Shoot 5 - 02/06/2022

Ideas

I wanted to photograph in the style of Edward Weston and Andre Kertesz. I want to shot still life images of the pool table. I want to go beyond the external lines of its form and explore the internal rails that create interesting lines. The game of pool is all about angles and lines and understanding lighting reflection for your shot. I want to use my iPhone for some of these shots so I can access spaces within the table itself.

Artist Model Inspiration

For this shoot I was inspired by Edward Weston's idea about taking images that are a self expression, where I wanted the viewer to admire my subject 'the pool table". I really liked his quote "to photograph a rock, have it look like a rock, but be more than a rock. Significant presentation - not interpretation". Suggesting that one should not overlook the simplicity of a pool table as there is more to a table than its exterior. And much like the game of pool, there is more than just potting a ball, the game is technically complicated much like the inner workings of a pool table

What worked?

I think this photoshoot worked really well because I had lots of interesting lines and angles. I also found having the space and uninterrupted time to take my images allowed me the freedom to shot images from different angles and perspectives. Given my interest in the sport I feel many of my photos are influenced by my playing perspective, however, with this shoot I found an new aspect that I hadn't given much thought to before

What didn't, how could this be improved?

I had a specific idea about photographing a pool table, however, I had to undertake the photoshoot at the club I play at. What I found was the venue is very dark and much of the lighting came from the reflection off the red pillars. I had a specific idea about the colour themes I wanted on my photo board (I wanted to keep it to green and blue for the table cloth, and black related my New Zealand Team shirt.

What are you going to do next time to extend your idea?

I felt this photo shoot produced more of the same images. So I had to think about how to extend the images I had taken. I found an image my David Wurm that really inspired my thinking. Wurm's images highlight details through altering the colour and contrast to create a new reality. I wanted use my images of the pool tables rails, to progress them beyond shadows. It took a lot of goes to work out how Wurm had altered his images, and it was more complicated than just making some adjustments. I had to create layers within the image and treat each layers colour separately from the background.

Shoot 6 - 18/07/2022

Ideas

The New Zealand U21 squad had an awesome opportunity to spend the afternoon at a private pool room in Chicago being coach by Alex Lely. Alex Lely is a former professional pool play, and is the captain of the European Mosconi Cup Team (which is a huge deal in the pool world). My idea for this shoot was to capture Alex's knowledge of the game that he was passing on to our squad members. I want to photograph the subjects expressions and the determination to challenge ourselves as players and take on feedback to push our playing capability. I want capture the privilege as well as Alex's knowledge to be central to this shoot.

Artist Model Inspiration

I will be using Peter Black as inspiration for this photoshoot. Peter Black's style is capture the essence of subjects viewpoint that provides a record of the pace of everyday life. I want to use his ideas of not waiting for that prefect moment, but to capture a sequence of images that connect to one another. There are so many images of players taking that prefect shot, but for this shoot I wanted to record that intensity of coaching where the viewer feels like they are participating in the coaching. The shot will capture the drills, strategy and the mental training we undergo at our level of playing.

What worked?

The style of photos that I took from my artist model capture a sequence of images that acknowledge the knowledge Alex Lely brings to the game of pool. I can really see how Alex challenged and brought new perspectives to the players game. I feel that Alex's expressive and direct coaching was really captured. I really like the expressions of the two New Zealand players, who are clearly in awe of the talent who is taking the time to give some last minute coaching before the Championship tournament.

What didn't, how could this be improved?

Shooting in a small space made it difficult to move around, and I found myself taking my photos from the same place. My movement around the space could be improved by changing the camera angle more. Like with Peter Black's images changing the angle of the camera can provide differing viewpoints and perspectives. I could have moved in closer for camera angles looking up or down on the subjects. However, I my main aim was to capture and convey the idea of coaching, and with my movement around the subjects may have been a distraction and I may have capture the subjects looking at my camera lens.

What are you going to do next time to extend your idea?

Next time I would consider taking my shoot when I don't have to be participating in the coaching session. I found it difficult to capture my shots and then complete the technique tasks being coached. I think this meant that I had very little time to think about all the elements of the my shoot, especially perspective. Much like Peter Black I would like to extend my idea by using a medium format camera on a tripod to capture each shot of game of pool. By using this restrained approach to capturing a sequence of images that are concerned with the changing environment of the table.

Shoot 7 - 21/07/2022 - 24/07/2022

Ideas

The 2022 VNEA Junior Pool Championships were held on July 21-24 2022 at the Bayfront Convention Centre Eire, Pennsylvania USA. There five players representing New Zealand - two players in the Youth 7 - 12 Division and three players in the Majors Division. My idea for this shoot was to capture and document the New Zealand players over the three days of competition. I wanted to capture the pool venue environment, players performing on the table and the competition successes. I want to show case the discipline and focus each of the players when at the table and on the 'hot seat'. Playing on the table is what we have all trained for, where we learn the skills of blocking out any sensory environmental distractions and play to the disciplines we have learned.

Artist Model Inspiration

I will be using a number of inspirations. I want to use Peter Black's documentary style and Edward Weston's abstract angles. For this shoot, I will be photographing from a distance, because only players are able to enter the playing area. I want my focus to be on the New Zealand players.

What worked?

The style of photos that I took from my artist model capture a sequence of images that acknowledge the discipline playing and focus of the New Zealand Junior team. The images showcase the overwhelming size of the venue and the talent of the players. I really liked the venue images the depict the intensity of the environment we were playing in. I always have to take a deep breath when walking into the venue to stop myself from being overwhelmed (everything seems up-sized in the USA). I wanted to show the contrast of the empty versus the full venue to provide my personal experience perspective.

What didn't, how could this be improved?

I found that many of my shots were repetitive and it was hard to distinguish one game from another, or how players were progressing through the players table. I don't think I captured the emotion of competition. Although this lack of emotion in the players is more about our training and game strategy. What also made it difficult to capture emotion is that the players and coaches are not allowed to communicate with each while playing, making it hard to capture connection between the team members.

What are you going to do next time to extend your idea?

I wanted to extend my shoot beyond capturing a moment, a shot. I wanted the mood of my images to create a sense of emotion. I liked Bill Armstrong's idea of the effect that colour can have on emotion and perception. Armstrong's use of intentionally taking out-of-focus photos and manipulating the colour to create hues gave me the idea for how to create emotion. When you are on the table playing, your only focus is on the table, where everything else fades to muffled blur of silence. I want to extend some of this shots images to express this perspective of players focus.

Image Extension - Blur Motion

Shoot 8 - 21/08/2022

Ideas

For this idea I want to shoot my dad, who was my original inspiration for my photography shoots. I want to capture the physical movement of the players shots beyond the static documentary photos, and turn the image into energy. I want to combine my images to create a 2 dimensional image.

What worked?

The idea behind the shoot and the artist models worked really well. I liked how many shot combinations the evolved during the shoot. I

much i experimented with the shapes and how i laid them overtop because it has given my a range of options and i can see what has worked out best. The contrast between the colour and black and white was strong and made my photographs more interesting and brought out some meaning linked with one of my sub-themes manmade vs nature.

What didn't, how could this be improved?

The lighting and reflection in the pool club location is difficult to control. I would have preferred to have taken these imagines against a white background. By not having a pure / clean background I feel is a distraction to the clean images of my artist models. Time was also a factor as I needed to take my shots before the club opened as my model wasn't keen on being photographed in front of others.

What are you going to do next time to extend your idea?

Next time I would like to shoot in a studio with studio lighting to ensure my object composition and their movement is the sole focus. I feel this would create a more sculptural effect on the body's form and angles. I think this will be a good and simple way to extend my idea of energy.