ASSIGNMENT 2 : PEOPLE AND ACTIVITY

After my tutor report for my Assignment 1, I realise that I still need to practise my lighting techniques.  This I am planning to get back to, and retake some of my Portraits.  I have for now carried on with this second project so as not to get behind.  As soon as this is complete I shall return to my retakes.  Errors seem so obvious when someone points them out, its all a learning curve, along with my own critical assessment, this is something that I have never done before, so need to get to grips with that too.

I have purchased a couple of books this month, my tutor recommended that I look at the work of Karsh, his portraits and lighting techniques, the book is A Biography in images By Karsh.  Its a beautiful book which I have only just flicked through but will make Karsh the next photographer that I look at and write about.

Other books I have are a small book of Henri Cartier-Bresson a scaled down version of his book which is great just to flick through.  Another is Street Photography Now, Sophie Howarth & Stephen Mclaren. Lastly, as recommended by OCA, Context & Narrative by Maria Short.  So Id better not let my Husband see all these books or he'll throw a fit.

Also I have visited 2 Exhibitions in London which I have written about under the Exhibition heading.

Here to follow is my assignment 2 ... I am starting to feel more relaxed about taking photographs and more comfortably with my camera, each outing is less challenging in some respects.. but also each outing raises new issues, and questions of how to do this or that, and leaves me wondering why some pictures don't go quite to plan.




ASSIGNMENT 2 : PEOPLE AND ACTIVITY


Here are my final 10 images of different people at the same event.  The event was a weekend County Show, one weekend when the weather was good.  When I uploaded the photos to my computer I realised I had more pictures of just animals than I had planned, without the accompanying people.

I felt less self conscious here, everyone had cameras, and they were all far too busy with all that was going on to worry about what I was up to.

I took two lenses with me, my standard lens 18mm to 55mm and a zoom lens 70-300mm.  What I noticed was at times with the first lens I felt I wasn't quite close enough, but when I had the zoom lens on I was often too close and it was a bit tight to fit the shot in the viewfinder.  I wanted something inbetween but I expect you always want what you haven't got.  I found that the quick movement of the people and events, it always seems you want the other lens and need to change it. I did get a spec of dust in at one change over which was annoying, (soon solved).  I know the answer is two cameras, but I shall have to do with one at the moment.

The quick movement of the animals makes it more difficult to fill the viewfinder correctly, you have to be quick, which is difficult when you're trying to remember all you have learnt, making camera alterations, focus, then .. oooopppps you missed it !
Luckily there was plenty of new opportunities available.  With the standard lens on other people are aware of you taking a picture and will generally try not to walk in front of you.  However when you have you zoom lens, people are not so aware and they tend to walk across your shot ruining you picture. Also with the heavier lens you have to take care not to wobbly and make your pics out of focus.


Girl on Bike

1/1000  f 4.0  70mm  ISO 200

The girl on the bike shot I was happy with, it was how I had imagined and planned.  The movement of the ride was a factor and I didn't if possible want the face of the child to be visible.  I also had the issue of people walking across the lens.  So all in all, the ride not moving, the child not looking, and no intruders!
Its a colourful cheery shot, it reminds me of many occasion waiting for a ride to finish, remembering the joy it give the child, simple pleasures.

As the girl is in the shade it may be a little flat, but the sunshine i the background gives the photo depth.




Hot Dog

1/500  f 10  140mm  ISO 320


This was one of those snapped moments.  To take this shot before anyone got in the way, knowing that the dog or the woman could have moved at any moment, although the dog does look quite comfortable, and possibly too hot to move.  I did have another shot with a wider angle lens showing a second umbrella above this one, shading also.  I felt this second picture was less cluttered, it still showed the dog at the dog show, trying to keep cool - which I should think is impossible with all that fur.  It was more focused on the dog and umbrella with a hint of spectator in the background, awaiting also for the show.
I feel the tone is good here with both sun and shade.





Blue Jump

1/400  f 10 70mm  ISO 400


I am pleased with this shot, showing the horse and rider in action, the horse just about to take off. I feel it s positioned correctly in the frame.  My criticism would be that the horses head is lost a little against the trees in background, and another horse and rider clutter the background also.  It is difficult to get the perfect backdrop unless you have permission to enter the ring and even then due to the whole nature of the event it would be difficult to get a perfect shot.  I could have shown the movement of the horse with a slower shutter speed, but one step at a time, i'm happy with the exposure, it would have been nicer if the sky had been more blue...








Girl & Horse

1/400  f 8.0  165mm  ISO 400

I really like this photograph, I think a little more light on the horse would have highlighted his detail, the sun is catching the girls shoulder and the horses ears.  Both girl and horse look relaxed and calm. I like the way the light is behind them, and its one of those moments when you just catch someone, you will have to advise me where I am wrong technically, if I am.








Polo

1/500  f 16  53mm  ISO 400

Here the two teams are going after the ball, all running towards the camera.  All the payers are in focus and have the sun lighting them from one side. They are possible a touch underexposed if anything.  There is quite a lot of darkness with the trees and the horses, and I would have to be careful not to overexpose the marquee.






Hounds

1/500  f 11 130mm  ISO 250


This was one of those moments when my zoom lens started off OK but as the hounds moved forward i felt stuck. I did take a lovely photograph of the lead horse but it was just his head and because of the lens restriction it was very tight in the frame, too tight. This was a shame because it was a lovely picture.
I had a selection of the above picture, I chose this one as it showed both the horses, all of the hounds and the dog handler.  They were entering the show ring and the caravans were a bit distracting but they are all part of the show atmosphere.  The sky is a little flat maybe.






Girl & Cow

1/1600  f 4.5  95mm  ISO 200

The girl here is awaiting to 'show' her cow/calf.  She is looking a little apprehensive, the cow is relaxed and the sunlight is highlighting his coat.   This is another picture which I like which I wouldn't have been able to take from any other angle.






Horse in the shade              This shot Cancelled after tutor report

Again another picture I like and I am not sure what the rules are - they are meant to be keeping cool in the shade with all the light in the background.  The picture shows the horses and handlers resting and keeping cool between events, with the man gently stroking the horses nose.  It shows the trailer, make shift fencing and the show in the distance, showing different aspects of the show.








Learn to fish                     This shot cancelled after tutor report

I had thought about cropping this picture closer to the sign but I felt this gave a better view of the lake and surrounding trees and grass.  I like how the people are silhouetted, sitting on the haystacks, waiting whilst others learn to fish.  The sky again here is a little uninteresting but luckily it doesn't dominate the picture.








Man & Boy

1/1000 f 5.6  54mm  ISO 200

I was really pleased with this, this is the sort of picture I like, but it was one of those moments when the boys mother was looking at me wondering why I was taking a picture of her son - luckily she didn't come after me ...
The man, wiser with years teaches the young boy to fly fish.  He shyly watches and learns, slightly nervous, feet dangling in the water.  Both men in blue, and the ripples show clearly on the water. The weedy grass also in focus in the foreground.  The sun shining softly from the side.  Sadly, no sign of fish...




Two Replacement images to be included for my assessment




Beautiful Bull

1/640  f 4.0 70mm  ISO 200

This is one of my favourite photos, he is not actually an official person, but isn't he beautiful.  The picture I thought, exposure good showing the texture of his hair and harness.  His fringe looks like he has had the rollers in ... I hope he won a prize.



Late Afternoon

1/400 f 5.6  225mm  ISO 200

I nearly didn't take this picture as I was leaving the show and my camera was away, I noticed the three of them as I walked past.  Luckily I made the choice to stop and take it.
The late afternoon sun brushes through the hair of one of the men and highlights the face of another.  It shows the men relaxing, enjoying the warmth of the late sun, after a long day attending to their steam engines at the Country Show.  This sums up well how the people feel at these shows, after a very active and enjoyable, but tiring day.

PROJECT 15 : PUBLIC SPACE, PUBLIC ACTIVITY

PUBLIC SPACE, PUBLIC ACTIVITY

PROJECT 14 : AN ORGANISED EVENT

AN ORGANISED EVENT


I have chosen the Hampton Court Flower Shower as my organised event, and luckily the weather did just hold.  What I have realised is all that you plan in your head is very difficult to always reproduce, especially when your characters do not fully comply. But you can have a general idea of what you want and how you want your photographs to look and then take lots and lots of pictures and hopefully you will be delighted when you view them on your computer.


Here I am beginning to relax however I still feel some people look at me and wonder what Im up to, but I care less now, most of the pictures I have taken I felt relaxed with.  The students did give me a look, but I suppose that is just peoples inquisitiveness, however the older lady with her trolley, was actually trying to get away from me, which was sad because I thought she just summed up a flower show, in her smart clothes and sun hat , with trolly bursting with flowers... Another moment was with the singer, I took her photo and then she seemed to look straight down the lens.

PROJECT 13 : A STANDARD VIEW

A STANDARD VIEW 




Here the camera was at 50mm, standard view, when looking through the camera and your eye, both scenes look the same in each eye.

The first picture taken the candy floss lady was busy with child buying, and therefore wasn't bothered by my camera, the ice cream man however on a cold, wet, July day, was fully aware of what I was doing - probably wondering what I was doing, he looked like he felt daft standing selling ice creams in the rain, and was probably a hungover student, who would have rather been elsewhere. Two contrasting pictures on the 'comfort' level...

PROJECT 12 : CLOSE AND INVOLVED

CLOSE AND INVOLVED

With all the following four pictures I felt, myself, quite uncomfortable as I didn't want the people to see me, but was trying not to rush, but then if you don't hurry up you miss the shot you wanted. So when you see the shot , you are fiddling with your camera, up and down to the eye, focusing, waiting for them to be still, and then when you do take the shot the person hears the camera release, and then are aware of you taking pictures.  So that could put the end to a certain setup, especially if the person doesn't want it.
I like all four pictures, with the third picture I tried to get the picture on the back of her camera as my main focal point but it wasnt very easy - mainly due to her movement.  Exposure and focus were easier for these shots.

PROJECT 11 : STANDING BACK

STANDING BACK 


These people here were directly opposite me and unaware of the camera, the man enjoying a sleep rather than the tennis.  The fact that the woman is looking directly back makes you wonder if she can see you, and what you're up to .... Here you have to be careful of the correct exposure and camera wobbly, as they are so far away.

The same situation here, this couple were totally unaware, and the fact that they weren't eating or sleeping made me feel a little better. The same camera cautions were needed..

Its always difficult taking pictures of children, here no one, including the children were aware of what I was doing, men must find this more of a problem, although its sad if they do, but as a mother I definitely wouldn't like it if it were my children.  Anyway lets keep it light, no one was hurt in the taking of this shot.. :-)

Project 10 : Moment & Gesture

MOMENT & GESTURE 




Although this doesn't actually have people in Im hoping that it is OK for the project of moment and gesture.  In the notes it says ..... There are two parts to photographing the moment, deciding what it should be and capturing it.  The two do not necessarily occur in that order.  My two shots didnt happen in the correct order but I feel they do the suggest moment and gesture.  They did however carry on fighting (playfully) after the first shot...

PART TWO : Project 9 - A comfortable situation

 A COMFORTABLE SITUATION


The following pictures we taken at a very busy event, there where lots of people with cameras and so it wasn't like I was the only person taking pictures. The first picture below nearly all of the people were either unaware or not bothered by me taking a photograph.  Directly in front of these people, pointing uphill, was a press photographer with an enormous lens... everyone excepted him being there and taking shots.  I think its a combination of people being comfortable / uncomfortable and your own personal self confidence.  The more confident you are it seems the less people notice you.  This was one of my first pictures and maybe stood back a little, I did see a few people notice the camera, but at this stage it was more about me feeling embarrassed.  Im happy with the picture as I wanted a general overall view of the hill and its occupants.

Here in this second shot I used my zoom lens and the couple were completely unaware of me and my camera, I did feel as I was encroaching on them, it was quite a dull day and with the longer lens I had to be careful that it wasn't too underexposed.

The following picture the umpire was totally unaware of my camera and I felt the he was public property, and because he was part of the Wimbledon setup, I felt I had the right to take his picture, unlike the couple above..

Now, this chap, although he was part of the Wimbledon staff, and I was using my zoom lens, he was aware of the camera.  I could feel he was uncomfortable with me taking the picture.  I suppose he wondered why I would want a shot of him.  So that then made me self conscious .. I probably therefore rushed the shot a little, I like it but looking at it again would move the head towards the left, and maybe upped the exposure.

This final picture was taken with my zoom lens and the man was completely unaware.. I felt a bit guilty intruding on his snack..