I still haven’t finished my landscape assignment so was feeling a bit sheepish when I pitched up for my photography class this week. Luckily we’ve started a new module – documentary photography – and with new people in the class I was able to set aside any feelings of failure and get stuck into a new topic. Little did I know that within hours of talking about photojournalism that two photographers would be killed in Libya – Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros. A human and professional tragedy given the contributions they’ve made through their work.
The more I study photography and photographers the more I am struck by the difference between the good, the bad and the indifference of photographs. As time goes by I’ve come to realised that amongst the masses of people who profess to be photographers the ones that stand out as distinctive are the ones that are dedicated to their cause as much as their craft.
I’ve read copiously about how to take a photograph and also how you can use technique to project a certain look. I’ve tested myself on a range of assignments and finally come to the realisation that what’s been missing a sustained focus on any particular topic. Sure you’ll find plenty of photographs of vegetables, bassets and sunrises on this blog – mainly because those are the things that I can readily photograph that sum up day to day life.
As part of my documentary homework I’m going to set myself up with a couple of personal projects where I can explore in more depth things that interest me. Inspired by an e-book Close to Home I’m planning to try and make more sense of my approach to taking daily snaps as more of a documentary on life here at Domestic Executive HQ.
But in the meantime, here’s a question for you. Which type of photography do you generally like – colour or black and white?
It depends on the image I think. For this one I like color better. But B&W can enhance the image as well. I think when the image is mainly monochromatic to begin with, for example a snow covered street or land scape, or a desert dune, using B&W enhances the starkness or contrast, making the image come alive. Where as the fern above loses it’s “life” when you drain the color from it. However, if the subject was the whole fern, with the sun/light from behind, it might be interesting in B&W because you get alot of shadows and sharp edges.
Also, sometimes you have to play with the contrast to really make a B&W image work, if the image lacks contrast it looks washed out and lifeless, which may be what you want for the image. So again, it depends on the image itself. I say, try it both ways and see which way you like it better.
Hi Liz, I’ve not done any photographic processing yet. I want to take a course later in the year and dust off my old film camera. I’m really getting into the black and white look even though I’ve not been a big fan in the past. JT
although I am still a take loads of photographs, and see which turns out best type of girl, I do lean to black and white, and to this end we now have a dark room set up by his lordship. Love doing non camera piccys ( known as photograms), mind you. Still have a lot to learn and remembering is the problem, dont run away with the idea that I have cracked the aperture and shutter thingy yet haha Happy Easter and god bless.
Not wishing to be competitive but I think we should lock and load our cameras for September. Can’t wait to see you. JT xxxx
Has either of you ever used that special paper you can use out in the sun to to capture the image of items you place on top of it. I know there is a name for the paper and the process but it eludes me at the moment. I would love to try that. Did something similar in the darkroom a few times, I assume similar to what Eveline is talking about (pictograms), but I don’t have access to that type of equipment anymore. Just wondering if either of you ever tried it.
Not me!
The paper that Liz is talking about is called Sun Print paper and is available on good old eBay.