Individual Practice - Evaluation Rationale

The concept behind my 'Individual Practice' was to successfully obtain images of a Bride and Groom to the highest possible standard, that these would then be presented within my portfolio to show potential customers in order of booking me as their potential wedding photographer.

My 'Individual Study' discussed in depth about what is to be expected from a wedding photographer and also the kinds of images potential customers generally would require to be seen from their special day.

During my 'Work Based Learning' unit I shadowed two established and professional wedding photographers and I also embarked on working as a 2nd photographer for a wedding that was booked directly with my university friend and colleague Gemma McAuley. On all of these occasions I took a back step from directing the Bride and Groom and worked within a candid style, capturing the moments as they unfolded as naturally as possible, therefore at this time there was a gap within my portfolio evidencing that I am able to direct and produce such intimate photographs to which a bride and groom will treasure forever.

Through research into contemporary styles of bride and groom portraiture it inspired me to have the confidence to go and make beautiful and aesthetically pleasing images of a loving couple come rain or shine. http://joannestudholme.blogspot.com/p/individual-practice-unit-14.html

Below are my final 10 images selected to be printed for my portfolio, accompanied with a written dialogue explaining my reasoning's and critically evaluating my decisions.

'Celebration Time Come On'

I feel the obscure angle of view really adds to the composition of the overall photograph. The image depicting a sense that they are sharing their first bottle of bubbly together not long after being announced as Husband and Wife.

I believe my photograph shows great juxtaposition accompanied with a visually irony in the sense that the Groom is excited about the sheer volume of liquid he has sprayed from their bubbly yet his Bride showing concern not to let it all go to waste.

'To us'

A romanticised photograph taken at a precise decisive moment as the bride and groom are looking into each others eyes. Lost within the world of two lovers. I feel that the darker areas to lighter areas towards the middle of the photograph really en-captures the viewers attention to the chemistry that is happening between them.

'On looking Wedded Lovers'

I felt that showing detail of the Church wall within the composition and positioning of the couple within the door way gave a further aesthetic beauty to the overall image; whilst capturing the bride and groom at the correct decisive moment, enhancing the visual element of intimacy.

'Perfect Moment'

This is my favourite photograph from the entire shoot. I believe this picture captures the essence of love magically. The soft lighting caused from the rain fall adds and excites an extra essence of feeling and mood to the image. The precise decisive moment captures the couple in mid kiss pulling the viewer's direct attention to the perfect moment.

'His & Her Wedding Rings'

From a low viewpoint I wanted to capture the wedding rings in a creative and different style therefore I used a shallow depth of field and focused onto the rings and allowed both the Bride and Groom to become softly out of focus. I positioned the rings so the viewer could still his and her eye through the centre of the wedding rings.

If I had taken more time on perfecting this idea I feel that it may have been better composed if the Groom was not covering his other eye with his hand.

Having the helping hand of an assistant would have been beneficial however on live wedding day photo shoots this would not be possible!

'Runaway Bride'

I directed the bride to walk diagonally past her groom whilst looking over her shoulder towards her groom. I composed and shot so that her reflection would aid an aesthetic beauty to the image being evident in the water below the grooms feet. Depicting an irony that no matter how far away she goes she will always be close to him and his heart.

'Lovingly gesture'

A perfectly captured gesture of affection accomplished with the use of shallow depth of field so to throw the whole background out of focus; highlighting the centre element of the photograph being the depiction of the lovingness of the husband towards his wife.

'It's a Brolley good job'

With the use of creative editing style contrasting the red, white and blacks I feel it has given a great atmospheric look to this photograph.

'Sealed with a magical Kiss'

The Movie star pose of the lady lifting her leg showing her enjoyment of their passionate wedded kiss, set with a beautiful backdrop walking out away from the church. The rainfall on the ground really adds to the overall image.

'Raindrops of Love'

A perfectly captured moment in time of a loving newly weds enjoying their first precious moments together seeking shelter from the beautifully captured rain fall.

All of the 10 images I have chosen display my concept perfectly in captivating intimate beautiful moments in time between bride and groom. I am now just in the hope that my potential future clients will also agree that I have the necessary skills required to directing and capturing natural beautiful moments in time that will be cherished for a life time.

Looking to the future I will be considering the use of film photography within my wedding packages, bringing back a sense of old traditions & exceptional hand made quality.

FMP - Brief Evaluation

My Final Major Project 'Visual Obsession' was a collaborative project with the Cape Town Brief

'Select an aspect of life in the North West that appeals to you photographically . . . representing a positive aspect of life in the North West of England'

so I therefore decided to incorporate my visual obsession, that being my daughter, using a photo-journalistic style of photography, capturing and highlighting a personal, positive aspect of her life as a child . . . although keeping in mind that the final photographs would possibly be exhibited in Cape Town, South Africa depicting life within the North West of England.

http://joannestudholme.blogspot.com/p/final-major-project.html

For my final images I decided to choose 2 from each photo shoot, therefore creating diversity of the activities and places to which I photographed my daughter around the North West. My style of photography is documentary in the essence that I am seeing moments in time and capturing events as they unfold on the day.

Accrington May Day Fair

'Bouncing Show Off'

Kids are full of energy and love to enjoy themselves. A customary trip to the fair has been evident throughout English culture for decades, it is a fun filled land of entertainment to keeping the children amused during their holidays.

After a group critique in regards to selecting images to be used for exhibition in Cape Town, the images captured on my fair ground shoot were not felt as strongly as others for depicting a sense of British or English culture. Fun fairs can be located throughout the world and visually their is no evidence to state that this image was taken on English soil. However both images have captivated a sentimental and personal, positive aspect of her life as my original 'Visual Obsession' concept stated.

'Say Neigh to Waltzers'

A Easter Monday afternoon in Blackpool

'Line up for your Horse and Carriage Ride'

'The Little Gambler'

Blackpool Images, possibility of being Exhibited in Cape Town

These are two of the images chosen after the group critique to possibly be selected for exhibition in Cape Town. I feel that this may have been due to the representation and cultural visual codes displayed within both images. That being in both images they are displaying Britain as a true multi-rational country, also evident in the lower photograph of people eating customary Fish and Chips along the North West's most famous promenade.

Red, White and Blue Day at St.John's with St.Augustine's Primary School

'Ain't milk brilliant'

The above image was the main one of my images selected at the group critique, funnily enough it being my favourite one of the day also. It depicts Britain's culture perfectly, the patriot flag on the foreground child's tea-shirt to the customary dance around the Maypole

A day out to Tatton Park's Alice in Wonderland Festival

'Shannon in Wonderland'

The images selected above were to symbolize the intention of the organised community event, that being play through learning and discovery. I intended to capture my daughter's movements as she pieced together the puzzles whilst roaming around the historical place of Tatton Park.

A day out to Welly Bob's

My reasoning's to using a ambient lighting pre-set was to give a beautifully lit feel to the overall image. The sunlight symbolizing life as well as the young of both the children and animals. I feel that my decisive moment was perfectly captured, detailing the happiness of the two friends. The image may have been even more successful given I had used a wider angle lens

'Queens of the Castle'

A complete sense of juxtaposition is evident in the respect of detailing British patriotism within this photograph as well as being combined with a visual irony and with the background detailing the North West landscape beyond.

Another of my final images that may be selected to be exhibited in Cape Town, South Africa

Martin Parr - photographer

Martin Parr (born 23 May 1952 in Epsom, Surrey) is a British documentary photographer, photojournalist and collector. He is known for his photographic projects that take a critical look at modern society, specifically consumerism, foreign travel and tourism, motoring, family and relationships, and food.

FMP - Research to upgrade DAM software: Comparing Lightroom 2 and 3

FMP - Video Inspiration Research - Family of Man 1955

Photojournalism 'The Past Reveals The Present' Brief Evaluation

So to conclude . . . Competitive Freestyle dancing originated from Old Time dancing, from as early as the Victorian times and the art forms major influence was from 1970's Disco. It is a type of dance that bears no rules and is for the dancer to find the beat to the music. Competitive dances have been held throughout the country for many years, most locally held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

By 1919 after the Great World War, The Empress Ballroom staged its first Blackpool Dance Festival in Easter and apart from the 5 years during the Second World War has hosted many other dancing events and competitions to this present day.

http://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/history_empress.htm

http://www.blackpooldancefestival.com/history.htm - This website clearly states the progression of dance forms and competitions held throughout the years. Unfortunately I am unable to add the images to my blog as they are protected by copyright therefore please view the website for a full breakdown into the history of dance held at the Winter Garden's, Empress Ballroom

Below are my final 8 images selected to tell my picture essay of contemporary and competitive freestyle dancing which originated from past dance forms

DANCE CLASS

The MUMS

Hair & Make-Up

GETTING READY

Competitor Number

WITHIN A FREESTYLE MOMENT

TROPHY'S & JUDGES

DANCERS & BEYOND

Beneath the dancer is still a child

To conclude my photo essay I wanted to capture images that displayed the children's lives outside of dancing, to show that after a dance class or competition that they are still children being children.

Below are my contact sheets of images I took of my daughter whilst she was playing at her friends house not long after leaving the dance school on a Saturday afternoon.

Below are my edited images