Photography Cert. 2014 -

McDonald is interested in the role of photography as an archival tool, and believes it is important for photographers to chronicle their specific time and place. This idea "goes back to photographers like Eugene Atget, a Parisian photographer of the late 19th and early 20th century. He was the model of a particular type of photographer who records and documents things about to disappear because of the forces of change. I align myself with that role and feel a part of that tradition." From the article A cry for protection from The NZ Herald. Allan McDonald Talk Genre : Documentary photography, Street photography and Fine Art. Ideas which are present in his work s: The Unstable City - The theme of these works came out of the Christchurch earthquakes and the issues which arose during 2010 and 2011.   His aim is to document or shoot images which are quite historic.   Using this as narratives to develop thinking about what may have been or is to come  The freedo...

My plan is to do tests prints next week.  I have completed shooting four models. Selecting images which reflect my vision: The direction of my photography continues to follow the same ideas that i expressed in my earlier blog regarding showcasing the "essence" of my subjects; through my eyes.  The photos above show off the special traits of each of my models. Pela - Is the reflection of beauty, creativity and vulnerability.  People who don't know her think that shes intense or stand offish, but to those who know her well, theirs something about her which sets her apart.  This photo celebrates happiness and life. Paris - Is a blooming flower.  She's still very young, and is facing a lot of real world challenges.  She's part of the social media generation, who are constantly engulfed in the cyber world.  She has a long road ahead of her and i am excited and hopeful for her.  This photo celebrates the coming of age. Pata - Epitomiz...

Sara Orme Commercial photographer Photography influences - Art history referencing paintings Passion for sociology, documenting and narratives Always looking for the unconventional Advice Don't be complacent Collaborate (learning and working with others) Never let gear stop you from moving forward Think about your concepts (reference to history, classical paintings or portraits etc...) Challenge yourself and your subjects (push out of the comfort zone) You're the boss, its your vision take ownership of your shoots Be aware with whats happening in the world Try to stay relevant, keep reinventing How Sara's advice relates to my photography The thing that really struck a chord in me is her commitment to challenge herself.  I really admire her commitment to understanding what's going on around her.  Especially as she works within an ever changing environment (fashion photography).  From my end what i would practise is to reflect as much of my subject a...

Wk 3 (13 Oct – 17 Oct) Portfolio progress What have i done this week? Confirmed shoots this week for three models.  Two females (Pata and Paris) and one male (Chris).   I have organised two hairdressers to come in and do my females hair I have taken practise shots of my model Cecilia, who i will shoot at a later date.  I did the practise shots similar to my previous model.  Using outdoor lighting and experimented with different angles.  I also tried taking photos just above her eye line.  From this shoot, i was able to use the photos to research different poses which would be flattering for her.  Her eyes are very sensitive and she often squints in bright light or whenever she is tired.  One of the things that she was concerned about was appearing washed out or tired in her photos.  I will be sure to organise a time with her when she is well rested and using some make up to even out her skin tone and frame her eyes.  Be...

What were you thinking about when you made this work? I wanted to challenge myself and do something that would involve people.  I thought about how these images would be received by those i photographed, and i wanted to produce images which they would not commonly have in their homes; but most importantly images which they would appreciate and be proud of. I chose black and white photos because there's a quality and skill to producing really beautiful black and white photos which i wanted to try.  I also like the idea of neutralizing the images so that the subjects consume or own every part of the photo. What was going on in the world and did any of these events influence your thinking at the time? A common theme in the media is poverty, especially in South Auckland.  I feel for all those out there struggling to make ends meet.  I'm so thankful for the sacrifices my mom went through to invest in our lives.  My sisters and i are so lucky and thankful for ev...

There has been so much to consider in regards to my portfolio.  Although i am focusing on individual photos, i am also practicing group portraits. Last week i did my first photo shoot with my model, which was exciting and daunting.  Thank goodness my model is my sister!!  During the shoot i gave my model alot of direction which seemed very foreign to my model who commented on how awkward the poses felt.  The main poses that i suggested was to sit up straight, pull her head right up and bring her chin forward.  This is a high angle shot where i used Rembrandt lighting.  This was achieved using the back light with a honeycone snoot.  This is a great angle for her, you can see the contours of her cheeks which is emphasized by the high angle and the shadow which has been cast by her nose.  Her pose gives a sense of strength with a coyness that is seen in her eyes. f/8.0, 1/13, ISO 100 f/8.0, 1/13, ISO 100 This is my favourite photo, it...

Second week in and my portfolio idea seems to be moving along quite nicely.  I have had a few ideas jumping around in my head, but portraits seem to be the main stay. At this moment i have been working with the idea of taking black and white photos of my subject in front of a black background.  Prior to my one on one meeting with Caryline i was considering a few too many ideas - My genre is editorial, my sub genre being life portraitures.  I was looking at doing: Family portraits Individual portraits Samoan traditional portraits Caryline's response was "that's ambitious" and yes, it is.  As time is the biggest factor in this equation I have decided to focus on the individual portraits. Research: The photographer i have been following is Sue Bryce.  She is New Zealander currently live in LA.  She is renowned for her portrait photography and is part of an organisation called Creative Live .  Creative Live is about empowering creative people p...