Final Evaluation

I think I achieved what I set out to do. I created a project based on my friends growing up.
The project, on the whole, went well - my subjects were cooperative in lending me their old photographs and letting me scan them, also all the shoots and other photographs I needed to take were all done by half-term. There have been small, more difficult things, such as the book/graphic output section, were I got a little confused and made a scrap book - printing photos out so I could glue them in - before being told that the graphic output had to be computer based. The book/leaflet should be finished this week - it just needs printing, and the original scrapbook will still be included in the exhibition, all that is left to add is some explanatory notes for some of the pictures by my subjects.

I feel I should have taken a little more care over the studying photographs while I was taking them. Some of them look rather rushed - Ruths' in particular. I should have thought a little longer about the position and lighting before taking many of the photos. The studio photos went fantastically, though.

The exhibition space looks great - aside from gap along the top, due to my height, the room is successfully painted - all that's left is to scrub off the emulsion on the work top.

Research

My initial idea was to photograph my friends as they pass their 20th and 21st birthdays. I'd like to do a scrap book type thing, with photographs showing them now and where they want t be in the future -
I've started my research for this by looking at portrait photographers Nina Leen and Yale Joel - both LIFE magazine photographers.
(Looked through Life Magazine Book - may have unintentionally absorbed ideas from other photographers in the process)

Nina Leen
 (from: http://quitecontinental.net/tag/nina-leen/)

Yale Joel
http://antoncastro.blogia.com/2010/072002-las-fotos-de-yale-joel.php
http://killerbeesting.tumblr.com/page/97

 http://sensacionvintage.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/fotografias-vintage-de-yale-joel.html

Cecil Beaton
Some inspiration has been taken from studio shoots by Beaton - in particular, tall, slim cropping (many 'square' photos have been cropped by the people posting them on the internet) of photographs, with a large amount of space above the subject, and simple/empty backgrounds.

Erik Kessels
http://www.foam.org/press/2012/erik_kessels

Although my idea is not to show off a dying form of expression - the basis of using other peoples photos is the same - in order to show a history of my subjects I need to show them growing up - when I didn't know them, and didn't take photos of them. As well as that, to get a full and rounded idea of who they are now, I need to use other people photographs for the events I didn't go to and the moments I didn't see.

Thomas Sauvin
http://petapixel.com/2013/03/25/beijing-silvermine-rescuing-discarded-negatives-from-illegal-recycling-centers/

Sauvin collects old Chinese photography negatives that have been thrown away - he then re-prints them, catalogs them and displays them.
Again, this project is similar to mine, in that it uses someone elses photographs (although I will be using my own photographs as well) to show some thing that has happened - to display someones life.

Richard Prince - 'Re-Photogrpahy'

Photographed images of cowboys in magazines, then published those photographs under his name. He made a lot of money from what is technically someone elses work. However, there are correlations with my project as I will be using re-printed photographs by other people and probably not mentioning who they are by (I may put a star or similar next to photographs I have taken)
http://www.moca.org/pc/viewArtWork.php?id=90

http://www.pavilionphotographicstudio.co.uk/2012/02/28/studio-class-fredau-high-key-low-key-and-clamshell/

I would like to use this style of photography in the studio - but I would prefer the extra white space to be above, rather than next to, the subject; and with a less harsh white background




Some Scrapbook Ideas
http://janetclare.co.uk/blog/?p=3

http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/layouts/ig/Pet-Scrapbook-Pages/Puppy-Love.-D1T.htm
http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/layouts/ig/Pet-Scrapbook-Pages/Puppies-Leave-Pawprints.htm

http://thinkcrafts.com/blog/2012/01/02/winners-102/

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/scrapbooking/images/21762067/title/old-photos-scrapbook-photo

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scrapbook_old_Womens_Museum.jpg

http://bcianfarini.deviantart.com/art/Family-album-cover-176035710

http://herstoryan.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/judson-family-album-c1903-1910-cover.html

http://bcianfarini.deviantart.com/art/Family-album-cover-176035710

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2FRKbQI2kY&NR=1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH283zNUGhY

These YouTube videos show how to book bind/make books. Both are very useful - particularly the first, stitched book as I would prefer to stitch the book rather than glue it, like the second video is for.

http://www.photoanswers.co.uk/Advice/Search-Results/Techniques/Documentary-photography--10-quick-tips/
Advice in taking documentary photoghraphs
"Be as prepared as you can for the situation that you expect to find yourself in. If there are any extra items that you need to purchase before the shoot make sure you allow time for delivery and gather your required kit together prior to departure..."

Crit and Mid-Project Evaluation

So far the project seems to be going well. After explaining my project fully to my classmates and teacher, they said they could see a lot of potential in it, and that, if I have enough time to make it exactly 'right', it should be pretty good.
Main point made - I need to think more about my exhibition
- How will it convey my thoughts to the audience?
- Will I have time to do everything I want to the space? If not, what can I change?
- Consider photo layout in the space.

Other than being quite behind, in terms of written work, and having to wait until the week our practical work is due in (the exhibition - thankfully - is 3 weeks later) to take my final, studio photographs - meaning I will not be able to print my book off until after then - it is going well - the essential stuff is done, even thought not yet published, and I am really just waiting for these final photos

(Crit - 10/5/13)

Project Example - using myself

For my final major project I am making a social documentary 

Age 2 (ish)

current (ish) photos!

Review

Future Work:
I have to plan meeting people better than I have been, where meeting people has had to be cancelled last minute because I got lost, or lecturers have not been asked until last minute.

First Shoots
30th April; photographing Ruth.
Went well, I had the images I wanted very quickly - however they will need editing as the room she was studying in was very dark.

2nd May; photographing Becky
This was a much easier shoot, as we were not in a small dark room, but walking around the university; however, several photos were over exposed and may be unusable

3rd May; photographing Luke
We were in a small coffee shop for this shoot, it was, by far, the easiest and most successful session I have done for this project.

23rd May; Studio Session
Went well - best photograph is of Ruth, Becky and Luke were more difficult. Becky because I wasn't sure how to convey journalism and we didn't have a table for her laptop; Luke because he doesn't know what he will be doing in the future. Samantha Temoszczuk took my photograph for me - But I directed her on how to take the photograph, the outcome was just as good as the rest of the photos I took.

 The photographs from this session went extremely well, however they did need some editing -these are 4 example photographs not being used in the exhibition:

 These are some final edits - there are some more, but I am debating which to use

Evidence of Planning (for Studio Session - all other sessions were organised over the phone, and I forgot to write them down)