these are the same photo, but the one on the right is edited. I really like the depth of field on this picture, and the way the snake is laid out. I also love how the focus is on the snakes face, and how well the background blends, with quite natural colours. I also enjoy the more intense oranges and greens on the one on the right, the way it looks more jungle-like and natural. 

I love the rather soft lighting of this piece, and the way that its angled. I also like the way that the film has a shallow depth of field, and the colours involved. Its a very natural and soft image, with not too many things going on, and the skull still standing out due to the shadows. The feathers underneath it make an interesting setting, but not stealing from the main subject matter.

I wanted to continue with the spiritual context of my work, trying to show respect for the animals in death and almost trying to make them look animate in a way. I've also attempted to show the animals with natural items, like flowers and the natural coloured backgrounds. However, I wanted to make it different to my older photos by using brightly coloured tropical birds to add more of a contrast to the pictures rather than the colours working in harmony.

This is my favourite picture from the series. I love the way the parrots are laid out,  almost in a kind of manner, where they are being laid down in a respectful way. I love the way that the purple of the flowers and the texture of the leaves seems to give the picture more interest too, almost like they are a tribute or offering. The colours also work extremely well with eachother too. All in all, the picture is quite harmonic and peaceful.

I love the way that these two birds seem to be hugging each other, giving the image a very appealing and happy atmosphere despite the fact that the birds are dead. The fact that they are the same species of bird also enhances this image, making it quite grotesque, like they were long lost siblings that found eachother in death. 

The colours of the bird gives a really good contrast against the background, but it still looks natural, I also enjoy the way the composition piece is, the way it applies to the general way a photo should be taken, via the golden ratio.

This piece is one of my most favourite pieces. I adore the spiritual feel of the photo, like its paying dues to the bird. The bird also looks extremely relaxed, and the tame purple of the flowers adds to this effect. I also really like the way the birds intense red contrasts against the flowers, but still keeps the soft touch. It looks almost like a peaceful grave for the bird.

The flowers with the birds emphasize the delicacy of life and how delicate the birds are. Flowers are often associated with funerals and graves and paying respect to the dead, especially bright and colourful flowers. This is what my photos could represent from an external point of view. Just how short life is and how delicate as beings we are. 

Webcam photos

My webcam has the capabilities to zoom into things at an absolutely microscopic scale, so I chose to have some fun with it with some parts of my collection. Here are the results. I think these pictures would appeal more to people who are interested in abstract works, as they are zoomed in so close you cant even tell what some of them are. In these images Im exploring texture/surface qualities. I also want to explore how the closer you are to something, the less it looks like what it is.

I like how light and white these pictures are, theyre almost quite pure due to the intense light on them. I also Like how its not quite obvious what it is, giving the viewers some freedom to decide what they are themselves. They look almost like bright caves.

I like the way that the lighting works on the pores on this picture, and the way that some of them are dark and some of them are light. I also like the depth of field in this picture, even though its a macro shot it still has that. The gap between the pores applies to the rule of thirds, and it gives the eyes a chance to relax from everything else in the picture, which could be quite overpowering.

This first set is a selection of photos of my Plecostomus skull. I love the way that the lighting from the webcam brought out all of the tiny pores in the skin, and the way that the backlight works with it. I also like the soft, rather cold lighting in the pictures, as it contrasts with the creamy colours of the skull.

I like the way that this picture almost looks like it was taken under a microscope, I used my hand as a back lighting. I really like the way the pink contrasts with the blue, but it blends quite well and makes the image stand out even more. I also like the way that the spines are at a diagonal instead of horizontal, making the picture more appealing.

I really enjoy the contrast between the warm and cold colours of this piece. I also really like the texture of these pieces, the way its quite orderly and looks almost monstrous with the spikes. 

I like the way that these photos look like theyre from some kind of monster, even though in reality theyre only from some small fish that you'd miss if you walked past it. I like the way that my photos change the perspective of these animals, making them look more deadly and dangerous than they are. I also like the way that the fact Im expressing parts of animals people wouldnt otherwise know about, that arent entirely visible without zooming in close.

I love the quite intense blue on this picture, and the way that it almost represents the ocean. The sharks tooth almost looks like some abstract mountain thats been painted. I also like the darker area at the bottom of the picture, like its emerging from the depths. It could also have a second meaning to it.

This picture is supposed to be quite a disturbing photo, almost like its a fish graveyard. The fish fetus has really blank eyes that stare into nothing, giving the picture quite an eerie, empty feeling. The fish vertebrae are spiked, making it look quite dangerous and unsafe, like the fish has been captured there and left to die. However, the lighting contradicts the piece, being quite calm and soft.

Emotional/Provocative photography

Recently I got a Gannet skull, where the birds death had been caused by man, a fishing net tangled around its beak. I wanted to use it to express how we're damaging nature and bothering it. I wanted to create images like this to raise awareness and to make the viewer think.

These two shots were practicing with depth of field. I wanted the first photo to focus more on the net, and the second to focus more on the birds plight. These photos could represent the plight of man, the way he prioritizes himself over nature, which is why the net is the priority focus. I also like the lighting colour, the way it has a somewhat blue, sad tinge to it. The white background makes the animal seem pure, innocent, whilst the chaotic mess of the net expresses how destructive man is. The viewer could see it in many different ways. 

For this picture, I tried out using some pages of my Grays anatomy book. I like the way that the page I chose expressed the middle finger, almost like the bird is being flipped off by humans. I also like how it could represent the disregard for animals deaths, even if they are responsible, but due to the obscenity this picture could be more thought provocative. 

With this final picture, I wanted to make the net look more like a nest, which was what caused the animals death. It expresses it quite well, with the de-saturated lighting and the way the book is folded, trying to close on the skull like the animals time and story are up. All in all, these pieces are based more on provoking emotions than anything else, trying to express what we're doing to our wildlife.