Connecting Essay Analysis 'Shape/ Form' -

Connecting Essay -

Shape/ Form:

Vivian Maier Photograph:

My Photograph:

Of the images shown above the first is by Vivian Maier whilst the second is my own photograph.

Some technical similarities between the work is that both are taken outside rather than in studios as Maier was a street-documentary photographer and was, therefore, often outside. The days on which the photographs were taken were both sunny and well lit meaning that the settings used would have been similar allowing for the natural brightness of the days.

Furthermore, the composition of the images are similar in that both feature a self-portrait in the idea of a shadow depicting form but more specifically shape due to the 2D nature of photography and shadows. Also, both final pieces portray ideas of negative space and how it can be used as a tool to exaggerate the positive space.

However, there are multiple differences in the two final outcomes. One difference being the techniques used to create the images. For example, Maier as a photographer in the 1900s used a less developed camera that relied on film meaning that images were limited. Maier had access to less camera settings, a limited size of images and also had to process images from film in dark rooms. I, on the other hand, as a modern photographer have access to modern technology such as digital cameras with a wide array of settings, the possibility to take larger scale images and also access to post-production software such as Photoshop. As a result of these technical differences the outcomes are different; Maier's image is square and in black and white whilst my image is rectangular and in colour.

Both images, as mentioned above, explore similar ideas through self-portraiture in the form of shadows which delves into the idea of identity and anonymity. Maier often photographer herself and explored self-identity through portraiture and thus the shadow featured in my photograph is myself to reminisce over the same ideals.

If I was to improve the pastiche of my final outcome then I would experiment with some post-production techniques such as Photoshop. I would rotate and then crop my image to the same scale of Maier's and edit the image into black and white to reflect the non-colour camera's used to take Maier's photographs at the specific time period. If I was to completely re-shoot then I would use a more interesting and advanced background, like Maier's, but also explore shape to create a more dynamic shadow and thus a more interesting and analytical response to identity.

Connecting Essay Analysis 'Joiners' -

Connecting Essay -

Joiners:

David Hockney Photograph:

My Photograph:

Of the above photographs one is David Hockney's, the artist and accidental photographer, whilst the bottom photograph is mine which was created in an attempt to replicate the style used by Hockney referred to as 'joiners' or 'panography'.

Some practical similarities of the work are depicted through the setup used to create the final outcomes. Hockney's photographs were not taken within a studio, unlike mine, and featured varying lighting in the photographs used to  compile the montage which I replicated by adjusting the lighting during the process of taking the images. However, a technical difference between the pieces is that the medium used by Hockney was polaroid pictures physically joined together whilst I used a Canon EOS 450D DSLR camera which I then technically joined post-production.

Furthermore, the composition of the final images are similar. Hockney featured various profiles within one portrait to show movement and narrate a story which I decided to reflect by using two different perspectives of my subjects face which gave both the impression of motion and being stationary at once. Also, for Hockney's specific portrait featured above he compiled it on a black background which provides the appearance of a polaroid picture montage of polaroids. I also used a similar idea when compiling the collage of individual pictures to use a white background which links to the final outcome of Hockney's photograph seemingly depicting the mount like a polaroid picture.

Although, due to the nature of the above images Hockney's is more personal due to the setting used as the background for his photographs. Hockney's images were more personal, private and intimate whilst my outcome is more clinical, harsh and open. This is further supported by the colour backdrops used in the two photographs; my image is a plain white which varies to a pale grey due to the lighting whilst Hockney's is a pale blue with hints of sky blue giving the image a more calming, reflective atmosphere.

Additionally, I used the software Photoshop CC 2014 to compile my individual images to create the multiple perspective outcome, in opposition to the "one-eyed approach" which Hockney referred to most photography as, whilst Hockney would take the individual photographs laying them out and then photographing them a final time as the final image. Therefore, the post-photography process was significantly different in the two above images.

Finally, I chose to depict a portrait that focused on the whole figure rather than just the face unlike Hockney. This further emphasises the idea of Hockney's work as personal whilst mine is not an exact pastiche of Hockney who served as inspiration for my minor project resulting in the above final outcome.

If I was to further make my image further reflect Hockney's style then I would focus on the face in a private setting rather than a studio, possibly employing polaroids, which I would then compile onto various background colours in a more physical manner rather than technical.

Connecting Essay Analysis 'Studio Portraits' -

Connecting Essay -

Studio Portraits:

Thomas Ruff Photograph:

My Photograph:

The above photographs, the bottom being mine, are linked due to the subject, style and techniques used to create them.

Some practical similarities between the photographs are based upon the setup which was employed to create the final outcome. Ruff used a variety of backdrops, technical setups and image sizes. Ruff eventually decided upon using flash, solid colour backdrops and passport size images. I used studio lighting with flash in an attempt to recreate the lighting used by Ruff.

Furthermore, the two images are both examples of portraits. Ruff was using his fellow students as subjects in his portraits and I did the same; I  used a friend from my class and attempted to recreate the facial expression featured on Ruff's subjects which has often been referred to as 'emotionless'. . For example, the background colour of the portraits is an example of a bright orange backdrop which contrasts to the 'Deadpan' facial expression of the subjects used.  Also, Ruff experimented with head on portraits and profile portraits but as most were examples of head on that was the composition I chose to replicate within my image.

Also, I chose to edit my photograph in Photoshop CC 2014 to replicate the framing and size of Ruff's work. However, Ruff's photography is very precisely framed from shoulder to head whilst my image is somewhat lengthier and as a result could be further improved by cropping it in Photoshop and editing the framing even more.

Finally, another, less significant, difference is due to the time in which the images were captured. Ruff was working on the above specific photograph featured above was captured in the 1980s whilst mine was captured in in the 200s meaning that the equipment used may have improved and varied slightly since then meaning that it would be difficult to completely recreate the outcome achieved by Ruff.



Connecting Essay Analysis 'Portraits' -

Connecting Essay -

Portraits:

Vivian Maier Photograph:

My Photograph:



The photographs featured above, of which one is mine, are linked due to the type of photography that they fall under and the ways in which they were created.

In relation to the practical photography process these images were taken very differently. Maier was photographing in the 1900s whilst I began photography in the 2000s and therefore the cameras used are very different. Maier originally used a Kodak Brownie box camera which took film and therefore the process of taking a photograph and the post-photography process was very different. Maier used a film camera and therefore could not digitally witness the image once taken and instead had to develop them in a dark room to see the outcome. I on the other hand can immediately view the image and adjust the setting which Maier would not have had the same access to therefore influencing greatly the outcome of the images.

Furthermore, the two photographs featured above are examples of portraiture and more specifically self-portraiture. Maier depicted herself in 1900s American society with her, now, vintage camera whilst I was documenting my self-portrait in 2000s English society with a modern digital camera. Although it was not my sole intention, I have documented time and the advancement of technology in my Maier inspired self-portrait.  

Finally, some similarities of the two photographs are that both document self-portraiture, reflection, composition and depth of field. However, depth of field is also a difference between my work and Maier's as Maier's foreground is in focus with the background blurred whilst mine is the opposite which was intended to stress the differences between the two societies and time periods.

If I was to capture a photograph that is pastiche and more nostalgic in representing the style of Maier then I could capture a reflected self-portrait with a similar composition to Maier's and then edit the image by cropping it to become square and then finally edit the image to black and white whilst adjusting the contrast to achieve an even more similar effect.

Connecting Essay Analysis 'Documentary' -

Connecting Essay's - 

Documentary: 

Henri-Cartier Bresson Photograph - 

My Photograph - 

The above photographs, one of which is mine, are linked due to not only the subjects of the image but also the techniques used to create them.

Some practical similarities of the two photographs are based upon the idea that Henri-Cartier Bresson used a 50mm lens and was the founder of 'The Decisive Moment' movement. I studied Bresson's work before beginning my documentary photography  project and so was able to implement the ideals of Bresson's work which therefore influenced the final outcome of my own images. I took my photographs on a 28-90mm lens but used the 50mm setting thus adhering to the norms of Bresson's work. Additionally, I also conformed to the idea of 'The Decisive Moment' as I carried my camera around for the entirety of the holiday period taking photographs which I would never be able to re-create as it was a specific, decisive, moment.

Furthermore, the two specific photographs shown above are subject examples of childhood. Bresson exemplified children at play in the 1900s in the rubble of post-conflict areas. This depicts the innocence of childhood and simply wanting to play despite the destruction that surrounds them. I chose to compare my picture, of my young cousin, to Bresson's work as it again displayed the innocence and happiness of childhood. My picture documents the reaction post-board game and the excitement of play witnessed through a child's eyes and perspective.

Finally, I chose to edit my image so that it reflected the black and white/ sepia appearance of Bresson's photography which was, due to the time period, taken on a film camera that did not shoot colour. Using Photoshop CC 2014 I edited my image into black and white to create the nostalgic atmosphere captured in Bresson's own photography. I also used curves and the contrast tool to add more tone and variation between the lights and darks of the photograph which is reminiscent of Bresson's work.

However, one significant difference between the two photographs is that my image was taken at a later time period than Bresson's. Bresson was a photographer in the early 1900s through to the early 2000s yet Bresson had already died whilst I was photographing in the documentary style inspired by Bresson in 2015. 

Landscape Straight Images / Work Diary -

Landscapes - 

This photograph is of the architecture at Greenwhich and I personally felt that the black and white, plus increasing the contrast, added to the pastiche in the style of Ansel Adams despite the different subject matter of architecture compared to natural landscapes. 

This photograph is from Greenwhich where one side of my family originate from and has thus been a common place to visit during my childhood. I felt that the black and white created a sense of nostalgia in the same way that the landscape does for me.  

The framing of this photograph is aesthetically pleasing as the centre of the image is the subject of the photograph. The trees also create a fairytale like shroud surrounding the architectural building. This connotes the magic or childhood. 

This image is of a church spire which can be seen from Greenwhich park but could not be reached. The stark difference between the tonal regions of light and dark creates, again, a fairytale idea. The battle between light and dark is a common theme of fairytale and the trees blocking the path to a tower links with such fairytale stories as Rapunzel. The image is also eerie and brooding like the work of Ansel Adams. 

This image is my least favourite of these straight images. The architecture of the building was aesthetically pleasing but I had to cut out a section that was intended to be in frame due to modern signs. The trees in this case provide a frame to the image but also obscure it somewhat.

Progression - 

To improve my landscape photographs I would, first of all, shoot in various locations to build a more in depth idea of landscapes which have shaped me and thus my photographic work. I would also work on the compositional framing of some of the images as I became over excited by employing the natural against the man made. The second image could also use more editing in Photoshop to increase the contrast in tone and make the image more dramatic like Ansel Adams who uses the negative space to add detail to the subject of his photographic landscapes. 

Landscape Contact Sheet -

Contact Sheet - 

Landscape Image Bank -

Photographers - 

• Fay Godwin
• Simon Roberts
• Rut Blees Luxemburg 
• Stephen Shore
• George Georgiou
• Idris Khan
• Carl Wooley 
• Simon Norfolk
• Ed Burtynsky 

Favourites - 

Rut Blees Luxemburg:

Stephen Shore: 

Ed Burtynsky:

Carl Wooley:

Simon Roberts: 

Composite The Fourth Plinth Straight Images/ Work Diary -

The Fourth Plinth - 
I edited the below images using Photoshop CC 2014 after taking the photographs of the statues in the studio with the settings f/11, ISO 200 and shutter speed of 1/125. I also took the landscape photographs earlier in the year in fully manual.

Caution Deer Crossing:
My idea behind the use of the deer statue is that I wanted to promote the idea of combining the rural with the urban and to try to make people aware of wildlife.

I like this image as it demonstrates the blending of image manipulation. I was able to replicate one ornament and change its appearance to create both a stag and a doe which I changed the colour of using Photoshop and casted shadows using the burn tool. 

I like this final outcome as the colours work well in cohesion although, if I was to improve this work then I would have improved the shadows beneath the ornament. 

Modernity and Peace:

My idea behind the use of  Buddha was because Buddha promotes peace and in modern life it is very difficult to find peace when always busy with work, homelike etc. 

This image turned out well  in reference to scale, colour and form. I was able to cut out the shape/ contours of the ornament. Also, it connotes the differences between western and eastern cultures. 

This final image is the worst of the favourites. The shadows created using the burn tool was patchy but on a positive note the colours work well together as I employed selective colourisation and adjusted the colour to work well with the surroundings. 

Evaluation:

To evaluate, some of the images appear better than the others. The first deer image is better than the second as the quick selection tool cut the area more smoothly. I also attempted to create a shadow with the burn tool which was more effective on the first as it was all in shadow whereas the second deer image went across various backgrounds menacing the burn tool was not as effective. 

Furthermore, the set of Buddha images are reasonably acceptable. The quick selection tool worked extremely well with both creations but the burn tool, which I used to create the effect of a shadow, was not as effective due to the background landscape photograph. 

Therefore, I could improve these images in the future by learning how to create a drop shadow in photoshop and I could also experiment with histograms to achieve the same level of lighting as featured in the background images. 

Progression - 

To improve from this point I would practice my Photoshop editing skills and techniques to create a better shadow rather than using the dodge and burn tool. 

Composite The Fourth Plinth Contact Sheet -

Contact Sheet - 

Composite The Fourth Plinth Project Image Bank -

The Fourth Plinth - 

1. Hannah Hoch
2. Cedric Delsaux
3. Jeff Koons
4. Richard Hamilton

Hannah Hoch:
Hoch is a mixed media artists and photographer who merges images in the movement of 'Dada' otherwise known as 'Nonsense'. The images are surreal and allow a viewer to form their own opinions about the implicit meanings of the image.

Cedric Delsaux: 
Delsaux employs photo-realistic techniques of photo-manipulation and image merging to create a Star Wars fantasy world within reality.











Jeff Koons:
Koons creates surreal artwork manipulating the size of objects and employs nostalgic objects that people will relate back to their childhood. The meaning behind these may be that our childish traits are out of place in the adult world.  Or possibly the meaning could be that in modern day we need to set aside time for play, or other forms of happiness, due to the size of the sculptures and that we would be unable to ignore them.











Richard Hamilton:
Hamilton also employs surrealism and collage techniques to create a interesting images.