Evaluation

At the beginning of this project I was a little bit worried as to how the fire would turn out in my pictures. As fire gives off a much stronger light than say an LED light would. I was abit worried that there would be over exposure from the flames. Meaning I would lose the detail of the flame therefore defeating the purpose in me using fire in the first place. But as it turns out I was able to capture some pretty epic pictures without losing the detail of the flames. Creating abstract images of movement.

Final Photos

Merged photos

Looking through the couple that I did. I quite like the aesthetic to the photoshopped  photos. And I will be doing more and using them as my finals

Photoshop photos

Photoshop

After looking through my photos I think I am going to look into overlapping the singular photos. To see whether that brings in a more interesting effect for my finals. I am hoping that this will make the image 'pop' more than the images just as they are on their own.

Third Shoot

Open publication - Free publishing - More fire

For my third shoot I had my fire staff man use more of the space around him so as to create more intricate abstract movements. Even though the exposure had to be on for longer than what I originally wanted, I discovered that since he wasn't staying in the same place, the detail of the fire still comes out in the image.

Second shoot

Open publication - Free publishing - More fire

For my second shoot I chose to have an industrial background as I feel it gives it a more rustic feel which coincides with the fire staffs. I experimented with Abit longer exposures. What I did find tho is that I can't have the exposure going for too long, otherwise you lose the definition of the fire. It just becomes long lines of light rather than having the detail of the fire.

HDR

Artist Models

Michael Bosanko
Due to copyright I am unable to post actual images of Bosanko's work. So I have copied the link to his portfolio underneath.
I chose Michael Bosanko as one of my artist models as I like his abstract pieces, some of which I aspire to as it shows what I wish to achieve in my own work using the fire staffs. Although I feel that my series will be more abstract than some of Bosanko's work as I wish not to make actual drawings with the fire, but to abstractly portray movement using the fire.
http://www.michaelbosanko.com/portfolio50325.html

Favourite from 1st shoot

Whilst going through my images from my first shoot. These are my favourite. I admit that I have alot of favourites from this shoot but I like how they abstractly portray movement, which is my focus at this point in time for the project.

First Photoshoot with Fire Staffs

Open publication - Free publishing - More fire

I was able to get my first shoot done this weekend just gone. I found that I got some really interesting abstract images created from the fire staff. Like i predicted the downfall was that the fire produced so much light that it also lit up the person using the fire staffs as well as the background. Other than that I think that the fire staffs was a good success. I'm looking into more than fire staffs. I might be able to get my hands on some fire poi's etc. So fingers crossed, as that will be another added element for this project.

Contact Sheet

Open publication - Free publishing - More light

First Shoot

As I haven’t got the fire staffs. Here I have just done some experimentation with a torch, phone light and a candle. So as to see the effects that the different light creates. Overall the torch gives off a very bright light due to its thick beam. Because of this it lights up the background quite noticeably which is an element that I'm not sure whether I want in my photos. The phone light gives off a bright and yet photoshopped look. Something that does look interesting, but a little too fake for my liking. The candle was to see the effect of the flame with the long exposure. The little flame that the candle creates gives an interesting effect but I am worried that when I do the fire staffs, the flame will be much greater therefore possibly creating an over exposure within my photos. But we shall see.

Research

The links below show two different fire staff videos. These are examples of what I am looking into doing for my own light project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi3vgzoVAgo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmf4-Q14iA8&feature=related

The links below show my backup. Using glow sticks instead of fire staffs. But this will only be is the fire staffs give off too much exposure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrhtpLHwifo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxL9RaQsD4U&feature=related

Proposal

For the final project i have decided to experiment with fire toys. Specifically Fire staffs. creating abstract structures using the trail of flame left behind. I want to use fire as I think that using LED lights would be too artificial. And I would rather have something raw.

If the fire staffs don't turn out how I want them to, I am looking into using glow sticks, with multiple colours to give a new element within my photos.

Week exercise

Here is my image for the first week exercise. Here I was trying to draw a tree and some flowers.... As you can see it looks more like some little car headlights and some random scribble.... haha.

PROJECT 3 - LIGHT

Evaluation

Even though at the beginning of this project I was quite indecisive as to what I was going to do. The end result grew to become quite good. Although I am disappointed with the fact that the moments were staged, I would have preferred to have the moments be real moments in time rather than something that I posed. But apart from that, I think that it went quite well.

Final Four Photos

Second Photoshoot

Open publication - Free publishing - More photography

Proposal

After looking through both contact sheets and looking into both ideas of my two concepts I have decided to go with my second project, which is the idea of capturing a moment. I chose this over the contrast in architecture over time as I think that capturing the moment is stronger than my other idea.

For this project I will be looking at people, and capturing the moments in their lives. So from something as simple as a person gardening, to a special occasion like a party or a wedding. I want to use these moments and these broad moments in life to portray how we as the photographer have the ability to capture moments in time, and freeze that moment. But the moment doesn't need to be something of significance to all, but even to just one person, as it is important for them.

Contact Sheet - Second Concept

Open publication - Free publishing - More people

Here is my first shoot for my second project. Showing how we as the photographers having the ability to capture any moment in time, and freezing it. I actually like how this concept has turned out. And I find that this is much stronger than the first concept.

Contact Sheet - First concept

Open publication - Free publishing - More buildings

Here is my first photoshoot for my first concept. Showing the contrast between the style of architecture todays in comparison to the olden style. I found that Wellington was the perfect place to show this as the city is full of old styled buildings which have new buildings growing around it.

Decision

Through my many ideas I have come to two final ideas that I like.
The first is showing how we as a human race have changed over time, looking at the change in style of architecture from Art Nouveau to Art Deco to Modernism. There's many out there, especially around Wellington City. Where I think that I will be able to find great contrast of buildings as there are many old styled architecture throughout Wellington.
The second is the idea of freezing time. I like the idea of us as photographers having the ability to freeze a moment in time. Whether that be a moment of sadness or happiness. Or even an occasion, or just a special time in the day. To be able to capture that moment and freeze it, keeping it that way for longer than the moment lasted.
Given that I am indecisive as to which idea I want to go forward with I am going to do a shoot involving both ideas, and then will decide from there.

Ideas

At this point in time I am undecided as to what I am going to base this project around. Below are a few ideas I have in mind.

1.

Multiple pictures of peoples faces, portray how time effects us, the persons body/face.

Have half a young face then half an old face, Shows the dramatic difference through time/age.

2.

A clock. Slow shutter speed. Showing time itself

Possibly try and show different countries and their time.

3.

Sunrise to sunset. Showing time within a day. Showing the movement of the sun. Every hour.

Possibly do it on a motorway, scenery area, house – roof top.

4.

Opening of a flower, from morning to night. The blooming of a flower.

Sunflowers? How they follow the sun.

5.

Timetable. How we as humans rely on time and a schedule.

Train station. Airport. School.

6.

How times have changed. Technology, fashion, architecture.

Showing how we as the human race have moulded and grown in time.
A way I could show this could be through showing the contrast of old to new buildings, showing how they have changed through time.

7.
Freezing a moment in time.
Showing how we the photographer have the ability to freeze time. As well as keeping it for longer than the period of time we have captured.

Artist model 1

Holger Pooten, my first artist model.
I like his use of fast shutter speed. It really stands out for me. I feel that it really captures the idea of frozen in time.

Fast and Slow Shutter Speed.

My fast shutter speed. Doesn't let in very much light which makes it harder for the camera to pick up the detail of the ribbon.

Slow shutter speed. More light is exposed to the camera. Over exposure becomes a problem.

PROJECT 2

My Final Four Photos

So when looking through my contact sheets I decided that I will go with landscape.
This is due to the fact that for this project it is more about the information that is seen from left to right, rather than from top to bottom.
For my final four photos I have chosen them from my second photoshoot and one of the four isn't part of my final four as shown below. But it is one that I am adding to my series.