Photo Book Evaluation

">Urban Trees Photo Book link

Originally I published my photo book with an online zine website called ISSUU however, I wasn't satisfied with the result of this and still felt it was important to have a physical copy of my photo book in order for the images to be appreciated in full. Looking at images on a screen simply doesn't hold the same interest or feel like it has the same value as actual prints.
In keeping with my research into photo books, the printing of my project 'Urban Trees', has been ordered with Albelli. I found the software very user friendly for both inserting the images and adding text. My previous experience with photo books involved using a company named Photobox which, I didn't find user friendly and found myself constantly losing patience with the process. Albelli gave the option of assembling the book online or downloading their software which, provided more options. I chose the latter finding it a much safer way of saving changes and appreciated not being reliant on my internet connection which, gave me more confidence. There is also an option to view your book online and share that link with social media. I have shared this link with twitter and facebook but have yet to receive any responses.

Evaluation/Reflection
I have now received my photo book back from Albelli and I am pleased to say I am very satisfied with the quality and service from them. The gloss paper finish that I included has worked well to avoid the black and white images looking to flat and there is no bleed through of the black ink from page to page. With hindsight, however,  I would have chosen a different layout with more variety of image sizes and orientation to keep the visuals more interesting. My included text looks a little 'squashed' at the bottom of the page and this could have been avoided if I had varied the size of the images and placed the text alongside them. It is also a good experience to be able to hand my book to anybody interested my work rather than trying to show digital images. I would use Albelli again and feel that my research into the various companies has been worthwhile.

Photo Book Poster and Flyer

The following screen shot (Image 1) shows my promotional poster being resized to A4 (29.7 x 21cm) dimensions in Photoshop. This is achieved by selecting 'Image Size' from the top menu bar and inputting the correct figures in the width and height sections in this menu. The resolution has been set to 150 pixel/inch to maintain a good quality print whilst keeping the overall file size down.

Image 1

Image 2

The final image of my poster created in Photoshop by layering different images being used in my new photo book, resized and saved to fit A4.












My flyer is then created by resizing the poster to size A6 (10.5 x 14.8cm), using the same method as above for the A4 poster. (Image 3)

Image 3

Image 4

Image 4 illustrates the flyer finished and ready to print to size A6. Four images would be printed on size A4 paper.

Intentional Signifiers and Signified language in my Images

The Task:
To produce at least three images depicting different messages by using different techniques, views or situations. An object, person or scene may used to accomplish this but there must be distinct signifiers and signified messages in each image.
For this task, I have used one of my fellow students as a model and photographed him in different poses and environments.

Image 1

The signifier in image 1 and 2 is a young man in what appears to me to be a compromised situation. The fallen tree trunk in image 1 strikes me as uncomfortable and I find myself not wanting him to venture out any further despite him being quite at home. Image 2 sees a serious facial expression and again I am concerned for safety reasons even though my model is more than confident in his venture. His hand near his face in image 1 implies thinking and that is actually true, had the surface not been so slippy, he would have carried on walking further out. I intended to show a young carefree person in my images and hope this is what I achieved rather than showing my unease with the situation.

Image 2

My judgement is no doubt coloured by my dislike of heights and perhaps because I am a mum and have natural protective instincts. A younger person viewing these images may well look at them and consider the activity 'fun' or perhaps wonder if he is protesting against something whilst perched on the tree trunk. I know that the descent from the container in image 2 happened quite safely but it does look like Rob is considering the distance to the ground and his crouched position further enforces this belief.

Image 3

In image 3 we see a very different view of the same person which, shows us him checking a photograph on the camera playback. His hand gripping the wire door may look as though he is unsteady, the truth is that his hand was the subject of his photography and he simply hadn't removed it.

Image 4

Image 4 has been taken at a slightly upwards angle to add a feeling of importance to the person in the image. We see here a student looking like he is interested in the computer screen. In reality, this is the log on screen and my model is just pretending to do some work at this point.







Conclusion
I found this exercise interesting and fun to carry out. I had to really think about the signified message I would be giving out in my images and whether it would be understood by viewers. Simply taking a photograph of any subject isn't that difficult but it takes a lot more skill and consideration to purposely deliver an understandable message. The messages we read into an image will always be clouded or influenced by our own experiences of life and social upbringing, something else to consider when trying to project a message through your photography. In my images above, the aim was to portray my fellow student in many different lights and hopefully influence the viewers opinion of him. I believe that I achieved my aim to a certain extent, however because of his clothes, he does retain a young and carefree look in all the images and to substantially change perception, a change of style would most likely be required.

Photo Book Images

The following images are my chosen and edited work that will be incorporated into my latest photo book.

My current photography project is about trees and their presence in the urban environment. I wish to show how trees manage to survive the environment we place them in, as well as how they manage to evolve against the odds in urban settings and how we co-exist with this magnificent and important life form. Sometimes surviving inhospitable environments and living on long after man made buildings crumble, trees are something we see every day and perhaps don't notice their presence or appreciate their valuable function. Sometimes we also use trees outside our homes, in towns and cities to our own advantage with little regard to the tree's welfare.

Image 1

Image 2

Both of these images depict very different trees set against man made buildings. Image 1 lets us see the crumbling building behind the ancient Oak that is probably the older of the two. Image 2 witnesses the tree being used for lights at Christmas time. This one is set against better kept buildings and there is also distinctive evidence of pruning.

Image 3

In image 3 we observe another crumbling building which, looks earmarked for demolition. I do hope the tree inside the boundary will not be removed along with it and will remain to stand proud just as the other tree we see to the right.

Image 4

Image 4 shows us another view of the grand Oak that stands in the grounds of a churchyard, next to the delapidated remains of  'Garnetts Cabinet Works'.  Hopefully the placement of this tree will protect it when demolition of the building finally takes place. The long time neglected building has plant life emerging from its decaying bricks.

Image 5

Quite often trees are planted in formation to suit our needs. These trees which, look like they have been planted to divide the playing fields have grown in a unified pattern whilst battling the winds of an open field.

Image 6

Just about every cemetary I have ever seen has some degree of trees both lining the paths and surrounding the headstones. I believe it adds a feeling of importance to an otherwise sombre place. There is also a message of something being alive in amongst the graves. Trees also have meanings such a peace, old age and eternity. History tells us Yew trees were even used instead of headstones to mark a grave by the poor. The bare trees in my image heightens the feeling of old age and history.

Image 7

Image 7 which is blatant advertising, reveals a Palm tree planted in an attempt to convey a specific message. The sunbed shop is perhaps trying to tell us this is a tropical place and make us think of having a lovely tan. It is a stark contrast to the trees we see on the right hand side of the image which are more fitting with the environment and have been there a long time. Incidentally, the Palm tree doesn't look very healthy.

Image 8

This tree caught my eye, not only because of bringing a little beauty into a drab looking shopping area but also the shape of the trunk reminded of stories I read as a child. A younger person viewing this image may very well not see the shapes that I do however, to me it does appear to have arms that carry the burden of the branches above.

Image 10

Image 9

Image 9 on the left depicts a growing popular trend in garden tree sculpting. Due to our way of living, owls are becoming a rare occurence in our gardens. It's placement in the natural greenery tries to imitate nature. Image 10 shows a Chestnut tree standing alone and completely out of place. I have centralised the tree, revealing the bland surrounding residential environment.

Image 11

Once again we see how trees have been deliberately planted symmetrically to suit our needs. Trees provide areas of shade and as we see here, the seats have been placed in between the trees and also provide places of solitude. There appears to be a barrier separating the areas to walk the path.

Image 12

Trees add character and inject some nature into our city centres as this image depicts, taken in the centre of Manchester. They help to bring birds into the area and provide an area of shade in the Summer. Once again the planting uniformity is evident even as we build in between and all around the trees. The lines of the trees follow the lines of the buildings.

Image 13

A fence has been erected around the base of this Thorn tree to protect it and also signify that it is important in some way. A little research reveals a Pagan history surrounding a tree planted here since the 12th century. This particular tree is reputed to be an offshoot of the holy Glastonbury Thorn. Decoration will take place at the end of June via red ribbons and garlands tied to the branches which, is know as 'bawming the thorn'.

Image 14

The fence in this image is an obstruction rather than protection for this tree. It protects us from the railway line and forces nature to survive around it or as it has developed in this instance - through it. This brings thoughts of how strong and resilient nature can be.

Image 15

A juxtaposition is depicted in this image as our use of the tree is bringing artificial light into a town whilst trying to encourage nature with the use of a bird box. I'm not convinced the artificial home and lights would be a bird's first choice of habitat.

Image 16

This is my final image and I feel it works due to it's imact and positioning of the tree stump within the frame. It does't really need explaining, however I do feel it has captured a sense of humour. Even though the tree has been cut down, enough of it has been left for people to use it as a feature, I wonder how beautiful it was before it was assigned to this fate....

Semiotics - Messages in Advertising

Semiotics is the study of visual language or 'messages' that we interpret within an image or advert.
There are two parts to the process, the first being, 'the signifier', which is the material aspect of what we see in front of us. The second part is 'the signified', which is the message implied in what we see. This is heavily used in advertising as companies try to sell their goods to us in a subtle way which is also influenced by our cultural history.

The Signifier:
In the image above, advertising the new 'Beetle' car, what we see is a group of Beetle cars on a pedestrian crossing.
The Signified:
This is imitating the very famous album cover of 'The Beatles, Abbey Road', as a signified message. The Beatles were an extremely popular and successful band who conveyed a message of being 'cool' or 'hippie'. We also see an older model of the Beetle just behind the newer models perhaps telling the tale of how long they have been around. The cars being treated as people also adds a message of character to them and how they integrate into society. The advertising appears to be aimed at women not men owing to bright colours and lack of technical data about the cars.

The cars are placed in the same format as the band were on their famous album cover. There was myth surrounding the release of this album, claiming Paul McCartney had died and some people claim the line of the band members resembles a funeral procession. This obviously wasn't true but perhaps the new and updated cars refer to this as they have survived the test of time and are still very much in circulation.

Little Ant & Dec's Farmyard Kitchen -- Out in the Field

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6pKxNyC_Vc&noredirect=1#t=94 

The Signifier:
This advertising video shows us two little boys imitating 'Ant and Dec' who are presenters on National Television. We are introduced at the beginning of the video with them looking around a farm for a mothers day present, meeting/talking with the farmer and followed by them making cakes with a chef.
The Signified:
This video appears to be aimed directly at mum's, telling them how rural, fresh and special Morrisons is. This is especially evident in the talk between the two boys and the farmer as he explains how rare and special the cows are. The two boys in the video are treated patience and care, perhaps Morrisons trying to tell us how well looked after our families will be with them? In the kitchen while making cakes, all the ingredients are available at Morrisons and owing to the farm tour, we are influenced to think how fresh everything is. The end result of the video is the boys taking care of mum thanks to the help of advertising store.

Conclusion/Evaluation
I find this subject extremely interesting and wonder how much of the advertising messages I have 'missed' over the years. I have found that I don't always know what message a company is trying to convey to me so it is of great value to me to analyse how this is meant to be accomplished. Some advertising companies are not subtle with their messages and we can't fail to 'get' this but others try to be more clever and reach into our subconscious thoughts to trigger a response. The success of this depends on our experiences and what we have been exposed to through our lives.

Interview Skills

Interview skills are perhaps something we take for granted especially once you have undergone quite a few and have been successful. However it is good practice to re-visit skills and methods to keep ideas fresh and it is never to late for improving.

This image shows the findings within a group exercise, discussing the good and bad experiences of interviews. There were quite a few different ages within the group which led to a good and varied input. I felt that along with research and presenting yourself in a good manner, listening during an interview came out as an important point to remember.







Interview Preparation discussed with John Kiely
As part of interview skills practice, we interviewed our group tutor with questions to form a constructive picture of what to expect and how to present ourselves in the best way.
Questions and Answers:
1) What format should we use for a portfolio? (photo book or wallet etc)
Formal portfolio case - box or case also take a photo book to leave with the interviewers
2) Is a contact sheet appropriate with my contact details?
No, a book with details as mentioned above
3) What size should we print our images and how to mount, framing and mounting colour?
A3 or A4 mounted to A3 and as a rule, a black mount is standard
4) What research do we need to evidence and how to go about it - existing practitioners?
Research the job and specific jobs or projects the company have done, looking at websites they use. It is a good idea to research current billboard and adverts - who has taken them?
5) Do we need to be sequential with our portfolio?
There should be a beginning, middle and end (using GOAL POST strategy). Short collections of images are best, the whole set doesn't need to be sequenced.
6) Should we include a weak piece of work to show reflective practice?
If a weak piece is included it shouldn't be too weak and we must be able to analise it properly.
7) How smartly should we dress?
Casual smart is best, not in a suit but it does depend on the job you are going for.
Extra advice from John:
Take charge of the interview
Expect the unexpected questions 

Interview Evaluation
My own most recent experience of an interview which, was approximately two years ago, is fortunate enough to have been a successful one but also provided me with quite a learning curve. After applying online for a job at a local supermarket, I found myself attending for an interview within a few days. This didn't leave me much time to research the company and as I didn't now anybody else who worked there, I couldn't ask for advise on how best to present myself to them. The initial interview turned out to be quite a large group interview, something I haven't experienced before. It was less intimidating than a  personal one to one interview but was also quite nerve wracking in a way, knowing that you are being observed on your interactions within your designated peer group and I was very aware of not 'taking over'. I later found out during a feedback session that I had performed extremely well in this group situation and this had led to me being offered a choice of positions. The following personal interview also went well and I felt better prepared for it however on reflection I would have preferred to be better informed for any interview if only to make me feel less anxious and make it a more positive experience. Preparation before an interview not only makes you look more professional and eager but also helps to make you feel more confident in yourself, knowing you will have something constructive to say.

Planning and Outline for 1000 Word Essay/Research for Study Skills

The Brief:

To produce a 1000 word assignment on an appropriate topic relating to my studies.

• This needs a time management plan
• An outline plan for my investigation
• Research and identify my sources for information
• Extract the relevant information from the source material
• Produce a visual interpretation (poster)
• 1000 word assignment
• Include bibliography

Abstract photography is my chosen subject for the 1000 word essay for study skills which will include at least three different sources for reference material. I am going to be looking at the different ways that an abstract image is achieved along with the techniques that some photographers use. I will include images in my assignment and on the blog post which will show my research and inspiration for this genre of photography.

The Outline
I will begin my assignment by using the 'Discovery' facility on the student intranet to source books and journals for reference material. Next step is to highlight the material I find of value and interest on the printed or copied journals/internet tutorials. If there are no books available in the library, I will perform an internet search and check on Amazon and Ebay for them. Books need to be ordered early on to enable them to arrive in time for me to use them. Next an internet search will be performed to support my assignment and relevant information will be downloaded and printed. Once all my source material is collated, I will begin my 1000 word assignment. 
Introduction:
I will begin by explaining my interest in abstract photography and how it is defined and described (with quotes)
Middle:
Explore three different techniques, effects and practitioners with supporting images (with quotes). Techniques will be multiple exposures, intentional camera movement and macro.
Conclusion:
Evaluate the different techniques and how I will relate them to my own work.

I will also be compiling a resource sheet to detail the source information I am using and how I found this information.

Initial Sources: (more will be used)
(website)
Chris Friel Photography

(website)
Ursula Abresch Photography

(Journal article)
http://www.onlandscape.co.uk/2013/09/multiple-exposure-photography/

(Journal article)
Featured Photographer - Chris Friel

(Journal article) (Discovery search)
Aaron Siskind; Robert Mann Gallery / Andrea Rosen Gallery / Whitney museum of american art / studio museum in Harlem

(Journal article) (Discovery search)
The art of abstract photography 

(Book)
Digital Abstract and Macro Photography
Milburn, Ken
Pages: 305
Publisher: Course Technology / Cengage Learning
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Date Published: 03/2005
Language: en

(Book)

The Edge of Vision: The Rise of Abstraction in Photography

Rexer, Lyle

Pages: 29

Publisher: Aperture (2 Sep 2013) 

Language: English