Annotating my editsDance| Photography | Ballet
Within these photographs I was attempting to focus on the texture and also patterns (subject matter) created by the composition of the pointe shoes. I took these photographs with a Canon Fuji Bridge Camera – the settings were on manual, allowing me to adjust the focus, zoom, as well as shutter speed when capturing the images. Overall, having the settings on manual allowed me to adjust how focussed the lens were on the subject matter, creating a more effective piece. Finally, I took these photographs in my dining room at around midday. The work of Raffaluce influenced me in completing this piece due to his use of tone and also composition. Firstly, his use of the grayscale effect influenced my work since it created a very moody effect within his images – it also allows us to focus on the texture and patterns made by the pointe shoe, rather than the colour. Furthermore, Raffaluce used a variety of angles and levels within his photography which influenced my work. My use of low levels/angles allowed the natural light source to shine in across the shoes, highlighting the texture, as well as patterns. Whereas, my use high levels/angles creates an overall (almost birds eye view) perspective of the shoes. I feel that the composition is effective due to the fact that I considered a range of angles when photographing the pointe shoes; this produced a range of perspectives of the subject matter, causing each individual image to appear unique. Within photo shop, I made numerous adjustments to the photographs. For example: I altered the colours to greyscale – this is so that the image was more focussed on the texture and pattern, rather than the colour. Additionally, within other images, I altered the exposure. As a result, it created a mysterious (almost misty) effect to the photographs, again, focussing on the variety of angles used. Finally, I ensured I cropped out various interfering objects in the background. Thus, the eye would not be distracted from the texture and patterns within the pointe shoes, due to irrelevant objects in the background. The contrast of tones and also colours within my edits is effective because they are very dark, sophisticated looking colours. Due to the fact that they are darker colours, it provides a more moody air or feel to the edits – it allows the eye to be drawn to the texture/patterns, rather than the colours. Overall, I believe this is effective since ballet is a very moody/sophisticated subject. All in all it is also a very elegant expressive art, which is conveyed by the focus on pattern and texture within my edits. In order to refine and develop this piece I would alter my choice of background (solid oak table), so as the focus is more on the pointe shoes, rather than the table interfering within the image. Thus, within my next photo shoot I will attempt to use a plain white backdrop. Furthermore, I will attempt to single out individual colours (possibly within my make-up photo shoot), in order to put the focus on one particular colour. Lastly, I will further develop the exposure within the edits to show the contrast between light and shade. |
Before, process and final edits
To begin with, I edited the selection of images seen below; however, there was something missing. There was a lack of light and shade, making the images very dull. Thus, my final edits (to the right), possess more contrast between light and shade - to make the images more interesting.
Some of these edits are quite subtle; whereas others, I have really edited them to enhance the texture and light/shade.
Some of these edits are quite subtle; whereas others, I have really edited them to enhance the texture and light/shade.