Assignment 2: Feedback

I have to admit that I was unsure at only receiving an email response as feedback to my second assignment, so was quite pleasantly surprised yesterday to get my Tutor Report Form for both Assignments 2 and 3.  As both reports were very positive I have been in a good mood ever since.  


First of all a couple of quotes from the preamble to the response for assignment 2:

• "You have provided a selection of bright clear images on subjects which can be interpreted as exciting, provocative, shocking and completely absorbing."
• "I can say that your work is quite impressive at this level and it robs me of the opportunity to write a critique with too many criticisms."

However it was not all good, Alan pulled me down a little for the lack of self critique in my write up.  I normally try to analyze each piece of work from the viewpoint of how I would do it differently, for some reason this time I chose not to.  I think two things happened, first I was in a hurry, for which there is no excuse as I was way ahead of schedule, but secondly this was a very spontaneous body of work and my normal mode of thinking is that to criticize means to go out, rework and resubmit - clearly not an option for images of a one off event.

However, I will take the time here to critique the images:

1. Dykes on Bikes - The main issue with this was distance from the bikers, I think I could have achieved a better angle by being closer and shooting across the front line of bikes, however, this would have lost that spontaneous moment in the image.  Additionally I would have lost the sense of the front of the parade.
2. Guys - I really regretted missing getting more of the guy on the left side of the truck, he was wearing outrageous false eyelashes.  Better thought on shutter speed would also ahve provided greater sharpness in the image
3. Bored - Not much more I could do with this one, the crop was very carefully done and the image was one of a sequence - I simply like it
4. Aztec and Devil - Again I suffered here from issues of sharpness deriving from poor equipment selection that morning, I really needed f/2.8 zooms on a full frame camera, not the slow zooms and APS-C camera I chose for the sake of lightening the load.  I should have suffered some more for my art.
5. Looking at you - No comment, it works
6. sau - Another that would be difficult to criticize.  This was a moment in time captured on the fly and would never appear again.
7. Attitude - The key change I would make here would be perhaps the framing, either out to fully include the spray of feathers or in to bring more attention to the face.
8. Orange - This is the photo that my tutor liked the least and I can understand that.  It is a very conventional portrait of a very unconventional subject.  Alan has suggested a tighter crop to bring attention to the reflection in the sunglasses.  I had also thought about using a different but also very striking close up here.  The two images are at the end of this list
9. Less than Angelic - I still think this image would have been better if there was eye contact, however, it did not happen and the image presented is still intriguing, what is he reading, why the feathers.\
10. Preacher -  Difficult to improve as it is a spontaneous capture, perhaps more of the guy with the red shirt in the background to increase the context of the image.

Assignment 1 & 2: Feedback

I have been rather slow to update this blog with responses to my tutors feedback on the first 2 assignments.  This is primarily because, I am pleased to say, the the feedback was very positive and did not indicate that I needed to change or rework any of the images.

For assignment 1 there were some very constructive comments, particularly on the theme of less is more, especially when applied to studio lighting.  The first image I used did suffer from the use of too many lights, 4 in this case:

The image is too flat and the highlights too strong, I have in effect suppressed the modeling of the face by over illuminating it.  An image I created for my first exercise on the course had better modeling and perhaps would be a better choice:

The goal of this image is the same, to highlight the face within a dark frame, however, it captures more of the contours of Heidi's face.  Still, the assignment photo was a stretch and the feedback has provided valuable learning.  First worry about modeling the face, then add extra light to pick up the hair.

For the second image, all that was suggested was a little retouching of a few small blemishes.

The comment on the third shot, my attempt at a Victorian style posing, made the point that a Victorian image would have been much softer, but did not recommend that I change my style - I agree, shallow depth of field is a compositional aid, soft focus is not.

Images 4 and 5 were fine as they were.

Interestingly the shot I thought was the weakest, Number 6, but included for variety and again learning, was seen to fine in its context.

The final image, No. 7, contained a comment on the work of Walker Evans, which was quite rightly pulled into context.  The word comfortable could never be easily applied to anyone photographed by the FSA in the 1930's.

The comments on my 2nd Assignment were very short and succinct, essentially a good set of images very much at the standard needed.  If I can improve on this level I should be well placed to continue my work towards the degree.  I was not surprised by the limited amount of feedback, assignment 2 required a series of images taken of an event or activity.  This requires skill and judgement at the time of shooting, but does not require, nor can it even use, the type of planning that went into the assignment 1 portraits.  Either the set works or it doesn't, there is no going back, other than perhaps a rework of the edit, such as cropping or exposure management.

I did have two similar events in my back pocket, just in case my tutor did not like these images, fortunately I have not had to use them.  This would have been the annual parade at the start of the Ocktoberfest.  I was happy not to work this parade, having photographed it last year and used the subsequent images as part of my AoP course.  With what I have learned this year, I could have done things differently, however, it would have been covering old ground.  Here is a link to what I have already done

http://sclarke-blog.blogspot.com/2010/05/project-62-photographs.html

Onward to the next 3 assignments!

Assignment 2: Submission

Introduction

Assignment 2 brought a very different challenge to that of the first assignment, both technically and compositionally.  From the very start of the People and Place course I had identified the annual Christopher Street Parade as a likely subject for Assignment 2, the colour and energy of this event shouted out to be photographed.  However, unlike the first assignment in which I could plan and choreograph each shot, a parade was a moving target in which the participants have no compulsion to work with me.  Having said that, the average transvestite (if such a person exists) is more than happy to pose for the camera and in fact the bigger challenge is to get shots that are not posed. 

The other key difference was time, the parade would last around 4 hours, during which I would have to complete 10 photographs that meet the standards of the course and illustrate the event in a meaningful way.  I did my homework, identifying the route and went along quite early to stake out a location with good sight lines.  The parade also look a long loop around Munich city centre using the inner ring road and I knew that I would be able to catch the parade in roughly 3 different locations, by running across the centre of the city and intercepting the parade once again as it came the longer way around the circle.

I decided to give my new APS-C Canon EOD 7D a work out, rather than use my very familiar 5D full frame camera.  My rationale was that I would be shooting from a distance and the extra reach provided by the smaller sensor equipped camera would help.  This was a mistake as I was not used to the tolerance of the auto-focus system or the cameras noise handling, both of which were very different to the 5D and as a result my keeper rate was lower than I wanted.  I opted to travel light and simply carried two versatile zoom lenses an EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-f/5.6 IS and an EF 70-200mm f/4.  As I would need to maintain a high shutter speed with moving subjects IS on the longer lens would be unnecessary.  A couple of times a flash gun would have been useful for fill, but I do not like blinding people without first asking them politely first if I can!  Again in retrospect using f/2.8 zooms might have yielded better image quality, but at the price of a much heavier kit.

My plan was to work the parade as a street photography exercise, looking for colour and action, including the occasional candid portrait.  The brief asked for images that explain the activity and for telling moments, I will explain how I feel the images I have selected meet these needs in the notes accompanying each photograph.  I also have one or two images, portraits, that fall a little between the two requirements.

The day was very warm, around 25-28 degrees, but overcast with occasional sun resulting in very varying shooting conditions, any shots including the sky blew out and I was forced to reject some good moments as too much white invaded the frame.  Another aspect of the parade that I had not anticipated was that it was very participatory, anyone could join in and march, including photographers, thus I was able to get much closer than I had expected.  This enabled me to capture images at a wide range of focal lengths, but never wider than 35mm (56mm on FF), my style is more stand off than in and close.

Photograph 1 – “Dykes on Bikes”

70-200mm, 149mm, f/4, 1/350s, ISO 100

Explaining the Event

Leading the parade was a group self-titled “Dykes on Bikes” a lesbian (and gay) motorcycle club, led by a leather bikini clad rider on a colossal Harley.  This photograph was one of the few that I could take from a distance without people intervening.  The photograph illustrates an element of the parade, but at the same time captures a moment of sheer joy at being there, the second biker in the left hand column is clearly having fun.  This photograph also shows the diversity of the parade.  Whilst there were transvestites and black leather and studs groups, the bikers are representative of the normality of a gay lifestyle. 

Photograph 2 – Guys

15-85mm, 85mm, f/5.6, 1/90s, ISO 100

Explaining the Event

This photograph captures the excitement of the parade, the music volume in this shot was deafening and the whole crowd was moving in time.  Compositionally the frame within a frame brings focus to the 6 guys in the truck, but the red hands in the foreground draw attention to the interactions within the parade.  I also wanted to show the juxtaposition of the outrageous parade with the formal conservative architecture in the background.  Focus is a little off as the shutter speed was too low for a moving image, I should have increased the ISO, however, I do not think this distracts too much from the image.

Photograph 3 – Bored

15-85mm, 85mm, f/5.6, 1/90s, ISO 100

A Moment

These guys simply looked bored with the whole thing, perhaps the effect of a long hot day and a few beers; it was time to ratchet down the energy a little.  The feathers of the right hand figure convey the colour of the parade, but contrast strongly with the very neutral, almost disapproving stare behind the pink glasses.  This image contrasts very strongly with the energy of the second photograph, capturing a quiet moment.

Photograph 4 – Aztec and Devil

15-85mm, 35mm, f/4, 1/125s, ISO 100

A Moment

This is a “moment”, the black clad Aztec looks lovingly at his diabolic partner, their hands entwined around their whip. The costumes are outlandish, the chains suspicious, but the look is the photograph.  Paint the same expressions on a conventional male/female couple and we would see this very differently, but it is the same.

Photograph 5 – Looking at you

70-200mm, 104mm, f/4, 1/350s, ISO 100

A Moment

From this angle can we be sure, male female?  However, the look of disapproval on the lady in the background clearly indicates that all is not as it might be.  When he turned around it became quite clear, that was a very tight bikini!  The transvestite is in mid-step and very clearly posing, we cannot see his face, so all facial information is provided by the slightly out of focus observer in the back ground.  Facial expression is very important in how we interpret people.

Photograph 6 – sau

70-200mm, 200mm, f/4, 1/250s, ISO 100

A Moment

By far my favourite photograph in the submission, it captures the spirit of the parades participants as well as a couple of extra threads.  The almost trance like look on the subjects face combines with the relaxed expressions of the spectators, creating a positive image, however, the letters in the background, spell out SAU, the German word for a female pig, perhaps a sentiment of the more conservative Munich residents who oppose the march. 

These are the also the first three letters in the shop sign sauter, Munich’s largest professional camera dealer and where much of my salary ends up, partly why I was in this location to shoot.  Compositionally I cannot decide whether it would be better to have more separation between foreground and background or whether the overlap between the subject and the guys in the background helps to emphasize the fact that this is a parade.  I also cut off the arm just below the elbow, a cardinal sin, but one I think I got away with here.

Photograph 7 – Attitude

70-200mm, 70mm, f/4, 1/500s, ISO 100

A Moment/Explaining the Event

This is the first of two portraits.  This guy is an image of contrasts, the chain and razor blade necklace combines with the combat pants, but the feathers and the fan – interesting juxtaposition.  He stopped right opposite me scowled and then slowly tilted his head as I shot several frames, creating a threatening stance and expression, but diffused by the spray of blue and pink feathers.  A quick smile and then he carried on.  This image is a moment, but one in which subject and camera briefly conflicted.  The union jack T-shirt in the background echoes the spray of feathers.

Photograph 8 – Orange

70-200, 200mm, f/4, 1/350s, ISO 100

A Moment/Explaining the Event

The second portrait is more of an explanation than a moment.  He was one of several bald headed guys painted from head to foot in bright yellow and orange.  He stopped and looked at me, but very briefly, there was only the chance for a couple of shots.  The head and shoulders framing makes for a very conventional portrait, but reflecting in his sun glasses can be seen the parade. The photograph also maintains good colour balance between the green and the orange. The beer bottle he is holding provides some dynamic balance.

Photograph 9 – Less than Angelic

70-200, 70mm, f/4, 1/1500s, ISO 100

Explaining the Event

This is an odd juxtaposition between this incredibly muscled macho man and his feathery wings, perhaps symbolic of the softer side of male personality.  Eye contact might of helped, although the reflective sun glasses would have hidden the eyes, in fact I like the fact that his head is bowed reading the leaflet in his hands, makes the shot more active rather than a simple portrait.

Photograph 10 – Preacher

70-200, 200mm, f/4, 1/750s, ISO 100

A Moment

I am still puzzling over this guy; he more or less led the parade railing away at everyone.  I cannot decide whether he was deeply religious and protesting at the life styles being celebrated or whether he was an exercise in irony and part of the gay community.  Nevertheless he added much colour to the event, the cross and cow bell round his neck, the rather strange Jesus T-shirt and the stuffed animals all combine to ask questions about what he is trying to say.

Assignment 2: Portraits

A very simple shot, but the colour is stunning

Hmmm... The look on his face is great

Definitely the best costume at the event and great presence

Eve, complete with half eaten apple and snake.  This guy had more silicon than my computer

Sadly poorly focussed

Weird...

Creepy...

Colour is great, the balance of green and orange, a very good possible

Love the attitude, he posed for a few shots, but slowly tilted his head to the side, almost threateningly, but got a smile afterwards - another probable

Lederhosen and feathers again...

NYPD at their best...

Not a happy bunny...

Assignment 2: Telling Moments

I really was not sure if this guy was really angry with the parade or simply some kind of satirical reflection on religion, in any case he followed the parade and made an interesting subject

The look from the lady in the background makes this image

What a dress and a rare chance to ctach this guy when he is not in pull pose

I really like this one, the two guys look very natural, bored even, contrasting with the outrageous pink

Don't mess with me, even if I am wearing wings

Looking really tired now, having walked several miles in that outfit

Another probable, the look this couple are sharing conveys strong affection contrasting with the insane Aztec inspired costumes

Directing the traffic

Part of a gay dance group, these guys waltzed down the road

I am drawn to the absurdity of this image, however, unlikely to add it to my final collection

This is a real "what the f***" look, a true moment

Assignment 2: Explaining the Activity

So far I have edited  down from over 800 images to 112, the next step is to much reduce this number and start to put images into buckets for presentation.  To that end I have created 3 sub-categories and selected 12 images in each

1. Explaining the event - images that strongly suggest the nature of the event, i.e. a gay rights parade
2. Telling Moments - images that capture interaction, gesture, and expression
3. Portraits - I have taken the liberty of adding a 3rd category of candid or semi-posed portraits, which sit somewhere between the two earlier categories

In this entry I am presenting the first group "Explaining the activity", together with a few notes on each image

A simple crowd shot, showing a group of people waiting for the parade to come by.  I like the interaction of the group on the right and the single cool guy smoking on the left

This group was titles the "Dykes on Bikes", a gay motorcycle group.  The biker on the right is particularly striking, but what makes this image is the interaction going on in the second row - clearly a lot of fun is being had.  Very likely to be in my final selection

I like the juxtaposition of the transvestite and the two guys behind, slightly out of focus.  The image is improved by the irony of the 3 letters on the wall "sau", the German word for a female pig, something the more conservative in the Munich population might be thinking.  Furthermore this sign is part of the word "sauter" and is Munich's largest and best professional camera dealer!

Just two guys having a laugh, they will appear again later.  What I like here is the juxtaposition of the traditional Lederhosen with the madly coloured feathers.  Almost every man in South Germany has a pair and they are seen as manly, perhaps not so with the British

This traditional dance group also carry the Lederhosen theme further.  Unfortunately I did not get a good photo of them, although I did try a few times.

Les Mamas, another lay on words, all female couples, all with kids

One of my favorite subjects, this poor grand dame was visibly wilting at this stage in the parade, and that coupled with the loud boisterous group behind made for a rather sad sight

Just having fun

Well, nakedness in Germany is not considered much of an issue

 

This is another image that is likely to make my final selection.  It captures the energy of the event and provides a neat juxtaposition between the parade and the elegant buildings behind.  The pink gloved hands in the foreground add to the dynamic of the image

Riding on the bonnet of a Cadillac, iconic!

Another image that might well make the final selection, these three girls (reall one this time), literally stopped traffic and grabbed everyones attention.  This was a grab shot, no time to think as they swept by

Assignment 2: Contact Sheets

Summer in Munich brings many different events, varying from street parties and beer festivals through to major sporting competitions and political meetings.  Another long standing tradition are parades that go around the cities old town ring road and then end at the city center for a concert/demo.  One of these, the Christopher Street Day parade, run in conjunction with similar events all over Europe and the world.  It is held in memory of the Stonewall Riots of 1969 that protested against police assaults on the New York homosexual community in Christopher Street.

The parade is an outrageous splash of vivid colour, noise and celebration of the gay community in Munich.  The parade was on the 17th July, just as I started to work on the photo's for the second section of the course.  My initial intent was to use the parade to test shooting with a 200mm lens, but once there I realized this would be an ideal place to work up images for the second assignment.

The parade went in a large circle around the city and moved quite slowly, meaning that I could shoot the whole parade as it passed by my vantage point, then run across the inside of the circle to set up again at another location and wait for the parade to come by once more.  This also gave me time to review the images as I shot and to swap lenses between wide angle and telephoto zooms.  The parade was also very inclusive, if you wanted to join in, no problem.  This meant that actually walking in the parade was encouraged and offered interesting angles for shooting.  Finally I was also working with a group of people who welcomed a photograph, camera shy transvestites are rare!  The challenge was more associated with avoiding too much participation in the shot.

As I needed to be mobile I carried a light weight selection of lenses, a 200mm f/2.8 prime, a 70-200mm f/4 zoom, and a 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom.  These went on my new Canon EOS 7D, perhaps an unwanted variable for a day shooting for an assignment.  The 7D with its crop factor and high speed shooting is a great camera for sports, nature, and for shooting moving targets at longish ranges, so a good choice for a parade. However, it was tough to learn a new camera and shoot an assignment, I would have been more comfortable with my tried and tested 5D, plus a 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom and 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom.  Still a workman should not complain about his tools and with the 7D I quickly picked the differences in control and function.

All in all I shot around 800 images over a period of about 5 hours.  I have whittled these down to 112 candidate images for the assignment and created the following jpeg contact sheets from them.  These sheets show the colour and variety of image I was able to capture.  Next task will be to start working through these and select about 20 images as the candidates for inclusion in the submission.  The submission needs to divide between telling moments and explaining the activity, I think these images have both in abundance, choosing the best will be hard.

The first two photo's are a colour and grey card target to ensure that I get consistent colour when doing the final edit.  The day was hot, but overcast so lighting was fairly consistent throughout.