Independent Shoot 1 (Tone)

This independent shoot is going to focus on the formal element tone. Since I plan to continue portraiture photography and enjoy the use of depth in these photos, tone seems one of the most appropriate formal elements. As a reminder, tone is the spread between highlights and shadows within a photo, this is used to present three-dimensional shapes/form. When using tone in photography, Ansel Adams's zone system is well-renowned to be referenced. 

Research

Billy Kidd

Billy Kidd is a well-renowned model photographer. He has captured many celebrities and models for advertisements, fashion and personal portfolios; his signature work is always monochrome. I have used this photographer before for research, but I find his work to best represent my full inspiration for my personal portfolios.

This portrait of Ethan Hawke covering majority of his face presents a strong example of tone and my intentions for my personal portfolios appearance. Kidd has used a white backdrop and softbox lighting to create a bright and soft but slightly harsh atmosphere around Hawke. He's definitely used a still shutter speed and relatively shallow aperture proven by the blur further into Hawke's face near his ears and hair. There's an even balance with the zone system, with fair zone 2-4 areas and 7-9 areas; this makes the photo own an aesthetically pleasing appearance since it's even in tone. I enjoy this photo more because it represents well how I want my photos to appear; it presents no specific message or meaning, which makes the focus and simple appreciation of appearance easier to the viewer. The work just allows visuals to be appreciated and you can play with this power in so many ways, this is what I want with my work.

Image Bank

These photos, also from Billy Kidd, represent my intentions for this independent shoot. The portraiture is simple, but the use of lighting and tone creates a dramatic and more intense appearance. Charlotte Carey in these photos incorporate her hands a lot and they present heavy jewellery, her clothing and overall style appears wealthy and fashion-esc. For further photos, I plan to incorporate more things to represent personality or symbolism.

Contact Sheet

These are my raw photos for my first independent shoot, captured on my DSLR camera.

Best Photos
These are my best-captured photos, untouched.

Photos that require improvement

I believe these photos do not represent my first shirt in the professional appearance I intended. The light reflecting off of me in these is poor and they own weak aesthetic value. For the first photo, the shutter speed was at 1/30, aperture at F8, and exposure at ISO 6400; these were the same settings for each photo in this set and worked efficiently for each. Although the settings fit well, the photo also depends on the poses to corporate perfectly, in this photo, the lighting is good, but the composition isn't flattering. My torso isn't in centre of the frame firstly, which removes a more flattering presentation. Finally, my facial expression is unclear and the head positioning removes the potential visual pleasure from this. If I were to retake this, I'd make sure I was better in centre since it seems appropriate with this facial expression, and potentially tilt my head a certain way so it feels more comforting visually and I don't appear so stiff.

For the second photo, the shutter speed was at 1/30, aperture at F8, and exposure at ISO 6400. My main issue with this photo is the positioning of my hands, it is clear that the intention was uncertain and makes the photo appear less comfortable and more awkward. My facial expression also seems unclear with emotion, overall the photo seems awkward in composition. If I were to retake this photo, I'd use my hands in a different positioning, for examples running my fingers through my hair, or pulling at my face for a more dramatic effect.

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

My Ideas

My ideas for creating my first independent shoot was mainly based on Billy Kidd's work once again, he truly is my favourite portraiture photographer and find his work to be very impressive. My history with tone work also inspired this, since my first work with tone was nature photographer, and although it was good, I personally didn't enjoy it and knew portraiture would work with my style a lot better. I believe my photos present my intentions perfectly, I didn't struggle with camera settings for the first time and visually pleasing simplicity of the photos is exactly what I wanted. I plan to get more complex with my photo composition for the next shoot.

Reference to my best photos

The second photo of the side of my face and ear I enjoy the most since it's the most abstract out of all the photos. It's more of a presentation of form than tone if I'm honest, but all my independent work is based on human form so it still classifies. I enjoy this because it presents the human form less stereotypically, instead of a face, it presents a less conventional body part; I prefer this alternative style.

The fourth photo of my face looking into the camera looking as if I'm thinking something I enjoy because of the simplicity. The positioning of everything is neutral and calming. The lighting makes everything more flattering and keeps the atmosphere still in motion.

The last photo of me looking into the camera while a finger is dragged onto my lip, I enjoy because it's creating an essence of sensuality. In portraiture, I'm fascinated by the more sensual aspect of work and find it to be powerful in appearance, it draws a viewer in so easily and keeps them visually satisfied; I believe this photo meets those standards.

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

Use of Camera

I used a Nikon D3400 DSLR camera and a tripod for every photo taken. Since these photos were taken of myself, I had to capture myself using self-timer while my camera was on a tripod, I used someone else to make sure all the camera settings, focus, and alignments were right. The camera was in manual mode, shutter speed being at 1/30 fraction of a second, aperture on F8, and exposure at ISO 6400 since the light setting was dark and struggling to capture me in any other setting. Once making sure everything was set right, I put the camera on self-timer (taking a photo every 5 seconds for 5 photos each time) and captured myself in various poses and areas.

Final Pieces

Since my inspiration was the formal element tone and photographer Billy Kidd, my work needs to be more dramatic and also monochrome. Instead of my typical editing structure, I decided to go more complex and use the dodge and burn technique, also some model editing to my face for a more model-esc appearance.
I firstly pressed CTRL+SHIFT+U to remove all saturation from the photo. Then pressing CTRL+L to open up 'Levels...' just so I could bring the mid-tones slightly up to reveal any smaller imperfections on my skin for the next step.

Then I used the 'Spot Healing Brush Tool', and removed any blemishes or open pores on my skin so I appear more soft to the face. I also have specs all over my wall/background and thought they seemed distracting, so I also removed those with the healing tool. If it was necessary, I would also use the 'Blur Tool' to smooth anything else out.

After this, I moved onto the dodge and burn technique. Firstly, I created an adjustment layer of 'Curves', this layer I dragged the mid-point down, making the photos mid-tones darker in appearance drastically, then pressing CTRL+I which inverts the layer. This should make the tab appear black instead of white. Secondly, I create another adjustment layer of 'Curves', this time dragging the mid-point up, making the photos mid-tones lighter in appearance drastically, then pressing CTRL+I once again to invert this layer.

After this, I used the 'Brush Tool' on a 'Soft Round' brush on a white colour since that is the opposite of the black adjustment layer, meaning it'll reveal the layers affect wherever I paint. Depending on where I was revealing either darker or lighter points, the opacity on the brush would depend on where. I'd highlight the points where I wanted more attention to or where the light was hitting, and darken areas that were too distracting or not necessary to be dominantly visible.

 

 

  

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

My portfolio inspiration being fully based on Billy Kidd's work helped me have a clear intention with the appearance of my photos. His work varies in soft or drastic appearances in portraiture is capable of making anyone appear intriguing in my opinion. His work owns a professional sense but still owns a fun and laid back atmosphere, I find this very admirable. Now that I've done the simple aspect of portraiture, I plan to get more abstract with my work and want to incorporate more into the photos for the next shoot.

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

I believe my first independent shoot has been successful with my intentions, they own a simplistic appearance and present a darker range of tone, which I prefer, creating a still dark but calming atmosphere. This is my first independent shoot.