NEW DIGITAL SHOOTS

Because of my new direction I've had the opportunity to use my digital camera a bit more frequently when capturing memories and moments that mean a lot to me.

I started off by taking photographs of my friends when we were sitting in the park. My intention for this shoot was to create visuals that weren't necessarily obvious memories, but more the false capturing of time and moments that we see across various social media sites, Instagram in particular. I wanted to capture my two models in a forced candid setting to replicate the types of images seen on the photo publishing site. Although these moments were slightly candid, they weren't as authentic as the previous images I've taken and will continue to take across the analogue format.

I like how these images came out as they reflect the facade of photographic memories that we share across our social platforms. And as well they do resemble memories for me as this was the first time we were allowed to meet up in more than a pair outdoors due to the Covid restrictions relaxing.

My second shoot didn't go as well to plan. These were taken outside of my grandparents house, which is a very nostalgic place for me and sparks so many memories over the 20 years I've been alive and visited there.

I've only selected two images from this time because the people there were less comfortable in front of the camera and so didn't look as naturally placed as the previous. So instead I focused on the place, which in turn connects the people there to it to me, but in a less obvious way.

I really like how these images turned out. The first one I took sneakily inside of their conservatory without anyone else present. I like how empty this photograph feels, but still has an element of someones prescience with the placement of the glasses case, iPad and glass of water. This particular area brings back so many memories for me as I've visited it so frequently as I've grown up. I also like the inclusion of my grandparents walking sticks in the background which shows off their hobbies and gives more information about what they like to get up to. I also like that you can see the gardening in the background as both of my grandparents keep their garden tidy and pristine. The photo is bright and calm, which is two things that I closely relate back to being with my grandparents in that particular room.

This second photograph was taken in the very back of their garden, including a garden table, stepping stones, a shed and a little archway. I loved how the wide angle of my lens captured all the tiny details of the space. Although this photograph is slightly grey in colour, it really resembles all of my memories there as I can picture all the various Easter egg hunts, and BBQs and family gatherings we've had there.

I have also taken digital photographs of some more friends as we sit in the gazebo in our back garden after over a year of not properly seeing each other. These photographs were difficult to take as I wanted them to appear authentic and candid, and didn't want any of the subjects to acknowledge the prescience of the camera. However the lighting conditions were difficult to work with so my ISO took a massive hit in that sense.

I have hardly edited these photos as I want them to appear as real as they were when taken, just to document all of my friends catching up, eating, drinking and chatting the night away.

Although these photographs don't particularly show off my skills as a photographer I think they indicate the theme and brief of my intentions when capturing imagery for this project. All the photographs are candid and captured as they happened, therefore they reveal real situations that will be remembered for a long time. This occasion was particularly important for me to capture as I said previous I hadn't seen this group of friends in over a year, nearly two, since we all moved away to go to our separate universities.

During all of these 3 separate times for shooting I also took various snaps on my disposable camera and a point and shoot with 400 ISO film loaded into to. So it'll be interesting to compare the use of the different photographic techniques when they are developed and see which captures the true reality of these situations are expresses my memory and nostalgia more.