Built Environment Research

The next photographer i would like to look at is Nick Meers. He is another photographer that i noticed in the National Trust magazine. I chose him as his work has a lot of atmosphere and is very varied in content.

The colour is quite striking in this photo and makes it more interesting than it would have been otherwise.

The composition of this image is what makes it work. Getting the patterned circle on the top third with the light pouring in below it and the two alcoves either side was down to careful positioning.

The image below is made up of the pattern created by the roof timbers and also the texture of the wood itself.

This photograph in particular stood out to me as it seems to have a story to tell. The building is clearly very interesting and the places the light is falling give just enough away to the viewer. The staircases are positioned so that they seem to flow through the image.

I also really like this image. The shape of the staircase appears quite unusual and the position of the camera really accentuates the perspective.

This image is an example of a natural frame for a building.  Also it conforms to the rule of thirds as the building is positioned approximately a third down from the top and the pillar is roughly a third in from the right.

As with the other research the depth of field is far reaching to cover a large area of focus.

Here the rows of bushes are used as a lead in line to point the way to the door of the building.

This is another example of framing. This time the use of a gate makes it more of an invitation to the viewer.

Aspects i would aim to include are perspective and use of light to create atmosphere.

Built Environment Research

The next photographer i have researched is Nadia Mackenzie. I noticed her work in the National Trust magazine. I chose her to look at as her images are very different to the others i have seen! The images i have picked out are all from the same set. They all share the same lack of colour instead allowing the viewer to concentrate on the shapes and textures of the buildings.

This image includes the use of a lead in line (some kind of walkway i think) which takes the eye across the scene.

This is an example of using a frame within an image. The open door leaves the viewer imagining what is just out of shot.

With no people or other details included these buildings seem to have no sense of scale. They could be huge castles or small models in a studio.

As with the other architectural photographers the depth of field is large; keeping most of the background detail in focus so nothing is lost.

I really like the simple compositions of these photographs. The shapes are intriguing and the chosen crop makes it balanced to the eye.

The position this was taken from creates an interesting perspective. Looking up at the towers makes them loom larger and the solitary tree in the centre of the gates is dwarfed in comparison.

The window in this image is positioned on the bottom third, allowing the light to cover the archway above.

As there is no colour the shadows and highlights play an important role. They are used to add depth to the images and emphasize the shapes of the structures. They also add atmosphere especially in this sort of photograph where the viewer feels they are peering round a corner.

The aspect i intend to include in my work is the simple, graphic shapes and compositions.

Built Environment Research

The next photographer i would like to research is Mark Fiennes I chose to look at his work because it included various types of building and both indoor and outdoor images. I found his name in a National Trust magazine.

This first image is a good example of the use of perspective. This is very important with this type of photography as it gives a sense of scale. The columns are used as lead in lines, which point the way to the window. Also the columns closest to the viewer are used to create a frame for the lighter part of the picture. The light is used to great effect here as it pours in at the main point of interest and covers enough of the image to highlight lots of details but not so much that there are no shadow areas.

As with the landscape photography it is common to use quite a large depth of field to allow front to back sharpness. This shows lots of detail throughout the image.

The composition of this photo is what caught my attention. It is very simple but effective. The point at which the stairs are cropped is the important decision.

I really like the shapes in this photo. According to his website the building is a church. I like the material that has been used as it really adds to the shape of the smooth blocks. 

This image illustrates the use of reflections in architectural photography. This works well because of the arches in particular and also the colour of the building stands out against the water.

This castle photograph is an example of the rule of thirds. The main point of interest (the closest tower) is positioned on the first third across.

Aspects i would like to include in my images are the use of perspective, light and shape.

Built Environment Research

The other theme i would like to research is architectural photography. The first photographer i am going to look at is Antony Weller. I found him through an internet search. I chose this photographer because he seemed to have some eye catching compositions. As with the nature photography, the focus tends to be far reaching, ie a large depth of field. This is likely because this means they can include the most detail and illustrate the perspective of the large buildings.

For example, the image below is taken from a very intriguing position creating a new perspective. The viewer can be confused by what they are seeing - at first glance it isn't that obvious which way is up. The stairs form a wonderful spiral which is a very popular topic for this type of photography. It is possible that this image would work in black and white as the shape and perspective is most important and the colour doesn't add to it as much.

This photo is all about texture. As far as i can tell it appears to be a wooden structure with a concrete wall leading up to it. All the different planks of wood are visible, including enough detail to see how grainy the surfaces are.

The composition of this image was the reason i chose it. The lines of the structure are positioned so that they form a natural frame for the intricate glass design and the sky beyond.

I chose this image for the strong line of columns which create a graphic photograph.

This image shows that you don't need to include the whole building to get an impressive photo. By using a closer shot of the column detail it provides both an interesting image and one that hints at the rest of the imposing building out of shot.

The colour of the sky is very important in this photograph. If it had been grey and boring the structure would have blended into the background. The bright blue contrasts well and the clouds are used to add further interest.

The photo below uses the rule of thirds to some extent. The place where the lines cross to form the x (over the top of another line) is along the top third of the image.

Aspects i would like to try and include in my images are: strong lead in lines, interesting shapes and unusual viewpoints.

Assignment Planning

The equipment i will be using for this theme will be my compact camera. This is because i believe a decent compact can produce images of a reasonably high standard. Although this might sound a bit restrictive it does give various options. For example it does offer full manual control, a good optical zoom and macro setting. Although i won't be swapping lenses between shots, this will mean i'll have to think more about the composition and possibly walk around more to get the image i want. Without the use of a tripod i will be using any walls or trees to lean against. The inbuilt flash isn't particularly far reaching, but this shouldn't matter too much when working outdoors in the sunshine as long as i think carefully about the direction of the light. Some landscape photos wouldn't be possible without the use of filters on the lens, so with this in mind there won't be any very long exposures in my photos.

The locations for this theme will be my back garden and local countryside such as the fields, walks and woods near where i live. These will be used because i can easily return to them under different weather and lighting conditions to see what looks best. Also as i know these areas well i can be more prepared as i know what to expect and can come up with initial ideas before setting out. In addition to this they offer a variety of landscapes, such as farmed land, wild walks and cultivated garden.

My intention is to go out in the first instance to take some test images and see how they turn out, then head out on several occasions under different conditions when i have more idea of the practical issues and problems. I have very little experience of using manual settings so i'm not expecting to get it right the first time i go out. I aim to cover a mixture of images to show both the context i.e the surrounding landscape and also some more detailed close-up photographs.

Statement of Intent

Theme: Trees
Intentions/purpose of the photography to be undertaken
I would like to collect a range of tree images showing how different they can appear under varying conditions. If i had enough time it would be effective to show the different seasons, but at this stage it will likely just have to be different times of day or perhaps focusing on a mix of close up detail images along with some showing the local environment.
Reasons for selection of theme (including inspiration from the work of others)
I enjoy walking in the countryside but trying to capture what you can see isn't always simple. Often images end up not doing justice to the scene you remember. There are many nature photographers who create beautiful images and i intend to learn some of their techniques.
The photo imaging equipment and medium that will be used and why
Nature photographers usually use a wide angle lens for landscapes and a macro lens for close up work. They sometimes create panoramic photos. They often use long exposures which require a tripod(to reduce camera shake) and filter(to reduce the light entering the camera). This set up would be used to create the 'silky water' effect. I will be using my compact (on manual settings) which is discussed in the previous post, when not borrowing kit from the department.
Techniques that will be used and how they will convey the visual message
I intend to learn how to set up an effective composition using the rule of thirds and lead in lines to create perspective. I also want to experiment with depth of field. I'd like to include a variety of colours and textures. These will all show how varied and vibrant nature can be.
How light quality can be used to help convey the visual message
The light is hugely important to nature photography as changing it has the power to totally change the image. The light shows what time of year the image was taken as well as what time of day. It can be used to really bring out the colours of the scene or as a tool for a silhouette.
Safety considerations
On location it is important to be aware of your surroundings i.e where you are stepping with the camera in front of your face! Also in nature photography it is vital to work quietly so as not to disturb the resident wildlife. In addition to this i will need to make sure i'm not obstructing a public footpath.

Choice of Equipment

The camera i have at home is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8. The specifications can be seen here

As i am working with a compact this may restrict some aspects of my images.  
Some of the restrictions with using a compact are as follows:
Focus isn't manual - with a DSLR you can physically move the lens to manually adjust the focus. This allows for more accurate focussing than the electronic autofocus on a compact.
Slower shutter release - with a DSLR the image is captured soon after you press the button. With a compact there is a noticeable delay between these actions. This is particularly an issue when there is something moving through the frame.
Noise at higher ISO Levels - Due to the smaller sensor size in a compact the images are of a lesser quality than most DSLRs. This becomes more of a problem when taking photographs in low light as the ISO has to be increased and noise is more apparent.
Lack of accessories - When using a DSLR there are more options available. For example, you can change lens type. This allows the user to be more creative with the images they take than with a compact. Other examples include off camera flash and lens filters which can both make a huge difference to an image.
Crop factor - As there isn't an optical viewfinder on most compacts this means composing an image is done purely through the screen on the back. This wouldn't be too much of a problem if it showed 100% coverage of the sensor. However, what you see on the screen usually crops a bit off the edges of the captured photograph, meaning that distractions at the side of the image are not noticed until the image is uploaded.
Less Manual settings - Even on compacts that offer manual control there are still some restrictions. For example being able to change the aperture size when the range is F/3.3 - F/6.3 isn't much use. The most frustrating aspect of this being, that it isn't possible to get a really shallow depth of field effect unless you are using the macro setting and happen to be extremely close to your subject. This is a major restriction compared with using a DSLR.
Image format - DSLRs now offer the option to record in RAW format as opposed to just JPEG. Using RAW allows more flexibility in the post processing stage, such as the ability to adjust white balance and exposure without loss of quality. Very few compacts let you shoot in RAW.