Conflict
"Conflict Is Inevitable, But Combat Is Optional"
Statement Of Intent
My aim for this project (conflict) is to demonstrate my ideas based around the theme of bullying. At the end of this project, I will choose my best photographs and put them together so that they can be easily viewed.
For the start of my research, I will start looking at photographer Eddie Adams. I chose him because his photographs of war and conflict is unique and inspires me to do the same with my work. I feel that Eddie Adams' photography is important to our modern society because it shows the true feel of war and violence that we will never see. His work makes us feel as if his photographs aren't real. I would like to capture my work like this.
When I chose my theme, I had many ideas about what my photos could be like and where they could be taken. After thinking more deeply about my theme, I realised that there are many different themes inside of bullying, some of which being cyber bullying, physical bullying, verbal bullying and social bullying. These photos can be portrayed in many different ways.
To show my development through my work, I will start taking photos that link to bullying and war at the same time. I will start developing my work by taking photos in Manchester. This will help improve my work because I can show a range of ideas with 2 themes in 1 picture.
I would like to experiment with many different techniques in my work. One is using a tripod. I rarely use a tripod when taking my photographs so I would like to start using a tripod even more. Another one is to start using more filters in Photoshop. This will help my work be more creative and advanced.
I have 8 weeks left to complete my main project- Conflict.
As my project develops, I would like to start writing descriptions based on the photos I take. By this, I mean doing the 5C's on my pictures so my work will look more clear. After the creation of my final piece, I will write a final evaluation on the project, going over what went well, and what could have been better.
For the start of my research, I will start looking at photographer Eddie Adams. I chose him because his photographs of war and conflict is unique and inspires me to do the same with my work. I feel that Eddie Adams' photography is important to our modern society because it shows the true feel of war and violence that we will never see. His work makes us feel as if his photographs aren't real. I would like to capture my work like this.
When I chose my theme, I had many ideas about what my photos could be like and where they could be taken. After thinking more deeply about my theme, I realised that there are many different themes inside of bullying, some of which being cyber bullying, physical bullying, verbal bullying and social bullying. These photos can be portrayed in many different ways.
To show my development through my work, I will start taking photos that link to bullying and war at the same time. I will start developing my work by taking photos in Manchester. This will help improve my work because I can show a range of ideas with 2 themes in 1 picture.
I would like to experiment with many different techniques in my work. One is using a tripod. I rarely use a tripod when taking my photographs so I would like to start using a tripod even more. Another one is to start using more filters in Photoshop. This will help my work be more creative and advanced.
I have 8 weeks left to complete my main project- Conflict.
As my project develops, I would like to start writing descriptions based on the photos I take. By this, I mean doing the 5C's on my pictures so my work will look more clear. After the creation of my final piece, I will write a final evaluation on the project, going over what went well, and what could have been better.
Context
- UNICEF saves children’s lives, defends their rights, and helps them fulfill their potential. We never give up. UNICEF, for every child.
- Born into conflict
- Every two seconds, a child takes his or her first breath in a conflict zone.
- Among refugee and migrant children on the move, the risks to new-borns and mothers are especially acute. Worldwide, more than 16 million babies were born into conflict this year.
- Refugee and migrant flows into Europe remain at an unprecedented high. Among the most vulnerable are small children who require special attention and monitoring. One-month-old Youssef, born by caesarean section, journeys through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with his family towards a new life.
Composition
In my opinion, I think that the main focus point would be the 3 people standing in the middle/left of the picture. I would say the photo is from a perspective point of view as you can see the front of the family as well a lot of the background. There is a strong leading diagonal line coming down from the top left, because as you go down you will meet with the faces of the people. The photo has a hard lighting contrast as the photo is clear and you are able to see the background as well. I would say that there is a rule of thirds in the picture towards the left side where the family is walking. My eye is drawn to the family who I assume have suffered a lot after having to escape a war zone. My eye is also drawn to the bright colours the man is wearing as it stands out from the mud. I think that there is a sense of scale in the composition as the family are standing on the left side of the picture with a clear view of the house in the background. The photo has a deep depth of field as the family and the background is clear. I would say that the photo has been taken with a large lens and without a tripod. I think that there is a dark foreground in the picture as the colours in the picture stand out.
Content
The photo looks quite modern and new as the quality of the photo is clear. Most of the colours in the picture are bright however the mud is dark. That's what makes it stand out. The photo is shown in colour so that you can see the colours that stand out. I know that the family in the photo are fleeing from a war zone and are migrating. There are 2 young children (one born recently) and 2 adults.
Connection
This photo connects to our work as it is to do with conflict. We know it is to do with conflict because the family are migrating from a war zone (which is conflict). The photo connects to our work because it shows types of conflict within the picture which are poverty/war/terrorism. I like that the photographer has displayed various meanings and messages of conflict in the picture.
Comment
I think that the meaning behind the work is to show that there isn't just one type of conflict, but there are many. A strength I would give this photo would be that he has used rule of thirds perfectly in the picture. He has the family covering 2/3 of the picture and the house and land covering 1/3. An EBI that I would give this picture would be that the picture might've looked a bit better if a slight bit of the sun was shown in the background. The picture might also look good when taken during sunset. Overall I really like this picture as to how the photographer has set up the photo and the in-depth meaning and features of the photo.
Eddie Adams - 5C's analysis
Context
In the image, there is a man who is being shown a gun to his head and is looking weary. The photo shows a man pointing a gun to his head while another person watches this execution. This photo is called 'Saigon Execution' by war photographer Eddie Adams. Eddie Adams was an American photographer who was noted for taking photos in 13 different wars. He was born on 12.06.1933 and died on 18.07.2004. The man with the gun in his hand is called Nguyễn Ngọc Loan. Nguyễn Ngọc Loan was South Vietnam's chief of National Police. He gained international attention when executed handcuffed prisoner Nguyễn Văn Lém, a Việt Cộng member who had killed the wife and six children of a South Vietnamese military officer. The photo shows general Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executing a prisoner in Vietnam in 1968. It captures the emotion on the prisoners face and is a really powerful, shocking photo. The picture is taken just after the trigger is pulled. This image won Eddie Adams a Pulitzer prize in 1969. It is an inspiring photo because it is that shocking and really captures the grit and the death of the Vietnam war.
Composition
In my opinion, I would say that the main focus point in the picture would on the left and in the middle as this is where the execution is happening. I would say that the photo is from a perspective point of view as you can see the execution taking place as well as the background (which has a shallow depth of field). My eye is drawn to the person who is about to be shot. This is because he looks like he has been through a lot and can't take anymore. I think that the photo has been taken with a large lens and without a tripod as the photo has quickly been taken in the moment. I also think the dark colours also match the theme of the photo. There are also some strong leading lines across the back of the picture.
Content
The photo is quite an old photo as the quality is clear, but not as clear as modern photos. Everything in the picture is either black, grey or white which i really like as it has a 'dark' theme towards it. The composition/ Rule of thirds in the picture is shown more towards the left and has a shallow depth of field. The photo is taken in landscape.
Connection
This photo links with our work as it is to do with conflict. The photo shows war which is a main topic of conflict. I know it is to do with conflict as someone has a gun faced towards them and an execution is about to take place. However the photo doesn't just show war. It also has a touch of poverty and bullying as the man who is about be shot looks helpless and tired. I really like the way the photographer has portrayed a message behind their photo and I am going to use this technique to make my own images more meaningful. I also like the way Adams has used experimentation to enhance the subject, and I am going to try this in my work.
Comment
In my opinion, the photo doesn't have just one meaning. The photographer has purposely done this so that the viewers feel for picture. A strength that i would give this picture is that the photographer has used a shallow depth of field, so that he focuses mainly on the execution and the man watching it happen. An EBI that I would give this picture is that it would have stood out a bit more if the people related to the execution were in colour. Overall I really like this picture as to how the photographer has set up the photo and the in-depth meaning and features of the photo.