UNIT 4 DIGITAL IMAGING AND PRINTING UAL PHOTOGRAPHY LEVEL 2 TASKS 1, 2 AND 3

 

Digital Imaging and Printing

Brief - Through exploratory projects, prepare images for display. Use a range of equipment to produce photographic images, processing, using photo-editing software, preparing images to a specific display or print. Send images for digital print and comment on the results.

Task 1 - Prepare and print photographic images

Use projects relevant to Units 1, 2 and 3 to assess the way you prepare and process digital images for printing.

Unit 4 culminates in a photography exhibition for UAL photography students levels 2 and 3 at Richmond Art College, South West London. The two images submitted had to fit the brief 'Intimate Portraits'.  Someone with whom you have an intimate relationship. In the event of not being able to photograph another person, self-portraits were admissible.     

For Unit 2, I initially experimented with a range a self- portraits that I took of myself in the bath - water to me being symbolic of power, femininity, change and life force. The act of bathing being symbolic of washing away sin, purification, rebirth, cleanliness and civilisation. Ultimately though, I discarded the images of myself as both self-indulgent and unoriginal. I tried for hours to set up my tripod on, in, next to, behind, in front of the bath to get the shots I wanted, and to recreate the images I imagined. But I just couldn't technically achieve what I had in my mind. So I took preparatory shots on my Google phone, resting it against a candle on the bath bridge. I was quite happy with these photos overall and felt they looked better with a black and white filter applied post-production (they were cropped and rotated too). However, I abandoned the project in seeking a completely purist approach to the brief 'someone with whom you have an intimate relationship with'. Self-portraiture is a different genre of portrait photography.  I was glad I experimented and discarded these ideas as to do so, is an important part of the creative process. I have included these photos, even though they are not DSLR photos as a) I did genuinely attempt to create these images with my DSLR camera (for hours) using my tripod and camera and b) they form part of my creative process in arriving at the images I ultimately produced. In the end, after cropping the images and rotating them, I think there was something compelling about the shapes and shadows, which I will explore further. (2.1, 2.2, 2.3).

'Sheep's Skull'

'Turtle'

'Praying Mantis'

Task 2 - Produce and assess photographic images

My initial ideas of photographing my husband consisted of more surreal and heavily costumed imagery. For the end product, I watered this idea down somewhat and took photographs of my husband Will, posed, reflecting aspects of his hobbies and personality. Whilst I do not feel the two images I eventually submitted were original in content or composition. They were at least original, in that Will had never been specifically photographed as a model before, or as the subject matter of an intimate portrait. I added one of my cats to the photo shoot with Will because I felt it added another dimension to both what I wanted to convey about Will as an individual, and to the image overall. There were three images I liked and felt worked well from the hundred I shot. These are the two I discarded. Image One because Sydney is the focal point, due to her direct gaze to camera and being physically slightly nearer to the viewer's gaze. Her left ear also covers some of Will's face. I discarded Image Two because although I love the way Sydney is sitting, like a gormless furry toy, her face cuts off a portion of Will's face, and he is supposed to be the focal point of the photograph. Sydney in essence is a prop, a 'side-kick' to his 'hero'. I tried to capture the 'realness' of Will like Diane Arbus would do, yet simultaneously applied the styling techniques of Annie Leibowitz's humour and use of props, and Richard Avedon's commercial style too. I guess 'Will loves Pussy' is my homage to the three of them collectively. From From Unit 1, I gleaned a clear idea of the aperture and shutter speed I needed to work with, in order to produce a cohesive image for a portrait (2.1, 2.2, 2.3).

Image 1   f3.5 SS 80 ISO 250 +0.7
 

Image 2    f3.5 SS 80 ISO 250

Applying the knowledge I acquired during Unit 2 on: available light, single light source and creating shadows. I took the following portraits of Will in golden-hour light and early morning light. For 'After the Rain', I wanted to experiment with the golden hour light, firstly because it is a beautiful and utterly magical type of coloured natural light, secondly because many of the ways I perceive Will are as a soft, gentle human being, so I felt the soft light was symbolic of that, and lastly, because I want to learn the technical skills and knowledge required to shoot competently and effectively in any type of lighting. I took about thirty images in the golden hour light in the loft room at my home at about 5.30pm on a Sunday evening. The light was soft, diffuse and literally golden in tone and hue. I like the shadows created, the rosy hue and the composition of some of the shots, particularly 'After the Rain'. Some of the shots I took had a pleasing and well-balanced composition but were out of focus (2.2, 2.3).

 'Golden Boy' SS 1000 + 0.3 f3.5 ISO 800 

'After the Rain' f3.5 ISO 800 SS 1250 +0.3

'After the Rain' f3.5 ISO 800 SS 1250 +0.3

I took one hundred images of this indoor shoot that I styled with costume, accessories and lighting. I titled the shoot 'About Will'. This is the image (below) that I chose for the exhibition. I titled this photograph 'Will loves Pussy' (2.2) .

'Will loves Pussy' f3.5 SS 80 A ISO 250 +0.7

This is the second image I chose for the exhibition. When I submitted this image I preferred it in black and white, however the more I look at it. I think I prefer it exactly as I shot it, in beautiful, soft, coral-hued, golden-hour light. I titled it 'After the Rain' as I took it immediately after a rain shower. I love how the raindrops on the window are reflected on to Will's face and look like liquid freckles (2.2, 2.3).

'After the Rain'  f3.5 ISO 800 SS 1250 +0.3

The Model  (2.2) - Richmond Art College UAL Photography Exhibition 2023

The Evidence (2.2) - Richmond Art College UAL Photography Exhibition 2023

Task 3 - Identify and use safe working practices within digital production facilities.
I ensured my work was backed up and did not share passwords with others. When photographing indoors, I ensured I was nowhere near tripping hazards or stairs. The Health and Safety aspects of Task 3 were adhered to in the studio.  Because all of the class were shooting at the same time and concentrating on what were were doing, a few of us did end up hitting our heads on the low slung soft boxes and lights. After which incidents, we were much more aware of our environment! When shooting outdoors in my own garden, I checked for obvious safety hazards, and there were none. (3.1).

Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcome 1 - Understand digital imaging and printing

1. 1 Identify the characteristics of digital imaging and printing
A digital file is the digital dots (pixels) that comprise an image. DPI is dots per inch. When producing a good quality image for display the DPI needs to be DPI 300 for the optimal quality and to not see the pixels. If when producing an image for print, the DPI is low the print needs to be adjusted to a smaller size,  to A4 rather than print at A3 for example. My camera is not a full frame camera but rather the sensor is four thirds, so not as ideal as a full-frame camera. My camera was set to shoot in JPEG at the lowest ISO setting which on my camera is 100. Shooting on RAW is a better quality to shoot at and adjust, it also contains more information and produces a better quality print. I am still grappling with my camera and therefore did not adjust these settings on the camera. For 'Will loves Pussy' I shot in a well lit room with natural light, against a plain white wall, to reflect and enhance the natural light. I also used a small ring light, which I placed facing the models face and adjusted to its tallest height setting. Surprisingly, once the photograph of 'Will loves Pussy' was printed, I found that using the ring light did not enhance the light brightness or quality but rather created a greyish, vignette effect around the image.

Learning Outcome 2 - Be able to produce digital images and prints
2. 1 Produce digital  images to achieve solutions to identified goals.
I created images for the project 'Intimate Portraits' I then subsequently selected  three images from the project 'Intimate Portraits' which were the images I thought best in terms of composition and quality, I already knew the images fit the brief. I was unsure of my own opinion on these three images so I asked my class WhatsApp group for their input and the general consensus of my classmates of the best image was the one I submitted for the exhibition and titled 'Will Loves Pussy'. Seeking the opinions of others is not something I habitually do but in this instance, was invaluable. However my first choice of photograph to submit, was actually image 1, as I liked the way Sydney's gaze was directly to camera, and Will's facial expression. Having then chosen the images I wanted to print. I assessed them on my laptop by appraising the quality, this was best achieved by magnifying them on my laptop. Based on the quality of the images I looked at, I then chose two images which were sharp when enhanced. I checked for this by looking at the eyelashes. In terms of post-production, I cropped both images a fraction. For 'After the Rain' I applied a standard Black and White filter on my laptop. I did not use Light Room, edit colours, add shadows,  improve the contrast, brightness or anything else. I felt that in applying such little post-production and the images being of a good quality, I was improving as a photographer.  I then sent the images to Print Space to be printed, chose the paper to print on and the size the images were to be printed at.

2. 2 Produce digital prints from digital imaging sources to achieve solutions to identified goals.
The images I produced were for the express purpose of submitting them to the UAL Levels 2 and 3 Photography Exhibition at Richmond Art College May 23rd to June 8th 2023. Were 'Will loves Pussy' and 'After the Rain'. In terms of post-production - I did not use light room, nor did I change the images via brightening, toning, darkening or using contrast or filters, as this can reduce the DPI. 'Will loves Pussy'  did not have any alterations post-production, save for a minute amount of cropping, the other photograph exhibited 'After the Rain'  was also slightly cropped and I applied a Black and White filter to the image. I felt this enhanced the slightly melancholic aspect of the photograph and its inherent 'stillness'. I exported my images by a screen garb of the JPEGs I selected. I selected A3 size as this was in best accordance with The Print Space software, both images printed at DPI 285. I chose Giclee Art Papers in gloss, as I felt I wanted to achieve a commercial look for 'Will loves Pussy' and enhance the reflections of the raindrops on the face in 'After the Rain'. Initially, I wanted to produce my images on canvas with the dimensions 100cm by 100 cm but this idea was curtailed due to the exhibition space and the fact that my photographs when magnified to that size, would have resulted in a very poor quality image, and at considerable expense. The Peer assessment we embarked on within our class was interesting as all our work was very different and of course as adults we all have fully formed tastes, biases and preferences. Two of my classmates voted 'Will loves Pussy' as their favourite image in the exhibition, which I was absolutely thrilled about! Additionally I got the feedback from my tutor that other students from other photography courses, had also really loved the same photograph, which was a positive affirmation of the progress I have made thus far in photography.

2. 3 Asses digital images and prints
We assessed our digital images and the way they have been printed. I really liked 'Will loves Pussy' and I really liked 'After the Rain', so those were my two submissions. However I would  make improvements to 'Will loves Pussy' by enhancing the neon of his jacket and helmet in post-production to make the photograph really 'pop'. I would make improvements to 'After the Rain' by re-shooting to create an even sharper image and getting Will to turn his head three-quarters on to camera, however it would be really hard to re-create the exact same environment to re-shoot in. I was partially happy with what I did in terms of both photographs I submitted for the exhibition. Pre-printing, I checked the quality of the photo, looking at the density and range of colour, tone, sharpness (checking eyelashes) and noise. I looked at highlights and lowlights and composition. Overall, the quality of the photos was good, especially 'Will loves Pussy'. Could the images have been slightly sharper? yes. Could the colours have been made to 'pop 'more in post-production? yes, especially the neon yellow in the image. Would I style the shots differently? yes, for 'Will loves Pussy' I would add more tech and cycling gear. I would have perhaps also spend more time considering the type of paper to use and the effect the type of paper creates, it would have been good to pay for a facility to get sample prints printed up in a variety of papers to see the difference in effect. For example I wondered if I had printed on matte paper with deep blacks would that have been more effective for 'After the Rain'? I think had I found an extremely high-glass paper like C type fuji Gloss that may have enhanced the 'commercial' look I was after even more. As I was after a fairly 'commercial' effect I feel the paper I chose was fairly adequate but more matte in effect than I wanted. I printed my photographs on Giclee Canson Barayta Gloss which is a pure white Baryta base paper with excellent black density, contrast and reproduction of detail. Great for high contrast images, as well as fluorescent and vivid colours. The Baryta base creates whiter whites and deeper blacks whilst the silky smooth reflective coating enhances the detail and definition of the images. Though I chose it because it is good for neon/fluorescent it wasn't as effective as I expected and it was actually a semi-gloss not the high-gloss effect I wanted. In future I would request paper samples before I printed the final product.. The photos were mounted and then framed in white MDF frames, hung at eye-level.  I added titles as captions and explanations to my work. 'Will loves Pussy' is a nod to my sense of humour and general irreverence. The title 'After the Rain' gave obvious meaning to an image I thought was patently obvious but which my peers and tutor didn't get and which I had to explain.  Finally my name as the photographer went on the label. I was not selling my work. I think it would have been a good idea to add the technicals and type of paper used, especially for other photographers viewing their exhibition. I had some good feedback on my work, two of my classmates voted 'Will loves Pussy 'as their favourite photo as well as a student in the photography for beginners class. My tutor fed back to me that 'Will loves Pussy' had received a lot of positive feedback too. In relation to the other Level 2 and 3 work. I would say some clearly fit the brief, others did not. In terms of quality I feel mine were probably in the top of the class also. My personal favourite of the Level 2 photos was Denis's Ivy-Woman. From the Level 3 students, I liked Devon's work best. The other work of the Level 3 students, I found dull, uninspiring and cliched but I think the quality of their overall photographic and technical skills set, was higher.   It was a nice, small exhibition marred significantly by A) it being shown in the colleges main (and always congested) thoroughfare and B) The most hideous collection of deformed ceramic owls, bearing zero relation to the photography exhibition in any manner, exhibited simultaneously in two huge Perspex boxes in the way of the back left and right side of the exhibition. I felt quite insulted and stupefied  that college allowed the 'owls' to be displayed. As they detracted from the photographs. It seemed hugely disrespectful to all the photographers time and effort and the qualification itself. Richmond College really owes the Level 2 and 3 photography students a huge apology for this ill-thought out gaffe. The hideous owls were much commented on, almost as much as the photographs themselves in fact, and that is very wrong. I feel any exhibition should have gravitas and a sense of occasion and of place. Where the exhibition was placed, I do not feel this aim was achieved. At the 'Opening Night' of the exhibition, our Tutor Michael Jess gave a lovely, touching and inspiring speech about photography and our photographs. Subsequently,  a jovial, happy evening was had by all who attended. My husband Will was very positive and enthusiastic to see himself exhibited and though in no way at all an artist himself. He had a very interesting time perusing the exhibition and talking to Michael about photography.

Learning Outcome 3 - Understand photographic practice and health and safety procedures.
3. 1 Identify and use safe working practices within digital production facilities.
Always have worked backed up on an independent storage system. I ensured my work was backed up and I did not share passwords with others. When photographing indoors in the studio, I ensured I was nowhere near tripping hazards, leads, overhead lighting boxes,  rigs or stairs. Where possible one should have an ergonomic chair for spinal support and a desk at optimal  working height, with the screen placed slightly above eye-level. When working on post-production or assessments, it is advisable to take regular screen breaks. It's also advisable when working with digital post production to work through a variety of eye exercises and regularly look away from the screen.



CREDITS

Will Griffiths

Sydney Hazel Watterson-Griffiths

Richmond Art College

Michael Jess