Matt Leeves: October 2012

Equipment List: Strange Environments

Tripod
DSLR
Film SLR
Fish-eye adapter
Polarizing filter
Neautral density filter
Lens Cloth

Preparations for location shoot

Firstly, I went to observe the locations prior to when I went out to actyually shoot. I looked for interesting objects and places within the environments that I could photograph in interesting ways, or by using interesting angles. I also worked out what equipment I would need to bring to use in my shoots. For example I made sure I had a tripod and a polarizer at all times, secondly I brought along a neautral density filter and a fish eye adapter on the later shoots. For health and safety, I brought waterproof clothing, ensuring that I would not get hurt or damage any equipment when shooting.

Plan for Strange Environment Shoot:

Location Photographers Research

The first photographer I looked at was Peter Fraser. I looked at a project named '12 Day Journey'. I chose this photographer because of his surreal images, which are created by using strong lines, repetition and negative space. I therefore decided that I would like to reflect these qualitys in my own work and suggest rather than show. Here are some images by Peter Fraser that I like:

This first image depicts a group of cows, this image is made interesting by the way the image was taken through a hedge, this frames the image and gives it another depth. Furthermore the simple blocks of sky and grass give this image a simple background with an abstract foreground and focal point. Furthermore Fraser has used quite a shallow depth of field to ensure the that the hedge in the foreground is not completely in focus and suggests a bit of distortion wheras the field with the cows in, is in focus.

This image simply depicts a pathway. This image is made interesting by the use of negative space and the way that the natural environment leads into the centre of the image. Furthermore the framing of the more dense bush on the left and the shadows that fall onto the path, give the image a sense of unbalance. This is also enhanced by Fraser placing the horizon two thirds of the way up the image.

The second photographer is called Sian Bonnell, Bonnell focuses on normal, mundane household objects in strange environments, or environments that contrast the objects dramatically, here are some images by Sian Bonnell:

I chose these images because they are very simple, but have a strong impact. The first image for example depicts jelly moulds and cakes stacked on top of each other in a natural landscape. This is slightly odd or abstract to what is seen as normal. This therefore gives an atmosphere and makes you ask questions and think about the image. Bonnell uses very wide apertures to ensure a short depth of field which means that the objects are in focus whilst the background is not, therefore keeping the attention focussed on the objects.

This second image is also quite bizarre and unusual, the image uses bread and ham, placed in a kitchen in an extremely wierd way, this unusual image seems really out of place and also suggests an element of mystery. This image also works because the use of three seperate objects in a series which is even and balanced and is kept the main focal point by the blue wall behind, which brings out the colours and tones of the bread and the ham.

The third photographer im looking at is Rut Blees Luxemburg, Rut Blees focuses on night photography, night photography in itself suggests an environment which is completely different and surreal compared to photography in the day. Rut Blees manages to captures Urban Environments when there most quiet and still, by using long exposures in photographs you can obtain a completely surreal and powerful image.