Possible future oportunity

About a week ago I walked passed a photography shop not far from my house. It was quite late at night, but because I had been hunting for a job earlier that day I had a couple CVs left on me and I posted one through the shop’s letter box, not expecting to hear anything back. To my surprise I received a text a few days later. I gave Victor the photographer a call, he informed me that he doesn’t actually need anyone however was after a favour and  asked me if I’d be able to help him out with a shoot the following evening at some event near Chorley – Exciting news. Obviously I agreed and Victor told me he would pay me £50 to work from 7pm till 10pm and that I would also receive £1 commission off each photograph I managed to sell. Thrilling news, particularly when one considers my current financial situation.  Much to my dismay however he later informed me that the event organisers sent some other photographers so I wouldn’t be needed, however he still wanted to meet me. I later met Victor in his little shop, not far from my house and I told him about how I’m a University student and this would be fantastic for me, I expressed my excitement by also informing him I would also love to shadow him and even do some voluntary work if ever some may be needed. He said he’d keep me in mind for any other favours he may need and didn’t exactly object to me shadowing him – so, it’s a start.  I may re-contact him if I don’t hear from him in a while or perhaps slip some studio photographs I take over the next couple months through his letter box, in hope of enticing him to give me a call.

Below I have left the link to his website:

http://www.photographyin.co.uk/preston/victor-trusch/victor-trusch-gallery.php

Onset Photography?

I decided to start researching ‘onset photography’  to see what it’s really about and how interesting I find it. To start with, I cleared up a faux pas I’ve made on a few occasions, when referring to a cinematographer as an onset photographer.  I read up about cinematography and cinematographer’s responsibilities from the frequently deceptive words of Wikipedia. As much as I love to ridicule the sight at its mention, I can’t help but use it to look up little things like that, it’s simply too uncomplicated.  The cinematographer is seems to administer a lot of his skill towards the production of the film. Often referred to as the ‘Director of Photography’ who is expected to communicate with the directed and help set up the lighting, camera angles, choose filters and loads of other things. On the other hand, from what I’ve understood that is, the onset photographer records his surroundings and takes artistic shots of the scenes throughout the film.

To begin with after watching the classic ‘E.T’ film with fellow Photography student and house mate Mr.Earnden, we popped over to the Bonus Features disc on this special edition I bought from the charity shop. A fantastic buy – cheap, classic film and a little introduction to the photographer they had on set at the time – Allen Daviau. For some unfortunate reason I can’t get a lot of insight into Daviau over the net. However what I have found seems to imply that he was far more than a photographer and E.T may have been a ‘special project’. I won’t bother listing the links I found...because they didn’t really interest me and I merely skimmed through.

Next I looked up onset photography on the net, and came across this article:

http://www.popphoto.com/Features/Shooting-Still-Lifes-A-Photographer-on-Set

Not what I would call a fantastic article, but a little more insight into the field none the less and to be honest I’m not too captivated just yet. After reading the article on French, I decided to take a look at her website:

http://www.kimberleyfrench.com/

In reference to her ‘Feature Films’ selection, I find it quite difficult to put into words how I feel about the photographs.  I think the reason I might find them strange is that the photographer is not constructing the image, yet these are constructed images. She doesn’t really seem to be documenting the film either, on the other hand  French seems to be using the film set and what has been constructed by other artists and producing these artistic shots. Yet as I run through them I am trying my hardest to appreciate her work and understand what she is doing, yet I can’t help but thinking: ‘phony, phony, phony, phony, phony...’ and so on.

Take the photograph above by French as an example. To me it just looks like a movie still. And that may even be what the artist is after, I’m not quite sure. A lot of the photographs are passionate and picturesque however to the extent that I find them boring and jejune to be honest. I find they lack energy and pizzazz, I flicked through them quickly and wasn’t particularly struck by any of them. So I suppose it can be said I’m not a huge fan of Kimberly French’s feature film photography, perhaps I should just leave it at that.

I realise that my writing so far has been somewhat critical and antagonistic; however I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear that I later found an onset photographer who made me happy. The man getting my endorphins working is photographer, Dmitry Futoryan.  And this is his website:

http://www.onsetphotography.com/

His pictures are radiant and his subject matters are delightful. He is taking the kind of photographs I was thinking about when referring to onset photography. He has recorded the film making process with the production crew and   the actors depicting their scenes. The photographs are fun, the colours are bright the lightings fantastic and the people look as though they’re having a great time with Futoryan.  This is defiantly the kind of thing I like and I really want to keep Futoryn in mind. Besides his photographs I also like his actual website, it’s very simplistic and I think the white enhances the brilliant brightness of the photographs.

To end with I will post one of David Futoryan’s photographs which I really like. It’s an image taken while shooting a Doritos advert. I don’t know how the photograph was taken so I need to remember to ask a lecturer and try finding out. It looks kind of grainy, perhaps shot on film (?) and I’m not sure if maybe a filter was used. Either way it’s got a certain look to it which I like and will list my discoveries on possibilities of how it was taken as soon as I find out.

http://onsetphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Doritos-Snack-Attack-Samurai-Production-Stills/G0000qIYVo8gkuAA/I0000YlsiEENGcsU

( Had to leave the link because I couldn't post the image)

Intro

With this being the start of my blogging site I will post my first blog as an introductory into what aims, concepts, intentions, interpretations, theories, thoughts, understandings and viewpoints I currently occupy and will see how it all expands along the way.

The whole idea of independent practise is indubitably appealing however I also find myself drowning in a pool of thoughts.  As of yet I am unable to pinpoint a specific industry I would like to work in and hopefully the research and practise produced throughout this module over the next couple of months will help me narrow my interests down.   I find myself torn between different fields for different reasons. Essentially I love the studio, I like all the lighting the backdrops and the environment in the studio as a whole. However that’s not to say I find myself fascinated by fashion photography. This I feel this is due to a small number of different reasons. For one I have never been particularly intrigued by fashion and fashion magazines. On the other hand I’m not too sure how well I’d be working with models, makeup artists and the flamboyant and demanding reputation people of the industry seem to possess for one reason or another.  Finally I often find myself appalled by the fashion industry and what it represents. I struggle to see myself keen on being a part of the brain washing immoral industry I sometimes view fashion as. However...never say never.  

At fifteen I started studying for my A-levels and the subject which I find came as a delightful surprise was Sociology. I absolutely loved the subject. Most of it was anthropology and the more I learnt and read the more attracted to the subject I became. Nonetheless after my A-levels I ditched Sociology, deciding I wanted to become a graphic designer. Evidently that dream didn’t last and it was while studying documentary photography I recognised the strong link between this industry and sociology. The theory of documentary photography and what is represents is an attractive addition to the actual photo-taking.  Additionally I like films and have always been curious as to what exactly an onset photographer is and so I’m taking full advantage of this module and am keen to really learn about this particular field. It seems exciting being part of such a large team yet still being able to do your own thing. This is of course if the occupational obligations are what I suspect. Hopefully I’ll figure all this out soon enough through lots of research.