Project 3: “Experiments in
Key”: Tutor Feedback
You seem to have investigated
this topic area quite well. There are some good project based images here that
evidence the nature and level of your understanding. The work undertaken
demonstrates that you have the appropriate levels of technique and application
to utilise these “key” elements where you wish to in future projects. There is
a competent realisation of your ideas that are well printed and presented.
Comment on the individual images:
High Key 1: Swans landing. The sequential nature of the
image is indeed broken but there are a lot more elements to this image in terms
of key that make it worthwhile. You are shooting into the light and the shadow
areas still have good tone. He commented that, given the high key nature of
the image, it would be relatively easy to alter the sequence of swans using
“Photoshop”. I have investigated this: see my separate post.
High Key 2: Herring Gulls. He felt that the image would have looked better with a square crop and
that it was not sharp. I suspect that the lack of sharpness may have been
partly due to loss of detail in the birds’ plumage during the conversion to
high key, but I need to keep a close eye on getting my subjects completely in focus,
because the issue of “lack of sharpness” has been raised elsewhere.
Low Key 1: Great Crested Grebe. My tutor commented that it’s a
good image, I like it and the water on the back is nice and crisp. However,
he noted also that at this level perhaps
it’s a little safe – perhaps too safe you need to be doing a little more rather
than such a simple image showing low key. To develop yourself you need to
strive for the type of excitement – or mystery etc. that high or low key can
deliver. I have taken this point on board: some of my other images that
were not selected for the assignment were action shots with more excitement,
but I was unhappy with their composition or there were technical flaws.
However, in retrospect perhaps I should have replaced the “safer” images with
these.
Low Key 2: Mute Swan.
There were similar comments here as for the other low key image. However, in
addition my tutor commented on lack of detail in the bird’s plumage. I have
studied the print closely and struggle to find areas of plumage that are not
sharp. However, despite this being a low key image some of the plumage is
rather bright, so perhaps this is a case of too much contrast and some “blown”
highlights. Either way, I clearly need to put extra effort into ensuring that
my images are sharp when they need to be. It is, however, reassuring to note
that this is a successful set that shows
the required lighting, contrast and brightness used in a suitable aesthetic
manner.
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