D&AD Submission: 'Nokia' Brief

For my concept, I wanted to incorporate HCB's theory regarding the ‘decisive moment’ to create an image that explores cultural life and popular experiences as a form of self-expression that is relevant to the consumer.
I chose to photograph a couple sharing an intimate moment in the middle of a busy high street and I wanted the image to convey their moment in time. I feel that consumers of all ages would be able to relate to this idea as it is human nature to desire the feeling of love.

Below is my final submission...

Final Major Project and Critical Study

I am currently working on my Final Major Project (FMP) and Critical Study assignments. They allow me the opportunity to develop my skills in decision-making, problem solving and communication, integrating the skills and knowledge that I have developed in the past two years on the HND course.

For the I am required to select, plan, implement and evaluate a project of my choice - that is within my chosen specialism of social documentary photography - and present the outcomes in the end of year exhibition. I must also evaluate my own practice through a critical analysis as well as writing a 3000-word essay focusing on an area of contemporary photography that interests me.

So far I have been exploring initial ideas for the concept of my FMP and these include;  

• A day in the life
• Exploring mental health issues
• Social/cultural/economic aspects of society
• Analogue photography
• Travel and shoot different areas of the UK
• Double exposure
• Mobile photography
• People at work
• Significant memories
• Change
• Public displays of affection
• Nightlife
• 'From where I stand'
• On the road 

Below shows a range of images I have found online that interest me and inspire ideas for this project...

 

D&AD New Blood Awards 2014

As part of my Advertising Assignment I am required to take part in the New Blood Awards, held by D&AD. From a range of different briefs, I chose Nokia's 'Decisive Moment' brief which focuses upon revisiting the idea of Henri Cartier Bresson's 'decisive moment'. 

The brief states the following; Use your intuition to capture an image that is not disposable but speaks of, or represents, a particular moment in time. Revisit the concept and evolution of the ‘decisive moment,’ whilst considering the access and immediacy that photographic technology has now enabled. The challenge is to understand your own world-view, knowing that a picture can say as much about the photographer as the subject in front of the lens. Through a single image create a distinctive piece of cultural reportage.

I undertook in-depth research into the principles of Nokia's brand, their history of advertising and legislation within the advertising industry before creating digital mock-ups, sketches and visual mind-maps to explore initial ideas and concepts. I formulated four main concepts for this brief including;

1. The 'Decisive Moment': for this concept, I wanted to incorporate Henri Cartier Bresson’s theory about the ‘decisive moment’ to create an image explores cultural life and popular experiences as a form of self-expression that is relevant to the consumer.

2. Incidental Photography: focusing on accidental photography and capturing incidental elements within an image as well as the main focal points. This can include reflections, movement, energy, background details, signs, hidden meanings as well as lighting and shadows.

3. Mobile Photography: this genre has changed the way people use mobile phone cameras, it allows anyone to pick up their smartphone and create images whilst providing professional photographers with another creative opportunity. This concept would appeal to Nokia's target audience - the social, connected, in-the-know types. I was also interested in how popular their new Nokia 1020 smartphone has become – used by David Bailey and other professional photographers who enjoy the high quality images that can be achieved with the phone’s 41-megapixel camera.

4. Differences/Contrast: this concept focuses on representing the different ways in which the public own and use mobile phones. It emphasises how far digital technology has come since the first mobile phone was produced and how each year new smartphones, with more features than the ones before, are being developed.
Below are a few of my digital mock-ups, created using images found on stock websites or via other photographers. (Permission to use images has been attained).

 

The 'Decisive Moment' Mock-up #1 - © Danny Santos 2013; © Rob Cartwright 2012; © Rawhead 2014

 

 

Mobile Photography Mock-Up #1

 

 

Incidental Photography Mock-up #1 - © Ceyda Hall 2012; © Bhautik Joshi 2013

 

 

Differences/Contrast Mock-up #1

After producing 20+ mock-ups, I have decided to submit mock-up #1 from the 'decisive moment' and will shoot during the next week.

Some Cities

'Stories from Birmingham made by the people who live and work there'

Some Cities is an exciting and ambitious project by photographers Andrew Jackson and Dan Burwood to build an interactive online archive of photographs and stories of life in Birmingham.
One of my photographs posted on the Some Cities website after submission:

some-cities.org.uk

Corporate Identity

For our Professional and Business Practice assignment, we are required to create a logo for ourselves as photographers. I played around with a variety of possible fonts, sizes and juxtapositions, below are a few that I have created to potentially use for my corporate identity:

On Location Shoot

 I was required to create a series of images for my client intended for promotional use. My client is was a Pakistani woman who is setting up a food catering business, specialising in Indian Cuisine. As this is usually unheard of in her community, I wanted to explore the social documentary side of the photo shoot.

The location for this shoot was at my client’s home in Derby. After discussing with my client, we decided that the images would convey a stronger message if some of her friends and family were present to sell both the homemade element of her business as well as display the social ways that her food can be enjoyed. I am required to photograph her and guests in her home environment preparing and eating the food she intends to sell.
As well as creating images that fit with my client’s brief I also want to explore the social aspects of her business and the culture of Pakistan. For this reason, I asked my client and the guests to dress in their traditional clothing; Shalwar Karmeez (loose trousers and long shirts), Dupatta (long scarfs, usually wrapped over the head) and Saris (a garment that is wrapped around the body, often embroidered and made with rich fabrics). This would also help to reinforce to the viewer the type of food that my client specialises in.

Some of the images I produced for this shoot:

College Prospectus

During this session we were required, in groups of four, to photograph in the Land Based Centre of Solihull College, Birmingham for publication of images to be used in the college prospectus. These booklets are designed to give a good first impression of the college to a prospective student or parent, so it was vital that the photographs we took for this task presented the values and character of the college - they should show the course to be fun, informative and professional. We had to make sure that the lighting and set up was sufficient to create successful images that were well composed.

For our first shoot, we were taken to the Veterinary Lab in Land Based and were asked to photograph two students using the microscopes. Firstly, we took test shots to experiment with the composition of the shot, including props, and the lighting we needed. The equipment we used included; a soft box which we positioned to the right of the camera and this worked as the key light to illuminate the front of the subjects. An umbrella that we placed to the left of the camera and this worked as a fill light to bring brightness to the back of the subject's heads and the background of the shot as it was important that the photographs had context. After setting up the lighting, composition and camera settings, we then photographed our models in place. We chose to place different items from this Lab, including a stethoscope and various solutions in glass bottles in the shot to further add context to the image. Below it the outcome of the first shoot:



For our second shoot, we were taken to the x-ray room where we were asked to photograph a student evaluating an x-ray. The lighting we used for this photograph included; the light box used to view an x-ray as after experimenting seemed the best way to light the subject as it was bright and provided the student with a well exposed face. We also used natural lighting from the window next to the x-ray - this produced adequate illumination from the back of the subject. The camera settings we used for this shot were ISO 400, f/10, 1/150. Below is the outcome of this shoot:

We then experimented with this shot as we were not 100% happy with the lighting - we tried to photograph the x-ray against the window and used natural light to see the dog's skeleton. As well as natural light, we used a soft box to light behind the subject. The camera settings we used for this shot were ISO 200, f/10 and 1/150. I think this shot works better than the other one as it shows the student being more interactive with the x-ray and I feel it is lit better. Below is the outcome of this shoot:



For our third shoot, we were taken to the reptile room and were asked to photograph a student holding a lizard. There were also lots of other reptiles in cages in this room which proved a challenge when it came to lighting as the cages were made of glass and reflected any flash we used. The equipment we used in this shot included; a soft box to light the subject and the reptile, two standard lights which we positioned to point up to the ceiling corners and this bounced the light around the room which illuminated the other areas and helped to prevent the reflection of the lighting on the glass. We used a wide angle lens for this shot to capture the environment of the animal to add context and depth to the image. Below is the outcome of this shoot:



I enjoyed this task as I found myself challenged by the different scenes and environments we were put into - the lighting had to be carefully thought out and I think it helped to develop my knowledge of lighting. I did think that we could have produced more interesting photographs had we had more time to experiment.