I have chosen to look at Sandra Mickiewicz project based around the community of Jaywick, a deprived community suffering from crime and unemployment. Mickiewicz documented a community support group, called 'the happy club' and looks at the idea of community in spite of difficult circumstances. What drew me to this project was that I find bodies of work around more forgotten/ small communities very interesting as these people are often not shaped by social norms and create interesting subjects for a project.
The first image I am going to look at shows the corner and side of a small postoffice on the left with a small street with people walking in the far right of the image. there are also smaller details in the image like the an ownerless mobility scooter in the centre of the frame and the potted plants in the back centre right of the frame. The camera is level with the post office yet looking up at the people, raised in the background. Mickiewicz shot this image with a wide lens with a mid to small aperture probably around f/5.6 - 8, you can tell this because the people in the background aren't completely soft however they aren't completely sharp. The image is lit with natural light, the camera is in the shade looking out towards the direct sun, where you see a strong highlight on the side of the building as well as light shining on the people in the background. Mickiewicz has exposed for the shadows yet the highlights aren't fully blown out giving the image a nice range of tones. The image has a soft, summer afternoon feel yet is still punchy and contrasted. You see contrast in the building as well as contrast between the people in the background and the sky. I think that the background detail make a lot of this image, I like that you can't tell if the people know each other or if they all just happen to be there not only this but the fact that its the brightest part of the image your eye goes straight there before noticing the details in the fore and mid ground.
I was drawn to the next image due to the interesting character as well as the tones within the image, I like the way the greens, greys, and browns all blend together to create a laidback feeling. The image is shot with a standard lens, in soft natural light which id imagine to be coming in through a window. Mickiewicz has shot with a large aperture, this blurs the wall and even the mans ear, this adds to the laidback feeling I get from this image. The camera is positioned at a 45degree angle to the mans body with his head turned toward the camera, the camera is above the mans eye level looking down on him. The white lines on the wall create a frame around the mans head and because Mickiewicz shot at an angle the lines lead your eye through the image. Although the image is soft and dream like there are still some dark shadows which add depth and contrast into the photo. The tones in this image really helps to catch your eye, they're both visually interesting yet not obtrusive in any way. Although there isn't a lot of detail in the background you see a few pictures hanging on the wall, this adds character to the room and really ties the story of the man and the room together.
I really like the last image as the subject has an interesting body position and expression as well as that this image could easily be recreated for a different purpose/ about a different group of people. It is shot with a standard lens which leads to less lens distortion and a more natural looking image, the lens was shot with a large, fast aperture to get more light into the camera and to make the background less distracting by 'blurring' it out. The image was taken in dark, overcast and soft light; the image has a softer feeling, just like the previous image it doesn't lack in contrast. The details in the foreground are all dark which makes them stand out against the light sand and sky in the background. Mickiewicz has shot at eye level to the subject and centred her in the frame, you see an open tent on the left of the frame and closed up tents on the right pulling your eye into the centre, I also think that the background helps give this image context and ensures the viewer knows that its still in the same location by keeping the houses visible in the background.
コメント