BRIEF - To capture the atmosphere of London in street photography
Development 1: black and white
Paul Mcdonough
Paul McDonough is an American photographer known for his black and white street photography of New York. His photos uniquely capture interesting characters and candid oddities around the city. McDonough has been walking the streets of New York for the past 40 years, photographing whatever catches his eye in order to tell the individual stories of passers by. It is evident in Mcdonough’s work that he considers qualities such as the composition and framing of subjects as well as the visual interest of the scene, without losing the spontaneity of street photography. Mcdonough makes it clear to the viewer who the central subject is and where the focal area is, his photos give the impression that whilst taking the photos, he is already aware of what the final print will look like.
I wanted to look at the work of Paul McDonough because he perfectly captures the attitude and atmosphere of New York City and its inhabitants, something I'd like to achieve in my own work.
I wanted to look at the work of Paul McDonough because he perfectly captures the attitude and atmosphere of New York City and its inhabitants, something I'd like to achieve in my own work.
response
I travelled to different locations in Central London; Kings Cross, Southbank and Oxford Circus to photograph different people in different environments. For some photos I asked people if I could take a photo of them and some I took with them noticing, I found it particularly interesting to see the different between the subjects that were aware of the photo and the subjects that were caught in a more candid natural way. Inspired by McDonough, I tried to maintain a focus on the composition and focal areas of the photos as well as choosing visually interesting subject matter. I think I succesfully photographed varied individual characters whilst using backgrounds and objects that are quintessential to London. Whilst the black and white emphasises the focus on the expression of the subject and removes visual distraction, I would like to experiment with colour street photography.
Development 2 : In colour
To develop from my black and white photos, I photographed Southbank in colours. I chose to photograph colourful locations filled with younger subjects as I felt they expressed my intentions in portraying my idea of London as a vibrant city. I used colour for these photos to express the passion, energy and diversity of London youth in today's society. I think the photos taken of the subjects in motion are complimented by the bright colours and capture an energy in the still frame. I found the graffiti to be a visually interesting backdrop and an effective way of adding both bright colours and a sense of rebellion and creativity in the images. In further developing my project I would like to focus more on the individual person, and create composed portraits that illustrate the atmosphere in London.
development 3: local area
In this development I decided to focus on my own local area. I think it is an interesting concept because I am so familiar with the environment so it is easier for me to find hidden places or locations where young people typically hang out. I chose to photography a discreet alley and railway bridge leading to a small open space, and my local kebab shop. Whilst the locations were important I tried to focus on the subjects in the photos and their expressions. I think the use of imagery associated with London such as the bus in the reflection of the window is effective in subtly making the location instantly recognisable. I would like to explore the idea of local community more in further developments as well as the graffiti and tags found on the walls all over the city.
Development 4 - JR
Born in 1983, JR is an anonymous French street artist renowned for his colossal pasted portraits in cities across the world. JR made his mark on the world when he decided to combine photography with street art. He is renowned for finding a story in the face of his subjects and sharing them with the world. He often uses a 28mm camera so that he is forced to get extremely close to his subject in order to capture an intimate portrayal of their character. When blown up to create his works, these close up massive portraits are unique in their expressions and details. His use of scale and location, as well as the actual photos taken, is what makes his work so impactful and memorable.
I wanted to look at the work of JR because I find it conceptually interesting to integrate the inhabitants of a city with its walls. He perfectly captures the idea of community and creates art specifically for the people. I was particularly interested in his 'Wrinkles of the city' series in which he pastes photos of the older generation in several cities on walls covered in graffiti. This juxtaposition of 'old and new' is aesthetically pleasing and conveys a sense of unity in the city. The graffiti is effective in integrating the faces into the city as well as combining two different art forms to decorate and celebrate the community.
I wanted to look at the work of JR because I find it conceptually interesting to integrate the inhabitants of a city with its walls. He perfectly captures the idea of community and creates art specifically for the people. I was particularly interested in his 'Wrinkles of the city' series in which he pastes photos of the older generation in several cities on walls covered in graffiti. This juxtaposition of 'old and new' is aesthetically pleasing and conveys a sense of unity in the city. The graffiti is effective in integrating the faces into the city as well as combining two different art forms to decorate and celebrate the community.
School community
For this development I decided to focus on my own school community as a response to JR's 'Wrinkles of the city'. I photographed a handful of students in a relaxed style and printed four as black and white large scale posters. I then asked my art class to paint and draw on these photos without giving them any directions. I think the final product is successful in capturing the creative thinking and expression of the students and reminds me of the tags and graffiti that plasters the walls of London. For my next developments I would like to focus on the street art in London and interesting characters in the streets.
Development 5 : Shoreditch
To capture the art and colour in London I decided to go to Shoreditch where I found an abundance of street art pieces, posters and interesting people. I tried to focus on candid moments, capturing subjects in motion, to compliment the vivid colours. I think that the choice of Shoreditch as a location was extremely successful because of the street art and 'art-scene' full of visually interesting subjects. I found that my photos of street musicians and 'waiting' crowds to be the most successful in composition and effective in capturing a range of expressions. It was difficult to consider the composition and lighting of the subjects when in motion and many of the photos are too distant to create a focal point, so in future developments I would like to ask subjects to stand for a portrait in order to create a clean composition and to get closer.
Development 6 : colour
artist and me- Vivian Maier
In Vivian Maier's series of colour street photography, she captures surreal and spontaneous moments unfolding around her. She does this by candidly taking photos of people and scenarios that are visually interesting. I was particularly fascinated by her use of colour in her photographs especially in this image, where she has humorously captured three different people wearing bright yellow. Whether the photo is staged or completely spontaneous, the use of one colour consistently featured is unique and visually impressive.
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My photos
In this series of photos, I tried to recreate the use of colour in Vivian Maier's photo. I went to Shoreditch and focused one colour in each composition. As well as clothing, I also used the coloured surroundings to create
Development 7 - street portraits
In this development I revisited Shoreditch and also went to Camden as it's a similarly artistic and colourful area. I focused on the composition and details in these photos by asking passersby to stop for a photo, and taking a moment to think about the framing of the subjects and point of focus. The direct eye contact and captured expressions are successful in creating intimate street portraits that capture the character of the subjects or the relationship between them. In the future developments, I would like to maintain a close distance and consideration for composition while photographing less staged moments. I would also like to focus on the visual interest of the background and how this compliments the subject and colours.
artist and me - Jamel Shabazz
Garry Winogrand - Women are Beautiful
development 8
In this development I revisted Shoreditch again focusing on two methods to create candid, but intimate photos; Garry Winogrand's discrete camera angles, and staying in one location waiting for subjects to walk past. I found that Garry Winogrand's method was less successful in maintaining control of the composition of the images. However, I found it useful to choose an effective spot with a vibrant background and photograph passing subjects. This way, I could easily consider the framing of the image and the subjects were more likely to be in focus. I would like to further experiment with shooting colour in the streets, and to use film instead of digital photography.
Exhibition Visit- Roman Vishniac
Development 10- Jim Goldberg
Jim Goldberg is an American artist and photographer renowned for his work collaborating with neglected populations 'on the edge of society'. He also made an important impact on photography with his use of handwritten text and mark-making combined with images. In this series entitled 'Open See', Goldberg documents the stories of refugees in 18 countries. Goldberg then asked the subjects to handwrite their stories or dreams on the Polaroid photo, the individual handwriting styles and languages creating a unique intimate portrayal of the subject.
My Response
I decided to create a visual response to Jim Goldberg's work because of it's unique story telling quality. I wanted to look at the stories of London inhabitants in order to create a wider description of the city.
I experimented with this technique by taking a polaroid photo of my dad and asking him to write his story of London around the photo. I think the idea of the personalised photo is an extremely successful way to capture a whole character as well as being aesthetically interesting. However, working towards my final piece I would like to focus on capturing candid moments to describe the city. |
Development 9- shooting on film
In this development, I went to Columbia Road Flower Market in Hackney to try and capture the crowds and bright colours on film. The market was brilliant for a variation of colours in the photos however it was very crowded and chaotic, which made it difficult to shoot individual subjects or consider composition. I also found it harder to shoot street photography on films, especially in the busy environment, because I only had one chance to manage the focus, lighting and composition of a fast-paced photo. In editing I attempted to crop the photos to show more specific details or large areas of colour. In future developments, I would like to experiment with creating more colour-focused and abstracted street photography instead of the portraits I had been aiming for previously.
Development 12 - Saul Leiter
In this development I looked at the abstract work of Saul Leiter. I found the layering of surfaces, and use of focus to be the most interesting aspects of his images, so I sought to use this as inspiration. I went to Oxford Circus and Carnaby Street to try and use shop windows and coloured lights in abstract compositions. As I went out around Christmas time, Carnaby street was decorated with a multitude of colourful lights, I focused on vivid colours and the idea of photographing a subject indirectly. I would like to continue with more abstract experimentation in my project as I think the photos are more visually interesting and more effective in creating an atmosphere or a 'feeling' to describe London.
artist and me - Saul Leiter
Development 13 abstraction
In this development I edited my images from Carnaby street to try and make the subject less recognisable, in hope of focusing the viewer on the colours and textures of the street. The effect of the lights reflected in small puddles of water is interesting and definitely something I would like to experiment with in further developments. However I think that in order to create a more intricate image I would get closer to these textures and photograph them as a focal point rather than a detail of a bigger image.
Development 14 Further Abstraction
To further develop the idea of abstract street photography, I went to Kings Cross and photographed small details around the area. I tried to focus on coloured light and reflections. I also looked at light in motion, creating different shapes and lines in the resulting image. The inclusion of objects like road signs, telephone boxes, traffic lights and bus signs help to relate the images back to the context of the London streets, and prevent them from becoming completely unfamiliar or unrecognisable. I think the choice to shoot at night was effective in creating a contrast between the lights and the dark streets, removing any other distractions in the image and emphasising the colours of the lights. I also think this creates a particular atmosphere of 'London nights', using a specific timeframe and lighting creates a more coherent series. I would like to further experiment with the reflections of lights in puddles for my next development.
Development 15 - puddles
For this development, I went out in the rain on my local high street to photograph the puddles and reflections on the pavement. I tried to focus on the brightness of the colours and the abstract shapes created by the reflections. I think that the photo series is successful in abstracting the puddles to create interesting patterns and blocks of colour in an almost painterly style. To improve theses images I would get physically closer to the puddles so that the photos are more focused and intricate. I would also like to combine the reflections with recognisable objects or sections of the street to relate it back to the London streets.
development 16 - reflections
In this development, I went back to North Finchley high road to try and capture distinct aspects of the street in abstract compositions. I mainly photographed the lights reflected in different surfaces and textures. I tried to focus on the field of focus, creating a distinction between foreground and background. I would like to further develop this idea in future developments and also to try and find a wider variety of colours.
development 17
Ansley West Rivers
artist and me -Ansley West Rivers
development 18
Final Piece
Annotation Help
Introducing a task:
Subject matter
ebi:
Subject matter
What’s next
Analysis Help
What do you think the photographer’s intentions are? There may be more than one. ‘PEC’ each intention.
P (Photographer’s name) creates (what type of images? Fantastical, surreal, objective)
E He / she does this by… (describe something in the image)
C He/she wanted us to consider ….
What wider issues is the photographer addressing?
P (Photographer’s name) is considering (is the photographer talking about a bigger issue in photography, society, politics?)
E This is shown by … (describe something in the image)
C The (Photographer’s name) was interested in this issue because (they felt it was relevant to us now…)
How do the materials and techniques used support your photographer’s intentions?
P (Photographer’s name) has used (the darkroom / multiple exposure / film / digital manipulation techniques) in creating this work.
E This creates a ______ effect. (describe something in the image)
C This helps to support (Photographer’s name) point about (showing an identity / hiding a person’s identity / the media / anonymity)
Introducing a task:
- In this task I was required to…..
- This task links to the theme, landscape as it shows....
Subject matter
- The subject I chose to photograph suited the theme as it……
- My composition helped to support my response to the theme by….
- I managed the exposure very well. My ISO / shutter speed / aperture settings were…..
- I prioritised my shutter speed to… (capture movement / blur/ frozen moment)
- I prioritised aperture to manipulate depth of field.
- I used a tripod to avoid camera shake.
- My images express my intentions which were…
ebi:
Subject matter
- The subject I chose to photograph did not necessarily fit the brief as it was not interesting enough / appropriate / adequately lit…..
- Next time I should go to (a different location), photograph at a different time of day, organise people in advance, think more about my composition so that….. ect
- I did not create enough depth of field / sense of movement.
- The image is over exposed / underexposed / too blurred.
- Next time I should use a tripod / use a different type of lens (be specific) / experiment with film…
- My images do not show my intentions which were…
- The concept wasn’t clear in my images, I need to make it more explicit by…
What’s next
- Next time I will consider the work of (a photographer) to inspire a more accurate depiction of what I want to achieve.
- I will experiment further with… (blur / shutter speed / composition)
Analysis Help
What do you think the photographer’s intentions are? There may be more than one. ‘PEC’ each intention.
P (Photographer’s name) creates (what type of images? Fantastical, surreal, objective)
E He / she does this by… (describe something in the image)
C He/she wanted us to consider ….
What wider issues is the photographer addressing?
P (Photographer’s name) is considering (is the photographer talking about a bigger issue in photography, society, politics?)
E This is shown by … (describe something in the image)
C The (Photographer’s name) was interested in this issue because (they felt it was relevant to us now…)
How do the materials and techniques used support your photographer’s intentions?
P (Photographer’s name) has used (the darkroom / multiple exposure / film / digital manipulation techniques) in creating this work.
E This creates a ______ effect. (describe something in the image)
C This helps to support (Photographer’s name) point about (showing an identity / hiding a person’s identity / the media / anonymity)