Response to tutor feedback Assignment 2
September 2014
Overall Comments
I was pleased with the feedback received from my tutor for this assignment especially as I had chosen a different event because had not been confident that my first set of images were of an acceptable quality to become assignment images.
" Your choice of theme works well as it offers the photographer a good range of subject matter to try and capture. Obviously there will be an emphasis on the action shots but also images from behind the scenes and those quiet contemplative moments from competitors and spectators are also what draw the viewer in."
"Your submission and background work reflect this with a varied range of images that keep the viewer interested. The strongest images are the action / race shots and these combine well with the more snapshot styled photographs."
Assignment Feedback
I used a couple of Cartier Bresson quotes to back up my reasons for not using flash at this event. I take my tutor's point about flash bringing out the colours and being helpful to balance the lighting when shooting in strong sunlight. I felt uncomfortable using flash as I did not want to put the competitors off.
I had experimented using looking up at the competitors as they rode a technical section, but these were edited out of my final selection. It is something to consider in future when selecting images for assignments.
One of my favourite images was the chap rebuilding the wheel. I would have liked to include more of this, but there was not much activity happening whilst the racing was on. The race was only an hour's duration, and all the races started within minutes of each other. More racing was timetabled to happen on the Sunday.
It was helpful to receive feedback on how I could improve my final image (water bottle). I think it was a case of knowing what I wanted to do but not how to achieve it.
Learning blog
Helpful hints included:
- making sure the navigation is clear and easy to use
- Continue adding to my reading list
Further reading
Look at the work of:
- Ricky Adam (http://www.rickyadamphoto.com/digbmxcom/)
- Vivian Maier (https://www.lensculture.com/articles/vivian-maier-vivian-maier-street-photographer-revelation#slide-1)
Having looked at Ricky Adam's website on the BMX culture, I can see what my tutor means about dynamic imagery. His photos work well as a whole - location, colour, action and parts of bikes. It showed me that it was acceptable to take risks, be more creative and include just parts of rider and bike , the latter being something I had debated over. I will be practicing taking some images at a night mountain bike race so will have to use flash.
Having looked at Ricky Adam's website on the BMX culture, I can see what my tutor means about dynamic imagery. His photos work well as a whole - location, colour, action and parts of bikes. It showed me that it was acceptable to take risks, be more creative and include just parts of rider and bike , the latter being something I had debated over. Looking back over my images, this is one that I had rejected at the time as it only showed a part of the bike. It does however, show the rider's muscles working and is more dynamic because of the shooting position and action that is being shown. I think it would be more acceptable to me if it was in landscape format. I will be practicing taking some images at a night mountain bike race in October so will have to use flash.
Ricky Adams
Ricky Adams is a BMX bike photographer who works for a BMX magazine taking and editing images as well as having other projects on the go. He goes out on his BMX with kit as light as possible but it does include flash and lights as well as different lenses. His images have a grittiness / grunge /urban look to them which I would associate with this culture having been to the cycle show in Birmingham observing stunts and culture on display to the public. Watching lads on BMX's at a newly opened pump track allowed me to appreciate some of the culture of BMX riding. Adams's work is different from mountain bike magazine images although I can see similarities and I think his style of images would w
ork (not so sure about the injuries - I have not seen injuries published in a mountain bike magazine!) I do love the quote used regularly by Guy Martin in his TV series that if you don't fall off you aren't trying hard enough which most mountain bikers sustaining injury joke about.
Having looked at Ricky Adam's website on the BMX culture, I can see what my tutor means about dynamic imagery. His photos work well as a whole - location, colour, action and parts of bikes. It showed me that it was acceptable to take risks, be more creative and include just parts of rider and bike , the latter being something I had debated over. Looking back over my images, this is one that I had rejected at the time as it only showed a part of the bike. It does however, show the rider's muscles working and is more dynamic because of the shooting position and action that is being shown. I think it would be more acceptable to me if it was in landscape format. I will be practicing taking some images at a night mountain bike race in October so will have to use flash.
http://blog.defgrip.net/2010/02/interview-ricky-adam/ accessed December 2014
Ricky Adam (http://www.rickyadamphoto.com/digbmxcom/) accessed August 2014
Vivien Maier
Vivien Maier is described as a Mary Poppins like character who photographed the world around her through a square format camera which she held at waist height. To enable her to take close up portraits of her subjects she had to be about 3 feet away from them. To learn more about her work I watched the BBC programme on her called "Who took Nanny's pictures". What I like about her work is the way in which she captured the portrait of the person, and usually in the only picture she took of them. I believe her daily walks enabled her to practice her art.
I looked into her work at the start of part 3 which helped me look at how people use public spaces. Her work resonated with me especially through part 4 and 5 of the course. I had to think of doing the exercises as spying on people, like Maier used to do. I came back to her after visiting an exhibition at Nottingham University on Lee Miller's work after an in depth discussion about how a curator chooses someones work to be displayed and whether the deceased photographer would accept the portrayal of their work.
The story of how the work was found initially in storage, then sold at flea markets and reconnected once auctioned off, then pieced back together by people and studied by a lecturer fascinated me, when clearly Maier is portrayed as such a private person who kept heself to herself. I noted that from her work, her influences could be analysed, such as after Jean Bertrand had stayed with them and then after visiting an exhibition by Henri Cartier Bresson and other photographers. A style could be seen emerging - her own voice - from the analysis of her images, and I wondered if the change in her images to show negative images and destruction later in her life was influenced by the Chicago riots or whether her personality was more like her mother's and she needed to express the change in her life.
I aspire to take images like Maier's and know it will take time for self improvement. I am also different from her because I am not prepared to endanger myself by wandering the streets of the rougher inner city areas alone.
I looked into her work at the start of part 3 which helped me look at how people use public spaces. Her work resonated with me especially through part 4 and 5 of the course. I had to think of doing the exercises as spying on people, like Maier used to do. I came back to her after visiting an exhibition at Nottingham University on Lee Miller's work after an in depth discussion about how a curator chooses someones work to be displayed and whether the deceased photographer would accept the portrayal of their work.
The story of how the work was found initially in storage, then sold at flea markets and reconnected once auctioned off, then pieced back together by people and studied by a lecturer fascinated me, when clearly Maier is portrayed as such a private person who kept heself to herself. I noted that from her work, her influences could be analysed, such as after Jean Bertrand had stayed with them and then after visiting an exhibition by Henri Cartier Bresson and other photographers. A style could be seen emerging - her own voice - from the analysis of her images, and I wondered if the change in her images to show negative images and destruction later in her life was influenced by the Chicago riots or whether her personality was more like her mother's and she needed to express the change in her life.
I aspire to take images like Maier's and know it will take time for self improvement. I am also different from her because I am not prepared to endanger myself by wandering the streets of the rougher inner city areas alone.
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v70590131KFPFjY7N?h1=BBC+Imagine+%282013%29+Vivian+Maier+-+Who+Took+Nannys+Pictures accessed dec 2014http://www.vivianmaier.com/about-vivian-maier/ accessed dec 2014
I was interested in the work of Vivien Maier and the documentary of her life. What came out of it for me was the quote about her being a like a spy. I think that is how I have to view street photography.
Assignment 2: People and Activity
Introduction
For this assignment
I have presented 10 photographs of people in some form of meaningful activity.
From the categories listed, I chose a sporting event because I am interested in
mountain biking and had some experience of what could happen at the event as I
had watched a different race series evening last year at the same venue.
I originally
looked at people involved with presenting the First World War at a living
history event for my assignment. These were passionate volunteers who were
informing mostly children with adults as bystanders. After reviewing my images
I realised that it had not gone to plan. I also felt I could have included more
close-up work so scrapped the idea and found another event to visit. (posted in
Test Shots on blog)
I considered each assignment
image individually and identified what worked well, what was less successful
and analysed the reasons for this. I considered where I need to strengthen my
skills and understanding and explained how I hoped to achieve it.
British Cycling
hold a National Cross Country Championship during the year which takes in
different parts of the country. This was the 4th round and featured
2 days of racing. I attended the first day which held one race made up of
various categories: fun male and female, open male and female and sport male.
These categories were non ranking. Sunday’s races included elite athletes who
compete for points to enter the Olympic Games and other such competitive
events. I thought this would attract more crowds and I could probably get
closer to the action on Saturday.
In the planning
stages of the assignment I revisited a rough plan I made for an event I was
going to for a MTB marathon. (This event turned into my wide angled exercise as
I was not ready to do the assignment at this point).
Plan
As Cartier-Bresson (1999) describes
“Things-As-They-Are offer such an abundance of material that a photographer
must guard against the temptation of trying to do everything”. By making a
detailed plan and narrowing down the content on the day when I saw what the
potential was, I was able to put together a relevant picture story.
In order to select my final images, I categorised my
images as I went through them, writing down a number under a heading. I then
selected 20 from these and printed them off to arrange on paper so I could move them around. This allowed me to
visualise all the images together, check for telling moments and ensure the
activity is explained. This method helped me to look at facial expressions and body language and avoid repetition in my chosen
selection. Cartier-
Bresson (1999) writes that “after developing and printing, you must go about
separating pictures which, though you know are all right, aren't the strongest”.
Images which did
not make it into the final selection are on my blog under Test Shots.
I set up and used
my Canon 5D full frame with a 24-105mm and Canon 40D (smaller sensor) with
70-300mm which gave me a focal length of 112-480mm.
Date: 7/7/14
Venue: British Cycling National Cross Country MTB Series 4 Sherwood
Pines, Nottinghamshire
Image
1
 |
| Canon 40D 1/250 F8 ISO100 Effective focal length 184mm |
This was the start
of the race. I picked out two riders who were relaxed and ready to start. There
were still a few minutes to go at this point. The riders were set off in groups
according to their class and this was the first group to go. I thought the
colours worked well together and these two riders looked evenly matched. In the
body language displayed, one rider has copied the other suggesting that the two
are relaxed and at ease with each other.
What went well?
·
Telling moment - Riders sharing a conversation (looking for facial
expression and body language)
·
Explaining activity - Relaxed body position – start of race – other
riders busy with personal preparation
·
These two riders isolated by using a tight crop in camera and a
telephoto lens
·
Number board state exactly what the race is and the venue
What could be
improved?
·
Stand further back and use a longer telephoto lens to isolate riders
further
·
Whole wheel could be included
·
Slightly overexposed
Image 2
 |
| Canon 40D 1/250 F8 ISO200 Effective Focal Length 288mm |
This image was taken as a group of riders set off and were competing to
overtake each other before the track turned into singletrack. I like the
movement, spacing of the riders, body language and the fact that there is a
clear rider in front. I think it is a little cluttered with spectators.
What went well?
·
Telling moment - action shot
shows power, determination, dust being kicked up on the track
·
Explaining activity – numbers visible, British cycling banner visible,
spectators on edge of course
What could be
improved?
·
Too cluttered – would be more effective without the spectators
Image 3
 |
| Canon 40D 1/350 f5.6 ISO400 Effective Focal Length352mm |
This rider was showing a lot of determination and very focused. The colour
of his clothing made him stand out against the background.
What went well?
·
Telling moment - action shot
shows power, determination, focus, concentration
·
Explaining activity – number visible, body position and muscle movement
make him look as if he is working hard and racing rather than on a leisure ride
·
This rider was not under the tree canopy at this point making him better
lit
·
Telephoto lens separates rider from background. Using the 300mm on a smaller
sensor camera gave an even longer focal length
What could be
improved?
·
Background too cluttered. The technical challenge was knowing where to stand
to capture the rider in the sun without using flash with a clear background.
Image 4
 |
| Canon 5D 1/320 F4 ISO400 82mm |
These two lads led
for most of the race. I included a race scene to show a part of what the event
was about. Most of the course was under a tree canopy which meant using a
reasonable ISO. If I took images of riders under non race conditions (who are
aware that I am taking images), I would use a flash. However, in a race, I did
not want to put the riders off.
What went well?
·
Meaningful activity – race important to both of these riders. Rider in front
shows determination – rider behind looks like he is slowing down
·
Telling moment – both team mates looking in same general direction round
the corner- the one in front is looking round the corner. Although the corner
in the track is not visible, the grass is flattened which gives a clue to the
viewer
·
Wider angle includes more of the race circuit
What could be
improved?
·
Image would benefit from fill in flash as the riders are under the trees.
Cartier- Bresson (1999) makes a valid
point when describing how a photographer should work: “no photographs taken
with the aid of flash light either, if only out of respect of the actual light
– even when there isn’t any of it. Unless a photographer observes such conditions
as these, he may become an intolerably aggressive character.” I agree with this
and avoid using flash in some situations; instead working with a high ISO and a
wide aperture as using flash would be off putting for the rider
Image 5
 |
| Canon 40D 1/250 f8 ISO400 Effective Focal Length 480mm |
This rider was nearing completion. He shows real determination and pain.
This is one of my favourite images.The colours are harmonious and the
fluorescent jacket in the background is not too distracting.
What went well?
·
Telling moment - action shot
shows determination, pain, focus,
·
Explaining activity – rider’s body position, facial expression
·
Telephoto lens worked well especially at this length to show the rider’s
facial expression. Background blurred to avoid distraction
What could be
improved?
·
Crop to remove Garmin (although riders use these for checking their
personal records post race)
·
Fluorescent jacket in the background is a little off-putting
Image 6
 |
| Canon 40D 1/250 F8 ISO800 Effective Focal Length 352mm |
These two
spectators were in close proximity and I am not sure if they were together or
not. They were spectating at the technical section of the track – a hand built
wooden bridge that some people were finding it difficult to ride. The young
lad’s race had finished and he looked thoroughly fed up. He was playing with
the tree rather than watch the race. The lady has an interesting facial
expression – I couldn’t decide if she was worried or bored. The boy’s bright helmet draws the viewer’s attention
to him. The longer focal length separates
the people from the background.
What went well?
·
Telling moment - boredom – boy
playing with tree on and off
·
Explaining activity – action of playing
·
Long focal length and my position next to the track enabled me to shoot
under the pretence of taking a photograph of a rider
What could be improved?
·
A lower camera angle may catch more of the boy’s face
·
Image could be sharper. Moved camera focus to AI Servo to track the
riders and forgot to alter it back for this image. Need to remember which camera
I have in my hand.
Image 7
 |
| Canon 5D 1/800 f4 ISO400 50mm |
A group of
spectators gathered in front of me. Two had raced and one was using his phone to
record the race. I liked the casualness of the group. There was no
competitiveness between them. The man on the floor was engaged in conversation
with man on the bike.
What went well?
·
Telling moment - spectators in conversation with each other – man on the
floor engaged with the chap on the bike.
·
Explaining activity – spectators on edge of course – two watching the
race and two engaged in conversation
·
Walked around the group and kept walking past until I was happy with the
framing of the image
·
Colours are complementary
·
The standard focal length shows track and gives an idea of the perspective
as the viewer can count the number of trees to give an idea of scale. I had
included riders in the image but it became overcrowded and lost direction. I
think this works as it shows the track and there is another spectator the other
side of the tape.
What could be improved?
·
In the planning for this shot, I forgot to check my camera settings.
Would work better with a smaller aperture and slower shutter speed. Men were
under the trees and this was taken into sun.
Image 8
 |
| Canon 5D 1/400 f4 ISO400 105mm |
This man was part
of one of the teams and rebuilding a wheel. I asked him if he would be happy if
I took some photos of him working. I thought his activity was relevant to the
race and the items on display at the back of the tent was relevant – helmet and
water bottles. The transparent window provided a different view of the
spectators. I liked the reflection in the man’s glasses.
What went well?
·
Telling moment – repairing / rebuilding is part of racing.
·
Explaining activity – man occupied with mending a wheel – can see what
he is doing and in the environment he is working
·
Colours work well together
·
Inclusion of the window adds a different view of the spectators
What could be improved?
·
I would not improve anything in this image
Image 9
 |
| Canon 5D 1/400 f6.3 ISO400 105mm |
This man is
crossing the finishing line. There was not a finish flag, although there was a
start flag at the beginning of the course. The commentator had asked that
people did not stand in his way as he needed to see the numbers on the bikes. I
tried to depict finishing with a water bottle and a hand as the man has made
eye contact with the bottle. From his body language and facial expression, I
assumed he was at the end of his race. I think this is the least successful of
my images. It is a telling part of the event / sport
What went well?
·
Telling moment - body
language - the man looks tired and fed
up
·
Explaining activity – On such a hot day, the water bottle will be one of
the first items the man needs
What could be improved?
·
Not quite in focus
·
I think the idea works but there needs to be more of the person’s arm
who is holding the water bottle in the frame. Perhaps it should be the hand in
focus rather than the rider?
·
There is another rider behind the man in the middle of the frame. I think
if he was shown more, the image would work better. I would also consider
cropping this so that the bike is on a third rather than in the middle.
Image 10
 |
| Canon 5D 1/100 f7.1 ISO400 58mm |
I chose this
podium image because the handshake and facial expressions are good. There is a
lot going on within this image. The chap in the blue and white t shirt and
jeans had awarded prizes to riders one and two. I liked the fact that everyone
was happy and riders were congratulating each other. The rider with the yellow
top on still had his helmet in place. I think some flash would have worked
better but I did not want to be visible.
What went well?
·
Telling moment - handshake,
facial expressions show happiness, speed of event – rider had helmet on
·
Explaining activity – background shows a trailer in which a prize giving
ceremony took place
What could be improved?
·
Use of flash
·
Telephoto lens (camera with telephoto lens was not set up for this and I
didn’t have time to change it back)
Conclusion
In summary, throughout
this assignment, I considered each image individually and identified what
worked well, what was less successful and analysed the reasons for this.
Looking at my
collection of images as a whole, there are differences between the facial
expressions, body language on display, framing, angle of view, telephoto and
standard focal length. I found it difficult to get a wide angled image in,
although I had taken images where it looked like I was in the middle of the
action. I think the timing of the actions worked and on the whole the viewpoint
worked. The technical difficulty of the day was the strong sunlight and the
race taking place under trees. I had no control over where the spectators stood
or the direction of the race circuit so there are times when I had altered one
camera to take one shot and picked up the other camera for another shot and
forgot to alter the settings. I used two cameras and it helped me to capture
the action without keep changing lenses. My learning point is to become familiar
with both cameras (which are very similar) and it will make these situations
easier.
On reflection, I made
the correct choice to abandon my 1st choice and work with this
event. I was initially apprehensive as I was working without flash and
experience showed me that flash does help in these situations.
References
Cartier - Bresson, H (1999) The Mind’s eye, Aperture Foundation, New York, p24
Cartier - Bresson, H (1999) The Mind’s eye, Aperture Foundation, New York, p25,
Cartier - Bresson, H (1999) The Mind’s eye, Aperture Foundation, New York, p28,
Bibliography
Angier, R (2007) Train your gaze – a practical and
theoretical introduction to portrait photography, AVA publishing, SA
Badger, G (2007) The genius of photography – How photography
has changed our lives Quadrille Publishing Ltd, UK
Cartier Bresson, H (1999) The mind’s eyeAperture Foundation,
New York
Dyer, G (2012) The ongoing moment, Canongate Books ltd,
Edinburgh
Short, M (2011) Basics creative photography - Context and
narrative, AVA publishing, SA
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