Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Presenting Photo Images ( Assignment 211 part I)

As I am nearly adding finishing touches to my first theme Close ups in Nature dedicated to Spring. I thought its time to me move forward with Assignment 211 - Presenting Photo Images -what should include written account of three main points:

  1. The choice of presentation method;
  2. Description of methods used to present final images;
  3. Contrasts the presentation method with an alternative method of presentation using, different materials.

Today photos are mostly displayed on electronic devices from cell phones to digital picture frames, from USB memory sticks to CD or DVD discs which also lead to wall mounted HDTV's. But after spending time, money and effort on taking decant pictures, it seems to me a shame to leave them a drawer or on a hard disk, never to see the light of the day again. But thanks to technical progress of XX and XXI century now there are a lot of wonderful ways in which exhibit our work. So that leads us to beginning step…to display a work in a consistent way it needs to be printed out.

Photo lab services. 

The two most popular and traditional photo services are reprints and enlargements. Most photo kiosk labs has offered these service for decades. Many of them now offer a service that accepts damaged prints, and uses digital manipulation to correct colour casts, tears, scratches and stains.

Same prints fall into 2 broad categories by size - desktop prints and wall prints.
Desktop prints are generally considered to be 8" x 10" and smaller in size and obviously, anything larger than that falls into the wall print category.

Personalized products
Most labs also offer us a various personalized products such as: having images placed on T-shirts, mouse mats, greeting cards, calendars, jigsaws etc...
(http://www.hhcolorlab.com/create/leather-fabric_accessories, website with a great choice of personalized accessories).
Canvas Blocks. Canvas art blocks been very popular in the last few years and now photo canvas blocks also are available. These are canvas prints stretched over a wooden frame, so they are ready to hang, wherever you desire. These comes a range of different sizes and shapes, to please any taste. http://www.canvas4life.co.uk/
Window blinds. Really personalized feel in home can add a photo roller blinds, which can be made to fit almost all windows. http://www.bagsoflove.co.uk/blinds/photo-blinds.aspx 
Engraved glass. Having images etched on to glass is the latest innovation. The image is created by a laser, which makes tiny, but visible fracture points in the glass. That kind of products include plaques, key rings, tumblers and jewellery. http://www.skydesign.biz/default.asp
 Photo Books. Digital technology has made it possible for photographers to produce 'coffee table' books containing their own photographs, with or without text and graphics. You can do it by yourself, with suitable software or get it done it for you on mostly Photo Kiosks or online. Photo books look great and are easy to handle and carry about for displaying to clients. This is one of most suitable presentation method apart from portfolio. 

But let’s going back and remember that we are, I like to think that, professional photographers to be, so and that’s mean that most of mentioned above presentation methods, apart from photo books is not suitable. Sometimes it is best to just keep the format simple to focus on the composition within the frame.

Framed Photographs.


Frames come all sorts and sizes, whatever you desire depends of your work and probably how much you are willing to spend. If pictures are part of a narrative or work well as a series, is good to consider mounting your photographs as a multiple composition. Some photographers are known for creating asymmetrical displays of their images that appear to have a random order. 

The purpose of using a frame is to set the image off from the wall or desktop environment, and highlight it without detracting from the image.
For my two themes I already decided using Photo book for my Close ups in Nature and Paper mount frames for Landscape images. As it’s still in the process I`ll be updating this Assignment part with new information any time soon….



Wednesday, 13 April 2011

I feel Spring...(IV)


Now in the Spring time, when everything is awaking from cold winter time I cant resist not to capture a full natures beauty in its beginning. Blossom will not last forever and I have to be quick if I want to get the best of it...so that's way probably I still holding back my other theme Landscapes, which I am leaving for last.

Like you can see I was again out and about looking for some new flowers what I will be adding to my collection of Close ups. I have to say I had lots already...but as it  is my first spring with my Nikon D3000,  so no one can blame me...

This time in my images I tried to fill in all frame with flowers instead of capturing just some details...



Camera Mode:   Manual 
    Shutter Speed:   1/80sec
     Aperture:    F7.1
            ISO:    100
     Lens Length:    300mm 
White Balance:   Auto 
Meter Setting:    Spot
                   Light:      Daylight only


Camera Mode:   Manual 
    Shutter Speed:   1/100sec
     Aperture:    F5.6
            ISO:    100
     Lens Length:    300mm 
White Balance:   Auto 
Meter Setting:    Spot
                    Light:      Daylight only

Camera Mode:   Manual 
    Shutter Speed:   1/100sec
     Aperture:    F5.6
            ISO:    100
     Lens Length:    300mm 
White Balance:   Auto 
Meter Setting:    Spot
                    Light:      Daylight only

Camera Mode:   Manual 
    Shutter Speed:   1/160sec
     Aperture:    F5.6
            ISO:    200
     Lens Length:    300mm 
White Balance:   Auto 
Meter Setting:    Pattern
                    Light:      Daylight only


 /Fro this image I had to lover my ISO, because I was under a tree and shadow not let much light in./


 Camera Mode:   Manual 
    Shutter Speed:   1/1125sec
     Aperture:    F5.6
            ISO:    100
     Lens Length:    300mm 
White Balance:   Auto 
Meter Setting:    Spot
                    Light:      Daylight only


Research Part II

Its about time for me to move forward with my research...its not as easy as it seems...choice of photographers are quite big...

As one of my themes is close up photography I tried to find some artists in this area...and one of -who come across was William Neill, who is best know as a  landscape photographer for over thirty years.



William Neill

"The reason I photograph is to experience the beauty of Nature, of wild places. I explore the essential elements of rock and tree, of cloud and rushing water to discover the magic and mystery of the landscape" .../W.Neill/


William Neill, a resident of the Yosemite National Park area since 1977, is a landscape photographer concerned with conveying the deep, spiritual beauty he sees and feels in Nature.
Neill's award-winning photography of stunning images of the American Landscape have been widely published in books, magazines, calendars, posters, and his limited-edition prints have been collected and exhibited in museums and galleries nationally.

One of his books " By Nature`s design"  I get from local library, to explore more I also used Internet in order to get some image examples...W.Neill for sure cover both of my chosen themes- Landscapes- as a stunning landscape photographer and Close ups- as a master of patterns...


"Looking for patterns is part of being human. People search for patterns- and usually find them".../P.Murphy/

We live in the world designed by nature and it`s not surprise that we try to keep this balance of the lines and shapes and our everyday lives. Patterns is one of my passion as well...since I join the curse and find out more about composition - I became addicted by patterns...I always look and capture some no matter where I go...
William Neill`s book provide with a good inspiration and information in particular subject.




Perfect example of close up pattern, leaves of the plants repeats certain forms and lines adding value to all image.







W.Neill`s photographs dramatically reveal patterns that we often overlook, and allow us to see...all is work is the perfect starting point for own exploration of the natural world.









The beauty and symmetry of the natural world coming alive in thees photographs.






Neill provides a delightful overview of many of nature's outstanding design features....over and over   encouraging  a sense of wonder. Sometimes he demonstrates that there is a pattern when none is apparent, as when looking at mountains or a coastline.



Has saying that W.Neill   is carrying on the work of his mentor - Ansel Adams ( one of my favorites) and  carving his own unique way, how he sees the world. 


If we look at this picture, it seems nothing unusual, but in other way very different from ordinary....camera is positioned exact the right way to block any gaps reviling lovely pattern.

After spending some time listing and researching W.Neill`s work I get real satisfaction and joy - to see haw photographer starting from a trees in  the woods, finishing with desert sands captured a very own detail and bring it out in very special way.



I have some of my resent shoots what I would like to compere...if it is even comparable with ....because I still need to learn and learn, and  find my own way to express....


 
 
 





For more info and great stuff visit photographers website:
http://www.williamneill.com/


Ernst Haas



I brought my attention to this photographer while listing David Finn`s book "How to look at Photographs", there I came across with one of his  images of single leaf and cant resist to find out more.....As I am just beginner -  all great names in photo industry is still unknown for me. I was surprised how great  this artist really is, well was unfortunately....
Ernst Haas was born March 2, 1921 in Vienna, Austria and died September 12, 1986 in New York City. Photographer and photojournalist who was influential for his innovations in colour photography, ...E.Haas was a first member of the legendary Magnum Photo agency and besides film stills he was a long time photographer for the well-known advertising campaign for Marlboro cigarettes.
Haas’s young day interests were divided between medicine and painting, but after World War II he abandoned both in favor of photography and who can blame him.

Ernst Haas was one of the best-known and most published photographers of the twentieth century, he was a pioneer in the development of an artistic colour photography and showed a deep reverence for the beauties of nature......and that's exactly way I choose to explore more of his work....Although, he worked with people, capturing film stars and street views he also have passion for nature and his images of close ups I find very related to my theme....                                                     
                                                                          
In first two photographs small raindrops work as a magnifying glass reveling everything even closer. Leafs little veins, contrast of dark and light colors makes image really stand out.

.
None of thees details was made by the photographer - as if it will be case in a painting -but it was E.Haas who realized that a wondering image could be made by framing them on a film...a little piece of world around him


"I am not interested in shooting new things-I am interested to see things new"..../Ernst Haas/

  
  
"A picture is the expression of an impression. If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it?"..../Ernst Haas/
 
 



"There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are."..../Ernst Haas/
 


Only we can make our  photographs unique...depends how we see the world around as...in my case, I see a lot of pain and depressive things, that's why I always intend to capture something that  makes me happy and also creates my world better...

Couple days ago I was out and about taking pictures, ... I get a call from my friend...I ask her to find me and stop by, we had a some chat, that time I was standing near ordinary bush trying out some of my close up shoots. She wandering what I was doing, she cant imagine to take pictures of something like this, but I saw an opposite and  outline a small beauty of plain street bush....



 "With photography a new language has been created. Now for the first time it is possible to express reality by reality. We can look at an impression as long as we wish, we can delve into it and, so to speak, renew past experiences at will." ..../E.Haas/