RESEARCH

PART I (LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY)

Joe Cornish

 

"Much of photography`s pleasure is in the many challenges it provides. When making landscape photographs we are often confronted with places so huge and weather so unpredictable that when we set out we cannot know what a sort of opportunities will fallow. There is always a solution, a picture to be made - and not just one, but many different possibilities. Our task is to find a way the best distils our subject and experience’s."

/J.Cornish/ 

Joe Cornish (born 1958) is a British photographer noted for his large format landscapes. Born in Exeter, Devon, England, Cornish has produced a significant body of work for the National Trust. His images of locations in the United Kingdom and around the world have been featured in photography magazines…while his larger Northallerton gallery also displays other photographers in temporary exhibits.

Joe Cornish’s photographs are featured on a range of high quality postcards and greetings cards, as well as in books.

One of them as always I get my hands on…I was going away for a weekend in Cornwall so I have to read some tips about photographers work by coast. Well time was my enemy as usual and sky wasn’t the best as well. But in any different way that for me was a trip of the lifetime and can easily see what benefit for J.Cornish mostly working by the coast…

 

So as I said my main research source was one of J.Cornish books “Joe Cornish Photographer at work”, written by Eddie Ephraums. Friend and collaborator Eddie Ephramus over a four-year period, has created a unique record of J.Cornish working methods in a variety of locations from Cornwall to Holy Island. 

This book explores the processes and challenges in the making of some landscape photographs.

 Northumberland Beach

Whistling Sands, Gwynedd

View of Dunstanburgh castle

A view of Fairhead from Portdoo in the dawn sunlight.

Looking his images I can see place of limitless sky, how good he is, how professional he works with a light – creating so perfect composition. The polarising filter is one of the main accessories in Joe`s work as increasing colour saturation and removing reflections, what can also bring out the sky more. A few light clouds add depth and mood to the colour image – without them, the sky appears stark and unyielding. 

J.Cornish is photographer who puts a great deal of effort into every image. As he says “Many artistically inclined people are caused by the pursuit of perfection: certainly I suffer from that. By definition, perfectionists may fail to be satisfied. So I think philosophically there has to be another way. Im seeking to replace perfection with  a connection.”

As myself I have same problems, perhaps that’s way for one scene I have more than 10, sometimes 20 images. I can seek for the one for hours forgetting about everything…but usually only few can satisfy me.

Shutter Speed: 1/50sec  Aperture: F20  ISO: 100
~long walk~

Shutter Speed: 1/15sec  Aperture: F16  ISO: 100
~Porthelven bay~

Shutter Speed: 3sec  Aperture: F20  ISO: 200
~Porthelven sunset~

Shutter Speed: 1/100sec  Aperture: F8  ISO: 200
~sun&sand~

These my images stands very far from J.Cornish work, but even so show my willing to try out his technique’s using a filters and different angles. First photograph with St Michael's Mount in foreground was taken placing camera right to the ground to get that infinity feel. I like experiment that way. This is probably not the best example as I had to do some manipulation what involved straighten and adding some contrast. Picture was taking the worst hour possible – midday walking by the sea, so no extra clouds or colours, what is so important in Landscape photography.

Second is a bit better as I managed to wait for right moment…just when wave was the right place to make some similarity with the evening sky. Taken in Porthelven right before sunset- also not as good as have to be.

The third is image is from same place but different direction. Same as Joe`s I tried to locate my camera in different places, angles to find the connection. Also using a sunset filter transformed photograph completely adding a warm tones and giving real sunset feel.

The last but not least is one of my favourite’s…I probably can`t expect everyone to see what I’m seeing, but I just love this image as for me the little puddle is caching last bit of sun just before sunset and it’s something very simple that makes it in my eyes just perfect photograph.

For future I hoping to get back to coast to practise some more…as in your life you never stop learning…camera matters, but not so much…more important what you see and how you bring it to others….

“Yet technique is not related to having a better camera, but rather a matter of our ability to understand and often override the automated controls the manufacturers obligingly place like obstacles in our creative path.” /J.Cornish/

 

• http://www.joecornishgallery.co.uk/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Cornish_%28photographer%29 
• http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/north-east-life-photographer-joe-cornish-great-ayton-roseberry-topping-bamburgh-cornwall-holy--28593/ 

Bibliography

• 2009 Scotland's Mountains: A Landscape Photographer's View (Aurum Press Ltd)
• 2008 The Northumberland Coast (Frances Lincoln Publishers)
• 2005 Scotland's Coast: A Photographer's Journey (Aurum Press Ltd)
• 2005 Working The Light: Landscape Photography Masterclass2 with Charlie Waite (photographer), David Ward and Eddie Ephraums (Argentum)
• 2002 First Light: A Landscape Photographer's Art (Argentum)
• 1998 Countryside with David Noton and Paul Wakefield (National Trust Books)
• 1998 Coast with David Noton and Paul Wakefield (National Trust Books)

SUNDAY MORNING

 Searching for perfect light last Sunday I was up at 5am to get myself ready for walk in the National forest with some other college course mates…It was lovely morning, but I had to admit a bit cold. Took lots of pictures showing once again magic of Golden hour…so I wanted to share some with you as well…

Shutter Speed: 3sec  Aperture: F29  ISO: 100
~before sunrise~

Probably the best of all lot as it is perfectly shows that day’s morning tranquillity...taken by Tamron SP 10-24mm F 3.5-4.5 Di II for Nikon AF-S, what is the latest addition to my lens collection what was worth to have, as images taken by this lens brings out all beauty of the sky what person just cant see...Image by it self was a bit improved on photo shop as by Edit tool using a Fill option I took away all branches and leafs sticking pout of the corners as I thought it will gives that photograph more personality.

Shutter Speed: 1/5sec  Aperture: F22  ISO: 100

 

Shutter Speed: 1/6sec  Aperture: F22  ISO: 100

~process of sunrise~

In the process you can see how different light is now…as sun is just started it way to a new day. Wanted to get a closer look I swapped my wide angle lens for a Tamron tele zoom ones.

 

Shutter Speed: 1/20sec  Aperture: F22  ISO: 100

~after sunrise~

Look a lot darker and different from other ones as I decided going back to kit lens option and also using polariser filter, what this time rally done the job making all appear more sharper and with strong contrast.

All pictures were taken in manual mode using ISO 100 in order to get best possible out of it…hope you like it.

The Golden Hour in Photography

Once for a while I had incredible chance to experience a magic hours for three days as I was away for long weekend by the Cornwell coast. That was so amazing that I decided discuss this in my blog as a part of research for my Landscape theme.

For random people probably its doesn’t mean anything but for photographer, specially Landscape - its everything. Professional photographers know that this is the time of day with the best lighting.

Definition:

In photography the golden hour (sometimes known as magic hour) is the first and last hour of sunlight during the day, when a specific photographic effect is achieved due to the quality of the light.

If there's one thing that can make a good photo image more than any other, it's lighting. You might have the most incredible landscape or stunning portrait model, even the bastes camera possible but without the right quality of light you can still be left with a flat, dull, and uninspiring picture. I know that by experience, when I was away in Wales during the daytime…location was amazing, but light just don’t do it, so I end up fixing and editing images for more or less decant black and whites.

So what’s a stand for meaning Golden Hour?

The golden hour, also called the "magic hour", is roughly the first hour of light after sunrise, and the last hour of light before sunset, although the exact duration varies between seasons. Contrast is less during the Magic Hour, shadows are less dark, and highlights are less likely to be overexposed. The warm color of the low sun enhances the colors of the scene. Lighting effects of it can bring out some of the most unique, interesting and dramatic compositions, which is much more flattering than the harsh midday time that so many of us are used to shooting in.

Shutter Speed: 1/5sec  Aperture: F5  ISO: 200

before sunrise near Lizard`s point

As an added benefit, there are generally few people around that time than there are at other times during the day, giving a chance to capture images in relative peace, which also is truth. This image is captured on Lizard Point, Britain's - most southerly point about half an hour before sunrise. Despite a popular area, haven’t seen anyone around what was really helpful.

Searching materials about golden hour I found couple useful tips for the best shot during that time of day as they pose their own challenges and it is essential to be prepared – especially when need to sacrifice morning sleep, leaving bed on a cold morning.

• Low Light Conditions: When the sun is on the horizon, light is low in intensity. You will need to be prepared to take long exposures and it is very important that you carry a tripod along to reduce camera shakes.

Well I had a tripod, but wasn’t very helpful as it was quite windy day and especially my big telephoto lens, was hard to control from shaking.

• Camera Mode: Manual – as you can experiment as you like, whit the different settings depends what you have in mind. Also any other semi auto modes can lead to a pretty good picture. 

As I already most of the times learn myself to use Manual it wasn’t problem

• Bracketing: Will definitely need to bracket your shots. The underexposed shot will most likely be the one.

Well I’m very good at it…maybe too good as for one scene I have more than 10 images with different F stops and shutter speeds, because you have to make sure that even one will be useful as you can’t go back and re shot the scene, not only because of rare location, but even in light wise as it will never be the same.

• Timing: The biggest challenge photographer’s face during the magic hours is the timing of the shot. The light during the magic hours changes so is important to take shots as many as possible to not let by chance miss the one…

It is very stressful I had to say, when you realise that you have to be very fast to catch the right light, but sometimes get hold back by changing lenses or looking for better F stop or shutter speed..

• Image Format: In tricky shots like these you want to shoot in RAW- it`s allows full control on the picture data.

Hmm…that’s decision can be made only by professionals…I had experience shooting in RAW, but after is very hard to post processing image, as file is a lot bigger than usual. If you 100% sure you can make a perfect photograph – well defiantly go for it, as it is worth that.

• Angles: Try different angles. Light during these moments varies with every angle as does the reflection and gradient and the colors.

I agree it`s very important…change the angle, direction, position, tripod high…by doing that is very good chance then at least one good image you will have.

• Peripherals: Carrying extra battery, storage etc. since you will be taking shots every few minutes, also some other lenses.

It’s very important as you can’t afford battery low etc…this probably as always is that thing all or nothing…take all what you have…or not point even get up.

Shutter Speed: 2/6sec  Aperture: F13  ISO: 200

after sunset by Land`s End

Calculating the Golden Hour.

The best way to calculate the times of your two daily golden hours is to use golden hour calculator and as long as you can access internet it could be easily done and also will help to plan shots.

I found very useful site where you can see haw it works…

http://jekophoto.eu/tools/twilight-calculator-blue-hour-golden-hour/

Next just do some simple maths - the first golden hour of the day will begin just before sunrise and continue for about an hour. The second golden hour will begin around an hour before sunset and finish just after.

The golden hour rule can be applied not only of outdoor photography. As well as the more obvious subjects such as landscapes and city scenes, it also works well for outdoor portraits, shots of flowers and plants, and even certain types of still life such as cars. Its all down to you what you have in mind. I glad I had finally the chance to experience it and for me is nothing more beautiful as morning golden hour.

http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/the-golden-hour-in-photography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hour_%28photography%29

http://www.advancedphotography.net/advanced-photography-tips-31-advanced-photography-tips-advance-photography/

http://magichourphotography.com/

ASSIGNMENT 307 LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY

 INTRODUCTION TO ASSIGNMENT

Location photography – for first time I am choosing this particular unit. I don’t see much difference from Photo image capture, apart from showing evidence of camera use, this comes with lighting skills in professional applications on location.

Rest is all more or less similar to Photo image capture, what I`ll be doing next year. 

I have to choose two main themes, produce minimum 10 images of each one, which have to be thematic and using research material produce a detailed plan - as a planning and preparation is key to success.

Same as on Level 2 main part of writing evidence will be research of other photographer`s works as a part of learning and inspiration….

I already decided what will be my one of the themes, but still not quite shore of a second one.

Themes 

Since I finished my Level 2 I was coming up with ideas to do some portrait shoots once a while and as I’m not very good at it I need more to practice. For my main subject I will choose my daughter. I have some project in my mind which I`ll be discussing later, but reason for choosing her is very simple, she’s perfect in every way, especially what I have in mind….  Also I have a little boy, but to capture him will be very difficult and very stressful. So Mersedesa will be my main model. Lots of artists, as I already looked, sometimes work with only one model for years and as a result of that they become to know this person very well, what kind of light is better, what colours, clothes, no clothes…it’s easy. So as I wanted to start with something easier and I choose my little girl. I have some images from summer when I already started to practise.

Second theme is a challenge….I was thinking to do night photography, but probably I will hold that back for a moment because over a last weekend I had a chance to visit Cornwall and come back with some good images. During summer months I already capture some sea scenery, but it’s very different from Cornwall......

 ...as you can see...so yes, probably I`ll going to have a sea scenery for my main subject in the second theme, which will be coming as a first as I already have the images.

Already borrowed couple of books from college, I can start my work properly exploring different ways of location photography and how it will affect mood of images it self.