Assignment Deadline and Presentation

Photographic and Visual Practice – Making Strange

Today was my first assignment deadline. I think there is an inconsistency in the way in which I work, for a few weeks i’ll be overly focused and crack on, produce work and write (i love to write). What I have come to establish after this initial first year assignment is my working method, is simply all over the place. I am happy overall with the work I produced. I feel as though my time could be managed a little more effectively, and my priorities should be changed up. I am disappointing in the lack of time I allowed myself in the darkroom, if I had organised myself more efficiently I would have given myself a lot more time to experiment in post production, to create the most successful and stronger images, by bringing out different details and areas of interest.

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To follow…

My presentation.

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Feedback always welcome

2014

Firstly HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 I really cannot believe how quickly these Christmas Holidays have gone, seems only yesterday I was finishing my first term. But now I am about to start my second term, where deadlines are slowly creeping upon me.

Although I have enjoyed my three weeks break, I cannot wait to get back in the darkroom and process my last rolls of film, create prints and hopefully create a series of really interesting images.

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Watch this space.

I will keep you updated on my darkroom progress.

Reviewing My Contact Sheet.

On Monday, I was in the darkroom for the first time, since I started six weeks ago. Using the negatives from a recently processed film, I created a contact sheet. Tuesday I evaluated my contacts, finding which shots were successfully, others which were not so successfuWhen i was initially given my assignment brief, I decided i wanted to focus on, and capture shadows, and the shapes, forms and different compositions which are created.

After analyzing and reflecting upon my contact sheet, overall the shots are quite successful, some of them are underexposed, they are too dark. According to my photo shoot journal, the weather conditions on that particular day, was overcast and grey I was also in a covered woodland area. Therefore in hindsight I should have opened up the aperture to a larger Fstop, a 5.6 or 4 and altered the shutter speed to allow more light into the camera.

I can alter a few of my negatives, by varying the exposure time when enlarging the images. And then in the post-production I will able to alter light and dark contrasts, tone and saturation.

Some of my more successful shots, I can see from my contact sheet, are an exploration of my initial ideas, that  notion of experimentation with shape, form and shadow by the exploration of natural light. There a few images that I really like and tick these initial boxes.

One of my more successful shots.

Untitled. Street shot.

I really like this image, I like the range of different tones, from dark to light and grey shades. Another formal element which I feel works well are the conflicting textures in the pavement. The dark and light contrast balance equally, giving the shot a sense of symmetry. I like the silhouetted forms, and shadow, I think I could really enhance this exploration of light through photo shop editing. This typical urban street shot reminds me of photographs by Trent Parke.

This is an idea I could develop further, I could experiment with different times of the day, creating a variation of different lighting; seeing how that would translate onto film. There is a definite disadvantage in this method of working. As you can’t rely on any of your passerby’s. It is up to you to work efficiently and be able to capture that magic moment; decisive moment. It will take patience, persistence and dedication, as I could be in one particular spot for hours for that one shot. 

‘Don’t go looking for something, let it come to you’ -Henri Carter Bresson 

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Andre Kertesz

Fine Art Photographer

 

Le Square Jolivet Montparnasse, Paris 1927

This is a beautiful captured shot; an understated and tranquil urban Parisian scene. Kertesz cleverly composes this shot which depict’s the interplay between the trees and lights. There is a perfect balance between light and dark. There is an overall subtle quality to this shot, it has a soft texture which really helps convey the a sense of time and season.

Kertesz favoured a Leica 35mm camera, and exploited the visual freedom it possess, allowing him to experiment with, distortion, abstraction and photographic effects. Kertesz is often described as a ‘lyrical modernist visionary’, an artist who like many who captures that circumstantial magic’, of the decisive moment.

I really like his work and the way he captures light which depict delicate shadows and interesting forms. There is a simplicity to his images which is aesthetically pleasing; a delicate and tranquil quality is a reoccurring theme throughout his images and aspect I really admire. These are particular attribute’s I hope to capture in my final six images for my current Photographic and Visual Practice module.

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http://getty.edu/art/exhibitions/kertesz/

http://www.atgetphotography.com/The-Photographers/Andre-Kertesz.html

Initial Darkroom Practice

It has been a good few weeks, since being set our Photographic and Visual Practice assignment. I am really enthusiastic about this project, and it is well under way. I have looked at many other photographers and artists.

I have previous experience working in a  darkroom, but I must admit, I feel as though I am a novice. Different institutes apply darkroom process’s differently. Nonetheless, I managed to successfully load and process film.

This week was the induction into the darkroom, and again, different institutes acquire different rules, and methods. The darkroom at PCA, are larger than ones I have experienced previously.

Much like most aspects in life, practice makes perfect. Negatives/Initial Contact Sheet.

Stunning Black and White

”Working in black and white, makes me feel like a painter, not a photographer.” 

-Guy Gagnon

http://www.guygagnon.com/

Absolute amazing photographer.

I have been concentrating and researching black and white photographers; as my current assignment is a black and white based project. For me there is such an elegance and purity to black and white imagery, that colour sometimes lacks.

As the weather has been so terrible lately I have been making use of the amount of rain. And concentrating on reflections and capturing images through the water. As I have been shooting with a film camera, I have yet to develop.

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Watch this space.

And I will upload my initial shoot.

Researching

Lee Friendlander

Mannequin

‘Friedlander is one of these rare artists who has managed to sustain an influential body of work for more then five decades.’

This project was an analogue project, where Friedlander used 35mm film, roaming the streets of many American cities, photographing storefront windows, focusing on reflections and the ‘Abstract’. Which comment on and portray ideas of sex, fashion and consumerism.

These are just a few of my favourite images from the project. These particular shots, have really strong composites, exploring various forms, lines and shapes. What is really interesting, is the way the images appear as though they are two separate shots that have been merged together, or possibly a double exposed negative, which resulted in this really beautifully translucent depiction. Either way they are striking images that successfully draw the audience in. Although there are many components to each shot, the are combined and merged quite subtly. On one hand there is a very soft and gentle aspect to these images, and on the other hand an obvious there and definite juxtaposition between the soft, clean, elegant textures of the fabrics on the mannequin and the hard, grey and cold concrete surface of the buildings in the reflections.

I think it is important to point out, that Friedlander, appears to only photograph female mannequins. Which is interesting, and there must be significance to this. But what is it? The idea of the mannequin being behind the glass; out of reach but also being on display. I think there is an underlying context to these images, possibly a reflection on the photographers opinion of women at that time. Overall I think there is definite sexual connotations to these images.

The idea of abstraction within reflection is really interesting, and a technique I would quite like to experiment with, perhaps exploring reflection further using water. Manipulating the way the audience would conventionally see something, by the use of different camera angles simply by approaching the composition differently.

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‘Open-ended alternatives to normal seeing.’

Friedlander is known to incorporate his own shadow in many of his images, it is an iconic Friedlander mark. In some images the shadows are constructed very subtly but in others they really impose and dominate the frame. (like these) I really like this idea, i think its an interesting way to photograph himself, almost an abstract self-portrait. I think the shadows really personalize his images, even though we do not see his face, his shadow plays as evidence that it is, in fact his journey we are seeing, and his personal story which is being depicted. 

I think that these images really work as a visual diary, and as the audience we can relive his journey.

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(My Visual Journal)

I’m excited to apply my research to my own images.

And create and explore my own photographic journey.

Making Strange. Photographic and Visual Practice.

I have now started shooting for my Photographic and Visual Practice Assignment; Making Strange. My project has been informed by various artists, photographers and other practitioners.

I have chosen to use, a Pentax K1000. It is one of the camera’s, that are lent out by the University. I usually use an Olympus OM1.

This camera is easy to use, hold and pretty straight forward. I definitely recommend using this camera.

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Josef Sudek

Self Portrait-Josef Sudek

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Making Strange: Responses 

I have started looking at Josef Sudek. His works have a great sense of mystery; an intimate and personal record. He takes the most common materials, objects and subjects and photographs them, which reinvents them creating beautiful intricate pieces of work, which explore an soft a subtle aspects of natural light.

Window of My Studio with a Blossom – 1950

I really love this shot, I think it is delicate, and elegant. Really depicting that sense of springtime. The chosen depth of field, where the blossom is in clear focus, and the old tree is a blur. The way the blossom is in focus, poses some essence of significance, possibly referring to age, and the importance of youth, whereas on the other hand, the old brown tree is out of focus, conveying a sense of importance. The old tree could bee a direct reflection of Sudek himself, and the idea of him, being aged, a veteran, consumed by time.

here Romanticism is taking place here, there is a very gentle approach to photographing this image, which is very aesthetically pleasing. The overall grain to the photograph is very soft, allowing for a very tender shot. The way in which the image is composed works well. The blossom is cleverly place, the stem of blossom runs parallel to the trunk of the tree. Which allows for a strong point of interest, successfully engaging you.

This shot, is one of many, that i really liked of Sudek’s. The way he captures, the most ‘everyday’ object, but recreates, creating a piece of work, that is sensitive, emotional and makes you think, His choice of method has really enhanced this; Pigment prints. A method in which the light areas are intensified, which appear as though drawn on. Simply giving an overall more magnified and detailed image.

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Open to any feedback. Advice. Questions.