I have never been one for keeping a diary. I find it slightly dull and usually forget the main reason. Technology doesn’t help nowadays when putting things to paper or digital notes.
Well, today has been somewhat unusual. Dropping food off at the inlaws and a day stuck inside thinking about what lies ahead. It’s not something I’ve been privy to in my life in regards to a stay at home and isolation as such. Yes I’ve been in some interesting places that have been isolated from normality as such. But nothing like this.
My typical working week is slightly isolated from my personal life. I work away from home most of the week. Spending time apart isn’t new to me and normal in the work I do. I do find it hard to adjust when I’m home for an extended period at times. I like my space, as does my wife. It gets a little heated at times when we’re both in the same room invading one another’s space—upsetting the routines. Time will tell if we are at each other’s throats in the coming weeks.
Looking back at the last assignment and my chosen subject to build an assignment on was unseen. I’ve walked into Windsor town centre to collect a parcel. Whilst here I thought it be interesting to see how the town is coping with COVID-19.
It’s clear to see that today is pretty quiet compared to the usual Fridays. The streets are relatively empty. I’ve not seen a single tourist group being lead to the castle yet. It does feel very Sunday morning early start but as I write this sat on a bench it’s 10:50 you’d expect to see plenty of different tourist groups being ushered towards the castle by tour guides.
Maybe the word I missed in my seven was ”uncertainty” right to the name we are living in uncertain times. The looks on peoples faces tell a story of fear, worry and hope I believe. This isn’t the first time for some people, yes it may be for some, but things are progressing quite fast.
Halo Do they ever look up from their phones Sleight of hand Facelift Nought and Crosses Rivets and Paul Millennium pathway Just walking away Bricked River Layers and Mirrors
Assignment two lets you choose between using a prop or photographing the unseen?
It has been at times, challenging when experimenting with ideas to support the narrative that I have chosen to support this assignment of photographing the unseen.
Initial thoughts behind the idea have been at times, confusing in how I deliver the final concept. At times I’ve thought about this and stumbled with what it is I want to achieve. Reading posts on various social media platforms and blogs hasn’t helped it has hindered my thought process.
Too many posts or articles are in circulation on mental health and people’s wellbeing in the papers and television. I have thought about many times and not something I’d like to pursue at this time. It is something I’ll discover at a later date during this process.
At the time of writing this, the world is facing a dilemma/epidemic, explosion of social panic. COVID-19 the Corono virus that has now spread into the UK over the last few weeks. It is now going to be an on-going issue for the forthcoming months at least. Receiving emails from the OCA concerning problems with sending and receiving finished assignments or the likes also helps with ideas in my mind. However, I’ll piece together a supporting plan for assignment two “Photographing the Unseen.”
I’ve looked at this slightly within assignment one. And what hides in the shadows, in this assignment, I’ll build on what else appears within the unseen. It may come across as slightly confusing at times but, I’d like you to enter my thought process and imagine yourself behind my eye seeing what I’m seeing. The same as if you were holding my head like a camera body looking at compositions and frame, setting the camera up to take the image I’ve have seen.
What do I see while I’m out with a camera?
light
shadows
geometric shape
patterns
people
places of interest
lines
colours
black and white
The above are all elements I’m trying to find to create a good picture. If one is present, that’s fine, but if many are present, then it’s the right image. You will probably think this is very Henri Cartier-Bresson decisive moment kind of photography. Which I will not argue, the pictures he took for me are unseen when you think about it. Once it has happened and if you missed it, it is unseen.
Hidden beauty is what I’ve looked at in my images over the time since starting this learning process. My style has changed in the way I see things. I still enjoy watching people and the way people do things in their daily routine. Seeing things documenting the lives of individuals from one place to another, you see how many things within a picture are small hidden elements of beauty.
While sitting here in the local coffee shop, I’m looking at my coffee cup wondering if I’ve gone down the right path with hidden beauty?
Yes.
As you will see in the images, I’ve used. Light and Shadows are, for me a beauty within themselves. An artist requires light on their subject to see the beauty and darkness (shadows) to add contrast to the picture. I like to use both in composition to add that hidden beauty, whether this is adding negative space to a frame. Or a single isolated element of the composition. I am then deciding if it’s a colour or black and white composition. Most of the time, I shoot in black and white using Fujis Acros film simulation. Seeing it in black and white helps, then changing to colour later in the post if I want to see what it looks like in the final edit. Seeing that small part on the cameras display screen after you have taken the shot is the moment, I know I’ve captured something. In the edit, I start to see it again but with an element of finesse to it. A touch of exposure control, adjustment of the blacks and whites, opening the shadows, reducing the highlights or just leaving it as it was correct at the moment, I press the shutter button SOOC. These are the hidden beauties of photography, the little elements that a photographer goes through. So, while I ask myself again, what is unseen in photography?
The process is unseen to me how a photographer processes that idea into a final picture worthy of printing or placing on his social media platforms or just saving the file, waiting to see if anyone finds it.
I wonder how many great pictures are still unseen since the camera and film were invented?
Demonstration of technical and visual skills – I’ve tried to keep these as accurate to how I saw them at the time. I’ve added some small edits in post. These are along the lines of controlling the blacks, adjusting the shadows and creating a slight glow to some areas. Some of the pictures slightly repeat themselves in the location; however, the framing is different for the subject chosen.
Quality of outcome – Overall, I’m happy with the chosen format of black and white, the majority have been captured using the 35mm bar one or two with a longer lens, just to that standoff approach and be able to zoom in and isolate a small part of the frame.
Demonstration of creativity – I believe these are creative and yes, they have been used before. By changing the point of view, you can see something else. These images are highlighting small areas where beauty exists, such as the rivets on from under Blackfriars Bridge.
Context – Behind each picture, I’ve tried to establish some form of hidden beauty. Be this in the form of light or shadows creating negative space, small areas of light or isolation in the image. If I was to enhance this assignment once COVID-19 comes to an end, there are other areas of both Windsor and London I have on my list to explore how the light creates shapes and forms new shadows. Ultimately creating “Hidden Beauty.”
Visit the My London Street gallery last Sunday the 1 March. It’s always refreshing to see other photographers work in person. There is something about seeing a print first hand. Instagram (IG) at times doesn’t do the pictures justice until you seen the prints.
I took my wife along with me into London to see this pop up gallery and introduce her to a few photographers I follow on IG and workshops I’ve attend.
Photographers providing work include the following:
Brandon Wong
Craig Whitehead
Joshua K. Johnson
Josh Edgoose
Mavis CW
Mark Fearnley
Mo Barzegar
Sean Tucker
Shane Taylor
Each of photographers listed above have a different street style in regards to how they compose and style there pictures. From a classic point of view to a more fine art style. All have elements I enjoy viewing. Some have inspired my own style. Nearly all have YouTube accounts documenting there style and who have influenced them over the years.
I think it’s a great opportunity for so called up and coming British Street photographers to get there best images on show.
I didn’t get to take many pictures during the day but brought a zine with all the prints inside to keep. It also gives you an idea on how to show case your assignment work within zine style format in A4. Something I may consider at the end of C&N if it becomes an option and affordable.
Mark Fearnley Sean TuckerMo Barzegar
Bibliography
Street, 3. (1970, January 1). 3 Street Gallery. 3 Street Gallery. Retrieved March 14, 2020, from https://www.3streetgallery.com/
With the ongoing issue of COVID-19 it’s probably easier to make a start with this assignment with my research images I’ve collated so far. I can always rework this assignment before the submission date.
It’s probably one that could have made quite a response with pictures taken.
This was taken today after my visit to the hospital on my iPhone whilst getting some lunch.
Precautions and Supplies
It worries me how people perceive what will happen in a few days, weeks or even months!
Current position. I’m sat in the waiting room of the fracture clinic at the William Harvey Hospital Ashord Kent.
It’s a path I don’t want to go down, but as you sit and wait many unseen things become seen. Anticipation of results in patients faces. Worry from partners or family members. Staff expressions and greetings to others.
Dull coloured walls, paperwork and files left outside consultation rooms. I’ve seen many a hospital in my time. In both good and bad light. This isn’t a place to start snapping away, but is a place where you can see things differently. Members of staff coming and going not knowing what they have seen, heard or even had to tell people. Good or bad news understand people emotions as they are given news.
Body language is probably a critical unseen image around here at the moment. Hiding emotions for fear of something else. Fear comes into it own whilst the country struggles to control the on going COVID-19 outbreak.
I’d missed this project whilst worrying about what the next assignment would be on.
Anchor and Relay
Screenshot from C&N Dogs told to wrap at warm, as harst weather hits the UKKate caught for a duck Priti Patel asked to remove glasses after struggling to read the sign. Cafe in St Marks square is open for business as usual
It’s intriguing how you can change a title whether it’s a complete rewrite, added humour or a slight bend of the truth.
My original thought was to add humour to the images which changes the meaning fully. It’s too easy to add that. So by looking at the image again and seeing other details in the image you can change a picture title. Quite hard in a way.
Looking at others ideas lately with this assignment, I’m lost slightly. What is unseen in the normal day, life or world?
The idea of hidden beauty in an image is something I’m trying to show. I’m not quite sure I’m fully there yet. Black and white with intense light and dark shadows is the path I’m trying to pursue. By using this combination, I believe you can see the beauty within the image.
Thoughts?
These were taken yesterday Friday 6 March whilst waiting for my car to have it tyres changed. Knowing the light was going to harsh first thing in the morning it be rude not to go and find some hidden gems.
I like the idea of finding hidden areas and waiting for a subject to wander into the light, whether this is a strip, pool or glimpse of light. You only need a slight gap and patience required and something special can be captured. It’s almost a decisive moment kind, but with an element of finesse added to the composition.
Struggling with a concept. What is unseen and how do I portray it within an image? Two areas I am considering are delvopling idea of what else is can be seen in street photography. As was seen in assignment one of hiding in the shadows. Adding another layer into the image as unseen may add to the idea. Of what’s is unseen.
Another subject in the composition almost a juxtaposition of St meets landscape
shadow and light meets geometric shape
Lines, shapes, shadows and light
It is these parts in my compositions I believe are unseen. The unseen beauty that light and shadows create. Whether this is high contrast black and whites or strong bright lights and dark silhouettes at night.
The above are potentially seven areas in which I think can be unseen. Some harder than the others. Some I may leave for another day to venture into.
There are three elements from above I’m drawn to. Hidden beauty, Emotions and Thoughts. When I go out and look at areas to photograph. I want to find beauty within the composition, I want to have a feeling of emotion when someone gazes at it whether I’ve posted them to a social media platform or prints in my house.
I also think there is an idea of the viewer trying to understand your thoughts and the process you have gone through. The journey you’ve taken, the time spent waiting, fishing for your image. That decision or decisive moment you waited for, the light to fall where you pre visualised, the shadows to move into the right place. Maybe time should be up in my list?
Timing is everything when photography is in play. From the time you set up to the time you took to research, shutter speed etc.
Looking further with this assignment with an interest in using light and shadows to create a picture. Maybe that’s the unseen part of it. The thought process behind and image.
Part Two Context and Narrative BA HONS in Photography OCA 