Final Evaluation

Overall project evaluation

In my seven preparatory shoots I developed my three sub themes of sensory experiences (diminished/normal/extraordinary). I spent a similar time on each and planned and organised them and completed one before moving on to the next. I started with the one requiring least research which was normal/everyday experiences as this would allow me more time to research the experiences I wanted to illustrate in the extraordinary shoots.

After researching and selected which experiences to focus on I captured images, however a few of these proved to be not so effective in conveying the experience (shoot 4 cold/flu images) but I felt the majority were good. In shoot 2 (normal touch/temperature) I felt that the compositions I was creating were a bit repetitive in that they all involved the use of a hand touching, holding or approaching something for example soft petals, thorny plant, ice, burning flame. This was partly why when I had to select which to take forward to the exam I chose to not include these.

To ensure the rest of the shoots were more captivating I researched for more novel ways to illustrate the experiences so that I avoided making the images boring or repetitive. I selected a number of different techniques and subjects to use: wide angle close up using an unusual perspective (dog’s nose, shoot 6, exam 2), freeze frame (snake forked tongue flick, shoot 6, exam 1) and close up detail using a macro lens (gecko eye, snake pit organs, shoot 7, exam 2). I also used a number of computer images, animated gif (alarm clock 2 Gifs, shoot 3, snake tongue flick exam 1), composite image of glasses (short sighted/landscape, shoot 5, exam 3), infrared photography (landscape, shoot 7, exam 1) and thermal image (hamster, exam 2). In many of the images I used the technique of shallow depth of field so gained considerable experience with using this particular technique over the duration of the preparatory shoots.

My research has influenced my final series of images in a number of ways. Firstly my initial research on which sensory experiences to choose for the extraordinary/diminished shoots led me to include experiences such as snakes ability to detect thermal radiation, geckos ability to see infrared light and the ability of snakes to smell in 3D. Secondly through my research I gained an understanding of how to convey sensory experiences effectively by analysing other photographers work. For example Ashvini Ray images illustrated to me how to make the images more intimate and focus on the subject by using close cropping and capturing form in them. I have also used close cropping and up close images to enhance the intimacy and connection with the viewers, as well as use quality lighting to enhance the element of form in my images making my subjects appear more real. My research into Fan Ho’s work highlighted his use of leading lines which I then used in my images of the musical instruments (shoot 3,4, exam 3), Ross McGibbon and Muhammad Roem inspired me to use a macro lens to captured detail in my images of a snakes pit organ and gecko’s eye just as they had done. This adds another element of interest by capturing detail that is not visible to the naked eye. Lee Friedlander’s expert use of framing encouraged me to make it the focal point in my images using the glasses including a composite image. Other more technical techniques such as the use of the imaginary triangle I arranged in my compositions after being influenced by Josef Koudelka’s images.  Through analysing Robert Adams images I gained an understanding of how to make my images more effectively convey sound by incorporating the perception of motion in them. This encouraged me to include instruments that involved movement such as a guitar where the strings are strummed and the flute which involves the movement of fingers over the keys. I also was inspired by Elke Vogelsang’s distinctive way of using wide angle close up to focus on her dog’s nose and make it the dominant feature of the image. I was so impressed by this that I decided to capture images of my own dogs using this technique.  However my models were not as well behaved as hers and this hampered my ability to capture the exact shots I wanted. Finally it was discovering Sir Simon Marsden and Piper McKay’s infrared photography images that inspired me to order an infrared filter for my camera and try this new technique for myself to illustrate the infrared world a gecko sees.

The preparatory shoots have influenced my final series of images in several ways. Firstly they have provided me with the time to see how effective my planned images compositions are. Then based on this to refine and improve them so that they are effective as possible in the exam shoots. For example when I took the images with the electric guitar and hearing aid (shoot 3 and 4) I realised that it would look more authentic if I had a younger aged model as a subject. So I therefore arranged to have my sister act as a model for the exam shoot. I also asked her to dress in ripped denim as this is the typical casual way many people expect a person who plays electric guitar to dress. By doing this the image looks more real and not set up and this allows the audience to identify and connect more with the model. Another example is with the snake tongue flicks which I captured in shoot 6, the preparatory shoot allowed me to study the images in detail and determine which snake was best to use against which background. The snakes have different colour tongues, for example the hognose male’s is pink and the female’s is black. In shoot 6 I was trying to capture a snake with a black tongue against a dark background of the cave it was exiting from. I captured a great tongue flick but it was difficult to see it in the image. This meant that for the exam shoot I knew to use the male with the pink tongue for this location as I had learnt from my previous mistakes. Also for the composite image with the glasses, after studying the image I created in shoot 5 I decided to improve the effectiveness of the image by changing the location to include a zebra crossing in the landscape view. This makes the image more serious as it connects with ideas about how dangerous it would be to cross a busy road if you could not see the cars properly. The preparatory shoots also provided me with the time to experiment with different perspective to find the one that I think is the most suitable, such as for the flute images where I wanted to use the flute as a leading line but wanted to test out the different camera placement positions to see if one was more effective than others in highlighting the hearing aid on the models ear (shoot 4 and 5). 

The preparatory shoots also allowed me to review all my sensory experience images and identify those which were most effective and interesting and that worked well as a series. I also had to ensure that they illustrated my ability to use a wide variety of techniques and compositional ideas. This is why I selected to use just diminished and extraordinary in the exam shoots, as there would not have been time to capture images from all three themes. As my original intention for this project was to capture a diverse range of sensory experiences than by selecting the diminished and the extraordinary sensory experiences I can still keep to my original plan.

As this project has developed I have been able to learn new ways of presenting work and also try a new technique that I have never used before. This technique was infrared photography which was completely new to me before this project began and which I will continue to work with to develop and improve my technique. I would however prefer to adapt a camera rather than use a filter as I felt this was very restricting and time consuming. The novel way of presenting work was the way in which I used wide angle close up to take images of my dogs nose that make it look massive,  I used this in shoot 6 and exam shoot 2. I gained the knowledge about presenting work this way from the photographer Elke Voselsang’s images. I also gained experience of capturing close up images with my macro lens, I also learned how to quickly adapt lighting as the snakes were very mobile and would not stay in the light box so I placed it on its side and used it as a source of lighting. This project has also provided me with the opportunity to gain lots of experience working with shallow depth of field as well as having to use it on a moving subject. This has allowed me to improve my technical skills and ability.

There are a number of areas in which I have responded strongly in my work to the exam paper but there are also others where I require some improvement. I have spent a lot of time researching the sensory experiences, particularly information about animal’s extraordinary senses which are what allows them to achieve these experiences. This was because I wanted to be factually correct and have a greater understanding of what I was illustrating to the audience.  I have also undertaken considerable research into a wide variety of photographers, from all around the world, and the techniques /methods they use to convey the sensory experience or compose their images to direct attention to specific places. I have then demonstrated the ability to put my research into practice and effectively and in a varied and captivating way presented these sensory experiences photographically. In these visual images I have illustrated the sensory experience such as; tasting the air in two places to get a 3D gradient of the scent, people with hearing impairments listening to their own music, looking through glasses both for the long and short sighted, detecting body heat radiating from warm bodies and looking at a landscape in near infrared when it is normally invisible to us. In these images I have tried to direct and guide the viewer to the part where the sensory experience is being illustrated the strongest by using various compositional techniques and I believe I have been successful with this. The weaker parts of my technical knowledge and experience are the infrared photography, and the ability to capture images of moving subjects with wide angle close up.

I particularly think I have captured an excellent macro lens images of the gecko eye, snake pit organs and tongue flick. I think they provide high quality detail and insight into how these animals experiences the world with their senses. 

I was a bit disappointed that I could not spend longer refining and improving the images of food from the first shoot and also that I could not include some of them in the exam shoots as they would have disrupted the flow of the series. I enjoyed taking the images of the food as they allowed me to capture and vary many formal elements such as colour, texture, pattern and shape in the one image as well as having to set up my lighting to ensure I captured form in a realistic way. I can understand why many food photographers have a food stylist and a chef to help them compose their images.

While I wanted to ensure my images were captivating and interesting by including sensory experiences that are unique and unusual. This may mean that viewers may not be able to connect with the images so easily as it is something they cannot do themselves such as use whiskers to determine the texture and size of close by objects or detect thermal radiation using pit organs. However, I think I have captured a diverse range of sensory experiences; I have images that focused on each of the five senses smell, taste, vision, touch and hearing.  I have also highlighted in some of the images how experiences can be affected by impaired senses and the way technology can help to restore this experience to the affected person.