Definitions

What is photography?

Photography is a form of art that captures an image either, digitally or film. There are different types of photography, such as sports- photography, or fashion, glamour, nature etc.

Shutter Speed – How long a camera shutter is open when taking a photograph. It is a setting on your camera which allows you to control the length of time the shutter is open for. People change their settings because if for example, it is a sunny day, and the shutter is open too long, there will be too much light in the photo. Therefore, the image will be over exposed.

ISO – Is the sensitivity of the light within a photo.

Aperture – Is the size of the hole, which if the hole is big, light can enter. Whereas, if the hole is small, not much light can come through. Aperture is referred to the lens diaphragm opening inside a photographic lens. The size of the diaphragm opening in a camera lens that controls the amount of light passing through onto the film inside the camera the moment the shutter curtain in camera opens during an exposure process.

 

F Stop - Specifically has an effect on image characteristics, some of which may not be obvious to people who are using cameras for the first time.

 

Depth of field - is the amount of distance between the nearest and furthest objects that appear in acceptably sharp focus in a photograph. An ideal selection Depth of field in a focused subject in an image can be quite slanted. It is all a matter of personal liking when trying to decide the appropriate use of DOF to improve an effect in a photograph

Focal Length - describes the distance from the front of the lens to where it focuses light on the sensor or film plane. Focal length affects the field of view or how wide a scene you can capture with your camera and the overall magnification.

Test Photos

5 album covers

       Westlife - Where We Are: What i like about this photo is the sheer simplicity, yet it holds a touch of seriousness and togetherness of the band. The lighting is balanced with a fairytale like photo, with a touch of dark seriousness. 

  Boyz II Men - Evolution  

Leon Jackson - Right Now 

 Take That - Progress

Jay Z - Holy Grail

5 Album Covers analysis

Westlife – Westlife

This album cover is a simple one. There isn’t to much going on the cover. It has a light blue background and the faces of the band members are in a line. This tells of the honesty and simplicity of the band. It tells us that they are a new band and it is an act to show them off so we know who they are. The title ‘Westlife’ is above the band members faces. So it is almost like an introduction to the band. The title font isn’t too big; it fits well above the faces. And it is easy to read as well which makes the album even simpler to look at. Because it hasn’t got any strange fonts which may put the audience off.

Take That – Progress

This album cover is quite a unique cover because of its colour, theme and idea. On the cover there are the members of the band. You cannot see the faces of the members, but you can see their body. It looks as if their body is being resurrected by god, as if they are being chosen for something or as if they are the ‘chosen one’ . The yellow background goes well with the colour of the members of the band (**orange). It’s easy to look at, and again it is a very simple background. The font of the title ‘Progress’ is quite small. It is placed on the top of the album again, and with the band members looking like being resurrected for another chance, it seems as if they are heading for progress, which is the albums name.

Leon Jackson – Right Now

The cover of this album is rather bland, in terms of the fact that there isn’t too much happening on the cover. There is a picture of Jackson himself, on the centre of the cover all suited up. The background cover is grey, almost like a board, so it is almost like a photo-shoot. It gives us an idea of what sort of album it might be because we normally associate photo shoots with glamour. So it may suggest the album as glamorous.  The title of the album is called ‘Right Now’. And it is placed on the left centre of the cover. And his name is being spread across the whole album on the centre in bold white writing so it’s the first thing viewers will see. Also, the title suggests it is Jackson’s time to shine, to suggest that he has waited a long time for this, and ‘Right Now’ is his time.

Westlife - Where We Are

The album is known for its sheer simplicity yet its brilliance. On the album cover, there are shades of dark around the edges of the cover. But in the centre of the cover it is a white, snowy cover. It is almost like a fairy tale theme, but the dark shadows suggest the seriousness of the cover. The subjects on the cover (the band) (West life), are wearing dark colours on the album, this makes them stand out a lot, it tells us (the audience) that West life are the main focus here and it shows their togetherness and that they are united as they stand close together. The title album ‘Where We Are’ is written in bold font, placed directly above the band, It is very eye catching on the white cover.

Robbie Williams – Sing When You’re Winning

This album cover tells us a lot about Robbie Williams. In 2002, prior to the albums release date, Williams and his ‘ego’ was the Medias focal point. Robbie was often criticized for this so Robbie, got his own back. The album cover is a picture of Robbie, and of other Robbies surrounding him. All wearing Blue football kits. This suggests that despite all the recent media criticizing him, its still all about him thats why the cover was filled with his faces. He refuses to let the critics get him down. Also the fact that all the Robbie's are wearing football jerseys, suggests that his ego is all he needs cheering him on, encouraging him to do well. It also suggests that even with all the fame, money and the ‘bad boy’ image, Williams, enjoys the simpler things in life and he still is that boy inside that likes to play football with his mates. The font is under the picture of Robbie. And the picture seems as if they are being told what to do by the album title. In the picture, the team of Robbie are celebrating as a football team would do when they win a trophy. During trophy celebrations, singing chants are often common. So the title is suggesting, that Robbie is singing because he is winning, because of his new found success as a solo artist.

Idea

My idea is of a guy standing in the centre of the frame, holding up a card with the album's name written  on the card. (Right now) Ideally, id want the photo shoot to happen in the studio. I want a black and white colour, almost like a portray.