Concentration 2: Memories
Research of My Subject Matter (Hannah)
In order to get started I interviewed my subject matter, Hannah, about a memory that is most significant to her. I chose Hannah because I am very close with her, but I wanted to get to know her better on a personal level. I was able to learn of an experience that meant something extraordinary to her. In doing so, I learned about a memory that will stick with her forever and the relationships she had created along the way. Field hockey is a major part of her life and more specifically she will always remember the Penn Manor game that took place on the Cumberland Valley home turf. To read/learn more, I included a link that has my questions and her answers during our interview.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vXSrAVSlBQZci41zsXMJG6Us_YYRz5W59SIN6GkFEMw/edit?usp=sharing
Image Examples
After that, I researched some photographs using smoke bombs that I liked. I looked up different ways to incorporate the smoke within the body. For example, in the first two photographs the head is fully engulfed by the smoke whereas in the others, the body is only surrounded by the smoke.
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/327777679123445336/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/512073420111839053/
Online Research
After that, I researched videos on how to use the smoke bombs to take photographs. In these videos, it gives tips on what to do and how to use the smoke bombs. For example, you must always take the wind into considerations. In addition, you should have a routine of poses set before you set off the smoke bombs since the time is limited. Also, have another individual hold the smoke bomb so that you can solely focus on taking the pictures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f064pZ41Fz4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d1Yk7eZ4Uo
Photographs
Then, I began taking pictures of Hannah. First, we set up one camera on the tripod and tested the setting for taking repetitive shots within a certain amount of seconds. After that, we came up with a set of poses so that when we put the smoke bomb off, we would not waste time knowing what pose to do next. We do multiple practice rounds of that. Next, we set off the first smoke bomb and I took pictures while the tripod was also taking pictures. We then set off the second smoke bomb and continued to take pictures as well. I took pictures of a variety of different poses so that I could decide later on which ones best showcased my vision. Below is a contact sheet (in google photos) of all my photos I took for this project.
https://photos.google.com/u/1/album/AF1QipNmmpOoM2SRIIgBTZViRXjlgLWEBXuciDR7E_5L
Process
When I had finished taking all of the pictures, I looked through them and chose the picture that had the best focal point with the majority of the smoke in the frame. Then, I chose two other photographs that had the subject in an action shot as if she was playing field hockey. I then used photoshop to blend the images together. I also found other images that had smoke in the air and blended them in as well to add more smoke to the photograph. This created a more unified piece by capturing the subject matter as if she was coming out/through the smoke. I did this because it gives it a more intense effect and the smoke represents the energy and togetherness the team had played with that game. I then used lightroom to enhance the color red and add a slight black vignette so that the focal points are more prominent.
Reflection
I chose Hannah because we have been really close friends since middle school, but I have not gotten to understand her love for field hockey. I wanted to showcase Hannah's most significant memory using smoke bombs. I chose red smoke because it is a CV color but also because red is an intense, eye-catching color in my opinion. The smoke represents the flow and energy the team had throughout that game (The smoke is one big movement, moving as one). They worked together as one and even though they did not win, they persevered through the hardship. I had the subject matter looking as if she is coming out of the smoke because it resembles the team breaking out of their shell and putting all their effort forth into winning. It also represents the fact that Hannah is going to be moving on in her life and will no longer play for CV, she essentially is breaking through into another chapter of her life. I first chose the picture in the middle because it showcases Hannah's face and seriousness she upholds when she is playing the game. I then chose the image to the left because the stance is facing toward the middle stance and leads the viewer's eyes to the center focal point. Likewise, I chose the image to the right because it is also guiding the viewer's eyes into the middle of the photograph as well. I found it difficult, in my opinion, to photoshop this piece and get it to where the image looks like one. The smoke made it hard to blend. Also, I do not normally use photoshop so this took me out of my element that I am use to. In addition, it was very very difficult to use the smoke bombs because they only lasted for a minute each. With the first smoke bomb we used, we figured out that the person holding it should not go around the subject matter because the wind started to blow. Therefore, during the second smoke bomb, they stood to the right of hannah and waved the smoke up and down and left and right. Then, the wind blew the smoke that encapsulated her body. Overall though, I enjoyed the challenge of photographing with the smoke bombs and I also enjoyed learning how to layer the images in a way that they would look like one.
Research of My Subject Matter (Hannah)
In order to get started I interviewed my subject matter, Hannah, about a memory that is most significant to her. I chose Hannah because I am very close with her, but I wanted to get to know her better on a personal level. I was able to learn of an experience that meant something extraordinary to her. In doing so, I learned about a memory that will stick with her forever and the relationships she had created along the way. Field hockey is a major part of her life and more specifically she will always remember the Penn Manor game that took place on the Cumberland Valley home turf. To read/learn more, I included a link that has my questions and her answers during our interview.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vXSrAVSlBQZci41zsXMJG6Us_YYRz5W59SIN6GkFEMw/edit?usp=sharing
Image Examples
After that, I researched some photographs using smoke bombs that I liked. I looked up different ways to incorporate the smoke within the body. For example, in the first two photographs the head is fully engulfed by the smoke whereas in the others, the body is only surrounded by the smoke.
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/327777679123445336/
Online Research
After that, I researched videos on how to use the smoke bombs to take photographs. In these videos, it gives tips on what to do and how to use the smoke bombs. For example, you must always take the wind into considerations. In addition, you should have a routine of poses set before you set off the smoke bombs since the time is limited. Also, have another individual hold the smoke bomb so that you can solely focus on taking the pictures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f064pZ41Fz4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d1Yk7eZ4Uo
Photographs
Then, I began taking pictures of Hannah. First, we set up one camera on the tripod and tested the setting for taking repetitive shots within a certain amount of seconds. After that, we came up with a set of poses so that when we put the smoke bomb off, we would not waste time knowing what pose to do next. We do multiple practice rounds of that. Next, we set off the first smoke bomb and I took pictures while the tripod was also taking pictures. We then set off the second smoke bomb and continued to take pictures as well. I took pictures of a variety of different poses so that I could decide later on which ones best showcased my vision. Below is a contact sheet (in google photos) of all my photos I took for this project.
https://photos.google.com/u/1/album/AF1QipNmmpOoM2SRIIgBTZViRXjlgLWEBXuciDR7E_5L
Process
When I had finished taking all of the pictures, I looked through them and chose the picture that had the best focal point with the majority of the smoke in the frame. Then, I chose two other photographs that had the subject in an action shot as if she was playing field hockey. I then used photoshop to blend the images together. I also found other images that had smoke in the air and blended them in as well to add more smoke to the photograph. This created a more unified piece by capturing the subject matter as if she was coming out/through the smoke. I did this because it gives it a more intense effect and the smoke represents the energy and togetherness the team had played with that game. I then used lightroom to enhance the color red and add a slight black vignette so that the focal points are more prominent.
Reflection
I chose Hannah because we have been really close friends since middle school, but I have not gotten to understand her love for field hockey. I wanted to showcase Hannah's most significant memory using smoke bombs. I chose red smoke because it is a CV color but also because red is an intense, eye-catching color in my opinion. The smoke represents the flow and energy the team had throughout that game (The smoke is one big movement, moving as one). They worked together as one and even though they did not win, they persevered through the hardship. I had the subject matter looking as if she is coming out of the smoke because it resembles the team breaking out of their shell and putting all their effort forth into winning. It also represents the fact that Hannah is going to be moving on in her life and will no longer play for CV, she essentially is breaking through into another chapter of her life. I first chose the picture in the middle because it showcases Hannah's face and seriousness she upholds when she is playing the game. I then chose the image to the left because the stance is facing toward the middle stance and leads the viewer's eyes to the center focal point. Likewise, I chose the image to the right because it is also guiding the viewer's eyes into the middle of the photograph as well. I found it difficult, in my opinion, to photoshop this piece and get it to where the image looks like one. The smoke made it hard to blend. Also, I do not normally use photoshop so this took me out of my element that I am use to. In addition, it was very very difficult to use the smoke bombs because they only lasted for a minute each. With the first smoke bomb we used, we figured out that the person holding it should not go around the subject matter because the wind started to blow. Therefore, during the second smoke bomb, they stood to the right of hannah and waved the smoke up and down and left and right. Then, the wind blew the smoke that encapsulated her body. Overall though, I enjoyed the challenge of photographing with the smoke bombs and I also enjoyed learning how to layer the images in a way that they would look like one.
