For this shoot, I wanted to look into the seasonal celebrations and investigate how the stereotypical symbols of Halloween eventually rot back into the ground from which they came.
Image Bank:
Contact Sheets:
Images that need improvement:
DS7_5640.JPG:
This image is tilted. This would be because it was one of the first few shots and so I was still adjusting my camera and studio settings to how I wanted them. I looked at the images while I was still shooting and changed the camera angle on the tripod, DS7_5641.JPEG is the improved image,
DS7_5645.JPEG:
This image is too dark and so it is hard to make out the face that is carved into the pumpkin. You can see that in the next image I have changed the lighting.
DS7_5701.JPEG:
The focal point in this image is off centre and because the camera was on such a low f-stop it is noticeable. The composition is also very dark which makes the image uninteresting. This was a failed experiment into focus and composition and because of this I will not be improving this image but leaving it as it so I can see what didn't work next time I go to shoot.
My Best Images:
A03:Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
My main idea for this shoot was to document something that we generally associate with seasonal changes and time progressing, then minimise the whole process to how the object itself gradually decays and is destroyed by the natural processes that allowed it to exist.
To do this I wanted to incorporate some of my previous work with mould and join this with fire - an element that has allowed us to exist and yet has to power to destroy almost anything.
The shoot was successful and there were only minor issues with timing the match falling so that it would be in the shot. This was improved through repetition and progressed to the end result.
A02: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
To prepare for this shoot I had carved a pumpkin for Halloween and waited until it had begun to mould so that I would be able to take photographs of it. I then used lit matches to light the images and dropped them into the pumpkin. The main reasoning of this is that candles are usually placed inside to light the carved face.
For this shoot I used a Nikon D7200 with a 60mm Macro lens with a remote release and tripod to keep the shots stationary. Some of the shoots I had previously completed for this project were landscapes as I wanted to observe natural destruction on the environment as a whole, however while on these shoot I notice I was taking more close up shots that I wished I'd used a macro lens for. As a result of this I will be continuing with Macro photography as I feel it has the benefit of immersing the viewer while being mindful to retain the small details.
The camera settings were F/4 to keep a shallow depth of field focused on the inside of the pumpkin and used a shutter speed of 1/125 to capture the match falling into the pumpkin. As this was in a low light setting I had to use an ISO of 635 to keep the Pumpkin within view.
This shoot relates to the theme of natural destruction as it documents two different types of destruction: fire and mould. I also like the contrast between fire and mould as they act at different speeds and are rarely seen close together. The reason the fire and mould are often separate is that the mould particles would be killed by the heat of the flames. If I was to complete this shoot again I would have liked to experimented with incense sticks to enable me to capture the smoke alongside the matches as they burned. I did however use candles in this shoot before I began to drop matches.
A01: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
The theme for this shoot was to document seasonal changes in the traditional pumpkin and natural destruction in it's slow moulding paired with burning matches.
To improve my images I will be using Photoshop.
I used this same technique for all of the images.
Final Images:
A04: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
I believe that this shoot was successful as it incorporates the more natural process of destruction, mould and pairs it with the more aggressive process of fire. This shoot pairs two different types of natural destruction together to create a gloomy if not unnerving atmosphere which transfers to the viewer. I would like to further my investigation into the destructive capabilities of fire as it is currently a large issue in America and other areas of the world. Fire is also a universally known element and aspect of life that is necessary for survival.
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