Exercise: Thinking About Location.

Exercise: Thinking about location.

Doing this exercise in Winter excludes many of the opportunities that are available during warmer and sunnier months.  The local gardens and tourist attractions are closed, there are no colourful floral backdrops and the available light inside buildings such as churches is stygian.  There is however that colour and softness of light that is found at this time of year.  It also made me think more about shape and texture rather than colour and tone.

I have attempted to find locations that are more suitable to this time of year and in two of these the quality of light plays its part.

The steps at Ramsgate Harbour.  The light falling on the stone made it look a lot warmer than it really was.  The structure of the steps is made for photography.  A line of people ascending or descending in line.  A group shot leaning on or over the railings.  People posed about its geometric form or as I did to use it to focus in on a lone subject.

This is an play item at the children play are in Fowlmead Wild Life Centre, Deal.  The opening in the structure cries out for a child’s head to come poking out.  The green paneling would make a lovely colour contrast to a child’s face.

An adult encouraging a child to climb the structure from within it.  There many possibilities at this play area and I have used them, in the past, with my grand children

The signpost on the beach side at Walmer.  Thrusting out from the ground, as it does, makes the sign post a very masculine object and this could be employed in any portrait featuring it.  As it is a marker for British Cycle Route No.1  a cyclist posing in front of it would be apt, or a cyclist leaning over it from behind with his cycle in front.  Alternatively person using it as a prop by imitating its shape various ways.

The Deal Bandstand.   This edifice is constant reminder to Deal of its connection with The Royal Marines and the death of eleven bandsmen at the hands of the IRA in 1989.  I used the yearly Royal Marine concert for a submission in The Art of Photography.  The structure lends itself to other types of photographs.  Have the model leaning on, or over, the railings and looking down at the camera.  The model using the roof supports as props.  A group lining the inside of the railings.  

The anchor outside the  Ball Tower in Deal is a strong shape that could be used to reinforce a male model but also used as a counterpoint to a girl dressed in soft or flowing clothes.  Again this could be used for full length and torso shots.  The model could be posed either in front of or behind the anchor.  The angle of the wooden cross piece lends itself to a face looking over it and partly framed by it.

Beach scene.  Deal has a small fishing fleet that, for lack of a harbour, is hauled up into the beach.  The mixture of small fishing boats and their attendant gear would make a nicely textured backdrop. The soft light and low angle of the sun gave the crap pots and attendant gear a beautiful soft tone.  Although well lit there were no overbearing high lights or harsh shadows.  The sky was a soft blue, so unlike the harsh blue of a summers day.  As with the anchor the rough texture of the backdrop would add masculinity to a man and act as a contrast to a woman.  A small child sat on the crab pots would look really appealing.

The church door is a cliche but used for the right setting it could still look good.  Through the open right door can be seen a wall mounted cross illuminated by the low sun.  An child, or adult, suitably dressed and placed in front of the closed door would make a pleasing composition, hinting at a some past or impending ceremony.  Equally good would be a person apparently leaving through the door and posed within it.  The classic wedding shot is often shot in such doorways.  Please excuse my shadow intruding into the shot.

I used the steps a Ramsgate to act as the scene for this self portrait.  I dressed in suitable fisherman type clothing complete with hat and became a small feature in a large landscape.  The symmetrical nature of the stairs allowed me to put myself in the centre so that although I am only a small part of the shot the eye returns constantly to the only human element within it.