I wanted to impose a theme on my next shoot to create a relationship between my images while trying to create notable variations between them. Each image encapsulates different energies and tones to present heavy contrast between them. I shot in various different lightings and at different times in the day which shapes different textures within the reflections of the glass. I encountered difficulty in managing the subject captured in the frame but also the reflections which are harder to examine while taking the picture. Many of the photos were thereby ruined by ugly and unfortunate objects captured in the shine of the glass often my own face. The pictures that work though I am very happy with the different windows displaying different characteristics in how they refract and reflect light. Shooting them expanded my understanding of the nature of light and how it interacts with objects of different opacities. As well as how slight movement towards and away from your light source can create distinct aesthetic differences in your image. While this shoot’s meaning was mostly a practical exploration of light I believe the project embodies windows effect in the way we look at things. They create a physical barrier but not a visually one, instead, it distorts and changes what we look at and how we interact with it. They act as an impression of what’s inside/outside almost an advert of what to expect but should not be fully trusted as far as realism is concerned. This shoot was based on photos by photographer Elliot Erwitt who uses his reflections to create an eerie sense of being watched and the benevolent voyeur.

I wanted to adapt this brief ditching the monotone visual style instead, using colour to create a more vibrant exploration of reflection. I think this is most apt in my featured image capturing the guitar, the shine off the inside of the metal bars reflect yellow light onto the glass. The viewer can not only see the material within the view of the lens but how the light bounces of objects that are outside of the lens view. This creates a much fuller image as the viewer is shown a wider perspective of what’s in the frame but also an impression of what is being reflected onto it.

Bibliogprahy –

Erwitt, E (1988), The Benelovent Voyeur, Magnum Photos (accessed April 17th 2019) https://www.magnumphotos.com/arts-culture/society-arts-culture/elliott-erwitt-the-benevolent-voyeur/