Illustrated Project Proposal

I've decided that I would like to focus on street photography within different places. This idea was photo-journalism and travel inspired, as during this topic I plan to travel to different places such as Bishops Stortford, Epping, London - such as Stratford, Oxford Street, Big Ben, Train Stations etc., Brighton - such as the Lanes, Beach, the Pier, as well as my home town Harlow, and also I plan to shoot some photos whilst on holiday in Menorca this summer. 

I'd like to begin this subject with shooting 'what people do in certain places/situations', such as, if it rains, people put up umbrellas, in restaurants people eat, on the beach people sunbathe and swim in the sea etc. This is also a good starting point because it means I can shoot in Harlow during lessons as well, as I can shoot up the town where people will be shopping, or in parks where people walk their dogs etc. So I wouldn't always have to be travelling, however if I plan to travel somewhere for a particular shoot, I will do so before my next lesson, so I can then spend my time in lesson editing photos I have already taken prior to that lesson.

I have researched different styles of street photography, and have found familiar photographers that I have already studied before, as well as new photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Joel Meyerowitz, Lee Friedlander, and Martin Parr. Most of these photographers shot in the olden days, which is evidenced in the photographs from the clothes people are wearing, cars that were driven and also most photographs are black and white which leaves that particular olden feel. Martin Parr will be my inspiration in holiday because he has shot on the beach, and of people eating and playing on the beach, which is what I will try to capture as well. 

I plan to approach this project by shooting the monumental, clique aspects of each place. Such as London's Big Ben and the London Eye, as well as the Pier and Lanes at Brighton. This would be through an architectural approach, as I would be focusing on buildings. However, I could also approach it by shooting mainly people, and their natural expressions in day-to-day life in the street, at restaurants, at the beach etc. But I could also shoot people's reactions to certain situations like change of weather or traffic. 

Whilst researching photographers, I came across a few photographs that have also influenced me as well, such as the images below: 

I liked this photo because of the reflection in the puddle on the wall, where you can see silhouettes of the three people walking away from the camera. This photo has influenced ideas I had when shooting in the rain as I could shoot people in their reflection in puddles and rain drops as well as them holding up umbrellas and of people running to shelter.

I also really like this photo on the right because of the graffiti on the concrete wall, of a man's face. This is also a prime example of street photography actually shot in the street, as it doesn't always have to be to shot in an actual street. I like the depth of the path and walls getting smaller towards the background. As well as how the photographer captured the person walking along the path.

This is the type of image I hope to take of the London Eye when I visit, as well as a front facing image too. I like this photo because it is black and white, which has made the clouds darker, and straight away I associate that with cold, dull and wet weather, which makes me feel like I’m actually there whilst the photo is being taken. Also, I like that the Ferris wheel is directly in the center of the image, so it is the first thing that catches your eye.

This photo was inspiration for the type of images I could shoot on holiday, as people tend to pay for people to create silly art of their faces and couples pay for drawings of themselves whilst on holiday. I like this photo because nobody is looking at the camera, so they are oblivious to the photo being taken.

This photo is influence for my 'train station' style photographs that I plan to shoot when I go to London. I could also take similar shots in Harlow as in the town there are a few musicians who play music or sing on a regular basis, like the person in this photo. I like the depth in this image, making the train station look empty.

I liked this photo because of the bright lights from the lampposts and cars. I also like that the three people crossing the street are in the center of the image, and the lights have formed their shadows behind them. This is a very busy street photograph, which I like and could shoot similar photos in home shoots late at night.

This is also influence for my London visit shoot, as it is people holding onto the barriers on a train. I like that the background is blurry, so that the closer people's hands are the sole focus. I also like that this photo clearly represents the busyness of London trains as you can see a blurred mass of people in the background.

I liked this photo because of the depth, shown through the 'Costa' sign along the wall, leading to a man standing alone in front of the coffee shop. From the bright reflection on the ground, I gathered that this photo was taken during rainy weather, which inspired me also. The black and white edit mimics the feel of the weather as well.