Statement Of Intent
I intend of having photos that have shadows created by light and have a slight illusion. I personally love the way it looks from the research I've done and I hope for it to be edited really sophisticated and most likely black and white considering the research I've looked at so far, is mostly in black and white.
I want to research mainly for any photos that demonstrate projected light onto an object and forming shadows from it. Part of my research will be to make a mind map which will show me exactly what I need and keep me on track for this specific project and to making sure I stick with it.
As well as looking at photos with similar ideas to mine, I will also research the appropriate photographers required as it can give me a further understanding of what I can do to match the standards of an experienced photographer, but with a slight twist of my own.
I want to further manipulate them in photo shop as it will illuminate more shadows and highlight more of the light and dark. Without it I feel the pictures I take will just look washed out and less adapted.
I want to aim for several various outcomes as each one will illustrate different types of light and shadows. This also gives me the opportunity to experiment with the light and figure out how to get different atmospheres. I want something different, something moody and something generic.
I want to research mainly for any photos that demonstrate projected light onto an object and forming shadows from it. Part of my research will be to make a mind map which will show me exactly what I need and keep me on track for this specific project and to making sure I stick with it.
As well as looking at photos with similar ideas to mine, I will also research the appropriate photographers required as it can give me a further understanding of what I can do to match the standards of an experienced photographer, but with a slight twist of my own.
I want to further manipulate them in photo shop as it will illuminate more shadows and highlight more of the light and dark. Without it I feel the pictures I take will just look washed out and less adapted.
I want to aim for several various outcomes as each one will illustrate different types of light and shadows. This also gives me the opportunity to experiment with the light and figure out how to get different atmospheres. I want something different, something moody and something generic.
My Light And Dark Mood Board;
My Influenced Photographer;
Alexey Menschikov, is my chosen photographer. Having difficulty in deciding what was best for me to do, I thought that shadows could be implemented. Shadows, are a great way of showing light and dark elements in a photograph and are quite alluring to look at as well.
Menschikov works his photography on street art and video but, having looked at his work, you definitely get a good sense of light and dark with shadows, as shown below.
Menschikov works his photography on street art and video but, having looked at his work, you definitely get a good sense of light and dark with shadows, as shown below.
Menschikov's photos, have a lot of intricate layouts, creativity, photo shop and individuality. What I've taken from him, is his placement - placing my center focus somewhere were it'll really capture the attention as well as having good light management with it, will definitely help to enhance my photos.
My Mind Map;
The mind map has allowed me to visualise what I shoots I will need to accomplish and what I will attempt to achieve throughout the process. For example the lighting for light and dark is in the word, and is very vital to get it right in order to see where I want it coming from. Essentially, light will form the shadows and this is the fundamental aspect of my light and dark theme.
Analyzing Alexey Menschikov's Work;
Context=The photographer who took this photo, is called Alexey Menschikov. He was born in Russia, in Moscow and bases his work on the streets. He usually has his photos in grey scale, unless he needs them to be in colour to show an animated look.
Connection=Having looked at Menschikov's work, it will help me to form my own piece. I want to have an object were its shadow is formed to show an intriguing effect to the audience - not necessarily a message but something were it makes the audience look at the photo or think about it. I need to position my object somewhere were it will grasp attention and my lighting were it'll work best.
Comment=As a whole, I love how "strange" Menschikov's work looks. It has opened my eyes that, a photograph doesn't have to have a message, it could just be creative and give the audience a way to think of things. His work is very unique and that's what I need to accomplish during my shoots.
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Content/Composition=The photo gives a very paranormal sensation given that the camera looks like it was turned upside down, on a tripod and you can see the shadows. Underneath, you can see the actual people looking as if they're going of to work or attending some type of business - just as Menschikov wanted to portray it. Looking at the photo, you can definitely sense that it's a new photo given that the lighting looks polished and the detail. Normally, Menschikov's photos are in grey scale/black and white which gives a more questioning approach, as you can't really understand or grasp how the photo is laid out. I don't know were this photo was taking specifically but, it is on the streets somewhere. The people enhance the photo dramatically. It looks like they are going to work but, the shadows have a mind of their own...it's as if they are trapped and are being forced to be followed by "their owners" or, they have other places to go. It's a very bizarre composition, you don't exactly get a feel of a photo taken at a straight point because, I feel the camera has been flipped and then tried to be taken from an angle were you see more of the shadows and less of the actual people.
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2nd photographer Analysis - Paulo Abrentes
Context =
Paulo Abrantes, is from Portugal and lives near the city of Aveiro. He likes to make his pictures look abstract with a few shapes which he accomplishes through making them into grey scale. His work is presented below;
Connection =Abrantes is also a photographer on street although, he works his art on mood and geometry. From the photos he has produced and that have benefited me (as listed above) I want to definitely work on positioning my shadows and obviously, portray my light and dark. From both Menschikov and Abrantes, I've noted that placement is very key. Grey scale will keep people thinking and convey a more thoughtful approach, as oppose to a colour image were it can visually show things clearly.
Comment =In general, this photo, has given me more of an understanding that I don't need everything to be precise, sometimes having the slightest abstract placements, are just better and more meaningful than having everything in one place. I really adore the fact that the sunlight is the only thing illuminating the picture which also takes my eye to the background. It's not a major thing, but maybe adjusting the depth of field or blurring out the back/front could've really given a pulling edge, considering how the photo already looks remote.
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Content/Composition =The photo from above, looks like it's been taken from a low angle but not to low as if it was a worm's eye view. However, the composition, of the fences, is located in the middle of the photo drawing our attention to the top were the sun illuminates the grey scale feeling. This then extends the shadows of the fences to form a pattern on the floor. The background isn't quite visual as the fences have managed to hide it away but, it looks like a landscape of an abandoned beach considering there's no people there and also, the grey scale makes things a lot harder to grasp the concept. It also makes me wonder where the location is. Is it the back garden of somebodies house? A section of the farm? Or maybe it was a set up...
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FIRST SHOOT
(Experiments)
For my second shoot, I decided to use dominoes because they give a very well rounded concept of light and dark. I had different experiments with these, and one of the experiments, was lying the dominoes on the floor and creating a "worms eye view". I also (towards the end) tried to change the focus to make the front and the back clearer.
I then wanted to change the set up. The first photo was obviously, not the greatest as someone was trying to stand them up. As we carried on, shadows were formed by adjusting the light. I came closer to the dominoes to get a more "mountain" feeling, but also a distant view.
And alas, the shadows were created - at the start the photos came out blurry, then I adjusted the camera angle and finally, a great piece was made were it was almost like an illusion of another set on dominoes on the floor.
I then decided to add some colour by putting transparent colour sheets in front of the light - at the start, it was all looking very solid and ambiguous, as we were still experimenting with the light.
The colours add a very different feeling to the dominoes. Instead of it just being normal (black and white with spotlights) it has 2 different coloured papers which project an almost mystical, magical and unique feeling.
Photoshop And Manipulating Photos
This was the photo that I wanted to manipulate because, it already looked perfect, what with the illusion of more dominoes on the floor.
My first step was to make the photo a little bit brighter by using "Brightness". I wanted to do this because, I wanted an grey scale type of image but I didn't want it to look dark because the original photo, didn't look to sharp (in terms of light).
To make the photo my type of light and dark, I changed it to black and white by using "Black and White". I changed it to the correct intensity of black and white I needed. This was one of the most pivotal parts of the photo shop because, in my mind, this is how I wanted it to look like, inspired by Alexey Menschikov.
Finished Outcome
My second shoot
Inspired by Alexey Menschikov, I decided to do my second shoot on match sticks because, they can give such a captivating pattern when organised and structured properly.
Changing formations with the match sticks gave very unique patterns - I was continuously adjusting the lighting constantly to try and find the best light that would fit the burnt match sticks and the parts that weren't burnt, as well as having the spotlight in the correct position.
I think my favourite part of the shoot was when I formed patterns with the spot light which was projected onto the white paper. I then put match sticks to inside which gave a special edge to the picture and to the match sticks as opposed to having them in a circle/spiral.
Manipulating My Photos In Photoshop
This was the photo I chose to manipulate as it has shadows from the frying spoon, with light entering through and to give a more pulling edge, the match sticks were placed in that light. In my opinion, it was the right photo to Photoshop first.
The first thing I wanted to do, was make the picture grey scale, so I used "Black And White".
Finished Outcome
My Third Shoot
I decided to use this ram as part of forming shadows just placing the prop and using different camera placements to capture different light and shadows.
Manipulating My Photos In Photoshop
This picture was quite dramatic but very unclear and not as polished as I would've liked it to be.
So I decided that I'd change the brightness to 110 as it made the ram more clearer
And I also changed the contrast to make the shadow of the ram visible but slightly darker so that the ram was the only thing prevalent.
Final Outcome
I didn't change much about it because I already liked how dramatic it looked, I just needed to make it more crisper.
Fence Shadows
Part of my research was creating unique shadows on the floor and this is reflected in Paulo Abrantes' photographs. I waited for a sunny day in order to have the fence project shadows onto the floor. I received great illuminations and shadows on the floor to further develop them.
Manipulating My Photos In Photoshop
This picture I chose had the correct style I needed but it wasn't as light and dark as I wanted it to be
I decided to use the modify brightness/contrast in order to make the shadows stand out. I changed the brightness to the very lowest it could be (-150) and the contrast to the highest it could be (100)
Modifying the image first then helped for the black and whites to work out well.
Final Outcome
I really love how the modification and black and white went together because, it gave the illusion of the shadows almost popping out - they were like a 3D image
Combining Fence And Skull
To make things a lot more interesting, I thought it would be beneficial to combine the fence and ram together to give a different style of image
Final Outcome
Refining My Ideas In Photoshop
Final Outcome
By amplifying the colour of black and white, I was able to see this amazing shadow of the skull that was formed, but it almost looked abstract by adding in the fence picture. I think the best part of refining my photo for this, was the contrast - increasing it had made it so that it stood out.
Match Sticks And Dominoes
Final Gallery
Evaluation
My chosen project was light and dark specifically looking at shadows. I found it a very intriguing project because it was fun the way I could implement the shadows, as well as editing them to enhance them.
This project introduced me to the quick selection tool. This is were I highlighted something and deleted it so that the colour could come back because I had one of the images in black and white. I would like to develop more tools in photo shop for my next project, but that's down to my own, independent research. The more I watch tutorials, I can get more developed photos.
My inspired photographers, are Alexey Menschikov and Paulo Abrantes who were the main epitome of this project. They both focus on light and dark but have their own element added into it. For example, Menschikov, makes his photos look like an illusion as well as basing it on street were as Abrantes explores ways in how to produce his shadows, in a more unique way.
I am very fond of the way each of my outcomes have turned out because each one is different and it could be using the light I experimented with or even with photo shop to show how light and dark can actually work both ways. It showed me how light and dark doesn't necessarily have to be black and white or just using the light from the lamp. To me, it was having this contrast and a type of emotion/atmosphere.
My most successful part of this project, was probably the edited photo shop images - they enhanced my photos drastically, and helped to create the light and dark element I needed.
If I was given another chance to enhance this/redo it, I would think about getting props that have holes in them (grater) and seeing how light reflects from the holes to form shadows.
Overall, I really enjoyed this project, I learnt a lot more with photo shop and how to use different tools to manipulate a light and dark image.
This project introduced me to the quick selection tool. This is were I highlighted something and deleted it so that the colour could come back because I had one of the images in black and white. I would like to develop more tools in photo shop for my next project, but that's down to my own, independent research. The more I watch tutorials, I can get more developed photos.
My inspired photographers, are Alexey Menschikov and Paulo Abrantes who were the main epitome of this project. They both focus on light and dark but have their own element added into it. For example, Menschikov, makes his photos look like an illusion as well as basing it on street were as Abrantes explores ways in how to produce his shadows, in a more unique way.
I am very fond of the way each of my outcomes have turned out because each one is different and it could be using the light I experimented with or even with photo shop to show how light and dark can actually work both ways. It showed me how light and dark doesn't necessarily have to be black and white or just using the light from the lamp. To me, it was having this contrast and a type of emotion/atmosphere.
My most successful part of this project, was probably the edited photo shop images - they enhanced my photos drastically, and helped to create the light and dark element I needed.
If I was given another chance to enhance this/redo it, I would think about getting props that have holes in them (grater) and seeing how light reflects from the holes to form shadows.
Overall, I really enjoyed this project, I learnt a lot more with photo shop and how to use different tools to manipulate a light and dark image.