Portait Photographs.

Experimenting with studio lighting using the DSLR camera. we had 2 umbrellas with lights available, I experimented with changing them and my friends positioning with them.

Light on right side only, creating a shadow of her behind.

Landscape composition shows the background more showing the lighting created with this positioning of the lights.

Both lights on giving a softer effect, no harsh shadows more gentle and light.

Light on left side, turned away a little, creates a harsher and darker shadow because of less light.

Both lights again, gentle poses match their natural result.

Both lights turned away slightly, face looks darker and shadows more contrasted.

Light on the right, odd composition, half background space and half my friend, not much shadow created because of the light positioning, instead more bright on the wall and darker on the face.

Attempt of back lighting, silhouette desire didn't work although it gives it a more night time effect rather than a usual photo shoot like the softer lighted portraits earlier on.

Same lighting but a close up, not as effective because of the focus on the face isn't clear because of the darkness and it should when close up rather than showing anything in the background either.

Left light only on, bright beam seen on background reflection, darker the lower in the composition which I liked.

Tried an earlier pose again, this time the light was aimed more at her rather than turned away so more of a shadow was created which I liked because we can see different shades of light.

Below are the same photographs, edited in photo shop with contrast and brightness adjustments and converted to grey scale. I preferred this because it shows the lighting more effectively because of the the added contrast, it also looks more professional because of this, it brings out the effect of the studio lighting used. It especially works better for the back lighting photograph, the face looks more like a silhouette and the brightness added shines through around the shape more, making my aimed effect slightly more effective.

Christmas Photographs.

An advantage of the topic light is that around Christmas time there will obviously be a lot more lights around for decoration, a lot of these photographs I took on my digital camera are close ups of them individually.

These ones below I took of a glass snowman decoration, I hung it up on the wall and experimented with light shining through it at different angles. Originally taken in colour (shown first) and below each of them are the photographs converted to black and white which I prefer for still life-like photographs, I also adjusted the contrast so the brighter parts look brighter and a sense that the objects are floating is created by the endless black background.

Above are all the black and white images below before I used photoshop to edit them.

Light taken off snowman and focused on white glass, taken from low angle. A favourite for its sense of floating and it seems like it should be massive although tiny when edited.

Aiming the light brom below, relecting up to the glass.

Side from below, flash light beam captured.

Light captured everywhere on object with front-on angled shot.

Light and dark differing from the light flashing onto the whole object.

From directly below, torch light.

A less bright torch light used for this, front lighting.

Light directly in the picture beaming onto object.

Use of backlighting.

Full view of lights in town centre, black and white brings out the contrast better and it looks rather old.

Less pixelated than the first shot because I focused it better this time.

Taken using close up mode with flash the lights on the tree. These photographs looked bette rin colour because of their bright lights colours, they were too grey in black and white because of the simular depths in the colours even though they are visually different.

Focused on the smallest ball ball, effect looked blurry, probably wrong mode on the camera (not close-up).

Focus on the background for a deeper depth of field, I don't like this photograph because the ball ball should have been the clear focused part.

Close up of all 3 from another angle, close up focused.

Slightly more distanced shot, successful effect.

Focus point maybe out of centre a bit, lights still look effective though.

Flash on turned the green tree silver/frosty somehow, but removed colour from the lights.

Simular angle to one of the coloured shots, showing the frosty effect instead.

Blur of reflection was how it looked although I don't know if I like it or not because it looks accidental, although light created from reflection can be seen.

My favourite simply because of the perfect focus and photo composition for a close up.

Mobile Phone Photography.

My interest in photography has inspired me to take my own photographs, some of these being on my mobile camera, that despite only being 2 mega pixels it is surprisingly useful to capture particular scenes.

Spring evening, use of natural light.

Winter night in London.

Winter night in the park, streetlight showing everything.

Same place as before, more distant shot.

Patrick Rochon Analysis 'Supernovae'.

'Supernovae', this again is part of a series of photographs where although a team of 12 were involved with the whole production (videoing, making of, model, Rochon and assistants), Rochon as expected was in complete control over the lights. The photos were produced for a fashion shoot, named a collaborative multimedia shoot. The shoot was also created as a video of the lights moving on the subject (the model). It links well with society because of it clearly presents modern technology working well with modern fashion which is what a young audience of females are going to be buying, the lights and technology add to the value of the photographs, perhaps helping with the fashion industry in advertising/persuading customers. the shoot originally started as a test shoot between Rochon and make-up artist Natalie Doden, although the success of the shots turned them into something more spectacular. The look create through the lights context almost makes the photograph seem futuristic, it is funky and twisted with various bright colour and shape seeming like an extremely advanced city.
 
The composition works perfectly, the background so bright yet out of focus makes it stand out without being overbearing to the main feature of the picture, the model and the fashion aspect being in perfect focus are what we are drawn to which works well to present the aim of the photograph. it would work well as a massive size, for example being used as a billboard or poster, I think the smaller it gets the more the different aspects of it will be taken over because they are not life size and there is so much to see in this picture, various parts may not seem clear or be noticed if it is too small. The picture seems real rather than an illusion, it reminds me of a future city, and although it is related more to night life that a bright summers day I notice that it is more in the medium rather than complete darkness like other series of work that Rochon has produced. Various skills are definitely involved, I think this photograph brings out part of the best light paintings Rochon has produced, we can easily see that he must have used a wide range of equipment to produce various light strokes, shapes and colours, for example, coloured filters, light stencils, laser pens, flashlights or spotlights and perhaps other lighting around the room to show a smoky colour effect. the colours contrast with the enitrely black outfit on the model, the colour creates a happy mood and a powerful statement of fashion being ferocious and competitive. I think Rochon chose the idea of a background like this to thrust forward the image of the model, her being surrounded light shows her as almost dictating presenting the finest fashion. No particular pattern is created but the shapes show what looks like an explosion, but colourful, also provokes a feeling of it being dangerous and looks as if it would burn and destroy, this works well with the idea of presenting fashion as 'amazing', it is as if there is something dangerous about it in a good way because of the positive colours. It could show her standing above the 'explosion'. The title works perfectly in supporting this because of supernova being associated with the temperature of the sun and being used to describe this shoot, interpreted as either the background colours representing the creative burst, or the idea of fashion being 'hot' nowadays. I would associate the shot as a mid-shot only revealing what needs to be seen with a necessary background, but also perhaps a portraiture in terms of the model being the main 'prop' used. She is presented as powerful, unbeatable, which definitely works positively to the fashion world. 
 
Other senses it evokes are that it has a sweet tasting look of it, the colours presenting this, it has a positive strong vibe to it rather than presenting something dark and negative. it gives off a good image to city/fashion related life. I really like this photograph because of the use of depth of field between the model and background, the out of focus background and sharpness of her. The image is amazing in terms of how it has been created and composed and the various forms of light and stages that must have gone to work to create the successful outcome. it doesn't remind me of anything other than the city modified, even so I had to use my imagination to picture what the background could present or stand for. The use of light in my opinion makes the clothes looks more interesting, without it all they would be plain black and their effect with light wouldn't be brought out much.

Patrick Rochon Analysis 'Imagination - What can you see?'

This light painting 'Snake Warrior Transforming' is part of Rochon's 'Imagination- what can you see?' series, created for his own use, he didn't plan to create anything in particular but instead seeing what each outcome reminded him of. It’s a spontaneous burst, the exposure time varies between five and twenty seconds. I think it can link quite well with modern art because of the light almost becoming sculpturesque as well as looking like watered down paint with a cloudy effect  similar to some effects created by paint. You can tell the work is rather modern because of the technology involved, for example Rochon's light tools and effects used to capture the right amount of time and the accurate amount of light used. Rather than being history the work it left to open interpretation for the audience, Rochon analysed his own work after the process to see what he could see instead of following a plan. Elements such as tone in the various shades can be seen creating a similar look to the Mora photograph but creating a different affect because of people not being involved, the line and shape takes no particular form, it can be depicted as whatever it can be. The 3D effect creating with the colour creates an almost silky texture to look at.

Each painting in the series was created by the same process, shot in the dark with a red light in one stroke. I see similarity in a sense all of Rochon's work creates the idea of it being night time rather than the day, here is no different, and rather than space as it is, a more supernatural outcome is created from the red used. The scale is realistic in a sense of how Rochon drew it, which works well because it creates a more of a realistic effect, the light was all real and in front of him but cannot stay that way all over the sculpture at once so the camera captures what was real and keeps it that way rather than enlarge or minimise the creation. It can work as a 'painting' or a photograph, because it photographs the painting, showing more than one talent in Rochon. The composition works well considering it wasn't well planned, instead the series could be considered more of a personal desire or experiment, obviously Rochon would aim for his drawing to take up the majority of space in the photograph and be the main focus of it rather than lots of empty black space, the composition balances well with the red and black because of the boldness of the 2 colours when they are put together.

Meaning of the picture again interpreted, I see the colour red as being very powerful, symbolising love, although I decided to see what I could make out from this picture first, when I looked at Rochon's title of what he saw it as it was the same - a snake transforming, which could show red as suitable for ferocity and power, which also works for most of the series, e.g a dragon tail in fire (below) that was also created. I think Rochon chose to work with limited colour/resources because it would be less accurate and precise which in the case of imagination would be better and lets it be linked with more than one idea. Once the title is known, it is harder to imagine something else, so the title being hidden is probably best when first glancing at these photographs so the theme imagination is used on the audience at its fullest. Again I found the work on Rochon's official website, this lead me to seeing how he felt about the work personally and gave me accurate information on his aims with it. There is no answer to what the work really is and no moral meaning, although I would class the photograph as more portrait like than a landscape of scenery, I see the snake straight away and it seems Rochon was intentional in creating this even though he wasn't. It seems out of the human world, no people can be seen naturally, although if I look more closely I can figure out a sort of surreal mermaid shape, maybe in pain and struggling judging by the positioning of her body, red again could show pain or even gore to the shapes created.

I haven't seen pieces like this in Rochon's work before, and although I like the random and imagination idea I prefer most of his other works because they looks more colourful and complex and are based on a plan, and involved people and create a more theatresque effect and more emotion is evoked through their rather unnatural appearance. There is a sense of touch in this photograph though, I imagine it as sheet like and soft, the title definitely affects the way you see the picture, it will overthrow you're own interpretation of what the figure/shape could be. The narrative of this picture alone doesn't really have much to say but the series on a whole, Rochon has mainly interpreted them as animals real and mythical doing rather unusual things such an transforming or the 'flying rooster' painting for example, it brings a sort of fairy-like and humorous side of the paintings to it. Snake was the first thing that sprung to my mind, and because of the title my idea of the work remained the same.

Patrick Rochon Analysis 'MORA'.

This photograph of Diane Dufresne is part of a series that Patrick Rochon produced for live show 'Mora' as requested by the MX gallery for their own display. Rochon always worked with real human models so the scale of the work was pretty much life size seen as Dufresne was his female model. Rochon's experience in light painting since 1992 has given him a high profiled reputation in the photography/light painting industries. The task was to produce a light painting of each of the shows characters before they went onstage, Rochon was given 5-10 minutes on each one which was a difficult challenge for him seen as he usually spent around 2-3 hours on each of his light paintings. For the simplest process possible Rochon used assistance from his friend Jean Marc Abela to operate the cameras for him and also limited his light tools. Usually using various coloured lasers pens and props such as mirrors and glass to create various forms of light, he used just a few similar colours to create the effects on the pictures. For this one in particular I can see various shades of blue created with slow shutter speed on the camera whilst Rochon draws over her shape, because these are full on coloured lights rather than lines I assume Rochon may have used a spot light of some sort with a blue filter to create this lighted affect, the swirly looking white light around her was created more complexly. The idea of Rochon's work aiming to create a movement of light through time and space relates to the cultural history of the show because of it being created my Dominic besner and the MX gallery, art was a big part, Besner being a painter himself with his work showing various colours presenting a surreal and scary look and partly his paintings of Dufresne's character seen here. You can see the link between Rochon's inspiration to create a similar feeling with different tools, perhaps not so bright but a more dark and theatre related approach to the photographs.
 

 In the photograph i can see elements of space and travel, the darkness representing the sky and bright lights perhaps creating a sort of galaxy effect, the swirls adding to a sense of movement, just like smoke and gases in the galactic atmosphere. The composition clearly shows a well thought threw process, Dufresne's character is wearing the same costume as the show showing relation to it and a fictional character rather than herself, the pale make-up adds to the ghostly and unnatural style of her look and Rochon's painting of it himself. The space is used up well, her being the main focus with the brightest form of light in the picture being on her, but the negative space is also taken over without becoming too overthrowing, duller more relaxed forms of light created by the swirls show a more calm mood compared to the ferocious look of the character. Formal elements such as line, tone, shape, colour and pattern have all been considered for this photograph. The drawing itself needed to be accurate and in shape, the various blue tones also give it a more complex and effective look because it shows Rochon's more complicated process in in. Line and pattern are more important when focusing on the bottom of her dress and the swirls, we can see lines clearly created by laser pen but we can also see a pattern created with their contrast in comparison to the lighter light around them, creating an effect of material flowing in wind, decorative to the image making it seem alive.

I'd associate the work with theatre as a genre, the whole idea of characterising someone to something else and over the top and perhaps even medieval looking costumes springs to mind when I look at this image. The photograph symbolises Dufresne's character and Besner's portrayal of her in the show itself. She looks rather supernatural, rather than their being lots of people there is just her, she looks rather powerful because of the choice of costume and the composition fully showing her lighting up, she looks evil and ferocious in an empowering way rather than any gore being involved. Rochon not only presents his own talents as a professional light painter, and although the photograph is by him, he shows off Besner's talents in the design from his own painting and costume/promotion of the theatre. The interpretations are all very positive, the show is known as 'wowing' its audience and being internationally successful, and along with Rochon's profession, was guaranteed to be a successful masterpiece and positively described on websites relating to both Rochon and Besner. On Rochon's website, his own opinion of this task is written all by him which was a perfect source to hear exactly how it all came about and what a challenge he found it.

I have never seen a piece like this before, although it reminds me of the human depiction of the mad hatter from Alice in Wonderland because of the colours in her costume. There is definitely a sense of time in the work, the idea of space associating with night showing the theatre in a night sense opposing to day. Emotionally i think it is quite inspiring because it makes me feel creative because of the various talents that have gone into it, and because I personally like the work, I feel more interested and would like to maybe try something along these lines in the future. I am first drawn to her face because it is the brightest part, my first reaction was it being something evil form a fairy tale. The photograph could present and tell the story of the character because of the movement and the focus on her.