Tattoo Studio

Well I'm done and dusted with the independent blog for now. I enjoyed this project and feel I have learnt quite a lot from it. I have always enjoyed projects involving people and this project was very different to the Irish one where I took the time to get to know my subjects first. Just goes to show that both methods can be used: to photograph relative strangers and also get to know your subject's personality before photographing them. I was pleased with the final outcome of the project and felt that I had pretty much achieved what I intended to.

My next project will be about the Irish again though I am not sure what form it will take. I will take my experiences from this project forward in order to apply them to future projects: experiences such as working in a more controlled environment for one, challenging myself more with the subject matter for another and not being phased by potential problems that might be encountered in a project. Having encountered and overcome all these issues, I feel confident that I will be able to bring this learnt experience to my next project in order to create an interesting and unique piece of work.

Tattoo Studio

Here are the photos for the last session. Considering I hadn't expected to get so many subjects, I think they came out quite well.

I created a PDF file and sent it off to Blurb. I only used them as I had a free voucher from the Street Photography Project to use - I never trust a company that has no contact number if there are any problems. Ebay is another such company. After double and triple checking everything... twice I felt confident it was all ok. I had a few problems with sending off the PDF using their template as for some reason it wouldn't accept it, so eventually after constantly trying, I ending up emailing them. I received no reply even though they promised to respond within 3 hours. I didn't want to risk not getting the book back in time so ended up downloading the templates again and re-importing the images and text. What a pain! 

Anyway, got the book back a few days ago and apart from one or two images which I will have to mess around with again before producing a paperback version of the book for the tattoo studio, it looks pretty good. I hope that Louis, Beany and Gary at the studio and all those who participated will like it. I am glad that I chose black and white format as I reckon that it works really well. Oh well, back to the grindstone...

 

Tattoo Studio

Saturday 23rd April

Went to the studio for the last time today, with the intention of interviewing a couple more clients as I already have twelve. Even though there were just two tattoo artists working that day, I ended up photographing another six! This was not really my intention as it means more work for me but hey, you can't look a gift horse in the mouth. I really need to get the book sent off asap. I have the book set up as PDF already, with the subjects I have previously photographed but now have another group to add. Still, I hope it will all come together in the end.

I have actually really enjoyed this project and met some really interesting people through it. As I did with the last book I made at the Irish Centre, I will send everyone who participated a photocopy of the book and a print of their photo. Just a case of juggling the projects now in order of which needs to be handed in first!

Tattoo Studio

I haven’t been on the blog for a while as I have been trying to get work done for all the projects. God will I be glad when this term is over! I feel like I am drowning but I know I will get it done – I have to!

I am due back at the studio next Saturday. I have seen my tutor and decided to stick with the black and white portraits. I do feel that they work and they were part of my original plan, besides I haven’t time to experiment with backgrounds for over a dozen photographs. If this was a long-term project I would probably take the time to experiment more to see which image worked better but my present workload means that I cannot fulfil all my intentions. I do feel that I have done my best and though some photos are stronger than others, they will balance out as a whole project.

This weekend, I photographed a wedding, something that I have said I would never do. I was kind of coerced into it and felt obliged even though I hadn’t seen the bride since she was seven years old! My brother also took photos so the onus wasn’t entirely on me and I got some nice shots so I am sure the newlyweds will be happy. They have to be as gold nuggets were not exchanged!!

Tattoo Studio

I have been messing with the backgrounds for the photos but not been too successful as yet. 

I will persevere though to see if the idea is worth pursuing. I might just decide to do a couple of them with backgrounds, if they work out, and the rest in black and white. I will have quite a few subjects for the book anyway, I already have 12 subjects and I have just arranged with Louis to return to the studio on the 23rd April for the last session. I know it is a little late in the day but I have to work round his busy schedule and want to make one last visit so that I can perhaps interview him and I might as well see if there are any more potential subjects lurking in the studio. I have messed around with the black and white versions and though not totally finished, have enclosed them to see which works better.  

© Andrea Percival

Tattoo Studio

Spent all weekend photographing streets, people, walls and anything else that I could be bothered photographing. I really did not feel motivated at all – I feel like I am working on so many things that I don’t know whether I am coming or going. I have taken loads of photographs, some are ok, some are not. I am juggling projects in order of importance, ie deadlines. It is driving me nuts! I know I will get there though, it just feels like I’m not at the moment. 

Rant over…

I can’t decide how I want the finished photographs to look. I have three choices: as shot with a neutral background; black and white or with a background behind it as I originally planned. Another student has been really helpful and told me how to effectively use the blending tool in Photoshop to create a more realistic background. I tried this and this was the result. I know that the background is a bit naff but it was the first one I find. It kind of worked though, not too fake... 

I photographed several plain backgrounds in order to place them behind the subject. I realise that I don’t want to over complicate things by using a background such as Bernard Clarke uses (see earlier post on Tattoo Studio). I need to start with a more straightforward style background and ensure that the proportions of both subject and background fit. I had a go and here are the results. I will work on them more to ensure they look realistic.

Photoshop

Have been getting Digital Photography magazine every month (Christmas pressie) and it comes with a CD each week on Teach Yourself Photoshop. Had let them pile up but decided to check them out this weekend and they are actually quite good! One was on Black and White made easy and though I am aware that creating a digital black and white from a colour image will never be as good as using an analogue camera, it did give me some ideas with which to experiment. I was aware of quite a few of the options available in Photoshop but also learned some new methods so will put them into practice.