The Pursuit of Happiness Portraits – Shoot 5 (LO2)

This was my final shoot as part of my Phototherapy Portraits series. This point I had established that the portrait element was key in ensuring the message of the images was successfully communicated to the viewer. I also felt eye contact was useful in creating questions in the viewer as to why the objects were significant.

For this shoot my subject had brought a tape, The Best of the 80’s, which represented a time when he was ill and listened to that music a lot. In our initial discussion my subject expressed clear ideas about how they would like to be photographed and the lighting situation they felt would best represent how they felt. Collaboration between subject and photographer is a key element within Phototherapy therefore I was happy to use their direction within the images. I would then add my own interpretation on top. The lighting was very harsh in these images, almost cutting the subjects face in two, which represented the before and after illness. We tried different poses from thoughtful and considered to content and relaxed.

 

On reflection the main issues I had with some of these images is that, with the hard side lighting, in some the tape has been lost in the shadows. As this is a significant element within the image I felt these ones failed to work. However where within the images where there was a clear link between the subject’s emotions and the tape, I felt I had succeeded in my objective. The object prompted questions from the viewer, which could then be answers by examining the subject’s body language and facial features.

The Pursuit of Happiness Portraits – Shoot 3 – part 2 (LO2)

This was the second part of the third shoot. For this section of the shoot I wanted to concentrate on the main subject, that being the shoes. I wanted to test if the object alone could communicate the message, or whether the persons face in the picture was necessary. I tried several approached from close up shots with a very shallow depth of field to overhead shots showing the shoes as part of a sequence.

 

Again these images worded for me aesthetically and I feel they could be successful if the purpose was to advertise the shows or produce images for a fell running magazine. However, as a phototherapy image that was required to communicate how running helped someone deal with emotions, I feel they failed. This lead me to the conclusion that portraits were necessary for the viewer to make the connection between object and a persons emotion.

Film 120 B&W Testing (LO2)

To allow me to test the practice parameters of materials I may be using during my project I decided to test three different 120 black and white films. I chose to take a series of self-portraits with the three films, all using the same lighting and setting to give me a set of comparative results. To do this, in a studio setting, I used three Bronica cameras that I placed next to each other in a row. Each one had a different role of 120 film is it, which would be taken one after the other, frame by frame. Taking the images in this way ensured they were all tested under the same conditions. The films I tested were Ilford HP5, Fuji Neopan and Ilford XP2, all ISO 400.

After shooting the film I repeated my logical approach when printing a single negative from each of the films. All were printed on the same say, as I was wet processing so knew the chemical would be different on another day, using the same paper and the same enlarger settings. This again allowed from comparative results.

The results of my testing were, starting with examining the negative, were that the HP5 seemed to have produced the best results. The negative had a fine grain and were evenly exposed and a good density. In contrast the Fuji Neopan negatives were much darker and the XP2’s were thin. However all appeared well exposed. There was some movement blur on the Neopan’s but I believe this was down to the camera and issues with the shutter.

Ilford XP2

Fuji Neopan CN 400

Ilford HP5

When I printed one image from each of the negatives the results were not that clearly conclusive. They all produced a good image with a nice tonal range showing excellent highlight and shadow detail. However the Neopan did seem to have the edge producing a slightly contrastier image, which I found particularly nice. They all produced fine grain images, however I would say the XP2 was the grainiest, showing especially in the darker area. The HP5 seemed to be an all rounder film, from the point that it was neither excessively grainer or contrasty. However I did fine it the least flattering on the skin tone.

 

In summary I found all the films produced acceptable results when used in a studio environment to produce a portrait. If I had not compared them I believe I wouldn’t have been unhappy with any of the results. However once placing all the images together I feel that the high contrast and fine grain of Fuji Neopan CN’s film makes it preferable to the others.

A visual interpretation of my initial ideas (LO1)

At the end of our first MA lesson we were all asked, for the following week, to take three images that represented our projects. For me this was a challenge as I was still slightly unsure of the direction my work would take. I knew I wanted to base it around the pursuit of happiness however I was still very uncertain of what that truly meant. I therefore decided to base my images on my current personal understanding of happiness.

Firstly to clarify, when I talk about happiness during this project I’m referring to a constant, contented and peaceful state of mind, body and soul. The inner happiness which makes you feel free from stresses, know your place in the world and feel content in life, not the momentary emotion you get when your favorite movie is on or you eat something nice. I want to use this project to explore the journeys people take in their drive to find true happiness and the emotional impact it can have on them and their lives.

However for these images I looked at my own perception of the pursuit of happiness and interpreted my current understanding of it in the three images above. The first image of the path represents the beginning of the journey and the hope it can hold. The path looks inviting however its final destination is unknown, connotating my own feeling of uncertainty about the future and where it will lead.  The second image of the dandelions represents the middle of the journey and my belief that sadness and happiness will be interlinked throughout it. To achieve one you must experience the other. The flowers are dying, however there is a beauty about them. Also the myth about blowing the seeds and making a wish when they’re at this stage of their life bring another positive element to their current sad state, representing the emotional roller-coaster you experience when going through a stressful time. The third and final image is my visual interpretation of achieving your goal and reaching the end of your journey. When people talk about being truly happy they talk about a feeling of freedom, space around them, and relate it to conquering a mountain. Therefore I wanted to capture a space that fitted this description. One that felt peaceful and spacious and that when you visualise yourself there, you would free a sense of freedom.

Overall I am pleased with the three images and feel they are a good starting point for my project. As a set I believe they work well and do communicate my current perception of the journey involved in the pursuit of happiness.