Exposure Compensation –

Exposure compensation basically helps you override automatic exposure adjustments your camera makes in situations with uneven light distribution, filters, non-standard processing, or underexposure or overexposure. It lets you take control of your image’s brightness by manually increasing or decreasing exposure.

Exposure Bracketing –

When you bracket your shots you take exactly the same picture of your subject at several different exposures. This technique gives you a range of options to choose from when you’re editing. As a result, it’s much less likely that you’ll end up with a badly underexposed or overexposed photo.

HDR Photos –

HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photos refers to the capture of an entire image scene that has both bright highlights and dark shadows. In other words, instead of capturing highlights that are clipped and pure white, and/or shadows that are lost to total darkness, your image depicts visible detail in all areas.

My Own Exposure Bracketing

I decided to take my own images of the exposure bracketing technique, by changing the settings to apply. The steps were very straightforward,

Merging the images

Once I took my three images, I uploaded them to Lightroom where I merged them. The way I did this is by selecting the three images, right clicking, pressing photo merge and lastly, I pressed HDR. This merged the three images together, to create a dramatic and detailed image.

Final HDR image

This is my final image below, where the colours are very vibrant. This is because the three images

 

Creative Editing

Vignette

Lightening the image – Dehaze

Who is Ansel Adams?

Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984) was an American landscape photographer and environmentalist known for his black-and-white images of the American West.

What can you tell me about his childhood?

Adams was a hyperactive and sickly child with few friends. Dismissed from several schools for bad behaviour, he was educated by private tutors and members of his family from the age of 12. They believed he had dyslexia. Adams taught himself the piano, which would become his early passion.

What national park did he visit that inspired his photography career? How?

At age 14, he was given his first camera during his first visit to Yosemite National Park. He was mesmerised by the rough and creative textures around him and became inspired. He developed his early photographic work as a member of the Sierra Club. He was later contracted with the United States Department of the Interior to make photographs of national parks.

What is the Sierra Club? What happened in 1927 that became a major factor in his career?

To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

In 1927, Adams participated in the Club’s annual outing, known as the High Trip, and, the next year, he became the Club’s official trip photographer. 

As well as capturing the landscapes through photography, what else was he involved in?

A passionate champion of photography as a legitimate form of fine art, he referred to his most stunning images as his “Mona Lisas”. But Adams was also a tireless conservationist and wilderness preservationist who understood the power of a strong image to sway public and political opinion.

Ansel Adams’ images were used for environmental purposes when the Sierra Club was seeking the creation of a national park in the Kings River region of the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Club were seeking the creation of The King’s Canyon as a national park to save it and preserve the natural beauty. The King’s Canyon was at risk because the river plunges nearly 11,000 feet in just 80 miles, it carried enormous potential as a power source, and by the mid-1930s, power and water interests had proposed a series of large dams in the canyon. In 1936, construction on the dams had been halted, but protecting the Canyon once and for all would require creating a new national park.

Ansel helped to convince congress (which was miles away in Washington) to protect the High Sierra by taking images of the beautiful nature, and bringing them to the congress to show what they would miss out on when they use it as an energy source instead. This was not an easy task for him – he had to travel to present his images to them, hoping they would understand his determination to preserve the natural environment.

Originally established in 1890 as General Grant National Park, the park was greatly expanded and renamed on March 4, 1940. I believe that Adams found the true heart of the Sierra. He loved the natural side to life, and wanted to try his best to keep what he could. He believed it would benefit the wildlife and nature by changing it into a national park so they couldn’t use it as a power source. There he found beauty as well as inner peace.

4 and 6 q’s

Visualisation and Zone System

Visualisation

Visualisation is the concept of interpreting a scene and deciding on the final shot before pressing the shutter. Taking place within the ‘mind’s eye’, as Adams often said, visualisation involves intuitively assessing a subject and choosing the most important attributes to frame and highlight. He did this by using photo filters (as there was no photoshop at that time) so he made the images a slightly different colour from it.

Zone System

The Zone System is a photographic technique for determining optimal film exposure and development, formulated by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer.

What is Romanticism?

Romanticism is the Romantics celebrated the spontaneity, imagination, and the purity of nature. Along with these elements it also incorporated a deep feeling of emotion as an authentic source of experience which put new emphasis on emotions such as apprehension, horror and terror, and awe.

What was romanticism a reaction against?

It was also to some extent a reaction against the Enlightenment and against 18th-century rationalism and physical materialism in general. Romanticism emphasized the individual, the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the spontaneous, the emotional, the visionary, and the transcendental.

What is the Sublime?

The Sublime is a western aesthetic concept of ‘the exalted’ of ‘beauty that is grand and dangerous’. The Sublime refers to the wild, unbounded grandeur of nature. The Sublime is related to threat and agony, to spaces where calamities happen or things run beyond human control. It overwhelms the viewer, but also excites them with the image.

How did the Industrial Revolution have an impact on Romanticism?

The Industrial Revolution had a profound impact on the Romantic movement, shaping its themes, concerns, and artistic expressions. The loss of connection with nature, the alienating effects of urbanization, and the critique of industrial capitalism all influenced the works of Romantic poets and artists.

The Hay Wain – John Constable

This painting is a 6ft landscape made in 1821 named the Hay Wain, which is a classical painting, and is not mundane. Previously, it was called the ‘Noon’, but they changed it. This image is very diverse for it’s time, as landscape wasn’t a very popular genre to paint/ draw. This image consists of very small details planted throughout, so you have to look closely. John’s father was a land owner, so John grew up around nature and had a very environmental life. This image represents the industrial time period where it was a common ideology that machines were taking over. However, this image challenges this as it shows the beautiful side to the time period, and it makes this more significant as this was not a typical landscape that was seen. This image creates a connection between farmers and the land, which therefore makes the image romantic and personal. Especially as John’s father was a farmer, it really connects John to the landscape. Lastly, the rough textures from the paint can link to the textures of the actual texture. For example, the texture for water is similar to the water in real life.

JMW turner

Technical

Visual

Contextual

Conceptual

• What does Landscape mean? ​

The term “landscape” actually derives from the Dutch word landschap, which originally meant “region, tract of land” but acquired the artistic connotation, “a picture depicting scenery on land” in the early 1500s.

• When did landscape emerge as a genre in western culture? ​
• When did classical landscapes emerge as a genre?​

• In the 17th century the classical landscape was born. These landscapes were influenced by classical antiquity and sought to illustrate an ideal landscape recalling Arcadia, a legendary place in ancient Greece known for its quiet pastoral beauty. 

• What prompted the rise of Landscape Art during the late 18th / 19th century?​
• When did landscape photography originate?

For this project, I took two photoshoots (one consisted of 201 images and the other had 106) to showcase the idea behind identity. I planned the first photoshoot by implementing Wes Naman’s ideas into my images. The reason I took these photos are because I think your looks don’t define you as a person, and Wes Naman does a brilliant job at distorting your face to make you look unrecognisable (to prove it doesn’t change you as a person).

I used many different materials, like clingfilm, masking tape, cellotape, and string to recreate his images, as he uses a lot of similar materials.

After I uploaded all my images to Lightroom, I scrolled through every image from the 201 photos to select my favourites. As shown, I would say there is quite an even amount of every colour in this image selection. Although I was being picky, a lot of these images really linked to Wes Naman closely, and accurately represented his work.

For this photoshoot, I was hugely inspired by Noor+, an unknown photographer on Pinterest, who draws on the body to show Identity. I ended up taking 106 images, from different angles to different lighting and different poses.

I planned this photoshoot by buying the equipment I would need (like the washable pens and some wipes) and planning whereabouts I would do the photoshoot. I thought that I wanted to have natural lighting for my images so I planned to go outside and take these images.

Once I uploaded my images to Lightroom, I went through each individual photo and analysed it to decide which images were the best. However, a lot of my images turned too bright or too dark due to the ISO, which made me colour them red. In comparison, the images highlighted in yellow and green are good images, but I like to be more specific with the ones I like.

Wes Naman

Here is a range of Wes Naman’s images where he uses vast materials (like cellotape and rubber bands/ string) to shape the subjects face and make them look unrecognisable. The idea behind this is to prove that looks aren’t important, and they don’t define you as a person (which closely relates to your identity and how you see yourself).

Technical

The image uses a fast shutter speed, as the subject looks still and in focus. The lighting is artificial, as the viewer can tell they are using a backdrop with strong white lights (which would not happen with natural light), and it seems like it is very intense, as you can notice the outside edges of the top are a lot darker, meaning the photographer has used a strong light on the subject. The image has a good ISO, as there is no grainy elements that are visible.

Visual

The middle-aged man looks unrecognisable as he has rubber bands wrapping his face, giving him a new look. He has a sort of confused and hurt look on his face, which could suggest he is shocked with the feeling. The navy background gives a cool tone, which could represent sorrow and sadness towards the pain of the rubber bands.

Contextual

A common belief is that beauty is everything, so by taking away that view in these images, it leaves the subject wondering who they actually are, and what their identity really is. The history of beauty is been around for centuries, so to counter act the beauty stereotype Wes Naman had his subjects distort their faces.

Conceptual

I believe the reason behind this image is to show the suffering people go through to accept themselves, when they shouldn’t need to. I also have the idea that it links to the appearance of yourself, and by manipulating the face into a different shape, it causes you to wonder what your identity is if you don’t have your looks (which is a common link for identity).

Noor+

Noor+ is a unknown photographer, who writes on the subjects face to show their identity and what they associate with. I liked this idea as I thought that it is a great way to demonstrate you as a person, and the ideas you think you are. Unfortunately, the words aren’t in English, so for my photoshoot, I will base it off of identity. This is also the only image I could find of this photographer, so I cannot create a mood board of his work.

Wes Naman

Here is one of my final outcomes, where I selected my 4 best images and tweaked them to improve the quality of them. Luckily, I had 4 different subjects so the final presentation works well as you don’t have many of the same person, like Naman who also has various subjects. When I finished editing them, I put them into Powerpoint to make show the idea I want to have.

I then also decided to do another final outcome using the Wes Naman inspired images, to experiment and create different versions. I decided to choose a diptych styled presentation, where instead of multiple images, I only have two, which helps you to see the specific details linked into these images from the editing.

Noor+

Lastly, for my Identity project, I also decided to use my other photoshoot where I wrote on area’s of my subjects body to show that no two are the same. I chose to place three of my best images into a triptych, to give the illusion of a story, and a meaning behind the different words placed on the different parts.

Creative Portraits

I wanted to include my final images from my creative portraiture, as I wanted to imagine the layout of them. For my first presentation, I only selected three images as I didn’t want to over crowd the layout I already thought of, and these were my best images from that specific artist.

For my other presentation of Creative Portraiture, I decided to only use one image as I really like the unique and artsy side to this edit, and I didn’t want to draw the attention away by including more.

Studio Portraiture

This is my final presentation of Studio Portraiture, where I used the three different lighting methods to showcase my knowledge.

Environmental Portraiture

Lastly, this is my environmental portraiture, and I incorporated three images as well but I decided to lay them vertically instead of horizontally like the rest as it creates diversity.

Identity is the distinctive qualities or traits that define an individual and make them unique. It is usually something people associate themselves with, and it helps people to understand who they are as individuals. Identity can be influenced by the people you surround yourself with, and the place in which you have grown up in, as it can change your view on your own identity and the people surrounding you. There are many factors that affect what you view your identity as, like your specific culture can be a key identity for someone who celebrates it or their religion can also be a strong part to their identity.

Femininity

Femininity is a set of behaviours and roles that are generally associated with women and girls. This is a typical social structure used to define people who act in a girly or feminine way, and are used to stereotype women.

Masculinity

Masculinity is a term used to show the traits used by men like strength, assertiveness, leadership, courage, and dominance. Masculinity is known to be social expectations suitable for a man. It is a set of attributes that are typically linked with men and boys to stereotypically make them feel as though they should be masculine through society.

Gender Identity

Gender identity is how a person feels and understands their own gender, which may not match the sex they were assigned at birth. It can include identities like male, female, non-binary, or genderfluid. Gender identity is different from sexual orientation, as it’s about who someone is, not who they’re attracted to. People express their gender through things like appearance, behavior, and pronouns. Respecting a person’s gender identity is important for supporting their rights and dignity.

Cultural Identity

Cultural identity is the feeling of belonging to a particular cultural group, shaped by things like traditions, language, values, and shared experiences. It connects people to their heritage and how they see the world. This identity can be influenced by factors like ethnicity, nationality, family, and community. It plays an important role in how people understand themselves and how they relate to others. Cultural identity can change over time based on personal experiences and exposure to different cultures.

Social Identity

Social identity is how individuals see themselves based on their membership in different social groups, such as those defined by age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or social status. It helps people understand their place in society and shapes how they interact with others. A person’s social identity can influence their beliefs, values, and actions, and also affect how they are treated by others. It provides a sense of belonging and can boost self-esteem, but it may also lead to biases or conflicts if differences between groups are focused on too much.

Geographical Identity

Geographical identity is how people see themselves based on where they come from or live. This could be their hometown, country, or any specific place that affects their values, experiences, and way of life. It’s shaped by the environment, culture, language, and traditions of that place. Geographical identity helps people connect with others and understand their place in the world. For example, someone might feel a strong connection to their city or country, which influences how they see themselves.

Political Identity

Political identity is how people see themselves based on their political beliefs and values. It’s shaped by views on issues like government, rights, and social values, and is often tied to political parties, leaders, or movements they support. Things like upbringing, education, and personal experiences influence political identity. It affects how people get involved in politics, make choices, and interact with others who have similar or different views. Political identity helps people feel connected to a political group or cause and gives them a sense of belonging in society.

Loss/Lack of Identity

A loss of identity is when someone feels disconnected from who they are or where they belong. This can happen if they’re unsure about their values, beliefs, culture, or role in life. It often happens after big changes, like moving to a new place or facing difficult situations. People who experience this might not know their purpose or how they fit in, which can make them feel isolated, insecure, or unsure of themselves. Finding or rebuilding their identity often involves rediscovering what’s important to them, connecting with supportive people, or trying new things.

Stereotypes and Prejudices

Stereotypes are wrong ideas about a group of people based on things like their race, gender, age, or sexuality. These ideas assume that everyone in the group is the same, ignoring differences between individuals. For example, thinking all teenagers are troublemakers or that older people don’t know how to use technology. Stereotypes can be harmful because they lead to misunderstandings about others.

Whereas, prejudice is when you have a negative opinion about someone just because of their group, like their race, gender, religion, or nationality, without knowing them personally. It’s often based on unfair assumptions made before getting to know the person. Prejudices can lead to treating people unfairly. For example, thinking someone is untrustworthy just because of where they come from is a form of prejudice.

Cindy is one of the most significant artists of the Pictures Generation, who are artists set out to make art that analysed their relationship with popular culture and the mass media. Sherman grew up on Long Island, New York. In 1972 she enrolled at the State University of New York at Buffalo and majored in painting, later switching her major to photography. Cindy Sherman’s work is characterised by her use of self-portraiture to create fictional characters and explore themes such as identity, representation, and the construction of femininity. She challenges societal norms and expectations placed on women. Although Sherman believes her images are not of herself, I technically believe it is her self portraiture.

Mood Board of Cindy Sherman’s work

Image Analysis

Visual

Sherman has adopted the role of a housewife who is cooking for her family as she is wearing an apron and she has cooking supplies in the frame of the image. It looks like this image was taken on the kitchen counter, as some of her head is cut out of the frame to show the cramped environment that she feels. She is posed at the counter whilst holding her stomach and looking over her shoulder to represent her concern for whatever is going on behind the scenes. The fact that she is holding her stomach gives a vibe of protectiveness and nurturing for herself/ the possible child on the way. There is an essence of worry and concern paired with the small area she’s in as she is pushed to the wall to show she’s not alone, and she is to the right third of the image to show she’s less important in the image.

Technical

The shutter speed in this image is quite fast as the subject is in focus, with a well-balanced exposure although the image is monochrome. The angle is taken from a lower position to embrace the feeling that we are there with her in the image, or that we are viewing the situation in the image from an outsiders perspective, like a friend. This image is a half body shot, as it only shows her waist and above. This makes the shot more intimate as it feels like we are closer to her, as we are not seeing her full body like if we were far away. The aperture is small as most of the image is in focus, however the depth of field is shallow as the pan handle is blurred in the foreground.

Contextual

Historically, women have typically been portrayed in the media as housewives whose jobs are to depend on men and be a stay at home mother who cleans and cooks. They were also expected to be carers for the children, and were seen as objects to men, as they’d be expected to have makeup and hair done for their husbands whilst also doing all of the previous roles I mentioned. However, Sherman challenged this dominant ideology by dressing up as these stereotypical women to prove that everything portrayed in the media is not realistic and that it doesn’t define being a woman. Sherman’s ‘untitled film stills’ were intended to resemble the fact that it is all just stereotypes.

Conceptual

By knowing the context, it’s obvious that Cindy Sherman herself is the subject in every image. She uses herself to perform in these images to capture different stereotypes to criticise the film making industry as her images are part of the ‘untitled film stills’. She targets the film industry by using this title, to show they are the industry who represent women in this dominant gender ideology. By being the subject, she makes a mockery of the mass media and the stereotypical “woman”, as she shows that none of it is real when she uses fake noses and fake eyebrows to change her look and make it overdramatic. This could also link to the media today as many young girls see models online who dress as the stereotypical girly girl, which Sherman challenges in her images from her time.

Claude Cahun

Claude Cahun was a French surrealist photographer, sculptor, and writer. Schwob adopted the pseudonym Claude Cahun in 1914. Cahun is best known as a writer and self-portraitist, who assumed a variety of performative personae.