Dan Holdsworth

http://www.danholdsworth.com/

During this project I have looked into the works of Dan Holdsworth. I really like a lot of his photographs. I have included several of my favourites from his website.

This is my favourite of Holdsworths images. I love the colours and the differences in texture between the sky + ground. This image is from the series 'Hyperborea' a series of 11 photographs 2006.

This photograph is also from the series 'Hyperborea' I really like that the sky and foreground seem to be from different worlds. The lights and texture of the sky makes it seem very alien and different from the land at the base of the photo. 

I looked up the word hyperborea and found this:


hyperborean |ˌhīpərˈbôrēən; -bəˈrēən| poetic/literarynounan inhabitant of the extreme north.• ( Hyperborean) Greek Mythology a member of a race worshiping Apollo and living in a land of sunshine and plenty beyond the north wind.adjectiveof or relating to the extreme north.ORIGIN late Middle English : from late Latin hyperboreanus, fromGreek huperboreos, from huper ‘beyond’ + boreas ‘north I think this is quite appropriate to the series as they show the northern lights.

I like this photograph from the series 'Geothermal Power Plant' the steam(?) coming from the chimneys looks ghostly and I just like it as an image.

This image taken from the series 'The World In Itself' is interesting. The reflection in this puddle shows the sky but gives the impression of a window to another world.

This photo is from 'White Noise' and I just like the composition. The direction + curve of the star trails draws the eyes into the photo.

Spirographs using 'the wheel'

Some of the spirograph photos that I found during my research were created using a bicycle wheel and lights to make a uniformed shape. I attempted to make my own 'light wheel' to get the idea of the effect I could get before investing in anything as technical as a bike wheel fitted with battery powered lights. My wheel was constructed using 2 paper plates, a pen, some electrical tape, kitchen roll and a small red torch from a key ring (the creative use of every day household objects, made me feel like I was on Blue Peter).


The wheel wasn't that sturdy but it did help me to see what could be achieved by using tools to make my images more uniformed. I like the results although they are just a rough experiment and need improvement.

These initial few photo's were taken in the day time with the curtains shut so the long exposure meant that the wall surrounding the archway that I used is visible. I like the differences between the two rooms, the far room is almost completely in darkness and is slightly mysterious. 

I decided to try redoing the photo's I had taken during the day at night time to see if the red torch I had used would be more obvious. I think these shots need a longer exposure with a stronger light to fulfil their potential.

As you can see I found it hard to make the uniformed patterns I was aiming for, I believe this was at least partially because my wheel was quite unstable.

With more suitable equipment (ie a real wheel) I think I will be able to get the effect I was aiming for.

Research - Susan Derges

Susan Derges

http://www.susanderges.com/

I found Susan Derges online and I particularly like her works in the 'Natural Magic' collection (on her website) these images show science equipment. The thing I really like about the collection is the use of lighting to illuminate the subject against a black background. I also like the collection 'Moons' I find the images intriguing and slightly mystical.

This image is from Susan's website, from the collection 'Moons' I particularly like the way she has used 3 elements in the photo; the reflection of the moon, the ripples of the water + the effect of a land scape with a tall tree created by the branch in the water.

Research - Iain Stewart

Iain Stewart

http://www.isphotographs.co.uk/

I found some of Iain Stewarts work in an old copy of Portfolio I have since looked into him slightly further, I think that his works are beautiful, although can be very samey. i'm not a fan of his portraits but the landscapes etc are lovely.

This is my favourite of Iain Stewarts works, from the collection 'Sky' on his website this image is called 'Aurora ii'.

Experiment - Long exposures

I tried doing a few long exposures as a quick experiment but they didn't really work out that well.

Research - Patrick Shanahan

I like Patrick Shanahan's work because of the strong colours. This photograph reminds me of my 2nd time lapse. I like how the sky is a big feature in the image.

My Light Spirals

I had a go at making some light spirals using a torch on a string of rubber bands hanging from a light fitting in a darkened room. I really like the way this turned out but as it was daylight outside it was slightly too light to make long enough exposures. These are some of the photos from the shoot.

These initial photos are a little too shaky and are not very defined, the background is slightly too exposed as well.

This photo is over exposed as the ceiling and lights are visible.

With these photos I attached a laser pointer to the torch but this didn't have the affect I was expecting.

This one was taken just using the laser, it is more obvious but the room was too light to make a long enough exposure

With these photo's I moved the camera as well as the torch, I like the sporadic effect. I also like the way the torch seems to have several stripes.

With this one I attached an orange plastic bag over the torch to give it a different look. The light has become much softer as a result.

I used a piece of black card to cover the lens as I took the bag off the torch. I also used the laser pointer which I aimed at the lens.

With these last photos I pointed the laser at the ceiling. This produced a much clearer red line.

Light Spirographs

While I was researching time lapses and star trails I came across some 'spirographs' made with light like this one that I found on google images.

I also found some really interesting photos on Flikr that were done using a bike wheel which I might Experiment with www.flickr.com/groups/lightjunkies/discuss/72157614430634333

Time Lapse 2

This is my second attempt made in Southampton using 168 shots taken 30 seconds apart with a Canon EOS 350D, edited using Final Cut.



Time Lapse 2 from Alex Smith on Vimeo.

Experiment - Star trails time lapse

Stars from Alex Smith on Vimeo.

For this experiment I took a few long (ish only 60 seconds) exposures and edited them together using Final Cut. I think that the clouds moving in the sky are more obvious and interesting than the stars but the overall effect is interesting. 

Star Trails Research

I found this photograph on the website http://www.lightstalking.com/star-trails I really like a lot of the photographs featured on this site and hope to take some similar photos at a man made lake. I hope that the reflections will add interest to the composition.

Time Lapse

This is my first attempt at a time lapse and I'm fairly pleased with the result. I think it would have been more interesting if it had been a clearer night. My aim is to create a time lapse that has more of a wow factor. I think I will find another location and hopefully on a clearer night I will be able to capture another set of images.


This video was created using stills taken with a Nikon D80 and then put together using Final Cut.

1st Time Lapse from Alex Smith on Vimeo.

This is the first time I have really used a blog so I am not really sure where to start so I'll start with some research and inspiration.


I found this video online just before the start of term and it inspired me to look at time lapses long exposures and light trails.


The video is by Mike Flores.