Through A Window - My Photo Essay
Photo Essay presented in a Flickr Slideshow. To see individual photo description and technical aspects involved i.e. aperture, shutter speed, ISO, lens specifics, click on the photo during the slide show. |
I chose this idea of following a window cleaner for a day because it is not a glamourised job and I wanted to take photos that some people may not have seen from a window cleaner. I wanted to construct a story and narrate a journey of this window cleaner from when he sets off to when he gets the job done. Coming from a working class family I have always been interested in seeing how workers see and I don't think we see enough of the unsung heroes of working men and women in the media.
I set out with my Canon 600d and my 35mm prime lens because I have practised photography with this lens so I know the framing of it and its focal depth. I wanted to use my 70-300mm lens when the cleaner was high up on the ladder but the 35mm lens framed and captured the subject just as nicely. My main objective was to photograph Steve the cleaner from inside the house because that is a photograph that I think it gives a great perspective looking out unto the worker.
These photographs as stated in some of the photos could be issued in magazines such as 'Life' and their online galleries. This magazine plays host to many varieties of photography categories and styles from historical photos to pop culture. It also contains photographs from artists that have inspired some of my work which are reviewed in my photo journalism page.
FINAL IDEA
Following a window cleaner who is also a senior fireman for the day to get some action shots from the working day environment in the life of a window cleaner.
Technical Aspects
Using a high shutter speed with a aperture between 2/4 for close up shots of window cleaning to capture a crisp shallow depth of field whilst freezing the motion of the water.
Incorporating a 70-300mm zoom lens to capture photographs from a distance with a high number aperture if the subject is up high on a ladder.
Idea 1 & 2
1. An old lady i used to work with used to be Winston Churchill's secretary and she owns Hitler's diary and a piece of his marble desk from his personal bunker, she has been a widow for over 60 years and raised two kids on her own and is 86 and still works to help the elderly. I could do a day in the life of her with photography of her amazing war memorabilia.
2. Based on the decisive moment aspect (of course most photography is decisive moment) in talking to people in London and ask them where they are going, what they do, and taking pictures of them amongst the crowds in their daily lives. Action shots of them getting into the black cabs? Including shots of market life, maybe from the markets point of view looking unto the public. Demonstrating individuals being focused upon in the business of modern society.
