Joe's Photo Essay

All of these pictures are observational, they are of the ideology that things are more natural and their behaviour is more realistic when left untouched.

Picture 1: Lone Canoeist

Decisive moment captured here as natural waves are pursued by man. 

f/11, 1/250's, ISO 40. 

Editing: Raised highlights, raised lights, lowered darks and lowered shadows. Raised reds, yellows, greens, aquas, blues, purples and lowered magentas in HLS/Greyscale. This was to make the red canoe seem isolated among the grey ocean to make the man seem isolated.

Picture 2: Canoe Splash

Again, decisive moment captured here as the natural wave catches up with man44. 

f/13, 1/320's, ISO 400

Editing: raised lights and lowered darks in tone curve, and in effects increasing the amount of grain. This was done to make the photo seem older, like a memory.

Picture 3: Leaf in sand

A switch to natural beauty from an observational perspective. 

f/11, 1/250's, ISO 400.

Editing: in HSL / Greyscale, raised reds, yellows and magentas. This was done to make the leaf look more vibrant, to bring to colour brightness up and to highlight the veigns of the leaf to bring forward the detail.

Picture 4: Dog and paw print

More observed natural beauty, this time two footprints from two different creatures.

F/11, 1/200's, ISO 400

Editing: In tonecurve, raised highlights and lowered lights, and in effects, specifcally post crop vignette, colour priority is a lowered amount. This was done to bring shadow round the edges to make it look like a centimental image, in the view of a photo frame. I wanted to make it seem like a memory to the audience, in essence to break the fourth wall yet in reality to incite inner questions of identity.

Picture 5: Bottle cap 1

Nature abused, a discarded bottle cap observed in the shimmer of daytime.

f/13, 1/250's, ISO 1600.

Editing: lowered highlights, lights and darks in tone curve. This was done to place a sense of irony on to the image as it is a discarded bottle cap and I wanted to make it look like tarnished, hidden treasure.

picture 6: Bottle cap 2

Yet another bottle cap discarded, this time observed surrounded by further grit.

f/5, 1/25's, ISO 400.

Editing: In basics, increased clarity. This was done to make the atmosphere of the photo seem cold and gritty with the object being about litter and to add texture.

Picture 7: Bottle cap 3

Once again, another observed, undisturbed bottle cap slightly buried beneath sand and other beach grit.

f/14, 1/320's, ISO 1600.

Editing: Increased temperature in basics. This was done to make the surroundings of the main object look like an ideal place umong the grit and litter.

Picture 8: Beer bottle

A bigger item of discarded refuse, observational and implied modes here of carelessness. 

f/5.6, 1/15's, ISO 400.

Editing: in HSL/Greyscale, raised reds and raised temperature. This was done to highlight the orange price tag in order to imply the objects short time within its current location.

Picture 9: Discarded Battery

As before, observed objects discarded with a darkening image and tone. 

f/7.1, 1/60's, ISO 400.

Editing: increased clarity. This was done to lower the tone of the world around the objects, to make it dark and moody.

Picture 10: Discarded coffee cup

Discarded litter once again, this time a much lighter tone with a fresh green grass depicted. 

f/5.6, 1/50's, ISO 200.

Editing: In Basic, raised temperature, in photoshop - auto tone. This was done to add depth to the shades of green in the grass and again to portray a generally darker mood.

Picture 11: Fastfood bench

Discarded litter once again observed, this time on an instrument of human creation and use, depicting a bleak image of human carelessness.

f/4.5, 1/125's, ISO 400.

Editing: In tone curve, raised highlights and darks, lowered lights and shadows. This was done to portray bleaker overall atmosphere and tone.

Picture 12: Fastfood bench side

The same discarded litter observed from a different angle, with more of the bench in view, the discarded litter on the human creation for human use constructs a wasteful image of human intention.

f/5, 1/100's, ISO 400

Editing: In HSL /Greyscale, Raised reds, yellows and greens, lowered oranges. This was done to again create a bleaker atmosphere surrounding the main objects with represent waste.

OVERVIEW: This photo essay fits into the observatory and poetic modes, as I wanted to create something that placed an emphasis on less aesthetically pleasing side of reality.