Witney Photoshoot Analysis

Architecture:

The content of the image is of a arched driveway between two houses.The subject matter of the image becomes immediate when looking at the image. The subject of the image is the arched driveway which shows the full driveway because of the angle the image was taken at. The image is represented relatively accurately because the image isn't distorted or exaggerated, the the image isn't at a straight angle which makes the image harder to look at and understand.


The form of the image is fairly simple. It basically consists of the roof of the square arch filling up the top third of the image, the driveway filling up the left hand side and the wall of the building on the right. The colours used are generally very natural. Browns, greys, yellows and greens are the colours the image is majority made up of. In the image, there are many straight lines which occur. The window, where the wall meets the driveway and along the wall in the background are just a few places where the straight lines occur. These straight lines help the viewers eyes track from the foreground to the background.


The natural colours within the image put across a very calm and quiet atmosphere to the audience.
I took the photo relatively quickly, although I did see potential in the area before actually taking the image in which time I thought about the composition and how I would take the photograph.

The content of this image is of the Butter Cross, located in Witney town centre. The subject matter is immediate when you see the image, but would be just a old, random structure to anyone who didn't know the Witney area very well, or not at all for the matter. The image is accurately represented due to how clear it is. The image isn't distorted, exaggerated or abstracted in any way.


The images main focus the the Butter Cross, located in the centre of the page in the foreground, with some similar looking buildings and a grey sky making up the majority of the background. The colour scheme used are very natural colours such as browns and yellows which make up the majority of the photograph as well as the greys which make up the sky. In the photograph, there are many straight lines which take the viewers eyes around the page, such as the points of the triangles on the Butter Cross which take the viewers eyes from the Butter Cross up to the sky.


The mood of the image is quite dull, due to the greys in the sky and the old look from the Butter Cross. There is quite a cold temperature within the photograph too. by looking at the photograph, I think that the image was taken rather fast as it looks like the photographer was just passing the location due to what is in the background such as cars and people.

Advertising/Promotional

The content of the image is a 'to let' advertisement for a letting company. The is immediately obvious when you look at the image because in the middle of the image in bold clear letters, it says 'to let'. The image is represented relatively accurately although the image is taken from a low angle which doesn't show the audience how big the sign is in proportion to the the background very well.
The form of the image is very simple. The sign is located in the middle of the photograph with an equal background around the sign. The colour scheme on the sign is bright due to the use of yellow and blue. The colours clash which makes the advertisement stand out even more when in a public place. The background colours are very common colours seen in a town, with the browns of the bricks and white and grey of the boarded up shop to let. All of the lines in this image also go in the same direction of the text which makes it easier to read and gives the image a simple composition.

The image contains quite sad qualities with the dull colours and advertisement of an empty building. This mood is emphasised with use of dull and natural colours. The photograph was taken very quickly as I was passing the location of the letting sign.

The content of the photograph is a protest sign against a link road which has been planned to be built in Witney. This is immediately obvious due to the big red circle on the white background. The photograph has content which is a big social matter at the moment in and around Witney and Cogges as many people hold different views on the planned new road. Due to the high angle the photograph has been taken at, the text at the bottom of the poster is distorted. A positive of the high angle is that it shows the edges which look old, possibly showing that the protest against the road hasn't gone so well.
The majority of the photograph is taken up with the main focus, the poster. The colour scheme used is very simple with the use of a plain white poster background with a bright red circle used which stands out against the white. The background is dark in comparison to the foreground colours which emphasises the poster even more.
The red circle suggests anger/desperation which relates to the purpose of the poster. The temperature amongst the  photograph is also quite cold. The photograph was taken quite quickly whilst passing the location of the poster, but took quick thinking to take the photograph from a higher angle to show that the poster looks old.

Fine Art

The content of the photograph is the close up of a chain and plants in the background which the chain goes around. At first glimpse, it is not apparent what the subject of the photograph is, but at a second look it becomes obvious. The content of the foreground is clear, but the background is very distorted which makes it difficult to tell what is in the background.
The chain goes across the page horizontally, as if your eyes were following where it goes. The colour scheme used it a dark grey on the chain which contrasts with the bright greens and red in the background. Within the photograph there are many different shapes/ lines including both sharp and soft points on the chain in the foreground and the same is the blurred background.
The sharp points on the chain create an angry mood within the photograph but the bright colours in the background balance this out and create a neutral feeling within the photograph.
The image has been created by focusing the camera on the chain, but also allowing space to fit a bit of background in the image.

This photograph is a close up of bark on a tree. It shows many small details such as cracks, holes and the texture. Although the photograph has been taken very close to the subject, it is obvious what the photograph is of. I think the image is also accurately represented.
The main focus, the tree bark, fills up all of the page due to the image being taken as a close up. The colours used are many different shades of brown, typical colours found on tree bark. Within the photograph there are many different lines which go in random directions and shapes located in random places.
The mood of the photograph is quite dull because of the dark colours on the bark. By looking at the image, I can feel quite a mild temperature given off by the photograph.
In order to take this photograph, the camera lens has to be positioned very close to the bark itself to take the close up. Although the image didn't take long to take, it was difficult to choose what section of tree bark I was going to photograph.

Portraiture

The content of the image is of two people, demonstrating the action of walking. This is immediately obvious when you look at the photograph.
The two people walking are located on the left had side of the page, with a bit of landscape on the right hand side of the photograph. The colours used are natural such as yellows, oranges and greens. In the photograph, there are no reoccurring shapes or lines that determine the composition of the photograph.
The mood in the photograph is neutral. This is because there is nothing in the image which makes a big stand for itself such as a main focal point or a subject which is stands out amongst the rest of the image content.
In order to take this photo, timing was the key. I had to get the timing of the two people walking right to get them both on the left side of the image. The photograph had to be taken quickly or the opportunity to get both people on the left side would have gone.

The content of this photograph is somebody standing casually. This is immediately obvious when you look at the image.
The form of the photograph is very simple. The legs of somebody standing casually fill up the right side of the image, with the white background filling the left side. The dark trousers contrast with the light background. In the photograph, there are no reoccuring lines or shapes which determine the compostion of the photograph.
Personally, I don't think there is a particualr mood given off from this photograph. I would say the temperature of the image is mild due to the contrast of the light and dark colours.

To create the image, it simply involved posisitioning the camera so that only the legs of the persn were in shot, which is a relatively quick process.

Bob Martin

Bob Martin has won several photography awards. He specialised in action, editorial and graphic pictures for advertising, corporate and editorial clients.

During his twenty year-long career, he has photographed at every major sporting event from the summer and winter Olympics, to horse racing on ice and elephant polo. Having photographed at this amount of sporting event, he has had the chance to travel to all four corners of the globe and has had his work published in many major media products such as ‘The Sunday Times’, ‘The New York Times’, ‘Time’ and ‘Life Magazine’. As a resident of the UK, he is the only sports illustrated located outside of the USA.

Bob Martin’s exceptional talent in this area of photography has helped him to be recognised by more than 53 nation and international awards. He has also won ‘British photographer of the year’ three times. In 2005, he won 23 awards alone including sports photograph of the year in the world press photo awards. Also in 2005, he chose ‘cake-factory’ to be his worldwide representative of his advertising and commercial work.

Man Ray – Fine Art Photography

Man Ray (Born Emmanuel Radnitzky)  is an American artist, but spent most of his time in France, mainly Paris. Although his ties were informal, he is a significant contributor to the Dada and surrealist movements. Ray produced a variety of media products, but considered himself a painter above all but was also a well-known fashion and portrait photographers well as photograms, which he renamed to become rayographs after himself.

He was named one of the top 25 most influencial artists of the 20th century in 1999 by ARTnews, “citing his groundbreaking photography as well as "his explorations of film, painting, sculpture, collage, assemblage, and prototypes of what would eventually be called performance art and conceptual art" and saying "Man Ray offered artists in all media an example of a creative intelligence that, in its 'pursuit of pleasure and liberty,'"—Man Ray's stated guiding principles—"unlocked every door it came to and walked freely where it would.“[1]

Jim Brandenburg – Landscape Photography

Jim Brandenburg is an American photographer from Luverne, Minnesota. After studying art history he graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth. From here, he began work as a photojournalist for the ‘Worthington Daily Globe’. After just a few of working there, he began to submit work as a freelance photographer to the National Geographic Society and in 1978, he finally became a contracted photographer for the National Geographic Magazine. The National Geographic Society published his photography in many of their books such as “Journey Into China”, “Discovering Britain and Ireland” and “Heart of a Nation”.

He has also had his work featured in many magazines such as ‘Life’, ‘The Smithsonian’, ‘Newsweek’ and ‘GEO’ as well as major television stations such as ABC’s Prime Time Live, Dataline NBC and CBS News Sunday Morning and ‘All Things Considered’ on National Public Radio.

One of Brandenburg’s biggest achievements is being commissioned by the US postal service to create a set of wildlife stamps. These stamps were released on 14^th May 1981.  

Sports Photography

This form of photography is what it says on the tin – photography that covers all types of sport. There are two main branches that come from this genre. These are photojournalism which is professional sports photography whilst amateur sports photography is known as vernacular photography.

The majority of professional sports photos are taken for the purpose of being used in a media product such as a newspaper, specific sports magazine or in an advert.

Fine Art Photography

[2]“Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created in accordance with the creative vision of the photographer as artist”. This genre of photography is primarily used to advertise a service or product.

"In reference books

Among the definitions that can be found in reference books are:

·   "Art photography": "Photography that is done as a fine art -- that is, done to express the artist's perceptions and emotions and to share them with others".

·   "Fine art photography": "A picture that is produced for sale or display rather than one that is produced in response to a commercial commission".

·     "Fine art photography": "The production of images to fulfill the creative vision of a photographer. ... Synonymous with art photography".

·   "Art photography": A definition "is elusive," but "when photographers refer to it, they have in mind the photographs seen in magazines such as American Photo, Popular Photography, and Print, and in salons and exhibitions. Art (or artful) photography is salable.".

·    "Artistic photography": "A frequently used but somewhat vague term. The idea underlying it is that the producer of a given picture has aimed at something more than a merely realistic rendering of the subject, and has attempted to convey a personal impression".

·     "Fine art photography": Also called "decor photography," "photo decor," or "wall decor," this "involves selling large photos... that can be used as wall art".

·     "Art photography": "Euphemism for nude photography".

In scholarly articles

Among the definitions that can be found in scholarly articles are:

·   Two studies by Christopherson in 1974 defined "fine art photographers" as "those persons who create and distribute photographs specifically as 'art.'"

·   A 1986 ethnographic and historical study by Schwartz did not directly define "fine art photography" but did compare it with "camera club photography". It found that fine art photography "is tied to other media" such as painting; "responds to its own history and traditions" (as opposed to "aspir[ing] to the same achievements made by their predecessors"); "has its own vocabulary"; "conveys ideas" (e.g., "concern with form supersedes concern with subject matter"); "is innovative"; "is personal"; "is a lifestyle"; and "participates in the world of commerce."On the World Wide Web.

Among the definitions that can be found on the World Wide Web are:

·    The Library of Congress Subject Headings use "art photography" as "photography of art," and "artistic photography" (i.e., "Photography, artistic") as "photography as a fine art, including aesthetic theory".

·    The Art & Architecture Thesaurus states that "fine art photography" (preferred term) or "art photography" or "artistic photography" is "the movement in England and the United States, from around 1890 into the early 20th century, which promoted various aesthetic approaches. Historically, has sometimes been applied to any photography whose intention is aesthetic, as distinguished from scientific, commercial, or journalistic; for this meaning, use 'photography'".

·    Definitions of "fine art photography" on photographers' static Web pages vary from "the subset of fine art that is created with a camera" to "limited-reproduction photography, using materials and techniques that will outlive the artist".

·    Discussions of "fine art photography" in Usenet newsgroups, Internet forums, and blogs have not come to a consensus regarding the definition of the term."

Landscape Photography
This genre is used to show the extent of the weird and wonderful place we live through photographing not only the beauty of nature, but the beauty of some people’s imagination which goes into creating man-made structures too.
Landscape photography very rarely includes human activity, but instead uses light, weather and the subject of the image instead. As landscape photography is a very broad genre, it has been broken down into sub-genres such as encompassing urban, nature, macro and industrial. Generally, the inspiration for landscape photography comes from traditional landscape paintings.

Bibliography:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Ray

[2] http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/fine-art_photography