Photo Shoot 1:
Explain how you did the photoshoot and how you edited using correct terminology and screenshots.
This photoshoot was experimenting with lighting in the studio and seeing what worked best. I incorporated shadows by using a tree branch and found that using a phone touch created better lighting and shadows because the studio lights weren’t bright enough to cast a shadow. My idea for this shoot was to create a soft shadow over the face of my subjects but still making it dominant. Overall I preferred the look of the shadow in the background. I used the white wall in the studio because the lighter background allowed the shadow to be more pronounced. In this shoot I didn't have a natural light source because I was experimenting in the studio so the casted shadow didn't turn out as prominent.
Explain the links to your photographers clearly.
This series of images relate to my researched photographers clearly, through the way they incorporate shadows into their images. They create emphasis by highlighting certain aspects of the subject, whether it was their face or the figure of their body. I’ve portrayed my photos similar to Alessio Albi because of the way he used plants to create a shadow across his model's face and I’ve used a branch to cast my shadows. My shadows aren't as intense as the photographers that I based my images off but they assisted in developing my ideas. This first shoot was a good attempt in showcasing what my vision was.
Review areas of strength and justify your reasoning.
Some strengths I have conveyed in this shoot was making the shadow the main subject by creating the soft, abstract shadows from the branch. The lines portrayed by the branch are soft and defined that were easy to recognise. This was the intention of my images and by experimenting with different lighting I was able to cast dominant shadows, making them the focal point. The shape of the shadow changed based on its relationship with the light source I used, so it took a few attempts to create the best lighting.
Studio lighting and prop set up:
Photo Shoot 2:
Explain how you did the photoshoot and how you edited using correct terminology and screenshots.
This photoshoot was taken with my subject around Monash. I had some ideas in my head with how I wanted them to look, so we walked around to find a variety of different locations that would include the right scenery. I found that the location with the bush casted the shadow I intended to use but it wasn’t in the right area and isn’t easily recognised. The lighting was quite harsh because of the time I took them. Using the different locations helped me to figure out the best lighting and background. Monash pond turned out to have the best scenery for the images I wanted but the lighting and shadows appear harsh and don’t incorporate the plant element that was going to cast the shadow across the face. Some of the backgrounds appear distracting and draws the attention away from the focal point.
Explain the links to your photographers clearly.
This series of images links to my photographers because they both use shadows. Lucien Clergue and Solve Sundsbo incorporate harsh and defined shadows in their images by using natural light casted through objects, although mine weren’t intentionally created to be intense, it relates more to the composition of their photographs.
Review areas of strength and justify your reasoning.
Areas of strength I have conveyed in this photo shoot include, experimenting with various locations to reflect on which background suited my style and the genre of photography I’ve chosen. This helped me to evaluate what I could change to make the images appear better. This shoot didn’t turn out how I wanted because it didn’t portray the right shadows and the lighting was too harsh to create the right effect but it was only an experimentation. I can use what I’ve learnt from this shoot to have a better understanding and allow myself to experiment more.
Select your best final 6 T / 4 A images – ensuring you have strong photos to work with. Edit them to the best of your ability and bring together your ideas explored throughout your experiments.
Make sure you are communicating how you are representing your concept. What is the meaning behind your photos? Is it clear to the viewer?
Artist Statement
