LO5 Evaluating Edited Images

I selected this image to edit because I had this idea from the very beginning, this was the initial idea that spawned the idea for my project. I retook this photograph with the proper equipment  with my original intentions and edited it as I had planned to. I selected this exact photograph out of all the ones I took similar to this because of the emotion connoted from the facial expressions and then the landscape because of the contrast it would create when double exposed.

The image has been edited as planned, there hasn't been too much editing involved in this piece; the main editing was to make the photograph double exposed and combining both photographs. This photograph has been enhanced greatly by being edited, it now connotes a narrative and emotion, this is all because of the facial expressions being more prominent and contrast created by the editing.


I feel as though although some of my photographs have been edited drastically with photographs being combined and not being recognisable from the original, while most of my other photographs have hardly been edited at all. Most of my photography has been subtly edited with a single filter, or changing the brightness settings or the contrast, another main thing I did when editing was to blur the background making it out of focus and making the focal point the model in the fore front of the photograph.


The meaning behind my photography through the use of editing has been increased. The meaning behind this photograph is showing the link between nature and emotion, I wanted to show the relevance of nature and show the beauty and emotion captured by my photography. The other meaning of this photograph was the nature is being built over and gradually being depleted, I wanted to show that nature is still beautiful and shouldn't be destroyed.



My photography fits the brief because the brief was about identity, I feel as though the link between nature and identity is strengthened by the use of a model in every shot, it makes it more personal and relevant. Also my photographs fit the theme of identity because nature is an issue close to my heart, I see the beauty of nature and feel it shouldn't be destroyed. My photography also fits the brief because I am giving nature an identity, I am giving nature a voice; hence the name of my project being Natures Voice. I am giving nature a voice and identity, making it stand out and be heard, this is something I am passionate about and therefore its part of my identity.

In particular I think the very first image links to the brief very well, as it has a model to relate the personal aspects of identity and has a clear link to the theme of nature. I feel the first image I edited was my most successful in terms of visuals and meaning and narrative.

I think I could easily create titles and descriptions of each photograph, as even though they are all very similar in meaning and narrative, they are all uniquely different and relate to specific aspects of my theme. The names I would create for these photographs would link to nature and the brief of identity, but also they would be quite short and the descriptions would be straight to the point.

I worked in the style of various photographers including; Duncan Philpott, Irving Penn and Martin Parr. I have already mentioned this in a previous post going into detail, but when editing and taking the photographs initially I have worked in the style of these artists to achieve my final goal. Another very influential photographer that inspired my project was Sufiskoo who specialised in double exposure which was one of the main aspects in my project.

I achieved this by creating as much contrast as I could when editing, this was to work in the style of Duncan Philpott who's photography is very vibrant and contrasting. I worked in the style of Martin Parr by showing the realistic aspects, one of my main goals was about creating the narrative that needs to be nurtured and needs a voice to be heard, even if that meant connoting what's currently going on. And I worked in the style of Irving Penn by working closely with models.

I used the rules of photography religiously throughout my photoshoots and when editing, the main rules I used were; composition, narrative, focal point, texture and sometimes view point. Narrative was key to achieve the meaning behind all my photographs and create a plot line and story. Texture and view point were just to add visual interest and possibly change a point of view or scenario. Focal point was obviously the model throughout the project.

I was able to enhance some of these photographic elements through the use of editing, sometimes with the different filters and double exposure I created it furthered the narrative and gave the piece more meaning. It also created a lot of contrast and highlighted the focal point being the model, I did this by sometimes making the background out of focus to make the model more prominent and relevant.

Throughout my editing project I combined photographs from different photoshoots, meaning I combined them to create a hybrid design. I feel that creating hybrid designs were effective because it combined the best aspects of both shoots and showed development and creativity. I usually combined the photographs from the two shoots using double exposure, as this made it easy to see both photographs and made it visually interesting as well as furthering the narrative and giving the piece meaning.

I would present these images in a film because I feel if a certain impactful song is playing, it could possibly further the meaning and narrative behind my project. Also if I create a video it makes it more visually interesting and innovative. But I will edit my photographs into a gallery setting to see what it would like if my shoots were part of an exhibition.

How Editing Enhances Meaning

Editing the photographs enhancing the meaning, it makes it possible to adjust certain aspects of the photograph that would enhance the narrative or evoke some kind of emotion. Through editing the photographs you are able to sculpt the photograph in many different ways, giving it multiple meanings; this could be through double exposure, adjusting contrast, vibrancy, hue / saturation or cropping and scaling. Any editing enhances certain aspects. In my photography editing has helped create the narrative through double exposure, I was able to include nature into my otherwise nature free photograph which was based on my theme and narrative.