Physical Experimentation

Physical Experimentation

As part of my experimentation I decided to make a physical final piece. I wanted the final piece to reflect the ideas that I have been exploring throughout my work. Below I have shown my ideas for this final piece and how I carried out these ideas.

Final Piece Ideas

How I created my physical final piece

In order to create my final piece I used:

• A perspex box
• Spray mount
• A paper trimmer
• Each of my photos

Firstly I used a paper trimmer to cut the white border around each of the images.

I then measured the photos against the box and made a small mark as to where they needed to be cut.

I then used the rota trimmer to cut the images according to where I had made the mark.

I then used spray mount to carefully stick each image onto each side of the cube.

This is the final outcome.

The Final Outcome

Below are photos of my final piece. I have taken a photo of each side of the cube and then also some from a different perspective.

I think this final piece is successful because I have been able to convery the idea of 'the business of London's train stations'. I like the use of geometry as I feel this is cohesive with the rest of my project. The main focus of the cube is movement which I feel has been successful when creating the final piece. I would have liked the images to have fitted exactly onto each face of the square however if the photos were exact squares then they would be slightly distorted which I did not want. I think this final piece strongly reflects the work of my photographer research due to the images themselves. For example the photos use a harsh contrast (Andre Kertesz) and a wide depth of field (Ed Ruscha). I also feel as though the cube itself is strongly related to elements of Andre Kertesz's images due to the use of lines and geometry. Furthermore the use of line was highly inspired by some edits from my preparatory shoots. An example of this is my editing from shoot 8. These edits use lines to distort and image and make it seem sligtly unrealistic. There is an example of this below.

Each photo I used during my final piece held a different meaning in regards to London's train stations. This was because they were all in different locations with many different people within the photo. I feel as though putting each of these photos together created a piece that represented the diversity of the people using the London Underground and just purely how many people use this and take this for granted every single day. The use of movement within this final piece also has many different connotations towards the business of London train stations. I think that due to the fact that I have deepened the contrast and the movement makes people in the images unidentifiable this has connotations of people using trains not noticing other people around them and not acknowledging the thousands of other people who are on the train. I like the idea that you can see different photos depending on which angle you are looking at the cube. I feel as though this represents a real life scenario when people are walking through the train stations as they will only be able to see certain things from certain places. I think this makes my final piece more personal and reflects real life.

Computer Experimentation

Computer Experimentation

Within my final portfolio of images I have decided to include certain techniques thst I have explored throughout my project. Below I have expained how I have used each of these techniques and I have shown a before and after photo so that it is clear exactly what difference the technique has made to the photo. The techniques I have chosen to explore are dodge and burn, the grain effect, creating collages, overlaying different images, selective colour and overlaying different photos to create one image.

Dodge and Burn

Firstly I opened the image in photoshop that I wanted to use. I then created a layer mask.

I then used the curves tool to create an extremely harsh contrast, making the entire image dark.

Once this was completed I selected 'edit' then 'fill'. I ensured that the contents was set to black.

 

I then used the paintbrush tool with the colour set to white.

I lowered the opacity and increased the brush size and then painted over the areas that I wanted to darken.

This process can be repeated but altering the curves tool to make the imsge brighter. The rest of the steps are the same.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

Using the grain effect

In order to add a grain effect onto my images I opened the image that I wanted to use in photoshop. I then selected 'filter' then 'filter gallery'. I selected the texture section and clicked grain. This allowed me to adjust the intensity of the grain and also the contrast. I increased the grain to 60-70 and clicked ok.

BEFORE

AFTER

Creating collages

Firstly I created a new canvas, ensuring that it was landscape.

I opened the images in photoshop that I wanted to use. I then clicked cmd+A and cmd+C to copy each image. I then pasted them into the blank document by pressing cmd+V.

Once all of the photos had been put into the documet I selected cmd+T to resize and move the photos into their desired position.

I then used the crop tool to ensure there was an even amount of white background around the outer edge.

BEFORE

 AFTER

Overlaying different images

In order to overlay two different images I opened both of the photos that I wanted to use in photoshop. I then copied and pasted one image over the other ensuring to decrease the opacity of the image that I layered over the top.

BEFORE

AFTER

Use of selective colour

In order to use selective colour I altered the image that I wanted to use to black and white. I then selected darker colour in the options panel as you can see above. This bought out the dark colours within the photo. Then using the adjustements panel for the black and white alteration I could enhance certain colours that had been bough out in the photo. Alternatively I could also remove some of the colours that photoshop had automatically enhanced.

BEFORE

AFTER

Using elements of multiple images to create one image

Firstly I used the ruler to create guidelines within my image. When I was completing these edits the guidelines altered depending on what photo I was using. When completing the edit above I created lines 1cm apart.

I then used the marquee tool to select every other section.

I ensured that ths icon was selected because this allowed me to make multiple selections at one time.

I then copied and pasted the selected parts onto the other image that I wanted to use.

 BEFORE

AFTER

Shoot 10

Shoot 10

Plans for my shoot

Artist Influence - Andre Kertesz

The main idea that I would like to take from Andre Kertesz when completing this shoot is the harsh contrast that he uses within his photos. I like the way he selectively uses black and white to draw your attention to certain parts of the photo. I would really like to experiment with contrast when editing my photos. I also feel very inspired by Andre Kertesz's use of lines within the image above. I feel as though I would like to incorporate line within my photos, particularly when considering the edits of the images. Overall my photos will have a relation to Andre's images because he photographs train stations and this is the basis of my project. I would also like to incorporate Andre Kertesz's use of line within my final edits, including my final piece. I like the idea of adding the formal element line to photos as I feel it gives the image structure.

Contact Sheet

The aim for this shoot was to take photos using a wide depth of field in a busy train station. I travelled to King's Cross station in London to take my photos. I think this shoot was successful in many areas. This is because I aimed to capture the business of the station and I feel as though this was possible. A slightly unsuccessful element of my photo shoot was that during some of the shoot I did not use a tripod. This was because as I was walking around I took photos of certain things without having the time to set up my tripod. I feel as though due to this reason my composition could have been improved.

My Best Images

1/125    f/3.5    ISO 100

1/125    f/3.5    ISO 100

1/125    f/3.5    ISO 100

1/125    f/3.5    ISO 100

I have chosen the first four photos as some of my best because I like the use of a wide depth of field within these images. I feel as though the wide depth of field shows the business of the train station effectively. I also like the fact that one of the images has been taken within the crowd at the station beause this makes this image slightly more personal. This station had very interesting architecture due to the contrast between the old building that still remians in the centre and the newly built station around it. I think that this contrast is very interesting.

1/120    f/3.5    ISO 100

1/120    f/3.5    ISO 100

I have chosen the above two images as my best because I like the composition of these images. I feel as though the photos the photos are interesting because the large structure that is in the photo is blocking out some of the image and also some of the people within the images. I think that this is effective becsuse it adds a sense of question to the images and may draw the viewer in to the photo due to the questions that it raises.

1/25    f/3.5    ISO 100

I have chosen this as one of my best images because I like the way this is focusing on one person within a crowd of hundreds that are at the train station. When taking this photo I used a slightly slower shutter speed. This did result in certain parts of the image being slightly under or over exposed however I wanted to capture the movement of the people on the lower level of the train station because this contrasts with the man standing still waiting. I would like to use the burn and dodge tool in photoshop to alter the exposure and brighten certain areas of the photo.

Images that require improvement

 1/125    f/6.3    ISO 200
The image above requires improvement because it is under exposed. This image is underexposed due to the aperture that I used being too high. By using a slightly higher aperture the lens opening became smaller, letting less light into the camera. This was one of the first images I took therefore when continuing with my shoot I lowered the aperture.

1/25     F/3.5    ISO 100

The image above requires improvement because of the composition of the image. When taking this photo I wanted the hand rail to act as a leading line within the photo however I do not feel that tis was very effective. After taking this photo I focused more on the general business of the station as I felt this worked better.

Camera Settings and Equipment

To complete this shoot I used a canon eod 400d. I used a tripod to capture some of the images however there were times that my tripod was not set up and I wanted to capture a particular scenario. When completing this shoot my camera settings slightly differed throughout the shoot. I mainly used a shutter speed of 1/125. This was due to my aim for this shoot being to freeze motion rather than capture the movement of people. I mainly used an aperture of 3.5. This was because the train station did not have a lot of light within it therefore I needed to use a slightly lower aperture in order to get photos that were evenly exposed. Throughout the shoot I mainly used an ISO of 100. This was because although I was in a train station there was natural lighting and I did not want the images to be over exposed.

A03

This shoot is closely linked to the exam paper because I have focused on train stations throughout and this is another shoot based on a London train station. This also links to my preparatory shoots because I have mainly focused on large, busy stations. I have also looked at other stations that are not as busy to show the variety of train stations in London. I also feel as though this shoot shows the diversity of people within London because there are so many people within each shot. This shoot has very close links to the photographer Andre Kertesz because I am photographing train stations and enhancing the contrast of images. This photographer is in the exam paper and has been a large inspiration and influence throughout my project. This shoot links to my preparatory shoots because it focuses on the idea of large London stations and also the fact that this shoot continues to use a wide depth of field shows cohesion throughout my project. This idea is something I have explored throughout and have continued to explore when looking at my exam shoots.

What techniques will I bring into my portfolio?

After combining elements of grain, distortion, selective colour, dodge and burn and contrast within the edits I have produced in regards to this shoot I would like to take some of these techniques further when creating my final portfolio of images. The main elements I would like to incorporate are using the grain effect, harsh contrast within the images, selective colour and I will also use elements of dodge and burn. Although I think that distorting the image is creative and alters something that you may see everyday I do not feel as though this will fit with the rest of my images as well as the other techniques that I have explored. I would also like the combine this with the collaging technique that I revisited in shoot 9.

Edits

First Experimental Edit - dodge and burn and harsh contrast

Firstly I created a background copy.

I then created a layer mask on the background copy.

I then used the curves tool to create a sharp curve and darken the entire image.

Once this was done I then selected 'edit' then 'fill'. I ensured that the contents was set to black. I then used the painbrush tool, ensuring the colourwas set to white and I darkened certain areas of the image. I also lowered the opacity of the brush so that this was not too harsh. I then repeated the above steps but used the curves tool to make the entire image lighter. I then chose certain areas of the image to brighten.  

I then used the black and white tool to alter the image to black and white. Whilst doing this I used the control panel to adjust the contrast of each of the colours appearing in the original photo.

I then used the curves tool to further enhance the contrast of the image. This made my work strongly relate to Andre Kertesz's work.  

Second Experimental Edit - distorting the image

Firstly I altered the image to black and white. I also adjusted the contrast of each of the colours within the original image to create a harsh contrast.

I then used the curves tool to further deepen and enhance the contrast.

I then used the ruler. I did this by selecting 'view' and then 'rulers'. I then used the ruler to create guide lines so that I was able to select equal parts of the photo.

I then increased the canvas size to the dimensions above.

I then used the marquee tool to select each part of the photo. Once I had selected one element of the image I used the move gool to slightly move it to the side. I then ensured to deselect that area before moving onto the next section.

The above screenshot is the final result.

Third Experimental Edit - distorting the image including selective colour

In order to add selective colour to the distorted edit adjusted the options to 'darker colour' as you can see above. This bought out certain colours within the image which I was then able to adjust using the adjustments within the black and white tool.

My Final Images