Forest photos and using a canon camera:

I decided to go to a near by nature reserve to take pictures for my portrait project, while using a canon camera I set the exposure to 1/250 and the f-stop to 6 and then adjusted them accordingly as I went forward. 

For the first 3 photos I decided to pose underneath a tree in various positions within frame, two times standing up and once crouching down. I was wearing a dark navy coat which I believe allowed me to blend in well to my surroundings and I was stood with my back towards the camera as I wanted to be in the photographs to create a semi self portrait but stay anonymous which I believe I have achieved, and I think that by doing this I have not only created a sense of anonymity but by facing away from the camera I believe that this draws attention towards the tree, as if I am worshiping it or making an offering to an ancient diety. When looking at my final images I think that I have created something mysterious and intriguing, the viewer doesn't know that the figure is me, they don't know why the figure is there and I believe that this invokes a cryptic and unsettling atmosphere within the image, as if the viewer has wandered too far into the woods and come across a being or spirit that they shouldn't have. In all three of the images the scenery is wild and overgrown as if it is not only taking over the photo but taking over me as well, as the viewer looks at each image they can me become ore and more hidden as if I am melting into my surroundings and becoming part of the forest. I think that all three images are quite dark and moody, the area that I have chosen is sheltered and shaded meaning that there wasn't a lot of light to work with and I had to adjust the exposure and f stop accordingly on my camera, however, this meant the gaps in the leaves that did allow light to shine through provided a nice contrast between the shadows and light and I believe that this allows the finer details and intricacies of the photographs to become more prominent and noticeable. When comparing the three images to each other the second photo is my favourite, this is because I believe that I have chosen the best position to stand in, I am still standing upright but have been slightly obscured by the tree branches and I believe that this adds to the unnerving and unsettling atmosphere of my image, I can only just be seen and it feels as if I would disappear if you blinked, once the viewer has found me they would not want to look away in case I vanished. 

For the fourth and fifth photographs I took them in a slightly different environment, this area was boggy and open which resulted in the final images being far more light and bright than the previous ones, in addition to this there wasn't as much foliage and leaves on the branches for me to hide behind which I believe allow the image to feel less constrained and more free. Again, I believe that facing away from the camera was the right decision to make as it creates an atmosphere of anonymity and sparks a feeling of intrigue within the viewer and I think that the fact that I am the only person in frame creates an unsettling feeling, I look out of place, as if I am not supposed to be there. I believe that these photos were less successful than the first due to my form being so visible, and I don't think that these images have the same impact as the first three, however, I do believe that I have managed to create and image that invokes a somewhat mysterious atmosphere and I think that the bare branched paired with the dying leaves creates a harsh and cold atmosphere and I believe that the grey sky only enhances this atmosphere. Out of the two images I believe that the first is the most successful as I am slightly more concealed which I believe increases which I believe increases the atmosphere of mystery as it almost looks as if I am flickering in and out of the photo.