GCSE Art

[Sam]

For my GCSE art examination I've chosen to observe the subject of 'everyday life'. Recently I wandered around school photographing things you'd never normally look at twice, observing contrast, perspectives, lighting, shape, texture and in some cases perception of location.

 

Observing lighting in everyday surroundings and how it casts itself over objects.

 

 

 

3 image stitch, stitched together using Autopano Pro

 

Fire exit stairs - looking at leading lines and compositions within everyday environments, and also contrast.

 

 

 

Stairs - observing perception (notice the picture shot upside down).

 

 

 

Lockers - observing depth of field and perception (notice how the picture was shot upside down).

 

 

 

Playground markings - observing perspective within the everyday environment.

 

 

 

A boiler door - observing texture within the everyday environment.

 

 

 

A skylight - observing shape within the everyday environment.

 

 

 

The reason for using black and white for this photography is the fact that we, as human beings see everything in color - everyday environments such as your school seem very natural, and look different when devoid of color.

 

The next part of my project will be more oriented towards architecture - I am taking my inspiration from Marcin Staiwarz. I've also been looking at the work of Ansel Adams (although this is more landscape oriented).

 

What do you think, people of the gallery?

[Shiny]

Simply an amazing concept. I really quite like the way it all fits together as a collective gallery, that's a real strength of these photos. I dislike the first two photos.

 

1. It is a very static and bland composition. I find the low contrast badly jars with the rest of the high contrast, interesting black and whites. The fact that the photo seems to be on a slight tilt also throws me, and seems imperfect.

 

2. The pano seems again a static composition. The lighting is nice though, but I find it rather overprocessed.

[Johannas]

Awesome photos, exactly the sort of thing they like at A level photography if you plan to do that. (it's more about the thought pattern/ongoing development process and your justification as opposed to the quality of photos you take which is what annoyed me, but you seem to have it sorted before you start the course - that is, if you do it!! :lol:)

When i did my GCSEs no one ever did photography, it was pretty much all painting and drawing - shame really, but at least it inspired me to buy a camera etc....

 

As far as CC goes, i would only be picking up on minor points.

 

1st one

Not sure whether you used a tripod or not. In my opinion the photo would look better if it was more 'squarer' At the moment it seems you are looking down on it a bit. It could also do with a slight crop from the right hand side. I would like to see the photo taken again, taken from a slightly lower and more central vantage point so that the lens is level with the cylindrical type pillar popping out of the bottom. By having the composition also slightly lower, it will make the light on the noticeboard seem more apparent, which is where the focus needs to be more in my opinion; My eyes are too centred on the light.

 

2nd one

Like the idea once again. Would like to see the "Keep Off" sign slightly higher off the bottom so it becomes more of a part of the image - rules of thirds ;) (btw what lens did you use? Looks like a pretty decent wide angle)

 

3rd one

Could do with a tad of straightening up, otherwise i like it - nice contrast again.

 

4th one

Nice one - good shot

 

5th

Nice idea, a bit bland though. Maybe could've been taken at a lower vantage point again, with a tiny horizon at the top? Also it lacks contrast, even the shadow of a boring playground tree would've made it better haha

 

6th

Nice one again, i quite like your shadow on it.

 

7tth one

Little bit bland again, the edges also look a little bit shopped.

 

Anyhow, my GCSE art teacher would've kissed me infront of the whole class with pictures like that :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Sam]

Simply an amazing concept. I really quite like the way it all fits together as a collective gallery, that's a real strength of these photos. I dislike the first two photos.

 

1. It is a very static and bland composition. I find the low contrast badly jars with the rest of the high contrast, interesting black and whites. The fact that the photo seems to be on a slight tilt also throws me, and seems imperfect.

 

2. The pano seems again a static composition. The lighting is nice though, but I find it rather overprocessed.

 

There isn't much processing on the shots - a quick resize/sharpen on most of them with a few minor contrast adjustments.

 

1. I've only just noticed that it isn't straight - thanks for pointing that out.

2. How do you mean static? There hasn't been much PP applied to this shot mind you, it was three seperate shots at three different light levels as to not confuse my camera's metering.

 

 

 

Awesome photos, exactly the sort of thing they like at A level photography if you plan to do that. (it's more about the thought pattern/ongoing development process and your justification as opposed to the quality of photos you take which is what annoyed me, but you seem to have it sorted before you start the course - that is, if you do it!! :lol:)

When i did my GCSEs no one ever did photography, it was pretty much all painting and drawing - shame really, but at least it inspired me to buy a camera etc....

 

As far as CC goes, i would only be picking up on minor points.

 

1st one

Not sure whether you used a tripod or not. In my opinion the photo would look better if it was more 'squarer' At the moment it seems you are looking down on it a bit. It could also do with a slight crop from the right hand side. I would like to see the photo taken again, taken from a slightly lower and more central vantage point so that the lens is level with the cylindrical type pillar popping out of the bottom. By having the composition also slightly lower, it will make the light on the noticeboard seem more apparent, which is where the focus needs to be more in my opinion; My eyes are too centred on the light.

 

2nd one

Like the idea once again. Would like to see the "Keep Off" sign slightly higher off the bottom so it becomes more of a part of the image - rules of thirds ;) (btw what lens did you use? Looks like a pretty decent wide angle)

 

3rd one

Could do with a tad of straightening up, otherwise i like it - nice contrast again.

 

4th one

Nice one - good shot

 

5th

Nice idea, a bit bland though. Maybe could've been taken at a lower vantage point again, with a tiny horizon at the top? Also it lacks contrast, even the shadow of a boring playground tree would've made it better haha

 

6th

Nice one again, i quite like your shadow on it.

 

7tth one

Little bit bland again, the edges also look a little bit shopped.

 

Anyhow, my GCSE art teacher would've kissed me infront of the whole class with pictures like that :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

1. This first shot was an experiment in terms of composition, really - I'll probably try and reshoot it and completely re-do the post-processing (this shot has the most PP of any of the shots you see in the first post).

2. Can't make the sign higher - it was at the bottom of the shot used at the bottom of the vertical stitch.

3. Thanks for pointing that out, will fix that up in due time.

5. I agree. This shot was more to observe lines in a photography and how one's eyes are led, rather than for artistic merit.

7. This is more of an abstract shot - I hardly touched this shot (just a bit of sharpening applied) - no photoshop trickery involved.

 

 

 

Thankyou both for your c/c!

[Shiny]

Static, compositionally. The stairs a centrally placed, and it seems boring in my opinion.

[Sam]

I'll probably redo the shot standing a little further back and perhaps with a tripod too.

[Shiny]

Yeah, that might be a bit better. I'm hoping to get my film all shot and devoloped this week in Photography class, so I have something I can put up and show here!

[Sam]

Awesome, I'm looking forward to seeing this photography of yours :thumbup:

[Sam]

Shameful self bump.

[Nadril]

I'm a fan of the 3rd and 4th shots.

 

Don't really have a ton to say.

[Da_Latios]

First one: I kinda like it. I think the horizon needs to be straightened up a bit and the railing could have been moved. I'm not to keen on the washed-out blacks but that's just my opinion.

 

Second one: Could have done with a bit of straightening pre-exposure(the railings are not the same length on each side) but besides that I don't see any fault with this.

 

Third image: I don't enjoy looking at photos upside-down but again that's my personal preference. Also, this one needs some straightening too.

 

Fourth image: A slightly lower angle might have been good. The composition is quite good.

 

Fifth image: Not sure about this one. I know you wanted to show perspective but I feel like it's not enough. If it's a playground, perhaps include some people too?

 

Sixth image: Besides being a generic, overdone image and being able to see your shadow in the reflection, I think this photo does what you intended it to do - observe texture.

 

Seventh image: Pretty much the ONLY thing I can see not near-perfect with this image is the dark object on the other side of the glass. The OCD in me is slightly annoyed at the lack of balance between light and dark. But this image still definitely works.

 

I couldn't really find much to dislike about these photos. Maybe it's because they're all black and white. :razz:

[Sam]

More:

A pylon - looking at the infrastructure that keeps the country running.

 

Looking at compositions within the everyday environment.

 

Looking at how products are mindlessly marketed and presented to us, everywhere, every day.

 

Looking at light - the essential thing that we need every day, to live, to breathe, to see.

 

30 second exposure, ISO 100, f/3.5

 

 

 

 

Looking at lighting - car headlights on a long exposure.

 

5 sec exposure, ISO 100, f/4.0

[Pat_61]

2nd light would be a good background looks nice, the first light looks good in the middle but some strays kill it...

[Sam]

Eh?

[dsavi]

#3 of the new ones could be better if it was taken more uniformly, with the products in a grid. A longer focal length shot taken from lower plus maybe barrel distortion correction could make that really good. It's quite good as it is though.

[Pat_61]

2nd light I meant #5 lol and other light I meant #4

[Sam]

 

10 second exposure. Looking at the daily routine, in this case the daily commute.

 

A little bit of processing - brightness/contrast / levels / added some noise.

[Sam]

shameful self bump;

 

13 sec exposure, I feel this shot represents dark thoughts and mystery

 

15 sec exposure, I think this represents chaos, and the flux of the 'machine' which is life.

[Shiny]

The second shot hurts my eyes.