New final edit and why

So after much thought, and talking to my tutor about my edit, i thought that some of the image could be changed and it wasn't showing the strongest of all my images and wasn't the best edit i could have got from the images that i had. It was so hard to work out which images to use and which not too because i had so many strong pieces but thats the whole point of this module. Its about the edit, how that changes and how i got to my final choice.

My new edit, i feel like is the best and the strongest one i could have produced with the images that I've got and I'm very happy with it. I feel like it includes all the individuality of each plot holder and the plots and how they all come together as a community, but also each image is strong enough on its own to tell a story about the allotments.

This is a contact sheet of my new edit, in the order of the sequence i will present it in too.


Amongst changing the images, I've changed the order around a bit too because i felt it told a better story with having the still life images of the plots and produce mixed in with the plot holders and people. 

The first image is still the same as before, an establishing shot of the sign, the first thing you see when you walk down to the entrance of the allotments.


The next image, I've changed because i feel like this image is more of an establishing shot of the plots and what the place is like than the image i had of the road from before. I like the framing in this image more and because it was taken on a brighter day i feel like its a brighter and stronger representation of what the allotments are all like.


The next image is of Terry and Spencer, two plot holders, having a chat and joking around about their plots and i thought it was a really nice image and showing that everyone is so friendly and mixes with the other plot holders really well. This image was also still in the first edit but has been moved around.

The next image, is one of my favourites and i think it really shows what a plot holders shed looks like and the different things it contains and how resourceful everyone is. Using old tubs and pots to keep equipment in, knifes and other equipment, of course coffee to keep warm and then at the bottom is some produce. This image alone has such a strong meaning behind it and tell its own story and had to stay in my edit, and will also be one of the images that i print as my final.


The next image is also from my first edit too, the two brothers and how they'd just stopped what they were doing to pose for a picture for me. They were my favourite two people that i met and were both such big characters that their image had to stay in my edit.


And following that is the image of just the one brother, and his hogweed that he'd dug up. This image, without a doubt was staying in my edit, his facial expression and the framing are really good, with the other brother in the background still digging away. This is another image that'll ill be printing as my final image. 

Next is a new image that i thought needed to be added in because it showing how resourceful and individual each plot is, i didn't met the plot holders for this one but it was such a pretty plot. I really like the framing and depth of field in this image, how the two tins and heart are the main focus and then slightly out of focus is the shed and the rest of the plot in the background. This image really shows how you can use anything on the allotment as long as you know how, the tins to scare away the birds, crates at the bottom to divide the different beds etc. I also really like how bright this image is and how its exposed and you can still see the sky and the clouds without any manipulation needed.


Another new image, but i thought this had to be included because its of a plot holder digging away and actually doing something to his lot ready for the next season. The thing that stood out the most to me in this image is first his bright yellow jumper against the mostly green and brown background,  but also he's got some kind of collapse or hole in his head and it stands out with the sun hitting him how it is. This is the true dedication to the allotment, that no matter whats happen he's still coming down and digging his plot and getting it all ready and he powers through. Each of my images tells an individual story, and i think this image makes you question it a little bit more. Also its actually of an activity and i thought that was important to include, not just the straight up portraits, get them actually doing something. 


Next is the disabled plot, which is in my previous edit too. Ive kept this in because it shows the diversity of the allotment and the fact that its not just for the able people, everyone can get involved and everyone can have an allotment and grow their own produce if they want. The council made this plot for him and i think its such a lovely thing because its saying no matter who you are, if you could walk or not, young or old you can still get involved if you wanted too.


Next is an image that was in my previous edit too, as two images previous, i like showing the activity and digging is something that will happen a lot over this time of year, but he's really getting stuck into it it works well with the image of the gentleman in the yellow jumper too.


Another image that was in my first edit too, of the bee in the tree. I love this image because its some sort of broach, latched onto the tree and if you look closely theres a wasp sitting on the branch underneath it. I love the framing of the image, and you've got just a bit of the glass greenhouse in the background through the leafs. Another one that ill be printing. 


Spencer is the American guy that i met, also the owner of the previous images bee. You can't tell in the image that he's obviously American, but its such a diverse crowd of people at Midwinter and i wanted to show that in my portraits and how each person is different. This image was in my first edit too. 


The next image was in my first edit, but had to be carried though because its showing how people plan out their allotments. In July they have a competition about the best grown veg and the nicest set out allotment etc. and one of the plot holders is based very much around that competition and he's sets his allotment up every year just for that and just to win. So everything he does has to be down to point, so he's got a record of how its all set up and what he has to remember written on his shed door. I think really shows the dedication to his allotment, although i don't agree with the fact he only has his allotment for this competition, i imagine he works very hard and it looks amazing at the end of it. Also another that ill be printing.


Next is Ian and the freedom house, this image was in my previous edit too and felt it needed to stay because it shows how everyone decorates their shed and plot individual to them, and this sign was my favourite, showing that your free when your outside, just gardening away. Of course, his wife brought the sign, their share the plot but i didn't get a chance to meet her. He also is a lot younger than the other guys i photographed so its showing the diversity of ages and yet again that its not just old men with allotments its for everyone.


Next is Col, and he was in my first edit too. He's had his plot at midwinter for one of the longest times, out of everyone i met and he was just burning weeds and old produce ready to start sorting things out for the coming season. He was quite shy and reserved and was telling me lots about the other plot holders here but not a lot about himself and his plot. I only managed to get a few images of him and that was whilst he was talking to me, but i think they work and look really good. He is your stereotypical allotment holder, with his glasses in the checked shirt and white hair, but i think this adds to my project.


Another new image, next, whilst i was walking around from plot to plot, you notice the little thing each plot holder has or does to make it individual to them and this image is something i saw and thought was hilarious so needed to be included. Its of a pair of wellies upside-down in a tree and i think this is great, showing that its obviously muddy and you need the wellies, its what you think about when your outside. But also with all the wooded pallet behind and to the left, its showing how resourceful they are, possible half way through doing something with them and moving it around for the coming season, and that the last time they were around it was wet and raining and they didn't want to talk their muddy shoes home.


Next is the image of the onions which i though still needed to be included just to show a bit of the produce and the actual final outcomes of the allotment and what they can actually produce.


Next image is of Paul, another plot holder that i met, this image was included in my first edit and i thought it needed to stay. I liked him stood in front of the shed, with all his equipment surrounding him, watering cans, spades, the hose pipes on the roof, its what you'd expect from an allotment plot. I also like the portrait itself, its nice to have some straight up portraits in the series because it shows a little bit more into just them instead of the actual allotment.


Next is a new image, but it needed to be included because its showing the plot holders helping each other out, and yet again the resourcefulness, they were building a new greenhouse for one of plots. I love how bright this image is and how the sky is exposed too. But its also showing the conversation between the two and that they're coming together to help each other out, like a friendly community would. This image really shows the community and how everyone pulls together it times that its needed and i thought it needed to be included for this reason, i didn't have many images of people together and helping each other and i think this image shows exactly that.


Last, but not least, is my favourite of the whole series and its of a 'weather vain'. This image was always going to be in my edit, from the minute i took it. it shows the individuality of the plots but also about being outside and seeing where the wind is. i love how the black stands out against the bright blue sky, and its the perfect image to finish my series.



Comments