Connecting Essay 1

Internet Photograph

This photograph is something I found on the internet which I used to inspire my picture below.  In this picture, the young man is holding a pile of books in his hand, perhaps conveying how he has either a lot of work to do or just a large passion for reading. This photo could have been more effective with him standing in a library to exaggerate the theme of books/work and it would've complimented the overall outcome. However, the scene that he has been placed in is still very effective. People who spend lots of time outdoors in open fields like the one he is placed in are usually quite adventurous individuals. If the books represent how he is into reading he could be judged as a passionate and interesting character. The falling books have been edited into this piece to make it look like they are never ending; he always has work to do. This could be related to an A-Level student who cannot escape their pile of work. I like this piece because the idea behind it was a successful one. 

My Photograph

This is a photograph that I pieced together in my first proper surreal shoot. I was extremely pleased with how this looked in the end after I'd collected individual pictures to make this one picture. I believe that my editing in this photograph was unnoticeable and discrete, to avoid the outline of Danielle and the books come across as fake. I didn't want the viewer to be able to tell that these objects had been cut and placed against a white background, and I think that it does look more natural than edited. When I focus more on the white background, it looks as though the subject blends in to the rest of the page as the frame of the photograph isn't defined. This would be something that I'd have to improve in this image if I ever was to. I think it was effective to have falling books centred in the middle of the frame, and having one book open makes it look more realistic that they are all fallen, rather than having all three falling books shut; this wouldn't be believable. I feel that overall this attempt at surreal photography was a success.

The Connection

The connection between the internet photograph and my photograph is clearly evident when looking at both images. These two images have the identical idea/theme as it was the internet image that inspired this shoot of mine. I loved the way the books were falling into an already made pile because this surreal technique was something that I'd be able to do. It wasn't as technical as some of the surreal pieces online which is another reason as to why I like it. These two photographs therefore connect because they both include a model; someone who is holding a pile of books beneath their face. Both models are also positioned in the centre of the frame so that they are the centre of attention instead of anything else. My photograph having a white background perhaps allows the focus to centre more on my model than it does the internet model, as he has an interesting background behind him which the viewers eyes can wander off to. Another connection shared between these two images is the falling books. Some are closed and open in the internet image, and some are closed and open in my image to allow the idea to look more realistic as it looks as though they're actually falling instead of just being edited in. A difference in these two pieces would be the amount of books that are falling. Lots more are included in the internet image and one is also covering his face, whereas there are only three books falling in my image and none cover her face. Nevertheless, there is a strong connection between these two photographs and I believe both were successful in achieving what was set out.