During this project I have researched several artists for example, Philip J Brittan. He took a very unique view to 'The Natural World'. The saturation in his photos made them distinct to other photographer who took the same theme. His photos look like they were take underwater or of a landscape and then changed with chemicals to make them look like they had a acid wash. Another photographer that I researched was Patrick Zephyr. He took pictures of landscape and the natural world such as insects and plants. However my favourite pictures are of landscapes. For example one of his pictures of the sky in a cold place made a contrast between the different colours. The ice and rocks made a cold feeling with colours of blue,white and black whereas the sky and the water reflecting it was a warm colour such as red, yellow like lava in the sky. I discovered them from searching on pinterest and then I found their websites which showed their portfolios. What I have learned from their work is that colours come into affect of how an image makes a viewer react. Firstly, I learnt that I should make my images more confusing to make them interesting just like how I combined my photos in photoshop. Secondly I learnt that I should try to make colour a subject in the photo to make my viewers feel feelings from the colours.
I explored the theme 'The Natural World'. My first thoughts about the theme was that I thought it was going to be just about plants and landscapes but I didn't think about how deep I should think about the meaning of my photos and why I took a certain picture of a certain thing/s. I ideas changed because I thought deeper about the world 'Natural' and what is considered natural. I thought about the difference between naturalistic and a un-naturalistic world. I wanted to show the contrast between the two images but instead I combined them which made the contrast more obvious.
I used some of the Threshold Concepts. I have tackled fully 2/10 of the Threshold Concepts. For example;
Forth; Photography is an art of selection rather than invention. I have tackled with this because photography doesnt start of with a blank state, it starts with a world full of stuff. Therefore we are only taking pictures of what already has been made but we are selecting how it's seen. For example I have used a camera to take pictures of what is already there. I went to landscapes that were already
Fifth; Photographs are abstraction, shaped by technology. This is true because cameras views things differently compared to what people see with their eyes. A picture is different to reality, it makes a 'perfect illusion' compared to what is actually happening in the photograph. When we view an image the subject of the image is always more clear, for example a leaf. But the rest of the image isn't seen. Also it could make a lie of what is actually happening and it could make the object seem linked to eachother.
I have used experiments with different media, techniques and processes. For example I made photograms of plants because I wanted to enquire into photograms. I tried to alter the density of the light projected into the subject. This made the photo more interesting because the longer I let the light or the higher density the more darker it was. But if I let it on too long it would penetrate through the leaf. I used a DSLR to take the pictures of plants and the urban world. I used a DSLR to get the best detail and focus out of the images. Unlike a polaroid image where it wouldn't show the best detail but it would only show the main object. I also used photoshop to combine images of the rural and urban world to show as much contrast between the world and how we are slowly ruining the natural world. I decided to show the contrast because I wanted to show people how our world is changing.
What I found challenging was making a unique peice that related to the 'Natural World'. This because I tried to explore further while still relating to my final project. For example I didn't specifically understand the word 'natural. Most things are considered natural. But then I realised I should stick to a more plant theme. Also it was hard to make something unique as the whole class was doing the Natural World theme so I decided to link both urban and rural worlds which noone did. Also I added artificial colouring to photograms to represent the damage that we are doing with our man-made and artificial objects that harm our world. Throughout the way I decided to mix up something not natural with something that is natural to make my work more interesting and make the natural stand out.
I have made three final outcomes, The first was of a photogram being sunken by water in a sink. I then squirted some coloured ink onto the photogram which then made it look like the ink was apart of the image. The artificial ink was meant to disturb the average image. My final peice had two images of the photograms being inked on. My second outcome was of three images of a flower in a dirty background. I also used the coloured artificial ink and squirted some drops onto the flower. It was supposed to represent how artificial and man made things disturb and natural life and beings. The third was five pictures of a urban landscape background photoshopped to be underneath natural textures and plants of the natural world. I was hoping to create a image showing what is 'The Natural World' and how soon it will be gone by showing contrasts of what is and what could happen. It worked because I showed the difference between the two in one image.
I think that I have successfully explored the theme because I have created pictures with different techniques that I think relate to my theme. If I had more time I would've liked to explore more with photoshop. For example a picture of a normal path leading up to a forest with a path which would've been very interesting. My work is personal because I try to show a problem about something I care about and if it doesn't change then the world will change. The problem is how man-made things and artificial things are affecting the world. I hope viewers can understand the message but also think the photo is interesting rather than a average photo of a leaf.
Abstraction Evaluation
The main artist was Saul Leiter. His work consisted with alot of formal elements for example, his work intrigued me because of the light and value/tone that consists his photographs. It makes every detail of the picture stand out. His photos most of the time do not have a main subject. Sometimes the whole image is distinct towards the viewer. For example in one of his image it was taken in a bus behind. The whole image was dark but outside was with artificial light. You could see people's silhouettes. I discovered him from my photography teacher. Another photographer that I have researched is one of my favourites , Ralph Eugene Meatyard. He made close up pictures of twigs on trees and branches. His work contained formal elements too. For example, he had a very dark value/tone which made his photos look scary or dramatic. He also had very low light. The photos look as if they were taken on a cloudy day. In his photos there is a lot of space. It looks deep and a lot of empty spaces filled with the sky. He also included a lot of focus in his photos. Because the twigs and branches look clear whereas the background is a little blurry. I discovered them from my teacher and searching 'abstraction' on Pinterest. I have learned to use low value/tone in my photos to make them to look my dramatic towards the viewer. In my photos I have lowered the contrast because it was too bright outside. I have also learnt that that you do not need to focus on a main object and you can focus on the main picture. Secondly, I have learnt that I should include a lot of space in my images to make them look deep.
I used some of the Threshold Concepts. I have tackled fully 2/10 of the Threshold Concepts. For example;
First; Photography has many genres, some old, some borrowed, some new.
Second: Photography is the capturing of light: a camera is optional