Project for college what to choose?

scottduffy

scottduffy

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Hi guys,

Next semester we have a project to complete which is top secret so I don't have the details yet but from the snippets we've been given it seems we have to choose a field of photography and submit an unknown number of photographs. There has to be a theme so the work of someone or travels around Scotland for instance. Macro could be another option along with portraiture.

Landscape photography is something I have almost no experience of so that's probably out. I have almost no experience in many of the fields apart from portraiture so I'm definitely leaning toward that.

What I am not keen on though is being reliant on make up artists, models etc as in the short time I've been at college we have completed two projects replicating a famous photo. The models have cancelled on both occasions and it's got a bit frantic. I was therefore I was thinking of photographing babies. I've not much experience in this either but have now got studio lights at home and could introduce props etc to make my images more interesting.

What main difficulties would I face? Posing kids or keeping the images interesting?

What do you think?
 
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I would warn against photographing babies if you have little experience in that particular specialism.
There is a lot more to it than meets the eye and believe those poses which are quite popular you have a limited window of opportunity dependent upon the age of the babies. It could be quite limiting to your project.
Why not try a street portraiture project, there's an endless supply of potential subjects out there?
 
What Iain said - babies are not an easy option.

The easiest 'accessible resource' is a theatre group, IME they're not shy, need photos and have already committed time.
 
scottduffy said:
Landscape photography is something I have almost no experience of so that's probably out. I have almost no experience in many of the fields apart from portraiture so I'm definitely leaning toward that.
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Wouldn't a college course be an ideal opportunity to expand your horizons, as it were, and challenge yourself? Rather than fall-back on the safe choice..
 
Maybe but progression is dependant on passing my course and there are numerous students from last year starting again in January because they failed this graded unit. The other thing of course is that I really enjoy portrait photography and that's the field I'd like to work in.
 
It wasn't really an easy option I was looking for more an option that wasn't dependant on others. Street photography is another I am considering but I'm not even sure it's an option as we've little to no information yet. Thanks guys food for thought.
 
Choose the photogrpahy you would most enjoy....you will learn more and do a better job thus get better score/grading or whatever its called... If you like partaits then do that.. got for outdoor natural without the need for others
 
Phil V said:
The easiest 'accessible resource' is a theatre group, IME they're not shy, need photos and have already committed time.
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I do hope he doesn't live near me and takes your advice :)
 
A photographer need collaborators. As Portraiture seems to be your thing, you should use the facilities and fellow students to your advantage. There will almost certainly be students of fashion make up and hair styling. It would be a shame not to take advantage of this fact.
Make a point of finding out who are the best amongst them, and try to become friends and collaborators. They need the services of photographers just as much as you need theirs.
You could easily make them and their models your project......
 
Accurate comments in both these quotes. Plenty of amateur theatre groups around the place, who in return for some publicity photos would probably help you out.

Phil V said:
What Iain said - babies are not an easy option.

The easiest 'accessible resource' is a theatre group, IME they're not shy, need photos and have already committed time.
Click to expand...

Terrywoodenpic said:
A photographer need collaborators. As Portraiture seems to be your thing, you should use the facilities and fellow students to your advantage. There will almost certainly be students of fashion make up and hair styling. It would be a shame not to take advantage of this fact.
Make a point of finding out who are the best amongst them, and try to become friends and collaborators. They need the services of photographers just as much as you need theirs.
You could easily make them and their models your project......
Click to expand...
 
My biggest worry with this is time. I'm in college Wednesday to Friday and I work too so if these deadlines come thick and fast like we've been told I could really see the benefit of something like street photography as there's always someone out in the town. I have always been interested in photographing addictions but there's obvious issues regarding safety. Unfortunately I know a few people who are addicts but have no idea how their associates will react to me pointing a camera at them especially if they're off their heads. Anyone know the names of any real good street photographers and I'll check them out?
 
If you like portraiture and are struggling with finding subjects, try looking at the 100 Strangers project for inspiration. It's a project based on flickr that people join in order to "learn by doing". I've tried it briefly and have a few friends who have started with making "street portraits" and now produce amazing portraits.
Take a look at the group here: https://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/
If you made "street portraiture" your project, then provided you could get into any populated area, you would have access to a lot of potential subjects.

The problem with baby photography is that unless you have a lot of friends and family who are expecting or have just had babies, you're going to run out of subjects.

I would get yourself a few potential project ideas so that when they announce the college project you can pick the most suitable one. But in the meantime, I would get out and try some of these ideas out, try a bit of landscape, try some photography on the street and see how it goes.
 
Definitely explore some different genres Scott, but if you settle back on portraiture as your preferred option, how about some alternatives to babies (wouldn't recommend as said above) or street?

Is that your son in your avatar picture?
Why not do something based around him? I'm not suggesting dozens of studio portraits because frankly I don't think that's interesting enough for a college project.
If it was me, I'd focus on something like "exploring the world through a child's eyes" - close ups of his hands interacting with objects, if it's wet and miserable put him in a pair of wellies and get some shots of his feet splashing in puddles, get down on the floor with him and experiment with some shots from his eye level. There's loads that you could do.
It solves the problem with finding suitable models and it means that you get some fun family time while you're working on your project.

Or rather than traditional portraiture do something a little bit different and try telling people's stories by shooting their hands or their feet.
What does their footwear say about them? Can you shoot them doing something interesting with their hands?

OK, There's a recurring theme here because I have a slight obsession with shoes and I find hands fascinating (one of my GCSE art modules was built around sketches of hands) but I think that there's plenty you could build on from those couple of suggestions.
 
SarahLee said:
Definitely explore some different genres Scott, but if you settle back on portraiture as your preferred option, how about some alternatives to babies (wouldn't recommend as said above) or street?

Is that your son in your avatar picture?
Why not do something based around him? I'm not suggesting dozens of studio portraits because frankly I don't think that's interesting enough for a college project.
If it was me, I'd focus on something like "exploring the world through a child's eyes" - close ups of his hands interacting with objects, if it's wet and miserable put him in a pair of wellies and get some shots of his feet splashing in puddles, get down on the floor with him and experiment with some shots from his eye level. There's loads that you could do.
It solves the problem with finding suitable models and it means that you get some fun family time while you're working on your project.

Or rather than traditional portraiture do something a little bit different and try telling people's stories by shooting their hands or their feet.
What does their footwear say about them? Can you shoot them doing something interesting with their hands?

OK, There's a recurring theme here because I have a slight obsession with shoes and I find hands fascinating (one of my GCSE art modules was built around sketches of hands) but I think that there's plenty you could build on from those couple of suggestions.
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This is a very good idea. I will be speaking to my lecturers for the next three weeks about this project as they are the ones who'll tell us whether we are allowed to run with our ideas. I will certainly mention this. Yes by the way Evan is in my avatar and he's 5 now so pretty much into everything. Thanks again.
 
Does macro photography require a very good understanding of photoshop? I've had a read tonight about this and keep reading about stacking and don't know how much is involved with this. My photoshop skills are limited to say the least. I always loved looking at macro shots but assumed probably correctly that the photographers displaying their images are very talented people.
 
I would chose a famous Street photographer. You don't need to relay on anyone or anything other than you and a camera.
 
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