In this image I really like the composition with the balloons centred with the refection of the string leading down into the lower section of the image almost splitting the frame. The choice of using the lake as a mirror is really fascinating as questions pop into your head like: Why has he chosen something like a lake rather than just a mirror or a window to reflect off of? or why has he chosen to be that deep in the water where only his head is visible? The image therefore provokes questioning and has a sense of mystery. The colourful balloons also juxtapose the sort of duller natural colours in the background of grey clouds, muddy water and dark green trees. Moreover, I am also intrigued with the choice of the subject closing his eyes tight shut rather than having them open, this could have been done to create a sense of dreaminess which leaves us wondering if the scene we are seeing is real or in someones head when they are dreaming?
|
Viviane Sassen is a Dutch photographer that lives in Amsterdam; she is 50 years old and focuses on body abstraction and geometric shapes. She is also known for collaborating with big brands such as Louis Vuitton, Adidas, Paul Smith, Acne studios and the designer Stella Mcartney. As possibly guessed because all these brands are linked to fashion and clothing she also takes a lot of her compositions as an advert/promotion for her clients brand. The image seen to the left is a Louis Vuitton photoshoot which depicts a boy in a baby blue suit holding a branded backpack with doves flying out. I really like this image as the suit colour harmonises with the blue sky in the background and so does the bag colour with the colour of his skin. Furthermore, I really like the mystery and the ambiguity of the pose the boy is supporting and the choices made by the orchestrater. Even further still, the choice of the photographer to include the snow white doves coming out of the backpack is intriguing yet puzzling as they don't seem to have any correlation to the product he is wearing or the scenery that surrounds him; although this all compiles into why I like this image so much. Sassen was studying fashion design at Utrecht school of the arts and later photographer after she realised that they are linked and go hand-in-hand with each other. Below are more examples of Vivianes colourful work:
|
Viviane Maier was born in Brooklyn New York in 1926 where she spent the majority of her life where she was thought to have lived as a Nanny for 40 years, until after her death a chest in her room was discovered which contained a collection of over 150,000 photos accumulated secretly over the years. These images had main themes such as reflection, candid and self portraiture. I really like Viviane Maiers work especially considering she was completely self taught to keep up this facade of being a strict Nanny.
|
|
For this task we had to try and recreate the work of Viviane Maier and capture the way she used black and white and reflections in her photography. Whilst attempting to create my response we had a thick fog and it really helped set the mood and create a completely different school that I am used to every day; the fog makes an eerie atmosphere which is boosted with the older monochrome style. I really enjoyed using reflections as in all of my images my face is obstructed and distorted. My favourite image out of these is the one to the left because of the immense amount of layers within it. Moreover, on the ceiling inside there are leading lines which direct the viewers eyes towards the subject in the centre as well as light coming from the back of the building which fabricates a sense of emptiness and space within me in the image: which
|
|
To make this piece I printed out the same image three more times but every time changed the colour settings on the printer to give me an alternative variant of the original image. I then cut out part of those images to stick on the original image; this made the image seem still aligned and one but some of it had a different colour or filter to it. Next, I cut up some sticky transparent vinyl and stuck it on bits of the image to again keep the image the same but just change the colour of some of it. I don't like this piece because of the randomness and unpredictability of it because an eye or a star just don't relate to the image and are irrelevant. Next time I would think about what I am doing more and keep the alterations to being related to the original image as well as not taking it over the top and over editing it like I did with this one. Although, I do like the images below where I used photoshop to alter the images in three different ways:
|
The Rankin Destroy project was a way to address his criticisms and to respond to his critics; he destroyed his images and then sold them for high prices. The profits of the sales of the art works benefit a music charity for young people. Rankin destroyed his artwork to create a unique and abstract effect. The images arent my favourite and i dont really like them because i dont see many photographic techniques being used and they are quite basic. Although I really like the one to the left because it has more of a sense of how to compose an image and the manipulation of it is very interesting and makes the image look intruiging and eye-catching. If i were to compose images as a response to these ones i would add in more variables into the image in the first place such as more people or shooting at a different angle to create movement and fluidity in the images.
|
I started with this image intending to alter and distort it by cutting it up and using layers. The software I will be using is Photoshop.
|
1.First step, use the rectangular marquee tool to cut out the different shapes that you want-here i chose 4 rectangles. Every time you cut you need to make a new cut layer ,this will ensure that you can move each shape individually.
|
2.The Second step is to use the move tool and re-arrange the shapes in a different order. Once re-arranged, make sure to save as not to loose any progress.
|
3. If you repeat all of the first two steps vertically you create a cubic mesh look where your image is completely muddled up and almost puzzle like. To help make the shapes fit perfectly you can also go into the 'edit' window and scroll down to transform and then click scale to create the perfect fit and ensure that all of the shapes fit together perfectly and are neat. Lastly, I adjusted the colours and filters on the whole image to what I think looks best.
|
Using photoshop isn't my favourite as it has a lot of buttons and menus to navigate but this task was quite simple. All I had to do was select the edit menu at the top of the page and scroll down to transform from then I click liquify and swirl with my mouse on the screen to create this look. If I were to do this again, I would add more layers for more complexity and also cut out some bits and rearrange them. Furthermore, I could experiment with changing colours and adapting the mood of the image; a monochrome image radiates a sad or melancholy mood whereas say bright colours give off a much happier and joyous mood.
When physically editing in real life with cut outs and sticking bits and pieces together I will consider mixing and matching the cut outs with different colours of the same sections creating repeated patterns with diversity and variety included. |
This is the enlarger that shines light on the special light reactive paper and exposes it to create an outline of the templates put on top of it. It has a safety filter which helps show the size of the area being exposed to the light to make sure all of the light sensitive paper will be reacted and not have completely black and over exposed edges. The main lights in the room can be off, red and normal with red being used the most as you can safely handle the light reactive paper without ruining it in this light. The timer on the left of the enlarger times the light exposure to ensure the image is properly exposed and not too over exposed which would make the image very dark or not under exposed where the image would turn out very pale, faint and white.My photogram was exposed to the light for approximately 10 seconds which was perfect for it because the image is quiet a dark image so a longer exposure time would make the outlines pop and to have the perfect amount of contrast to easily distinguish shapes.
This image is of the developing line where the chemicals develop and maintain the exposure before being in contact with more outside light. From left to right, it goes a minute or so in the developing chemical, then 30 seconds in the stop chemical to stop it developing too much and ruining the image and then a minute or so in the fix so it cannot be changed or altered by more light and to maintain it. Lastly, it is left in running water and all the stinky and irritable chemicals are washed off so that the photogram doesn't go brown after a while and to then dry it off. |
To create the David Hockney design firstly I created a blank canvas and then opened an image that I want as the base. Next using the marquee tool, you cut out the section of the image that you want and press command C to copy and then command V on the base layer to paste it. Once on the desired base image it can be moved using the move tool, arranged using the layer tab and then scrolling down to arrange as well as going into the edit tab and adjusting the size to align and fit in. I do not like the overall outcome of the image because it looks unprofessional and the bottom part of the face is way too big. Next time I will take way more images to match David Hockney's style and to create a clearer and more impressive finished piece. Personally, I prefer the physical editing with scissors paper and glue rather than using photoshop because it is easier, takes half the amount of time and I can create more images exactly how I want them. Out of the 3 physically edited images my favourite is probably the one of my dog because it aligns the best but it can still be seen that it is a compilation of different images.
|
Analysis:
These images are very interesting because of the deeper meanings throughout all of them: everything within has a connection. These environmental portraits showcase who the subject person is and what they like and what sort of person they are. For example from the top middle image I can infer that she is very organised and likes to keep everything uniform from the tidy table top as well as being able to tell that she has a wide range of family members via the portraits on the walls and side tables. This contributes to why i like these images so much as I can tell so much about the person just by looking at a frozen still image. Moreover, I admire the framing and angles used throughout these images because they all display Else's surroundings rather than just a centred image of her which would be boring and single tone as it would be harder to determine these factors and inferences about her without showing her living space. Thinking about photographic techniques Hannah uses a lot of leading lines directing the viewers eyes to the subject as well as using a lot of repeating shapes and forms such as picture frames, lamps, plates, cups and more. If i was to orchestrate these pieces I would consider incorporating some more creative angles to make the images more unique and enticing. Although, overall I wouldn't change much in these images because i really like the deeper hidden memories and feelings linked to every object in the background and how i can infer and tell things about the subjects personality from them aswell. |
Analysis:
The thing i love about Germain's images is that through all of them you can see a lot of emotion and feeling through the subjects face and gestures. The image to my left is my favourite because I love the pride in Charlies face as he is showing his work to the camera you can really tell that he loves colour and vibrance as his houses wallpaper matches these flowers giving off a nice complimentary colour palette. The techniques he uses also are intriguing from the use of matching colours, leading lines, patterns and different angles to centring and asymmetry. Much like Hannah's work the environmental portraiture gives us an insight into the life of Snelling and all of his memories commemorated through objects in his house. The lingering sadness inferred from these images is stomped out by the quote of Germain, "Charlie is alone but not lonely, he is surrounded by the things he loves, the photographs of his life with Betty, his colourfully decorated house and his small garden and greenhouse." This quote along with Julian's work showcases Charlie Snelling as if you are a close friend of his where you visit him on a daily basis as Julian described himself as doing. Photography is a way to document life, connections and relationships as well as personalities and memories of the past. Personally, I can't think of anything to change about his work as most of the boxes are ticked and the results are very interesting and make you want to see more and know more about the subjects life. |