Photography 1: People and Place Assignment 2

Assignment 2: People and Activity

For this exercise I planned to photograph a play performed outdoors as part of the St Albans Festival.  I chose the comedy "The Importance of Being Ernest" by Oscar Wilde.  The play was performed in the grounds of St Albans Cathedral.

I have tried to create a visual variety between the images to make the whole set more interesting to look at.  The ten photographs were selected on their ability to show the telling moments of the play and to convey to the viewer the relationships between the performers.  By providing a narrative it is more likely that the viewer will "read" the images as a set.

When taking these images it would have been better to be able to move around in front of the performers to get a variety of angles.  However, this was not possible as I would have obscured the view of the audience who were seated on the ground close to the performers.

The photographs submitted for this assignment are critically assessed below:

2403

In this photograph there is an implied triangle, with the vertical formed by Lady Bracknell and the apex at Gwendolen.  The triangle encompasses all of the cast and the diagonals create a sensation of activity and dynamism in the image.  I made sure that the butler was holding a tray as a symbol of his position within the group.

The image could be improved by the use of a fill light on the two characters on the left as their faces are in shadow.  Unfortunately it was not appropriate to use a flash.  This long range shot is useful as an opening shot as it includes most of the main characters.

2411

Here there is a good implied line between the eyes of Gwendolen and Jack.  This helps to bind the two characters together.  This is one of the key moments in the play and the photograph gives the viewer a sense of Jack's devotion to Gwendolen.

The image is a little unbalanced and the inclusion of the white table and chairs in the background are a little distracting.

2427

The diagonal positions of the legs of the two ladies echo each other.  The two subjects form two points in the image and this has resulted in a well balanced image.  The photograph was taken in bright sunlight and this has caused the face of the subject on the left to be slightly shaded.  There is an implied line between the two ladies formed by the line of sight from the woman on the right towards the other woman.  The photograph communicates successfully the intimate relationship between the tutor and student.

2432

I wanted this photograph to convey the relationship between the tutor, Miss Prism and the vicar.  Miss Prism's closeness, body language and gesture communicate this relationship.  There is an element of rhythm in the image with the two female heads leading to the vicar who is turned toward them.

All three subjects are placed centrally in the frame, which gives the composition a slightly static feel.

2438

In this image I intended to communicate how much the young inexperienced Cecily is taken by the more worldly Algernon.  Her body language conveys this well.  There is an implied line formed between the two players formed by the line of sight between Cecily and Algernon.

I wanted to show the two people full length but this has meant that some "clutter" is visible in the immediate background.  The shot could have been taken from a slightly different angle so as to include some of Algernon's face.  Unfortunately this would have obscured the scene from most of the audience.

2454

In this photograph I wanted to show the intimacy of the performance, with only a few feet between the performers and the audience.  The image conveys the audience's concentration on the performers and their enjoyment of the play.

2460

The body language of the two performers communicates the intensity of feeling felt by Jack when warning Algernon off his young ward, Cecily.  Jack, by invading Algernon's personal space means that the viewer is very aware of the strength of his passion.  I wanted the image to convey the extent of Jack's protective feelings towards his ward.  Again it would have been slightly better if the shot had been taken directly in front of the two performers so as to show more of Algernon's face.

2468

In this photograph, Algernon is proposing marriage to Cecily.  I wanted to convey to the viewer her acceptance of his proposal.  The lighting on Cecily's face works well due to the sun shining from above and to the left of the frame.  There is good eye contact between the two performers providing an implied line.

2477

The emotion that I wanted to convey in this image is that of mutual distrust within the formal bounds of society.  Each is sure of their own position as fiancée of Ernest but each is unsure of the other's intentions.

The relative positions of the two performers, one seated and the other standing is indicative of their social standings.  Gwendolen, standing has the higher social rank.  The bright sunlight has provided good lighting of the scene with a fair amount of detail in the shadow areas.  The plain background of the wall of the cathedral allows the viewer to concentrate on the two performers.

2494

This photograph is of the final scene in the play where Jack discovers that his real name is Ernest and that he is Lady Bracknell's nephew.  I wanted to convey the shock on the face of Miss Prism when she is presented with the fact that she is largely responsible for much of the lack of knowledge of Jack's origins.

The implied triangle between Jack, the Gladstone bag and his aunt, Lady Bracknell encompasses both the new found kinship between Jack and his aunt, and the cause of his estrangement from his family.


A revised version can be found at: 03/07/2012