This is a Pinterest Board I created using ideas to do with the theme Beginning and/or End. Pinterest is a website to share you ideas with the world through abstract photographs. The board below, illustrates all of the ideas I chose and what I thought linked to my exam project.
Exhibition Visit - The Tate Modern
The Elton John Collection - The Radical Eye
Below, is a scanned copy of the booklet that was filled in whilst I visited the Sir Elton John Collection in the Tate Modern. There were six rooms, all consisting of different, interesting pieces of work. Each room shows multiple artist and their work and the photographs were inspired by Sir Elton John.
Task 1 - A journey, People and Places
The task was to photograph a journey. I was required to document small details that I passed, photograph people and buildings that I encountered on my journey. I had to take a minimum of 30 photos and then place them alongside each other in a photographic grid in the style of Richard Clark and Japanese photographer Daido. The is links to the theme of beginning and/or end as it required me to take a series of images from the start to the finish of my journey.
London, 22/04/17
WWW: What went well in this task was my journey. I thought that I took a successful journey through London, taking a variety of photos from the underground to food markets. EBI: This task would be even better if I travelled in further depth for example not just staying in central London and also if I captured individual, iconic places or objects along the way that represent where I was. I could of taken more photos nearer to where I live. I did not manage to achieve the best exposure is some of my photographs so next time I would try and find more lighter areas to photograph. Also, next time I would use a tripod as some of my images are blurry.
Next, I will consider the work of Richard Clark to help me explore the idea of journeys even further and visit my points of interest and capture images in those location. I would also next time like to experiment with shutter speed.
Artist Analysis - Richard Clark
Clark creates adventurous images in his work. He does this by taking a series of images on a journey from landscapes to close ups of objects, I think that he wants the audience to consider the variety of cultures around the world.
The photographer is considering conditions in this image. Clark was interested in this subject because he felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t normally notice.
The artist has used different exposures in creating this work. This creates a variety of effect in the image. This helps to support his point about adventures and a contrast in cultures throughout society.
Task 2 - A location at different times of the day
In this task, I was asked to document a space that holds particular visual for me. When I chose my location, I photograph it at different times of the day. As the sun came up, the middle of the day and as the sun set and as night began. I focused on the changing light and atmosphere that happened at different parts of the day. This links to the theme of beginning and end as it required me to stay in one location from dawn until dusk, capturing the start and finish of the day.
Midday - 12:23pm
Sunset - 17:05pm
Evening - 19.14PM
WWW: I think that the composition of the images worked well and so did the contrast between the day the night. The colours in the night photos stood out. This task worked well because it has a lot going on. Compared to a building or a street, this image was more interesting, having a more inviting effect to the audience.
EBI: These images would of been better if there were less clouds in the daytime photos so I could of changed the day I went to capture these photos. This would of make the images more positive.
Next, I will consider the work of Marcus Lyon to help me explore the idea of times of the day to an even further extent. I would also like to experiment with exposure next time.
Task 3 - Location
In this task, I was required to make a moon effect, using flour and icing sugar. I used the icing sugar to create a landscape that can represent a location on the "edge of the human experience". I photographed my creation in a close up abstract way to give the feel of isolation use light and shadow to give your creation depth. This task links to the theme of beginning and/or end as it required me to think about the conspiracies of the moon landings from America in 1969.
Process
Select the image you are intending to edit.
Select the moon that you want and copy and paste it onto the black area of your image.
Paint the area that is not on the flour all black.
Now you have created the final image. Changing the contrast and brightness is optional.
WWW: In my second attempt, I think that I have created a moon effect much for effectively than my first attempt. In these images, I have edited them so that they have shadows near the craters to make it look more realistic. Also, I have made a larger landscape as in the first attempt, it looks like I have captured just small area of the moon. The subject I chose to photograph was the surface of the moon. I managed to expose the images well. My ISO was 300 and my shutter speed was 0.3. I used a tripod whilst completing this task to avoid camera shake.
EBI: The subject I chose to photograph did not necessarily fit the brief as it was not adequate enough. I think that next time I should use a different material other than flour to make the surface and texture more realistic. This first attempt was not good enough. I think this because I don't think that I have made the texture as realistic sit could be. To improve this, I will repeat this task and try to make the craters look more realistic.
Next, I will attempt to consider the work of Adrian Massaika and try and further develop the idea of being on the edge of human experience. Also, to prevent the yellow light, I will capture my images in natural light instead of an LED. If I was to do this again, I would think about Massaika makes his images appear to float.
Artist Analysis - Adrien Missaika
Adrien Missaika presents photographs of places that exist on the fringes of human experience. While some were taken on his frequent travels, others are mocked up in the studio using polystyrene and paint – like his image of debris floating above the earth’s atmosphere in Asteroid (Space Between) (2007).
Massaika creates abstract images in his work. He does this by creating a moon surface out of home made products like polystyrene, I think the he wanted the audience to consider the effects of being on the edge of human experience.
The photographer is considering space in this image. He was interested in this issue because they felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.
The artist has used a products creating this work. This creates a inviting effect in the image. This helps to support his point about being extraterrestrial.
Task 4 - Melting Objects
In this task, I was required to melt or crush everyday items that I use. This task links to the theme of beginning and end as it shows a journey the item takes to be made into another format. It shows the start and the end of the plastic material, illustrating the life of the objects. In this task I have used a variety and different crisp packets, bottles and plastic cartons. The first step I used was to preheat the oven to 185 Celsius and then place each item in the oven for around 1 minute. For other items such as the crisp packets, it only takes around 10 seconds to deform into a smaller item.
WWW: In this task, the images that were taken suited the theme of beginning and end as it showed the condition of the object before and after the melting. Emphasising the sense of life and death. All of my object worked well, all transforming into a different shape of size.
EBI: The objects that I photographed have been shot on a two colour background or a dark one. To improve this, next time I will take a photo of them on the same coloured background, preferably white.
Next time, I will consider the work of Shaqayeq Arabi to explore the idea of dis formation to an even further extend.
Artist Analysis - Shaqayeq Arabi
Shaqayeq Arabi is a artist living between Tehran, Dubai and New York City. Arabi's ''Melted Plastics'' exhibition is very creative. It is the dis formation of everyday objects such as cartons, cans and food. In the photo above, It looks like the artist has melted the milk bottle to make it positioned in a dis organised way.
Arabi creates unusual images in his work. He does this by melting plastic object and sculpting them into other shapes, I think the she wanted the audience to consider the different uses of everyday items.
The photographer is considering reuse in this image. The artist was interested in this issue because they felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.
The artist has used a high temperatures and malleable material in creating this work. This creates a strange effect in the image. This helps to support his point about reuse of plastic in society.
Task 5 - Movement
This task links to the theme of beginning and end as it required my to take images from the start of the journey to the end. Below, the people are moving from one place to another. My first attempt was moderate. My second attempt was improved as I used a tripod so there is no camera shake.
Artist Analysis - Leland Stanford
In 1872, the former governor of California, Leland Stanford, a businessman and race-horse owner, hired Muybridge for some photographic studies. He had taken a position on a popularly debated question of the day — whether all four feet of a horse were off the ground at the same time while trotting. In 1872, Muybridge began experimenting with an array of 12 cameras photographing a galloping horse in a sequence of shots.
Stanford creates illusional images in his work. He does this by layering a series of one movement together, I think the she wanted the audience to consider the full effect of the actions.
The photographer is considering movement in this image. Stanford was interested in this subject because they felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.
The artist has used a a fast shutter speed in creating this work. This creates a illusional effect in the image. This helps to support his point about movement well.
Initial Attempt
This was my first attempt, it definitely needs more improvement. To improve this piece, I could take the images outside instead of the camera struggling capture the light indoors. Also, the model in this attempt does not seem to be doing anything interesting. To improve the task, I will try and capture the photos outside and make the model carry out more of a energetic action.
Final Attempt
This was my final attempt. I think that this was much better as I have improved on my improvements from last attempt. In this GIF, Archie is seen to be running over a bench. Also, the light is heavily improved which makes the piece overall much better.
The subject I chose suited the theme of beginning and end because of the link between starting and finishing a journey, shown in both attempts one and two. The technique of a fast shutter speed worked well as I captured the images in quick succession. I felt that these images expressed my idea of movement well.
I felt that I did not manage to achieve a good enough composition in these sets of images. So next time, I would try and find a more interesting environment to take my photos. I would also use a tripod to avoid camera shake.
Process
Open all the images you want to edit.
Time each one to at least 0.1 seconds per frame.
Copy and paste all of the images so there are two sets of the GIF.
Create frames from the layers by clicking the 3 bars in the top right of the frame animation timeline.
Go to the 3 bars again and click 'reverse frames'.
Again, click 'reverse frames' and the you have your finished edit.
Exhibition Visit - The Photographers
Gallery
The Wolfson Gallery, Roger Mayne
Mayne uses low lighting of the factory to produce a series of dignified portraits of the workers in his black and white tonality. Commissioned by architect Theo Crosby for the Milan Triennale, this exhibition features over three-hundred colour images projected on five screens to a commissioned jazz score by Johnny Scott.
Mayne creates historical images in his work. He does this by capturing images of life in the past, I think the he wanted the audience to consider the way of life before technology and modern things had evolved.
The photographer is considering first and third worlds in this image. For example, this is shown in the contrast of photos from classy man dressed in suits to children sharing one bicycle on the streets. Mayne was interested in this issue because they felt it was important for us to compare this within our own lives today. Mayne has added sepia filters to imply that the subject of the photographer was about life in the past.
Barbara Lloyd Galley, Deutsche Borse Photography
The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize is an annual prize established by The Photographers’ Gallery in 1996 and with Deutsche Börse Group.
Lloyd creates emotional images in her work. She does this by capturing touching images of poor citizens, I think that she wanted the audience to consider the other side of human society.
The artist is considering third worlds in this image. For example, this is shown in the pictures on the people with minimal clothing on and some people being shown to have nothing in the town where they live for example in the bottom right where the background is completely plain. This suggests them to be impoverished. She was interested in this issue because they felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.
3 Strands - Beginning and/or End
Strand 1 - Blending Abstraction
I have chosen to photograph this strand because I am interested in how abstract effects can make a photograph seem ghostly. This strand links to beginning and/or end as it shows multiple sets of images. It creates a blur effect on the imaging, suggesting that the number of photographs were taken at the beginning or end of the day a any period of time where the photographer was located.
Artist Analysis - Pep Ventosa
Pep Ventosa is a Spanish photographer who blends together multiple snapshots to an abstraction of the places we've been and the things we've seen. Pep Ventosa's work is focuses on an exploration of the medium itself--deconstructing and reconstructing photographic images to create new visual experiences.
Ventosa creates mysterious images in his work. He does this by layering multiple images of a landscape onto one canvas. In the image below, He wanted the audience to consider the vast sizes of some landmarks.
The photographer is considering size in this image. For example, this is shown in the duplicated images transformed to become larger. Ventosa was interested in this issue because they felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.
Artist Analysis - Stephanie Jung
Stephanie Jung is a photographer based in Berlin, Germany. In 2010 she finished her studies in Visual Communications, where she discovered her passion for photography and is working as a freelance photographer, focussing on fine art and portrait photography.
Stephanie Jung creates fantastical images in her work. She does this by layering multiple images of similar image onto one canvas and adjusting the opacity. In the image below, I think the she wanted the audience to consider the compatibility in society by add a lot more actions in the image.
Stephanie Jung is considering overpopulation in this image. For example, this is shown in the duplicated vehicles edited on the streets and twice as many people on the pavement. Jung was interested in this issue because they felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.
Jung has used a fast shutter speed and double exposure in creating this work. This creates a mysterious effect in the image. This helps to support Jung point about empathising overpopulation in the world we live in today.
Response to Jung
Edited Four
WWW: The subject I chose supported the idea of beginning and end as it shows a journey people are taking across the south bank. The technique of a fast shutter worked well as I need to photograph five quick snapshots in a short space of time. I felt that these edits express my idea about overcrowding in cities and rush hour. The last image worked the best as it is the most similar to Stephanie Jung's work.
EBI: In this images, I did not manage to create the best exposure. So next time, I would adjust the exposure on my 350d SLR camera. Also, next time I will try and capture more images to create more of an edited overcrowding in the area where I photographed.
Next, I will consider the work of Stephanie Jung, to help me explore the idea of exposed cities even further.
Strand 2 - Stroboscopic Photography
I have chosen to photograph this strand because I am interested in how to effect of movement is created. I wanted to explore working with a different type of light. This strand links to beginning and/or end as it again shows multiple sets of images. It creates a timeline effect on the portrait, which links to the theme of beginning and end as it shows each stage of a journey that the model takes.
Artist Analysis - Harold Egerton
Harold Edgerton was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is largely credited with transforming the stroboscope from an obscure laboratory instrument into a common device. In his images below, he has used strobe lighting and the bulb setting on the camera to capture each movement of the model.
Harold Edgerton creates interesting images in his work. He does this by using a long exposure to capture the whole movement of an action. In the image below, I think the he wanted us to consider the whole movement of sports actions. For example, this is shown in the effect of the gold swing shot below. Edgerton was interested in this effect because they felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.
The photographer has used a long shutter speed and exposure in creating this work. This creates a mysterious effect in the image. The strobe makes the subject clear, the person modelling the action.
Response to Edgerton
Edited Four
WWW: The subject I chose supported the idea of beginning and end as it shows a movement in a stroboscopic light to show all the stages of the action. The technique of a long exposed shutter speed worked well as I needed to photograph one photographer, holding down the button for at least 4 seconds. I felt that these edits express my ideas about movement well.
EBI: In this images, I did not manage to create the best exposure in some images . So next time, I would adjust the exposure on my 350d SLR camera. Also, next time I will try and add more of a realistic background instead of black paper to try and develop further.
Next, I will consider the work of Edgerton, to help me explore the idea of movement under strobe lighting to an even further extent.
Strand 3 - Double Exposure
I have chosen to photograph this strand because I like the ghostly illusion it creates. This strand links to beginning and/or end as it shows two sets of images. It creates a ghostly effect on the portrait, which links to the theme of life and death, suggesting that it's a ghost figure.
Artist analysis - Andre De Freitas
Andre De Freitas is an illustrator and occasional photographer born and raised in Lima, Peru who studied Computer Animation.
De Freitas creates ghostly images in her work. She does this by layering two images of one person and a landscape. In the image below, I think the she wanted the audience to consider the connection between human and nature in society.
The photographer is considering memories in this image. For example, this is shown in the 'memory', double exposed on the person. De Freitas was interested in this issue because they felt it was important for us to consider this within our own lives and also wanted to draw our attention to something we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.
Responseto De Freitas
Edited Four
WWW: The subject I chose supported the idea of beginning and end as it shows an effect of a ghostly effect over a natural image, this may suggest the contrasts in life death. The technique of a double exposure worked well as I need to over layer each person with a natural background. I felt that these edits express my idea about life.
EBI: In this images, I did not manage to fade some of the models properly into nature. So next time, I would change the opacity in photoshop to achieve this. Also, next time I will use a tripod to avoid any camera shake.
Next, I will consider the work of Andre De Freitas, to help me explore the idea of double exposure.
Chosen Strand - Blending Abstraction
Development One
This is my first development of my chosen strand. I travelled into London on a sunny day to photograph landmarks such as the Shard, the London Eye and Tower Bridge. These images did not turn out very well as I did not follow the technique of Pep Ventosa. Below, is my response to my first development.
Edited Three
WWW: In this first development, I have attempted to re create the idea of Pep Ventosa' work. What worked in this is development is that I have made the idea of landmarks.
EBI: This would be even better if I would follow Ventosa' work, to make it look more realistic. The images are just layered on top of each other and not edited properly.
Next development, I will try a new technique to find the best that works for me.
Development Two
I wanted to develop my work with the mask by having the figure alone in iconic or popular locations. I thought that by making locations that have never been seen without the presence of people appear abandoned would change the perception of the place and create a increased sense of unease when the figure is the only person present. While researching on how to do this I discovered a technique called median stacking. Median stacking is traditionally used to remove noise from pictures by stacking multiple versions of the same picture on top of it, allowing the noise to be cancelled by the median value of the pixels above and below it.
Edited Three
WWW: In this second development, I have attempted to explore a different technique called medium stacking. Medium stacking is the action of discarding people from an area, using multiple images. The images above illustrate the idea of stacking.
EBI: This would be even better if I found more crowded area. This is because in many of the images, you can see see many people, showing that the effect did not work as well as I thought it would.
Next development, I will try a new technique to find the best that works for me.
Process
Development Three
This is my third development. At this stage, I am trying out different techniques and this is a long exposure on the river Thames. This effects creates a frozen texture on the river surface. The settings on my Canon 350d was on the M setting, on bulb with a 22 exposure to capture the movement of the water. Below below are my attempts of this technique.
Edited Three
WWW: In this third development, I have attempted to re create the idea of William Eckersley work. This is when you use a long exposure to create a frozen effect on water. In this example, I have used the river Thames in London.
EBI: This would be even better if I improved the exposure. This would make the outcome of the Thames much more effective. Also, next time I will use a tripod to avoid camera shake.
Next development, I will try a new technique to find the best that works for me.
Development Four
This development is mainly focused on the work of Pep Ventosa. When I went on a journey around London, I captured multiple images of landmarks such as Tower Bridge and The London Eye. I think that this attempt was much better than my first, above. I still found it difficult to carry out the filters on the images but hopefully, this will be improved in my final work in my final piece section. I have attempted Ventosas' work, using some of my best images from the journey.
Edited Two
WWW: In this fourth development, I have attempted to re create the idea of Pep Ventosa' work. What worked in this is development is that I have made the idea of landmarks. This is similar to my first development but instead, I have managed to create my images in a similar style to Ventosa. I changed the opacity and used a few more images.
EBI: This would be even better if used more even more images. I had to use an oil paint filter to compensate for the limit of images used so next time, I will use around 10 layers to try and re create his work in my images.
Next development, I will try a new technique to find the best that works for me.
Process
Development Five
This is my last development, an idea inspired Stephanie Jung. In her work, she takes multiples images in the same location, relying on people to move in the public. Then she exposes all of the images into one, changing the opacity to create a ghost effect in her images. My response is below.
Process
Edited Four
WWW: In this fifth development, I have attempted to re create the idea of Stephanie Jungs' work. What worked in this is development is that I have taken the same photos in the same place with different locations of pedestrians so when I played them, changing the opacity, it look like they were all in the photo. Instead, I have purposefully made the layered with a low opacity to make them look like ghostly figures.
EBI: This would be even better if I found an area with more activity, for example with buses and cars instead of just people. This would also add colour to the images.
Final Piece Prints
For my final development of this theme of Beginning and/or End, I have chosen to focus on the subject of City Journeys and Landscapes. I wanted to create a sense of abstract movement as I travelled from one place to another through the city of London. To do this, I will be combining the techniques from artists such as Pep Ventosa and Stephanie Jung to create my own interpretation of abstraction.
Landscapes
Journeys
These are my final pieces for this exam. The first part is called 'Landscapes' and they are urban landscapes of London. The second part is called 'Journeys' and they are images emphasises the idea over overcrowding in cities. Through out my exam, I had been experimenting with different techniques to convey the idea of beginning and end of the tasks. The final idea I decided on was Blending Abreaction, inspired by the works of Pep Ventosa and Stephanie Jung. For Pep Ventosa, I have used his technique to create my own, the images in 'Landscapes' show a photograph with multiple layers of the same image, rearranged and a decrease in the opacity. In the 'Journeys' section, I have used Jung's idea of the ghostly effect and pasted multiple images of the same location but at different times, only selecting the area that I wanted to edit to avoid blur in the wrong place.