Photographer 4

Ross Hoddinott

Ross is a natural history and landscape photographer who originates from Cornwall. He captures several formal elements in his work and does it by using natural surroundings and models. I like his work because he represents the formal elements in such simple ways yet he includes several of them. I have included his work in my project because i like his style of work and the way he captures different formal elements. 

 This photograph of the robin is showing the formal elements of color and shape. / like the way the bright colour of the robin and the wooden handle contrast with the white background of which i assume is snow. It also shows shape as the outline of the wooden object, I'm guessing its a spade, is in the shape of a 't' which the robin is perched on. I like this photograph because i like the way the robin and spade are the focus of the image and the way that as they are the only colour in the photograph it makes them stand out more. This is a something which i feel i would like to include in my work.

This photograph of a lake shows the formal elements on depth, reflection and tone. The landscape is reflected in the water of the lake and there is tone in the way that the trees go from dark on the left side to a lighter shade as they get closer to the right. There is depth as it is a 3 dimensional scene which has been condensed into a photograph, we can see the dept from the shadowing on the rock and from the way the lake appears to get smaller as it is gets further in the distance. I like this photograph because it captures the calmness  of the scene whilst still showing such a vast landscape. 

This photograph of a dragon fly shows the colour, tone and line. The bold blue colour of the insect contrasts with the bright green colour of the leafy background. The tone is shown in the colour of the fly, as the shades of blue differ some are slightly lighter and others are slightly darker. The line is shown from the body of the fly, it's legs and wings are made up of a series of lines and the faded wings of the fly although are not in focus we can still see the shape of them. I like this photograph because it focuses on the front of the fly and it shows us the detail of there faces. It enables us to see the insect in a way we never could. 

This photograph of a horse shows the formal elements of tone, shape and line. There is tone in the way the horse is completely shadowed' out and the background is still bright in colour. Also the tone is shown in the colour of the sky as the colour at the top graduates from purple to a lighter shade and then into a peachy colour then into black The shape is shown by the horse as it is standing still so it captures the natural shape of a horse. The line is shown in the contrast of colours in the background as there are clear lines when the colour dramatically changes colour. I like this photograph because it captures a horse whilst in its natural surroundings with the beautiful colours of the sunset/rise are behind it. 

Ross Hoddinott's work will influence my work as i feel the way he captures the vast colours and tones of objects is unique. I feel my work would improve if, like Ross, i captured some close up's of objects as this enhances the formal elements which can be found in them. I feel that this photograph is showing great detail in the tyre print as swell as the contrast of the brown of the mud and the green of the grass which some has been pushed into the imprint. It shows the detail well as the print is fresh so it is still bold in the mud. I feel it is similar to Hoddinott's photograph of the robin as that is a very detailed photograph which captures the detail from the robin  and the spade which it is sitting on. 

In summary i would like to interpret some of the similar shooting styles as Ross, for example getting some close ups of different animals or objects to show detail as well as show the different formal elements like colour and shape as i feel these are interesting photographs to look at.