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...

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.

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.

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

How to Shoot from the Hip - Street Photography 101

This is a short You Tube post which details information on how to shoot from the hip in street photography.  He explains a few techniques in how to get really good candid shots with these techniques people will not know you are actually photographing them.  Eric Kim is a fantastic street photographer who has travelled around the world producing really good reportage.

Europe Through My Lens - Street Photography by Eric Kim

Assignment 206 Statement of Intent Reportage

Intentions/purpose of the photography to be undertaken

In May I am going to Paris and I plan to shoot by second theme whilst I am there.  I am hoping to capture reportage around Paris and hopefully I would like to capture some of the famous landmarks in the images.  I am planning to photograph reportage around The Eiffel Tower, The Arc de Triomphe and Notre Damn and I find images taken on the underground really interesting.  I will also capture reportage around the affluent area of Champ Elysees which has many bars and cafes.

Reasons for selection of this Theme

I have a book at home called Paris Mon Amour by Taschen books, which is a book of black and white images taken by the great photgraphers from two centuries taken around Paris.  It is a fabulous book and Paris is a beautiful city to photograph.  I really like Reportage and have been inspired by Dennis Morris and his collection Growing up Black and The Jamaican Street Scene.  I also really like the staged style of reportage photographed by Annie Leibovitz in her collection American Music.

The photo imaging equipment and media that will be used and why

I will be using my Nikon D90 with 18-105mm lens.  I will fully charge my battery and make sure I have a spare memory card.  I will not be taking my tripod as I will be taking pictures of strangers and will have to be quick whilst taking the shots.  There is a law in Paris which states that people in images have a right to their own identity.  There are also laws that landmark images may not be used under copyright law but I do not know how that would stand up once the images have been removed from France.

Techniques that will be used and how they will help convey the visual message

I am hoping to capture some subjects with a narrow depth of field and blur out the background.  I am not sure if I will be converting these images to black and white but I intend to use any light to my full advantage.  I will try and shoot my images at interesting angles to make the images interesting and am hoping to capture landmarks of paris in the background.

How light quality can be used to help convey the visual message

I will  try and capture images in the morning or evening when the sun is better positioned in the sky and the shadows are more interesting.  This will be helpful if converting the images to black and white as shadows and sunlight can add tone, pattern and texture to a black and white image.

Safety Considerations

I will always be careful when photographing and consider the area I am in taking into consideration any danger.

Assignment 206 Statement of Intent - Nature

Intentions/purpose of the photography to be undertaken


I am planning my second theme to be Nature.  I have just bought a macro lens and I am looking forward to using it to shoot some insects and I have already been practising shooting flowers and plants.  I am not sure yet weather my whole assignment will be close up photography or a mixture of images all based around the theme nature.  I will update this statement of intent when my thoughts and ideas start to develop as I am only just getting to grips with using a macro lens and need some practise.

Reasons for selection of Theme

The reason I am choosing Nature is that spring and summer is nearly here and there will be so many opportunities to capture.  Also, I did nature as my theme in level one and i really enjoyed it.

Photo Imaging Equipment and media that will be used and why

I will be using my Nikon D90 Camera with 18-105mm lens which will allow me some zoom when trying to capture some aspects of Nature and my Nikon Nikkor Macro lens for close up nature photography.  I would like to invest in a telephoto lens which will allow me to capture shots from a distance which can be useful when shooting birds and other wildlife.  I will also be using a lens hood which is useful to stop the light striking the front of the element.  I will be using photoshop to crop any images and I am not sure how much of the techniques in photoshop can be used so I need to speak to Mr Steve.

Techniques that will be used and how they will convey the visual message

I am looking into getting a polarising filter which can be very useful when shooting nature.  A polarising filter can deepen the colour of the sky but a far more useful application is to reduce reflections from shiny foliage which leads to more saturated colour.  I will be using my tripod especially when using my macro lens to eliminate camera shake and I need to get a remote control so I do not have to touch the shutter release.
How Light quality can be used to help convey the visual message

As this is nature I will be using the sun as a light source in these images.  I need to research more about light and how this can be used to create good nature shots. 
Safety Considerations

I will be sure that all safety considerations are applied when out and about shooting nature images.