Under The Seatoun Wharf - 144 - Hand In - Project 1

Under The Seatoun Wharf 

With this series “Under The Seatoun Wharf” I will investigate space in which the built and natural environments of Seatoun Wharf share. By using Macro, depth of field and fundamental photography composition I will seek to convey not just an interesting juxtaposition of the space in which these two environments, the ocean and the wharf, meet. But also, the relationship they share amongst this space and their effects on one another in a place few people take notice of. I also want to tie all the images together by first taking more wide open shots, then slowly move closer to my points of focus as the series progresses until finally I am taking macro shots with my point of focus on millimeters from the lens.

I feel my series of images has been successful in portraying an aggressive relationship between the ocean and the Seatoun wharf. By shooting under the wharf I feel I have been able to avoid any cliché images and it allowed me to investigate and portray a space in where there is a constant battle between the ocean and a decaying wharf. The composition of these photos in conjunction with the use of depth of field allowed me to create images that show the weathering of the wharf and natures intention to claim back any Structures that impose. The ability of being able to take macro shots worked effectively as I was able to give a full orientation, and the relationships of the space at different distances from the camera lens up to the point where there is only a couple of millimeters between the lens and the wharf. Having three separate shoots allowed me to compare different lighting situations. The third shoot was taken at 5pm which created long and interesting shadows as well and a warmer feel to the shots. I would like to experiment further with shooting at different times of the day with the next project. 

144 - Seatoun Wharf - Shoot 3 - Contact Sheet

144 - Precedence - Freeman Patterson

Freeman Patterson is a Nature Photographer from Canada. I selected this shot as it effectively conveys the space between three rooms in a similar way i am seeking to show the space under the Seatoun Wharf.

144 - Precedence - Edward Burtynsky

Oxford Tire Pile #8
Westley, California, USA, 1999

 Shipbreaking #13
Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2000

 Edward Burtynsky's series "Oil" investigated the vast landscapes only made possible by the discovery and mass consumption of Oil. i have selected these two shots from the series as i feel he is effectively able to convey the size of a space using depth of field to integrate the foreground and background, something i have been trying to achieve in my wharf shoot.

144 - Precedence - Michael Kenna

  Symbolic Railroad, Treblinka, Poland, 1993

Railway Lines, Salaspils, Latvia, 1999 

 

Latrines, Birkenau, Poland, 1998

"Concentration Camps" was a series by Michael Kenna shot over 11 years and completed in the year 2000. He was able to achieve shots of beauty, in contradiction to the horrible reality of the subject matter. I find these three select 3 shots use depth of field to effectively convey the great scale of these "camps". Depth of field is a technique i have been trying to integrate into my own shoot, to like Kenna effectively show a scale of what i am shooting. 

Project 1 - Space - Seatoun Wharf - Shoot 2 - Contact Sheet

Contact sheet from my second shoot under the wharf. Achieved a few nice images, however for my next shoot i would like to start experimenting with a macro lens in smaller spaces.

Mini World

Unfortunately my breaker bay panorama didn't quite work out when i tried converting it into a mini world due to the fact that the ends of the image where too different. I did however give it a go with a panorama image of New York i found on the internet.

Source: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=zzn&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=666&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsa&tbnid=ZrRVToZdlPEgVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.newsilkroadtrading.net/gallery3/index.php/photos/3&docid=0ye3KY4MIlXJVM&imgurl=http://www.newsilkroadtrading.net/gallery3/var/albums/American%252520Landscape/nyc_future_2011_skyline_panorama.jpeg&w=3282&h=1440&ei=l75hT6mcC4OimQW_642gCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=147&vpy=185&dur=161&hovh=149&hovw=339&tx=192&ty=99&sig=102126465169980943602&page=5&tbnh=85&tbnw=193&start=75&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:75

144 Precedence - Heinz Maier

Heinz Mair uses his interest in macro photography to show the intricacy of liquid in motion. I am looking at using a varity of different macro techniques in my series of under the Seatoun wharf to show in detail the effects of nature on man made structures.

144 Inspiration - Alec Soth

Alec Soth - From the series "Broken Manual"

Soth's series "Broken Manual" looks at the lives of hermits, hideaways and people who have forsaken society. I find this piece to be exceptionally haunting. An old school bus, which assuming would carry laughing children to and from school converted into a hermitage from society. I believe the piece is given the ability to provoke emotion by the way space enables the viewer to see the setting in which the bus is placed. A rundown trailer park, ensuing that haunting emotion.

144 Inspiration - J Bennett Fits

J Bennett Fits - From the Series "Industrial Landscaping"

I find this to be one of the most effective pieces in the series as it directly conveys the futility in attempting to integrate nature with industrialization. The form of the shot sits the shrubs in direct contrast with the railway lines by setting them in separate thirds of the frame. I hope to use this technique in my "Space" shoot by juxtaposing the Seatoun Wharf with the way nature has eroded away its bowels underneath it.

Project One: Space - Proposal

Proposal

For the local of project one i have chosen to shoot underneath the Seatoun Wharf. It is a place easily accessible to me as well as being a place that is able to convey the relationship between the built environment and the natural environment. I plan to use my shots, using the space underneath the wharf to show how nature has weathered and effected the wharf overtime.

Contact Sheet - Project 1 - Space - Under the Seatoun Wharf

Automated panorama using Photoshop. Setting is Breaker bay, Wellington. Taken from up on the heads.

Final manual panorama attempt in Photoshop. Setting is Breaker Bay, Wellington.

Concept location first test shots.

•  Seatoun Wharf
•  “The Cutting” Breaker Bay/Seatoun
•  Cook Straight