Professional Considerations

While out photographing the hardest part of the shoot was finding models to agree to stop and be photographed, this was made harder as we would not ask certain people to model as it seemed rude or unethical, people who were with children we did not ask or people on the phone as these would not want to be disturbed and the parent/guardian of the child may think we are targeting them for the child, also we did not want to keep them out in the cold for longer than they should have been.

We sometimes felt that we must rush through the taking of the picture as we did not want the model standing in the cold any more than we had too be there. Many of the models were more lenient with the time we took as we may have told them it was our first time out with the camera and we were only just learning how to use it, this gave us more time as many of them relaxed slightly (probably thinking that their image wasnt going to work.)

While shooting we remained polite and courteous and if people did not want to be photographed we accepted their decision and moved to find another person, we also asked if they would like to leave details with us so that they could receive a print once we had done it, this they appreciated and one person left his details with me wanting a copy of the photograph.

http://www.photoshare.org/resources/development-photography-ethics

Using B+W

How I Did This

I took the photographs using the 5*4 field camera out in Church Square, I have gone out in a group of friends and we have all helped each other with setting up the camera and the focusing. To make things easier for ourselves once we set the camera up in the location we wanted we taped some masking tape down on the floor so that when the stranger came to pose for us we could ask them to stand in the box so the background would be how we like it and we did not have to rearrange the camera and the focus would stay relatively the same with just minor adjustments needed.

Why I Did This

I went out with hopes I would find people with interesting characteristic faces, and I have; the people I have chose I think have interesting and different faces. Although I rated potential strangers on a 'scariness scale' and dare not ask certain people I managed to find interesting people.

What Would I Change?

If I were to restart this project I think I would explore further afield because different types of people will be found in different locations.

What Do I Think of This

I particularly prefer the photograph of the college student (20*24 print) as his facial expression draws me in to his face and the details in his hair stand out because of the sharp focus. I also like the way the background is over exposed as this means all the attention is on him and there is no distractions in the background.

Developing

The developing process this project seems easier than when I did it for the Landscapes project, I think this is because I am more comfortable with the process and being locked in the room in the pitch black. Once again we struggled to find people who could lift the dev tank into a hot bath so that it would be hot enough to use but we managed well enough. Although I think I have increased sensitivity to some of the chemicals because the stop bath makes my nose burn and I can't breathe, so after the second time this happened I missed the stop bath out because it was burning me.

The Negatives

I think that my negatives came out very well exposed and contrasty enough to get some very sharp prints from. The negatives do not look washed out and flat but the blacks and whites can easily be distinguished in all of them.

Differences between B+W and Colour

Darkroom

In the black and white darkroom the red lights that are used provide enough light for people to see the room and the equipment, this makes printing easier and quicker. However in the colour darkroom the paper is more sensitive to light so the room is completely light tight, the black lights that can be used do not provide enough light to see but give a vague outline of the layout of the room (indicating the corridor between enlargers and the corner where the printing machine is.
Working in the colour darkroom is more difficult as the blackness is very unnerving and makes navigating the area quite difficult, though I am confident that with time and practice I will become more accustomed to it and the printing will then be done with ease.


Negatives

The black and white negatives are easier to imagine the print as when first viewed as only the tones get reversed. However I can not work out the negative as colours get reversed and it is harder to imagine the way the colours will look before doing a contact sheet.

(insert pic of colour neg compared to contact sheet)


Processing

I enjoy processing the black and white films because I know how to do it and although I struggle with lining the tray up into the deep tanks I have a routine set up with my friend. With the colour film the university does not have the facilities to develop colour film so we had to send our films to DigiLab in Newcastle for them to develop, this had the problem of being delayed until their processing days (Mondays and Wednesdays - you can get on the day developing on these days if the prints are handed to them before 11am)


Preconceptions

Many people associate black and white with the old film photographs, because of this they feel that a photograph being black and white makes it more artistic or "real" although some people think that the world was black and white and colour has only recently been introduced to life.


Personal Opinion

I feel that both black and white and colour can create beautiful prints if done right; yet I prefer the black and white as I am more comfortable with the processing and printing. I think there is a value in colour prints as the quality is greater than digital and the photograph looks a better quality, this means that people would probably be more willing to buy the work.