Review of my final piece!

My final piece reflects my chosen theme of 'temperature' through location, colour, and fashion. In my final images i am reflecting the effects of heat and cold by having my model, Alicia, wearing different clothes and accessories, being in different locations, and then finally by using different effects on the image. For my final piece, i used the editing program 'picasa' as i am now comfortable with using it and i like the range of effects and tools that it offers. I chose to edit each picture differently, using different effects to create the illusion of warm and cool temperatures. When editing my images, i used many different effects such as black and white, sepia, boost, tint, 1960's, warmify and then tools such as contrast, crop and fill light. Blue tints were very effective on my 'cold' images, whereas the sepia effect and orange tints were effective on my 'warm' images. I decreased the tint effect dramatically on most of the images so that it wasn't too dominating. The depth of field varies on each image, with some images having a broad depth of field, and some (mainly ones with a very busy background) having a very narrow depth of field.

My final piece!

Plan of final piece!

For my final piece, i plan on taking photos of my model Alicia, in two different locations, one to resemble warmth and one to resemble cold. For the cold location, i have chosen to use a wooded area, as these areas are usually associated with being dark and cold. She will also be dressed in different attire for the two different elements within my chosen theme. For warmth, i'm hoping to dress my model in some kind of sundress, orange in colour. For cold, i would like my model to be wearing a similar dress, but in white, to create a cold, icy effect. I then plan on editing these images, exaggerating the temperature and colours to create my chosen effect of either warmth or cold. I plan on using 6 images, 3 for warmth and 3 for cold. I will then mount them on a black board, keeping everything simple in hope to make the effects created by my images stand out.

Review of my experimentations!

Doing my experimentations gave me the confidence and knowledge of the techniques and effects available on the editing program 'picasa', therefore i am happy to continue using this for my final piece. Initially i was unsure about this program, as the editing website 'picnik' which i usually use to edit my images has recently been shut down. I found some very similar effects which i was used to using so became comfortable quite quickly. I enjoyed editing my images, and can't wait to do my final piece, however i hope to be abit more creative with costume/fashion, and use this to portray my chosen theme, which is 'temperature'. One of my favourite images from my experimentations is the one where i have edited it to create a snow effect. I think this image stands out against all of the others, and will probably use this effect at some point when creating my final piece. I think the work of  'Emma'Kate*' will have an element of inspiration on my final piece, as i really love the costume idea she had for her winter images, although i doubt my ideas will be as extreme as i would like to keep a natural feel to my photos.

Experimentations!

This is the first of my experimentational images, which is a photo i took over the shoulder of my friend Alicia, whilst she was looking through a summer holidays brochure. This reflects my chosen theme of 'temperature as all the locations in the magazine are very warm. When editing this image i increased the brightness and the temperature of the photo, to give it a more homely and warm atmosphere. There is a large depth of field, as the magazine and the foot stool, along with other things in the background of the composition, are in focus. My model's head which is the closest thing to the lens, is not in focus. I really like this image, however i don't think i will do anything like this for my final piece as i would really like to do more fashion and landscape photography.

My second experimentational image is of my friend and model, Alicia. This time she is sat on a small bridge, with her head resting on the back of her hands. This is to resemble the 'heat' element to my theme of 'temperature'. When editing my image, i put the image in black and white, and increased the brightness to give more light to the image. I also increased the shadow, which created a nice silhouette effect to the trees in the background. I then used a filtered effect, to give a slight orange tint to part of the photo to create an effect which personally resembles heat and the sun. There is a shallow depth of field, as the trees in the background of this image aren't in focus. The subject, and the bridge in which the subject is sat on, are in focus.

I have taken this experimentational image to represent 'cold' in reflection of my chosen theme of 'temperature'. My model is sat on a brick wall, and is in a hunched position with her arms wrapped around herself to try and keep her warm. This image has a narrow depth of field as the background is out of focus. When editing this image, i firstly put it in black and white, and then added a blue tint, which i then faded so that it wasn't too over-powering on the image. I increased the shadow, as personally, i always associate being cold with darkness. This is one of my favourite experimentational images as i think it really portrays the feeling of being cold, which is relevant and easy to relate to my chosen theme of 'temperature'.

 I have experimented more with different effects on this image, and ended up with something which looks less enhanced, however i think the effects i have used have created a really effective atmosphere to the photo. I used an effect called 'vignette' which adds darkness to the edges of the image, which when used on my image, created the illusion of a storm cloud on the top right corner of the image, in the sky. The subject is my model, and she is stood on a patch of grass infront of a wooded area, where she is rubbing her own arms in response to the feeling of being cold. This image has a broad depth of field, as everything within the composition is in focus.

 This is my favourite experimentational image and i hope to create something very similar for my final piece. I used an effect on the editing program 'picasa', called 'infared film. This effect immediately made my photo seem as though it had been taken in the snow. I then increased the shadow to enhance the darkness of my models hair and clothing, as well as the trees in the background. This image has a narrow depth of field, as the background is not in focus. My chosen theme of 'temperature' is reflected the best through this image in my opinion, as my model looks as though she is standing outside in the snow, which is usually associated with cold and winter.

My 6th experimentational image has been taken within a small natural enclosure created by some overhanging trees, and although taken in april, the location gives a more wintery feel. This image has a narrow depth of field as the trees and hoiliage in the background aren't in focus. When editing this image, i used the black and white effect, and then used a blue tint, which i faded so that it wasn't too strong. I then increased the darkness to create more strength in the shadows within the branches of the trees. This is another image which i have related to the 'cold' element to my chosen theme of 'temperature'.

I edited this image purposely to give it a more warm, summery feel which is relevant to my chosen theme of 'temperature'. On the editing program 'picasa', i used the boost tool, which brightened up all the colours within the image. I then used the 1960's tool, which made the colours appear less harsh, although i faded this effect to still keep the brightness of the colours. I then increased the colour temperature, which added warmth to the tone of the colour. This image has a narrow depth of focus, as the hoiliage in the background is not in focus. My model however, is in focus and so is the tree in which she is crouching next too.

This is one of my least favourite experimentational photos, but i really wanted to experiment with using red/orange tints to create a warm atmosphere. I added a 'sepia' tone to the image, and then a orange tint which i then faded dramatically. I enhanced the brightness to create the illusion of sunlight. This enables me to relate the image to my chosen theme of 'temperature'. This image has a narrow depth of field as the trees in the background aren't in focus. My model is standing with her hand across her forehead, which is an idea that i came across when doing my research, to resemble heat and exhaustion.

Research review!

I always really enjoy the research element to any piece of photography work i do, as i find it interesting and love looking through the work of other photographers. Whilst doing my research, i became certain that i wanted to involve some sort of temperature themed clothing or costume. One of my favourite images that i came across was the 7th image that i posted, by 'Emma-Kate*', which was where make-up had been used to create the illusion of coldness and ice. All of the images i looked at have given me some inspitation for my final piece, and i think for my experimentations, i will vary more in different shots and compositons, rather than experimenting with location, as i'm pretty certain of the location in which i wish to use for my final piece. I will also use my experimentations to play with different editing techniques and colour effects to effect the appearance of temperature. Hopefully after experimenting with composition,different shots and colour, i can portray my representation of 'temperature' through colour, fashion and location.

Research!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominart/2618997594/

This image is by a photographer known on the website 'flickr' as 'dommylive'. It is an image of a wooden thermometer which he found in his greenhouse. It is easy to see how i have related this photo to my chosen theme of 'temperature', as a thermometer is used to measure the temperature. There isn't much depth to the photo, as the subject is extremely close to the camera, and everything behind the subject is out of focus. Effects have been used on this image, including what appears to be a sepia effect, to give a very warm feel and atmosphere. This image has given me some ideas which i could experiment with, as i have things in my garden such as a sun dial, which could be related to my chosen theme. I could also use editing programmes to create either a warmer or cooler atmosphere.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/savagephotos/3806411118/in/photostream/

This image is by a photographer known on the website 'flickr' as 'MissMae'. It is an image of a hot dry location such as Africa, with a mud hut, two trees and a zebra. I have related this photo to my chosen theme as it is an extreme of a temperature, shown through location. There isn't some depth to the photo, and the subject appears to be the hut as it is in the foreground, and is the biggest object within the composition. The zebra which is in the background is still in focus, along with a fence and some foliage. I don't think this image has been edited too much, however i think the brightness has been enhanced, and perhaps a slight sepia tone to exaggerate the warmth of the image. Sadly I'm not able to travel to Africa to take images for my project, however this has given me inspiration and ideas to work on for my experimentations.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guavatrop/3045702635/sizes/z/in/photostream/

This image has been taken and edited by a photographer called 'Cedric Bramble', who i came across on the website 'flickr'. It is an image of a topless man, resting his head on his forearm and holding an instrument likely to be a guitar. The man looks rather tanned, and has visible tattoos on his shoulder, back and forearm. The fact that he is resting his head on his arm gives a feeling of heat and exhaustion, suggesting that the photo has been taken in a very warm location. The image doesn't have a very large depth of field, as the trees in the background aren't in focus.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/get2shaan/4597758744/sizes/l/in/photostream/

This is an image of an Asian woman, walking through a deserted street in what could possibly be Japan or Hong Kong etc. It was taken by the photographer 'Santanu Majumdar' who i discovered on the website 'flickr'. The woman pictured is sheltering her head and back from the sun, with an umbrella. You can also see the sun reflecting off the ground behind her, which suggests that it is really hot. This is how i have related the image to my chosen theme of 'temperature'. The subject, which is the woman, has been positioned in the centre of the composition, and is fully in focus. The background isn't fully focussed, however to the left of the image there is some sort of structure which is in focus, along with some shadows on the ground.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewsulliv/4933756030/

  This is an image which i found on the website 'flickr' and was taken by a photographer called 'Andrew Sullivan'. It is an image of a woman wearing a summer dress, with a shawl draped over her shoulders, which she holds in each hand. I have related this image to my chosen theme of 'temperature' by associating the lessened clothing with summer and heat. The image has been taken in a long grass field, of which makes up the rest of the composition. There is a shallow depth of field, as the subject (the woman) is in focus, yet the field and grass behind her is blurred. The image is in black and white, which i feel gives a more calm relaxing feel to the photograph.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37587296@N05/4626395786/in/photostream/

This is an image of a young girl, dressed in summer clothing including a hat, holding an ice-cream with both of her hands. The image was taken by 'Holly Tumblety' and i found it on the website 'flickr'. I have related this image to my chosen theme of 'temperature' as it has many properties which are associated with summer, such as the clothing, the ice-cream and even the brightness which may have been enhanced to create this effect. It is also in full colour, yet the girls clothing is mostly white, along with the background being just a plain white brick wall. This image gives me more of an idea of what i wish to create, which is the feeling of temperature through fashion and lighting.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emma-kate/6451874505/in/photostream/

 This image, by the photographer known as 'Emma-Kate*' on the website 'flickr', is very inspiring and relative to the ideas which i have had for my final piece. It is relevant to my chosen theme, and portrays this through costume. My chosen theme is 'temperature', and the girl pictured in the image has make-up on her eyes which resembles ice, and her lips have been made blue to resemble cold. The depth of field is rather shallow, as the girl and only the branches really close to her are in focus, and the rest of the composition which is made up of a leafy hedge, is not in focus. I would really love to experiment with something like this.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emma-kate/6413943319/in/photostream/.

Despite this image standing out to me due to it being given the name 'delicious autumn', it also perceives the time of year and atmosphere really well. I found this image on the website 'flickr', and it was taken by the photographer who uses the name 'Emma-Kate*'. I related this image to my chosen theme of 'temperature' as it clearly shows that it has been taken in the autumn/winter months. This is shown through location, as there is a young woman sat on a log, in a very brown, life-less looking field. She is also wearing winter style clothing, including wellies and gloves, which suggests it is cold, again relating to my theme. The image is in black and white, which adds to the coldness, although when i come to take and edit my photos, i would like to experiment with colour, adding different tones to exaggerate the temperature. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45649851@N00/5172817457/

 This is a portrait image of a young woman dressed in winter clothing, including an eskimo hat. When i saw this image it immediately stood out to me, and i related it to my chosen theme of 'temperature' as the clothing is very particular and the colour exaggerates on the weather. I have taken this image from the website 'flickr' and it was taken by the photographer 'Natalie Pluck'. The depth of focus is shallow in this photo, as only the subject (the young woman) who is close to the camera, is in focus, and also the fluffy tassels on her hat aren't in focus. This is the kind of fashion photography which i hope to experiment with.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashtonpal/5760507305/

This image is different to all the other images i discovered when doing my research, and it really stood out to me for that reason. It is an image of a magazine cover, of which the subject is 'summer fashion' which leads me to relate it to my chosen theme of 'temperature'. I found this image on the website 'flickr' and it was taken by the photographer 'AshtonPal'. On the cover of the magazine, there is a young woman wearing sunglasses and summer style clothes, and there are also headlines such as 'sunshine beauty' and 'pool dreams'. The image has been taken on a bus, which is travelling through a city. The image has been edited to give it a more dull tone and to lessen the sharpness. There is a shallow depth of focus as only the magazine is focussed fully. You can however see through the windows of the bus, into the streets of which it is travelling, which creates a really friendly comfortable atmosphere.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47181226@N05/5910300110/

I found this unusual image on the website 'flickr' and it has been taken by the photographer who goes by the name of 'Laurarama'. It is a photo of a pair of blue wellington boots, worn by someone who is standing on a short wooden stump. There are yellow flowers or weeds surrounding the stump, and a very out of focus background of what could possibly be a hedge with berries or lights on it, which makes up the rest of the composition. This is relevant to my chosen theme as it portrays weather, and this image has been named 'summer rain'.

Initial ideas!

My starting point for my AS photography exam is 'temperature'. So far i have used a thesaurus to gain a wider field of research and ways to adapt my work to my chosen question. My next step will be to research other photographers and artists work, finding techniques and images that i like, with the intention of using them to inspire my final piece. To include the aspect of photography that i most enjoy, and to give my work a more personal feel, i am hoping to combine my chosen 'temperature' starting point with fashion photography. My initial idea is to show the changes in temperature through different fashions, including hair, make-up and clothing. For example, different shades in make-up are worn in summer when it's hot, and in winter when it's cold. Also, clothing completely changes as people wear shorts and sunglasses in the summer, and wear coats, hats and gloves in the winter. Using various photography websites and other resources i'm hoping to find further inspiration and ideas that i could re-create, and use to experiment different techniques. This will be for the experimentation section of my exam work.

Brainstorm!