Term 2 Week 1 Portfolio : Introduction to Portfolio

Portfolio

Life | Nature

samples

Editorial Genre: Life | Nature

Life | Nature: Interaction with nature photography

My aim is to move around the city and suburbs taking photos of different scenes incorporating Life (candid portrait) | Nature (Landscaping and trees). Documenting the way the photo is captured and effects. Capturing the different colours created by the reflections and shadows. Taking a series of people and trees in different times of the day going about their daily lives. The plan is to have a tree or trees in all the photos with some nature or life (candid, portraiture). Adding nature and life into the photos for example, birds, water, moon, sunset and people using trees to create a common thread.

Technique & Style:

• Natural and Night photography Photographs taken between dusk, dawn and in the evening. Using the light available from the moon or street lights, buildings using long exposure. Wide Depth of Field, little or no movement where possible. Movement could create motion blur or smoothing effects. This could be used to my advantage for different effects. A tripod is essential. 

• Black and White with special effects using contrasting photos. All photos will taking in colour.

• Shutter speed Fast shutter speed where possible, this may vary depending on the light and movement.

• Lens 70-200mm and 24-70mm using the two lens will allow me to capture a good range of both wide and narrow DOF. Using the Rule of Thirds and fore, mid and background.

Research for the project:

• Pinterest
• Internet, u tube technique and styles of photographers
• Creative Arts Library www.library.manukau.ac.nz online
Research books include: Eugene Atget's trees, Wilson Keith day & night photography, Day Debbie Photography Night methods 
• Creative Arts Library ebooks and PDF downloads
– Still Life and Special Effects Photography by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz
– Henri Cartier-Bresson by Thames & Hudson
– Two Centures of New Zealand Landscape Art by Auckland City Art Gallery
– Motion Picture and Video Lighting by Blain Brown
– Visual Creativity by Mario Pricken

Eugene Atget's trees above

• Lighting Research natural light to illuminate the area of focus. Use of external lights for example speed lights, reflectors, torches or soft boxes. Research to get a better understanding on how the light will effect the subject and enhance the photo. Lots of experimenting will give me better knowledge of end effect I would like to achieve.

Planning:

Week 1: Researching information

• Lighting timing of sunrise and sunsets for the effects on the photograph to create shadows and possibly reflection if it has being raining.

• Weather dependant 

Week 2: 
• Location doing research of different events happening around my suburb and central Auckland. 
• Discussion Concepts ideas on directions, challenges one to one discussion with lecture. 

Week 3:
• Testing different angles and shoots to see what is the best position.

• Candid shoots be ready all the time to take a shoot of the unexpected.

• Trees and Candid may not always work out, I may need to comprise and redirect to another location. Address different obstacles and checking equipment to complete the task.  

• Catologue each event so the information is recorded time, place and ideas in taking the photos. Record all information including underexposed, overexposed etc etc.