Hedgecoe's Complete Guide To Black White Photography example essay topic

Proposal Essay For this project, I chose to select the option of making an artist's book. I have always found the portrayal of written words and pictures quite fascinating. Some have each page carefully worked out with decorative motifs varying from page to page. Some have fancy covers or style of binding that screams "pick-me-up!" But the type of books that fascinate me the most are those that are dedicated to the art of photography. I proposed for this book to be created as a photographic reference towards life. I wanted to create something that had meaning.

I wanted it to tell a story, appeal to the eye as well as the mind. I chose to entitle the book 'ABC's of Life. ' Yes, I know that sounds kind of cheese ball, but a fancy name wouldn't get the point across. This book was a challenge I hadn't ever taken part in and it was quite a bit of work.

Each page in the book is designed as a black and white polaroid photograph. I wanted to capture the essence of that is often found in life. I had to devise a list of words from a-z, each letter representing an aspect of life. For A, anger, an emotion used almost daily now-a-days.

B, beauty, for it is seen in the eyes of all women and children. C, compassion, which is sometimes hard to come by, but no doubt in our lives. D, drugs, since we are all faced with them at one point or another. E, exotic, as whatever is one of a kind fascinates us. F, fantasy, as we all wish we had something we don't. G, girlfriends, it's what makes worth living.

H, hate, an emotion to be reckoned with. I, ironic, as some things are just too odd. J, journey, we are all headed somewhere, right? K, kiss, for when a yummy chocolate kiss makes your day. L, laughter, if we didn't have that we'd all be grumpy people. M, majestic, for all the sites you may see along the way.

N, nocturnal, as some of us are people of the night. O, oxygen, what we take in every moment of every day. P, passion, it is what can make us whole. Q, questionable, as things aren't always what they appear to be.

R, religion, can be what forms a persons life. S, sex, a bond that can unite and destroy. T, time, which fly's by when your having fun. U, unsanitary, for what we live with day to day.

V, vague, as things tend to pass us by. W, work, we all make a living doing something or another. X, , an emotion for when things take our breathe away. Y, youthful, for the past we'd like to relive. And finally for Z, Zeppelin, as we all should live with the classics. Each shot for the photos were careful planned.

The pictures had to pot ray each aspect of life without pointing it out. After I came up with thumbnails for each shot, I had to plan a schedule for getting the appropriate models, equipment, etc. for each photo (excl using the Zepplin album cover, not my photo). I used both Barbra London's guide to black and white photography as well as John Hedgecoe's. Both provided excellent information on lighting situations and composition.

After a rough beginning in the photos and a few wasted rolls of film, I had everything ready to start scanning them into the computer. I had ran across a nifty book in the library last quarter dedicated to perfecting black and white photos in Photoshop called The Digital Darkroom. Since photo labs aren't what they used to be, I was able to learn how to change the levels and contrast on my photos to bring out the focal point. Once everything was scanned, manipulated, for mated, and printed, I had to cut each polaroid out and glue the front and back to give it a more realistic look. After each was trimmed, there was the options of binding or packaging. Originally, I wanted to put the photos in an accordion type bind, so that one could unfold them and pin them to the wall.

But, I decided that would take away the point of polaroids in the first place. They were designed to be instant and compact, so one could put them wherever they please. So I came to the conclusion of placing them in a simple clear box, so the title could be displayed and the reader could do whatever they pleased with their new set of life photos. I also think that some color is necessary to make it a little higher impact. I may choose to use the properties of color, to accent certain pictures, or bring the eye to focal point in the photo. I have includes a list of words that tell what each photo will represent.

The book will contain 32 pages, 26 for each letter and the other 6 for title, credits, and all the other wonderful book stuff. As for the binding of the book, I am still researching various options. A particular book I picked up from the library has given me some excellent ideas, and I've chosen to keep it simple, as it may have greater impact that way. I have found some excellent websites that will help guide my way. For the final picture in the book, I will probably need to look into the stock photography. A good quality picture of a zeppelin is not easy to find, and since it is a once in a lifetime deal to see one (hence why it's included in the abc's), I don't think I'll be able to take my own picture of one by the due date.

Another resource that I have run across is a fantastic Photoshop book that will enhance the quality and perspective of the photos I take. I have also taken inspiration from some other books for the layout of the pages in the book. I think this could turn out to be an incredible project. I'm very excited about having the chance to use all my abilities to make something that could possible be in my portfolio.

Schaub, George. The Digital Darkroom. New York: Silver Pixel Press, 1999. This book provided excellent information on Photoshop techniques dedicated to black and white photography. It has several fantastic chapters on adjusting contrast to produce and print at the best quality, as well as a long chapter devoted to special effects. LaPlantza, Sheree n.

Cover to Cover. North Carolina: Lark Books, 1995. This book has some creative techniques on making beautiful books, journals, and albums. I am exploring the option of stab bindings. London, Barbara. A Short Course in Photography: An Introduction to Black and White Photographic Technique.

New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000. An excellent source if you don't know anything about photography and would like to learn, or if you want to make better pictures than ones you make now. Shows how to get a good exposure, how to adjust the focus, shutter speed, and aperture (the size of the lens opening) to produce the results you want. Hedgecoe, John.

John Hedgecoe's Complete Guide to Black & White Photography. New York: Sterling Publications, 1994. This photography book discusses the principles of basic composition and framing, and subject areas such as still lifes, portraits, and landscapes.