Final evaluation

Environment, written evaluation

During this project I have explored how environment can beĀ  used in different ways to create an effective photographic outcome. I have taken inspiration from many photographers throughout the course of this environmental project, I have looked at photographers such as; Sally Mann, Ansel Adams and Tierney Gearson. In response to my artist research I created work using techniques that each individual photographer uses. When I researched Ansel Adams and his style of work, I travelled to the Yorkshire peaks to capture the dramatic landscapes Adams is so famous for, I then took the images to photoshop to increase things like contrast and curves so the photographs has the same dramatic and eerie feel to them.

When researching Sally Mann, I photographed environments and people that were close to me. I found this task useful because it gave me a different perspective on the people and places close to me. Tierney Gearson was the photographer whom I took most of my inspiration from. I became really inspired by her fashion photography work and especially her book ‘The Mother Project’ one of my favourite photographs from that series Gearson shot in a corn field. I am fortunate to live in a location surrounded by fields and open space so I used this element to my advantage in my final shoot for this project. Fashion photography is something I had never tried before, so I wanted to try something new for this project and incorporate it into the environment project.

My theme for my final shoot was to link the garment that the model was wearing to the outside environment the model was being photographed in. I chose a long flowy skirt with a floral pattern imprinted into the material, and a bright red flowery top which was also baggy on the model. I chose to have baggy clothing on the model because, I wanted to garments to move with the wind and therefore interacted with the outside environment. The patterns on the clothing linked to the natural surroundings the model was being photographed in. One of my favourite shots is the model sitting behind flowers, I like this concept so much because it creates a juxtaposition between reality being the real life flowers and the fantasy being the flowers on the clothing.

Overall I have really enjoyed working on this environment project. I loved the opportunity to experiment with different techniques and cameras that I have not had the chance to use before. This project has allowed me to use film for the first time an element of photography I had no prior experience with. I am happy with my final prints and think they are a reflection of how hard I have worked during the course of this project.