Photoshoot 4- Twin Oaks B&B

I completed this photoshoot at a B&B in the New Forest, Lyndhurst because I thought that there might be some history that is linked to the building or even the owners. I found that the B&B was older looking but some aspects had been slightly modernised which isn't necessarily what I want to convey in my project. However, there was a lot of history linked to the B&B and I thought that this could maybe be used in my photobook to help show the theme of Englishness. I believe that some of the furniture in the B&B was historical but had been slightly modernised e.g. by adding a modern duvet. I feel this didn't really show old Englisness that I want, meaning it would have been difficult for the audience to identify any historical features. I also think that the documentary style approach didn't really come across in this shoot because I hadn't been there for long so I was just photographing anything. With my last photoshoot I stayed at the B&B and I felt that this really added to the images and gave them more of an individual identity.

I experimented with some techniques including low and high depth of field. These were used to capture focal points and highlight objects that reflect Englishness. I use these camera techniques a lot because I think that they can help with showing the theme and can give the images more of a higher quality. I believe that my lighting technique has not been consistent within this shoot because the window sizes vary in every room, plus the lighting wasn't great that day. To get perfect lighting I needed a big bay window like I had in my last photoshoot, so that the whole room could be lit up and highlight all surrounding objects. To improve my technique I would use a tripod to make sure my camera frame was straight and would create a clear view for the audience. However, I have found it difficult to use a tripod because I am constantly capturing different height objects and moving all the time. I have though been using the tripod for portraits to get the correct position and lighting wanted for the images.

Overall, I feel that this shoot hasn't been my best because I didn't feel that it really showed old English qualities. Also looking back at the images it doesn't feel very personal because I felt rushed and didn't have much time to view the B&B and document my experience. If I were to stay at the B&B I think that I would have gained more of an insight into the different aspects rather than rushing arounding and documenting everything. However, I do feel that the quality of images were sucessful and were taken to the best of my ability, showing high technique. I believe that the main problem I undertook in this B&B was to do with the lighting. I felt that the natural light was quite dark in establishing shots of the rooms and didn't vividly highlight the whole room. To overcome this problem in future shoots I would probaly visit B&B's in the morning, to get the bright natural light wanted. I feel that I gained access to this bright lighting in 'Chatsworth Hotel' because I stayed their and woke up early to shoot.

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