Evaluation

This project was the 'Light Project', for this brief we had to explore different uses of light within photography such as light painting, studio lights to create different moods and shadows, night-time scenes, natural lighting such as sunset/sunrise etc. After exploring these techniques we had to chose a path we wanted to follow, I decided to choose portraits. We then had to develop our ideas down this route and come up with a final piece that related to this and the light theme.

At the beginning of the project we created a mindmap to explore all the different possibilities the project could lead to and a mood board of different photographs that inspire us. Next we experimented taking still life and portrait photographs with SLR cameras, using laser pens and iPads to create light painting effects with digital cameras and digital portrait photographs. From this experimentation I decided that I wanted to choose portrait photography for my final outcome as I enjoyed this the most. I played around with some of my portrait photographs layering them up in Photoshop to get a multiple exposure effect. Next I took a couple of friends out on a photo shoot to a local woods to take some photographs in natural daylight. After taking these photographs my first idea was to add a surreal effect to them to make them more interesting. I then looked at Lin Osborne's work and decided that I wanted to create something similar to it as I didn't want to play around with the pictures too much. From this I came up with the idea of having a series of circular pictures in black and white.

 Lin Osborne was my main inspiration for my work as I really loved her work and it was unique compared to all the other photographs I had looked at. Here is an example of her work:

I think my final pieces work well as they have a big impact when looking at them all together and they give an abstract effect from a distance. Especially the neon signs outcome as the colours are very bright.

In my final outcomes I think I could have improved the black and white circles as the gradient of dark to light pictures could have been stronger and some of the photographs are a bit out of focus.

I really enjoyed this project as it allowed for such a broad range of experimentation and I learnt a lot more techniques. One of my favourite experiments was the light painting with the iPads and laser pens and I would like to develop this in the future.