Paris

Had a lovely weekend in Paris and it really is a really beautiful city.  I took with me my Nikon D90 with 18-105mm lens.  I fully charged my battery and took a spare memory card.  It was very bright and sunny but with the tall buildings and trees it made many areas shaded so the camera controls had to be constantly changed for the correct exposure.  I read before I went that the best settings for a bright sunny day for street photography is for the aperture to be set at F8 and the shutter to be 1/320.  These setting worked very well in most cases so I left the setting at this in the hope of capturing a moment.

Capturing images of random people on the streets can be quite a daunting experience but I definitely feel that towards the end of the weekend I was definitely improving.  I shot a few images on the metro and at night which I had to adjust the ISO settings and although I did not have my tripod for the slow shutter speed they turned out quite nice.  I was really hoping for some rain, to capture some reflections and patterns and textures that can be captured after the rain and to clear the streets a little because the street of Paris are really busy but the weekend was very bright and sunny.

Safety Considerations

Whilst in Paris I was always aware of the safety issues involved with being in a city that I had never been to before.  I firstly obtained a map to ensure that I would not get lost and to guide me round the city with ease.  This ensured that I stayed around major city sights as cities can be dangerous places if you should venture into unsafe areas.  I ensured that I was aware of the roads and the way the crossings operated as they do not make a noise like the crossings in this country so you have to check that the green walk sign is on.  There are high volumes of traffic in the City of Paris and I always ensured that I used the crossings or subways provided.  Whilst using the Metro system I always considered the safety considerations of being close to the tracks and how quickly the doors on the trains open and close.  Reasonable care was always taken whilst around the main monuments as there are high volumes of people around and whilst in the Artist Quarter we were made aware of the pickpockets that operate in the area.

Contrasting my work with researched photographers




Image by Eric Kim




1/160 F6.3 ISO 200



Image by Andre Kertesz



 

1/320 F8 ISO 1000

Image by Eric Kim

 

1/125 F5.6 ISO 200

Research - Nitsa

Nitsa is a Israel born photographer who now lives in Los Angeles.  I first came across Nitsa while researching Eric Kim as someone suggested he interview her on his blog.  I then came across her on facebook and flickr.  She became interested in photography in 2000 and claims she is not a professional photographer and still feels uncomfortable selling her prints.  Nitsa did not study photography and says she has learned everything through observation and lots of practise and countless errors.

Nitsa follows a no rules style of photography and prefers free form self expression.  She likes to photograph the big cities of America.  Although she claims she has never studied any kind of art or photography I really like her work and her style.

This image is called I'm a Robot which I think is due to the figures drawn along the wall although I am not sure.  Taken in Los Angeles this image has a good contrast with the high key and low key tones.  The image has been taken at a slightly tilted angle to show the upward street.  I think that the composition aspect of lines with the robot figures and the perspective demonstrates the rule of thirds.

I really like this image taken in New York which has so much detail which adds pattern and texture to a black and white image.  The image has a nice tonal range and contrast which is prominent because of the amount detail within the image.  I like the advertisement board in this image with the low key figures.  I also like the candid look on the women's face as she walks around the corner.

I really like this image taken from a high angle looking down on the street below.  This image has a really nice tonal range throughout and the pattern and textures.  There is a nice contrast present throughout the image with lots of different shapes tones and textures.

Close Call - This image is taken at a low angle and just catches the bike as it moves out of the frame.  This image shows the composition aspect of lines and the rule of thirds. Pattern is present in the ground and a really nice tonal range with equal amounts of high and low key tones.  Captured perfectly with the bike and the train coming into the frame.

I really like images shot in underground train stations. Shows the composition aspect of lines and the rule of thirds with a nice tonal range mostly being low key. I like the dimensions of the platform, train and the overhead light with the lone passenger standing on the platform.

I really like the colours which have been created in this image.  Public transport images are usually shot and converted to black and white or are quite dull in colour but this has the lovely yellow and purple which makes it really nice.  The subject in the train has been shot at the rule of thirds and also the people outside the window.  There is a nice contrast and the composition aspect of lines all around the image which guides the eye.

Again really nice colours used within the image.  The shop fronts within this image are really interesting and their is so much going on the eye is easily guided around the picture.  This image has been taken at a low angle and the perspective is really nice.  This has been post produced to create a grainy image but has kept the vibrant colours creating a really nice image.  The composition aspect of pattern and textures have been used within this image and lines are present all around.

This image taken of Brooklyn Bridge has been post produced and a shadow or reflection has been created of the bridge and the street light in the sky.  Shot in black and white this image has a really nice tonal range and contrasts with the sky really well.  The composition aspect of the rule of thirds is present with the arch and lines is present in the journey across the bridge which guides the eye into the image.

Kid and birds is a really nice image which has nice colours.  The composition aspect of the rule of thirds is present with the little boy. Pattern and texture is also present with the pavement and the road.  I like the colours of the boys clothing and the contrast with the pale background of the pavement and the road.

Paris in Black & White

AMBIGUITIES OF PARIS Photography by Aaron Sosa / www.aaronsosaphotograph...

Paris City Street Photography - You Tube

I have been looking at You Tube researching Street Photograph in Paris just to get an idea of what to expect and to give me some inspiration of what to look for.  There are some fantastic images mostly done in black and white.  I think my final 10 images from my second theme Reportage will probably be converted to black and white photography using post production techniques.  I will be looking for colour, texture, shadows and reflections to further enhance my images once converted.

Research - Andre Kertesz 1894 - 1985

Andre Kertesz was a Hungarian photographer born in Budapest, known for his contribution to composition in photography  He also produced photo essays which is a series of photographs which tell a story to the viewer.  Kertesz style of photography was photojournalism and early magazines is what inspired him to learn about photography.  Although his family wanted him to work as a stockbroker or follow a career in business he pursued his passion for photography.

During the first world war and aged just 20 years old he was sent to the front line of World War 1 where he took photographs of life in the trenches.  Unfortunately these early photographs were destroyed in the fighting.

In 1925 Kertesz moved to Paris and worked commissions for several European magazines in Germany, France, Italy and England.  In 1927 Kertesz was the first photographer to have a one man exhibition.When the Germans threatened war on the Jews he decided to flee to America were he had to work hard to build up his reputation.

This image taken at a high angle down on the street below has been taken in the rain which adds reflection and contrast to the street below.  The main focus is on the forefront street lamps which clearly show the composition aspect of lines and the rule of thirds across the whole image.  I like the focus being on the street lamps shot was a narrow depth of field this has allowed the cars and the man with the umbrella to be blurred out.  Shot with the forefront in focus and the background blurred.

Chairs of Paris was taken in 1927 and clearly shows that even the most simple of image can be really interesting.  This photograph is mainly high key with an area of low key in the background.  This style of image reminds me of Henri Cartier Bressons Jardin de Tuileries in 1974 and clearly shows and forefront middle and background within an image highlighting the rule of thirds across the whole image.

This image The Eiffel Tower taken in 1929 has been taken looking down off the Eiffel Tower and taken at a really good time of day which has allowed the light to create shadows across the photograph.  This is a good example of how light can be used in photography and how well shadows work with black and white photography.  The shadow has allowed the image to have a good tonal range with equal amounts of high key and low key elements.

This image is predominately high key although it may not be if not viewing a tiny image on the Internet.  Stairs of Montmarte was taken in 1925 and clearly shows the composition aspect of lines and the rule of thirds.  There is a good use of light created with the shadows cast down from the sunlight.

Kristal Ball is a image with the composition aspect of reflection which can be seen as the main focal point within this image.  This image has been shot at a high angle looking down and has really nice shape and tonal range.

The compostion aspect of reflection, the rule of thirds, pattern and texture are present within this image.  Rain and puddles can create fantastic images and rain adds a reflective composition which is really nice in images.  I like the pattern created by the cobbles on the ground and the way the puddle reflects the head of the subject whilst only his legs are caught in the image.

There is so much going on in this image your eye is easily guided around. Taken with a really good perspective and at a nice angle.  I love the way the train has been caught in the background and the man with the picture under his arm.  A really nice tonal range with equal amounts of low and high key tones.

Research - Presenting Photo Images - Assignment 211

The Photo Book

The photo book is a simple way of presenting your photo images. There are many different companies available on the Internet Photobox, Albelli and Blurb to name a few.  Once you have signed up all you have to do is upload the images you wish to use and you are ready to create your own photo book.  You can however just upload a number of images and they will design the photo book for you.  You have full creative control using the templates available or creating your own. The books are available in paperback, hardback or with ring binders. Available in a range of sizes, with your choice of how many images or pages to include they come in square or landscape. Titles and text can be added to the pages which acts as a reference to what the images are about.

I have designed a photo book in the past for my sister in law of her hen weekend. I then gave it to her on her wedding day as this kind of presenting photo images can make a great gift.  The companies on the Internet which provide photo books also do canvas printing, mugs, t-shirts and many other things that make great gifts and provide a chance to show off great images.

A few examples of Photo Books

Canvas Prints.

The same companies that offer photo books also offer other gift ideas like calenders, mugs and canvas printing.  They do many different sizes of canvas so if you have that special picture that you would like to hang on the wall then canvas is an easy contemporary way to do this.  The are available in landscape, portrait or square and are mostly 100% cotton canvas.  You can choose if you would like the edge to be coloured or if you would like the photograph to wrap around the edge of the canvas. I really like canvas print especially really big canvas prints and black and white images on canvas.  Another really nice presenting idea is to have multiple canvas side by side all showing one image and creating an overall image in all the canvas area.

Traditional Photo Albums

Photo albums are a nice way to show photographs if you have a lot of photographs to present.  Photo albums have been around for a long time and come in many different styles, sizes and colours.  Photo albums are not as popular anymore since digital technology like slide shows and photo books as these are now easier options.  Since digital technology people don't have photos printed like they did in the past and show them using computer technology.

Digital Technology Slide shows

A slide show created on a computer is a really easy and cost free way of presenting photo images.  Slide shows can be created quickly and allows you to view large images if you have a big monitor which is more cost effective than printing.  There is also the environmental benefits of not using any paper or ink. A computer also allows you to store lots of images for viewing easily without taking up physical space.  There are many slide show software programs on the market like power point and dream weaver.  Slide shows can also be created on DVD to music which is a good way to present wedding photography.

Examples of Slide shows;

Professional Labs

Online professional labs offer simple drag and drop transfer, online sizing and specification options which are delivered within 3-5 days and 24h services at a premium.  If your using a lab that will not be doing colour or density corrections it is very important that you produce solid post production methods and ensure your monitor is calibrated.  Most labs will give you instructions for your settings which if followed should result in your desired prints.  Sending in test prints can be an option to ensure your monitor and the lab output match.  You can choose what kind of paper you would like the images to be printed on and companies will send out examples for you to choose.  Kristine came to college with a lovely collection of paper she had received as samples and these included high gloss, metallic, and Matt paper.  I think that certain paper suits certain images so you have to think about what will suit your images before you decide.

Frames

Frames are a great way to present your photo images.  This can be expensive but if you plan to exhibit your work then framed images are the best way to present.  If the images are all the same size then costs can be reduced by presenting the images side by side all in one frame thus cutting costs.  There are thousands of frames on the market which are available in many sizes and colours and made from many different materials.  When researching professional labs I discovered that they also offer a framing service for your images in many different styles and colours.

Photo Mounts

Photo mounts can be used within frames to create space or add colour between the frame and the image or they can just be used to mount a image onto a card.

Photographic Collage

A photographic collage is created by using photographs or parts of photographs to create a whole new image.  A photographic collage can be created easily by image software.  Internet companies such as Photo box offer collage prints which are really easy to create.  All you have to do is upload a selection of images and they are all mounted onto a large size print.

This image is a photographic collage image of Paris created by Hockney in 1985.

Photo montage

A photo montage is a process of cutting and joining a number of photographs together to make a final complete image.  These can be either be parts of photographs or complete images of low key and high key tone put together to create an whole new image.  

tones

Acrylic Prints

A new way of presenting presenting photo images is acrylic prints. These are images which are printed on photo paper and then coated in 6mm thick diamond polished acrylic.  They can be fixed to walls with aluminium wall fixings and are suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms.  You must be aware that 10mm on each edge of your photo will be lost when printing on acrylic as this will fold around the edge of the acrylic.

Assignment Plan Theme 2 - Reportage

My second theme is Reportage and I plan to shoot these images whilst away in Paris at the week-end.  I will use my Nikon D90 and my 18-105mm lens F3.5-5.6 for most of the shots but will take my Nikon Macro lens 105mm AF-S F2.8.  I will not really be looking at shooting any close up shots so I do not think I will be using my Macro lens. I am not taking my tripod so any night shots I will either have to balance the camera or try free hand.  I will fully charge my battery, take a spare battery and spare memory card for the trip so I have ample memory and battery life.

I have never been to Paris before so I am not familiar with the city at all.  I have researched maps and located a great place to stay just off the Champs Elysee's near the Arc De Triomphe and 15 minutes walk from the Eiffel Tower.  I plan to visit some of the famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triompe, Notre Dame and around the beautiful streets and along the River Seine.  I would also like to shoot some images on the Metro as during my research I have been inspired by images taken on underground railways. 

I have spoken to Paul during class and he showed me his wonderful images taken when he visited Paris and he has photographed on the London Underground and made me quite aware of how dark it is for exposure and without a tripod I know this is going to be quite tricky.  He also made me aware of how busy Paris is and given me some tips on places of interest and places to photograph like the waterfalls outside the Louvre.

Eric Kim being spotted shooting from the hip on the Seoul Metro.  A candid look of surprise and uncertainty lies in the girls expression.

I have researched photographers who have been to Paris and a few people have said that around the famous landmarks if they have used tripods they have been moved on even though other tourists have been happily shooting away freehand.  I have read that there is a law in Paris that no images can be taken of the landmarks and used in literature but I cannot see that the law would hold away from Paris and this is probably why the people with tripods were moved on.

I think that my final 10 images will be post produced and converted to black and white.  I will be looking for colour, textures, patterns, reflections and shadows that will enhance my images once converted to black and white.

Assignment Plan Theme 1 - People and Portraits

We are now more than half way through level 2 and I should by now have lots of photographs to start choosing my final 10 images. I do have a few images which I really like and could be included in my final 10 but my original plan seems to have been changed by research and changes in the environment as we go into the spring and summer months. 

Originally I was planning to shoot a selection of images inside the warehouse at work and the images to be based around music as music is always around me in everyday life.  As my research has progressed particularly when researching Annie Liebovitz and particularly her collection American Music which is mostly shot outdoors I now plan to shoot outdoors using the summer as a focus as well as the subjects in the shot. 

I know that this theme is on people and portraits but my research has led me into a kind of staged reportage which includes people.  Whilst researching Robert Doisneau I came across a style which is basically staged reportage or street photography.  This is a style of photography which is reportage, but instead of the candid image which is what I believe to be reportage or street photography it is staged for that particular shot.  He also set up situations and waited for candid shots of people which then is yet again another style of photography.

My original plan was to base the shots with a 60s, 70s look which would have made the shots more interesting if only using a warehouse to shoot in but planning to use the environment has reduced the need to emphasise a more interesting look to shooting in a dusty, low light warehouse.  I also planned to produce all these shots in black and white as I really love this style but as the spring has progressed and the environment has become colourful this has become less appealing as my research has progressed.  I am not ruling out black and white and if I think it suits the image then I would convert using the methods researched in my previous blogs about black and white photography.

I have been out into the countryside looking for places to shoot and have a few subjects and situations lined up.  I plan on using my Nikon D90 camera with my 18-105mm F3.5-5.6 lens   I also have the Nikon Nikkor macro lens AF-S 105mm F2.8 G which is an excellent lens for portraiture so if any close up situations should arise a may use that.  I will also be using my tripod to frame the picture if necessary.  I have just purchased a spare battery to carry and always carry a spare memory card.

I am hoping that the use of light is beneficial in my images as I cannot ask my subjects to get up at sunrise and as we live in a world where everyone is so busy the sun set is probably not a possibility either but it would be nice to use that magic hour at the end of the day when the use of light can be really nice.  I am not planning on shooting any images at midday when the sun is high in the sky as this is when shadows and reflections are not used to their best.  I also do not need the sky to be bright and blue as I really like cloud in photography especially dark moody cloud on landscape images.

Research - Henri Cartier Bresson (1908-2004)

"Photography is not like painting.  There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture.  Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera" - Henri Cartier Bresson

Many photographers have gained knowledge and inspiration from Henri Cartier Bresson who is considered to be the father of photojournalism and the master of candid photography.  Cartier Bresson was born in Seine-et-Marne in France and lived with his family in the Bourgeois neighbourhood in Paris. 

As he developed as a young man he studied fine art and this was at the time of the photography revolution and when artistic form and composition were still being founded.  During this time schools for photographic realism were popping up throughout Europe and Cartier Bresson started to socialize with the surrealists.  The surrealists searched the streets for the usual and the unusual and art with unpredictable meaning.  In 1928 he attended Cambridge University where he studied English, Art and Literature before he served in the French Army.

Still painting, it was not until 1930 that a photograph by Hungarian photojournalist Martin Munkacsi of three black boys running inspired him so much that he took his camera and went out on to the streets.  This was when he decided to forget painting and take photography more seriously.  He used a Leica with a 50mm lens and painted all of the shiny parts black so he was able to photograph intimate and candid moments without anyone knowing.

At first he did not photograph France he travelled to Berlin, Brussels, Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Madrid and in 1932 his images were exhibited at the Julian Levy Gallery in New York.  In 1937 he covered the coronation of King George VI but he did not photograph the King he photographed the people lining the streets of London.  He has been known for a vast amount of photojournalism but gained international recognition for the coverage of Gandhi's funeral in 1948.

"To take a photograph is to align the head, the eye and the heart. Its a way of Life" - Henri Cartier Bresson



This image was taken behind Saint Lazane Station in Paris, France in 1932.  This is what Cartier Bresson means by making a decisive moment in an instant.  He has captured this image with the mans feet off the ground just going about his everyday business.  The composition element of reflection is captured really well in this image together with the rule of thirds and lines in the railing beyond.  A really nice tonal range with equal amounts of low and high key tones.

I love this image captured at a high angle at the top of the steps.  This image was taken in Hyeres in 1932 and has lots of composition elements. Lines dominate this image with the steps and the railings together with texture with is present throughout and guides your eye around the image.  The rule of thirds are represented by the bike and the railing together with the shape of the road.  Pattern and texture is all around this image which gives the image a nice tonal range in which most of the tone is high key.

This image was taken in Abruzzo, Aquila Italy in 1951 and has so much going on it is easy for the eye to be guided around the picture.  This image has been shot at a really interesting angle which looks down on two streets with an interesting building on the corner.  The composition aspects of the rule of thirds is present all around this image and the rule of thirds is used together with lines in the railings and the texture.  There is a really nice tonal range with almost equal amounts of low and high key tones.

                   

This image was taken in Romania of a couple on a train and captures the intimate moment of lovers.  Taken in 1975 I am not sure if they were aware they were being photographed or not but I would like to think not.  I think they are on a long and tiresome journey and are finding comfort in each other. Nice pattern and texture are found within this image and a nice tonal range with equal parts of low and high key.

I first came across this image in a book by Taschen, Paris Mon Amour which is a book of black and white photographs of great photographers captured across two centuries.  The photograph taken in Paris in 1961 is Swiss painter and sculptor Alberto Giacometti and this is when I realised that great photographs can be achieved whilst raining.  This is quite a low key image but a lot of pattern and texture can be captured in images when it is raining.  The reflection of the trees can be seen on the wet ground together with splashes caused as the rain hits the ground.

Taken in Paris in 1969 this reportage photograph shows how juxtaposition was starting to develop.  This young attractive lady is being watched by the elderly lady showing an aspect of contrast between two elements within a photograph.  I really like this image as I loved the fashions in the 60s and I think this moment has been captured really well showing a good decisive moment instantly.  This image has a good tonal range and nice pattern and texture throughout the image.

Capturing the candid look of peoples faces in street photography shows people the way they are and not what they want you to believe they are.  Really nice tonal range with the subjects closely framed within the image.

Really nice image of children up a spiral staircase which allows you to look into the image and almost through it.  There is a really nice contrast, shape and pattern within this image.  The main focal point I would say is on the first child closest to you just peaking over the staircase.  Another focal point is the swirl pattern created by the image.

This image taken in Paris has a really nice tonal range.  The background is low key which shows a nice contrast with the image of the couple kissing in the foreground.  The composition aspect of pattern and texture is present in the black and white tones of the image and the aspect of reflection is present in the windows showing the cars and the street.

This is a really nice image which shows the composition aspect of lines along the road which leads the eye up to the trees.  A nice tonal range with a nice contrast of the trees against the sky.  Pattern and texture is present in the grass either side of the road.  The rule of thirds is present with the position of the trees.





Books Used

Henri Cartier Bresson - The Photographer
Henri Cartier Bresson - The Man, the Image and the World