Unit 2: Externally Set Task
RESEARCH:Matt Weber |
My Starting Point: Street PhotographyThe London Festival of Photography defines Street Photography as '...un-posed, un-staged photography which captures, explores or questions contemporary society and the relationships between individuals and their surroundings.' It has been suggested that Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank, amongst others, are fathers of Street Photography. For my next project I have decided to do street photography
because I'm out so much and that is a chance for me then to take unique and creative images so I can create final pieces of work that I can put together. I will be taken pictures everyday to add to my website. I will be taking pictures of what I see on the way to school and what I see on the way back. The first street photographer I will be looking at first Is Matt Weber (#MattWeber). I chose him firstly because his photography is unique. It seems he focuses on people within his street photography but also weird and wonderful objects that are unusual and fun. A lot a shapes, tones, light and darkness is involved within his work which is amazin. His works also very bold and focused which is also a good thing. His work is creative and inspiring. |
Robert Frank
Robert Frank is another street photographer I admire. He is very influential throughout the whole world. Throughout the years he has broken the 'rule's of photography and also film making. He has been challenging his boundaries making things harder for himself between the still and moving image. He had taken pictures that had reflected his artistic freedom and he had travelled to all kinds of places within South America and also Europe.
There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment. This kind of photography Is realism. But realism is not enough - there has to be vision, and the two together can make a good photograph. |
Initial Ideas
- To create a board to show my chosen theme, that will show useful links and resources.
- Then to create a mind map of my ideas of how I'd like to present some pieces of street photography work.
- Check resources and link and other options to help me with my ideas.
- Take images that I have been inspired by the photographers I have chosen.
My next plan of action is to take pictures like Robert Frank and also take them in black and white. I will be taking pictures within the area I live.
My street photography!These are some examples of my street photography work inspired by Robert Frank. Some were taken in Kidbrooke and also going through Woolwich and Shooters Hill. I placed some of my photography at Kidbrooke station because street photography involves mainly photographing people as well as other things.
During this time I will be taking more pictures then writing what's good and what's bad about them, then I'm going to evaluate them. Click to set custom HTML
This is a video explaining what everyday street photography is about.
Everybody Street Official Trailer from Alldayeveryday on Vimeo. This video was filmed in New York. This video shows the life and soal of the city. This video features: Bruce Davidson, Elliot Erwitt, Jill Freedman, Bruce Gilden, Joel Meyerowitz, Rebecca Lepkoff, Mary Ellen mark, Jeff Mermelstein, Clayton Patterson, Jamel Shabazz, Martha Cooper, and Boogie, with historians Max Kozloff and Luc Sante. |
These are some examples of street photography I had taken on my way to school. These pictures were taken in Eltham.
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More Research: Daido Moriyama
My next step in street photography is to look at a photographer called Daido Moriyama. He takes pictures of Japan and street life. I'm interested in his images that he takes on journeys to different places within his own country as well as somewhere else.
I will be looking and researching his work and then making a gallery and a series of images of my own inspired but his work and then creating finally pieces. I will be using a range of computer techniques to change and edit the images I will create. |
Editing
I selected this sequence of images from those I had taken. I liked the views along paths and roads and the presence of a few people. I was inspired by Moriyama's pictures of Japan. The mood in his photos is often quite dark and lonely.
The black and white pictures were taken on my journey to school.
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The pictures below are in colour that and they were taken on my journey home from Woolwich. I used my phone to take the pictures and the colour effect is called Transfer.
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I chose three images from inside the bus. They show a hooded figure in the distance. It looks like you are getting closer to him or her all the time. I like the fact that the figure is out of focus in the last picture. When I'm on the bus I like looking at other people but I'm also a bit scared that they might notice me looking (and taking pictures). I think these pictures look a bit secretive.
Final Evaluation
I had chose Street Photography for Unit 2. During my time doing this I have been taking pictures and creating final pieces for my work. To help me with my research I have been exploring different photographers and their way of doing street photography and what it really means for them. I am pleased with my work. The final pictures look interesting and both of them say something about my experience of taking journeys around London. I struggled with taking pictures on the street but in the end I like the lonely feeling you get from the black and white photos. Using my phone on the bus was scary but also fun. I like the colour images because they describe how I was feeling when I took the pictures.