Photojournalism Assignment Piece - North South Divide

 

Nikon D300, ISO 800, 70mm, f/8, 0.6 sec

The opening image was taken as an establishing shot. Due to the nature of this assignment piece there is very little chance to capture an image that establishes what images are about to come. Therefore  a still life image was composed for the establishing shot. The title was included along with a deliberate choice of colour for the title to represent the political finding of Prof Dorling's research.

 

Nikon D700, ISO 125, 52mm, f/10, 1/160 sec

The opening image was taken at the beach just South of Cleethorpes. The image was purposely composed to balance the frame using the rule of thirds, the sky is a third of the frame with the drilling platform on the cross section a third of a way in. This shot is looking East into the North Seas and represents the furthest point East on the divide line.

 

Nikon D700, ISO 125, 75mm, f/11, 1/20 sec

This composition was taken in response to one of the photojournalist rules - Irony. This image represents a common occurrence in today society, heavy industry next to a living environment. In the picture there are leading lines of the road drawing the eye into the center of image and onto the industrial complex. To the left are the houses and the school sign suggesting a school establishment in close proximity. 

This image was taken near Ulceby the most Northern point of the North South Divide.

 

Nikon D700, ISO 125, 24mm, f/8.0, 1/100 sec

Following on from the image above this image also represent the change in society and entertainment needs. Here in Gainsborough an old theater building has been converted from its original use into Kings Night club. The building is striking with its original Neoclassic architecture, although this does include the additional Kings logo above the main entrance. To give the image depth the composition has purposely been captured slightly off centre to provided improved perspective lines (camera obscura).

 

Nikon D700, 24mm, f/8.0, 1/160 sec

The next period of the journey travels down the A156 through flat unbroken countryside. This next image represents this countryside. The use of lead lines in the ploughed field next to the grass track lead to the main aspect of the composition - the tree. The light was coming from the East which was behind the camera lighting the composition to the front, this was the  main deciding fact when choosing which side of the road to take from.

 

Nikon D300, 120mm, f/10, 1/160 sec

At the village of Torskey looking West sees the power station at Cottam. As it was a cold clear day the plumes of steam from the cooling towers took on ghostly forms. The composition was framed with iron railings in the foreground, the recently harvested grain crop centre frame and  the towers in background.

 

Nikon D300, ISO100, 31mm, f/10, 1/80th sec, Filter ND4

The next image is taken further down the divide line, reasons explained in the conclusion at the bottom of the blog. This image has been composed with the lampost to the left and right creating a frame. This image represents the modern day travel with telegraph masts and white vans motoring along mundane lamposted Redditch roads.

Nikon D700, ISO 125, 34mm, f/8.0

Along the A448 in the direction of Studley this boarded house can be found. This house must have been vacant for sometime to be boarded up as its not a scene generally seen in the countryside. The use of the gate as an arrow directs the eyes into the composition. The use of perspective again adds depth to the composition.

 

Nikon D700, ISO 100, 35mm, f/8.0, 1/80 sec

On the outskirts of Alcester the local football team share a field with the sheep - saves on lawn mower costs.  At the weekend this field transforms into battle field with wannabe David Beckhams strutting their stuff. This after wheeling the football posts into position and changing in the adopted shipping freight containers and taking a leak in the portaloo.

Nikon D700, ISO 800, 20mm, f/8.0, 1/250 sec

On the boarder of the Cotswold's is the picturesque town of Broadway. One of the entry roads into the town you will find a roadside self serve stall. These stalls can be found all around Britain. However, what make this one slightly different is the produce it sells.

 

Nikon D700, ISO 100, 70mm, f/9.0, 1/25 sec

With the advent of the mobile phone the need for the old red phone box is less and less required. This box has seen better day with broken window and peeling paint. This has been captured for prosperity as in ten years time they probably won't exist. B4077 Broadway to Tewkesbury.

 

Nikon D700, ISO 250, 34mm, f/11, 1/30 sec

Just further down the road from the telephone box was the disused outbuilding. Nature was claiming this building back with the undergrowth making  inroads.

 

Nikon D700, ISO 400, 24mm, f/11, 1/200 sec

This image taken in the centre of Tewkesbury attracts the eye with the white railing with the repetitive patterns that run around the perimeter of the block of flats.

Nikon D700, ISO 100, 38mm, f/10, 1/80 sec

The downside of the recent recession is the closure of business. On the road from Tewkesbury to Gloucester is Downshire Car Sales. This before the recession was a busy business now there is not a car in sight. This image was captured to show the downside of business.

 

Nikon D700, ISO 100, 24mm, f/11, 1/60 sec

The North South Divide finishes at Gloucester. This shot of Gloucester Dock is the conclusion image. The camera was positioned at the far side of the docks in the direction of the canal that flows into the River Severn. The warehouse building helps with perspective  and directs the eye into the centre of the composition which is the position of the canal.

Nikon D700, ISO 100, 20mm, f/11, 1/60 sec

The final image is taken from the North bank of the River Severn looking West. The image is intended to be the aesthetic final shot. With the sun setting the North South Divide is visible by the way of the River Severn, a physical point of reference.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Throughout this task I have obtained a better understanding of the role of a photojournalist, the different types of photojournalism along with the different ways to present contemporary imagery.

3. Tenacity - Partway through the shoot I had a feeling that this assignment was not working out. The plan was to take two days to follow the path of the North South Divide. Due to this lack of faith I stopped in the afternoon on the first day and returned home. After further research of Mark Powers work and assessing the images from the mornings work, I decided that there was something worth pursuing.

4. At the start of the journey I felt very self conscience working in the way I previous describe, weighted tripod, cable release etc. However, by the end of the journey I came over these fears and would actually work this way again after seeing the results.