TAOP - Assignment Four - Tutor feedback

I must thank my tutor for the very fast turnaround of my assignment I think it was 4 or 5 hours which must be an OCA record. I was pleased to get my feedback back quickly because Light was quite a large element of the TAOP module and took me some time to progress - plus its always with great anticipation that I await my feedback and then reflect on it.

I take it as a huge complement that my tutor comments on my abilities and am continuing to develop, I take special note that I perhaps could and should be looking to push myself further. I think that as my confidence and skills start to develop, that I more understand interpretation and creative freedom that the modules' exercises and the assignments allow I should consider undertaking elements a little more at the edge of my ability, take risk and extend my knowledge. I have never before undertaken any art development, I guess I didn't think I was a creative person. I do what to develop my own personality on my work - at the moment I'm not sure what that could be

I take special note of my tutors comments that I should expand my knowledge and understanding by attending exhibitions, I do actually have one to write up. I work away from home midweek so time is limited but that's no excuse and I do need to invest more of time if I am to fully embrace photography and to develop myself. I do read photography books, I think I should add some write-ups to my blog.

Here is my feedback, it will serve as an easy access reminder for and perhaps may also help anyone else reading:

Overall CommentsYet again a well-delivered assignment, the professional manner that the work is presented is a delight to assess .The variety of lighting and compositions shows a great understanding of lighting and its use to communicate shape, form, colour & texture.

Feedback on assignmentAnother well-presented PDF format shows that you care about your work and its presentation. With limited equipment you have produced a comprehensive collection of images that satisfy the brief and show that you have learned from previous exercises and especially with the delivery of this assignment. The quality of the images shows a very professional attitude and approach to the process. The object you choose has many attributes that you had successfully managed to capture, however, as a challenge, it does not for fill the ultimate challenge, if you had chosen something with more reflection and /or transparency it would have challenged you much harder and you may have found yourself pushing the limits of your very considerable skills. I suggest that if you do find a free couple of hours, try the same exercise with, a highly reflective object and also a transparent one such as a glass. This is a technical exercise that would challenge you but it will help push your skill base. Using continuous lighting or flash with model lights would be the way I would recommend.This is in no way compulsory, just a suggestion that you may wish to consider.In commercial practice some of the most highly skilled photographers are those who photograph cars and still life’s especially involving bottles & liquids.I suggest that you check out the association of photographers web site and look at a number of still life specialists, too numerous to name, but that is a good site to see contemporary professional practice of the highest quality. Though you have produced a very good set of images, and have used aperture choice to control focus, it would have been a stronger set of images if you had retained a uniform format. It helps hold a set of images together and gives a structure to the execution. 

Warren's Comments - I clearly need to improve my thinking from producing a set of images that fulfil a brief to producing a set of cohesive images. On reflection I think I had I imagined I was producing a set of 8 images for an exhibition then this may have adjusted my approach and enable a stronger submission. Currently I think I may get too absorbed by the challenge of the assignment and perhaps need to also take a step back almost helicopter view and then combine both elements. I will have an attempt using a transparent / reflective item and produce say one image each of the challenges in this assignment.

 
Learning Logs or Blogs/Critical essays The notation and BLOG is improving, however as the course progresses you will have to provide much more critical analysis. This simple assignment would be hard to extend, but more refection would be required. I do not see much about what exhibitions, work you have seen, lots of technical work is good, but without the content and understanding about historic and contemporary, photography and art, all you are producing has limited depth. 

Warren's Comments - This is a valid point and is a weakness. Its not that I omit this aspect on purpose, its that I'm not making it happen. In addition I should blog more about my reading and on-line research and perhaps detail how it impacts me and what I take away rather than just saying I've done it because it does certainly influence my understand and without a doubt its allowing me to develop. I think this may help address the valid point below

Suggested reading/viewing /action

 The Art of photography is the title of this module, but there is not enough evidence of your engagement with this aspect, read and research, all the recommended books, see where there are exhibitions and engage with the Art of photography 

Pointers for the next assignment

Research the next assignment and send me your suggestions, I feel that it is important to ensure a suitable subject/project is found that will challenge and produce the quality I know you are capable of.

Warren's Comments - I am pleased with my tutor's feedback and faith in my abilities. I feel a lot stronger and confident now than I did at the start of this module. The key for me is to push and strive to continue to improve - this will mean attempting things I may feel uncomfortable doing but that's the key - I mustn't stay with in a comfort zone. Of course pushing at boundaries will also increase risk of failure but then that is also a good way of learning

I've taken on my tutor's challenge!

3rd August 2013

In the assignment feedback above you will see that tutor mentioned that I did not take on the ultimate challenge which was using something reflective and transparent. I have 2 comments:

i) I'm always up for a challenge - I've started one by pursuing a degree in photography
ii) My tutor is right, reflection and transparency are the ultimate challenge.

I've created a set of images creating one image for each of the assignment 4 criteria. 

In my earlier 20's I had an opportunity to holiday in what was known at the time as Yugoslavia, a beautiful country with very warm and friendly people. They introduced to a drink called mish-mash. Its a surprisingly refreshing drink and I challenge back my tutor to make and drink one....its very simple. These would normally be served in a large jug but can be made in a glass.

Recipe:
a) one glass
b) cold orangeade / orange fanta
c) red wine
d) a teaspoon

Method
a) pour 3/4 glass with orangeade
b) hold teaspoon in glass close to surface of orangeade, with back of spoon facing upwards
c) gently pour red wine over back of teaspoon creating layer of wine on top
d) drink and let me know if you like it - Image 4 best shows the finished article


Image 1 - Shape

A low key image using underpowered flash behind left of glass to accentuate shape of glass and slightly under expose image. There are reflection artefacts in the image, I think should have used black card held by one or 2 assistants to help reduce flash bouncing of card, walls and ceiling. 


Image 2 - Form

Where as image 1 above has the glass in profile I've moved the camera over the subject and use the curving lines of the glass and liquid to emphasise the full 3D element of the glass. Again with flash handheld I've bounced the light off the ceiling to reducing the power of the flash but to bring the lighting down on top of the glass. Unfortunately I've still got reflection artefacts  the notable on right of glass on the liquid. 


Image 3 - Texture

I'm really not sure how I could have demonstrated the texture of glass without perhaps a microscope type image. Instead I've chosen to use the liquid in the glass to demonstrate it. I tried doing this myself blowing through a straw, holding the flash and using the shutter remote but it was impossible. I've asked an assistant to perform the blowing through a straw getting the straw end as close to the liquid but out of shot, the flash used front left across glass to freeze the liquid in its movement. I have struggled with focus here


Image 4 - Colour

A high key image taken before images 2 and 3. This required a lot of shots to try to best display the colours of the liquid. The flash was left and low and of the images I took I felt this had the best display of the colours of the liquid

Overall Comments post Tutor challenge
He was right, this was the ultimate challenge, I'm not sure how well I fulfilled the belief my tutor has in my skills but it most certainly pushed me outside of a comfort bubble, if indeed I was in one before.

I am pleased I've attempted this and from the challenges I've encountered I can see I have much room for improvement. My biggest problem is reflection and the over exposed artefacts this causes. These are great as catch-lights in eyes in portraits and can be used when intended on liquids and reflective subjects such as glass - however intention and visualisation is the key - technically creating the images is the art.

I think I have much room for improvement and it would be good for me to attempt this again when I develop more skills and knowledge e.g. intention of reflection, elimination of reflection, use of extras e.g. dark card to shoot through. A lot more experimentation and reading