UTAS - Photography and Social Media

You can’t always get what you want! 

I like this image a lot - but my final SMPUTAS Project 2 submission was a Black & White photo-story .. and this picture just doesn't work in monochrome.

After a fair amount of feedback, reflection, and experimenting .. I have settled on my final submission for SMPUTAS Project 2.

It's is about a wide range of people appreciating some great concerts.

They were all made in 2016, at a number of gigs in Hobart. I find people fascinating and I love good live music.

The bands featured are Guerilla Zingari and John Butler Trio.

I have presented the images as a layout that might be used in print, mainly because the final images were a variety of different frame proportions. Tumblr seems to be the most suitable social media platform to publish a larger image size. The reason the images are different sizes is due to some limitations of the camera I used - Fujifilm X10 mirrorless 12MP 2/3 sensor camera, equipped with a medium range inbuilt zoom. It wasn't always easy to compose 'in camera' (compared to a DSLR) so I had to crop my results more than I usually do.

I have also used the auto (stitched) panorama feature in a couple of the pictures. I like some of the odd things that happen when using this exposure option with moving objects (or people). Not always flattering, but always interesting!

I'm hoping this photo-story communicates the fun and enjoyment of the audience, who were all being treated to some seriously talented players producing fantastic music.

Dancing Man 01 Jan 16

Here are some samples of ideas I have worked on for  SMPUTAS Project 2. They are a ‘Walk To Work’ series, a ‘Household Objects’ series, and a ‘Musicians and Audience’ series.

I have always enjoyed photographing people, and it comes easier for me than either creating abstracts from the urban environment or constructing images from scratch (such as ‘product’ shots of household objects). There is certainly a case to be made for getting out of my comfort zone and going with the more challenging genre.

However, on balance, I have chosen ‘Musicians and Audience’. There were a few factors to consider, not the least of which was time management! ‘Musician and Audience’ seamlessly combined both SMPUTAS and socialising! A second factor is that this series is definitely a story, whereas ‘Walk to Work’ and ‘Household Objects’ are more like themed image collections. Neither collection type is better or worse than the other, but my preference for this assignment is for more of a photo-journalistic approach.

have been a bit stuck with deciding on a theme for assignment 2.  

will probably settle on a theme of urban landscape and/or street pictures. 

I used photographic manipulation to make a second version of the image I called '21st Century Cave Art'.

The image arises from reflecting on the idea that the abstracted hand selfie is found amongst the oldest forms of art. Images of our distant human ancestors’ hands are printed directly onto the walls of caves all around the world. One technique of spraying pigment around the hand’s outline through a hollow reed leaves a ‘negative’ image.

Substitute light for pigment and photosensitive paper for a cave wall and you have a photogram.

This picture also brings to my mind thoughts of other shadows also cast on these same Kingston Beach (Tasmania) rocks over untold tens of thousands of years of human occupation of this place. Cast by the first people of this area, the Mouheneenner people and their forebears.

MumboGumbo performing at Rektango ( a Friday evening summer open-air club in Salamanca Place, Hobart). Catch them if you can!  It’s a challenge to capture a live performance in a single photo. This was available light (shade, fortunately) and quite a cluttered stage and background. My key agenda was to get the whole band in the image - Each one of these musicians is individually hugely talented, but they are not a collection of 5 soloists. Their playing is tasteful, tight, syncopated and sometimes quite sparse. When solos occur they dazzle, but otherwise the players hold back to enable a fantastic R&B groove. 

I’m finding the photo analysis elements of week4 challenging - I think I had a bit of a block for a week or two. Xmas/NY .. coincidence? Maybe not.. !

Making pictures on the way to work again - this image composition is using thirds, lead lines, pattern and a pop of colour.

the gate for the Hobart Women’s Health Centre. I laughed out loud! I think I like the  Hobart Women’s Health Centre.

a gate in North Hobart. Using Framing, and a bit of symmetry .. sorta thing.

did I mention I was walking to work? I kind of think this shouldn’t work - but I like it all the same.Maybe leaving the paving border in creates a big triangle shape..

Here’s a funny story - a friend of mine (who has no connection to Tasmania) & who is living in Japan, posted a link to my Facebook wall yesterday - about an upcoming massive garage sale of jukeboxes and old arcade games happening in Hobart this weekend. I thought that was kinda funny - but imagine my surprise when I walked past a warehouse full of the sale stuff in Argyle St, Hobart, en route to the daily toil! I had a few minutes to get inside and capture something..

The playlist for an old jukebox. 

Joyful Dancing Girl backed by a great band - Guerilla Zingari, Taste of Tasmania, Hobart Waterfront, New Year’s Day 2016

Such a great band! Guerilla Zingari at Taste of Tasmania, Hobart Waterfront, New Year's Day 2016