Connecting Essay 5

This image has captured the movement of the train in a capturing way. The photographer would have used a slow shutter speed in order to create this image as we can almost see through the train, meaning that the image had been taken before the train started passing through the frame. I like how the slow shutter speed has made the train almost look like streaks of light going through the image.

To create this image, I set the shutter speed to 1/1.25 so that I could capture the movement of the train but keep it so that you could see the colours and the design of the train as these colours are widely known to being connected with the London underground. To enhance the colours, I edited the vibrance in Photoshop and then, using the quick select tool, I turned anything that wasn't the train into black and white to make the colours pop.

The main similarity between these images is the fact that they have both captured the movement of the London underground trains. As a result of the same trains being used, the colours are very similar which makes the images look even more alike. 

There are quite a few differences between the two images. For example, the first is in full colour whilst I have chosen to use colour manipulation in order to bring more focus towards the colours of the train. Furthermore, I have focussed my camera towards the train and stood quite close to ensure that my picture was of only the train and not of the platform. The first picture, on the other hand, is taken from quite far back and includes the platform in the image, which shows the people on the platform walking as well as the train moving. A final difference is the speed of shutter speed - the first has used a slower shutter speed in order to capture more movement.

Connecting Essay 4

I really like how vibrant the flower is in this image as it really makes it pop against the out-of-focus, slightly saturated, green background and draws you in. This image is not only an example of colour photography as it also captures movement with how it has photographed the wasp flying next to the flower.

In Photoshop, I edited the vibrance and contrast in this image to make the pink in the flowers seem much brighter and therefore pop. I like the effect this gave as the brightness brought out the details in the image and allows the viewer of the image see all of the small flowers that make up the plant.

Both images are very similar. For example, they both use very bright pink flowers as the main subjects of the image and both have a background of green leaves and stalks. The flowers used are both very similar as they are both made up of groups of smaller flowers. Also, both images use a narrow depth of field to make the background out of focus and therefore bring the attention more to the flowers.

Although the images are so similar, there are still some differences. The clearest difference is that, in the first image, we see a wasp flying next to the flower. This is not seen in the second image. Also, in the my image, there  is a larger bunch of flowers shown, whereas in the first is focuses on just the one flower. 

Connecting Essay 3

This image is by photographer Francesca Woodman. Whilst it does not make it clear that the girl in the mirror is also the girl holding it, that we can safely assume that it is due to the girls skin tone and her outfit. I like how the girl is facing the other way and appears to be covering her face as we cannot see her arms/hands, as it implies that she is hiding and connotes mystery in the image. I think that the fact that the girl is clearly standing quite a distance away from the mirror is very capturing as it therefore meant that she did not line up perfectly in the mirror.

Using Photoshop and two separate images, I edited in the top portion of my model into the mirror as I though this created quite a surreal effect. I decided to do this as I though it would look quite eye-catching and was a good example of image manipulation as she is holding the mirror but, at the same time, looks as though she is looking into it.

Both images use image manipulation to edit the model into the mirror that they are holding. I really like this technique as it is quite surreal and really draws the viewer in due to how different it is. Also, both images have the model hold the mirror from the waist up, showing the top half of their body in the mirror. Whilst they both use the same technique, they are quite different images.

The first difference between these images is the way that the model is standing in the image. In the first, she is facing way from the mirror and appears to be slightly leant forward and covering her face. In my image, the model is standing up straight and looking right into the camera. Another difference is that the first image is black and white, adding an air of mystery, whilst my image has a pop of colour with the girls top, making it stand out more. A further difference is that the first image was shot in a field setting whilst mine was in a studio.

Connecting Essay 2

The use of narrow depth of field in this image really draws your eye to the centre of the image, bringing your focus to the droplets of water sitting on the leaf. As there are only a few droplets, it makes them stand out that much more as your focus is mostly lead to the one in the centre. I like how there is only one colour in the picture as it doesn't draw the attention away from the main focus of the image but adds to it subtly. 

I like how I used narrow depth of field in this image to draw the viewer to look at the part of the plant coming towards the camera. The depth of field is very narrow as the only part of the image in focus is the centre of the mentioned stalk, but I like this as it created one specific focal point in the image in a small and subtle way.

Both images uses narrow depth of field to show droplets of water sitting on plants and both mainly use the colour green due to the plants that they are capturing in the images. The both also have the part of the image that is in focus in the centre, rather than at the front or the back of the image. Another similarity is that both images show a large portion of the image, allowing us to see all of the different stalks and branches. 

There are some differences between the two images. For example, my image seems to have lots more water on the plant than the first image, implying that most of the water had perhaps dried up by the time that the photographer took the picture. Also, the first picture seems darker than mine, so it may have been taken in a darker environment or at a later time as mine was taken in a bright environment at midday.

Connecting Essay 1

Above is an image of a red double decker bus in front of Big Ben. The location which the image was taken in is clear as Big Ben and red buses are iconic symbols of London. The photographer has used selective colour manipulation to only have the bus in colour. This makes it pop and brings your focus immediately towards it.

I like how the background is quite ordinary and so does not bring attention away from the buses, unlike the first image. I kept the background light in this image as I felt it would make the colour seem brighter and it would also make it pop more as I thought that a darker background would not create as much contrast.

There are a couple of similarities between the two pictures. The first and most obvious similarity is the use of selective colour manipulation as both the first image and my image use colour manipulation to keep the main object - in this case, the bus - in colour but the background in black and white. The second similarity is that both images use red double decker buses as the main object, therefore both image have connotations of London stereotypes as red double decker buses are a symbol of London.

There are also differences in the images. For example, the first image features a landmark - the Big Ben - in the background. In my image, the buses are sat and in an urban setting. It can be assumed that it is a bus stop as there are multiple buses. Also, whilst in the first image you see that there is one bus moving down the road towards the camera, in the second you see the back of two stationary buses.

Cedric Delsaux Research

Cedric Delsaux is a French photographer born in 1974. He originally studied literature and cinema before turning to photography. Possibly his most popular series is 'Dark Lens', which features characters from Star Wars placed in real images blurs the line between fantasy and reality creating a post-apocalyptic feeling to his work. Although the images appear so realistic, we know that they are manipulated images as we know that the characters are fictional. 1784 is another series that Delsaux created which he describes as 'like a maze with no beginning and no end, at the same time totally real and absolutely false, a theatre stage, film set, haunting music, a wonder, 1784 is a random tale, just like a reflection of our lives.' In this series he collides past and present rather than fictional and reality. Below are some images from his 'Dark Lens' series.

I like this image due to the high contrast in colour between the characters and the background. Both the sky and the roof are dull, de-saturated grey tones which make the image seem dreary and unappealing, but with the addition of the characters it makes the image pop due to the brightness of their clothing. The red colour could connote danger or blood.

I like this image as it is a true representation of how Cedric Delsaux pulls together fantasy and reality. On the far side of the image we can see a city full of skyscraper buildings with bright lights. Towards the front, however, we see a droid army in a desert-like location which is almost the complete opposite. Although the two locations are so different, it seems to fit in the image.

This image is a more subtle example of his Star Wars/reality work. Instead of featuring characters from the film, it features a prop - the lightsaber. Whilst it is not as obvious as the other pictures, it still works really well as part of his image due to the fact that the landscape is quite dark and the lightsaber is so bright. The way that the grass around it has turned red makes it look completely natural.

Landscape - Straight Image