Assignment 5 - Tutor report

Well done on reaching the end of the course, I appreciate your have tried a range of subjects for this assignment.

You are showing that you are utilizing your knowledge gained from the course for the final assignment.  You have prepared with a shot list – but with any shoot you have to be prepared to improvise and think on your feet. 

The shame with an event-based subject is that you do not have the opportunity to go and back and rework the project.  If you are continuing with OCA courses (or for your photography generally) do find a subject that you can review your images and then return to for subsequent reshoots.    This approach really does allow you to progress your technical and creative ability, as you will try different things on each shoot.

Feedback on assignment

Image 1

The abstraction of the programme makes a good starting image.    The bright purple catches the eye.  The vignette (particularly on the right hand side) adds to the theatrical theme

Image 2

This image shows the make up in process.  A second image could be the empty stage or a shot of the theatre waiting for the audience as I think you need to set the place of the story.

In this image the make up artist is slightly blurred by moving.

Image 3

The shot of the make up fits with the story.  However be careful with mixing black and white with colour in the same story.  Think about your reasons why and give this justification in your write up.

Image 4

In this image the cluttered background could cause issues.  However it is out of focus due to depth of field.  If you cropped you would also cut the hairbrush in half!  This image works well as the girls face is evenly lit. and it is clear on the activity.

Image 5

This has real potential at an image.  The styling of the shot is great.  However her arm in the air looks blurred.  The highlights on the forearms are bright – you can use the sliders in Lightroom to see if you can pull down the highlights a little.

Image 6

Taken images on a stage is hard.  The lighting forces you to use high ISO settings, which can comprise the quality of the image.  The use of the diagonal is good and gives the image energy.  I am not so sure on how it cuts through the girls on either edge of the frame. 

Image 7

This is strong image, and a well-spotted moment in the performance.  The action and expressions are caught well.  The only thing is the focus is sharp on the two girls on the left and the girl in the middle is a little soft.

Image 8

An interesting comparison with the image of Zadie Smith.  I would crop this tighter and remove the wooden stage.  This makes the image much more dramatic.  I have gone for a square crop – it would be better if she was a little more into the frame and the elbow was not clipped at the edge.

Image 9

This image is somewhat similar to image 6 with the use of the diagonal framing.  Think how else you could photograph either of these two to give variety between the two shots.

Image 10

A striking image with the yellow acting as a strong focal point.  Her legs are cut off a bit awkwardly at the bottom of the frame.  However the action is well captured on the stage and the image portrays a sense of the performance.

Image 11

With this image – I would have reduced the ISO so much and would have selected a faster shutter speed.  This would prevent some of the blurred movement from those on the stage (particularly the woman crouched down on the right hand side).

The highlights are still showing some clipping on those in the centre so a little selective darkening may be required (you can do this in Lightroom).

The image brings the story to a nice close.  For a more artistic shot you could shoot through a silhouette of clapping hands.

Learning Logs or Blogs/Critical essays

Your log is showing good detail.  You have used tabs or organize it so it is easy to navigate.

The posts are comprehensive and you are describing your learning.  Do also consider reflecting more and evaluating your work.  Think how you change, improve images if you were able to do the shoot again.

Suggested reading/viewing

Your blog is showing a list of sources and you have written about the photographers.  Do keep adding to this, if there are any you have yet to include.

For this assignment you could find the following helpful to look at:

Cecil Beaton – the master of the theatrical portrait

Eve Arnold – photographed Marilyn Monroe on the set of The Misfits