6. Work Record 3

Work Record 3

Location - New Forest, Hampshire

Distortion method - Mirror

My Plan for Shoot 3 -

In shoot 3, I would like to incorporate the use of my tripod whilst taking my photos. I think that this will give me more time to adjust and position the mirror. I will once again be shooting in RAW which will give me a lot more control over the editing process. 

I hope to use my mirror in order to discover what sort of distortion is created in the use of this. I would like to develop my understanding of the settings needed when using the mirror in my photographs in order to gain a fully focused image in which the reflection in the mirror is not too bright or too dark.

Whilst editing, I would like to experiment with removing one reflection in the mirror and replacing it with another, contrasting reflection.

Research influence - 

For this work record, my research influence was both Vivian Maier and Sebastian Magnani. Both Maier's and Magnani's style of photography, and their methods of using the mirror in their photography however in this shoot, I hope to use some of the techniques that Sebastian used in  my shoots. I would also like to experiment with the mirror as this is my first time using it. 

Image Bank - 

Contact sheets - 

My best images - 

Images that require improvement - 

This photo is not in focus correctly, the mirror is sharp but the pebbles around it are too blurred. However I like the idea and if it were in focus correctly I think that it would be a good image.

This shutter speed was also wrong as the mirror is too bright and I do not like the composition of this image as the mirror is too far down the frame.

The photo above is set at the wrong shutter speed, The mirror is slightly to bright, whilst it's surroundings are too dark.

AO3 - Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.

For my first ever shoot using the mirror, I am happy with it. I would not say that the images in which I have produced are an example of my best work, however, my plan for this shoot was to adapt to using the mirror in my photographs, including the different camera settings such as the shutter speed in order to capture reflections such as the sky, which is generally a lot brighter than the surrounding ground areas. 

With reference to my selected best images: 

In the first image, I like how the camera is only focused on the mirror and it's reflection. I think that this creates an interesting image overall. I think that when I edit this image I need to take away the marks that are on the mirror as this creates a negative focus and draws the viewers eyes.

The second image, I think is one of my favourites from this shoot. I like the way that there is multiple reflections, one being the mirror and the second being a contrasting, darker water reflection.

The final image, is very interesting to the eye as the reflection creates many different textures as well as introduces different colours to the photograph. 

AO2 - Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.

To take my photos I used a Canon E10 1000D, with multiple lenses.

Photograph 1

Lens: EF-S18-55mm F/3.5-5.6

Shutter speed: 1/250 sec

F/: 5.6 

ISO: 400

Photograph 2

Lens: EF-S18-55mm F/3.5-5.6

Shutter speed: 1/250 sec

F/: 5.6

ISO: 400

Photograph 3

Lens: EF-S18-55mm F/3.5-5.6

Shutter speed: 1/250 sec

F/: 5.6

ISO: 400

Photograph 4

Lens: EF-S18-55mm F/3.5-5.6

Shutter speed: 1/250 sec

F/: 5.6

ISO: 400

Photograph 5

Lens: EF-S18-55mm F/3.5-5.6

Shutter speed: 1/250 sec

F/: 5.6

ISO: 400

AO1 - Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

For this shoot, I do not feel like my photographers research was very useful, in the sense that I did not take much inspiration from their work other than the idea to use the mirror. I personally do not like the harsh, urban settings for my shoots and prefer for them to be in or involved with nature. For this reason, I used some ideas that I had gathered from creating my image bank in order to create my images.

AO4 - Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.

Progression - 

In the next shoot in which I use a mirror I hope to capture the sea in the mirror's reflection. I like the way that neither the camera nor I am in the shoots however eventually I might experiment with being in the reflection like Vivian Maier. I like the way the image looks when the mirror is resting on other objects so in would like to take this further and see what other images I can get.