Fifers Youth

Cowdenbeath After School Club

Plan

To create an editorial Image for a planned exhibition on 'Fifers'. The key word I was given was 'Youth' so I decided to base my image on the childcare shortage crisis In Fife. My thought process behind this was a recent experience my local After School club faced when they they were at risk of having to close their doors due to not being able to find a new premises in order to house their business. Their current building was no longer accessible to use. This would in turn cause the local childcare in the area to face a detriment due to the already shortfall in childcare being available. Local councillors were involved as well as a small media coverage to try and help this club who is massive part of the community. Cowdenbeath After School club to Reopen

Mood Board

• Cowdenbeath After School Club
• premise
• colourful
• hands/laughter
• playing
• equipment
• DSLR
• Lighting

Key Elements

• Founder of Cowdenbeath After School Club
• Portrait to be taken in Working Grounds
• Company Slogan
• Children's Art work
• Natural POSE

RESEARCH

Look at Two Portraits in documentary Portraiture Style using supplementary lighting.My thought process is to create a unique fun and creative Portrait that reflects the business and what they do. I really struggled to find 'my image' whilst researching online. I find this happens quite often, where I can picture my ideas but struggle to find something similar in the web. The images I have chosen are image that most closely represent my internal though process and idea.

Research Image 1

Image LinkReference

Style- This image has been taken in a 'Natural pose' and differs from most known 'Corporate style portraits'. Taken on what appears to be a bright spring/summers day with lots of natural light, this image also appears to have used supplementary lighting. perhaps that of a fill in strobe flash lightly directly onto the model. There appears to be minimal shadow around both models face were natural shadowing may usually occur, and given that most of the natural sunlight would have been either behind or above at the time of the shoot and there doesn't appear to be anywhere to bounce the light from any objects as taken in an open outdoor area.

Composition- I believe this photographer has arranged the visual elements of this image well. Terms a nice pleasing sense of natural objects in the image as well as showing the main focal element. Main Focus given to adult who is sitting compositional wise as rule of thirds, full frame image that incorporates a child but only the main model looking at the camera. The use of the picnic area works extremely well in my opinion. It h=gives an aspect of natural quality as well as being slightly creative. This image would have work well with just both models but added extras makes the image feel more warm and loving. 
Post Production
Reflection- This image works extremely well for my final usual on my own image. It gives a sense of welcoming and is not your typical corporate shot.The elements used and variety of natural but vary in colours work well In reprisenting what the image is used for. If I were to recreate this image I would probably centre the image whilst using a varied angle. Perhaps a slight right Rita to the image still capturing all elements but ginning less negative space on the landscape behind. The photographer has not been mentioned on the research of this image.

Research Image 2

Research Image 2

Although this image is as similar natural style to the first image I feel this works better. it would have been appropriate to have had the adult model looking at the Camera to give that corporate element. Filling the frame on a bright day in a natural atmosphere I feel the element of the flowers slightly in front of the main focus gives depth. the colours are matching even thought there is contrast from both models with their hair both being down but in different colours. There is not any negative space as the background works well giving that sense of warm and welcoming and both models are smiling. In terms of lighting I feel a fill in flash has also been used here as there is not much natural shadow present other than that of under the adult models nose and mouth. if her head has been slightly upward this image would have presented much better. I probably would have used another object in the frame rather than another DSLR, maybe a childs' doll would have worked here particularly in my image as it is based on a childcare setting. Te photographer has also not been mentioned in this image upon research.

My Image

Style

I wanted to create a natural image that still showed what my 'Fifers' themes which was youth. I decided to use a child in my image but not disclose their face due to data protection. I still as though this works as it is obvious that it is young child in the image. The childcare giver is smiling and holding the child in a tight embrace giving the feeling of warms and protection and the child is hugging her back. The image was taken in a natural setting outdoors on a nice bright day during the latter part of the day when the sun was not too high or strong.

Lighting

This image was taken using natural light. The sun is to the right hand side of the model and projects light to the right of her face and shadow to the left. I feel this adds to the natural pose. It was bright and sunny day on the day this image was taken so i decided to capture it later on in the day before the sun fully set so there wasn't too much light and shade and so the light wasn't in my models eyes. This was also beneficial as the location in which it was shot was also a lot quieter and i did not want to have anyone else in the shot. 

Composition

Composition is responsible for the narrative of the image. I wanted to create an image that main focus was the childcare giver but also include in a nice setting. To make my image aesthetically pleasing i also wanted incorporate the background setting. My models are sitting center of the image with one looking at the camera and one with their back to the camera. The main focus is on the models with a shallow depth if field with the outdoor setting giving a calm atmosphere.

Post production

In my post production I cropped the image slightly as there was someone in the background to the left of the image and i also changed the image to black and white to give it a timeless fell. The image was then saved as a 10x8inch ready for print and saved as a jpeg file in my files with Niall.

Reflection

I do like my image, i think the composition and the context work well for my intended purpose. I shows a childminder with a young child even though it doesn't show the child face it is still obvious what the image holds. I would however maybe change the direction of the model so that there was less shadow on her face and potentially use an extra lighting agent such as a speed light to minimize shadowing under the chin etc. All in all i am happy with my image.