Focal Lengths and Different Viewpoints

This exercise was to compare the effects of how your physical viewpoint needs to change when shooting with different lenses.

Using a 105mm lens , the focal length at the extreme of my zoom lens, I took this first picture.

Michael Wolf welcomes World Press Photo controversy - British Journal of Photography

I have reservations over this work until I saw it a the Format Photography Festival in March. This is what I noted "it has a power of narrative that is due to the fact that once the initial images are  taken out of their "environment" it all starts the brain working to decode the storyline".

Michael Wolf uses cropping to isolate specific images and by removing some reference areas it creates a new narrative. An innocent image of someone crossing a street by cropping in close with other people. Taking this image as an example, close cropping gives a feeling of entrapment and claustrophobia as the "cast" appear to move closer together;it becomes a CCTV image of a mugging about to occur.

It's as much about choosing the decisive moment to press the shutter as it is about placing the main components into the image to relay the new storyline the characters have to follow. As such I consider this to be photography of the street and of equal value as any street photography.

Derby vs Westfield

I am starting a personal project which I aim to run alongside the course materials to see if I can improve it as the course progresses. There may be some crossover as well at some point. the main aim of the project will be exploring the Westfield Shopping Centre and how it's spaces relate to and impact the greater environment of the city itself. Click on the images to open them on Flickr to see them at full resolution, I will gladly welcome any constructive comments...