Photoshoot Plan

What?- I will photograph Raoul, the farmer, working on a field. This includes the tractor, the equipment, Raoul himself and other small details for the project. Having researched the impressionist movement I want to try some slow shutter speed movement photos as I think this will create interesting, bold photos that I can use to carry colours through the rest of the project.

How?- Using a canon mark 5iv and a 70-200mm lens I will compose photos based around, the lighting, the intent and natural moments. To create slow shutter speed photos when I reduce the shutter speed I will use a lens cover to reduce the harsh shadows and the potential over exposure common in slow shutter speed photos.

Why?- This is a strong starting point for the project, referencing how I saw Raoul when I was growing up, what he does and how he does it. It is a summary shoot, covering an introduction to the farmer and his lifestyle. It provides a link between the farmer and the land, demonstrating the UNION of the two in a way even people who don’t know much about farming, can see the true passion and hours it takes to create a union between land and man.

Contact sheets

I took a variety of photos, showing the details and the bigger picture. The lighting was harsh so I used settings that compensated for this, while keeping in mind the yellow of the flowers. I also used a range of techniques from different orientation to slow shutter speed motion blur.

Edit One

This photo, while not being directly linked to farming or Raoul helps add to the spring farming idea, the dog in the photo is ‘posing’ with his toy with a tractor and 4×4 in the background. Dogs and cats tend to keep themselves entertained on farms and yards, this photo shows that. I chose the black and white as it complemented the photo, although I did keep a colour version in case it will fit better in the book as it still a nice photo in colour, having the leading line of the curve.

Edit Two

I loved this shot with the tractor in the background and the tree/post framing the shot. The photo is an portrait that shows the subject walking and moving the marker. Making for a dynamic, informative photo. I liked this image in colour but the tree is less noticeable as I couldn’t crop the image down without removing the central lock on the subject.

Edit Three

This is a busy photo, I framed it with all the background as I wanted to show the many elements of the environment, I did however remove the one post as it looked odd sticking up from the closer focal length posts. I then used the sliders to lower the exposure, adding depth back into the photo and enhancing the green grass and yellow flowers.

Edit Four

This is a simpler photo, just showing the field being fertilised, I like that you can see the fertiliser, and that the tractor is almost perfectly between two posts framing the subject. The house in the background helps add context and build a story as it is made of classic Jersey Granite surrounded by fields and hedge rows. This is a good base image for the story.

Edit Five

Having taken this shot through a fence I have the fencing lines in the photo, this adds to the photo, leaving the viewer a deeper understanding of what it feels like to be witnessing the farming around them. This was a simple edit, bringing the colour in the shot back to life using the sliders.

Edit Six

Inspired by my research into art movements I wanted to try some slower shutter speed photos to add to the story. I created this photo, I think it gives the never ending feeling of farming which is what I wanted, to show that farming is always going to be important. I like how the flowers make a sea of yellow/gold and then the darker colour of the tractor contrast it. Even the fencing wire adds movement to further the never ending feeling. Editing wise all I needed to do was reduce the over exposure by moving the exposure slider down as when using a slower shutter speed the photos will appear over exposed.

Edit Seven

A simple detail shot to tie photos together is what I needed in this part of the shoot, I had a few photos with this bag/marker in so I wanted a shot of the markers to highlight them. The bags had patterns and flowers on and I wanted to compose the image to show more than one, showing how they were being used as markers. It only needed slight adjustments to correct the colour.

Edit Eight

This is a longer range shot, using the building and fence post to frame it. I noticed I hadn’t got many straight on shots so I wanted one as it will help the book flow if I put the dog photo and the portrait in. It also emphasises the tractors shape with the roll bar being portrait.

Final Photos

Overall I have a good selection of images, focused around the work being done to the fields to maintain them. This is a core part of my project showing the machines being used and Raoul working. Having a mixture of black and white and colour images allows for a variation in tones, textures and compositions. There is different techniques used in each shot, from how I’ve framed them to how I have picked which moment to photograph. I am lacking finer detail shots, however I plan to get these in the next photoshoot. Having researched ‘FOR EVERY MINUTE YOU ARE ANGRY YOU LOSE SIXTY SECONDS OF HAPPINESS’ I wanted a mixture of shots, some composed, some natural, using the environment like I have with the low angles using the daffodils to enhance each photo. Inspired by the impressionist movement, I used a slow shutter speed on some of these images, creating bright colourful slightly abstract photos. Forcing the viewer to focus on the photos and what is hiding behind the blur, also creating the circular farming feel. Continuing onwards no matter what, it also provides a nice base of colour I can them link through out the rest of my book.