personal brief
For my Practical PortfolioI I would like to explore tradition types of photography and experiment with chemicals processes, light and exposure in order to capture the modern world. To start my topic I would like to make a Camera Obscura and then move onto photograms or chemical photography. Alongside my practical work I will also be researching what I can do to further my experiments.
Development one: cAMERA OBSCURA
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- Black Card - Tape - Scissors - A window - A room |
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To create a Camera Obscura I used black card to block out the windows of a bedroom and then cutting a small hole to allow room into the light and reflect of the walls. I think the experiment for a first time went well as I love the contrast of the clouds and blue sky reflecting onto the frames but I would love to do the experiment again so I can play around with the focus by using a white piece of paper and moving it nearer to the window. I would also like to change rooms so I can reflect a more structural image and capture that.
Development two: CYANOTYPE
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- Ferric Ammonium Citrate - Potassium Ferricyanide - Water - Paper - Sunlight - A Dark Room - Brushes - Objects which you would like to print |
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To start my exploration into creating Cyanotypes I used pre-made sun print paper. I first tested out the paper by using natural objects such as leaves, I found these prints very interesting as the definition and shape of the plants were very diverse and made for an interesting piece. I then moved on to experimenting with modern objects such as earphones. Using earphones in these prints was very difficult as I couldn't keep them down with the glass. Another problem which I struggled with was not exposing the paper for long enough which resulted in a very light blue tone which didn't show the amazing blue and white contrast that cyanotypes are famous for. I would like to create more prints but this time create the solution for the paper myself as I think it would improve my technique.
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A change in response
After experimenting with film I decided to move onto photographing old and modern buildings. With this change in development I believe I can further my practical response and I believe it will not only better my work but further my exploration of techniques and composition.
Development four: Cambridge
To start this new response, I went to cambridge and photographed old architecture in the town centre. When uploading my images I decided to change them into black and white in photoshops. I like the way the images enhance the buildings to make them look brooding.
Development FIVE: Highgate
For my ninth development I decided to capture a historic village hidden behind Highgate Village. The architecture is in the style of 19th century gothic kingdom. Designed by Henry Darbishire the houses display intricate spires, gates and designs.
Development SIX: Stratford
After visiting the gothic houses in Highgate I decided to travel to Stratford. Around the station there are many interesting buildings. Much like New York Stratford contains harsh concrete buildings with a modern twist. When shooting my images I focused of negative space around the buildings. When photographing architecture I find that include negative space makes the buildings such a key focal point.
sTEPHANIE JUNG
Stephanie Jung visited New York and created a series of what looks like long exposure images in which she captures to hustle and bustle of the New York streets. I love this technique and I feel that its a really interesting form of capturing movements. Stephanie's fascination for cities stemmed from her lack of city life as she grow up in a small village in Germany. She first got this idea whilst in Paris she then started experimenting with techniques but once she visited Tokyo she was influenced by the endless city. Jung's images are captured in spontaneous moments whilst she's walking around a city. Stephanie described her love of layering as "something which became important and almost self-evident to me, as it represents best what I want to show with my work."
dEVELOPMENT SEVEN: My response
After researching Stephanie Jung's work I wanted to see if I could recreate her images, I decided to experiment with Photoshops. I first started with layering multiple images that were similar and I believe that this technique worked well. However, I felt that there were not enough layers to each image so I decided that I would try another method. This method consisted of using the same image but changing the size each time so that I could create as many layers as I wanted. I believe that the outcome of this method was much more refined and less time consuming. If i was to go back to this strand I would definitely use the later method.
Process
Method one
First, I selected my original image and made a copy so I could then paste it onto another similar images. After this I then made sure I placed the image in the exact position I wanted it to be. Then I needed to change he images opacity to show the changed in layers. Once I was happy with the image placement and I made sure that all layers were visible I repeated all the steps until I had around four or five layers.
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dEVELOPMENT EIGHT: my second response
Method Two
First, I Selected my original image made a copy and then pasted it on top of the original. After this I used the free transformation tool to make the image larger whilst doing this I made sure to hold down shift as it keeps the image straight whilst you change the size. Once I changed the size I used the opacity tool the change the opacity to around 50% this is the perfect ratio for both layers to show through. Once I was happy with how the layers looked together I repeated all steps until I had around seven or eight layers.
DevelopmeNT NINE: Canary Wharf
After visiting Stratford I wanted to find another urban space in the city. I decided on Canary Wharf as it is in the east of central London and is often full of business men and women. When in Canary Wharf I decided to focus on capturing the imposing structures that you can find there. I love the brutalist structure of these images as each building is layered up and each creating their own individual shapes and layers.
Development ten: Further edits
I found that Stephanie Jung's technique made for really interesting images that I wanted to try out with a modern setting. Using my photos of Canary Wharf I used the layering technique I wrote about earlier in my developments. When shooting in Canary Wharf I kept Jung's work in mind so that I could photograph settings where there was a clear display of movement such as the station entrance, the Reuters building and The DLR station. Choosing busier settings mean that the images had a far more interesting composition and really showed off the technique.
Development ELEVen: Southbank
IBM Sampson house, Southbank
I chose to photograph Sampson House as I believe it has a raffish and brutal charm. When taking images i chose to play around with angles as the building had many different viewpoints and aspects to it. Another reason why I liked this building was due to its secluded placement. I like how the building contrasted with its surroundings. I would like to visit Sampson House again and show the contrast between the two.
Apartments, Southbank
Whilst walking down Southbank I also noticed a series of apartments which were brutalist buildings. Once again I liked this apartments as they contrasted with the modern glass building behind them. I also found that the block like design for perfectly with this theme of structure.
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The National Theatre, Southbank
Known to be one of the most famous brutalist buildings The National Theatre relates perfectly to structure. This Brutalist building is much more simplistic in its structure as there is less blocks and more jutted out beams. I chose this building as I like the way the building has a perfect mixture or structure and negative space.
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Development TWELVE: Athens
For this strand I decided to photograph classical structures. I think this idea is interesting as it contrasts with my earlier work of 'Brutalist Structures.' I think if I developed on this strand I could experiment by contrasting the ancient structures with more modern and perhaps brutalist structures. I believe that could make an interesting development but it may not lead very far.
Development THIRteen: Gif
For this development I decided to combine structures with natural landscapes to create a gif. This gif consists of three man made structures placed on a natural structure. I am proud of how this gif has turned out as it includes almost every aspect of my developments plus something new. I believe that this piece links to my theme as it not only combines natural landscapes but also layers. I think that I managed to create a good piece that incorporates many tasks and techniques which I have learnt thought this topic.
All three artists capture New York between 1910-1930's, when capturing my images I will keep the work of these artists in mind. In my own work I would love to replicate the dated feel and personal composition that each images has. Each artists has capture different aspects of New York wether it be Brooklyn, Downtown or the Upper East Side, I love the diversity in composition but I do believe that all images focus on patterns.
DEVELOPMENT FOURTEEN: NEW YORK
During the october half-term I visited New York. I was amazed by the art deco styled buildings and how they all fit together depending on your viewpoint. In my series of images I believe I have captured an interesting set of images which differ in structure, interior and colour. For some of the images I decided to change the colours again to monogram as I believe it returns back to my interest in dated photography and relates to the works of my chosen artists
Development FIFTHEEN: My response to each image
Whilst in New York I kept my artists I researched in mind so that I could hopefully create and accurate response to their images. Once I returned I decided that I would edit each image in photoshop to further refine them. During the process I played around with the saturation, contrast, brightness of each images, I found that with each image the fine detail of each image became a focal point once they were monochromatic. I found that changing all my images into black and white made for a more interesting series of images
DEVELOPMENT sIXTEEN: Further Edits
After realising my images still looked contemporary I went back to the artists that I gained inspiration from and furthered my response into New Yorks photographic history. I decided to further date my images by layering filters on top of my original images. I love the final product of the editing as I creates a rustic feel to each image. To improve this development I would be interested in possibly physically changing each image.
Process
To start with I found an image of dated paper on the internet and pasted it onto my Image that I took. Next I went into Edit (Free Transform) and pulled the image (whilst holding shift to keep it in its original form) and covered the image with the picture. After layering the two images I played with the opacity till I felt that the two layers blended well to create the effect of a dated image. This technique was a really easy and quick way of editing my images. However, I believe that instead of using programmes to edit my images I should attempt to destroy physical copies.
Development SEVENTEEN: GIF
In my last response I loved editing my original photos to look like they were taken centuries ago so with this development I decided to create a frame by frame contrast between the modern world and the past. To create this Gif I used photoshop. Overall, I am pleased at how this gif has turned out however if i were to re-create this gif I would like to change the speed at which the images fade to create a more subtle transition.
Final Piece
For my final piece I have decided to physically change printed images from New York. With my images I will play around with Coffee, Tea, Varnish and Fire in the hopes of creating interesting photos. I chose to do this for my final piece as I feel it blends every technique I have learnt through out this topic and stems from my topic which was dated photography pieces. After building a first layer of coffee and Tea, I added vanish to certain images and also burned the sides of other images. I did this so that each image had different tones and thus became different and unique to the others.