Photo-story AD4802// Group critique feedback

Lucy-

‘I really like your concept with the supermarkets. I think a few of the images are under exposed but you can fix them in photoshop. I really like that last image because the framing really works. I think image number 3 you have missed the focus. it would be really cool if you went into the shop and maybe asked the workers to take a photo or then and you could ask what they think of everything and use it as a quote in the magazine.’

Chloe-

‘Your images are really good and I agree that a few are a bit dark but that is a easy fix, I think it would be a cool if you got a image where the worker is behind the screen or the worker which counts how many people have to go in the shop at once. But it’s a really good story’

James-

‘ I really like what you’ve done with using the car door to frame some of the shots and the cars wing mirrors since it draws you into the frame. I also really like the way you’ve used a low aperture to focus the camera on the person closest to you in order to blur the shop- but not so much so that you can’t tell what’s going on. The only thing I’d improve would be to manual focus on the people in the car park so that it blurs the cars and scene except them and the car. Also the same just some need brightening but apart from that it’s really good, I like the way you’ve taken a trip to the shops and change the way that a person would look at it’

A common comment was that my images are underexposed. As part of my progression in response to feedback, I am going to go back to my images and lighten them in order to make them better for publishing. I was also told that the framing works well with my shots, whilst using doors and cars to frame my subjects. I am really glad this was discussed during the critique as it is something I wanted to portray after researching similar artists and it was positive to hear that it was recognised. I was also told that one of my images was not in focus, which I later re visited and agreed with so I removed it from the edit.

It was also mentioned that I should re shoot a different scene, showing workers from within the store. I considered this concept and thought about how it would fit in my project and have decided against it. I feel as if I could have incorporated it earlier on but don’t feel like I now have enough time to do it justice. I also feel as if my project works better in being from outside of the supermarkets and feel the flow of my story would be altered if I added images that were upfront staged portraits. The whole concept of my project is showing the realities of supermarkets during a pandemic and I want the outcomes to almost have ‘a fly on the wall’ effect and feel this could be comprimised if I extened the shots to inside in a confined space.

Another point that was mentioned was about the images being shot with manual focus to achieve a more isolated effect of the subjects. Although I understand how this could benefit the metaphor of isolation, relating to the story, I feel as if the backgrounds of the images add context which is really important. I also thought about the whole frame, so the colours of the background, as well as objects genreally work well with the subject.

After recieving my critique I feel a lot more clear about my work and what I need to do differently. I feel like this critique could have been more beneficial earlier on in the project because if I was to take everything on board and reshoot it would be rushed and stressful. I have taken on board all of the feedback, but especially about changing the edits, as this is accessible and I have time to improve it.