Combinations and Alliances
Brief
To carry out my prepatatory studies through the exam theme title of 'Combinations and Alliances' by presenting my work across this site to show progress towards my final outcome
com·bi·na·tion /ˌkɒmbəˈneɪʃən/ noun 1. the act of combining or the state of being combined. 2. a number of things combined: a combination of ideas. 3. an alliance of persons or parties: a combination in restraint of trade. 4. the set or series of numbers or letters used in setting the mechanism of a combination lock. 5. something formed by combining: A chord is a combination of notes. |
al·li·ance /əˈlaɪəns/ noun 1. the act of allying or state of being allied. 2. a formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes. 3. a merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states, or organizations: an alliance between church and state. 4. marriage or the relationship created by marriage between the families of the bride and bridegroom. |
Visual Collage:
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
JAMES MOLLISON RENE MARGRITTE
ALFRED EISENSTAEDT STUART CLARKE DONNA WEARMOUTH AND SIMON WALVIN
People and their environments/bedrooms Couples Modernism - objects and scale within rooms
Football fans and clubs Commuters and TFL Objects out of place
Galley Visits
The Sunday Times 50th Anniversary
When the Sunday Times Magazine was released in 1962, it was Britain’s first colour newspaper supplement and was seen as revolutionary. The 50th anniversary exhibition was held in the Saatchi gallery to clebrate it's power in journalism and photojournalism. Memorable covers were presented in a strong way all beside eachother on one big lightbox on the way.Some covers take a more creative approach to realte to the stories being told.
www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/50anniversary
www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/50anniversary
English Country Garden by Ken Griffiths, 1974
Form: This image is a year in the life of Mrs Sweetman's cottage garden in East Sussex with each image illustrating the transformation into another season forming an alliance over a year with the camera. The image as a whole features a combination of twelve images, one for each month of an elderly woman and her husband standing in the path of their cottage. Each picture differs in the weather throughout the year but is taken from exactly the same distance and in the same position as the one before. The twelve images are framed 3 x 4 and mounted against a black frame which I think sets the photos more like an album or a monthly calendar.
Process: To take these images Sweetman probably would have used a tripod and self timer from such a distance. She would have kept a reference of how far away to place the camera to shoot each month of the year during the day.
Content: I absolutely loved these images as I thought they were very cute and touching and yet such a simple way to record your year whether it be with another person or the duration that you've lived in your house. I love the fact that they stand as a monthly family portrait come rain or shine. The transformation of the couples surroundings is also very interesting and exciting to see in each consecutive photo with flowers and nature coming to life as well as the colours blooming out of each photo.
Form: This image is a year in the life of Mrs Sweetman's cottage garden in East Sussex with each image illustrating the transformation into another season forming an alliance over a year with the camera. The image as a whole features a combination of twelve images, one for each month of an elderly woman and her husband standing in the path of their cottage. Each picture differs in the weather throughout the year but is taken from exactly the same distance and in the same position as the one before. The twelve images are framed 3 x 4 and mounted against a black frame which I think sets the photos more like an album or a monthly calendar.
Process: To take these images Sweetman probably would have used a tripod and self timer from such a distance. She would have kept a reference of how far away to place the camera to shoot each month of the year during the day.
Content: I absolutely loved these images as I thought they were very cute and touching and yet such a simple way to record your year whether it be with another person or the duration that you've lived in your house. I love the fact that they stand as a monthly family portrait come rain or shine. The transformation of the couples surroundings is also very interesting and exciting to see in each consecutive photo with flowers and nature coming to life as well as the colours blooming out of each photo.
Christopher Baker
Hello World! Or: How I Learned to Stop Listening and Love the Noise is a large-scale audio visual installation comprised of thousands of video diaries gathered from the internet. Each of the 5,000 videos that make up the video installation features a single individual speaking candidly to an imagined audience from a private space such as a bedroom, kitchen, or dorm room. The multi-channel sound composition glides between individuals and the group, allowing viewers to listen in on individual speakers or become immersed in the overall cacophony.
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/artpages/christopher_baker_hello_world1.htm
From this instillation I have been inspired to create something of my own similar to Baker's work. His peice uses video diaries taken by many different people. however this will take a very long time to get as many people to do the same for me. To make things quicker and easier I will do relatively the same with loads of people's Facebook profile pictures and have the photos linking through friends, family and friends of friends and so on to create a large tapastry of social network faces.
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/artpages/christopher_baker_hello_world1.htm
From this instillation I have been inspired to create something of my own similar to Baker's work. His peice uses video diaries taken by many different people. however this will take a very long time to get as many people to do the same for me. To make things quicker and easier I will do relatively the same with loads of people's Facebook profile pictures and have the photos linking through friends, family and friends of friends and so on to create a large tapastry of social network faces.
The Loving Story: Photographs by Grey Villet
The Photgraphy Institue New York City, January 20–May 6, 2012
Whilst in New York I visited the Photography Institue and went to an exhibition which I felt was very interesting a touching for someone growing up in the 21st centuary. I found the images of the family very sweet and I was shocked to understand that at that time this once was not allowed. The coming together of the two different coloured families was a huge thing. This also for interracial marriage and how it's status would from then on change.
"Forty-five years ago, sixteen states still prohibited interracial marriage. Then, in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court considered the case of Richard Perry Loving, a white man, and his wife, Mildred Loving, a woman of African American and Native American descent, who had been arrested for miscegenation nine years earlier in Virginia. The Lovings were not active in the Civil Rights movement but their tenacious legal battle to justify their marriage changed history when the Supreme Court unanimously declared Virginia's anti-miscegenation law—and all race-based marriage bans—unconstitutional." - http://www.icp.org/museum/exhibitions
"Forty-five years ago, sixteen states still prohibited interracial marriage. Then, in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court considered the case of Richard Perry Loving, a white man, and his wife, Mildred Loving, a woman of African American and Native American descent, who had been arrested for miscegenation nine years earlier in Virginia. The Lovings were not active in the Civil Rights movement but their tenacious legal battle to justify their marriage changed history when the Supreme Court unanimously declared Virginia's anti-miscegenation law—and all race-based marriage bans—unconstitutional." - http://www.icp.org/museum/exhibitions
Set One: Aresenal Football Club and Fans
As a football supporter myself I wanted to capture the alliances that are formed within a football club. Especially between the fans and crowd and their love for football and their team. I aimed to capture Arsenal fans support at the Emirates stadium across a number of matches.
I used my iPhone to to shoot fans in action at the matches focussing on scenes where supporters would stand, shout or cheer for the club.
As most shots were taken on my phone they appear to be not the best quality however I like that they all carry that documentary, in the moment feel. Some are also over exposed in white areas. This may be due to the focus being needed on the main subject which originally would be in the dark.
To improve my photos further I would take a digital camera with me to capture photos with better quality but also more atmosphere. I could focus on capturing a range of different angles from different view points and maybe photgraph behind me photographing fans from the front therefore gaining more emotion in their facial expression aswell as their movement and action.
I used my iPhone to to shoot fans in action at the matches focussing on scenes where supporters would stand, shout or cheer for the club.
As most shots were taken on my phone they appear to be not the best quality however I like that they all carry that documentary, in the moment feel. Some are also over exposed in white areas. This may be due to the focus being needed on the main subject which originally would be in the dark.
To improve my photos further I would take a digital camera with me to capture photos with better quality but also more atmosphere. I could focus on capturing a range of different angles from different view points and maybe photgraph behind me photographing fans from the front therefore gaining more emotion in their facial expression aswell as their movement and action.
Half Term Initial Ideas: New York
Angles and perspective Busy City Lights/Reflection Couples
Urban Nature People in the City
Set Two: Couples and Urban Nature
Aims: I wanted to capture the relationship between two people preferably couples to hightlight how they act around eachother and show affection with one another.
To achieve documentary, candid photography I photograpghed people out and about on the street. Take any opportunity of two people who come across as being in a relationship. Capturing shots from fairly far away so they wont notice you but also to included them and their surroundings in the city. A fast shutter speed used to capture them whilst moving amongst other people. Not enough of a variety of pictures, not showing enough love or affection. To develop these photos I would have to be much more ambitious when trying to capture a shot. For example get closer to couples and use more interesting angles to imply that they are happy and not being over looked from above. To improve I could take shots of friends who are in a relationship as I would feel less uncomfortable shooting them. |
Aims: To find areas within the city that display both nature and the urban city. Combining two elements into one.
I wanted to seek for nature sprouting about the city. Use a fast shutter speed and a low exposure on a sunny day. I was careful when photographing reflective buildings to ensure light wasn't over exposed and didn't bounced off back into the lens of the camera as I was shooting from ground level this was quite challenging to balance out. Again not enough variety of photos.The nature itself is quite far away and high up making it difficult to get a good quality shot and a range of different angles and view points. If were I were to develop these photos I would concentrate more on finding nature in the urban city in a more macro approach, close up. I could maybe go to more derelict areas to find plants and leaves sprouting through cracks and industrial buildings. |
Set Three: Angles and Perspective
For this set I looked for interesting lines, angles and perspectives about the city with unique buildings and tall sky scrapers.
I took many shots always looking up, having camera at low, sharp angles. Fast shutter speed as most of the photo features the sky which is bright and should be underexposed. Also tilt camera when shooting to get the most out of long lines and framing within the image.
Some photos appear to be too overexposed in the daylight. The sky is too bright and white washed which does't do anything for capturing the architecture and detail of the buildings. This is where buildings then reflect this light and are therefore overexposed and too harsh.
In order to make photos appear more underexposed especially when shooting things against a white, cloudy sky, photos should be taken with a low exposure to ensure that the sky doesn't over power the image. If I were to take these photos again i would make sure these settings were set on my camera and would maybe photograph them on a less cloud day.
I took many shots always looking up, having camera at low, sharp angles. Fast shutter speed as most of the photo features the sky which is bright and should be underexposed. Also tilt camera when shooting to get the most out of long lines and framing within the image.
Some photos appear to be too overexposed in the daylight. The sky is too bright and white washed which does't do anything for capturing the architecture and detail of the buildings. This is where buildings then reflect this light and are therefore overexposed and too harsh.
In order to make photos appear more underexposed especially when shooting things against a white, cloudy sky, photos should be taken with a low exposure to ensure that the sky doesn't over power the image. If I were to take these photos again i would make sure these settings were set on my camera and would maybe photograph them on a less cloud day.
Set Four: People in the City
I wanted to capture the people of the city of New York commuting, on the street, going about their daily lives and amongst others.
Fast shutter speed to capture people quickly on the move, whilst they are also moving. Try not to make the shutter speed too quick and dark as the city is quite dark itself so you as much light as possible is needed. |
In some areas again the sky is overexposed and washed out the photo drawing your attention away from the focus of the picture. Having a quick shutter speed in the photos allows buildings to be at a good quality but not the people on the move. They underexposed in the shadows of the buildings.
I would use a flash in the city to ensure people are fully lit as they are the main focus followed by their surroundings. |
Set Five: The City Reflected in the City
Aims:Look for buildings made of glass or with huge windows which allow other buildings to be reflected into them. This reveals a parallel city.
I had to take photos with a fairly quick shutter speed during the day so it is able to reflect of glass and buildings in order for them to be seen in a reflection on a face of another building.
There could be a wider variety of photos and surface area where building is reflected could be much bigger. To develop further I could look or find out about where buildings made of glass are and go and photograph them. Play with more interesting building shapes maybe curved or round ones to distort reflections and range in view points and angles.
I had to take photos with a fairly quick shutter speed during the day so it is able to reflect of glass and buildings in order for them to be seen in a reflection on a face of another building.
There could be a wider variety of photos and surface area where building is reflected could be much bigger. To develop further I could look or find out about where buildings made of glass are and go and photograph them. Play with more interesting building shapes maybe curved or round ones to distort reflections and range in view points and angles.
Set Six: Bright Lights and the Big City
Being in such a big and bold city I wanted to photograph New York and its excess amount of advertisements and bright lights and how they displayed on such a large scale, all together making times square very busy and in your face.
This set was taken just as it started to get dark so many photos benefit as they are full of bright light and colour. Photos were taken at a fairly quickly speed to make sure that they didn't become over exposed and
As a majority of the photos in this set were taken at night the contrast in saturation between the lights and their surroundings make the pictures become very dark in some areas and over exposed in others. You could however say that this adds the the title of the bright overpowering lights planyed amonsgt the dark city walls.
To develop my pictures I could take some of London at night along the southbank or picadilly circus to relate to lights in the city with big projections and advertising. To make photos more visually interesting I could carry out long exposures to enhance the light and its effect.
This set was taken just as it started to get dark so many photos benefit as they are full of bright light and colour. Photos were taken at a fairly quickly speed to make sure that they didn't become over exposed and
As a majority of the photos in this set were taken at night the contrast in saturation between the lights and their surroundings make the pictures become very dark in some areas and over exposed in others. You could however say that this adds the the title of the bright overpowering lights planyed amonsgt the dark city walls.
To develop my pictures I could take some of London at night along the southbank or picadilly circus to relate to lights in the city with big projections and advertising. To make photos more visually interesting I could carry out long exposures to enhance the light and its effect.
Set Seven: Combinations of Buildings in the city
At the top of the Rockerfella center we were presented with amazing views of the whole city of Manhattan. I took the opportunity to photograph some industrial photos of the combination of buildings from above. I took the photos during the day so was able to shoot using a fairly quick shutter speed and a mid ISO to shoot the still buildings.
The photos appeared very dull and cloudy not allowing harsh light to overtake or overexpose. I decided to add to this buy editing the photos in photoshop and changing the gradient and photo filter to a mixtures of greys and blues to enhance the grey, dingy atmosphere that the city gave off. I also framed most of the buildings at an angle and cropped them so no horizon was visible. This plays with negative space aswell as pattern and colour to create futuristic, industrial shots.
To improve I could do the same and capture similar photos in different cities and end up with a range of futuristic shots from loads of different cities giving off different vibe through their own buildings, sites and architecture.
The photos appeared very dull and cloudy not allowing harsh light to overtake or overexpose. I decided to add to this buy editing the photos in photoshop and changing the gradient and photo filter to a mixtures of greys and blues to enhance the grey, dingy atmosphere that the city gave off. I also framed most of the buildings at an angle and cropped them so no horizon was visible. This plays with negative space aswell as pattern and colour to create futuristic, industrial shots.
To improve I could do the same and capture similar photos in different cities and end up with a range of futuristic shots from loads of different cities giving off different vibe through their own buildings, sites and architecture.
These images would benefit from being presented on a large scale because of their range of angles lines and contrast. The images where no horizon can be seen are much better as they as they feel more disorientating and futuristic. As a mini outcome within my project I will print one of the images at a large poster size such as 20" x 20" and the mount onto thick mount board.
Still Life Photography Research
Picasso: Chair Caning
Picasso being one of the most influential artists of the Modernist Movement saw his work 'Still-life with Chair Caning' mark a distinctive shift in art history.
Picasso's painting challenges conventions of representation of the Renaissance. The manufactured image relates to cubism and presents still life as a sort of collage. This modern art crossed new boundaries in which the image included different perspectives but all combined into one image.
We wanted to respond to Picasso's cubism and set up a still life scene and again shoot the objects from lots of different angles and perspectives to them combine and create a collage.
Picasso's painting challenges conventions of representation of the Renaissance. The manufactured image relates to cubism and presents still life as a sort of collage. This modern art crossed new boundaries in which the image included different perspectives but all combined into one image.
We wanted to respond to Picasso's cubism and set up a still life scene and again shoot the objects from lots of different angles and perspectives to them combine and create a collage.
Set Eight: Picasso Response
In response to Picasso I wanted to re-create my own version of his stil life movent but with images. To do so we used the workshop in class to photograph a table full of dining objects just as cups, saucers, wine bottles and fruit. I captured the still life from above and got a range of angles, heights and compositions of the objects. I chose the best thrre images varying in all these factors and layered them on toip of one another. Using photoshop I altered their opacities and cut out rectangle peices revealing the image beneath. This gave Picasso's effect of clutteredness, shapes and lines. To add the the effect of the painting element I added a range of brush and artistic strokes to the image to create a varied outcome.
If I were to shoot this set again I would use more interesting objects which maye reate to eachother better such as being the same colour for example or someones personal belongings.
If I were to shoot this set again I would use more interesting objects which maye reate to eachother better such as being the same colour for example or someones personal belongings.
Laura Letinsky
Much of Letinsky's work alludes to human presence, without including any actual figures being present. Her still life features household, kitchen objects which have been placed against white backgrounds such as on tables with white table cloths and white walls. This helps to project the contrast in colours between the fruit or bowls for example. She creates a set up that the table has been or was previously set up for a meal. However the positioning of the objects is key as they are not symmetrical or in 'place'. The objects are place towards the edge of the table side which helps to frame the photos but also plays with the shapes, positioning and perspective of the photo.
I like how the tones of her images are very pure and how the objects that are placed are so simple and set out in a natural way. The colours are really strong and when experimenting with this set up myself I was sure to encounter specific, bold colour choices as well as creating neutral tones and abstract compositions.
I like how the tones of her images are very pure and how the objects that are placed are so simple and set out in a natural way. The colours are really strong and when experimenting with this set up myself I was sure to encounter specific, bold colour choices as well as creating neutral tones and abstract compositions.
Set Nine: Response to Laura Letinsky
In another workshop carried out in class we aimed to respond to Laura Letinsky and her still life. We set out a table and white table cloth in the studio against a grey backdrop. We placed a range of objects across the table, similar to Letinsky in random yet composed set up. We played around with table corners and edges when placing objects and left some to stand alone in the frame. We used studio, tuntstal lights to light the objects in certain areas to play around with shadow formation and colours bouncing of the backdrop.
To develop my images further I would bring in my own objects and make sure they suited Letinsky's style and not just use what we had in the classroom. I would also light darker objects more efficiently so all of their detail is visible and can be clearly seen instead of being washed out.
To develop my images further I would bring in my own objects and make sure they suited Letinsky's style and not just use what we had in the classroom. I would also light darker objects more efficiently so all of their detail is visible and can be clearly seen instead of being washed out.
Karl Blossfeldt
The German photographer is well known for his still life and photographing plants, nature and living things. Inspired by his father he was fascinated by nature and the way that plants grew. He photographed them close up in black and white, centre frame and cast harsh light down on the objects. This is what made them so successful as many wished to copy his style. This contrast with play of shadows benefitted from the photos being presented in black and white as you can really see the range in tones and makes the images become even more tactile.
When creating this set up ourselves we need to make sure the harsh lighting and perspective are key.
When creating this set up ourselves we need to make sure the harsh lighting and perspective are key.
Set Ten: Response to Karl Blossfeldt
Our final workshop saw us respond to Karl Blossfeldt's work and images of still life. His work includes black and white images of interesting plants against a white backdrop. The plants themselves are visually intriuing but the black and white effect makes them appear even more weird and simply as you cannot see the base of the plant.
To recreate this style of photography we set up a small white back drop and contrusted a structure to hold vegtables in and hang them from. We placed bright lamps aroud the structure and projected the light striaght onto the backdrop and the vegetable. In this case we used broccoli and placed it at a range of slanted, horizontal and vertcal angles. As I took these images on my iPhone I ended up with faded vertical lines across my images as I took them so close to the light however I like the strange effect it gave and it's almost 3D effect.
To recreate this style of photography we set up a small white back drop and contrusted a structure to hold vegtables in and hang them from. We placed bright lamps aroud the structure and projected the light striaght onto the backdrop and the vegetable. In this case we used broccoli and placed it at a range of slanted, horizontal and vertcal angles. As I took these images on my iPhone I ended up with faded vertical lines across my images as I took them so close to the light however I like the strange effect it gave and it's almost 3D effect.
Fischli and Weiss
Fischli and Weiss are two still life based photographers who focus on photographing everyday objects but with unusual compositions. They were among the most renowned contemporary artists of Switzerland as they would balance and construct objects on top of and off other objects. They would use simple objects such as bottles and ladles to create interesting and risky sculptures against plain walls as backgrounds.
Like, Blossfeldt striking light would be used to create interesting shadows against the white background as well as shades across other objects and light reflected off bottles.
The colours in the photos are not so bold and give off a calming neutral feel unlike the strcuture that the objects are actually set up in.
Like, Blossfeldt striking light would be used to create interesting shadows against the white background as well as shades across other objects and light reflected off bottles.
The colours in the photos are not so bold and give off a calming neutral feel unlike the strcuture that the objects are actually set up in.
Set Eleven: Fischli and Weiss Response
In class we experimented with Fischli and Weiss's work and used a range of objects such as bottles, mugs and fruit on top of one another to re-create his style of photography. This was probably my least successful workshop as set ups were not adventurous and were not photographed in front of a white background so the tone of the photos was not kept calm and clean.
I think to improve this set I could organise a proper set up with larger and more ambitious combination of objects to create interesting and quirky sculptures to photograph along with using bright studio lights to create shadows and tonal range.
I think to improve this set I could organise a proper set up with larger and more ambitious combination of objects to create interesting and quirky sculptures to photograph along with using bright studio lights to create shadows and tonal range.
Noah Takes a Photo of Himself Everyday for 6 Years
Everyday is a viral video produced by New York photographer Noah Kalina. It features a fast montage of thousands of pictures of Kalina spanning a period of six years all played sequentially.
Kalina began taking a photo of himself every day starting on January 11, 2000, at age 19 and has over 22,866,297 views on YouTube. The combination of images and alliance with the camera come together to form one of the powerful transformations displayed through photography of all time. Kalina's amazing transformation and blank expression reveal six years of change over time resulting in a phenomenal outcome.
Kalina began taking a photo of himself every day starting on January 11, 2000, at age 19 and has over 22,866,297 views on YouTube. The combination of images and alliance with the camera come together to form one of the powerful transformations displayed through photography of all time. Kalina's amazing transformation and blank expression reveal six years of change over time resulting in a phenomenal outcome.
Set Twelve: A Photo a Day Response
As a response I wanted to try out a photo a day for as long as I could. I set an alarm everyday to remind me to take a photo of myself. I used the front camera of my phone to take my portrait and sometimes I forgot so they range from different hours of the day. I found it very hard to keep my face framed in the same place so this effect did not work out well and if the images would have been played consecutively in a video would not have the result where my face or expression for that matter would stay the same. Obviously you cannot see the change in my appearance as I only took 20 images in total which is nowhere near enough to display any kind of transformation apart from my clothes changing and hair style changing.
I think if i wanted to carry out this process properly and successfully I would have to carry it out over a much longer duration and with more accurate skill.
I think if i wanted to carry out this process properly and successfully I would have to carry it out over a much longer duration and with more accurate skill.
Set Thirteen: Weeks in Pictures
I decided to take a photo to sum up my day each day for nearly three weeks. I wanted them to range in subject points to show the difference in people and events or foods that ate across over a fortnight. Each photo represents one day and what was the most important, exciting or the highlight of my day.
The combination of photos are all cropped to a square and are the same size. I took all the photos on my iPhone also forming an alliance there as it was something I had to remember to do each day. I made the photos bold in colour and high in contrast and made sure I focussed on all the different things that were going on in my life for the duration of those 20 days. I think all the photos work well s a set because and I enjoyed having to look out for a highlight each day to result in a photo diary and the combination of photos sum up those days of my life so simply.
The combination of photos are all cropped to a square and are the same size. I took all the photos on my iPhone also forming an alliance there as it was something I had to remember to do each day. I made the photos bold in colour and high in contrast and made sure I focussed on all the different things that were going on in my life for the duration of those 20 days. I think all the photos work well s a set because and I enjoyed having to look out for a highlight each day to result in a photo diary and the combination of photos sum up those days of my life so simply.
Set Fourteen : Stop Frame Animation Experiment
Using iStopMotion Elly and I were able to create a short stop frame animation movie using 12 frames per second. We wanted to use adjustable and flexible materials such as tin foil and plasticine in order to create a scene which was easy to manipulate and evolve. We used plasticise to create a little human head and from there spontaneously created a storyline between him and another bad character. We set up a webcam in front of a small white background then through iStopMotion we slowly moved the objects frame by frame in order to create a moving picture as a result. We added music over the top of our video at the to add to the storyline and the humour and uploaded it to a video format and onto Youtube.
I liked creating something different from a combination of many photos to result in a moving and narrative video.
I liked creating something different from a combination of many photos to result in a moving and narrative video.
Set Fifteen: Response to Christopher Baker - Facebook Images
From visiting Christopher Baker's work at the Saatchi I wanted to respond to his work using images. As his installation featured lots of different videos blogged by people and them presenting themselves to the world I thought of a much simpler way in which we all do this with our identities.
I focussed on social networking and Facebook , something that we're all part of. Our Facebook images and how we each have our one profile picture which can be seen by absolutely anyone in the world regardless of how private your profile settings are. Each of our profile pictures are quite
celebrity like and are important to us as they are for the whole world to see. They are the one aspect of us which we get to choose for the whole world to see as today everyone is able to have a personal touch.
Through the help of social networking I decided to construct the same format as Baker's and created a small experiment for a collage of my friends faces which effectively I could access easily as anyone can do anyway. I cropped them all to the same shape and size and fitted them tightly next to one another. This combination of images represent mini profiles about you which nearly everyone now has one of their own.
I wanted to add a more visual effect but more privacy almost. I gave all the images a pixelated effect but just so if you stood quite far away from the images and you know of the people, that you would be able to recognise them. I think this literally blurs out the first image you encounter when you search for someone on Facebook as if to say everyones profile pictures were pixelated how would people go about choosing what to have as theirs.
To add to the platform of social networking and messaging I experimented with creating my own OR code (quick response code) or BBM code used not only for black berry messenger but can also be seen in posters, on menus, on leaflets etc to tag or gain information, images, apps or music. I took the template of a QR code found on the internet and replaced the black square dots with my collage of Facebook images. I was hoping that you would still be able to scan the code and gain the information however this did not work out as the phone was unable to detect the barcode. If it had worked however, I would have experimented with making my very own personalised QR codes and the information that people would have received from them.
I focussed on social networking and Facebook , something that we're all part of. Our Facebook images and how we each have our one profile picture which can be seen by absolutely anyone in the world regardless of how private your profile settings are. Each of our profile pictures are quite
celebrity like and are important to us as they are for the whole world to see. They are the one aspect of us which we get to choose for the whole world to see as today everyone is able to have a personal touch.
Through the help of social networking I decided to construct the same format as Baker's and created a small experiment for a collage of my friends faces which effectively I could access easily as anyone can do anyway. I cropped them all to the same shape and size and fitted them tightly next to one another. This combination of images represent mini profiles about you which nearly everyone now has one of their own.
I wanted to add a more visual effect but more privacy almost. I gave all the images a pixelated effect but just so if you stood quite far away from the images and you know of the people, that you would be able to recognise them. I think this literally blurs out the first image you encounter when you search for someone on Facebook as if to say everyones profile pictures were pixelated how would people go about choosing what to have as theirs.
To add to the platform of social networking and messaging I experimented with creating my own OR code (quick response code) or BBM code used not only for black berry messenger but can also be seen in posters, on menus, on leaflets etc to tag or gain information, images, apps or music. I took the template of a QR code found on the internet and replaced the black square dots with my collage of Facebook images. I was hoping that you would still be able to scan the code and gain the information however this did not work out as the phone was unable to detect the barcode. If it had worked however, I would have experimented with making my very own personalised QR codes and the information that people would have received from them.
Combinations of Buildings in the City
Sohei Nishino
Nishino Diorama Map is created from Sohei Nishino's memory and acts as layered icons of the city.
The creation of a Diorama Map is created and structured by him walking around the chosen city on foot; shooting from various location with film and then piecing together the enormous amount of pictures. Consisted from eight cities, Diorama Map is still ongoing and will be developed in cities all over the world in the future.
The pictures are all taken on a small scale and in black and white and then when fitted together the tones range even amongst the sky. The map is so inserting as it features every part of this section of the city with all the buildings and roads matching up in line. I like how the landmarks are displayed with sky in the background to show their structure and how important they are. I also am fascinated by how long it must have taken for him to make from just walking around the city on foot. Each construction of each city is unique and intriguing in its own way.
The creation of a Diorama Map is created and structured by him walking around the chosen city on foot; shooting from various location with film and then piecing together the enormous amount of pictures. Consisted from eight cities, Diorama Map is still ongoing and will be developed in cities all over the world in the future.
The pictures are all taken on a small scale and in black and white and then when fitted together the tones range even amongst the sky. The map is so inserting as it features every part of this section of the city with all the buildings and roads matching up in line. I like how the landmarks are displayed with sky in the background to show their structure and how important they are. I also am fascinated by how long it must have taken for him to make from just walking around the city on foot. Each construction of each city is unique and intriguing in its own way.
Form: This image is a vast map of the city of London made from hundreds of small, individual photos. Taken on a film camera the images are all black and white and piece together very accurately, central London. The image features important landmarks in a clearly perspective with sky for background such as the London Eye, the Gerkin, the BT tower and city hall. You can even make out the themes stretching from one side of the image to the other. All of the images are taken from foot and not from high above so everything is in focus and fits very well. Each area of the image is different and so detail as each small piece of the jigsaw is one detailed image contributing the enormous, final map.
Process: The creation of a Diorama Map takes the method of walking around the chosen city on foot; shooting from various location with film. You would have to cover nearly every street, corner and landmark you past along with capturing lots of images of the sky above. Then by hand Nishino would have pieced together each individual image to form the city pasting and arranging with enormous mound of pieces.
Content: The image as a whole is very entrancing as it makes you want to see every bit of it as it carries such detail. I like how he has taken the simple idea of a map of a city and adapted to his own and his own view of London as city and what aspects are important to him such as making sure the landmarks are photographed in clear view. The construction is almost more captivating than the actual images but overall all pull together to display a vast space by using many little ones. It was been very cleverly done as mostly everything is places upright and the curved horizon at the top gives a fictional, little land effect.
Process: The creation of a Diorama Map takes the method of walking around the chosen city on foot; shooting from various location with film. You would have to cover nearly every street, corner and landmark you past along with capturing lots of images of the sky above. Then by hand Nishino would have pieced together each individual image to form the city pasting and arranging with enormous mound of pieces.
Content: The image as a whole is very entrancing as it makes you want to see every bit of it as it carries such detail. I like how he has taken the simple idea of a map of a city and adapted to his own and his own view of London as city and what aspects are important to him such as making sure the landmarks are photographed in clear view. The construction is almost more captivating than the actual images but overall all pull together to display a vast space by using many little ones. It was been very cleverly done as mostly everything is places upright and the curved horizon at the top gives a fictional, little land effect.
Traylor
I came across this image on the internet when I was looking into joiner photos. I really liked how it linked to my images of New York city and its panorama effect. This photo however still presents the different layers as they are visible and not merged together. much like David Hockey's work each photo has been pieced together like a puzzle but I like Traylor's style of zooming in on certain important features of the scene. In this case in the bottom left hand corner a man on the stage at what looks like a Club Penguin festival in Time's Square can be clearly seen and is more close up as he presents to the the crowd.
I would like to experiment with this type of panorama and joiner photography as I think the visible layers can appear more interesting and add to the depth of the photograph as a whole through each smaller photo. I could take similar images around muswell hill and the city.
I would like to experiment with this type of panorama and joiner photography as I think the visible layers can appear more interesting and add to the depth of the photograph as a whole through each smaller photo. I could take similar images around muswell hill and the city.
Set Sixteen: Joiners - response to Sohei Nishino and Traylor
In response to Sohei Nishino and Traylor I created some joiner images of places around Muswell Hill. To do so I had to take many pictures of one specific area of the town making sure I captured each important detail to form that building or area. I focused on The Odeon cinema, St James church and Alexandra Palace as I thought that they represented Muswell Hill quite well. Using photoshop I merged the photos together and created a drop shadow effect for each layer to display clearly each separate photograph. I like collages result and the many layers it contains which all contribute to the final outcome but yet all stand as their own single image. I also like the bubble effect that the Ally Pally and Odeon cinema images have and how they almost bounce off of the page.
With my final joiner image I tried to create a style more similar to Sohei Nishino with the images not making the bubble effect and focussing more on a broad cityscape with landmarks. I think one of the ways in which I could improve this would be to use a lens with a much greater zoom to get close ups of the landmarks or even do a small scale trip and version of Muswell hill.
With my final joiner image I tried to create a style more similar to Sohei Nishino with the images not making the bubble effect and focussing more on a broad cityscape with landmarks. I think one of the ways in which I could improve this would be to use a lens with a much greater zoom to get close ups of the landmarks or even do a small scale trip and version of Muswell hill.
Set Seventeen: City Panoramas and Building Combinations
Whilst walking around the busy city of New York I wanted to take in my surroundings as best as I could so remembered to capture lots of individual images in order to form panoramas when I got back to the UK. I took some in the centre of Times Square and also at the top of the Rockefeller Center to try and capture the combination of the all the different buildings, shapes, heights and ages. I tried to shoot 360 degrees and stood still on the spot then pivoted. I took the photos using a quick shutter speed in order not to blur the lights in Times Square and not to have certain people feature twice in two frames. I also made sure the images were a small size else the final image would be too large and take too long to process.
Using photoshop i selected the photos I wanted for each separate panorama and used a technique called Photomerge to gel the photos together. For the images of Times Square I increased the colour and contrast and adjusted levels to really give off the 'bright lights and the big city' effect to really bring out the adverts and billboards crammed into one small space.
With the combinations of buildings from above I increased the contract to bring out the different shapes of every window and decreased the shadows in order for as many structures to be seen. I am really happy with my panoramas as they really represent the city and how it is constantly changing virtually all around you. I much prefer the ones of Time's square from the ground with both dark and bright areas coming through across the whole image.
Using photoshop i selected the photos I wanted for each separate panorama and used a technique called Photomerge to gel the photos together. For the images of Times Square I increased the colour and contrast and adjusted levels to really give off the 'bright lights and the big city' effect to really bring out the adverts and billboards crammed into one small space.
With the combinations of buildings from above I increased the contract to bring out the different shapes of every window and decreased the shadows in order for as many structures to be seen. I am really happy with my panoramas as they really represent the city and how it is constantly changing virtually all around you. I much prefer the ones of Time's square from the ground with both dark and bright areas coming through across the whole image.
Combinations of shapes and photography
Jan Dibbet
Jan Dibbet's work consists of a combination of two images whilst also combining shapes together. His work New Horizons features horizons taken from different landscapes which have then been formed exactly side by side. This is not only effective as the landscapes are opposite, contrasting one another but as he has placed the shapes so perfectly and accurately together whilst editing the images. Symmetry and overlapping make these photos really abstract and unique as though you could imagine the landscape as a whole if the white space was not there. I really like he sees the land literally through shapes and when reconstructing his style it will be interesting to play with shapes and a range of different landscapes keeping greens and blues in mind.
Response to Jan Dibbet
I responded to Dibbet's work using two images on photoshop and cropping them to make two shapes that would fit next to each other accurately. I did find this process very hard to make sure all lines were equal and straight. I chose to focus on water, grass and clouds in my images as I thought the colours and textures went well together and also looked good against a blue sky. When it came to framing the photos some of my shapes and lines could have been a bit more accurate which is something I would improve on if I were to take this set further. I kept to his style of framing by going around the shape in a faint grey line. I also added a light brown frame to keep things linear and frame the shape strong.
Influences: Bauhaus Movement
In 1919 the Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. At the time the German term Bauhaus, literally "house of construction" stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus had a profound influence upon subsequent developments in art, architecture, graphic design, interior design, industrial design, and typography.
Bauhaus has really inspired me to think about and take my images further. The shapes and colour incorporated into the designs is very clever and intense. The range of round and straight shapes is balanced so well along with the input of lines at all angles all across the image. I would love to incorporate these designs graphically into my own images but also using my own photography.
Using images of the city such as my panoramas I hope to include different shapes and patterns similar to the Bauhaus movement to represent the diverse city and its repetitive and complex nature by enhancing it visually. The images of New York will work very well for this as they already hold so much potential to be very strong graphically but I may also want to look into doing some in my own city.
Using images of the city such as my panoramas I hope to include different shapes and patterns similar to the Bauhaus movement to represent the diverse city and its repetitive and complex nature by enhancing it visually. The images of New York will work very well for this as they already hold so much potential to be very strong graphically but I may also want to look into doing some in my own city.
The City and its Patterns when Reflected
Using panormaic images of the city found online I wanted to experiment with creating even more imagery and pattern in the pictures by creating abstract shapes and reflection. To do this I took the original panoramic images and made a new canvas with double the height. This allowed me to place the exact same image below the original and then flip it over. I really liked the mirrored/reflected effect it produced and the symmetry that each held. Each combination was different taken from a different part of the city. I think I could try this out with my own panoramas from New York as i think the one of Piccadilly Circus below works very well as the colours and protruding buildings add to the play of depth of field, shapes and colour.
I tried out the perspective by rotating them as it makes the construction really absorbing and almost never ending like a ripple effect. They city down the center looks like some kind of robot or crazy plant branching out from top to bottom.
I tried out the perspective by rotating them as it makes the construction really absorbing and almost never ending like a ripple effect. They city down the center looks like some kind of robot or crazy plant branching out from top to bottom.
Influences: George Rousse and Rodchenko
Rousse's photography, following in the footsteps of such great American masters as Steichen, Stieglitz and Ansel Adams.
What makes Georges Rousse's work so unique is that altered his relationship to photography, inventing a unique approach that shifted the relationship of painting to space. He began making installations in the types of abandoned or derelict buildings creating temporary, one-of-a-kind artworks by transforming these sites into pictorial spaces that are visible only in his photographs from one angle. From the early 1980s on, Georges Rousse has chosen to show his photographs on a large scale, so that his viewers participate in the work and experience the sense of space in a compelling way. I really like Rousse's work as he takes a dull space and makes in something completely diffferent however only in one specific section and from one certain angle. The transformation from one space is totally adapted all by just using colour and shape. The shapes he uses are so simple yet so sharp and smooth. I want to use his style of incorporating shapes and overlaying an original image to reveal life, colour and a new perspective to see the room in a different light yet also see it's basic walls and originality. |
Aleksander Mikhailovich Rodchenko was a Russian artist, sculptor, photographer and graphic designer. He was one of the most versatile and Productivist artists to emerge after the Russian Revolution. He worked as a painter and graphic designer before turning to photomontage and photography with his posters. With his concern for analytical-documentary photo series, he often shot his subjects from odd angles usually high above or below in order to shock the viewer. He wrote: "One has to take several different shots of a subject, from different points of view and in different situations, as if one examined it in the round rather than looked through the same key-hole again and again." I was inspired by his creative positioning of photo and shape within an image. His use of lines and symmetry really bring the image together and his choice of daring and bright colours also related to those in my images. I liked how the colours contrasted one another and also how he incorporated text however i do not think I will include this in my images as they may become too busy. I will take into deep consideration his balance between shapes and his ability to fill the whole space with shape after shape. |
Combinations of Shapes and City Patterns
With Rodnchenko and Grousse in mind I wanted to quickly experiment with shapes, colour and graphics. To do so I took a panorama image and cut out a sharp triangle shape and brought it onto a new canvas. I decided to repeat and manipulate the shape by rotating it and changing it levels, contrast and positioning. I wanted to take it a step further by adding some colour using a gradient map and going with a popping yellow to stand out from the black and white tones in the background. I like the gradient effect as you can still see the image through the bold colours but also the image is still carried through to the parts which are black and white.
I then tested out making new circular shapes and taking bits of the image away which I though may be too risky and may not look right but I really like the result as it proves these circles can stand alone or on top of another image. I later tried out selecting a number of circular shapes together and also creating my own gradient colours replacing the default colour blue and brown with blue and light pink. I really like how you can adjust the gradient colours yourself which is something I will keep in mind when setting a colour scheme for my final images.
I then tested out making new circular shapes and taking bits of the image away which I though may be too risky and may not look right but I really like the result as it proves these circles can stand alone or on top of another image. I later tried out selecting a number of circular shapes together and also creating my own gradient colours replacing the default colour blue and brown with blue and light pink. I really like how you can adjust the gradient colours yourself which is something I will keep in mind when setting a colour scheme for my final images.
Set Eighteen: New York City Patterns and the Reflection
As the panoramas of Times Square were the most successful from New York I wanted to test out reflecting/mirroring them in photoshop by flipping the original image over below the original. I was worried that they may become too busy and over the top but then I gathered that's the reality of New York and that if my images were able to portray this then that would be perfect. And indeed they did the mirroring elongated the city as a whole and made it even more striking and swarming to the eye. Each colour, logo and billboard doubled up to present a disorientated experience of New York City which is what you technically get in reality.
I will be using probably the last two images in my final pieces as i like the contrast and brightness of the black and white one and the last one has fun colour scheme with interesting aspects such as the statue unlike the first image which also feels a bit cold.
I will be using probably the last two images in my final pieces as i like the contrast and brightness of the black and white one and the last one has fun colour scheme with interesting aspects such as the statue unlike the first image which also feels a bit cold.
Set Nighteen: London Panoramas Patterns and the Reflection
For my final piece I felt that even though my images were quite bold and I knew that they were different, they still were sort of similar to one another. Due to this I wanted to add to my final images by creating some more but this time of the city of London. This would also bring a completely different scene to the picture and not just have similar panoramas repeated over and over again.
I chose to photograph along the south bank to gain a straight, horizontal view of the city with the image also containing famous Landmarks such as the Eye, Big Ben, the Gerkin and the newly built Shard which all represent the city. It also gave me the chance to pack in a combination of buildings ranging in distance, shape, age and height across the scenery. I used the same technique to capture and form the panoramas and flipped them over again to give a floating island in the sky. Being a fare way away from the buildings meant alot of sky features in my images which may come as a negative but hopefully will act as more space to play with shapes and reconstruction. And of course every single sky was full of dark grey clouds living in the city of London but help to create a diffusion of tones from left to right.
I think the first three are the most successful as the last image does not vary in landscape and is more focussed on one particular building and more nature so I will be incorporating them into one another for my final piece.
I chose to photograph along the south bank to gain a straight, horizontal view of the city with the image also containing famous Landmarks such as the Eye, Big Ben, the Gerkin and the newly built Shard which all represent the city. It also gave me the chance to pack in a combination of buildings ranging in distance, shape, age and height across the scenery. I used the same technique to capture and form the panoramas and flipped them over again to give a floating island in the sky. Being a fare way away from the buildings meant alot of sky features in my images which may come as a negative but hopefully will act as more space to play with shapes and reconstruction. And of course every single sky was full of dark grey clouds living in the city of London but help to create a diffusion of tones from left to right.
I think the first three are the most successful as the last image does not vary in landscape and is more focussed on one particular building and more nature so I will be incorporating them into one another for my final piece.
Final Idea: City Broken Up into Shapes
I have been testing out what things I would like to include in my final images such as two images featured in every picture, circles, gradient maps in the form of shapes, triangles, horizontal and vertical cuttings from the second image. Above is the first stages of one of my final potential final images. I have used the black and white panorama as base then carefully added strips of another colour image to make it look like one image. I will then spontaneously add shapes and alter levels, contrasts, photo filters, gradients and exposure playing with the colour of the image and how abstract it becomes.
Process of Creating all my Final Images
Final Finished Images: Combinations of the City, Shapes and Patterns
I am very happy with my final images as I think they really represent the repetitive and complex nature of each of the cities through graphic design. I tried to make each one unique and different from the rest but I think that the ones of New York scream a bold, fun, urban jungle where as the colour and shapes in the London scapes are still balanaced and carry less buzz presenting a more laid back yet gloomy city.
The first one really plays with a range of colour and all effects and I thought it was becoming too busy and overloaded but I figured it all balances out well and adds to the visual enhancement of all the signs and billboards.
The second is less crazy with pastel colours yet I really like the play with shapes across the horizontal line as well as zoomed close ups on certain areas such as the McDonalds logo.
With the third image I wanted to play more with different gradients across both images as there was more sky and space to adapt onto. I also liked the grey colours of the sky and the added elements of nature coming from both ends. The final London image is probably my most less busy with a cool colour palette of pinks and dark purples much more laid back yet still presenting an abstract floaty feel of a fictional, fantasy city.
I like seeing the city in many different ways through combining structures with what is already there and overlaying one another. Seeing the city broken into shapes gives off a disoriented experience of both London and New York as two different cities incorporating their own graphics splattered all over the city together through graphic design.
The first one really plays with a range of colour and all effects and I thought it was becoming too busy and overloaded but I figured it all balances out well and adds to the visual enhancement of all the signs and billboards.
The second is less crazy with pastel colours yet I really like the play with shapes across the horizontal line as well as zoomed close ups on certain areas such as the McDonalds logo.
With the third image I wanted to play more with different gradients across both images as there was more sky and space to adapt onto. I also liked the grey colours of the sky and the added elements of nature coming from both ends. The final London image is probably my most less busy with a cool colour palette of pinks and dark purples much more laid back yet still presenting an abstract floaty feel of a fictional, fantasy city.
I like seeing the city in many different ways through combining structures with what is already there and overlaying one another. Seeing the city broken into shapes gives off a disoriented experience of both London and New York as two different cities incorporating their own graphics splattered all over the city together through graphic design.
Wallpapers
After completing the patterned landscapes I thought what more could I do with them. Potentially I was thinking I could make them into repeated wall art or wallpaper. To do this I have made a few mock ups of what it could look like. As my designs are quite complex and colourful with a mass of different shapes they could be very quite daring for a full wall design but I like the idea and to develop would strip back some of the more dramatic layers but I do think they work when repeated vertically.