First photography project - tips/ideas?

P

Popty Ping

Suspended / Banned
Messages
33
Name
Simon
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all

FAO Admin/mods: sorry if this isn't the right place for this post. I did look in the Specialities forum. Feel free to move!


I've been posting on here a bit recently, getting advice on cameras etc - all very helpful!

I'm doing a photography evening couse and we have to do a project. It has to be something that "means something to us".

Well, my home town is in a very beautiful area. It's one if the most photographed areas of the uk-beaches, harbours, hills etc.

However, I'd like to shoot the side that doesn't get documented-the economic decline (boarded up shops, half built flats, inappropriate developments etc). It really does make me emotional!

I think there's a story to be told there, but the photos I've taken look, well, like bland shots of a shop etc!

This may be a daft question, but I was wondering if there were any tips on how to make such subjects interesting i.e how would you approach such a project - empty shops, building sites, inappropriate developments etc.

I appreciate it may be difficult to say without knowing the specific location - I thought I'd ask on the off chance!

Any info gratefully received!



Si
 
Have you tried black and white images, perhaps that might convey the mood you're after?

Also perhaps trying to get shots that contrast the bad with the good in the same image although I dont know how you might do that? Or perhaps the nice bits you like in colour and the decline bits in B&W.

Im sure someone with a bit more experience than me will be along with some good advice and ideas soon!
 
black and white is a good call.. Also late daytime when light fading and some night.... dont shoot something like that on a nice sunny day.. your loking for miserable not happy :)

you should post something then we know what you tried already...
 
Try some different angles. So for a shop front get down low, and maybe try and include a bit of litter or cracked pavement in the foreground...

via TP Forums for iPhone
 
Thanks folks!

I thought about b&w but we haven't covered it in the course yet. I'll ask the tutor. I don't want to over-egg the moodiness thing, but b&w does seem like a good idea.

I'll try some of the other options too. I can't post any up because I'm using an old film camera at the mo - don't have a scanner. In buying a dSLR in early March - been posting for advice loads on ere!

To the person who asked - i'm basing it on Pembrokeshire and Tenby in particular. It's obviously a beautiful area and the decline isnt bad compared to mant towns,but there is enough "ugly" stuff for a project. It's certainly an issue which is at the forefront of people's minds there and you hear great sadness in people's voices when they talk about the place now compared to some years ago.

Thanks again


Si
 
Good luck with it. Look forward to seeing some images when you get your DSLR.
 
Rather than boarded up shops what about an old disused industrial estate or some such. We have one in ipswich that closed about 9 months ago and now has fading paint and lots of stuff growing in the car park.

HTH

Nick
 
Find a beautiful girl, dressed in a beautiful frock, eg: bridal gown, prom dress etc and photograph her against the ugly backgrounds eg: scrapyard, graffitti, dilapidated buildings/ind estates etc. Very much like some Trash the Dress shots. Shows a great contrast between ugly and beauty.

EDIT: If you can't do this with a model, you could probably use something like a flower as a foreground subject?
 
Last edited:
Hi guys

An apology - I was away from the internet for a week and then forgot I'd posted this!

Thanks for the ideas - much appreciated. Still want to do this project, as I think there is a story to be told. Gonna try some b&w images I think.

Been enjoying Stephen Shore's work recently - I like the way he made the mundane e.g. a car park interesting.

Cheers


Si
 
My first project was the alphabet. Trying to find interpretations of letters, upper or lower case, that you see everyday.

Steve

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
 
Popty Ping said:
Been enjoying Stephen Shore's work recently - I like the way he made the mundane e.g. a car park interesting.
Click to expand...

Then perhaps, in the way of offering an alternative to b&w suggests, keep you photos in colour and make them postcard perfect. The results could, in a deadpan way, make a good contrast to the picture perfect part of the country you're in.
 
what about getting deeper into your local town avoid the buildings and seek out the people, what about asking locals (independant shop owners, big issue seller etc.) if you can take a portait and then add a bit about who they are to each image.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top