Arguments within Photography

Arguments within Photography

There are many arguments within the photography industry, below are three which I feel I have a connection to.

Argument One: Documentary Photography

One argument that I have felt really connected to is around the world of documentary photography. Documentary photography is all about telling the truth but what the is truth nowadays, the truth is determined by what the government or the press want it to be. We’re no longer in the time of Don McCullin where he could get on whatever helicopter he wanted, we have to remember than McCullin was banned from covering the Falklands.

 

Screengrab from Leica: The Hunt [click on image to see video]

Take the Tiananmen Square image, it was recently included in a Leica commercial, to which the advert sparked mass backlash in China and actually saw the word Leica get censored. The famous image was shot on Nikon. So this advert is all about showing the tools that are used, to tell the truth, yet they aren’t being truthful about what was used to capture an iconic image.

 

Argument Two: Photoshop

Another popular argument is about the application of manipulation software like Adobe Photoshop. It is a very popular phrase to say that something has been photoshopped. Yes, this is mainly an internet trend where we see bonkers manipulation of imagery that is so obviously faked. However, it does actually happen in the industry, not only are we seeing models that are being made slimmer, we are at the point where skin conditions are removed and tones are adjusted to fit the target audience.

It does make me ask, why would a portrait need Photoshop retouching to remove skin conditions, a portrait is supposed to show the reality of someone and Photoshop can remove the reality.

Argument Three: Street Photography Ethics

The third argument I’m very aware of is regarding the ethics of street photography. We know that everyone does have a right to take an image in a public place however everyone does have the right to privacy and I feel people on the streets do have a right to be annoyed about having an image taken of themselves on the streets. Especially if you do it in a similar style of Bruce Gilden.

It is a tough one, when one right is enforced another one is hindered

Initial Idea for Dissertation

Initial Idea for Dissertation

My first idea for my dissertation is about documentary photography. We are in a day where world events can be shared in an instant. However, it doesn’t seem possible for the truth to come out.

The ‘truth’ is determined by certain people, take the Hillsborough Disaster, The Sun printed ‘The Truth’ on the front cover and that was revealed to not be the truth. This does make me question what is the point of documentary photography or journalism in general.

Call Sheet for Billboard Shoot

Call Sheet for Billboard Shoot

Images That Move Week Two Journal

Images That Move Week Two Journal

During this week, I picked out three music videos which inspired me. I also started to think of ideas.

As regards to idea generation, I’ve got two.  I’ve got a football one which involves creating a music video for the Charlton song Valley Floyd Road. Of course, permission might be tough to gain but I could probably be pointed in the right direction by friends at Charlton Athletic. However the biggest constraint is the fact there is only two football games left in the season. This also doesn’t exactly feel like a very inspiring idea.

The other idea I have is of the musician I’ve used for previous shoots, Hayden Brenen with his single 100 Degrees. This is obviously an idea I can have more fun with, but I need to do a lot more planning before it’s a fully fetched idea. My very initial idea is involving candles because that is used in the album artwork, so I might use warm lighting.

As regards to music videos that inspire me. One of them is Birdy Wings. This has a very warm colour palette and it might be a good idea if I try to replicate this type of lighting if I go with the 100 Degrees music video.

 

Another music video I enjoyed watching was Radical Face Welcome Home. The aspect of this music video that appealed to me was the cinematography. The extremely shallow depth of field and the focus which is reminiscent of a vignette is very engaging. It also gives a dream-like vibe that comes across when hearing the lyrics.

First Images That Move Lesson

First Images That Move Lesson

Last Thursday was an introduction into the brand new Images That Move unit. I think it’s fair to say I’m pretty excited by this brief, however, I’m even more nervous about it. We only have six weeks to organise and create a music video, which is a much bigger production than creating a 30-second Public Awareness campaign. Video is a skill I have definitely wanted to learn and make the most of as it will make me more well rounded.

It was a relief to hear that we don’t have to use the same artist that we used for Images That Persuade. This is because the track still hasn’t been released so I am currently unable to hear it. Also, the artists are hip-hop and it isn’t my type of music.

Matt showed us some pioneering music videos which definitely inspired me.

Joel Compass – Back to Me

The first one he showed was Joel Compass Back to Me which makes the use of cinemagraphs. They are moving images that have been created from a stills photograph where one element is moved. Below are some from Back to Me that I liked

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I really like what it does for the video, it feels hypnotic and surreal, it can be confusing at time to combine stills and motion in one frame but it matches the confused feel you get whilst watching the video which builds up to the big twist at the end.

We also looked at a WWF video which also makes very effective use of cinemagraphs.

WWF PARALLAX SEQUENCE from Make Productions on Vimeo.

Bonodo – No Reason

I also liked the next video that was shown. It was clearly shot on a wide angle lens and it feels like it was all in one take.

There is a fantastic behind the scenes video which really opened my eyes and showed I was wrong about the production. The director said the video is all about the phenomenon of the Hikikomori which is about people who confine themselves to their rooms during their teens, so the video is a metaphor for the mental state of the subject, his world is closing in around him and increasing the claustrophobia. I was curious as to how the subject grew without the use of CGI but the video shows me that the set gets smaller. The video is about pushing beyond what you think is possible “I won’t tell you if it’s one shot or more but it’s not many shots”

Radiohead – Man of War

Another music video I liked was Radiohead Man of War. This is a very simple concept, the subject is walking through the same location at different times of the year.

Naive New Beaters – Words Hurt

A final music video I really enjoyed was Naive New Beaters Words Hurt. This is an interactive music video where we choose the narrative.

So after this introduction, I feel a bit more positive about the unit but I still find it very daunting that we have to shoot a music video in just six weeks. I do need to remind myself that we don’t have to create something like the examples I’ve just seen, we need to demonstrate an understanding of moving image as this will make us more well rounded for the industry.

 

Attire for my Billboard Shoot

Attire for my Billboard Shoot

This is the attire that I’ve got for my billboard shoot.

As regards to hats, I’ve got five that we can try for the shoot.

1. Police Hat with a pin badge [Used in the test]

2. Plain Service Cap

3. Soviet Captain hat [might be too big for the style]

4. Breton cap [might be perfect for the style of early WW1]

5. Glengarry Hat [This would probably work well with the badge, would only need a Scottish Poppy]

I’ve decided to try and find alternate hats because I feel the police one could give the game away with my new lighting set up. I did a second test shoot yesterday where I tried a lighting set up that had two naked heads on low power to just bring out the fibers a tiny bit more and to push the style a bit more, this could reveal the police livery on the hat and ruin the shot.

In this shot, I tried a traditional paper Poppy but it felt too small in the frame.

Update on subjects

Update on subjects

The hunt for a soldier is finally over. The Poppy Legion have responded and said they aren’t able to help. I emailed Help For Heroes and didn’t get a response.

 

I have however got one model confirmed for the shoot and two other people who might be able to attend. The confirmed is Luke Ward-Wilkinson who I photographed on a Leica workshop in the summer. From what I could remember of him, I believed that the uniform will fit him. After I gave him the measurement he said he might be able to fit into it if he tucks it in and we pin it. If it’s slightly too big I still think the shoot will work as the solider is being silhouetted.

Slight change to equipment

Slight change to equipment

I’ve made a few adjustments to the equipment I have booked out for my billboard shoot.

• Lights:

Elinchrom ELC 1000 [x4]

Elinchrom RX600 [x2]

• Diffusion:

Elinchrom 100 Octabox

Elinchrom 90×110 Softbox W/Grid

Elinchrom 130×50 Stripbox

Elinchrom Lightbanks [x2 in 213]

• Stands

Elinchrom Lighting Stands [x4]

Elinchrom Backdrop Stand

• Miscellaneous

13A Power Reel

Sandbag [x4]

Light Meter

• What was removed

C Stand, this was because of safety reasons, Kitstore don’t want them to be used to boom lights, only to be used as flags

Elinchrom Square 1M [x2]

Elinchrom 60x80cm W/Grid, the grid is still missing

Anyone Yet?

Anyone Yet?

Unfortunately, I still haven’t been able to secure a soldier for my shoot. I started the day by emailing the Woolwich Barracks. I could only find one email, of Lt Col. Robert Clayton.

However, this didn’t work out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this failure, I’ve decided to do a post on Facebook which was shared by eight of my friends and only one of them has generated a response. However I’m not feeling confident about this response at all. This is because Kerian needs to get special permission to not only get his Service and Battle Dress, he also needs special permission to be photographed in it. So it really is starting to feel like I have failed to deliver on my massive promise. Definitely, a case of I’ve bitten off more than I could chew.

So I am on the verge of going with my Plan B which involves reaching out to Nathan Daniels who I used for both Mono and Lavazza last year. I think he would fit the uniform I have. If he isn’t available then I think I’m looking at a fail.

 

 

I am incredibly embarrassed by all of this

Update on my Billboard Shoot

Update on my Billboard Shoot

I am embarrassed to say that I still haven’t got a subject for my billboard shoot next Monday. I would say that I haven’t been able to focus on Ravensbourne lately but that is still no excuse for me leaving this to the last minute, especially considering I got signed off a month ago yesterday.

Despite the disappointment, I do have some positive leads:

• Poppy Legion

I have emailed the Poppy Legion and the details of my project have been forwarded on to the relevant departments. As of Tuesday, I haven’t received a response so I will be ringing tomorrow.

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• Friend Richard Morley

My friend Richard who has a son who was previously in the Air Cadets has messaged two friends who might be able to help. I think it would be good to have both a male and female subject.

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• Friend Jessica Rabjohns

I messaged another friend of mine who recently left the Army Cadets.

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• Prowess – Veteran Modelling Agency

I came across an agency called Prowess “As the only agency of its kind, Prowess specializes in providing veterans the right tools and resources they need to find jobs as professional models”

• Be Military Fit

So in short, it looks like I’ve bitten off more than I could chew if my vow to find a soldier for my campaign. I’ve put too much thought into the credibility that I have forgotten that I’m only shooting a university project, I’ve created unnecessary work for myself and it has caught up with me. I haven’t been able to find an MUA or Stylist. I’ll admit I don’t know what an MUA would do because the soldier is being silhouetted. A stylist I understand but the wardrobe is very simple, any medals or webbing would be distracting and a soldier might not want stuff to be added to their uniform.

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In equipment news, I’ve had to abandon my plan to use a C Stand for the key light with the Snoot. This is because the Arms and Clamps say that they aren’t to be used to boom lights, they are only to be used for flags.