In order to look even more rural, I chose to wear a more informal jumper and in doing so made sure that the grey colour correlates with the hat. These shots are the first close ups I have taken and I did so with the intention that they could act as the front cover image.
The shot on the left shows me looking into the distance with a purposeful expression. Although I am fond of the low angle shot giving me authority, the background captures a house, which doesn't link with the rural impression I am trying to convey. In the meantime the background in the second and third shots is very rustic. The damp wood has an unimposing effect on the subject.
As well as this the way in which the guitar is resting on my shoulder suggests comfort and ease. I look deep in thought which allows the reader to derive their own interpretations.
I figured that the sky and the shore gave me the most natural backdrop, which worked best with the connotations of country.
In the above set, I used the pale sunlight and breakwater to create a simplistic setting. The way that the seagull is perched atop the structure establishes equilibrium and that everything is as it should be. The problem is that the breakwater would be too imposing unless I could blur it out in the background. With all the text that needs to be added, it wouldn't be able to stand out enough against the intensity of the lighting. Despite this, the look of focus I have whilst playing the guitar expresses dedication and connotes the philosophical themes I had aforementioned.
The bottom three lack the breakwater and so retain focus on the subject, but are also limited by the lack of sunlight peaking in the background, which leaves a rather shadowy image. Another slight issue I have with this is the framing; the mid-shot is too distant to be an effective cover photo but the portrait frame also has the wrong dimensions to fit as a double-page spread. For this reason, I am likely to disregard the majority of these depending on future shots I take.
I changed the mise en scene to my next batch. I felt that the clifftops captured the desolate essence of country music. As well as this I made sure that I took the photos from a range of positions, so that I had the option of using a close up on the cover or double-page spread. Once more I tried to look as though I was unaware of the camera, instead just content with playing the guitar.
Personally I think that the top three are more suited. My body language in the lower set seems to be quite rigid and unnatural. The lower shot on the left exposes my blue jeans, and although the contrast in colour is quite majestic, it is too distracting amidst the other colours and props.
But I have twisted my body towards the camera in the first shots in order to create purpose and give depth to the frame, thus making my figure more defined. The angle that I took the photos allows for better lighting to illuminate the frame as opposed to some of the former shots that I photographed, which left a shadowy effect.
The final shots that I wanted to take on the beachfront were less focused on the musical element as they were on evoking the themes. For example, the thoughtfulness of my expression conveys a possible struggle and conflict. Alternatively, I could be thinking about my music, since in several of the photos I have the guitar resting on my lap. This links to how country music often reflects the struggles of society and how I am consciously pondering on something serious or relevant.
For me the hands resting on my face enhances the sternness of my current situation. Because I am looking in a direction away from the camera it presents my artist as human. He is not trying to directly address the audience because he is just directly addressing himself, offering an honest depiction of character and presenting him as a more relatable figure.
A different impression is expressed through the top left photo. I mentioned before the significance of resting the neck of the guitar on my shoulder. It embodies a sense of companionship. Although in reality I am alone on the beach, the guitar and the artist are seen as one, reflecting a sense of fantasy.
That's it for my coastal photographs. My next batch will be taken on a rustic farm setting in order to capture the historical and rural significance of country.
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