I've got my eye on you

Whilst in Africa I wanted to get loads of picture of people going about their day to day lives. This is not as easy as you would think, given the time that I had when I was there. Safety too is a big consideration, as there are limitations that control where you can go and what you can do.
However, I may get more opportunity to resolve these issues in the future.

Whilst there, I did mange to visit one or two places and took some photos of animals in parks.

Looking at the options I became intrigued by their eyes. I took a picture of a vulture and the eyes got to me. They were jet black and seemed completely empty. They swallow the light and let nothing escape.
As a consequence I then got interested in the eyes of the animals and birds that I photographed and put together the montage indicated below.

 ISO 100: f/8: Shutter Speed 1/100. Lens 55-200mm

If you look hard enough at this image you can even see my reflection in the eyes of this vulture. The top of its head is slightly 'blown out', but trying to focus on the object and keep the camera still, whilst the bird itself it moving is tricky. Add to this the fact that whenever it moves, the light changes and it becomes a touch difficult to get the shutter speed perfect.

 ISO 100: f/8: Shutter Speed 1/40: Lens 55-200mm

This is the only picture in this segway that shows both eyes. I did this as this monkey looked particularly interested in the camera and I think his intrigue comes out in his expression.

 ISO 1600: f/5.6: Shutter Speed 1/800: Lens 55-200mm

They eye on this chicken really looks like it is made of glass. Trust me, on the blown up version, you can see my reflection in the eye too.

 ISO 200: f/5.6: Shutter Speed 1/400: Lens 55-200mm

What I like about this is the difficulty to differentiate the edge of the lionesses cheek with the surrounding backdrop. These are white lions and with the sun being so high and bright, it really made it difficult to differentiate in the close up settings. Good camouflage then!

 ISO 100: f/5.6: Shutter Speed 1/80: Lens 55-200mm

The eye once again, has a truly reflective, glassy, quality in this image. However, the detail with the hairs and eyelashes, the crinkled skin, etc just brings a level of detail into the image.

ISO 100: f/5.6: Shutter Speed 1/100: Lens 18-55mm

Contrast the other eyes to this of my dog. Maybe it's me, but there is a serenity in this eye compared to the wild (or almost) eyes of the others.

Given that I was not going to get close to the animals and birds, I took my zoom lens with me, to allow me to focus right in on the subjects. With the exception of the last one, where I was able to get up close and personal with my wild pet, were I used my standard 18-55mm lens.
I did consider taking my flash gun, in case of the need to highlight the foreground against a very bright back drop, but this proved not to be necessary.

There were no real health and safety issues to consider, except not to get out of the vehicle when you are near the Lions!

Statement of Intent - Assignment 208 - People and Portraits

Intentions/purpose of the photography to be undertaken.
I am very interested in faces, young and old. Creased skin, vacant eyes, happy and sad expressions, all create interest and intrigue and this is why I am looking at people and portraits.
The use of light to create atmosphere and mystique within a photograph intrigues me and I am looking to seek inspiration from a number of sources to enhance my ability to capture the moment.

Reasons for Selection of theme (including inspiration from the work of others)
I am especially interested in people and portrait photography as it provides an ability to create mood and feeling into a picture. Expressions of joy, or of sadness can be exaggerated by the use of colour or the emphasis of shadows and darkness.


Composition of the picture, with the positioning of the people or objects in relation to the focal point, also enables the photographer to create meaning in the image.


I did not want to use the studio to create images as, whilst this can give truly excellent results, I am not often in a studio and the majority of my photography is taken when I am out and about. I have been studying the works of Bjorn Thomassen, Paul Ward, and Brett Harkness, to gain some addition vision and insight into the world of Portrait Photography.

The photo imaging equipment and medium that will be used and why.
I will be using the following:

• Canon 400D Digital SLR Camera
• Canon 18-55mm Lens (f3.5-5.6)
• Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens (f4-5.6)
• Tamron 55-200mm Zoom Lens (f4-5.6)
• Nissin Di622 Speedlite ETTL Flash
• Camlink TPPRO 028B Tripod with a Manfrotto Pistol Grip head.

With reference to publishing the images, I will be using the internet, in particular this blogsite, as my established medium for distribution. It is widely available for all to access and allows my work to be quickly viewed and commented on.

Techniques that will be used and how they will help convey the visual message

1. The use if different lenses to create different  effects will draw the eye into different aspects of the image. For portraits a wide aperture and a large lense creates an excellent shallow depth of field and really focuses on the image of the subject.
2. It is important to get the composition right, so as well as focusing on the subject, get the setting right and  use whatever is available in your surroundings to create emphasis on the subject. PLan ahead wherever possible.
3. Colour or black and white, or even removing certain colours to leave an interesting effect will all be employed to create the right effect.
4. Working in manual, or semi-manual (Aperture priority mode) will give you control of the finished project. So, using combinations of the right aperture and shutter speed combined with an appropriate ISO setting will enable you to control the outcome.
5. You can use flash to increase light, or to fill in the foreground on a back-lit situation, or to highlight a particular area to create emphasis on the topic. The key thing when working outdoors, is to vary the time of day that images are taken to ensure you have the right conditions for what you are trying to achieve. 
6. Finishing the image will also play an important role. The main aim is to have minimum use of software to enhance or adjust the original image, but certain effects will require the use of specific applications (PSE for example) to create the effect that you are trying to achieve.
   

How light quality can be used to help convey the visual message
The effective use of light is critical in delivering the end result. How much? How little? The time of day. The sky, is it bright and sunny, or is it cloudy and grey? The amount of light you have can be helped through increased ISO settings, or by the use of external flash.
Harsh light is to be avoided, if at all possible, as it removes skin tone and bleaches the image. For portraits you may need to use reflected light in order to remove shadows in certain scenarios, but for others, you may want to position your subject where light higlights only certain parts rather than the whole image. So you ned to think about the end result and then use the light accordingly.
Use flash to back-light a location or to emphasise a part of the image.
Your surroundings too will have an effect on the light that you have and the amount of light that you want to add.

Safety considerations
I am sure that the health and safety executive have a number of rules and regulations to cover this topic, but here are some of the things that I think one should consider to help to minimise the risk in outdoor photography:

1. Always keep an eye on where you are and what is around you. Do not stand too close to edges of precipices for example and make sure that you cannot get run down by a car!
2. Look around you. Make sure that you are not in any direct danger from the location - falling debris in a wooded location, falling rocks in a quarry, or falling masonry or other if you are in an urban scenario.
3. Avoid climbing or standing on ladders on uneven ground.
4. Take your telephone in case of trouble. 
5. Scope out the location before you take your kit with you. Look at the possible areas of concern and make sure you do not put yourself into obvious danger.
6. Let someone know where you are and when you are likely to be back - just in case.
7. Protect your equipment from danger too and make sure that it is in a secure case or bag.
8. Be aware and respectful of your surroundings and do not drop litter.
9. Do not antagonise the locals (people or animals). Be respectful of your surroundings.
10. If you are on private land, seek permission first before being confronted by land owners.

Assignment 208 - Principles of Location photography

I have decided to do this assignment and to specialise in People and Portraits and Nature photography. I have always been interested in faces and in objects in isolation. I grew up in the countryside and have an affinity to that, hence my interest in the 'nature' elements too.