Set Tasks
Movement
For this task, I played with the shutter speed on the camera to capture figures mid-jump. I varied the aperture and shutter speed on my camera in order to create different effects. This predominantly affected the focus and the light. Photos capturing a focused figure mid jump were taken on a fast shutter speed, whereas I reduced the shutter speed to create the blurred moving effect in some of the images. To capture the focused photographs, I set my shutter speed to around 1/2000 of a second. After altering my shutter speed, I also had to change my depth of field choosing a high f stop number in order to allow more light into the camera. I also adjusted my ISO and white balance. For the blurred images, I chose a slower shutter speed (around 1/80 of a second). As more light was being allowed into the camera, I had to adjust my f stop number in order to maintain good exposure.
Linked artist: Robert Longo- The Men In Cities
Robert Longo is an American artist best known for his detailed photorealist drawings of jumping figures, sharks, tigers, and guns. Born on 7th January, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York, Longo attended the State University College in Buffalo where he studied sculpture with Cindy Sherman, receiving his BFA in 1975. Longo was first made prominent in the New York art scene as a 25 year old with his 'Men in the Cities' series. These iconic, large scale charcoal drawings were produced in 1983, revealing businessmen posing in astounding contortions. "I always imagine that I want to make art that is going to kill you. Whether it's going to do it visually or physically, I'll take either way." Longo works and reworks his charcoal into thick textured surfaces in order to give his velvety drawings deep, blackened areas and sharply contrasting whites. Longo was inspired by the neo-noir cinema of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, but was also intrigued by the rock star poses popularised by music videos. His pictures overall embody the spirit of the age in a way that few works ever manage to.
“I always think that drawing is a sculptural process, I always feel like I'm carving the image out rather than painting the image. I'm carving it out with erasers and tools like that.”
“I always think that drawing is a sculptural process, I always feel like I'm carving the image out rather than painting the image. I'm carving it out with erasers and tools like that.”
A similar concept- this task sets to explore the confines of constricted space. Additionally, the paper limits the amount of the figure seen in the photograph.
Limiting Space
This task concentrated on the work of Irving Penn and the idea of using a small space to create images which link clearly to the concept of 'limiting space'. In order to do this, I used two whiteboards in the studio and positioned them to create a narrowing effect. I then got my subject to pose in the space, trying to convey a sense of being restricted. I gave no instruction to the subject on how to use the space, and so like Penn's work it is the subject dictates the overall feeling of the shot.
Irving Penn
Irving Penn was born in New Jersey, Plainfield in 1917 and attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts from 1934-1938. Throughout his studies, he worked with Alexey Brodovitch in his Design Laboratory. Alexey Brodovitch was a Russian émigré who worked in Paris in the 1920s, teaching the application of principles of modern art and design through exposure to magazines, exhibitions and photography. Penn is a famous twentieth century photographer, well known for his arresting images and masterful printmaking. Throughout his photographic career, Penn enjoyed working with quiet and relentless dedication, avoiding the limelight. However, for more than sixty years, he carried the label of on of Vogue magazine's top photographers. His approach to photography was through expanding the creative potential of the medium, both in professional and personal projects.
With his 'Portraits in a Corner' Irving Penn creates subjective images where he turns 'limiting space' into something for people to interpret and use as a form of expression. He does this by allowing the subject to have freedom to pose in the space however they wish. From this, viewers can make interpretations about their character. He wanted us to consider the way that a variety of photographs, with very different connotations and effects on the viewer, could be created from the subject being given a limitation in an empty space. |
What do you think the photographer’s intentions are? There may be more than one. ‘PEC’ each intention.
P (Photographer’s name) creates (what type of images? Fantastical, surreal, objective)
E He / she does this by… (describe something in the image)
C He/she wanted us to consider ….
What wider issues is the photographer addressing?
P (Photographer’s name) is considering (is the photographer talking about a bigger issue in photography, society, politics?)
E This is shown by … (describe something in the image)
C The (Photographer’s name) was interested in this issue because (they felt it was relevant to us now…)
How do the materials and techniques used support your photographer’s intentions?
P (Photographer’s name) has used (the darkroom / multiple exposure / film / digital manipulation techniques) in creating this work.
E This creates a ______ effect. (describe something in the image)
C This helps to support (Photographer’s name) point about (showing an identity / hiding a person’s identity / the media / anonymity)
Images
P (Photographer’s name) creates (what type of images? Fantastical, surreal, objective)
E He / she does this by… (describe something in the image)
C He/she wanted us to consider ….
What wider issues is the photographer addressing?
P (Photographer’s name) is considering (is the photographer talking about a bigger issue in photography, society, politics?)
E This is shown by … (describe something in the image)
C The (Photographer’s name) was interested in this issue because (they felt it was relevant to us now…)
How do the materials and techniques used support your photographer’s intentions?
P (Photographer’s name) has used (the darkroom / multiple exposure / film / digital manipulation techniques) in creating this work.
E This creates a ______ effect. (describe something in the image)
C This helps to support (Photographer’s name) point about (showing an identity / hiding a person’s identity / the media / anonymity)
Images
Pushing the limits of photography- set task
A 'good' photograph typically comprises of a few fundamental features. These include aspects such as focus, composition and exposure. By altering these features and pushing the 'limits' of photography, the photograph could be considered imperfect- however the 'imperfect' photograph creates a different effect. This task was to photograph empty spaces around the school, and consider both details and wide shots. Also to experiment with the focus on manual to explore depth of field, movement, zoom and blur. I found that the effect of the blur was a further sense of emptiness to the shots.
Exhibition- Another Kind of Life
The exhibition presented photographers who explored life within various subcultures around the world. This included communities on the fringes of society in America, India, Chile and Nigeria. Throughout this exhibition, viewers are given an insight into a more complex and diverse view of societies across the globe, captured by photographers of who have immersed themselves into the way of living. The photographers included in this exhibition spent months and sometimes years documenting people living some of the most deprived lives on the planet. The images displayed in the exhibition explore communities of sexual experimenters, romantic rebels, outlaws, survivalists and the economically deprived. It featured the works from famous photographers Paz Errazuriz, Pieter Hugo, Mary Ellen Mark and Dayanita Singh.
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Strand 1- Movement developed
For my first strand I decided to develop the idea of movement and its links to freedom and limitation. For my initial response I decided to capture images with the subject mid jump. To do this I got my friend to jump off a bench in different kinds of jumps in order to capture a variety of shapes . I initially set my camera on a fast shutter speed in order to capture sharp, focused images that captured her movement. I then changed my shutter speed to a slower shutter speed in order to capture a blur. This successfully gave the impression of fast movement within the shot.
Fast Shutter speed
Slow shutter speed
These photos successfully captured movement in different ways, however the composition and setting was not ideal. The hallway is dim and uninteresting and to improve I could take photos of the subject in a setting more reflective of the theme. For example, photos of a figure jumping in an open space such as a field or amongst nature might mean the images evoke more emotion and a sense of freedom not present in my original set of images.
Strand 2- Light Leaks
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Strand 3 - Identity
For my second strand I decided to look at the freedom and limitation surrounding identity. Specifically, the limitations when peoples identity has been concealed. I thought
Christian Hopkins
THROUGH SURREAL SELF-PORTRAITURE AND PHOTO MANIPULATION, HOPKINS GIVES FORM TO THE STRONG EMOTIONS WITH WHICH HE HAS AND CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH. A WIDE VARIETY OF HIS PICTURES CAPTURE PERFECTLY THE HAUNTED THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS TRAPPED WITHIN HIS MIND. I HAVE CHOSEN TO RESPOND TO TWO OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHS USING THE IDEA OF FABRIC COVERING THE BODY AND ESPECIALLY THE FACE.
MY RESPONSE:
For these images I wrapped string around my friends head and face, concealing her features. There is a physical limitation on her face, but also a limitation on how identifiable she is.
For these images I wrapped string around my friends head and face, concealing her features. There is a physical limitation on her face, but also a limitation on how identifiable she is.
Selected edit:
The background colour worked well as it created contrast. Furthermore, in parts it looks as though you can see through the string and her head, creating a gory feel to the images. This is added to by the way the string looks like bandages.
Development: Wet sheet
For this set of photographs, I placed a sheet on my friends head and then used a damp sponge to wet the fabric on her face. The effect of the images is a sense of physical limitation on her face and it creates a feeling that she is trying to break free through the barrier. At the same time as there being a sense of limitation, the images have a contradictory sense of freedom as the wet fabric looks flowing and like she is emerging through a limitation.
Selected images:
For this edit I increased the contrast and levels on photoshop.
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For this edit I simply inverted the colours on photoshop. This created an effective and dramatic background. The intense contrast picked out the highlights around the jaw and nose- and the blue tints added a haunting feeling. This is added to by the eye which is darkened but somehow more prominent as the shadows make the fabric look more see through around the eye and there is the illusion that the pupil is visible. These two images could look good presented next to eachother as a diptych.
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These photographs inspired me to explore further with fabrics and the 'breakthrough' aspect which these photos convey which links to both freedom and limitation simultaneously.
Development
Development
For this development, I experimented with different fabrics and materials to cover the face. My aim was to portray different senses of limitation with the different textures. First I used tin foil- this was difficult to mould to the face in order to show features. This meant that unlike with some of the other fabrics- there wasn't a sense of expression which is a contributing feature to the feeling of limitation with in the photographs. Next I used an old semi sheer shirt. I feel that the pattern on the shirt was distracting and the fabric didn't cling to the features as well as some of he other materials I experimented with. I tried to wet the fabric in order to make it more see through, and whilst this improved the image, it was still ineffective. The next material I used was a thicker jumper. The harsh suffocating effect created was a successful alternative to the more flowing barrier depicted in the previous experiment.
Overall I think these images were a good experiment to see which kind of materials I could potentially use in further developments. However aesthetically they do not have effective composition and the background is detracting from the images.
Development Mitsuko Nagone
Mitsuko Nagone creates surreal images using objects to conceal peoples faces. This links to the theme of freedom and limitation within identity as her subjects faces are never visible. Furthermore, the bizzare objects which she uses in her work
This set of photographs was my initial response to Mitsuko Nagone's work. I used objects found around my kitchen and took photos of my mum and aunt against a plain background using them in creative ways to conceal their faces.
This was a good initial response as It got me thinking of interesting, unique ways to make up the composition of the images. However, to improve, I could edit the shots on photoshop to lighten the background to create a more clean and finished look to the images. I could also edit the colours in the objects to make them more vibrant and stand out and add a bit of colour to the photographs.
Development
Experimenting with fabrics
locations
country/nature
city
busy v empty
Mitsuko Nagone creates surreal images with the subjects face concealed
All the developments need far more annotation. You also must include Misuko Nagone. Use the sentence starters below to introduce the intentions of each development, comment on www, ebi and discuss what's next base don your prior learning. There are also sentence starters to follow for your Nagone analysis to avoid any plagiarism:
ANNOTATION
Introducing a task:
Subject matter
Subject matter
E He / she does this by… (describe something in the image)
C He/she wanted us to consider ….
What wider issues is the photographer addressing?
P (Photographer’s name) is considering (is the photographer talking about a bigger issue in photography, society, politics?)
E This is shown by … (describe something in the image)
C The (Photographer’s name) was interested in this issue because (they felt it was relevant to us now…)
How do the materials and techniques used support your photographer’s intentions?
P (Photographer’s name) has used (the darkroom / multiple exposure / film / digital manipulation techniques) in creating this work.
E This creates a ______ effect. (describe something in the image)
C This helps to support (Photographer’s name) point about (showing an identity / hiding a person’s identity / the media / anonymity)
ANNOTATION
Introducing a task:
- In this task I was required to…..
- This task links to the theme, Freedom and Limitations, as it shows....
Subject matter
- The subject I chose to photograph suited the theme as it……
- My composition helped to support my response to the theme by….
- I managed the exposure very well. My ISO / shutter speed / aperture settings were…..
- I prioritised my shutter speed to… (capture movement / blur/ frozen moment)
- I prioritised aperture to manipulate depth of field.
- I used a tripod to avoid camera shake.
- My images express my intentions which were…
Subject matter
- The subject I chose to photograph did not necessarily fit the brief as it was not interesting enough / appropriate / adequately lit…..
- Next time I should go to (a different location), photograph at a different time of day, organise people in advance, think more about my composition so that….. ect
- I did not create enough depth of field / sense of movement. The image is over exposed / underexposed / too blurred.
- Next time I should use a tripod / use a different type of lens (be specific) / experiment with film…
- My images do not show my intentions which were…
- The concept wasn’t clear in my images, I need to make it more explicit by…
- Next time I will consider the work of (a photographer) to inspire a more accurate depiction of what I want to achieve.
- I will experiment further with… (blur / shutter speed / composition)
E He / she does this by… (describe something in the image)
C He/she wanted us to consider ….
What wider issues is the photographer addressing?
P (Photographer’s name) is considering (is the photographer talking about a bigger issue in photography, society, politics?)
E This is shown by … (describe something in the image)
C The (Photographer’s name) was interested in this issue because (they felt it was relevant to us now…)
How do the materials and techniques used support your photographer’s intentions?
P (Photographer’s name) has used (the darkroom / multiple exposure / film / digital manipulation techniques) in creating this work.
E This creates a ______ effect. (describe something in the image)
C This helps to support (Photographer’s name) point about (showing an identity / hiding a person’s identity / the media / anonymity)