Practice Task 2

Photography

Practice Task 2 is all about improving our photography, which we may use in the future during our coursework. It helped me figure out different styles of portrait photography but also showed me the ways a photo conveys emotion and meaning.

1. Portrait - Take a medium close up of a person in seven different ways.

Underneath some of the photos, I will underline what I would do in the future to improve them or what I liked about them.

i) Low-Key Lighting - 

Having a more solemn look on the models face would convey much more emotion as I believe this type of lighting would be used for emotional portraits.

ii) High Key Lighting -

Having the model face towards the camera would improve the task of 'High Key Lighting' as it would show the whole face instead of the side profile.

iii) Side Lighting 

iv) Under Exposed - 

The light coming from the side of the models face makes the impact of the photo diminish as the task is under-exposure. 

v) Over Exposed -

I loved how this photo conveys some sort of vulnerability within it. With the way the model chose her position but how her facial expression lent against the window.

vi) Shallow Depth of Field -

Although the background is blurred, I feel that if I made it so that you can't distinguish the tree from the rest, it would have a greater impact.

vii) Deep Focus

I enjoyed taking these different styles of photos because it not only allowed me to learn and improve my own photography skills, It allowed me to explore different settings and style which I previously wouldn't have the courage to do.

2. Take Photographs of two or more people in five different ways.

i) Emphasis a sense of action

ii) Take a pose that would fit on the front of a magazine -

I believe that this photo would work for this criteria. However, the girl on the right's head has too much of a distance compared to the other two. The cropping of the photo is also too thin.

iii) Shallow Depth of Field

iv) Deep Focus

v) Long Exposure :)

What I really liked about some of the group photos was the joy you can feel being emitted from them. The smiles, the expression and the movement within each one expresses some sort of joy from them.

3. Copy a Found Image - Find two photographs online that you really like, then take two photographs to imitate them as close as possible. 

Photo 1

Photo 2

Attempt 1

Attempt 2

For both of these photos, trying to imitate them as close as possible we needed to find a different space from normal. We found the darkest room as possible, this is so that no leakage of light could affect the photograph, making even the background completely black. We then used a type of lighting tool to direct the light we wanted. 

Producing the image, we had to position the light source so that it was directed down towards the model, allowing them to look up towards the camera. However, because of this, we had to find a space where we could position the camera so that there were no unwanted shadows was inside the frame.

The final outcome was something that I wanted, however due to the harsh light, some areas lacked the definition within Attempt 2, so I tried to turn down the exposure but in result, this turned the black background blue - This means that I need to improve my editing skills as well.

Practice Task 1

Magazine Research from JericksonMagsino

The research that I did with this presentation helped me develop my own style that I later presented within my practice covers. In general, the thing that caught my eye within these chosen examples is that most of them are really simplistic, with not too much going on. The aesthetic for some of them really stands out, especially with the help of the fonts used.

Practice Magazines 

Magazine 1

The reason why I chose this layout is because it's simple, aesthetic and there's not too much going on within the background. There are no sell lines, which I really like the look of , because it gives it a more raw look. The name of the model at the bottom is in large font - giving credit to the model used. This could attract more consumers because they may know the model shown. The simplistic colour pallet really appeals to me, making it look more professional and sophisticated.

With the help of a Mockup, this allowed me to see what the magazine would look like if it was developed professionally.

Magazine 2

I decided to try to make a second magazine and develop my style even more. With this one, using a different colour pallet and model really stood out to me compared with the first one as it gives a warmer feel, which is nicer to the eyes. What really helped was the out of focus flower near the front as it gives the cover more character and more depth to it. The Masthead is closer to the top of the magazine and is behind the models head, this allowed me to show the importance of the model but also creating a name behind her.

I personally prefer my second try at making a magazine cover as it draws my attention.

Camera Research

Website

Production

Planning Website

Planning Production

Audience Website

Audience Research Production

Codes and Conventions Website

Codes and Conventions Production

Statement Of Intent

Coursework Brief

Teacher's Comments

Practice Task 1 -

There is not a lot for me to say other than WOW! This is exemplary work. The research is perfectly presented and detailed. You've fulfilled the task perfectly and your magazines look like real magazines. Work on your photography now so that when you come to producing your real coursework it does justice to your talent for layout and design. Superb!

Practice Task 2 -

Task 2:
As with the previous task, you've done a fantastic job here. I am impressed by every aspect of your work. You're use of light, your control of mise en scene and your attention to fulfilling the brief are all excellent. The way that you reflect on the image is particularly good. I'm especially happy with the way that your reflection impacted on the way that you made a few more attempts at your copied image. This attention to detail will see you achieving an A star if you continue to progress.

The one thing that may be worth you doing is to keep an eye on the settings that you use. That said, you use a camera like an artist, so don't let a technical approach stifle your creativity.I really look forward to seeing your first mock assessed coursework piece. I'm actually quite excited to see what you produce.

Practice Task 3 -

Task 3:
Production (Magazine) - 22/25
Your attention to layout and design is absolutely excellent. The way that you use space and your sense of line is the best I have ever seen in a student. The image you chose for your front cover is a little murky (underexposed) and this detracts from the finished production (hence only 22/25). In addition, it is not entirely clear what message you are connoting with your choice of representation on the front cover. Consider the use of anchoring text to make it more obvious, or indeed to make it more clearly ambiguous (I know that might feel paradoxical so ask me to explain if you need me to).

Website - 18/25
This is clearly complete, which is no small feat in time you have had. It is also very obviously a website and the general sense of layout and design works to help me navigate the page. However, the sense of care and attention to design that you demonstrate in the magazine is not present here. Consider the relative sizes of images and how you might help the reader to choose stories more carefully. In addition, the lack of extra text to accompany each story (beyond the headline) suggests that there is not much information. Remember that you are trying to entice your audience into using the website. It is still a good piece, but not so well done as your magazine.

Convergence: 5/10
There are some very clear elements of convergence, such as the use of the magazine cover on your website and some similar stories. However, there is no call to action on your magazine and the sense of layout and design that is so well done on your magazine doesn't find its way into the website. When the magazine has such a clear sense of identity, it is a shame not to clearly use it on the website.

In summary: 45/60 = B+
You've done a really good job here. There are some clear areas to improve, but for a first attempt at a fully graded piece you have both hit the deadline and produced something of a very high quality. Excellent!