Location photography (Reportage)
I am doing Reportage Photography so I have been out to some events and all photographs were taken in manual. I have visited Nottingham Goose Fair and Alton Towers Fire works Display to try out some effective night time Photography. I found this quite challenging a few reasons being that it was very busy so finding a position to set the tripod up with out getting in the way of others was difficult and practising the different manual settings that work for night time photography. I took minimal equipment with me in a busy environment and also made sure it was in my view at all times.
I wanted to create the different light effects of the Fairground rides when they were in motion so I did this by using a tripod and putting the camera on a slow shutter speed and even slower as the natural light faded.
As the evening went on I started to have problems with my Camera lens getting stuck which I could not Fix so I had to call it a Night.
.Camera used for Fairground Images was Canon Powershot S3IS
.Tripod used
. Lens- 12x
.Camera Settings - Manual Mode
(Labels Theme1, P2,P4,M2,D2)
Safety aspects:
. Keep my equipment safe and to find a safe place away from people to set the equipment up.
. Make sure I had place to store equipment away should bad weather occur.
(Labels Theme1,D3)
I got inspiration to do some night time photography from the book that I am reading on the a-z of creative photography by Author Lee Frost I tried this out at a night time Fairground event and at Alton Towers Firework Display.
Kurt Hutton, (1893-1960)
Kurt Hutton was born Hubshmann and started his career with the Dephot photo agency in Germany, but in 1934 emigrated to England. Here he became a Photographer for Weekly Illustrated and then was one of the first to work on the magazine Picture Post both of which were popular in the 1950's. He helped pioneer photo journalism.
He retired to Aldeburgh in 1951 and became the photographer to Benjamin Britten the English composer.
It is the photograph shot by Hutton for Picture Post in 1938 called 'Funfair' Southend Essex that made me decide to go to a Funfair to shoot some shots for Location/Reportage.
Kurt Hutton
FunFair
This was a photo for entertainment rather than serious photojournalism. It is a light hearted image, depicting people enjoying themselves during a gloomy time. The girl is placed in the centre and has a saucy postcard look about her and Hutton's viewpoint makes our eye travel from the front of the car all around, showing movement. He might have set the shot up or pre-arranged the cars to stop. A wide angle lens increases the perspective.
I used the book below to study various techniques and approaches used by used by inportant historical photographers and to learn how to achieve similar effects using modern equipment.
It was in this book I noticed the photo by Kurt Hutton,
 |
| I wanted to portray the same photo as the one Kurt Hutton took of the Fairground ride of the people having fun on the ride. I wanted to capture the image of the facial expression like the model in the photo below her smile is the main focal point and that smile really explains the image in a whole. you can see by the little girls face that she is having a good time and that is the focal point. The carts were moving around fast so I had to use a faster shutter speed. I think this image would have been better by panning the camera as the cart was moving as I haven't managed to get the whole cart in the picture. |
 |
| I was really inspired by this Photo above I came across on google images when I was looking for some research into night time Photography at the fairground. I did contact the guy that took this on his flicker site to ask how he got the shot and any advice he could give to me butunfortunately he didn't get back to me. what I really like about this picture is the bright rides at night time at the fair to try to recreate the look above.vibrant colours against a dark night sky and the action of the lights that are produced to give the image a sense of movement. Below I have used this image to try out some of the spinning |
Nottingham Goose Fair
Below are the Photographs that I have taken
 F/8.0 0.8 sec 100 ISO |
| I prefer this composition to the one below as the ride is more central to the photograph and fits the frame better. I liked the way the lights appeared as a number of intertwining colourful streaks. This was taken by using a slower shutter speed F/8.0 0.8 sec 100 ISO using the Tripod Out of all the images of this ride I feel this was the best. |
 F/8.0 0.8 sec 100 ISO |
| I didn't use the tripod to take this because there were too many people in the way and I was too far back when I took this so you can see the people get in front of the image. The lines are not very defined and look blurred so it doesn't give it such an interesting effect as the one above taken using the same settings. |
 F 7.1 4 sec 100 ISO |
 F/2.7,1/50 Sec,ISO 200 infront takes away what could have been a nice image of the big wheel. So not a great composition. |
 F/3.5, 1/60 Sec,ISO 200 |
| This was taken in twilight and from a distance away from the fair using the tripod again. I used the zoom just to capture the wheel and the slide. I like the way it doesn't just focus on one centre piece. There is far move perspective with this photo and with the wheel off centre the whole fairground image appears framed. |
 F/8,0.6 Sec,ISO 200 |
| With this image again of a spinning ride the smoke from the smoke machines is a bit to much to make the bright lights stand out I think it takes away the motion spinning feel to it. Also the people in the way of the image takes your eye away from the main subject. |
 F/8 0.6Sec,ISO 400 |
| This is the same image but using the zoom to try avoid the people getting in the way again and taken when the smoke had faded away more I think that this has come out a lot better and the different colours stand out more and are much brighter. (Labels Theme1 P3,M1,M3,D1,D2) |
Fireworks Display at Alton Towers
I have taken some photographs of the firework display which was held at Alton Towers. I have never taken Photos of Fireworks before so I had to do some research before hand by using the book called creative photography that I am using as part of my research. I read up on which settings to use in manual. I had to take the tripod and I used a new camera.
.Camera Used- Canon 1100 D
.Lens 18-55,Telephoto lens 70-300
.Tripod used
(Labels Theme1 M2,D2
Safety aspects:
. Make sure my equipment was not in the way of the people around me.
.To be a safe distance away from the fireworks.
. Making sure I am positioned safely
. Taking a head torch so I could see the camera buttons easier and to be able to change lenses if needed.
(Labels Theme1 D3)
 |
| F8,2SEC,ISO100 This is the best out of the firework photos that I took because of the composition. The silhouetted trees in the foreground give you the idea of the scale of the firework display. I was able to capture a full image so the photo is full of colour and pattern. I also feel that the photo reflects the location and the atmosphere more than the single firework photos below. |
 |
| F8,2SEC,ISO100 This shot was taken by shooting into the sky just as the rockets were launched. I think it has good composition that shows the fireworks as two whole explosions. The colours look amazing against the night sky. Some of the lines around some of the fireworks look quite wobbly so by using a shutter release button I think this would of helped make them more defined. |
 F11,2SEC,ISO100 |
 Another two shots in the photos above taken by shooting up into the sky and then just before the fireworks explode I take the shot with a 2second delay. The lines look more defined in these two photos. The focal point is the white cluster of dots.There is not much perspective to these photos when shooting into the sky but I feel as though you get to see the vibrant colours better against the night sky. The silhouette of the trees just in front show the scale again of the display.  There is a lot going on in this photo showing the exciting atmosphere of the display. The firework in the centre divides the photo and gives it a good symmetrical balance. The falling fireworks are a distraction from the overall effect.  The Rule of Thirds The rule of thirds is based on a grid as in the above picture. By putting the focal point on an intersection point a more pleasing composition is produced. The rule was first followed by artists and works on the basis that if an image is divided in a ratio of 2:1 0r 1:2 the composition will possess order and stability.  F8,2SEC,ISO100 Another composition showing the scale of the fireworks display. I noticed that the photo followed the rule of thirds with the tree as the focal point. The crowd did not feature in my other photos but I felt that using the crowd as a silhouetted foreground worked well. The fireworks contrast brightly with the smokey green background. I think maybe a longer shutter speed might of made this photo look better. |
 | |||
| F8,2SEC,ISO 200 This is a Photo of the lasers which are not that impressive in photo as they were to look at but I do like the colour,patterns and shapes it shows. A longer shutter speed might of helped here making the lasers more defined. (Labels Theme1 P3,M1,M2,M3,D2,D3) Photographer: Lesley Meredith  Lesley Meredith is a renowned wedding photographer. Her enthusiasm started from her grandfathers love of photography and making black and white prints. It was the wish to take ''beautiful photographs'' of her children that led her to becoming a full time professional photographer. She studied at college and became a member of the local camera club and found she was asked to do wedding photography soon establishing a reputation for quality and perfection in her work. She finds the whole process of capturing wedding ''magical'' and aims to make the wedding day photography ''fabulous,fun, and most importantly enjoyable.'' The aim is to make couples feel comfortable and relaxed so that moments captured feel natural and genuine. She shows in her work the understanding of how important the use of light is in making a stunning portrait. I like her list of ingredients to be used in the wedding photography. . A generous sprinkling of vintage glamour. . A hint of detail and spontaneity . A good helping of fun! . A dash of WOW factor! Along with her husband Lesley holds the prestigious Craftsman with Distinction title with the S.W.P.P for there wedding imagery and also the L.M.P.A. title with the M.P.A. organisation for full time professional wedding photographers. I took some photos of my friend Emma who got married recently after researching Lesley Meredith I tried to recreate some of the images she has taken below that I liked. I would of liked to have taken some outside shots but the weather turned bad when I arrived so had to make do with taking the photographs inside. This proved a problem with lighting as I had no lighting equiptment. All the pictures below were taken on manual settings to compensate for the lack of light inside a house. Camera Used- Canon 1100 D (Labels Theme1 P4,M2,D2) Safety aspects: . No trip hazards for me or the model and move anything that was in our way . When taking photos on stairs making the position safe (Labels Theme1 D3) Lesley Meredith  A light hearted image with the bride central to the composition. The back ground on the slant makes for a more interesting photo.  F/7.1,1/100SEC, ISO400 I feel I have succeeded in producing a fun image like the one above,but the background is rather dull.Lesley Meredith   F/5.6,1/40SEC,ISO 800 This is my informal image taken by using mirror reflection although this is not an obvious reflection as I dont show the mirrorI liked the way I captured the natural image of her getting ready. Lesley Meredith  I like again this black and white image and how the bride boldly stands out against the dark blurred background. The colouring of the flower draws your attention to the brides face and the eyes draws you in. I like the composition of this photo and particularly the pose. This has Lesley's WOW factor.  F/4, 1/60SEC, ISO800 I've tried to recreate the pose that Lesley Meredith used above and feel that again the eyes can draw you into the photo.The background colour is not so dramatic but helps the natural feel.  Here a model pose is shown. You get the impresstion from the photo that she has been asked to portray a confident almost arrogant pose. The background is unusal in that the lines seem to frame the bride. I find this image a bit uninteresting.  F/7.1, 1/125 SEC, ISO 400 Same idea of the model pose but I have done this in a more ''fun'' way.I used the curtains as a dull background to make the white dress stand out. (Labels Theme1 P5,M1,M3,D1,D3,) Tutbury Castle Medieval Photoshoot I visited Tutbury castle recently for a medieval photo shoot that was taking place. I took the Canon EOS 1000D that I borrowed from college with me. I found this a challenge as I haven't used this kind of camera before so had to spend some time practising first. It was also a very windy day and I had left the tripod at home so I think maybe this was a mistake as this would of helped to steady the camera. But I feel as though I managed to get some good shots. The Models would not pose for long periods so I had to be quick and also there were quite a few photographers there so finding a space around them and trying to get the position I wanted for the image before the model moved was quite hard at times, but I enjoyed the challenge the more I got into it. Camera Used-Canon EOS 1000D (Labels Theme1 P4,M2,D2,) safety .Make sure that when I was up on steep hills that I didn't stand too close to the edge. .Don't ask the models to pose in an unsafe position. .Be aware of other photographers and their equipment around. (Labels Theme1, D3) Photographer Nigel Wallace-Iles He converses with and plans participation with re-en actors and involves himself in all action,whether it be medieval cooking or battle scenes. He says, "I love being able to capture images of these events and people and to be a part of it. I have had an enormous desire to be involved with medieval events and history for as long as I can remember. Visiting castles was all I wanted to do as a child, and that desire hasn't stopped. Being in a castle and touching the very same walls that a king or a knight, or an armourer or a squire had, several hundred years ago, is like being able to touch the very history itself and connect with it." Nigel's photographs are used by many different organisations and societies and of course by the re-enactors. They are used for publicity and other commercial purposes where appropriate copyright releases are required. Nigel Wallace-ILes  This image has a deep colour saturation as well as natural light shown through the window. The photo looks as though it is telling a story. She is looking as though she wants to be set free from this dark place. This image led me to think about how I could show the same feeling in my shoot at Tutbury Castle. Below are more Medieval photos by Nigel Wallace that helped me get inspiraton particularly in respect to use of background. Nigel Wallace-ILes   Nigel Wallace-ILes  Below are the images I have taken at Tutbury Castle.  I liked the composition of this picture as it shows the model in a reflective mood. The subject is the focal point but I have used her in the rule of thirds position so that there is more background and viewpoint shown around the subject to create the mood I wanted to convey. It is as if she is contemplating running away. The slant of the tree takes your eye from the subject all around the photo and the dark walls supporting the model add to the sombre tone.  I don't feel this photo is as expressive as the one above, with the subject more centrally situated and facing the camera it appears as a more set-up image. Alex Lake   I tried to replicate the same pose by asking the model to pose this way. I succeeded reasonably but featured rather too much background whereas the model in Alex Lakes photo totally dominates the picture.  I wanted to try out a full length pose in this shot with the model positioned at a different angle. This was under exposed a little. I feel as well in in all these three pictures the model is not showing much expression and her look is bland.  Again trying out a different position of the model I like the composition I captured in this.  I took this photo from a low angle shot on the ground looking up to the subject. The slanting position of the subject and the rock takes your eye all around the picture. I think the depth of field to the right gives a feeling of scale to the photo.  F/4, 1/60Sec,ISO 800 This is my favourite image of the images taken at Tutbury Castle. It has Lot's of bright saturated colour and the models facial expression is seductive.I think the composition is good and the darker stone background makes the colours jump out at you. The focal point is the model's face.  F/5.6 1/40 Sec, ISO 200 The same shot, but I decided to move back a bit to get more of the model's body in this shot. This is a bit under exposed. I still like the composition of the photo,but there is a shadow to the left of the model which takes your eye away a little. This was done in a dark room of the ruins of the castle so a higher ISO would have been better as in the one I took above. A side on view of the model. I like the postion she was in showing a rather different angle to the image.  F/6.3 1/200sec,ISO 800 Another close up shot but taken at a slight angle looking up at the model. In this image the model has taken a nice pose giving the impression that she is relaxed and enjoying the view. The depth of field gives an interesting background and makes her really stand out. The composition is good as I have not taken it with her right in the centre to get more of the view in.  F/5.6, 1/160 Sec, ISO 800 The image above is the best out of the three taken, I liked the corner the model used to pose in, as it gives a great composition that is different and effective. I decided it would look better by zooming in to get a closer shot.  The composition is good in this image. I also like the ladies expression in her face and arms as though she has just told someone off and she is not amused. I also like the stripes in the background which makes her stand out and the tonal colours go well together against the models outfit. (Labels Theme1 P5,M1,M3,D1,D3) Halloween These photographs below were taken whilst working during the scare fest event at Alton Towers. As Guests dressed up for Halloween I took the camera that I borrowed from college to work with me to try and capture a spontaneous moment.
|
