This final assignment
shows a summation of all elements of The Art of Photography. Using knowledge
and skills developed in previous units alongside this unit’s learning on
illustration and narrative, I have created an illustrated insert for a
magazine.
Having had
the opportunity to photograph several weddings for friends and family this
year, I thought it fitting to use a selection of these images for my
assignment. My main aim when photographing these weddings was to capture as
much as possible of the emotional journey travelled by those involved.
Don McCullin in his article, ‘The Art of Seeing’ states that
‘emotional awareness is the most
important aspect of photography’. He believes that being emotionally committed
to where you are and what you are doing far outweighs the technical side of
photography; his images taken in war zones and refugee camps show his firm belief
in this ideology as the emotions of the moments spill out onto the page. Focusing
on love rather than war, I considered McCullin’s ideals in my own work. I’ve
never been a fan of weddings; however those which I have photographed this year
have left me feeling quite elated. The thrill of listening to the ceremony for
that perfect moment when you know the couple will be looking lovingly into each
others’ eyes, watching and waiting for those instances which make your own
heart skip a beat as they begin to relax together, capturing the beauty of a
radiant bride, flushed with excitement and contentment as she revels in the day
she has dreamed of since being a little girl. Far from the emotive sadness of a
war zone, a wedding is a rollercoaster of mixed emotions, mainly positive and a
pure pleasure to capture in images they’ll revisit for the rest of their lives.
With this in mind, I decided to focus on these emotions for
my illustrated narrative. Pondering over how to fit this concept into a
magazine article, I decided on the form of an advice leaflet; all things
considered, even the most organised bride-to-be could not predict how they
might feel when the day finally arrives. While naming the images by emotion,
little captions kept springing to mind which ended up in the form of a light
hearted poem. I feel that the humour this injects reminds us all to not take
the day too seriously – after all, no matter what highs and lows the day brings,
you will end the day a married couple and no wilted posy’s going to stop that.
Front cover: I have used white and feminine hues for the text to fit with the wedding theme. An uncluttered cover, it gives a clue as to the article inside. The font used is a calligraphy style befitting to the wedding theme.
Front cover: I have used white and feminine hues for the text to fit with the wedding theme. An uncluttered cover, it gives a clue as to the article inside. The font used is a calligraphy style befitting to the wedding theme.
The first page show the run up to the ceremony with all the nerves and tears that come with it. As the bride looks at her groom on the opposite page, all of this is forgotten.
The mix of colours make this double page feel quite cluttered and busy, embodying the often frantic nature of many elements of the event. Despite firm intentions to enjoy this day more than any other, it's easy to become overwhelmed with the stresses and strains involved. I felt that the romance of the calligraphy font didn't fit the nature of this page; the alternate font used diffuses the romance, yet still retains a certain softness befitting to the overall theme.
Juxtaposed with the previous double page, this page is almost monotone and peacefully sparse.
A happy ending! The deep blues of the evening interspersed with feminine lilacs and pinks from images to background and text. The black and white image aides to de-clutter and balance the page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
00 Dress - The image used for the front cover does not directly
represent a specific emotion but is fitting with the strap-line used to draw
the reader in. The dress symbolises a major part of the seemingly infinite list
of preparations when planning a wedding; it also embodies the desire for beauty
and perfection represented by image 01 ‘Pampered’. I chose quite a plain image for the front cover with minimal colour variation to allow for visibility of the text.
01 Pampered –
Pampered symbolises the strange mixture of feelings a bride-to-be may
experience. This image shows the bride having her makeup applied, yet
highlights a concept applicable to many aspects of the day. The special feeling
of being pampered is slightly marred by the worry seen creeping into the
bride’s face as her fastidiously made plans slowly come to fruition; Will the
dress fit properly? Will the cake arrive on time? Will the guests enjoy the
meal?
The leading lines in this image; the makeup artist’s gaze,
her arm and the makeup brush all lead towards the main focus, the bride’s face.
The large containers, softly focused in the background hint at the added requirements
for this special day. I have opted for an over exposed effect to symbolise the
vulnerability of the moment and to capture the innocence of a young woman
entering into married life.
02 Nerves – Positioning themselves for a pre-ceremony shoot, the girls take a moment to reflect. This image speaks volumes and for me, surpasses any eyes-to-camera posed shot. The feelings are perfectly captured as bridesmaids stand in quiet reflection while the bride exhales through pursed lips to attempt to still the butterflies in her stomach. Firmly placed between the final arrangements and the commencement of the day; just for a second, time stands still.
The vertical lines of the girls and furnishings stabilise
the image, grounding and giving the sense of a moment frozen in time. The
rhythmic arrangement of the three posies gives a soft, bouncing motion, not dissimilar
to that of the aforementioned butterflies.
03 Treasured – A rush of emotion as father of the bride sees his little girl transformed into a beautiful young woman. The space between father and bride show the move to independence while the symmetry of the image highlights the shared emotion, empathy shown by the mirrored gestures. I wonder if, in the midst of all this emotion, the bride is kicking herself for letting the makeup artist leave earlier.
04 In love – Of all emotions felt during a wedding, the one
thing we hope to feel is in love. Taken the second the bride looks up at the groom
to say her vows, her love for him is clearly visible. The strong leading line
created by the couple’s gaze completes the circle made by their held hands.
Outside of this circle, nothing matters. The black and white finish enables greater focus on the
lines created which I feel are essential to this image.
05 Overwhelmed – In stark contrast to the previous image, this image has everything going on; people taking photos, scrabbling to get a good position while others chat and tend to children. The vibrant colours and strong diagonal lines add to the heady, fast paced feel of the shot. The swift flip from only couple in the room, to A-list celebrity is a fine example of the rollercoaster of madness this day can become.
06 Homicidal – Taken in good humour, yet representative of
the ‘Bridezilla’ effect; this image is a reminder to not let wedding pressures
get on top. There are several elements to this image which appeal to me, not
just that it sums up their relationship to a tee. The blues and greens against
the wooden windows, along with the tilted frame evoke a feeling of being on a
ship; a bride pirate jumps aboard, threatening to behead the startled groom.
The myriad of diagonal lines flowing in all directions create fast flowing
movement, slightly slowed by the calming colour scheme.
07 Calm – If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to any couple, it would be to steal a few moments alone. Having taken a short walk to the marina, the bride and groom took a break while I photographed the children. As I turned, I noticed them sitting on a bench looking so peaceful and comfortable together, in a world of their own. I could imagine a similar shot of them in fifty years time, sitting on a seafront bench eating fish and chips. This image symbolises a lifelong marriage, the feelings of stability are enhanced by the strong horizontal lines while the clear, white space reflects the purity of the union.
08 Adored – What makes a woman feel more adored than a good old smooch? The wall creates a textured backdrop while providing warm, red tones to contrast with the blue suit and blonde hair.
09 Contented – The day is almost done and the pressure is
off, time to chill out and enjoy the evening. Although the bride is not looking
at the groom, their body language shows togetherness and quiet content. Of all
the images in the set, this feels the most like a snapshot but I feel that this
is part of its charm. I have left a slight tilt to the image, partly to enhance
this feeling but also to retain some movement in the frame.
10 United – One of the last shots of the day as we made the most of the colourful night lighting; the pink tinges to the bridal gown and golden glow warming the cooler, evening shades. A slight underexposure brings out the gown’s detail. Although the couple are facing away from the camera, their unity is shown in their body language. The lightship symbolises a beacon of hope as they look forward to a long and happy marriage.
Photographing this wedding was one of the most exhilarating tasks
I have ever undertaken; my passion for photography, a love of working with
people and getting caught up in the emotion of the day made for quite a heady
mix. The pressures of wedding photography have put me on a steep learning curve
this year with differing locations, changeable lighting conditions and the desire
to represent a momentous occasion with outstanding images, both technically and emotionally. I
hope that as my technical skills continue to develop, so does my ability to be in the moment, capturing all that it embodies; a vital ingredient of all great images.
Links:
McCullin in the Guardian - http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/nov/15/don-mccullin
Kamera worK: Don McCullin - http://www.kamerawork.es/2013/03/don-mccullin.html
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