Abstract
The white paper test - Task 1
In this first task of my new project 'Abstraction', I had to focus on paper. I made over 20 portraits with only one singular piece of paper. I wasn't allowed to cut or tear the paper, but I was allowed to roll it, fold it and crumble it. I shot it in a studio (lights turned off) with a white background, and used phone flashlights. I also tested out colour filters layered on top of the flashlight to create an even more of an abstract effect.
Pre-edits.
Edited.
Second set of photos.
Brendan Austin has his own, unique way of doing his abstract photographs which included crumpled paper and lighting to create realistic landscapes of nature.
He also uses light in many different ways to make his photos more realistic and detailed. her does this by putting the set light at different angles to see how the photo is affected. |
In this set of photos, I took inspiration from the artists Brendan Austin who created photographs of abstract, crumpled paper and turns them into beautiful landscapes. Austin creates a powerful image of how humans have altered the natural landscape of planet earth. The use of these man made objects used in his photos symbolises the dramatic change humans have made to the environment.
In my photographs, I used reflections to create a sky line and then used paper to create a mountain range which looks realistic from certain angles. Furthermore, I used different coloured lighting to make more abstract atmospheres. This task went well because the images visually represent a landscape of mountains.
In my photographs, I used reflections to create a sky line and then used paper to create a mountain range which looks realistic from certain angles. Furthermore, I used different coloured lighting to make more abstract atmospheres. This task went well because the images visually represent a landscape of mountains.
best edits.
To edit these photos was a simple process, for the first edit, I played around with the lighting so that every minute detail is highlighted in the photo. for the seconds edit, I took a photograph of some tissue paper in a mountain like formation and edited a purple sky on the horizon as it complimented the purple hue that was already on the "mountains."
WWW:
WWW:
Edward Weston
Edward Weston used a graflex 4 x 5 negative camera which allowed him to see his subject matter in the right format before actually taking the photo. His philosophy was to make his own photographic language, he didn't want to follow someone's existing rules and brought beauty to ordinary objects, and as an extension of this he was very specific to what was in his frame. But, he ran into some problems during his photographing, due to his massive exposure time, there would often be a truck or car that passed by it would rock his whole house and he would have to restart the whole photograph. The surprising thing about his work was that he used an aperture of 240, which is about the size of a pinprick. Furthermore, he used natural light, where at the time a lot of photographers were starting to use artificial light more.
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Artificial Lighting
For this task, I was set to take photographs of abstract fruit and vegetables with a plain black back ground. The background highlights the minute details of the fruits and makes the colours stand out more. When taking these photographs, I made sure I took the photos from many different angles and lengths so that I had a lot of variety when editing the photos. In addition, I attempted to find the most abstract areas of the objects.
Natural Lighting
Edward Weston initially took his images in natural light. when taking these photos, I made sure to use a tripod so that the photos came out accurate and detailed. I also made sure that I used a very high exposure. During this set of photos, it was difficult in some cases as the light was very bright, however this positively enhanced the photos as it created many shadows and highlighted a lot more details.
Edits
Abstractions comparisons.
Alicja Brodowicz
Visual Exercises is a photo project by Polish photographer Alicja Brodowicz, who hunted for similarities between the human body and nature and then created diptychs of her findings.
"I photograph the human body – the microcosm, Its’ fragments: hair, scars, texture of skin, wrinkles. I am interested in individual particularities; I look for distinguishing features and irregularities. Imperfections are my favorites.”
“I photograph nature – the macrocosm, Surface of water, grass, tree bark, dry leaves. I combine the two images, looking for converging lines, textures, similarities in layout and analogies in composition between the microcosm and the macrocosm. I look for unity between the human body and the nature.”
"I photograph the human body – the microcosm, Its’ fragments: hair, scars, texture of skin, wrinkles. I am interested in individual particularities; I look for distinguishing features and irregularities. Imperfections are my favorites.”
“I photograph nature – the macrocosm, Surface of water, grass, tree bark, dry leaves. I combine the two images, looking for converging lines, textures, similarities in layout and analogies in composition between the microcosm and the macrocosm. I look for unity between the human body and the nature.”
In this task we had to:
Take a series of images that convey natural structures these could be found in your garden or in local parks that you walk through on your daily walk. When you have taken 24 images choose your four best images and then consider how you could use images taken of the human body to demonstrate the links between Human and Natural forms.
After that, we had to edit our image in photoshop to change the contrast and light in the photo to make it more similar.
Take a series of images that convey natural structures these could be found in your garden or in local parks that you walk through on your daily walk. When you have taken 24 images choose your four best images and then consider how you could use images taken of the human body to demonstrate the links between Human and Natural forms.
After that, we had to edit our image in photoshop to change the contrast and light in the photo to make it more similar.
My response.
Best edits
Abstract Portrait.
Bill Jacobson - Task 1
Bill Jacobson, from Norwich, is very well known for his slightly out of focus portraits through glass and other translucent objects. Jacobson began his signature, indistinct images in 1989. These early works, titled Interim Portraits, feature shadowy, pale figures that evoke the loss experienced by many during the height of the AIDS epidemic.
Jacobson began making out of focus images in 1989. After exhibiting in a number of group exhibitions, in 1993 he had his first New York solo show at New York Uni’s Grey Art Gallery. Entitled Interim Figures, these shadowy pale photographs are intended to evoke the loss experienced by so many during the height of the AIDS epidemic and the futility of capturing true human likeness in both portraiture and memory. |
Erwin Blumenfeld
Erwin Blumenfeld is also very well known and is considered one of the greatest and most inspirational photographers of the 20th century.
Born on January 26, 1897 in Berlin, Germany, Blumenfeld worked as an amateur photographer during his childhood. Following World War I, the artist began working professionally and garnered international attention for his portraits. In 1937, he began working for French Vogue, and became well-known around the world for his shoots with Josephine Baker and Carmen Dell'Orefice. During World War II, the artist was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp for two years, on account of his Jewish heritage, and was released in 1941 to travel to New York for work. In the post-World War II era, he was the highest paid photographer in the world and in high demand for editorial photo shoots. Blumenfeld died on January 4, 1969 in Rome, Italy. |
My response
My Edits
Task 2
Using inspiration from Blumenfield and Bill Jacobson, my task was to take photographs through thin papers such as grease proof paper and plastic lining. As well as still images try capturing a moving portrait in the style of Blumenfeld clip, Beauty in Motion.
My edits
Johnny Ker
Johnny Kerr is an American artist and art educator, best known for his abstract photographic arrays that reveal the colorful poetry hidden amid a seemingly mundane Arizona metropolis. Self-taught in the craft of photography, Johnny cites his lifelong study of art, his graphic design experience, and his appreciation for minimalism as having the largest influences on his work. Johnny’s imagery often explores the abstract qualities of his subjects, placing them, to varying degrees, outside of their literal context. His use of space reflects his affinity for quietude, while his continued evolution of style and subject matter represent an authentic pursuit of curiosity.
The task.
In this task, we were asked to take photographs look at the form/shape and lines that you find in the area around you. Once you have photographed inside go outside either on your daily walk or in your garden and look for more abstract shapes that show contrast of line and shape.
My response
best edits
Saul Leiter
The American artist Saul Leiter (1923–2013) became enchanted by painting and photography as a teenager in Pittsburgh. After he relocated to New York City in 1946, his devotion to artistic practice pushed him to become one of the iconic photographers of the mid-twentieth century. An innate sense of curiosity made him a lifelong student of art of all kinds, and he retained his spirit of exploration and spontaneity throughout his long career, in both his fashion images and his personal work.
second set
In this set of photos, I went to Muswell Hill and took photos of post boxes and bus stops do catch and urban and blurred picture of
the town.
the town.
Strain 1 - Eliana Marinari
Eliana Marinari’s practice is based on a long tradition of drawing. Trained in classical drawing in Florence, Eliana Marinari also received a doctorate in science in London. Her artistic research brushes up against scientific studies by demonstrating the illusory quality of visual perception, which queries the truth of the visible; how the brain stores images, the way it recollects and interprets them.
One way I used Eliana Marinari work to inspire me was through the element of blur. The abstract nature of these photos look surreal as the blurring effect created a supernatural theme. I altered her work by adding in plastic and other see through materials to give more of a glossy yet still uncanny look. I did this by putting 2 main studios lights in front of my models and took photographs on my phone as it is homework.
One way I used Eliana Marinari work to inspire me was through the element of blur. The abstract nature of these photos look surreal as the blurring effect created a supernatural theme. I altered her work by adding in plastic and other see through materials to give more of a glossy yet still uncanny look. I did this by putting 2 main studios lights in front of my models and took photographs on my phone as it is homework.
My response
Best edits
strain 2 - Barbara Vaughn
Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1960, Barbara Vaughn is a contemporary fine art photographer, with a successful career in portraits, celebrated for her artistic nudes and water surface photography she creates all over the world. In her photographic art Vaughn encaptures bodies of water – close up view of oceans, seas, rivers and lakes, as a grand vastness which reflects our very perception and reality, beauty we fail to appreciate.
My intentions in this task was to find reflections in a pond that would be prominent when editing so that I can bring out all of the possible colours. For this development, I went to Ally Pally pond in north London when it was sunny and light outsude to capture all different lighting opportunities in the lake.
STEPS:
- Firstly, I went to Ally pally ponds and took close up pictures of the pond.
- Then, I Put the photographs onto photoshop and adjusted the size of the photograph
- Then, I edited the colours, Using levels and colour changes.
My response
Best edit
Development from strand 2
For this development, I zoomed into the photographs as it created a more similar picture to Barbara Vaughn's original work. I did this by zooming into the photographs and touching on more details of the Water. I experimented with different colour changes and small details to highlight the ripples in the water.
STEPS:
- Firstly, I used the photos from strand 2 and put them into photoshop.
- Then, I zoomed into the details of the photos.
- I enhanced the colours and made sure there was no elements of blur in the photos.
Before
WWW: The photographs stayed detailed even though I zoomed in on photoshop
The photos had many different shades and colours meaning I could make them stand out when editing.
Good enhancement of colours on photoshop.
EBI: I took a larger sum of photos so I could have more variety.
I took my photos from closer to the water so that there would be more ripples and texture.
The photos had many different shades and colours meaning I could make them stand out when editing.
Good enhancement of colours on photoshop.
EBI: I took a larger sum of photos so I could have more variety.
I took my photos from closer to the water so that there would be more ripples and texture.
3rd development
Tiffany Christie Freeman
For this development, I used the work of Tiffany Christie Freeman to inspire my set of photos. Tiffany Christie Freeman is a South African photography that specialises in black and white photographs that create an eerie mood. I chose to use this style as inspiration because I liked the dark colours and the variety of different shades. For my response to this artist, I adjusted the work by adding more light and different shades into the work as well as adding small amounts of colour for more detail.
Below is an example of Tiffany Christie Freeman's work.
Below is an example of Tiffany Christie Freeman's work.
Andreas Gursky
I also used inspiration from Andreas Gursky. Gursky depicts the flickering surface of fast-flowing rivers at close range. The luminous ripples, captured in an expansive vertical format, echo the chromatic effects of Impressionism. The addition of small amounts of colours also brings and bright and enlightening mood to the photographs which I tried to include in my set.
Below are 2 examples of Andreas Gursky's work
Below are 2 examples of Andreas Gursky's work
My response.
For this development, I went to Camden Lock canal and took photographs of the flowing river going through the centre of the town. I made sure it was dark when I took the photos as it would reflect the Artists (above) work with more detail. As there was little amounts of ripples in the water, I used a small plastic bottle that I found in the canal to roughen up the water and create small waves. This creates a lot more detail in the photos and a lot more interesting features of the photograph. As well as this, I got very lucky as it was raining which added another effect to the water, making it look more rough and dangerous.
Final piece
For these edits, I zoomed into the more focussed parts of the photos and adjusted the brightness levels to make the dark parts darker. As well as this, I added a dark blue hue to make the water seem more realistic and vibrant.
WWW: There is a dangerous and eerie mood to the photos
There is a large contrast between the dark and light in the photos
The water looks rough and the texture is rocky and choppy.
EBI: The photographs were more detailed as many of them were poorly focussed and blurry
There were more different colours in the photos.
There were more reflections of the atmosphere around the canal
There is a large contrast between the dark and light in the photos
The water looks rough and the texture is rocky and choppy.
EBI: The photographs were more detailed as many of them were poorly focussed and blurry
There were more different colours in the photos.
There were more reflections of the atmosphere around the canal