Module 1, Project 2:
'Then and Now in Nottingham: "Fashion"'

This is the third project I've undertaken at university so far. This brief required no final outcome, and specifically asked us not to create one. This was entitled 'The Research Brief', and we were given a title, and a word (of which Fashion, Transport, Culture, Architecture, Entertainment and Heritage were available), and asked to generate as much research on our chosen topic as possible through a viewpoint. Our presentable piece, however, was to be ten photo prints, which is what I'm displaying here.

These ten photographs were taken after I'd gone out into the street and asked 39 people 'What do you do with something that's gone out of fashion?'. A fair number said they'd throw it away (or dump it on the floor outside, even), so I set out on the day after bonfire night on a round trip of the city centre, snapping everything that'd been discarded and could be considered fashion. Things I like about the print come in italics after the comment.

Right on my doorstep, lucky as anything, a lone glove trying to claw its way back into usefulness. I've been taking into account what I'd been taught while doing the video project while taking all these photos: golden sections, rule of thirds, focusing, composition and lighting. I'm using a slightly cheaper camera than most of the budding D-SLR students are hauling around, but it's not the equipment: it's a combination of the skill of the photographer, and the experience of the photoshopper. Mostly the latter.
Framing of subject, depth of field focusing.

Can't you see it's a black jacket? No? Good. That's the whole point of this shot; you're meant to focus on the deeper meaning behind the fence, just as the camera is focused on the fence itself. I've been trying to get myself to be more of a romanticist while doing this sort of thing. Coffee helps.
Depth of field focusing, vibrance of colour in the foreground compared to what is meant to be the subject.

I saw a sparsely-planted little piece of bushland off the pavement, and explored. Found a rather nice sweater just dumped there, well out of sight of pedestrians.
Angle of shot.

This pair of trousers (yes, it's a pair of trousers) has been pretty much mangled beyond repair, and even now, they're still stuck on that barbed fence. They'll probably only leave Nottingham when the contractors finally finish work on restoring the old Arkwright building for the university.
Framing of subject, focusing.

All these photos were taken on November 6th (day after Bonfire Night), but that's still a good few days before Remembrance Day. This poppy had most likely just fallen off, rather than being discarded.
Lighting effects on the road surface texture, framing of subject.

Inside a skip, a lone, laceless old trainer under a pile of bricks, fitting in quite well, camouflaged even.
The bonfire shot was taken to demonstrate that it just isn't things that can be worn that go out of fashion. The day before was Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Night, and it was most definitely in fashion then. Now, it just remains an unwanted pile of cinders in the centre of a football field while old men walk their dogs around it.
Trainer: Angle of shot, focusing. Bonfire: Framing.

What can I say about this photo?
Contrast of colours, lighting on texture of road surface, composition, the look on everyone's face when they first saw it. Awww.

Again, it's not just clothes. The fairground rides were there for the Bonfire Night festival-thing, and now they're unwanted.
Angle.

Final photo, and I've been sat here for three minutes trying to think of something to type about it, so I won't bother any further. Look at it, enjoy it. Then look at them all again.
Composition, texture of pathway.