Here are my tutor's comments on Assignment 3 - my comments in response are in italics.
Overall Comments
An energetic submission and
you have practiced and considered how to capture the images taken. You are thoughtful
and questioning in your journal entries, and you are honest in your initial
reflection.
The prints presented are
very clean and crisp and your use of the paper to frame the image is bold and
confident. The printed interpretation of the mixed lighting has been well
controlled.
You have provided much
evidence of your exploration and reflection, could I also suggest you have
clear sections as the tags are so numerous that it is slightly difficult to
navigate your journey with coherence.
Feedback on
assignment
Demonstration of technical and Visual Skills, Quality of
Outcome, Demonstration of Creativity
Exercises:
The explorations into the differing lighting situations and challenges from
each different environment demonstrates the variety of choices you made and
type of camera used to capture the differing places and the issues that arose
because of these choices.
The
different angles show different positions well, I would like to see you with
more engagement with your angle of view too. This changes the viewer experience
too, it is like I was there! Always capturing a space at five foot five (or
there abouts) can be a very traditional approach, it is good to mix it up and
thus challenge the viewer and also for the case of buildings, challenge how you
see and observe it being used.
Assignment three
The
themes of space and use has great potential. Consider that in some ways the
place is not the important element, it is the function of the environment. You
are also playing with the ideas surrounding memory; places and experience help
us with this but of course the photograph is also a powerful tool in providing
a memory and also evidence.
You
explored a number of differing spaces and you have reflected on your own
approach to these environments. Consider that these spaces not only challenged
you technically but also your emotional response has been evident.
Mary
Rose Museum; The image of the outside of the museum is not very exciting, it
does look like you were not impressed with it! It is a capture of the building
and it may have been good to change your angle of view so really demonstrate
that dramatic design you recognize. The interior images are composed and
balanced, P911, is very graphic and it is interesting to work out which way up
it goes. The photographs work suitably as prints and at the size presented, the
high iso is not too noticeable.
Interestingly, I did try out a few different angles :
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| P970:F8 @ 1/100 18mm ISO 100 |
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| P968:F3.5 @ 1/400 18mm ISO 100 |
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| P969: F5.6 @ 1/125 48mm ISO 100 |
I think perhaps P968 gives a better idea of the ship design, P970 less so but places the building more clearly in its environment ; though I like P969 better as it looks just like the stern of an ocean going liner, particularly with the champagne bottle and glasses- a striking image. That said, I'm not sure that these last three images captures the impression of the overall design and footprint which i was trying to convey by way of setting the scene for the interior images.
The interior images are composed and
balanced, P911, is very graphic and it is interesting to work out which way up
it goes. The photographs work suitably as prints and at the size presented, the
high iso is not too noticeable.
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| P910 |
P910 This image has good use of light and
shadow to provide a good rhythm. I do wonder if you were photographing the
space or the objects? Or do the objects make the building?
I was photographing the space and how the gallery space on the left as we look into the image was being used to give the impression of the interior of a ship- though I can see that it looks more like the objects were the real subject. You can argue here that the objects made the building in that the design was very specifially chosen to portray the objects in a way that almost breathes life into them ; giving a sense of life and reality.
The image P912
(corridor) could have been made more dramatic with a lower angle of view to
reveal the wood detail rather than the lit wall.
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| P912 |
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| P912a cropped |
I tried a cropped version of P912 ....it's not taken from a lower angle but probably works better as I think that bringing the angle down lower would raise the view to above the actual wooden timbers on display showing more of the inside of the chamber. An alternative angle can be seen in P971 but here you can see why lowering the angle would likely have the same effect in reducing the view of the preserved timbers.I guess in terms of showing how the space is being used behind the window, P971 does work better?
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| P971: F3.5 @ 0.6sec 18mm ISO 1600 |
The P913 (glass cases),
although you comment that you feel this space was less successful in design as
it was less in keeping with the nautical shapes else where, this image is
interestingly seen with the layers of information and it does make you look
around the image at the different points of information and the engrossed viewer
informs this further.
East
Beach Café; You have captured this image in a real architectural style,
including the environment, the building as well as the people indicating the
function. The mix of colours and textures also works well, the print is bright
and colourful and the angle of view is challenging. P905, this image has some
good intent. The people against the dark building work well but I wonder if a
slightly different angle of view and providing more of the structure would be
more informative of the space? This print is a little light but only by a shade
as the road is quite bright. The interior shot, P907 is well exposed with good
straight lines, this demonstration of the purpose and function of the building
works well. A very clean and sharp print. Could the image also have been more
square on, showing the picture windows clearly framing the amazing views? Agree that a more straight on view framed by the windows would have been worth exploring though I'm not sure the view would look any more amazing ; more a question of being better framed.The difficulty that I had was the fact that the staff were quite anxious that I didn't take any images of their customers or disturb their enjoyment of the cafe..this made me feel quite in inhibited i.e more or less keeping to my table area which was not best placed to get a straight on view and using my mobile phone camera. I should perhaps have anticipated this kind of problem more before getting my coffee and sitting down!
The
other image is a document of the space, I wonder if an image to expose the
adaptation of the space because of its shape would have been interesting, for
example the bar in the ‘cave’ is fun.Yes, I think with hindsight that a closer shot of the bar area would have been more interesting..
Tate;
The image using the light and shadows is very graphic although the print is a
little dark so some of the other linear detail is lost. The people within this
great space also really add to our perception. The other images also look at
the industrial footprint of the space. The shop image, framed with a square
format while the glass is on an angle works well.
Spinnaker
Tower; The prints are every green in this series. The tinted glass is the
issue, changing the white balance may have helped. Overall these images are
less carefully composed than some of the other groups. The image P902 does
celebrate the space and function.
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| P902 |
I didn't realise the impact of the tinted glass until I looked at the images on my desktop. So then I tried to adjust the white balance afterwards using Lightroom but with very little success as can be seen by the final images.
Boathouse
6; The mess of colours and then the image being cut in half by the beam
suggests the changing use of the space. It may have been good to crop out the
left of the image as this unbalances it visually. Agree - see cropped version below:
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| P929 |
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| P929 cropped |
A clean and bright print.
P930 is very warm and some of the light areas in the background are a little
burnt out. The huge metal work towering over the tables and chairs is
interesting. Your reflection on how you would use/ see the space is a valid
consideration, this is often how we respond as there are emotional and
functional responses as well.
Aspex
Gallery; This was an interesting space, an art space is not so much about the
space but the content. The mix of textures/ modern and historic materials is
really on show here. It does seem quite chaotic even before you put anything in
it! The prints are clean although P931 the focus does not seem to be where you
look at.
The
prints are generally of a good quality and using the paper to frame the image
works to present them.
Learning Logs
or Blogs/Critical essays
Context
You are using your learning
log well. Continue to reflect upon your journey. When doing either an exercise
or assignment continue to take some time to look at other artists work, to
inspire you further and evidence this.
Suggested
reading/viewing
Context
Look
at the work by Andreas Gursky for your next assignment, this work gives another
scale and measured observation, which is fascinating to see.
Duane
Michals, Arnold Newman, Matta Clarke, Hannah Starkey also have challenging
images on people and place.
Read
theory text by Liz Wells to explore some of the ideas you presented, ie memory/
space/ function/ buildings.
Pointers for the next assignment
You have included some relevant and useful observations
and historical research about the places you visited and questioned some of the
functionality of these. This is good practice. Continue to look at how other
photographers and artists have looked at spaces and their messages of the use.
