Connecting Essay 5

Reference Image

In the reference image above I thought the dripping blood was very provocative. This image could be horror related but equally could be from a medical manual. I like the composition as this adds emphasis to the hand and also leaves room for any message. I notice that lots of images crop like this especially in photo libraries so designers can add messages. 

My Image

In my own photograph I wanted to show the cut in the vein and the amount of blood that would result in a cut like this. I added lots of contrast and saturation to the fake blood until the got what i felt was as close as possible to real blood. This image actually had someone poring blood over the hand just above the cut. I retouched this out in Photoshop. I asked the model to make here hands as limp as possible but still show her nails. 

The model had blood red fingernails to add to the drama and colour co-ordination of the shot.  

The Connection

Both images show blood on hands. I took my inspiration from the reference shot but wanted to take it further and push the boundaries to the edge of believability. The red nails are believable but add a lot to the overall feel. The amount of blood is believable - Just. The fake cut in the wrist (done in photoshop) after the shoot could be real. Overall I think my shot is better than the original.

Connecting Essay 4

Reference Image

In the reference image above the wide open eye coupled with the reflection shows the fear of what might happen. The blue cast adds to the threatening feeling in the shot. This gives a feeling of suspense and menace. The blood shot eye and the veins show that the person is probably already captive and could have been kidnapped and held for some time and has been badly treated.

My Image

In my own photograph the bandaged eye shows that the person has been treated for some kind of head or eye injury already or is being restrained in some way the veins in the eye add to this feeling. The reflection of the person with a knife (from a previous photoshoot shows) what is about to happen. Turning the image to black and white adds to the menace and feel of the shot. I have also added a vignette to direct the viewer to the action in the reflection. The fact that the eye is not wide open can be read that the person has been so mistreated that nothing is any longer a threat to them. 

The Connection


Both images portray a threat of what is about to happen in the reflection. They are both in the genre of horror images and although similar both can be interpreted in different ways. But it's unmistakable that both are eyes and both show immanent threat. Both also show blood shot eyes and both are heavily manipulated and retouched to evoke a similar feeling and to lead the viewer to look more closely and guess what is going to happen. So both images have an element of suspense.

Connecting Essay 3

Reference Image

In this image we see that the photographer has taken a photo a a bloody boot. It looks like the blood has dried up and has clotted making it very crispy. The photographer has taken the image at a low angle because by doing that two things can happen. First is we see the boot in more detail and the boot takes up more of the image. Second we get a blurred affect of the background of the image which takes any unnecessary focus. By doing this it moves the viewers focus over to the boot straight away instead of them looking at the surrounding which shouldn't be the main view of the photo. We also see that the photographer has taken the photo and then decided not to edit it. This works well because it it doesn't create any unnecessary distraction from the main focus of the image being the boot which would be evidence for a murder.


My Image

In this image we see the that I have decided to place  a bloody boot next to a tree stump. In the creation of this image I decided to make it look like the boot had fallen of or gotten caught in the tree stump. I also decided to take it at a low angle so I could get some of tree stump in the image as well. This is because it adds to the affect of the crime. We can also see that this is from a crime because it is also covered in blood and also seems rather worn out and used. I have also decided to change the vibrance and saturation of the image to add a bit more of contrast in the image. This is because the boots surrounding area is rather light and colourful and the boot itself is still dark. It also makes the blood look more red and contrast more against the black of the shoe.

The Connection

Both images are of a boot that is also covered in blood. The difference between the two mediums of blood are in my image the blood is still fairly fresh and hasn't dried out and become crispy. I think that the still fresh blood works better in the image because it is easier to see and the contrast in my image between the crimson blood and the black shoe works well. I also like in my image that there is a large contest between the boot and the surrounding area. It works the same way as the top image because it moves to focus on the boot which is in focus and in mine it moves the focus of the image to the boot because it is like a dark void in the image because everywhere else is colourful and vibrant.

Connecting Essay 2

Reference Image

In this image we see that the photographer has taken the picture mid investigation and the scene of crime investigators are even still there. I think that what makes this image successful is the fact that they managed to capture them in the middle of doing something and also managed to capture the camera in mid flash. The thing that makes it interesting is because you know from the image what they were doing you can guess how they would proceed after the image was captured. We also see multiple examples of the police in action during a murder. You can see one person writing down what has happened, one taking photos of the evidence and one of them numbering the different bits of evidence. We can also see a strip of police tape along the middle of the photo which adds to the effect of the image.


My Image

In this image we see a murder victim though some police tape. The successful thing about this image is you can see the body though a small opening in the tape and the tape is blurred out it creates an interesting effect where the body seems smaller. It also looks like the camera is peering though the tape almost as if it isn't suppose to be taking photos.  Another thing that makes this an interesting image is the fact that you can see a small amount of blood on the shoulder and can also see some bleeding from the stomach area. Another thing that makes this an interesting shot is the lighting coming from behind the image it makes the victim look even more dead than without the light.

The Connection

In both images there is a a corpse that is lit up. In both cases the light from what ever source makes the body look even more dead. In the top image the light makes the image even lighter and lights up all the areas where there is blood from the murder. In the bottom image the  light creates a darker effect which makes the make-up on the victim make it seem more pale and also makes it seem like there is no oxygenated blood flowing thought the victims face. Also with both images there is some tape which even though it is some of the main things in the image to is fairly unnoticeable and also helps to show the viewer where about the main action in the image is happening. This works especially well in the bottom image because it covers more of the image it moves the viewers view over to the body quicker then it does in the top image.

Connecting Essay 1

Reference Image

In this image we see a group of people clawing at a window. They have taken the image behind a window that has a laminated sheet on it which makes it harder to make out detail of the people unless they are right up against it. This adds to the creepy factor of the image because you can for the ones of the left see their hands in some detail with the blood smears down the and you can only see a shadowy figure for the actual person. The photographer here has taken decided to also include the faces of some of the people to add to the fear factor and to also fill in the space in the image. I think that the photographer has successfully created an interesting image and has made a rather creepy and horror like photo, it almost looks like it has been taken from a zombie horror movie.

My Image

Here in my image I have decided to convert it over to black and white  because it adds to the darkness of the person behind the hand. I think that this works very well because it adds another fear factor to the image which is darkness. Also with my image you can see the blood smears on the glass and it looks like the person is clawing into the wood to try and escape from behind the window. In the background of the image we can just about make out a head and part of a body but no underline features. This works very well because it allows for there to be some sort of mystery to who's hand it is and to the gender of the person behind it.



The Connection

Both images have shadow like figures in the background to add to the fear factor in the image. In the top image you can more easily make out details of the people behind the window which I think works well with colour and the way the photographer has captured the raw anger of the people behind it. In my image the bottom image I like how the you can't make out the details of the person behind it in anyway and you can only make a few guesses as the what they look like from looking at the hand and because it is also in black and white it creates an erie atmosphere to the image making it even more creepy and scary.