UNIT 2 - TOWNS & CITIES - AO2 - reflections

Feeling inspired by the New York Photographer Vivian Maier I have decided to take some of the elements of her work (reflections - see left) and expand from her work to create my own style of reflection studies in towns & cities.

In terms of experimenting I plan to focus on more smaller reflected objects, some self portraits, others simply the reflected reality that appears on the object. Depending on what the object is I plan on either shooting a self portrait or a shot of the distorted reflection.

Another thing that I want to focus on is something called "Bokeh", this is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. By Shooting toward light sources with the lights out of focus it will result in circular blur ( or depending on what aperture you are on; a more hexagonal blur of light)

After a couple of weeks shooting I eventually came up with a variety of images:

Silver reflections..

(ISO:200. Aperture: f/1.8 . Shutter speed: 1/400.)

So with this photo I firstly wanted to experiment with the "Bokeh" effect that happens when shooting with a low depth of field. I travelled to the fairground amusment rides that had arrived to the city center. I decided not to shoot with the subject centralised, instead I chose to frame the reflective object in the lower-right third of the frame and have the "Bokeh" lights found on the otherside. I Really like the contrast between the subject and background as it makes the reflection stand out to quite a degree.

Grated windows

(ISO:400. Aperture: f/16. Shutter speed: 1/50)

After shooting "Silver reflections.." I started to make my way back home but first I made a detour past the Winter Gardens & "Cheese Grater" Car park. I believe that the "Cheese Grater" is a unique building in its overall architecture and design. The neighbouring windows allowed reflections of the "Cheese Grater" to be shown on the windows depending on your vantage point. I like this shot again because of the contrast between the two different structures is significant however the relfection almost looks as if the "Cheese Grater" is a part of the other building itself. Other things that I am found with this photograph is the dutch angle and the use of low key lighting. I found that throughout the shoot that "Low Key" lighting played a key role in this medium and street photography in general, as it grants a greater contrast between your subject and the background behind it.

Reflections...

(ISO:100. Aperture: f/3.2. Shutter speed: 1/1250.)

Upon making it back I found a mirror within a opticians, I wanted to try and recreate one of Vivian Maier but ended up with something much different. I love how the reflection of the buildings behind me fill the window and overlay the racks of glasses. It almost creates a sort of "dual exposure" to the photograph when in reality it was just one well exposed photograph. Other things that I am proud of is the high and low key lighting inside the building and the sky outside.

Overall I am pleased with the photographs I have taken for this shoot. I have managed to experiment with a variety of new techniques and themes whilst discovering the importance of composition and low key lighting.