Photography 1. People and Places: Assignment Three: Buildings in Use.

Assignment Three: Buildings in Use.

Astor Theatre Deal.

For this assignment I have chosen building and locations with very different uses and problems.

The first is The Astor Theatre in Deal. This an old theatre that serves ass much more than a theatre. The old balcony is now blanked off and is a useful space for wedding receptions, parties, committee meetings and various fitness classes. On each Friday morning the main body of the theatre acts as a venue for a Tai Chi class is held for the older and less mobile. It is a time that this group can get together for company and gentle exercise.

Olympus E3 with a 7-14 lens for the first three and 14-54 for the last.

Two radio controlled flashes, one each side held by assistants. The flashes were fitted with small difusers to soften the light. I chose this lens as its short focal length would isolate the subject from the background.

This is a shot of the hall set out for the class as seen from the position of the participants. The hall is lit only by tungsten lights.

The following are pictures of the ladies exercising.

Ramsgate Station.

The morning I went to Ramsgate Station for the assignment the temperature was below freezing and it was snowing.

I set out to try and show movement in a still picture by using a slow shutter speed. Whilst not the busiest of stations, I managed to catch it at peak time for the various school runs.

The station building goes back to the 1850s and has managed to retain many of it’s Victorian features. The main entrance has echoes of a much grander period of travel with it’s decorative arched ceiling and ornate lighting. I employed a slow shutter speed of 1/8sec to get some movement into the shot, which has both static and motion blurred people. When I had finished straightening the picture I realised I had cut the feet off of the the girl nearest to me. I had a second go but have gone with this version as by leaving the picture she has given the scene a direction.

Canon G1-X. Hand held at 1/8sec. f5.6. 15.1mm.

For the next two I had Daido Moriyama and his station pictures in mind and took a number of shots from one platform across to another.

In the first I have, as in the last one, tried to indicate movement; in this case a group of students herding past other passengers in there rush to leave the platform. Amongst the motion blurred faces of the students heading right is one women who is facing left. There is also one lady to the left of shot tending to her luggage who seems unaware of the passing scrum. In another crop of this picture I left out this lady but I prefer this version.

Canon G1-X. Hand held at 1/25sec. f5.8. 60.4mm.

The second is of two people just waiting for their train and lost in their own thoughts. Rather than have the subjects in the centre I have intentionally put them to the right and balanced their position with the gap between the carriages.

Canon G1-X. Hand held at 1/25sec. f5.8 60.4mm.

Band Stand and Shelter.

Deal is a summer town that comes to life when the sun comes out. In the winter, and particularly in poor weather, it can look a pretty desolate place. This morning I woke to find snow and a bitter easterly wind. Good time to photograph some summer attractions. The strength of the wind round the bandstand meant employing a fast shutter speed to stop excess camera shake.

The band stand stands on a slight promontory near Walmer Lifeboat Station. I used it last year for the final assignment and it looked very different. Filled with the Band of the Royal Marines and the surrounding grassed area hidden under a sea of onlookers. Its slightly elevated position acts to draw ones attention to it. I took the first picture from low down to emphasize its isolation and framed it against the grey sky. I did a greyscale version but decided that the colour version worked best as the slight red in the building contrasted the bleakness of the rest of the picture.

Canon G1-X. 15.1mm. f3.5. 1/1600sec.

The second shot highlights the emptiness of Deal and Walmer on a cold wintry day. Again I shot from a low position to give a level base line to all the buildings and to lift the bandstand out from the background. To the left of the bandstand are three fishermen’s huts. The line and rise of the huts roofs leeds the eye right and up to the main feature of the picture. The footpath that runs in front of these huts is completely empty. In post production I lit the inside of the stand to show some structure and colour.

Canon G1-X. 19mm. f5.6. 1/1250sec.

The seafront shelter is another structure that wasn’t getting much use. Built in the 1950s their modernist lines reflect that post war era. As well as looking good it is a very practical place to sit and watch the world go by as its broad roof keeps off both the sun and the rain but is still completely open. On this day, however, there was no chance of it being used.

The first picture shows the snow caught in the angles of the roof supports. I have used the structure to frame the rough sea and the pier. An inviting spot most of the year but not today.

Canon G1-X. f5.6. 26mm. 1/1250sec.

The second is from the sea side. Like the view of the bandstand it shows the empty promenade. The only signs of life being three sets of footprints and the tyre marks left by a council van that was emptying the rubbish bins. I like the way the buildings in the street behind lead the eye through the picture and the last building on the left, The Royal Hotel, acts as a full stop.

Canon G1-X. F5.6. 25mm. 1/1250sec.

Deal Library.

Deal Library was founded in 1889 and moved to it’s current location in Broad Street in 1976. It is a modern space with curved shelving that leads you through the various sections. There is a children section as well as a study and research area complete with computers and a microfiche reader. The library has a light, airy and friendly feel to it with comfortable seating and helpful staff.

I produce the first two pictures to show the general scheme, one towards the children’s section and one towards the study area. As there were children present I did not attempt to get closer to that area. There are large posters on the walls featuring local scenes.

The third is a view of a bookshelf from where I sat to obtain the last picture which is of two men reading the morning papers.

Canterbury Cathedral.

On Thursday 21st. March, Justin Welby will be enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury.

This seemed a good reason to go and see how the Cathedral was being prepared and to make comparison between the very public main part and the quieter and more reflective minor chapels within its walls. I know I am supposed to comment on the design purpose of the buildings and how this works but in this case feel any comment by me on this would be superfluous. I comment only on the way it was being prepared for this enthronement. The newly laid red carpet leads the eye up to where the enthronement will take place. The simple altar is thus raised above the main floor and will make the ceremony clear to all. The enthronement does not take place at the main altar, where it would be lost in the background of this magnificent building, but is brought forward to this spot where the action will be beautifully framed by the background.

There was television lighting and the necessary cabling, everywhere but it was not in use. I have tried to exclude it from the picture. All the shots were hand held. For such slow speeds I was pleased with the results. A little noise reduction in post production made the pictures acceptable.

Canon G1-X. f5.6. 1/80sec. 15.1mm. ISO 1600.

Down in the crypt I found this small chapel. Very different and very private. While having no faith myself I can understand how a space like this would work to bring a believer closer to his God. I had to be a bit sneaky as there were no photography signs all over this part of the Cathedral.

Canon G1-X. f5.6. 1/20sec. 15.1mm. ISO 3200.

At 1100hours each day a page of the book of remembrance is turned and a prayer is said for those Men of Kent and Kentish Men who fell in battle. A moving ceremony that attracted quite a crowd. At no time do the participants face outwards.