Work Records - Formal Elements

Line
In this lesson I shot some photos outside which represented lines. Previous to this I found out the definition of line and found some describing words, also I annotated 4 images very simply, but this made it a lot easier to shoot lines because it gave me more of an idea of what I was doing. When going out shooting, initially I found it a bit weird as it was my first time, but I think I adapted quite well. I shot many photos and then came back to the suite and uploaded them on to the mac, then with photo shop I automated these into contact sheets and then changed the levels and curves and unsharpened the mask through the filter option, this made photos better quality. I then chose my 4 personal favorites. I then gave Paul these images and he chose the ones he thought were the best which were then printed off as straight prints.

This is one of the images Paul chose, this is a brick wall in college that's lines are shown in the separation of the cement and the brick, I see how this picture shows lines and I like this picture because I like the focus on the brick. This was in fact only the second picture I took. There are also lines with the actual bricks cracks. I personally did not choose this picture, but now looking at it, i am glad that it is a straight print.

This is one of the images that I chose but Paul did not, therefore it did not make it to my straight prints. I chose this picture because I thought it demonstrated lines well as the lines were very obvious and in big block form. However I think this doesn't make it a good picture as well because unlike my other pictures, they were actual objects of lines where as these were just painted lines, so I understand why this didn't get chosen in the end.






To improve my knowledge on lines in photography I think I would take more photos because the amount i have are limited, I would also look for more lines within objects. I would like to go out of college and find objects which have line as I think it would expand my knowledge and therefore widen my understanding.

Colour
In this lesson I shot pictures of color. Again, beforehand I created a page on definition and included describing words, which when shooting helped me look out for certain things, for example, bright colors, or dull colors. Paul instructed me before going out to take more close up shots so the picture comes out more of the color rather than the object that holds the color, which sort of countered line but I understood. With these photo's I took about 20 more than I did for line, when I returned i put the pictures on the mac and then I automated the images into 3 contact sheets. I then adjusted the levels so the arrow met where the line begun, and then I put the curves into a soft 'S', which gave it a nice look. I the unsharpened the mask and then printed them, remember to scale them to fit media. After this I chose my 4 favorites and then Paul chose his 4 that he thought best fit the formal element of color. I printed off Paul's 4 as the straight prints.

Both Paul and I chose this photo thinking it best suited the formal element of color. I chose this picture because it was a close up of a color just like Paul asked for and I think thats why he chose the picture also. The pictures color wouldn't overly be described as bright because it is subtle, however I would call it dull, personally I would describe this images color as vibrant. I quite like this image.

Paul chose this picture for my straight prints however originally I did not choose this picture because I didnt think it overly showed colour. However looking at it now I see that actually it shows shades of colour rather that just one solid colour which is a good representation. The colours could be described as autumnal as that would be the category they fall under. I like this picture because all you can see are the different shades of leaves.






To improve my knowledge on colour I would list more describing words so that when I came to writing my image bank I could of used more of a range of words rather than overly repeating myself.

Depth
In this lesson I was in a half term lesson and I shot my photos which showed depth around Harlow, which widened what I could take photo's of. It was quite easy for me to achieve this due to the image bank I created prior to this and the definition I created, this allowed me to see the pictures that I had to model my pictures like to represent the formal element and the analysis also helped because it accompanied the pictures and was my way of understanding. Going out shooting, I found quite easy, in fact I found all of it quite easy because of the image banks. The editing was also very easy, well with the contact sheets I didn't really edit them apart from altering the levels and curves and using the unsharp mask. I then chose my top 4 on my contact sheets and then gave them to Paul so he could choose his 4 that he believed demonstrated depth best. I then edited these 4 and printed them off as my straight prints.

 I originally did not choose this picture as I thought there was too much space left in it so I didn't think it was appropriate to show depth. However Paul chose it and instructed me to crop the picture which I was apprehensive about when given the instruction, however when I did it I was reassured and it was actually a good image which showed depth. This pictures depth is shown in length rather than height

 I chose this picture however Paul did not, I thought this was a very good picture which showed depth however I see why Paul didn't choose it, it is because there were much better photos, which perhaps showed depth better than this one that I have chose, I thought it was good because it showed depth in length and the area was deserted which made it more evident.








To improve my knowledge one depth I would perhaps increase my image banks as I thought that they were the main aspects that helped me understand how to photograph depth and how it is shown.

Texture
In this lesson I went around taking pictures of things which represented texture significantly, they had to evidently show the texture. My definitions helped me specifically with this formal element as the describing words used within helped me keep an eye out for the certain things I was looking for. I went out and shot my pictures and then came back to the photography room and put all the pictures in contacts sheets, then altering the levels, curves and using the unsharp mask. I then chose my selected 4 which I actually found quite difficult as I didn't take a lot of pictures, however I managed to get enough which were worthy. Paul then chose his 4 and I turned these 4 into my straight prints after editing them.

Both Paul and I chose this photo as it showed texture very clearly. I think this was a good picture because of the way I positioned the camera, holding it high angle showed the jagged parts of the trunk coming out and made them very prominent. I did edit this into a dark green which I thought looked suited, however had no effect of the texture. The version I have used is unedited, however.

 Paul chose this, however I didn't, and to be honest I really dislike this picture because I think it isn't interesting at all. However with this pictures, Paul has told me that I don't have to like it, it just has to show the formal element clearly. I see why Paul chose this picture though, it is because there is clearly 2 textures within the picture and there is a line which separates the two, the two textures shown in this picture is jagged and smooth.




To improve my knowledge on texture I think I would research more describing words for texture to expand the range of things I can photograph.

Reflection
In this lesson I was in a half term catch up lesson, therefore I went into Harlow town to take pictures which I found really helpful, although this was one of the easiest formal elements as you simply had to look for anything with a reflection in. I took various pictures mainly containing my reflection and then went back to the classroom and put my pictures into contact sheets and then adjusted the levels and curves and then used the unsharp mask. I then chose my 4 straight prints that I wanted and then Paul chose his and I edited and printed those ones off. I really enjoyed photographing this formal element as I felt it was more fun than the others , it was also quite eye opening to see the amount of things I could see my reflection in, I got a fair few photos on this one.

 Both Paul and I chose this picture and I really liked this picture because my reflection was really evident even though it was clearly blurry. I also liked this picture because where the reflection came from, it was simply a shiny piece of card in Asda's. All you can really see in this pictures is my hair which is overtaking the reflection, however I kind of like it. I think Paul chose it because it is not a clear reflection and it shows that reflections don't have to be clear and they can vary.

Again, Paul and I both chose this photo. I really liked this photo because I took the reflection through the front camera on my phone, which could be seen as cheating however I found it inventive. It took me few trys to get this picture right because I wasn't supporting the camera properly so it became very heavy in my hands. I think Paul chose this photo because it wasn't obvious, however it showed reflection clearly therefore it was valid to the formal element.





I wouldn't do anything to improve my knowledge on reflection because I feel I have really grasped the understanding for this formal element.

Tone
Tone was a very easy formal element to complete. In this lesson I went out in college and basically shot anything because I was aware that when I came back into the classroom all I had to do was turn the pictures into black and white. However, I was nervous about this formal element as I was unsure whether I was doing it right. Anyway, I went on and did it and came back and put the pictures into contact sheets, however my process differed this time because I actually made my contact sheets black and white, this allowed me to see what the pictures were going to look like. I then chose my 4 I wanted for straight prints and then Paul chose his, which I then printed off. after editing them, which didn't take very long because I jusy had to turn them black and white after the basics.

 Paul chose this picture however I didn't because I saw it as very boring, it had nothing to it, it was simply just a plain wall, however the tone was quite dark for a wall which I think Paul liked, nevertheless I printed it off. The only think I like about the picture is how the wall is interrupted by the line, apart from that, its a bit dull.

 I chose this picture however Paul didn't. I chose it because I thought the toe varied in this as the windows of the green house were very light and the rest was just a mix of dark and light. I don't think Paul chose this as the tone was a result of where the light was shining and that wasn't the actual tone of the area, however I could be wrong.







To improve my knowledge on tone I would generally just research it more as I think it is very easy and therefore I feel I am doing it wrong.

Shape 
In this lesson I walked around college taking pictures of things which seemed to resemble shape, which was rather easy as most things contain shapes. The pictures I took ranged from drains, to the shapes shown on the drains, to even the circle of a seat. This was very easy for me and I took a picture most things. After taking my pictures I went back to the classroom and formatted my pictures into contacts sheets, printed them off and then selected my 4 that I wanted to print off as straight prints. I then gave my contacts sheets to Paul and he chose the ones he thought best suited and showed the formal element. I then went back to the mac, selected these 4 images and edited them, firstly changing the levels, curves and using unsharp mask. I then printed these off and inserted them into my folder.

 Both Paul and I chose this picture as I think it resembled the formal element of shape quite well. The wheel was obviously a circle and it was the main focus of the picture which made it obvious that the purpose of the photo was to show the formal element. I didn't edit this picture as I didn't actually like it as a photo, but I liked how it showed the formal element.

 Originally, I did not choose this picture however Paul did, and now that he has chosen this and I have looked at it on a larger scale I see why it has been chosen. It is a clear circle and shows the formal element well. The picture I have used doesn't show the edited version, however I did edit it however it did not make it stand out anymore.







I wouldn't do anything to improve my knowledge on shape because I think I really understood it well, I think the image banks helped a lot though because they showed me that shape exists in most things.

Movement
In this lesson I walked around college taking pictures of movement, with movement I could take pictures of virtually anything because all I had to do was change the shutter speed of the camera so it was faster so it blurred. I actually found movement to be quite a fun formal element to photograph. I went back to the classroom after taking various pictures and uploaded them onto the macs and the put them into contact sheets and printed them off I chose the four I thought displayed the formal element s best and then Paul chose his and these were the ones I edited and printed off as straight prints.

Paul chose this picture however  I didn't because I couldn't actually see anything apart from the movement, however I think this is why Paul chose it. The blurring in this picture is very evident and is the main focus of the picture due to the fact that you cant see anything else, I like the effect, I just didn't originally think it showed movement well, but now I think it does.

 Paul chose this picture but I did not purposely because I did not like it, but it does show the formal element well though. The image shows my foot walking and then the blurring of the photo shows the movement of my foot and therefore I think that the context is good for this photo, also it is a typical way of movement known to everyone. I think that is why Paul chose it.





To improve my knowledge on movement I would just research more pictures on google to get to know the different types of things I can show movement in.

Pattern
In this lesson I went out and shot the formal element of pattern, with pattern I specifically looked out for things that were put in the describing words description in my definitions, this was very helpful. I thought the best pictures taken were actually of the patterns of peoples clothes and which had been created on purpose, and I also took pictures of the pattern of order. After taking these pictures I went back to the suite and put on photoshop. I then put all the photos I took into contact sheets and then chose my top 4 pictures. Whilst taking my photos I wasn't very happy with the outcome, however when I looked t them on contact sheets I was much more pleased with the outcome. After choosing my top 4, Paul chose his, and these were the 4 that I edited for my straight prints.

Both Paul and I chose this picture of my shirt which contained a tartan pattern that was lines crossing over each other. The pattern on this skirt showed a linear pattern and a sort of checkered pattern. I really liked this photo. Also, in this image the pattern seems to be highlighted as the rest of the image is blurred.

Paul chose this image however I did not because I didn't think it looked straight, which it doesn't. However it made it to my straight prints and I edited it so it was straight and I inverted it so it gave it more interest, otherwise it was just a plain image of a wall. This photo shows pattern due to the colours, it shows the colours in a chronological order. Purple, yellow, blue, purple, yellow, blue. After inverting the colours and making them more interesting, I like this photo.


To improve my knowledge on pattern I would search more describing words for pattern so I am aware of the more items in the world to take a picture of in terms of pattern.

Form
In this lesson I went out and shot form, for me to be able to do this the weather had to be sunny/ At the beginning I came back after taking 3 pictures as I found it hard because the sun wasn't everywhere. Paul then came outside with me and showed me that there were more shadows around than I thought, this helped a lot and I went off on my own and continued to shoot. I shot a total of 48 photos and then came back to the classroom and put these pictures into contact sheets, I then chose my top 4 which I wanted to be straight prints. Paul then chose his, which actually turned out to be 7. I then edited these pictures and put them in my folder.

Both Paul and I chose this picture, I like this picture because the shadow is very simple and so is the object casting the shadow: the wall. I also like how the shadow is so dark and the other parts of the floor is so light, to me this also shows contrast which I have previously shot and studied.  I also like the slight greenery in the top right hand corner as it breaks up the colour in the picture. I edited this so that the exposure was more obvious and it made the colours stand out more, even if they are dark and dull.

Paul chose this picture but I did not, however I am glad he did because once I had edited this photo I loved it. I made the photo black and white because I didn't like how the door was blue, I immediately liked this photo more, the black and white also gave this photo a more meaningful effect, I like the white scratches at the top. The shadow I also preferred on the darker background as opposed to the blue. Overall, this is my favourite picture from taking photos of form as I just like the vibe I get off it.




To improve my knowledge on form I would look at more pictures and perhaps expand my image bank as I would know more on what to photograph when concerning form.