Reprocessing

In the assignment, I was pursuing the effect of the mixed artificial li lighting that is abundant in Hong Kong. To show this and how the different types of light come through. To show this as I explain in my original submission, I used a combination of the white balance eyedropper and VSCO film preset in Lightroom. However, the lead to images with dark muddy shadow details which were extremely high contrast and didn’t do justice to original raw files.

I have now individually processed each image to ensure there is more detail in the shadows but also mindful to keep consistency across the pictures so that they still set well together as a set. This has been achieving through the use of the Lightroom adjustment brush to dodge and burn and also to brush in colour balance and saturation selectively in the pictures.

I have also corrected the verticals/perspective on the original images as most suffered from distorted perspective due to the combination of camera angle and the focal length of the lens. While not always an issue, here given the scrutiny the images are under – I felt it was an added distraction in the images that didn’t need to be there.

Re-edit

Overall, I was happy with the selection of six images I submitted to my tutor of this assignment. However, my tutor did raise a couple of queries for my consideration. One was the similarity to between image 1 and 3 and that image 4 was perhaps stepping a little away from the theme and overall quite a distracting busy image,

As soon as I relooked and image 4 in the pre-process stage I instantly removed it from the set – it doesn’t lean any weight to the set as a whole it is distracting. My tutor had suggested that a portrait orientation might have help, I don’t think so; perhaps if had it of been a setup portrait or shot with the old man’s cooperation it would have been better.

Earlier in the course, I looked at the work of Philip-Lorca DiCorsa’s “Huster’s”. In “Hustler’s” DiLorca used a technique of pre-setting up his scene and then waiting for subject to walk to the stage or invited them to pose. On reflection, this is the only way to go when trying to capture people successfully and control the lighting as desired.

I have replaced it with a cityscape where blue light is dominating the picture, except for a what could be seen as stubborn pieces of warm light. I feel this image rounds the set of nicely when placed at the end of the series, as it shows how the artificial blue light has replaced the natural blue of the first image.

It is for this reason while similar, images 1  & 3 remain in the reset bring a different perspective on light to the set. Image 1 shows the blue light of the sky against the warmth of the street lights and acts as a starting point for the set. Image 3 shows the effects of the mixes of light as it falls and envelopes its surroundings.

The Images.

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Image 4

Image 5

Image 6

Refection

Demonstration of technical and Visual Skills

As presented, in this re-work, I feel that the pictures are technically much better that the original presentation. I have used Lightroom room as a digital darkroom to manipulate the RAW files, to achieve the effect I was looking for. In hindsight, shooting the complete assignment handheld was a mistake, and tripod would have allowed for bracketed shots which could have then been layered, in Photoshop, to increase the dynamic range of the images. Also, I didn’t “work the scene enough” alternative shoot angles – something to keep in mind for future shoots, although, I should be experienced enough as a photographer not to be making such a school boy error.

Quality of outcome

Overall, I’m pleased with this set – as you will note I was apprehensive about the concept initially I was buoyed by my tutor’s comments, and I feel it has been a significant landmark in my journey through this course.

The theme I was trying to convey is how ambient artificial light, in a city like Hong Kong, transform the landscape once night falls. There is method to how the images are squenced they illustrate a jouney, both across the town from my workplace to the ferry (which was to be the subject for assignment 5) and through time, showing how the light changes in different times and places.

Demonstration of Creativity or Imagination

By presenting, the theme as a journey through time I have tried to explore for the viewer the different effects of the light, how it mixes, creating scenes which sunlight can not replicate – and nor would we want it to; a city at night belongs to a combination of colour temperatures. It’s where it can express its individuality. All cities are lit by the same sun, but no to cities, nor to areas of a city are ever lit by the same combination of lights.

Whether it is producing aetherial blue canyon,  evident in image 2 or the extra-terrestrial environment of image 4, the set shows how things are different under the this unnatural light.

Context

This assignment came from within me if I’m honest I found the research difficult on this. I the idea was triggered by work of Sata Shinato, but I didn’t want to go too close to his images of neon signs. I wanted a more organic developed piece resulting in mini cityscapes.

Brassai said the light at night is magnificent, and that has only become a truer statement with every passing year.

Overall I’m very happy with the set, as I said above it is significant point in my journey I can see more clearly now how I need to develop my ideas and voice. I don’t in anyway this mean life on the course has got easier, just that the are clearer patches in the metaphorical fog

I have to say I’m very pleased with the tutor comments received on assignment 4 – I was very apprehensive submitting it as I wasn’t sure of the concept. Just goes to sure I need to be more confident in as my tutor says “finding my voice”.

My apprehension and doubt in the concept I believe in my tutors comments regarding the lack of shadow detail in a lot of the images – I used a global adjustment and preset in Lightroom, which increased the contrast a little too much. In hindsight this was “lazy processing” and has pulled the assignment down; however, now I have more confidence in the concept I will revisit and reprocess. This doesn’t excuse a couple of pieces of bad composition, though.

As I have said, I will initially look to base a rework around the reprocessing the images to open up he shadows and look for different images each evening to perhaps expand the selection. I will also look to rewrite the assignment notes to more of an essay on what I was trying to achieve rather than analysis for each image.

I need to work on my research though as my tutor say this is a “very weak area” that I need to step up before submitting for assessment and upcoming courses.

Highlighted Tutor feedback

I have been working on this assignment for a while, trying to let it develop organically. As I have said before it’s the streets that have inspired my photography, but it wasn’t until I undertook the artificial light exercise that I fully appreciated my love of this type of light.

With this assignment, I have tried to develop my style to include more city scenes rather than just focusing on the people and everyday life. Creativity can be my downfall and I guess like a lot of students, I’m more confident with my technical skills than the artistic.

Inspired by Brassai’s quote “The light I have at night is magnificent. I even prefer it to natural light. You should come one night to see it.” And the beautiful images by Sato Shintaro of the neon in Tokyo I decided to photograph what I see on an average day as I’m making my way home from work, in the early Hong Kong evening.

As it says in the course notes white balance is crucial and that is where I want to focus, by shooting in RAW format and adjusting the white balance afterwards in post-production to fit what I consider being the main light in the image.

Process

Daylight disappears quickly at this latitude, sunset is around 5 and sky’s are almost entirely dark by 5:30, particularly at this time of year, by the time I am leaving work the night is starting to set in and the world is starting to be bathed in a mix of artificial light.

So shooting mainly with a Mirror-less Canon M3 with fixed 22mm (equiv. 35mm) F2 and occasionally a Full Frame DSLR with 50mm. I chose to document the early evening mainly in the area I walk through on my regular commute from work to home or dinner out.

The shots were hand-held and, therefore, shot at high ISO and wide aperture, to combat slower shutter speeds and shot in RAW format using Auto white balance.

Post-production, of the images, while not excessive was a vital part of this set of images, as the overall white balance of the shots was crucial to the look of the shot I wanted to achieve. Each shot was bespoke processed with the use of Exposure, Contrast and Highlights sliders in Lightroom. The overall colour temperature was set using the White Balance Eyedropper to highlight the source of light dominating the scene in my eyes.

Image 1

Here a typical early evening scene, which would be so ordinary in the daytime (or my current preferred medium of Black & White); but the colours of the lights give a greater depth. The temperature is balanced for the light on the walkway, and this has allowed different temperatures to come through e.g. the tungsten orange on the buildings and the various tones in the apartment windows where different homes are using different lighting.

Image 2

Here the direction and angle of the light add depth to the picture. The colour temperature is balanced for the bridge allowing the different tones in the apartment windows to show through. The overspill of light gives depth to the shadows the under the bridge. The overall light brings a sense of loneliness to the image, even though you can see the commuters on the bridge.

Image 3

Here the direction and angle of the light add depth to the image, the colour temperature is balanced for the bridge allowing the different tones in the apartment windows to show through. The overspill of light gives depth to the shadows the under the bridge. The light overall imply loneliness to the image, even though you can see the commuters on the bridge.

Image 4

In this scene, it struck me that while you see an old man at a traditional street-side stall, he is watching an iPad (or equivalent). This is what drew me to the scene and I felt It was appropriate to highlight, from the mixtures of light, the cool electric blue tones. Perhaps illustrating bringing the old into the modern world?

Image 5

The mixture of lights here keep the image cool and the direction of the light and its overspill accentuate an extraterrestrial feel in the picture. The light wraps the central yellow construction as if it is rising from beneath the ground. I like how if reflects giving long diagonal shadows.

Image 6

Here I like the high contrast the light is giving, the red almost like a glow of warmth from the restaurant, as the people stand around facing down towards the cold blue light in the distance. It feels almost as if they’re avoiding stepping further into the cold night.

Conclusion

I have enjoyed working on this set; I think it hangs well together. I have pushed myself to use the colourful light as the subject of the images, as Brassai said the light at night is magnificent. While the direction and angle of the light are crucial in all the pictures and how much overspill there is I think by concentrating on the subtlest colour balance of the pictures I have added to their creativity. The exercise called for a series of shots illustrating the different types of light, I have tried to use same types of lighting and just play with its dominance in the images.

Is the overall assignment creative enough? I’m not sure; however, I have achieved what I wanted to illustrate.