Tone Studio Straight Images / Work Diary Edited -

Tone Studio Edited -
For all of the images below I used the same technique to edit them. Using Photoshop CC 2014 I made a new layer over the background image and labelled it 'Layer 0'. Next I went down to 'Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer' and selected 'Hue and Saturation' sliding the 'Saturation' bar down to the left thus turning my image black and white. As some of the images appeared too dark or too light using this method I returned to the 'Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer' and chose 'Brightness/ Contrast' where I used both of the sliding bars to adjust the image to my liking. Occasionally I will add a muted colour to my work by using the 'Colour Balance' tool and altering the hue.

Progression -

To improve from this point in the formal elements journey I would firstly change the composition of some images. The chair supporting the objects is obscuring some of the implied meaning. I would also increase the 'Brightness/ Contrast' in Photoshop on some of the images.

Tone Studio Straight Images / Work Diary -

Tone Studios -
These photographs were all taken based upon the formal element of tone. These images were created in a photography studio where I was able to change the lighting to add to the depth and contours of my subject. I am satisfied with 'The Gas Mask', 'The Knife' and 'The Broken Doll' specifically as I was most pleased with the lighting on these three in comparison to my other two images. If I were to alter these images I would edit them so that they are in black and white, using Photoshop CC 2014, thus exaggerating the tone through the se of highlights and lowlights.

I like this image as the warm tones contrast to the cool connotations of china and dolls. The shadow across the face of the doll implies a darkness to the photograph although this is undermined by the warm colour undertones. 

This image again is a good example of tone and also implicitly low key lighting. One half of the gas mask is hidden in darkness. 

This is the favourite of my images joint with the one image below. This photograph is good at exemplifying natural tone. The lighting creates a tonally pitch black backdrop and the snoot focusing the light on the hand and knife creates areas of light and dark tone. 

This photograph is joint favourite as the broken doll works well in unison with the formal element of tone. The extreme contrasts between light and dark tones create an eerie atmosphere. 

This final image is my least favourite simply due to the composition although the subject implicitly critiques the differences and similarities between masculinity and femininity. 

Progression - 

To improve from this point in the formal elements journey I would firstly change the composition of some images. The chair supporting the objects is obscuring some of the implied meaning. I would also increase the 'Brightness/ Contrast' in Photoshop on some of the images. I would also edit the images into black and white to emphasise the tonal variations. 

Tone Studio Contact Sheet -

Contact Sheet -

Tone Straight Images/ Work Diary Edited -

Tone Edited -

This image shows tone as the light of the studio is emphasising the highlights and lowlights thus giving the picture good contrast and tonal qualities. If I was to improve this image then I may change it to black and white and up th contrast in photoshop to exaggerate the tone even more.

I also like this image and believe it depicts tone as the background of the image is very tonally dark whilst the subject itself is closer to the white end of the spectrum. This image also features transitioning light between the highlights and lowlights.

This image shows tone through the contrast of the writing and the background of the wall. This photo could also be put into black and white to exaggerate the tonal differences featured in the image.

My final image features tone through the contrast of the dark tonal figure and the light tone background.  This could again be improved by turning the image black and white to emphasise the highlights and lowlights.

This photo also depicts tone through the use of portrait and street photography very much like the photographer Mortiz. This image could possibly be improved by increasing the contrast adding to both the highlights and lowlights.

Progression - 

To improve upon this particular photoshoot I would re-evaluate my understanding of tone. Tone is the overall lightness or darkness of an image and I chose to focus simply on the darkness of photography. The studio images are good for tone as the environment can easily be controlled in relation to lighting which provided a platform for creating the formal element of tone. If I completed this shoot again I would focus solely on shooting in the studio environment. In the future I would also focus on the warmth or coolness of an image in reference to tone.

Tone Straight Images / Work Diary -

Tone -

This image shows tone as the light of the studio is emphasising the highlights and lowlights thus giving the picture good contrast and tonal qualities. If I was to improve this image then I may change it to black and white and up th contrast in photoshop to exaggerate the tone even more.

I also like this image and believe it depicts tone as the background of the image is very tonally dark whilst the subject itself is closer to the white end of the spectrum. This image also features transitioning light between the highlights and lowlights.

This photo also depicts tone through the use of portrait and street photography very much like the photographer Moritz. This image could possibly be improved by increasing the contrast adding to both the highlights and lowlights.

This image shows tone through the contrast of the writing and the background of the wall. This photo could also be put into black and white to exaggerate the tonal differences featured in the image.

My final image features tone through the contrast of the dark tonal figure and the light tone background.  This could again be improved by turning the image black and white to emphasise the highlights and lowlights.

Progression - 

To improve upon this particular photoshoot I would re-evaluate my understanding of tone. Tone is the overall lightness or darkness of an image and I chose to focus simply on the darkness of photography. The studio images are good for tone as the environment can easily be controlled in relation to lighting which provided a platform for creating the formal element of tone. If I completed this shoot again I would focus solely on shooting in the studio environment. In the future I would also focus on the warmth or coolness of an image in reference to tone.

Tone Contact Sheet -

Tone Contact Sheet -

Tone Image Bank -

Tone Image Bank - 

Joel Moritz -
I have selected this photographer as they have studied the formal element of tone intensively and explored it through multiple mediums and ideas. Mortiz focuses on tone through street photography, portraits and more often than not a combination of both. The images tend to have a high tonal range with stark contrasts between the highlights and lowlights of the images.