Steve Mayes

Why I chose Steve:

By scrolling through my research log, it was clear that I had chosen many photographers who focused their images on the same topics. Many of these included a range of different portrait shots including people. Therefore, it was refreshing to see that I had chosen a photographer who I had liked, that didn't manipulate or change his images, but enhanced them to allow the audience to feel the atmosphere as though you were there. Many photographers that I had chosen changed several parts of there images to make them more futuristic or modern, however, I don't feel like this is a true representation of architecture and the beauty of it. Therefore, I chose Steve Maye's work to explore architectural photography which is new to me, but in hope that I can aspire to take pictures similar to his. 

Bio:

"I’m an architectural photographer. That is the core of my business and my passion. The end product varies depending on your requirements as a client: a portfolio of digital files, a single multi-image panorama, a framed print. What you are investing in doesn’t. My photography is about capturing that sense of place, and whatever format they are viewed in by you, and your own customers, they will demonstrate great pride in the imagery you incorporate within your business."

Steve Mayes explores many formal elements when looking at architecture in this image. He uses depth, as we are able to see the different lines and amount of chairs in each. He also explores colour, as we can see the different shades from each part of the chair. The strongest formal element used in this photograph is pattern, as we can see patterns and repetition of the same chair throughout. This is shown as they are all facing the same way. I will try to make my photograph similar to Maye's, by going to a stadium or a host to a lot of seats and try to reenact the symmetry in the same way that he does. 

This photo strikes me through the use of black and white.  When looking at several of his portfolios, Steve Maye's doesn't really use any filters over his images. Instead he feels he wants to reenact the feeling of a place by trying to make it as realistic as possible. However, I feel as though the use of black and white in this image is key to ensuring that it stands out from the rest. The use of the formal element pattern shows off and highlights the beauty of the image. I also like the composition, where the stair case elegantly stands out from with its dominance in the centre of the image. 

A lot of Steve Mayes work reflections on traditional architecture and the different values that we would associate with that. Therefore, when choosing this image, I looked at how modern it was in contrast to his other pieces of work. I like the angle of this image, as he is looking at the building, which we can see is modern through the large panes of glass and the white walls. The composition of the image stands out to me. 

In this image, Steve Mayes has edited it by taking two images. One in which the background  is still and there is no people in the image. Then he has placed a different image with numerous people over the top, and has turned the opacity down so it shows how they are not fixed like the architecture is in the background. This image is much more creative than his other work which makes it stand out to me. 

Influences

The work of Steve Mayes had a massive impact on my city shoots in London and Paris. When I went to these cities, I already had previous knowledge and the work from photographs such as Steve Mayes. In my exam, I looked at the different architecture and the ways in which I can explore it in my own work. I was influenced by Steve Mayes, due to his different techniques he explores when showing off architecture. In the image below, I used selective colour on my second image and turned the background into black and white. I wouldn't have done this without the work of Steve Mayes. 

Summary

Overall, I still appreciate the work of Steve Mayes just as much as I did when I chose him to be in my research log.  The reason I like his work so much is because it stands out to me as not only capturing architecture, but allowing the audience the chance to feel like they're at the place. He captures an atmosphere in his images, which is different to the other photographers I have looked at. I also like the 

way that he centres his work around the city of London, which is extremely close to where I live and where I also take the majority of my city pictures.