couldn't do just one word as I know some people have) for 2016.  I want to create many new and beautiful photographs, and be more mindful about the products I purchase.  Could I buy handmade instead?  How will I discard what is being replaced and avoid my waste ending up in our oceans?

And the second was Beverley from Pack Your Passport's In Defence of Spending New Year Alone post.  My past few trips have been with other people and this post reminded me of the sheer satisfaction in travelling to a new destination alone, I am thinking about going on a trip when I graduate and at the moment leaning towards going back to New York, always a winner, but should I go somewhere I've not been before?  Maybe I'll create a Pinterest board with my options.

So these are my goals for 2016:

1) Review the images I have for my personal photography project and build a strong portfolio.
2) Plan and curate an exhibition of my final images in celebration of completing the project and promote awareness of what is happening to the vast seas and oceans of the world.
3) Graduate from university with a degree in Digital Photography and Event Management.
4) Continue to develop my photography skills (just cos I graduate, doesn't mean I stop learning).

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions and/or goals for 2016?  What are your plans for this brand new year?