tolucophoto

Box Head - Cinema

2009-12-25T13:26:00.001Z

Further experimentation with Box Head

University Degree Show

2008-06-05T14:08:00.000+01:00

My exhibition at the University Degree Show

When No One Is Around... book

2008-04-21T14:04:00.000+01:00

Final cover for the book

When No One Is Around...

2008-04-06T13:36:00.000+01:00

While at University I began photographing a series of images for a book.
They were an experimentation with light.
Photographing the events that happen 'When No One Is Around...'

Washing Machine

2008-03-22T13:33:00.000Z

Indoor Skating - Cinema

2008-02-27T13:37:00.000Z

Continuing my Indoor Skating series.
In the cinema.

[We Are] The End

2008-01-26T13:29:00.000Z

Promo shoot for a friends band, [We Are] The End.

Box Head

2008-01-02T13:32:00.000Z

Experimentation with flash and props.
I built a box with a translucent front that would fit on my head with space for a flashgun and wireless trigger (PocketWizard) inside.

New Years Eve 2007

2008-01-02T13:02:00.000Z

I was in the house on New Years Eve 2007.
The fireworks started early across the city and I had a great view from my window:

Bitterly Ironic

2007-12-29T19:59:00.000Z

Over Christmas I shot a series of promotional
images for a friend, Ant Hickman, who is a solo
musician known as Bitterly Ironic.
This is a selection of shots from the series.
The rest of the series is online here: Flickr

All photos strictly copyright Tom Connor (tolucophoto)
and permission of Ant Hickman (Bitterly Ironic)

Floating 1

2007-12-01T23:41:00.000Z

My first shots experimenting with floating.
I put an extra matress on my bed to get more
height. The problem with these photos however
is I wanted to make it look like I was floating,
but they look too much like I was jumping on
my bed.

Indoor Skating: Part 5

2007-12-01T23:24:00.000Z

Final part of Indoor Skating.
I was experimenting with floating photos and
decided to shoot a final few skating photos
using my matress to get air.

Artist Research

2007-12-01T01:00:00.000Z

During a recent episode of America's Next Top
Model, the guest photographer was Mike
Rosenthal. The shoot involved recreating
murder scenes with the models.
Although the images were very posed and more
focused on the beauty aspect of the photo,
it has inspired me to continue my exploration
of murder scenes, experimenting with different
locations.

Murder Scenes

2007-12-01T00:50:00.001Z

After reading some unusual books depicting
black and white documentary scenes of accidents
and murder, I decided to create some scenes of
my own. The photos in the books didn't really
contain and blood or gore, and this inspired me
to focus more on the setting up of the scene and
the body position.
I took these two images while I was eperimenting
with my studio lights outside:

Alien Life?

2007-12-01T00:45:00.000Z

Experimenting with my studio lights outside
at night. I wanted to play around with lighting
the car in unusual ways.
This was my favourite shot from the night:

Indoor Skating: Part 4

2007-11-30T23:49:00.000Z

More Indoor Skating, this time, in the bathroom.
I thought it would be interesting to theme the
indoor skating around having a bath.

The Invisible

2007-11-30T23:38:00.000Z

This idea involves creating images made to look
like there is an invisible person in the photo.
I didn't want to just use myself in the photo and
use Photoshop to remove my skin.
I padded some of my clothing with newspaper
and pillows and suspended the creation from the
roof using invisible thread.
I plan to shoot 'the invisible' in different locations.

Indoor Skating: Part 3

2007-11-30T23:15:00.000Z

I felt the 'Indoor Skating' photos worked really well
so I took some more shots, this time on the bannister,
made to look like I was 'grinding' down it.

Artist Research

2007-11-30T23:01:00.000Z

Sam Taylor-Wood takes stunning, unusual images.
This sequence was shot in her studio.
She suspended herself from the roof using ropes,
then the ropes were digitally removed to give the
effect of floating.
I especially like how she included her shadow on the
wall in the first shot, and positioned herself in front
of a large window in her studio in the second shot.

Indoor Skating

2007-11-30T21:39:00.000Z

I decided to continue with the unusual scenes.
I thought, as I like skateboarding, I could incorporate
this into my photos. However, to make it unusual I decided to
take some shots in unusual locations. I chose to shoot skating
photos inside my house, and experiment with lighting.
This is the best image that came out of it:

Part 1:

These shots are the second series of photos
I took featuring Indoor Skating.
Part 2:

Big Draw

2007-11-30T21:15:00.001Z

These shots were taken at the 'Big Draw' exhibition

between 11.15pm and 02:32am.
They were inspired heavily by Gregory Crewdson's
work, especially from his 'Twilight' book.

Artist Research

2007-11-30T17:58:00.000Z

These photographers have become very important to me,
especially Gregory Crewdson. Their work has inspired me
a lot, from lighting to composition.

Gregory Crewdson

Jeff Wall

Philip-Lorca Di Corsia

Thirsty

2007-11-30T17:51:00.000Z

One of my ideas is to create weird scenes.
This ideas is to fill a room with glasses of water.

Crosby

2007-11-30T17:50:00.001Z

A shot I took on a beach in crosby.

Phones

2007-11-30T17:36:00.001Z

A collection of old phones and mobiles.

Artist Research

2007-11-30T16:49:00.000Z

Some research of photographers who inspire me.

David LaChapelle

Ansel Adams

David Bailey

Statement Of Intent

2007-11-30T13:48:00.000Z

Whilst at University, I have spent the last two years working with digital photography. It has been a passion of mine since before college.
During the first year I spent most of my time experimenting with ideas. As I began the second year, I worked on developing my ideas and seeing how far I could take a subject. This produced some interesting work, but I found that if I worked on an idea too long I became unmotivated and distracted, and my projects often didn’t come to a pleasing conclusion. This helped me realise I needed to focus on generating ideas. As I progressed through the second year I gave myself short deadlines to keep to, keeping myself motivated and generating images.
During the summer period, I began thinking how I wanted to progress. I found this difficult, as there isn’t one subject in photography that stands out to me. I enjoy most types of photography; just working with my camera gives me motivation to find something to shoot. I began writing all my ideas for shoots down in a notepad, planning to experiment with how to work the ideas to the best of my ability. I wanted to start the third year with as many ideas I could come up with so I am always motivated to develop work, even if it doesn’t transition from my previous work.
As I begin the third year I plan to use my time to further develop my photography skills, experiment with new techniques and build my portfolio. I want to use my time to develop lots of imagery of different types, such as landscape, portrait and still life, researching photographers such as Ansel Adams, David Bailey, Art Wolfe, and David LaChapelle. I’ve never really experimented with shooting portraits before, but after researching LaChapelle I’m inspired to create some interesting portraits.
I plan to use the University photo studio at some point, though I have a recently bought a home studio flash kit I can use to shoot at home and outside my house. This freedom of not needing to wait for my time slot in the University studio means when I have an idea and motivation, I can create work, even just rough images, to portray what I want to create.
Last year, I didn’t see my tutor much as he was only in the studio a couple of days a week, so I found it hard to meet with him, and when I did, it always seemed like he was pushing me in a different direction to where I wanted to go. This often discouraged me and sometimes made it difficult for me to progress. This year I would like a tutorial with my tutor every couple of weeks to help me with ideas and assess my recent work, but to listen to what I want to work on and help me develop the ideas I have, rather than push me in a different direction.

After graduating, I hope to get a job working with photography or in a similar field. I have contacted a professional freelance photographer, Ian Beesley, and will be spending some time with him in the next couple of months to gain experience, see how a professional works and get some ideas of what is involved in working in that field.

Floating 2

2007-11-24T19:44:00.000Z

Sleep Floating.
I think these sleep floating shots work better
as they look more unusual. I hope to try these
using more appropriate clothing and maybe
different lighting.

Yes Miss, No Miss

2007-04-16T13:16:00.000+01:00

My friends band, 'Yes Miss, No Miss', were playing a gig in Leeds.
They asked me to shoot some photos.
One of the images was printed in the Leeds Student newspaper.

Anna + Adam 21st

2006-11-03T13:11:00.000Z

I was asked to shoot a photo for my friend's joint 21st birthday night out poster.
The theme they chose for the fancy dress was 'Pimps and Hos', so this is what we shot:

Hyde Park Skating

2006-05-02T13:23:00.000+01:00

Nick Bentham skating in Hyde Park (Woodhouse Moor) Leeds

Greenhouse Spider

2005-07-08T13:24:00.000+01:00

Walking into the greenhouse, I only just noticed this spider web with a large spider stretching across the door.