Shoot Six- The Change Of Interest In Youth Culture- Contact Sheet

Shoot Six- The Change Of Interest In Youth Culture- Work Diary

For this shoot, my intentions was to show my audience a series of photographs which display the change of interest in youth, however, I found that with different interests, it didn't fit very well with a running shoot, therefore I decided to use an overall theme of the counter stereotype of youth, the interest of records and magazines. The reason behind my idea for this shoot was to be able to display to my audience that not all youths wear hoodies, go out a graffiti everything, some individuals decide to stay home and listen to music. The main influence to this shoot was Ali Seglins who's work is displayed in my research log. Even though Seglins photography includes more of a fashion line of series, the style of the photos have a eye drawing effect of a retro feel which I liked to recreate. Even though this shoot was taken on a DSLR rather than a film camera like Seglins, I still found factors such as record players which I found linked similar to Seglins work.

My favourite photo from this shoot:

Even though my style of photography for this photography project is documentary with different subjects, I still find this photo really interesting in displaying a counter stereotype of youth in today's society because without the subject being in the photo, the audience are still able to build upon a personality behind the person who this photo was aimed to capture. It is someone who likes record players and that style of music but there is also the aspect of fashion with the shoes in the background. Another reason why this is under my favourite image for this shoot is because this was generally the way this persons house was- even though the record player wasn't exactly in this position on the floor, this was how it was set up, with the shoes placed in this way, without my manipulation which I really like. Another aspect to this photo which I find really intriguing is this use of colouring in this photo. This is the raw image with no manipulation from photoshop, yet I find the colouring of the case and the background wood effect from the wardrobe is contrasted really nicely with the colour of the shoes but also the colour of the record. I took many different photos of my friends record player with different records, yet I find this photo the best one due to the orange record as it complies really well with the wood effect on this photo.

My Least favourite photo from this shoot:

This photo was taken within a Camden shop with records and CDs, however, I accidentally put the put my camera settings on a longer shutter speed which has had an over exposed effect across the frame distorting the whole photo so the audience are unable to see what the stickers say above each cd row. This photo may have also had this effect because as I took the photo, someone who I was with ran past the lens- creating this blur effect, which in this context I do not think is a successful effect on my photo. A final reason I have decided to put this photo in this part of my work diary is because I think it stands out too much when put with my other photos of this shoot, it doesn't fit in due to being too over exposed. 

Overall:

Overall I believe this was a successful shoot in the idea of displaying a counter stereotype of youth, however, whilst looking at this shoot within the rest of my other shoots, I do not believe it would fit in as a complete series, as the majority of my photos are of the stereotypes of youth, including the gritty black and white effect, I believe this series would stand out too much when creating my final top images. Therefore, I have decided to keep this shoot as a representation of youth to my audience showing not everyone complies with the stereotypes, however, as much as the photos were successful, I believe other shoots stands out much more on the representation of youth.  

Shoot Six- Changes of Interests In Youth Culture- Straight Images

For this entire shoot, I used the same editing technique to create a series of images which all move easily form one to the other, in order to edit these photos, I looked up various techniques on YouTube in order to recreate a film style effect on these photos. The reason I wanted to do this was because I wanted to show a counter stereotype as much as possible and I found that do this effect help me create this. Even though I recreated different techniques found online, I found this style most successful.
1. Using the curves tool, I drag the left corner of the line 2/3 up the first box, this differs from most of the techniques using curves because you normally drag the line within the middle of the line to create a contrast, yet I found when you actually move the beginning of the line upwards, it creates a really nice fade to the photo.
2. I then used the vibrance tool to lessen the boldness of the colouring on my photos, I didn't massively lower this because this subsequently made the photo black and white which I didn't want, I just wanted the colours to blend together more and be more muted, I found this was successful in showing a film effect because it forms a retro-like effect on the images, as shown below.
3. Then, going back to the curves tool, I used it to create a faint vignette around my images, in order to do this, I opened up the curves tool then with using the gradient tool, I drag from the middle of the image to close to the edge, this meant that the vignette would only cover the corners of my photos. I then clicked in the middle of the curves line and dragged it down slightly to create that vignette effect.
4. Finally, I found the most successful way to create this effect was to add a hint of "Noise" to the images, this gave it a grainy effect.



Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/15
F.stop- 4.5
ISO- 200
For this photo, I had aimed to create an image to display to my audience the counter stereotype of youth without my subject physically being in the image. I found this a successful and interesting approach for my work because I believe the audience are still able to build a personality of my subject without actually being present in this photo. Another aspect which is interesting in this photo is the positioning of the record player alongside the  shoes in the background, this is because I find this shows a counter stereotype of youth that this subject I am capturing isn't one to go out in hoodie etc, they enjoy music and fashion.

Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/15
F.stop- 4.5
ISO- 200
Much like other images I have in this shoot and some others, I told my subject to behave the way they normally would and whilst every photo was being taken I was talking to them, I found this was a good approach because it meant that my subject was unable to tell when exactly I was going to be taking the photo, but at the same time it meant I was able to capture a raw image of this subjects personality really well. At this point in time she was looking through her records to put the next one. Even though that is a normal story behind this photo, some of my audience may read in it this with symbolism, believing that my as my subject differs from the "norm" of teenagers, the audience may create a story that she doesn't fit it, yet she is still happy to look through her records as a symbol of herself.

Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/8
F.stop- 4.5
ISO- 200
This image was inspired by a variety of different images shown in my project image bank, but also the image bank for this singular shoot. I find it really interesting because it's as if my subject has been taken away and replaced by this media forum- the magazine. Another small aspect of this photo which I really like is the use of colouring, I had chosen my subjects clothing of this shoot and then whilst looking through her magazines, I found this one which I was really drawn to because the colour of the title complies really well with the colouring of her top.


Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/30
F.stop- 7.1
ISO- 1600
The image was taken within an underground "retro" market in Camden town where there were lots of old clothes, records etc... when we came to the record section, my friends were generally looking through them (in the end one actually bought one), even though I myself don't buy records, I found it really interesting on the excitement they displayed when seeing all these records, I then got my camera out and walked around them whilst they were looking, even though they knew I was taking these photos, I continued to talk to them, building that relaxed atmosphere, enabling me to capture these photos.

Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/30
F.stop- 7.1
ISO- 1600
This image is taken in the same place as the image above, yet this is just a different subject to the one above. I find this photo really interesting because of the angle I chose for the framing of this photo, this is because I put my camera down the side of record boxes. Another reason I like this photo is the context behind it, even though it is very hard to tell the difference between this image and the image above, but the genres of music they were each looking at were completely different, for example this subject was looking at western music whilst the one above included artists such as Bowie. I find that this is important because it helps me show the counter stereotype of youth because generally, youths are suggested to comply with peer pressure, yet if I had made it clearer that they were looking at different genres I believe it would have worked even better.

Shoot Six- The Change Of Interests In Youth Culture- Image Bank

I have a very similar photo of this on my 30 project image bank blog post because I find it really interesting because it is a counter stereotype of youths. Even though lots of my shoots for this project include the grime stereotype of youths being negatively portrayed, I hope this shoot varies by being a counter stereotype- revealing to my audience the different sides of youths, not all youths behave negatively. The reason find this photo intriguing because stereotypically, magazine shops are considered the places which are filled of "nerds"/"Geeks" however, even though we cannot see the faces of these subjects, we can see their clothing which appears to fight against the typical clothing associated with "nerds". I also find this photo really symbolic because it implies these youths are almost "becoming the media", peer pressure is a high issue in today's society of youth and I find this photo really informative of this.

When I come to shooting the photos for this shoot, I really hope to recreate an image such as this one because I find the narrow depth of field effect really interesting as the Head-shell on the tone-arm is in focus and the tracking force gauge is out of focus along with the back of the record player. The reason this makes this a really intriguing photo is because ben though there isn't ay subject physically within this photo, the audience are still able to form a story suggesting the music is being player- the tone-arm wouldn't be on the record if it wasn't meant to be playing music- therefore showing how there is someone listening to the music- we just cannot see them. Even though there is a chance I wouldn't be able to gain clear enough focus such as this photo, I hope to recreate my own version of this photo, yet I may chose to use the entire record player instead of just the arm.

This photo is really interesting when looking at the counter-stereotypes of youth because many years ago the record was a widely spread interest with most household owning one, however in the past couple of years, the record has appear popular again by certain teens which I find interesting because its almost a full cycle of interests. I find this particular image intriguing because of the position this photographer has got the subject to stand in- holding the record over her face; this is because it almost as if the photographer wanted to imply to the audience hat the audience is ashamed to be using records and is therefore hiding away from the camera because this doesn't conform with today's society of youths- fighting against the stereotypes. This is a very similar photo to one shown in my 30 image bank for the whole project, however unlike the other one (which is low key lighting in the studio and a close up), this photo is in colour and is further out, revealing the simple clothing that this subject is wearing which I find interesting because the colour of red on the top contrasts with the darkness of the record.

Much like these images below, this is an example which works with the idea of this shoot of interests in electronics and technology however it may stand out too much from the rest of the series in this shoot so I intend to use this example to help show this message however, I hope to use it in my computer experiments post instead because then I believe it will fit in more and I would still be able to show my audiences different stereotypes (being constantly connected to a screen) and my different experimentations. I find this image really interesting because even though it appears to be an older subject (which I won't be taking photos of) the message of being sucked into social media and phone technology is still highly relevant. Another reason this is an interesting photo is because of the blur hiding the subjects identity, all we can see is what they are wearing and the most important part of the photo- her phone.


As shown in my shoot analysis, I have created a quick example which is very simple to this photo, however when I come to making computer experiments, experimenting with different blending modes, I hope to recreate a very similar photo- spending more time on it. I find this image really interesting due to the symbolic meaning behind it, unlike the image below, the entire body of this person has been replaced with the keyboard implying that the whole of youth is slowly being taken over by the technological world. However, I do not like the top on this image created with mouths as I do not think it works very well and wouldn't help my message of youths being technologically taken over with random mouths scattered on the image- I do not wish to use this aspect when I come to my computer experiments.


When I come to Physical experiments, I hope to recreate an image such as this one because I find it really interesting, even though it links really well with this shoot idea, there could be a chance of not linking with the other images of this shoot so I hope to use it, yet separate it. The reason I find this photo really interesting is because of the symbolic aspect which is formed within it. This photographer has taken a simple portrait with normal lighting within a studio then printed out the photo ripping out the face- this is a good effect because if the face was cut out, it could appear too neat and would have the same effect that it does here. This is because the ripped effect suggests that as time has changed youths are forced into this world in order to fit in. Furthermore, the replacement of the face with a phone simcard is highly symbolic because it implies their lifestyle has been replaced by technology instead. However, the photographer has created irony within this photo because the face with messily ripped out, yet the sewing up of the simcard is very neat.

Shoot Six- The Change Of Interests In Youth Culture- Shoot Analysis

Within this shot I intend to explore different ways the youth culture has developed in the activities and interests this portray. The three main elements I hope to shoot, is records, electronics (phones and game consoles) and magazines

Record players- one of the first ways of the distribution of music. With the first ever invention in 1887- called the gramophone which was able to rotate a hard rubber disc and create sound through the cracks in this disc. Subsequently leading to the creation of records. The records company expanded and became a massively popular way of listening to music. Yet the creation of the more portable cassette in the 70s became increasing popular with being both cheaper and a more accessible way to listen to music, saw a decline in the purchases of record players. Yet within the recent years, they have became increasingly popular again- perhaps a way of reliving the past or trying to be vintage.
To include record players into this shoot, I will use low angles and narrow depth of field techniques in order to show both subjects and the players. This shoot may be considered staged, yet I do have friends who generally listen record players so will document them in their normal state.

Electronics- From the first phone (now considered a brick) to the most recent Iphone or SAMSUNG, teenagers have always been seen as the "Key" target market as they are more likely to be using it- stereo-typically. Either "blocking up the phone bill" or just "constantly attached" the youth culture is very commonly associated with electronics, staying in to look at a screen rather than going outside to talk to their friends in person.
Even though I do not have access to older phones, I do have access to all the modern technology, whether it's because I own them or because my friends do, I hope to include these electronics in order to help portray a stereotypical view of the youth subculture being anti social.
The techniques I hope to use is documentary, blur, close up and narrow depth of field. these are the techniques I intend to explore because I believe these are best fitting with these shots.

This image shown of the left is a quick example that I made to show a way of manipulation I hope to achieve because this shows interests, however, I could be possible that the surreal manipulation for this shoot appear in my physical experiments, linking with this shoot, yet on a different blog post.

Shoot Five- Skateboarding- Work Diary

Within this shoot, I believe I have been able to successfully display different experimentation of the youth culture through skateboarding. For example, I have experimented different techniques such as animated GIFs to show the movement of skateboarding, however when I originally went out for this shoot, I didn't have a tripod so much frame moves a little bit in the middle of the GIF. I think this shoots shows how my research has helped me because the photographers Dan Boulton and Mark Vallee have highly influenced me and the style of photography and editing.

My Favourite photo from this shoot:

With the inspiration shown on my image bank from this shoot but also on my project image bank, I wanted to achieve an image which captures the anti social youth culture with the activity of skateboarding but hiding the identity of my subject- you cannot see his face yet through his clothing and the way he is walking with his skateboard there is the suggestion of the rebellion personality- he would rather be skateboarding his day away than doing something "productive" such as working (stereotypically viewed by certain audiences/ older generations). Another reason I like this photo is way the audience are able to build a personality on this subject through looking at the bottom of the skateboard- it shows a combination of arts through the collage of different images. Another reason this image is one of my favourites is the contrast in colour of the subject and the graffiti shown in the background, this is because it can be used as symbolism as youths are the creators of graffiti, yet chose to use bold colours to make it stand out and grab attention, yet they choose to dress in more muted colours, suggesting their expression is through their graffiti not their dress. 

My Least Favourite Image In This Shoot:

This image was taken for the use of creating an animated GIF, however, this certain time, the subject resulted in falling off his skateboard which I didn't want to include in my GIFs. Even though it could be argued useful in showing the raw form of skatebaording- it isn't staged as mistakes do happen, I do not believe it shows the correct affect which I would hope it too. Another reason why I do not like this photo is the lighting, as there is very little light within the skate-park- it is in a building, when taking the photo, I was looking into this building creating a dark scene. A way this could have been improved would be to change my positioning, As shown on my straight images I have achieved some photo where the lighting is clearer however to improve this, I would like to have more images where the lighting is better.

Progression: 

As I  find this shoot has been really successful in showing the key negative stereotype of youth, I would like to go back to this location to reshoot, this time using a disposable camera in order to achieve a film photo effect and also a tripod on my DSLR camera for reshooting GIFs. 

Shoot Five- Skateboarding- Straight Images

This GIF shows the movement of youth skateboarding which I really like. The down side to this GIF is the movement of the camera due to the lack of tripod being used. However the framing of this GIF is really interesting because the audience are shown both the surrounding of the skate-park but also the movement of the subjects- the main subject skateboarding but also a gang of youths in the background. The reason I chose to use GIF for this shoot because I wanted to experiment through different techniques of different mediums to portray youth.

Camera Settings

Shutter Speed- 1/100

F.stop- 7.1

This is another GIF which I decided to create, when I was at the skate-park, I took several different series of photos to form GIFs however only some work (the two shown here are the most successful). I prefer this one to the one above because of the lighting and the positioning of the subject- he is closer to the camera and easier to see, However the movement of the camera is much clearer than the GIF above as I must have followed the subject by mistake which I only noticed after putting the GIF together. Much like the GIF above, you can also see the movement of the gang of youth behind them, although due to the movement of the camera, it's harder to focus on.
Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/100
F.stop- 7.1

This image was taken during a series I had set up for a GIF, however I decided to take it as a single frame image rather than a GIF because I found the movement in this singular frame was much more interesting to look at and analyse than the GIF. Another reason why I chose not to use a GIF for this was the angle of the subject to me. 

Camera Settings

Shutter Speed- 1/100

F.stop- 7.1

Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/50
F.Stop- 5.6


Camera Settings 
Shutter Speed-1/100
F.stop- 7.1


Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/13
F.stop- 5.6


Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/50
F.stop- 5.6


Camera Settings
Shutter Speed- 1/50
F.stop- 5.6

Shoot Five- Skateboarding Contact Sheet

Shoot Five- Skateboarding- Image Bank

This image clearly displays youth through the action of skateboarding because of the location the photographer have chosen to shoot in. It appears to be an old derelict building, with the graffiti on the walls and the mucked up floor.  Furthermore, this image has a punctum included by the photographer which I believe helps display youth really well- the pile of rubbish in the bottom right corner. The photographer could have cut this out because it makes the room look dirty, yet I believe with it, it makes the audience understand youth culture. This is because the photographer has used low key lighting so the pile of rubbish is in shadowing, suggesting it's being hidden. This could be symbolic in looking at youth subculture because it could suggest that youth are misunderstood, people see in light the outside of a teenager and in this case it is them skateboarding in a derelict building but inside hidden they may have all this "rubbish" going on which people don't understand. This may imply that the photographer of this photo was really to make the audience understand how youths are stereotypically judged as a whole and aren't given the choice to speak themselves- people who display youth are normally older and not a true representation- through lacking validity, unlike this image here. 

The style of this image relates to the work of Dan Boulton. Even though Dan Boulton uses Graffiti and this image is of tattoos, I think it still has a very similar effect into showing the youth subculture. It could be argued that you have to be 18 in order to get a tattoo which isn't exactly "youth", however my project is on the youth subculture- the collective identity of those who behave in this manor and I believe this image works really well. Furthermore, the use of a prob of a skateboard is interesting, this shoot is all about the activity of skateboarding and even though this subject isn't directly skateboarding, it is implied that they do skateboard. Also being able to see the pattern at the bottom of the skateboard is actually a really interesting insight into this subjects personality because normally, when someone is skateboarding the skateboards all look the same- as you cannot see underneath, yet with this photo the tattoos combined and link with the patterns on the skateboard. This image can help influence my work because I could try and get photos of people holding their skateboard in a way where I am able to capture the bottom because I believe this is symbolic into looking at the youth subculture and stereotypical collective identity.

This image is really similar to ones I have on my Shoot Four Graffiti shoot because it shows the Ann Gould's stereotype of youth rebellion. The photographer of this photo has been able to capture may different stereotypes in one photo which I find really interesting. With the subjects sat by and under a sign reading "No Skateboarding in this area" and the subjects on skateboards shows they do not care for the rules. However this also shows the manipulation of youths, they are using their skateboards as seats and aren't physically skateboarding and therefore are not breaking any rules. Therefore this suggests that the youth culture like to push the boundaries, yet it could be argued what trouble are they actually doing? They are just having found together. This image can influence my work on this shoot because it has given me the idea of showing youths using skateboards to prove a point/ giving them a personality.

This photographers use of high key lighting is really interesting in this image because it has given a silhouette effect on this subject yet the audience are still able to see that he is crossing the road whilst holding a skateboard. The over exposure on this photo strips the subject of his identity which I find really interesting in looking at picture of youth culture because as a whole, many people tend to stereotype teenager culture. Very similar to the second image on this blog post the photographer has framed and angled this photo in order to include the bottom of the skateboard which shows the individual personality of this subject. However, some may criticise skateboarding as showing youth rebellion as it is noisy and they get in the way of other people- showing they lack disrespect, yet there is irony in this image because even though the subject is holding a skateboard, they aren't actually riding across the road on it, showing they are actually respectful and not dangerous. Therefore, this image of someone holding a skateboard can influence my work in this shoot by showing me to try and include silhouettes.

This photo was taken at South Bank Skatepark- this shows how researching skateboarding has influenced me on the locations to include. This is a really interesting photo showing the activity of skateboarding because it is a documented photo where the photographer hasn't manipulated it but still the audience are able to see the action of this subject. Additionally another aspect which makes this an intriguing image in looking at youth is the use of complimentary colours, the photographer has used a subject who is wearing quite plain looking clothes which helps form a contrast from the subject and the graffiti on the wall. This could be suggested as being symbolic because it shows how sometimes, youths don't display their personality through the clothes they wear but through the art the create- the graffiti behind this subject. Furthermore, this image is also interesting when researching youth because the photographer has captured subjects in the background watching, this may suggest the pressure that youth culture feel- they constantly feel they have to do the best- look better in front of people.

The lack of the subject in this image is really interesting when researching images to display youth because the audience are only shoes the bottom part of the subjects legs and half their skate board. This photo complies with the theory of Klein- the branding and logos of everything. This photographs use of having the shoes in eyeline- at the top of the bottom third is really important because as suggested by Klein the younger generation are becoming more and more like "branded dolls" because who can buy what name is more important to certain individuals. 

Shoot five- Skateboarding- Shoot Analysis

Skateboarding- a hobby enjoyed by stereotypical rebellious youths. Within this shoot, I hope to convey a variety of different shots displaying the youth subculture within this hobby. My reason behind using skateboarding and my location is because I believe the two interlink very closely together. My location for this shoot will be South-Bank Skate-park because the colourful graffiti on the walls here work very well with the skateboarding aspect.
These photos will be inspired by Marc Vallee, Dan Boulton and Sophie Days because these photographers all interlink with skateboarding as a common element. All three of these photographers work are displayed within my research log blog post. I have chosen these photographer for this shoot because I personally because there work has had the most influence on my work.
For the skateboarding, I hope to display a variety of different skills which I have learnt. Starting with GIFs. As shown on my GIFs techniques posts, I think this would work really well with the element of skateboarding because it would enable my audience to view the sequence of this hobby. I would also like to use the technique of editing of sequencing. However, I do not own a tripod and as I will be traveling up to London for this shot, it would be very hard for this to work. I intend to try this technique anyway- by putting my camera on something to secure it, yet it may not work. Additionally the technique of blur could become very useful in this shoot because is would enable me to show to my audience the movement of the skateboarders. Using the worked learnt by photographer William Klein can become very useful within these shots- this photographer combined the technique of blur and documentary in order to capture raw images- a style of photography I hope to explore within this shoot. As I do not have any friends who are able to skateboard, I will be shooting this in a documentary style- using whoever is at the skate-park at the time to take photos of.

Shoot Four- Graffiti Work Diary

Within this shoot, I intended to capture a series of photographs of graffiti edited to be black and white presenting a grunge/ gritty affect. Overall, I am rather happy with this shoot. It was taken at Leake Street in London and I managed to shoot every image through documentary photography- I didn't stage any images, I used what I was presented with so it was a raw in sight of youth culture. Within this shoot, I believe I have been able to use the work influenced by photographer Dan Boulton and Richard Sandler. Both of these photographers have inspired this shoot through both the framing of my photos and also the editing.

The techniques I managed to use within this shoot were blur- in showing movement of someone skateboarding, depth of field and more importantly documentary. For the equipment I used wasn't a lot, I just had my camera, location and subjects, as I was in London, I didn't have a tripod with me, yet I believe this worked really well because all my photos don't appear staged- if I were to have framed my photos straight when looking at the lines, I do not think it would have had the same feel on the youth culture which I was hoping for; the whole reason for this shoot was to show the darker and messier side of youth, if I were to have used a tripod I do not think this would have came across to my audience.

My favourite image from this shoot:

This was in the middle of Leake Street tunnel and it appeared to be a club/ gig entrance called The Vault which I found really intriguing because the entrance seemed really small and I personally thought the other side of the tunnel was Waterloo train station yet really it wasn't. Therefore there was this one person waiting outside the doors, I'm guessing she was working there managing who enters the gig/club. But it appears it was late after the start of this event, so this subject appeared quite bored which I really wanted to capture, with my subjects slouched body language combined with the graffiti covered walls and dim lighting (other than one light between the doors) can be used as symbolism when talking/ researching youth culture. This is because it seems my subject is lost within the graffiti, she isn't as clear as she is when it is in colour. Therefore this is one of my favourite images from this shoot because I believe it clearly displays my intentions of youth- she looks like she'd rather be somewhere else but because she is probably earning money for it, she stays, but it shows shows how my research before going out for this shoot helped me achieve this image because as this was a very orange lit location, I didn't think it would work so well, yet when I though back to the work of both Sandler and Boulton, the use of black and white enabled the effect of youth culture to be much clearer.

My Least Favourite image for this shoot:

As you can see from the image above, this was takne at the same part of Leake Street Tunnel. For this image I had hope to capture my friends together when they well all talking in front of The Vault but when I went to take this photo they had turned around and therefore I have captured movement of them instead. Furthermore, I don't really think this image shows youth really well and it doesn't looked very well framed. Even though when researching I found many photos which looked badly framed- they worked with the theme of youth, however with this image I believe there is too much going on for the audience to understanding the representation of youth which I had intended.

Shoot Four- Graffiti Straight Images

As it was dark in Leake Street, my Shutter speed was quite lower and this meant when a skateboarder came past it blurred him out, yet I think this has had a really interesting affect into showing youth combined with the graffiti on the walls. This is because you can't really tell who this person is and he almost blends into the background, therefore I find this image links well with the work of Dan Boulton as shown on my research log and can show how my research has helped influence both what I took and how I chose to edit my final images- black and white in order to gain a gritty feel to the images.

Camera Settings-

Shutter Speed-1/13

F.stop- 8

When first walking into Leake Street, there were lots of passers by, including this couple. The use of documentary work in this shoot I believe has worked really well as I think it shows a raw insight of youth today in London. Furthermore, I saw these two coming from behind me so I could have taken their photo of their faces, however I chose to take it after they had passed me because this way, their identity is kept but also my audience will be lead to work out the subjects on their own.

Camera Settings-

Shutter Speed- 1/25

F.Stop- 8

At the opening of the Leake Street tunnel was a group of people adding to the graffiti so I was able to take a photo of one of them, they knew I was there yet continued to carry on. I think this image clearly shows the rebellion of youth because out of context people may see this subject as vandalising a wall, yet in context, it was taken within Leake Street, a designated place for people to use graffiti as a form of expression and art.

Camera Settings-

Shutter Speed- 1/40

F.stop- 8

Another aspect of photography I have found whilst researching documentary is through the use of the photographer William Eggleston by using what is available, not manipulating it, just changing the angle I take the photo. If I were to take a photo of this drink bottle when stood up and looking down at it, it wouldn't give the same effect.

Camera Settings- 
Shutter Speed- 1/13
F.stop- 8

This image was taken outside a club/ gig called The Vault which is placed in the middle of Leake Street. Outside was one of the workers who appeared to be quite miserable and wanted to be else where. With this emotion through body language combined with the graffiti on the walls behind her I believe it works really well in displaying the anti social subculture of youth.
Camera Settings-
Shutter Speed- 1/50
F.stop- 8

Shoot Four- Graffiti- Contact Sheet

Shoot Four- Graffiti- Image Bank

This image shows the slum-like stereotype which is placed on the youth culture. It is generally associated that when there is graffiti it is a run down and abandoned area where juveniles have been left to room freely and vandalism it/ ruin it. However the work of graffiti ties nicely with the theorist of hedbridge- youth is seen as either fun or trouble with no in between. This image is very close with this theory because some may argue that the graffiti has ruined this place giving it a "bad vibe". On the other hand, others may argue that the graffiti has given this stairway life, with each part of graffiti lies a story which can be formed and created. The way this image has been edited to be black and white shows no distractions, it gives it a dark and grunge affect to this photographer.

This image shows the vandalism/ action of graffiting, even though within this shoot I intend to use just black and white editing, I though it would still be interested to view the coloured side of it- yet I chose an image with very little colour anyway/ dull muted colours. I find this way even if there are any colours, they are not bold/bright, this makes the audience believe a "boring" labelled of the youth culture, stereotypically when asking someone how a teenager looks, it's generally bored. Yet this image is interesting because we see a subject standing somewhere quite dangerous- reckless side of youth- reaching higher up to complete his graffiti. This unnecessary struggle this subject is putting himself through could be taken symbolically. Considering there is more than likely going to be space on the lower wall where he wouldn't need to put himself at risk, yet he still chooses to use the space above, perhaps before this image was taken, that space on the wall was empty and he wanted to put "his mark" there. Or it could have been that the big white word could have been there by someone else, yet he is adding the word "sickboy" on top of it- a way to put his own work into someone else. This may show the youth culture because it implies a type of jealously- someone got that spot first but because he wanted it, he had to put his own twist on it. 

With this image, it is very simple with no subject yet I still find this photo really symbolic and interesting into looking at youth culture. It would have been a youth who had done this as a form of rebellion. Reading "Can't stop us" on a sign which is normally used in order for slowing down traffic for safety precautions is symbolic of youth culture; this is because there is irony- something used for safety has been manipulated in a way to cause statement. Not only is the writing on this sign a reason why this is a really intriguing image but also the distortion of the frame. Even though the sign itself is clear and "normal"/ regular, the surrounding of the frame seems to be a "fish eye" effect. This can be symbolic into researching youth culture because it shows their point is clear- they will never stop being rebellious, yet other than that, it is suggest the youth culture to everyone else is quite confusing.  

This image is rather similar to the first image within this blog post, which is intriguing for very similar reasons. Firstly, the positioning of this image is really interesting because from the bottom all the way to the top of the stairs, the photographer has managed to frame the staircase to be completely central, through the use of leading lines, the audience are led looking up past all the graffiti. I think this is a really clever way of achieving youth culture because no two parts of this frame is identical, with every step even being different it implies to the audience how each teenager is different- they all have their own identity. Even though people suggest teenagers "follow the crowd" as their collective identity, you are still able to tell difference between each person. Even with out a subject in, you are still able to learn about youth culture. You as the audience are shown a stairway which some may called "vandalised", yet others- perhaps those who done the graffiti, would call it art. Within this image, there is a hidden punctum where you are only able to find after paying attention to this photo. At first glimspe we think it is a grungey, dirty place what wouldn't be very nice, but through the photographers use of punctum- we see fairy lights wrapped around the banister on the wall. Fairy lights are typically used around Christmas- a time of happiness and joy, with this being included in the image shows youth culture as being happy through expressing their identity.

This photo is really interesting in researching youth culture. When I found this image it really inspired me to use this when I come to making physical experiments. This is because the photographer has taken an image within a studio which can be seen as a way to show beauty, yet it has been vandalised on top of, suggesting it has taken away that beauty. This could be suggesting to the audience the rebellious side of youth as they like to take away beauty by destroying it. Another way the audience may look at this photo could be that youth hide themselves under something considered as "rubbish". For example this subject looks rather pretty, yet she is hiding under the graffiti- taking away her beauty.

This image is rather similar to the second and third image of this blog post- them merged together. This is really intriguing in researching youth culture because of the mysterious element we are met with. When looking at this image we still a female subject spray painting on the wall the words "wasted youth". Yet the only personality/ identity of this subject we as the audience can achieve is through looking at her outfit and the action she is doing- we are unable to see her face- this in a way strips her from her real identity because we are unable to know who she really is. The dennotation of this would be just so the person cannot be identified for this illegal action. Yet the connoation of this photograph could be that this subject feels lost and that she is fading away because her youth is being wasted. The subject may look at this through the theory of "stress through tests" idea, nowadays teenagers are hammered and faced with all the stress in doing test after test constantly seeing at how "smart" they are, whether or not they are worthy to progress in life. Therefore this could be used to suggest youth is becoming wasted, the typical label on youth is that they always go out, drink and party, yet how is this meant to happen when revision and work is always had to be done.

Shoot Four- Graffiti- Shoot Analysis

Within this shoot, I intend to capture the art and rebellion of the youth culture through graffiti. Depending on who you ask, graffiti can show destruction of property, or it can show an individuals personality- a way of expression. Even though one of the main elements of graffiti is the colouring, within this shoot, I intend to edit my best photographs black and white. The reason behind this is because it shows the darkness labelled on youths who spend their time doing graffiti everywhere- they are classed as no good troubled teenagers who should be spending their time better.

The main photographer this shoot is influenced by is Dan Boulton. As shown on my research log, his work displays the gritty and slum-like stereotype of graffiti and youth. Notwithstanding this the editing of black and white of this shoot is also influenced by the work of Richard Sandler- also shown on my research log.

The reason I wish to use black and white editing throughout this whole shoot is because as shown by the work of the photographers mentioned above, nothing is distracted the audience in gaining a "messy" opinion about the youth culture. For example with the example of Dan Boulton the youth subjects in his images almost blend into the background- they fade away as if they are becoming the vandalism of graffiti. Furthermore, I believe the use of black and white is symbolic into showing the stereotypical mindset of teenagers/ youths, the idea of anxiety and stress being part of their identity.

The techniques I wish to experiment in this shoot is blur- to show movement across the graffiti- I believe this would be a good way to get the symbolic message of the messy mindset of a youth. Additionally, documentary imagery will also be very key in this shoot because I wish to take images of the public- passers by of the graffiti, capturing both the unaware youth with the graffiti mixed in behind them.
To show experimentation, I hope to use physical editing in this shoot as well, this may include the printing of an image and the drawing over the top to show the graffiti covering over them- this may become symbolic into suggesting they have lots their identity; their own identity is through their graffiti.

Shoot Three- Friendships Within Youth Culture- Work Diary

Across any era of youth, there is always one common factor; the friendships teenagers hold is very important them as it is part of the stereotypical collective identity of youths. As described in my shoot analysis, during this shoot I wanted to capture the raw form of friendship through the use of documentary photography. Overall I am very happy with this shoot as I believe it shows experimentation.

An image from this shoot which I really like...

Even though this image looks massively posed, it wasn't, my friends were looking at the walls their selves and I thought it was really interesting as they looked very similar to the graffiti. The reason this is my favorite photo is because I believe it shows friendships really clearly. The symbolic reasoning behind this image suggests a conforming aspect, stereotypically it is argued that teenagers see other friendships, perhaps on the media, and conform to this standard of friendships, they copy one another because that's believed how to form the "best" friendship.

 An image from this shoot which I do not really like...

As spoken about on my shoot analysis, I intended to get a studio image of one of the subjects in the friendship groups and displaying them together, this way the audience would be able to gain an individual insight of the subject on their own and then view them in their friendship group, which may result in a different view. However, this is my least favorite image because even though in my mind it would of been symbolic, but I do not think the final piece looks as it was intended, it could have been improved by using low key lighting rather than high key lighting as it would have fitted in better with the lighting in the second image.

Shoot Three- Friendships Within Youth Culture- Straight Images

As spoken about on my shoot analysis for this shoot, having a group of people shown with a studio image of one of the subjects on their own was something I wanted to experiment with because it gives the audience the chance to create a personality of the subject on their own and then when they are with their friends- at times the point of view/ opinion about a person would change depending on who they are shown with. The Photo on the left was taken within the studio during a high key lighting experiment.
Left Camera Settings- 

Shutter Speed- 1/125
F.Stop- 6.3
ISO- 200
Right Camera Settings-
Shutter Speed- 1/25
F.stop- 6.3

This image is symbolic in showing the differences in friendships, stereo-typically youths are labelled all being the same and having the same identity/ values. However the use of the pole split down the middle of this image shows the difference between these two subjects- the ripped jeans on the left subject with the long coat and low neck top and then the right subject with a high neck, smart trousers and a short coat wrapped around her back. The symbolism of the pole shows the differences/ split between these subjects yet their facial expressions and body language shows how they are comfortable with each other. 

Camera Settings-
Shutter Speed- 1/80
F.stop- 6.3

With this image, it appears set up/ staged, yet it is not and I believe it shows friendship really clearly because it shows the dependence on one another. Furthermore the symbolism in this image is really key into showing friendships in youth culture because my subjects are really clear and sharp yet with the train moving it creates the blur behind them, the audience may form an implied meaning from this suggesting they are sectioned off from everyone else- the anti social behavior normally associated alongside the youth culture.

Camera Settings-
Shutter Speed- 1/20
F.stop- 6.3

With many of my images to show I found different spots and asked my subjects to stand there yet there weren't told when I was going to take the image, I wanted my images to capture their friendship as best as I could. I feel this image has achieved this because it shows two of the subjects mid conversation and the other subject appears to be glancing into the distance but is still probably listening.

Camera Settings- 
Shutter Speed- 1/15
F.stop- 5.6

Finally this image shows the influences of friendship because it shows how stereotypically, it is suggested that what youth see, they do- "monkey see monkey do". This is mainly through the media and I believe this image clearly shows this because the subjects are in very similar positions than the graffiti on the wall.
Camera Settings- 
Shutter Speed- 1/10
F.stop- 4.5