Our first task for documentary was to capture shopkeepers and their employees in different shops around Muswell Hill broadway. I managed to capture five different images in the barbers, bikeshop and butchers.
My First Attempt
Muswell Hill Bike Shop
Hampstead Butcher and Providore
This work was inspired by photographers such as John Londei and Tom Hunter who would travel to different independent shops in London and capture both the workers and atmosphere.
Le Creuset
Floral Design House
Midhurst Butchers
Evaluation
This attempt was interestingly more difficult as those who had already been photographed weren't as keen to have another one. Therefore I had to got to a wider range of shops where I managed to capture a few shots of employees in their shops, however not as many as I would've liked.
This attempt was interestingly more difficult as those who had already been photographed weren't as keen to have another one. Therefore I had to got to a wider range of shops where I managed to capture a few shots of employees in their shops, however not as many as I would've liked.
Portraiture research
Marcus Lyon is a British artist who was born and raised in rural England and went to university to study Political Science. He has created extensive bodies of work on dance, globalisation and identity. The project 'Somos Brazil' involved Lyon travelling around Brazil in a six month period to explore the most diverse areas with only a producer and sound recorder to create work for a multimedia exhibition and book. Part of the project involved photographing people in front of a white backdrop. The work amplifies the stories of over 100 different people and encourages us to reflect on our own identity and role in society. My favourite aspect of this project is that each person is so dramatically different from the other. The portraits amplify each subject's individuality and identity, and also highlight the diverse heritage of the Brazilian people.
I think that I dislike the fact there are creases on the backdrop instead of a smooth white backdrop which would put even more focus on the subject.
Marcus Lyon is a British artist who was born and raised in rural England and went to university to study Political Science. He has created extensive bodies of work on dance, globalisation and identity. The project 'Somos Brazil' involved Lyon travelling around Brazil in a six month period to explore the most diverse areas with only a producer and sound recorder to create work for a multimedia exhibition and book. Part of the project involved photographing people in front of a white backdrop. The work amplifies the stories of over 100 different people and encourages us to reflect on our own identity and role in society. My favourite aspect of this project is that each person is so dramatically different from the other. The portraits amplify each subject's individuality and identity, and also highlight the diverse heritage of the Brazilian people.
I think that I dislike the fact there are creases on the backdrop instead of a smooth white backdrop which would put even more focus on the subject.
I think that this image is very powerful as it represents the juxtaposition in identity between an adult and child. The adult has experienced life on earth far longer and is therefore aware of a photograph so appears to smile. This massively contrasts with the child's expression who seems both confused and displeased. Also, the Brazilian shirt the mother is wearing represents how patriotic she is and the child wearing pink colours means her mother wants her to be identified as a girl.
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I'm drawn to this image as the fighter appears intimidating with his fists raised yet the fact he allowed a picture of himself means he may be less aggressive than expected, illustrating the contrast between the behaviour of a fighter inside and out of the ring. It is a typical fighter's pose that conveys power and that he is ready for battle. His profession represents the bravery and confidence of Brazil as an emerging country. Furthermore, his identity is bound up in the Brazilian tradition of mixed martial arts.
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Richard Avedon was an American fashion and portrait photographer born in New York City to a Jewish family. The project 'In the American Mid West' (1979) involved Avedon travelling to small town backwaters and isolated ranches in order to explore the life in the west. He carried a white backdrop, which he pinned to the outside of buildings to create a makeshift studio and then photographed working class subjects such as miners and farmers. The project lasted five years. In 1994, Avedon revisited his subjects who would later speak about how their life had changed as a result of being photographed. Billy Mudd, a trucker, went long periods of time on his own away from his family. He considered himself a depressed, disconnected and lonely man before Avedon offered him the chance to be photographed. When he saw his portrait for the first time, Mudd saw that Avedon was able to reveal something about Mudd that allowed him to recognize the need for change in his life. The portrait transformed Mudd, and led him to quit his job and return to his family. My favourite aspect of this project is that Avedon chose to focus on working class subjects as he believes they are visually the most unique and interesting people. I dislike the bias of male subjects meaning therefore there is a lack of information and identity the viewer can gather from the women of western America.
This image stands out from the rest due to how unique and eye-catching the subject is. The way the subject looks directly into the camera clearly illustrates that he is calm and relaxed even with hundreds of bees covering his hairless body. Avedon said this picture showed how he was being stung but managed to remove himself from the pain "in a Buddhist way". This is the power of the picture as it conveys human endurance.
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This image of a black feminist lawyer and activist Florynce Kennedy is interesting as she isn't directly looking into the camera and is laughing enthusiastically. This portrays her identity as powerful, positive and influential. Her skin-colour and facial expression juxtaposes with the majority of Avedon's subjects who were predominantly white and melancholy, emphasising the diversity of the mid-west.
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Both artists use a plain, white backdrop in order to put all the focus on the chosen subject being photographed. However, each project was completed in a different period of history and in different countries as Avedon completed 'in the American West' from 1979-1984 whilst Lyon completed 'Somos Brasil' in the 21st century. Avedon's work is more powerful to me as the use of an older camera brings a more eerie effect to each image.
In North London
This project involved capturing a series of portraits of the inhabitants in Muswell Hill against a white, paper backdrop.
My images:
This project involved capturing a series of portraits of the inhabitants in Muswell Hill against a white, paper backdrop.
My images:
2nd attempt
Evaluation
Overall, I believe that this was a successful shoot as we captured ten images that were all in focus and and the viewer's attention would only be fixated on the subject. It was relatively easier than expected to get people to get their photograph taken of them, however there were some who were not as comfortable and would reject. I think this shoot was successful as instead of staying in one area of Muswell Hill, we would travel around the broadway in order to ask as many people as possible.
Overall, I believe that this was a successful shoot as we captured ten images that were all in focus and and the viewer's attention would only be fixated on the subject. It was relatively easier than expected to get people to get their photograph taken of them, however there were some who were not as comfortable and would reject. I think this shoot was successful as instead of staying in one area of Muswell Hill, we would travel around the broadway in order to ask as many people as possible.
Muswell Hill Allotment
This task involved visiting the Muswell Hill allotments in order to capture the natural beauty of the typically known quiet and secluded place. The abundance of colourful flowers accompanied by the clear, blue sky made it possible to capture pleasant and warming images. This work was inspired by Paul Tucker, a London based photographer who would document the difference between the allotment in March to its rapid and full growth in August, guided by the human hand or by nature itself.
My Contact Sheet
My original vs edited images
For every photo, I increased the hue, saturation, brightness and contrast in order to make them as colourful as possible
For every photo, I increased the hue, saturation, brightness and contrast in order to make them as colourful as possible