What Is Framing
In visual arts and particularly cinematography, framing is the presentation of visual elements in an image, especially the placement of the subject in relation to other objects. Framing can make an image more aesthetically pleasing and keep the viewer's focus on the framed object.
Statement Of Intent
I aim to produce a portfolio of work demonstrating my ideas of development, creative work and reflection based around the theme framing. At the end of my exam prep time, I will develop my ideas further in Photoshop to create my personal response.
For my initial research I will start by looking into photographers who use framing in their work. I have two photographers I want to research at the moment I have two in mind I chose to look at Christopher Anderson and Henri Cartier-Bresson. I chose these photographers because they show me how doorways,windows, mirrors or gaps in walls can be used in a frame a subject.
When I chose this theme, my intial thoughts were buildings, Nature and people. After thinking about the project title more thoroughly I realise there are so many more routes for my work to go down such as reflections, spoons, mirrors, using actual picture frames and using my hands to frame objects.
To show progression through my work I will start by doing my research first and creating mood boards to help inspire me before I plan my first Photoshoot. I will then develop my images further on Photoshop by editing them and changing the colour, contrast, lighting and other Photoshop filter. To get good shots I know I am going to have to go on different locations to Manchester.
I would like to experiment with a wide range of techniques within my work. I will also try to push myself to be more creative within Photoshop to touch up my images. I will also try to experiment with using both colour and black & white photography.
I have 8 weeks to produce my final outcomes of work towards the production of my final piece. I aim to complete my initial research within the 1st week and start photographing by the 2nd week in order to give me the time I need to show progression. I will then have an 10 hour practical exam where I will take my final photos.
As my project progress I will analyse my work and develop them clearly. This will also help me reflect on the work I produce. As I am always aiming to push myself to new levels. After the creation of my final piece I will write final evaluation on the project as a whole, reflection on what went well and what I would do differently or change given the time.
For my initial research I will start by looking into photographers who use framing in their work. I have two photographers I want to research at the moment I have two in mind I chose to look at Christopher Anderson and Henri Cartier-Bresson. I chose these photographers because they show me how doorways,windows, mirrors or gaps in walls can be used in a frame a subject.
When I chose this theme, my intial thoughts were buildings, Nature and people. After thinking about the project title more thoroughly I realise there are so many more routes for my work to go down such as reflections, spoons, mirrors, using actual picture frames and using my hands to frame objects.
To show progression through my work I will start by doing my research first and creating mood boards to help inspire me before I plan my first Photoshoot. I will then develop my images further on Photoshop by editing them and changing the colour, contrast, lighting and other Photoshop filter. To get good shots I know I am going to have to go on different locations to Manchester.
I would like to experiment with a wide range of techniques within my work. I will also try to push myself to be more creative within Photoshop to touch up my images. I will also try to experiment with using both colour and black & white photography.
I have 8 weeks to produce my final outcomes of work towards the production of my final piece. I aim to complete my initial research within the 1st week and start photographing by the 2nd week in order to give me the time I need to show progression. I will then have an 10 hour practical exam where I will take my final photos.
As my project progress I will analyse my work and develop them clearly. This will also help me reflect on the work I produce. As I am always aiming to push myself to new levels. After the creation of my final piece I will write final evaluation on the project as a whole, reflection on what went well and what I would do differently or change given the time.
First Ideas
Framing
Christopher Anderson
This is the photographer I have chosen to help inspire my work when answering the question framing. I like his work because of the way he has a kid in the picture which makes the picture more sympathetic.
Composition
This image has a shallow depth of field and the background is a kid looking at buildings this makes me think what the kid is doing. He cropped the image so it was just the kid and the buildings that were in the picture. The leading lines are in the window they are strong and they are straight. They are also leading lines on the chair which makes it interesting because the lines on the chair leads to the kid. The viewpoint is the kid slightly looking up at the sky which is an impact because it makes you think what he's looking at. The framing is in the middle where the kid is looking up.
Connections
I chose this photo because I like the way he has framed this image. The theme I have chosen is framing and I think this photographer will inspire me when I take my photographs because I will use the content. His compositional techniques I will try and use in my work but will use their images to help me refine my own outcomes. I like their image because they are portraying a message behind their photo and I am going to use this techniques to make my own images more meaningful.
Content
This image is a portrait, and it is about a little boy standing in some type off room looking up at buildings which is really awkward we don't know what he's looking at or what he's seen. This is a black and white image this colour is contrasting for this type off image because it's very dark and bold.
Comment
I like this image because he has got someone standing in the image like he is all alone and the photographer makes it more eye catching because he has got a kid on his own and none with him. In my opinion there is a message behind this it has got a kid standing the on his own with none in the building this makes us think where his parents are. This has inspired me to take pictures similar to this photographer.
Composition
This image has a shallow depth of field and the background is a kid looking at buildings this makes me think what the kid is doing. He cropped the image so it was just the kid and the buildings that were in the picture. The leading lines are in the window they are strong and they are straight. They are also leading lines on the chair which makes it interesting because the lines on the chair leads to the kid. The viewpoint is the kid slightly looking up at the sky which is an impact because it makes you think what he's looking at. The framing is in the middle where the kid is looking up.
Connections
I chose this photo because I like the way he has framed this image. The theme I have chosen is framing and I think this photographer will inspire me when I take my photographs because I will use the content. His compositional techniques I will try and use in my work but will use their images to help me refine my own outcomes. I like their image because they are portraying a message behind their photo and I am going to use this techniques to make my own images more meaningful.
Content
This image is a portrait, and it is about a little boy standing in some type off room looking up at buildings which is really awkward we don't know what he's looking at or what he's seen. This is a black and white image this colour is contrasting for this type off image because it's very dark and bold.
Comment
I like this image because he has got someone standing in the image like he is all alone and the photographer makes it more eye catching because he has got a kid on his own and none with him. In my opinion there is a message behind this it has got a kid standing the on his own with none in the building this makes us think where his parents are. This has inspired me to take pictures similar to this photographer.
Henri Cartier Bresson
Henri Cartier-Bresson is a photographer I picked for my exam question he has inspired me to frame my pictures. I like him because he takes interesting photographs and he has inspired me too take similar photos. This image has caught my eye because of the way he has took it he has used two fingers to frame the image and the way he has framed it with the boat is very fascinating. The photographer has used his fingers to frame the boat in motion. The fingers frame the object from the bottom and the right side while leaving the top and the left corner open. The photograph is taken from a low point, looking towards the boat that's moving across the photo.
Composition
The focus point is the boat and I like the way the boat has been in focus being framed by two hands which makes the image interesting. The leading lines are where the fingers are and the where the edge of the water is and where the shop roof is. It is a strong effect because it helps to make everything line up . The lighting in this image is natural and it is quite hard to see if it was shot in the summer or winter because they have converted it to black and white. The black and white makes the shapes and the patterns stand out because there is quite a harsh contrast. The photographer has used the rule of thirds by where he has placed his fingers in the image. In my opinion I think this helps the viewer's focus be drawn to the boat. In this picture the photographer has played around with the scale, because his fingers are close to the picture frame making the boat look small .The depth of field is big as it has everything in the background,middle and foreground in focus.
Connection
The theme is framing and yes it is relevant to my work because I am doing framing as well, I picked it because I thought it was an interesting topic to do and I can use it to inspire my own images. What I think i need to do is to find an interesting object such as a barge boat and try to create a similar image. In my opinion there is no message behind it however I do think it is eye catching and fun. It is black and white because he thought it would look more effective in and I think I might use this in my own work. Because I think black and white photos are eye catching.
Comment
I like this image because of the way he has taken it using someones hands to frame this shot which draws your eye to where they should be. In my opinion I think the angle he has taken the image and the distance from the boat is effective because its at eye level and draws you in . This image inspires me because I think the city location is similar to Manchester and has inspired me to go out with my camera into Manchester and try and capture similar shots.
Content
The photo is of an urban landscape showing us a dock area with a boat framed by a models hands. I really like the background as it shows skyscrapers and industrial buildings which gives it a real sense of place. It reminds me of Manchester and Liverpool because of the type of buildings in the background. In my opinion I think the shot is modern and researching the photographer he worked in 1940s.
Composition
The focus point is the boat and I like the way the boat has been in focus being framed by two hands which makes the image interesting. The leading lines are where the fingers are and the where the edge of the water is and where the shop roof is. It is a strong effect because it helps to make everything line up . The lighting in this image is natural and it is quite hard to see if it was shot in the summer or winter because they have converted it to black and white. The black and white makes the shapes and the patterns stand out because there is quite a harsh contrast. The photographer has used the rule of thirds by where he has placed his fingers in the image. In my opinion I think this helps the viewer's focus be drawn to the boat. In this picture the photographer has played around with the scale, because his fingers are close to the picture frame making the boat look small .The depth of field is big as it has everything in the background,middle and foreground in focus.
Connection
The theme is framing and yes it is relevant to my work because I am doing framing as well, I picked it because I thought it was an interesting topic to do and I can use it to inspire my own images. What I think i need to do is to find an interesting object such as a barge boat and try to create a similar image. In my opinion there is no message behind it however I do think it is eye catching and fun. It is black and white because he thought it would look more effective in and I think I might use this in my own work. Because I think black and white photos are eye catching.
Comment
I like this image because of the way he has taken it using someones hands to frame this shot which draws your eye to where they should be. In my opinion I think the angle he has taken the image and the distance from the boat is effective because its at eye level and draws you in . This image inspires me because I think the city location is similar to Manchester and has inspired me to go out with my camera into Manchester and try and capture similar shots.
Content
The photo is of an urban landscape showing us a dock area with a boat framed by a models hands. I really like the background as it shows skyscrapers and industrial buildings which gives it a real sense of place. It reminds me of Manchester and Liverpool because of the type of buildings in the background. In my opinion I think the shot is modern and researching the photographer he worked in 1940s.
Plan For Shoot 1
The background I used was black. I took these photos inside and they were dark. I used a mirror,lights and and two people holding the mirror. My model I used was Iman. I made her stand in front of the mirror I made her stand in different places and I had two different lights and if it wasn't light enough I turned the voltage up so it made it lighter. This relates to my photographer research because he takes photos in the dark in and I wanted to take photos in the dark. In Photoshop I am going to change the colours see what that will do and if it doesn't come out right I will change it.
Locations
Studio Shots
Equipment
Tripod
Canon camera
Three studio lights
reflector
Two assistants to hold the frame
Props
wooden frame
Model
Locations
Studio Shots
Equipment
Tripod
Canon camera
Three studio lights
reflector
Two assistants to hold the frame
Props
wooden frame
Model
Where I will go with my work next
These pictures I took inside as you can see I decided to take these pictures because I am doing framing and I wanted them to be in different angles. I need to improve on my pictures because I don't like them because there just not good they need light which is what I am going to in Photoshop when I edit it in Photoshop I am going to put more light on them. Another thing I need to improve on is how I set my aperture because sometimes when I take pictures its not right.
Best and worst images
Its my worst images because i had not got the frame in the right position and the lighting had not been set correctly. Once I took this image I then readjusted the light to get the correct exposure.
This is my best image because I think the framing is correct and the model is in the right position. I'd also had time to reset my lights so that you could see her face a little more clearly.
Photoshop to refine my ideas
Final Outcomes
Photoshoot 2
Best & Worst images
This is my best image because I manged to capture the contrast of the flowers against the snow. I also think that the black frame stands out against the whiteness off the snow which I think is quite effective.
This is my worst image because I did not get the exposure correct and the composition is not very strong. I did some more images but made sure I had my back to the sun so I could set the correct exposure. What I did fine when taking images outside was that I had to keep adjusting the exposure and aperture to improve my images.
Photo shoot 3
Final Outcomes
Framing using hands
Framing using a car mirror
Framing with a window
Framing capturing the light
Best & Worst
I think that this is my worst image because although I like the composition I don't think the lighting is correct and I needed to adjust my exposure.
I think that this I my best image as I've set the camera to the correct exposure and ISO setting and mange to capture the frame of the mirror. I also think you can see clearly the stepped mirror which makes the frame shot more interesting.
Photo Shoot 4 Manchester
Developed further in photoshop
Edit 2
Best & worst
I think that this is my worst image because it is over exposed but I also don't think it is a strong composition and my theme of framing is a bit lost in this image.
I really like this image because I took time with the composition to make sure it looked symmetrical and I manged to capture within a frame a location that had strong leading lines and a deep depth of field. I also think that the shape of the frame is really effective and links to my photography research.
This is one of the images I researched at the beginning of my project and used to inspire my own images when I planned my photography shoot using Manchester as my location.
Next steps for my final exam portfolio
I'm really pleased with the shots I took from Manchester because I felt that I was able to use the location to frame interesting shots that linked to my initial research. I might continue to manipulate some of these images in Photoshop to refine and develop my ideas. I also think that the images I took outside using a frame are really effective and I think I could continue to develop these further.
The shots I think were not so good where the ones I took in the studio with the frame and the model because I think these came out too dark. Therefore I think I will develop my ideas using photos from outside and one last shoot I would like to try is shooting through a hole in some black paper or a keyhole. I will use these images from my final exam portfolio.
The shots I think were not so good where the ones I took in the studio with the frame and the model because I think these came out too dark. Therefore I think I will develop my ideas using photos from outside and one last shoot I would like to try is shooting through a hole in some black paper or a keyhole. I will use these images from my final exam portfolio.
PhotoShoot 5
PhotoShop Edit
Images I will use for my final exam
Plan for my final exam
For my exam I am going to be Photoshopping my picture that I took in Manchester, at home and at school and I have chosen the images that I think bring out my theme of framing the most. I have decided to create the series of images using different themes to illustrate the framing of my life.
Firstly I have taken images of Manchester, framing the city where I live.
Secondly I have taken images inside my own home framing a section family life
Thirdly I have taken photos of my good friend capturing her in a frame with her favorite T-shirt.
Fourthly I decided to zoom in on a friend and capture her eye in a frame which really focuses on the detail. I captured the eye as it is the doorway to somebody's soul.
Fithly I took a series of photos capturing in a frame the areas where I walk.
Firstly I have taken images of Manchester, framing the city where I live.
Secondly I have taken images inside my own home framing a section family life
Thirdly I have taken photos of my good friend capturing her in a frame with her favorite T-shirt.
Fourthly I decided to zoom in on a friend and capture her eye in a frame which really focuses on the detail. I captured the eye as it is the doorway to somebody's soul.
Fithly I took a series of photos capturing in a frame the areas where I walk.
Photoshop process-Image 1
Final Image
Firstly I used the new adjustment layer which I chose to use the brightness and contrast because it would make the background darker and the eye lighter which would stand out more. Then I used curves which would make the background light because that's what it does. I then chose to explore the shadow tool which makes the eye stand out and what makes it a good picture this is because it is like a keyhole and I wanted the eye to stand out more. Then I used the black and white filter because i wanted it to stand out more.
Image 2
Final Image
Firstly I used the Gradient on the new filler layer to make the mirror stand out and make it just focus on the mirror. Then I used the curves on new adjustment layer which made it more dark. The point of me taking these images is to see what I do when I'm at home or when i'm outside.
Image-3
I did this because I wanted the image to stand out. Firstly I used the lighting effects layer I used this because i wanted the poles to stand out because that's where the framing is. I also used the lens flare layer which put the lighting on the buildings and the poles. Then I used the hue and saturation filter which put a bit of color in to the picture.
Final image
Image-4
Firstly I used the lighting effects which would make the image stand out more. Then I used filter gallery because I just wanted to use something different for a change an it made my image come out differently.
Final Image
Image-5
I edited this image because I wanted it to be more contrasting and more eye catching. First I used the hue and saturation filter to give it more color then I used the curves layer to make it darker which could be more eye catching.
Final Image
Image-6
I did this because I thought I could do different things wiht her eye to make her eye stand out more and be contrasting.
Final Image
Image-7
Final image
Image-8
Final Image
Image-9
Final Image
Image-10
To finish off my work
Evaluation
My theme for my project was framing because I liked the idea of using everyday objects such as gates,mirrors and windows. While doing my project I found many ways of finding framing. I went to town and took pictures at my house to make my project better.
The part that I enjoyed the most was finding different location where I could find my framing shots, I went to different location so that my work would progress. While doing this project the new technique I have done is bring out my creative side, in the exam I have decided to make different frames to make my work stand out more and become more creative and so that I could take it further.
During my project I have researched the photographers (Christopher Anderson,Henri-Cartier Bresson) they have inspired me to find different ideas of framing and also one that are different then create my own.
The most successful part of my project was to be able to get all of my photographers that I needed to create my exam photoshop. There was also no problems in doing my project therefore everything flowed and contrasted
The part that I enjoyed the most was finding different location where I could find my framing shots, I went to different location so that my work would progress. While doing this project the new technique I have done is bring out my creative side, in the exam I have decided to make different frames to make my work stand out more and become more creative and so that I could take it further.
During my project I have researched the photographers (Christopher Anderson,Henri-Cartier Bresson) they have inspired me to find different ideas of framing and also one that are different then create my own.
The most successful part of my project was to be able to get all of my photographers that I needed to create my exam photoshop. There was also no problems in doing my project therefore everything flowed and contrasted