Location Documentary, EDFAT & Photo Essay.
Context- This project is night landscapes and water reflections, i have decided to choose these topics because I only have time to go shooting at night and the roads are not busy at night so i can safely crouch low down to take the reflection photographs, the street lamps add light/glow to my photographs which can be seen on the left photograph further down the page.
Research- I researched night landscapes and reflections on google and found Brassai and Todd Hido who did the topic that i am currently doing myself.
Problem Solving- I originally wanted to do water reflections but the problem with that was there was a lack of rain so i did an after dark series running along side my reflection project so my solution to my problem of the lack of rain was to have a theme running at the same time as the reflection project.
Planning and Production- I originally planned to go out shooting at night at twlight or just afterwards which will give the pictures more depth.
These two photographs are from my reflection project, there are more but these are a personal favourite.
Practical skills- I have learned how to use a curb as a tripod what i mean by this is i would place the camera on the curb and steadily press the shutter button down to focus and shoot without causing camera shake.
Evaluation and reflection- During this project I have taken both after dark and reflection photographs, they came out very well however one thing i would change is i would do a lot more and i would travel out to other places to photograph something different other than Southport, when reflecting back to the work i have done i would edit my photos to black and white to give the photograph more depth and make the photograph look better e.g. the lighting looks better in black and white as the street light appears orange/yellow on the photographs.
Presentation- I will be presenting my photographs through a slideshow/montage with music/background sounds that are relevant with the pictures that i have taken e.g. rain drops or slow/calming music by playing slow guitar strings or slow piano chords.
When a photographer wants to fine tune what they are wanting to photograph they will use a method called EDFAT which stands for:
E-Entire- This is a method considered by photojournalists for a great way of introducing their subject and their environment for readers and viewers to view.
D- Details- In order for your photographs to have greater detail you may need to move in close to the subject you are photographing, other lenses can be used to increase the depth of the photograph but you must pay attention to your surroundings.
F- Frame- Explore every aspect of your frame and move your subject matter, even the background elements can create a variety of images,remember to use the standard composition rules and do not just put the subject in the middle of the frame.
A- Angles- When taking a photograph think about what the same image would look like from a different perspective e.g. Low angle or have your camera on a slant, try to use a different angle to what you would usually do e.g, if you normally shoot from eye level try shooting from a lower angle for example waist height.
T- Time - The time refers to the shutter speed e.g, a fast shutter speed will capture action/fast movements and a slow shutter speed (a long exposure) will capture things that are still for a longer amount of time.
Photo Essay-
A photo essay is a set series of photographs which are made to create a series of emotions e.g. Sadness, happiness, eeriness.
a photo essay will often show deep emotional emotions, a photo essay can range from sadness to excitement e.g. black and white empty spaces to a portrait of someone showing happiness.
A photo essay can be based on anything that the photographer wants e.g. my photo essay is based on puddle reflections from a low perspective at night.