Evaluation

In this unit, we was focusing at location photography. Within location photography, we were working on inanimate object. In the end of the unit, we have created our showreel after doing numerous tasks and additional work. All these were helping us build up our ideas into creating this final showreel using all the techniques we have learned throughout this unit. 

Task 1
This task was like an introduction to this project. It kind of helped me understand as to how location can fit into different genres. It also set our minds to work with the indoors and outdoors locations. This helped us look at how lighting can give different effects on our images. Different lighting can give us different emotions whether it be dark, or bright. It was also a chance to explore different locations that we could use for our ideas. This task was very effective because it helped me mainly to understand how lighting can be effective in location photography.

Task 1b
This is the second half to task 1. This task was to bring our inanimate object in to our locations that we visited for the previous part. Looking back and evaluating myself, it makes sense as to why we did that. It kind of forebode how we needed to make our inanimate object fit into the location rather than just taking an image holding it straight ahead. This task was like a heads up for our final. Looking back, I must admit that my diptych ain't exactly the best, but all that pre work has allowed me to create an amazing finale.

Task 2
This task was broken up into two halves. The task was all about techniques. Firstly we looked at composition, specifically at format and angle. I think this helped me almost compare the different format and angles that could have been used. It also helped me understand the different effects each format and angle has on the image. Format can allow you focus on a wide perspective or a narrow perspective. Angles has different effects of giving the subject scale, and making them either big or small. These effects have influenced me in the way my images have turned out because I was really working with these techniques. The second half was about perspective, golden section and leading lines. This half in my opinion was really interesting to work on. I really think after doing this task, it has helped me how to take my images in an effective way to grab the viewers attention on the subject. I think it can be seen on my final image that I've really considered all these techniques and tried being flexible to work with them all. I am also proud of the images that were taken on the task considering it was done in a short period of time. I think it really illustrates what each technique has on the image.

Task 3
Now that we have learned what would make an image look effective, it was time to start planning. At that moment, I had forgotten about the inanimate object I was going to go with. So then I had a look at the ideas I came up with and thought that the egg was the most effective because I can get the most shots from it. It was going to be a quirky and a creative idea because I was thinking of drawing faces on my egg. I just thought of making these as creative as I can because I was inspired by looking at some animations - although this task wasn't relating to animations. It was a similar technique of using inanimate objects bringing them to life. After deciding with the egg, I started to plan my shots roughly so I had enough of 20 images minimum. That was when I was effectively referring some of the shots to the techniques we've worked on for our images. So it kind of set me a path on how to get the best images I could. After conducting that and making sure I had 20 images minimum, I started doing my storyboard. In the storyboard, I didn't want to just state what the shot was. So I included whether it was natural or artificial lighting depending whether or not it's indoors or outdoors because I was familiar with the locations I was planning to be working at. I wrote a small description of what the shot was and where it was located. Therefore, it was like all planned for when I went shooting. I also done some risk assessments to ensure that I am working in a safe location and decide to go for the photoshoots because most of the risks would be very likely if I was working immaturely which I was 100% certain I wasn't. 

The results of the photoshoots turned out really good. As I mentioned in the tasks, I wanted the hazy, evening look in my images and that really worked out. I used most of the techniques from task 2 for different effects. To give a few examples, I used high angle to make the egg look vulnerable and broken. This allows you to almost feel sympathetic for the egg. There was also some birds eye angle which give scale of the egg being on the ground. It also makes it small and gives a sense of reality. I used the landscape format because I think this suits location photography. It gives you a wider point of view. I used rule of thirds a couple of times because I was really intrigued to be developing this technique. I think this technique has worked well and does draw your attention to the subject. The locations in the photograph works well because I like the whole urban theme. The reason why I was inspired by urban photography is because it's almost bringing the egg into our world, on the streets. It works with the whole concept of inanimate object coming to life. If I didn't use location so appropriately, it wouldn't really have the same effect because there won't be that real life aspect. It would just be dull and not really focused on location if for instance if I decided to do it on a table. I think taking the subject to the outer world has really pushed my work from every task, research and planning.

The images indoors was also really effective. It fits well with the inanimate object because it's in the kitchen. I think this would set the showreel to work along with the outdoors image because it's showing a range of locations. I have the kitchen location where the egg fits and the outdoors location which doesn't necessarily happen everyday which makes the location very efficient. The kitchen images were taken under artificial lighting mainly with the cooking fan light. I think this has a good effect on my images because it makes the colours vibrant and makes it happy which was intended with these sets of images. The supermarket was also an indoor location that actually fits well with location. I had shown where the egg fits in on the shelves in the aisles and so forth. Those images were taken with artificial lighting but also some natural lighting coming in from the windows in the far end so it's supposedly mixed. I was really happy how I used the techniques in all these images too. It almost just gives self satisfactory for conducting all the tasks and linking it all together. These images are now all ready to be put together in my showreel. 

Task 4a
This task was researching about royalty free music and understanding the difference with copyright music. Then we had to pick our music for our showreel. I cracked on straight away and found some links with some copyright free music. Bearing in mind that I had to pick a range of different music for each mood I create. After having no hope with the first few links, it felt harder as I searched for my music. Then I came across Bensounds. This website had a modern touch which allowed me to really spend time on the website to find my ideal music. Then I found 3 music that would potentially work for my showreel. I think the music I selected is really effective because it suited the mood and emotions for my images in my head. I think I handled this task really effective by being selective with my music because I wasn't sure how it would be when we edit the showreels in terms of whether I can trim the music or not. So I had the thought of having the music start right from the start. I knew after this research task, we had to put our showreel together so it was just about trial and error to see whether the music actually fits with my images and emotions or not.

Additional Research
This background research just helped me imagine how location photography looks for each genre. I think it has made a positive contribution to my images with this whole urban street genre. Within the research, I also taken some additional images which weren't included in my final piece. I think the images wouldn't work because it would become all random, and my idea is to tell a story behind my showreel. This would make the showreel effective because it just shows how much effort has gone into making it come to life. Therefore, these images are just additional images using the techniques into practice from task 2.







Final Piece
Once all my idea and planning have come together to an end, I put all my research, planning, techniques and ideas together to make my showreel. My final piece in my opinion turned out better than I thought to be extremely honest. I don't really know where to start. So as I was editing the showreel, I resized and numbered all my images in a separate folder using actions then I added them all to the timeline. From my planning, I had a minimal of 20 pictures planned out initially and ended up with 50 for my final showreel. I think this makes my showreel flow better with the music so it's not too short overall or not too long with a minimal number of images all running for a long time, because that would only just lose the viewers attention.

All my final images - resized and numbered for ease,

I shortened the length of each frame to 2 seconds except the title and credits because time was needed to read the text. I think I gave it a nice time for the images because it's not too long nor too short. It is snappy and works well with the music. This was done effectively because it makes it quirky where it needs to be and emotional where you feel sympathetic. The music I selected from Task 4a has done me justice in this showreel. I feel like it works so well that I never imagined it to flow so fluently. I had to come across so many techniques on Photoshop as I was editing. Such as adjusting the fade in and fade outs because I used 3 different music. They all worked really well. The best thing in my opinions is the ending roll because I like how the text syncs exactly with music beat. It just makes the editing of the showreel look really professional. Another technique was to add some transitions for example before the end credits so it fades to black after the last image. Also included transitions in another frame just before the egg falls off the brick wall. This has been done so that when the image switches from the image with the egg to just the background, it doesn't look like it's edited in poorly where the background just changes focus. The black fade actually gives it this reinforcement effect that the egg has fallen like a tradegy. Then the next shot continues with the egg on the floor.

In addition, the text I used was from an external source. I didn't want to use the default fonts that were in Photoshop so i decided to go online and find the font I want. Then I did some technique where I cropped the text and did a background erase so it because transparent. Then i had to add a colour overlay because the default preview on the website is black so I changed it to white because our background is black. Then added that on to my showreel on top of a new layout for my title and ending. This actually just makes the showreel look more professional, and I think all that additional work was worth it. The font is very elegant in fine, and spaced out. Also works really well with the black background because the text stands out.

If I had to compare my work to anything to a certain extent then I'd say it reminds me of M&S with their advertisements on their adventure of food. I think this is where my inspiration comes from because of the way they use typography. They made this advert look very elegant and I think it just adds a nice touch of a good feeling the way they represent the food as the way they've been shot. I have also attached a link to the advert below so you can see the comparison with my work through my inspiration.

http://www.marksandspencer.com/s/mands-tv?intid=emtv_683_693_7463 

Font Website - The first font selected and I also cropped the Ace.

The M&S Advert Reference to my Typography.

As you can also see in the screenshot above, is the way they have included this graphical line element with the word 'In'. This has also inspired me to consider adding some graphical element to my work to make it look really slick. Then instead of the lines, I thought of adding banners behind the text with a low opacity and a low fill. The screenshots showing that is below.

Title with a Banner

However, in my opinion I think it looks better without it. I think it doesn't look very nice just going across the page. So i thought of having it without the banner. Although it may look very much boring having black and white font like no effort has been made, but I wanted it to look simplistic referring back to that advert. I wanted it to just stand out as it looks great spaced out. After trying with adding the banners on each text, I decided to call it quits and just keep it the way it is. Perhaps if I had extra time or if I could do anything to improve my work, I could try include a line instead like the advert had used. It just adds a little more extra detail in the titles.

Same font as title, for end credits.

Used the font as the website. (An exporting screenshot)

Here are the two stills of my credits. I also included the credit for my Royalty free music just out of courtesy. As I discovered from my research, the maker of the music will allow you to use the materials as long as they are mentioned. Also it just adds a nice touch to my showreel as the music is perfectly in sync with the beat, as each frame of credit appears. Then the ending music also fades out nicely too by using the fade techniques I discovered on Photoshop.

And there we have it, my final showreel.

- Day in the life of an egg.

Additional Research

Location Photography

Location photography is about going to your subject and taking images rather than your subject coming to you. There are various genres of location photography such as:

• Architecture
• Urban
• Rural
• Industrial
• Social
• Still life
• Fashion
• Documentary

These genres give you different themes, and there are locations that could fit these themes of genres. Location photography may require some exploring, and some new discoveries. I think that is an important skill that is required to do location photography. It is about finding these genres in different locations and explaining why they are there or how they fit.

Architecture

This is an example of architecture photography. It's showing these stairs that are all in built in a specific pattern that repeats throughout the image. I quite like the way it's composed on eye level giving it some scale that it's goes quite high up. Normally, architecture will misunderstood to be a building shot outside focusing on the way it's built or how it's constructed but it's not necessarily the case as most things can come under architecture because of it's structure.

Urban

Urban is my favourite genre for location photography. This image here is a bokeh light image of the streets. It's got this really street element to urban photography. This image actually reminds me of my image I've taken over the holidays of the motorway lights. Urban photography also doesn't just mean images like this. It can be images that revolve around everyday life and that's perhaps why i think i can relate to it the most. I like the dark and deep element that comes through on urban images.

Rural

This is a rural photograph. It has a nice sky view in the background and the front is a silhouette of wheat. This gives it this whole country element that rural is all about. I like the colours of the sky, this does connote that it's been taken while its sunset or sunrise. It's almost like twilight hours with the purpleness. However, i think the image is filtered slightly but i don't think it changes the colour of the sky, just makes it more faded.

Industrial

This is an industrial image. You can just tell by the clothing, the fire spark and you can almost see railway tracks. I think industrial does actually have a lot more ideas that can come under the genre. It can show industrialization and compare the present to the past. For instance, we used to have more horses on roads back in the days now we have access to petrol for cars. It can relate to our economy and show how things have developed. All these ideas link to how location can make a different to represent industrial.

Social

This image represents social photography. This genre can basically be anything with people. It's a very open genre and you can practically take anything from communication to just a bunch of people. However, the location photography is shown in the sense that the photographer has to shoot the picture somewhere where all the people were at.

Still Life

Still life photography is initially close up photography on inanimate objects. This is the sort of photography our project is. It is about making these objects coming to life in the way we compose the image and how we give it a perspective. Looking at this image, it is a high angle pointing towards a pair of glasses. There is also a crushed paper besides it. I think the high angle makes the glasses vulnerable and the paper is also used for an effect to show how the glasses is treated. Also looks like there's no glass in the frames neither. This looks like the photographer actually came to photograph the subject hence why it's a location photography because it's taken somewhere besides the studio.

Fashion

This is a fashion genre photograph. The concept of this image is that the subject i.e. the model isn't the one coming to a studio to get her fashion photographs taken. But the location is set outdoors giving it this street look. The location actually helps the way the clothes is represented whether it be streetwear or smartwear. It is all to do with the location.

Documentary

Documentary photography is documenting something in real life in most cases. This example i have here is an image of a poor child. This is actually based upon reality and the location is a key factor to show this poor kid. If there was no location, it would be just a kid who looks trampy. I think people can judge if the wooden frames weren't actually adding an effect. It almost contrasts with the boy's eye and it brings this sadness because you know it's about poverty. Hence why documentary is a well known genre to show facts based in this world.







Here's some additional images I've taken of my inanimate object based upon locations

Additional Images After Final Ideas

From this additional research, i wanted to do some images of my inanimate object in most of the genres that they fit in. But due to time, i had to just stick to my original idea. However, here are some shots i managed to snap of my egg in the snow and in this urban location. 

Snowy Days

It was such a surprise to see the town get hit with snow. It just meant it's the perfect opportunities to capture some additional images to show a range of locations. I really like how the egg is just sitting on this wooden fence near some snow. It just contrast with all the colours and I've also used the rule of third technique so your eyes instantly look at this egg.

Urban Location

This is an alleyway i came across. I like the light bar on top that goes across. This gives it this urban theme. I think this location fits this urban genre because it's very symmetrical and almost dark (if you just ignore the end of the tunnel) which gives it this street vibe.

Test

This image is in another alleyway. The hard thing about this project is picking an egg as my inanimate object because i'd have to include my hand in some of these shots because there was no where to place it - and of course eggs are really slippery so there was a number of occasions where they'd slip off my hands and crack on the ground. But i do think it still makes a good image just like we did with the diptychs.

Technical Folder

Task 4a

Royalty Free Music

Royalty Free Music/Copyright Free Music: is music that is available to use without having the need of permission because they aren't copyright materials. Most cases, you'd only need to give some credit to the artist in the description bar if your using it for Youtube purposes.

If you was to use copyright music, that would mean you don't have permission to use from the artist nor the record label. This would lead to serious consequences and you can be taken to court for breaking the law with copyright materials. If you have a look online, there is lots of royalty free music libraries available. Most Youtubers use royalty free music in the backdrop for entertainment purposes.

Some websites I found that have Royalty Free Music:

http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free

http://www.purple-planet.com

https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music






I think the best website i came across was this:
http://www.audionautix.com
This website allows you to search for copyright free music by the genre, mood and tempo you want. You can easily download music without having to sign up - nor do you have to pay.

I have found a few songs from this website that could possibly work for my showreel.

Cold Morning - This is an acoustic tune that has a calming mood. This would suit my work because it kind of represents a journey. It suits the theme in a day of an egg. It does slightly fit in the sad mood more than anything. Therefore it would fit my work when the egg is sad and cracks. I like it because it's soothing and not dramatically loud.

Second Nature - This is another acoustic that is medium in tempo and has a calming, relaxing tune. This would work with my showreel because it is just guitar strings and it doesn't focus on one emotion i.e. sad or happy. It is just a melody that is interpreted into your own emotions. I think this is a very generic tune that can be manipulated into the mood you require. It reminds me a lot of youtube videos that is just playing as a backdrop. I think it does have elements of journey because the melody is ongoing. This would fit with my work because it would be played constantly through and it brings this country element into the showreel.

Redwood Trail - Is a much lively acoustic, which has a catchy tune. It does have a calming tone to it like second nature but this has a more faster pace and a cheerful mood to it. I think it would fit in the happy bits of my showreel, but would require a sad tune too.

One Fine Day - This is a very slow paced acoustic. I like how this could just slow down the moment and it would help you pay attention to the images because it's not dramatic. It would accommodate with my showreel because it brings a relaxing/slow mood. Also, with my images, it would make you feel sad when the egg cracks but not so dramatically.

Scapes - This sounds like an electric guitar. I always thought of using acoustic because of the casualness and relax mode. But this tune is also giving this same mood in a different perspective. I think it's a tune that actually tells me that there are so many possibilities of tunes that would work for my showreel. This music actually does have gloomy effect on mood. It sounds like the music is almost faded. I think it would work on bits of my images not necessarily all.






Here's another website that i found some music on:
http://www.bensound.com/
This website has a small number of royalty free music. I think the website is very modern and it was easy to download an mp3 file.

Here's some songs I've chosen from this website that might work with my showreel:

Cute - This is a tune with a happy melody that is familiar in the Youtube world. It has a variety of instruments that make it all cheerful. This would work well in my shopping shots or the cooking shots. I think the tune is very catchy and instantly puts you in a good mood. It isn't so fast paced or dramatic therefore it has a nice touch of calmness.

Acoustic Breeze - This is an acoustic made up with some instruments. It isn't as happy and cheery as the one above but this also works well depending on the mood i want to create. I think this is very much generic and has a range of emotions coming through. I could see potential of this becoming sad or happy depending on what you're after.

Of Elias Dream - This is a very sad and slow tempo tune. It has some piano notes that really brings out the depressing mood out of us. It reminds me of death slightly because of the background instrument that goes on along with the piano notes. This is very similar music to the sort of things I've heard in certain movies and films when someone dies. Therefore i think this could work on the shots where the egg cracks and he gets abandoned by his other friends. 

Bensound - The website I decided to use for my final showreel.

Task 3 - Photoshoots

After the planning, i decided to start taking my photos. So these are the images that i successfully shot.

Contact Sheets

First Photoshoot - Indoors and Outdoors

Second Photoshoot - Indoors

I am really happy with my photoshoots. The images have been taken with different techniques that we've been focusing on the previous tasks. I have included a few rule of third images where the egg is not directly in the centre. There are loads of images using the worms-eye perspective for example on the brick wall with the egg box. There are some birds-eye views when i showed the pan with the egg frying up. There's also high and low angles in some of my pictures. The format is all landscape for my showreel. There was a few that turned out portrait but i either deleted them or rotated it. They adjusted portrait because my camera would just turn format as i took the image. The only struggle i had was some images of the cracked egg was taken upside down because the egg was really close to a wall so i had to adjust with the circumstance and then rotated it after.

Some Image Analysis

Using the Rule of Third technique

This image is of the cracked egg just as it fell. As i was taking this image, i was focusing on using the rule of third technique. This makes the viewer immediately look at the egg in the image. I like the way it's composed close up. This was taken under natural lighting and it also has this blue haze look that i was after because it was shot in the afternoon. The shell of the egg contrasts with brightness from the other colours in the image making it seem bold. 

High Angle

Here's a high angle image looking downwards at the egg. This can also be referred to worm's eye because it's taken nearer to the ground. I like this image because the high angle has an effect that the egg is all vulnerable and powerless. It also gives you a nice view of the cracked egg, where you can see the yolk inside and all the egg whites slipping out on to the pavement. The lighting is very hazy so it instantly gives it this sad emotion. I am really happy with these outside images. I think they are exactly the sort of images i was after. I think the closeness is also a treat because the focus is very sharp without even editing this image. I think all the pre-work tips on taking the image right at that moment has really taught me to push myself on this photoshoot.

Worms Eye

I like this image taken indoors. The way the image is focused on the fried egg right where the pepper is. Then you have the egg box in the back out of focus, kind of like a juxtaposition. The image was taken under artificial lighting. There light source was from a light on the fan, on top of the cooker. This adds some nice brightness to the egg making the yolk vibrant in colour with some shine on the egg whites. To compare these images to the outdoor images, you can mention how these brighter colours make the image give this happy mood because it's vibrant and bold.

High Angle

This image was taken when the egg was frying up. I like how the image is in clear focus and you can see the oil bubbling up and the flame underneath. I think the high angle here doesn't give much effect on mood. This just looks like a happy image because the colours and the egg is just starting to look yummy. The location indoors fits because its a kitchen and it's a close up of a gas cooker. The light on top just makes the image very real because if it was taken with the built-in-flash, the focus wouldn't be so sharp and the image will be over exposed.