Exhibitions Visits
Over the weekend I visited two galleries visiting many exhibitions, some of which gave further inspiration to my developments.
The Autograph -
Monica De Miranda - The Island Give an overview of the exhibition, outline the intentions of each photographer and analyse individual pieces.
One of the exhibitions i visited was the autograph, where they displayed the work of Mónica de Miranda - The Island. My favorite piece was the women on the island in the white dress. I found the white colour contrasted nicely with her skintone, and the foggy weather.
The Photographers Gallery -
Alan Butler - Cyanotypes
Vee Spears - Metamorphosis
Coralie Vogelaar - Random Strings of Emotions
This exhibition was a fusion of scientific disciplines and artistry. Vogelaar is fascinated with machines and humans, therefore using a seconding system of emotion recognition software, a wide variety of emotions/expression are analysed and interpreted by the software in order to identify the emotion. I found the images below , for example, interesting because how the machinery interpreted the facial expressions. Some of the facial expression were quite extreme but yet it was matched to everyday emotions like happiness. Perhaps in an extreme way, it shows her society percieves one another.
This exhibition was a fusion of scientific disciplines and artistry. Vogelaar is fascinated with machines and humans, therefore using a seconding system of emotion recognition software, a wide variety of emotions/expression are analysed and interpreted by the software in order to identify the emotion. I found the images below , for example, interesting because how the machinery interpreted the facial expressions. Some of the facial expression were quite extreme but yet it was matched to everyday emotions like happiness. Perhaps in an extreme way, it shows her society percieves one another.
2 Strand Word Based Theme
Separation
My initial idea of separation is more of a conjunctive idea of separation and isolation. So I decided to interpret this idea based on class, taking pictures in two contrasting east London areas. The first being Dalston Market, a borough in East London. The second being Bank, a central business district also in East London.
Mark Laita - Created Equal
In the created equal project, Laita is considering wider issues about society. For example, being born of one race and therefore theoretically being born on level playing field, yet having two completely different lives for example a company president and a janitor. This series is more of a social study of social and cultural clashes as well as other influential factors. This is shown in his images where he directly contrasts the two lifestyles by putting them side by side. Laita was interested in this issue because he loved "the American", i.e. the result of the individual shaped from "more than 200 years of liberty and independence as well as all the success and failures of America"
The photographer has used the same neutral background with only the people and accompanied prompts changing. This draws the attentions to both individuals and how they contrast each other. This helps to support Mark Laita's point about questioning what led theoretically equal people to go on such contrasted paths, as the audience is left to knit pick and compare their differences from their face, to their clothes, to their weight etc.
The photographer has used the same neutral background with only the people and accompanied prompts changing. This draws the attentions to both individuals and how they contrast each other. This helps to support Mark Laita's point about questioning what led theoretically equal people to go on such contrasted paths, as the audience is left to knit pick and compare their differences from their face, to their clothes, to their weight etc.
In this task, I contrasted areas and the people in those areas. My task linked to the theme as I went to two areas in East London yet the atmosphere was completely different as well as the people, what they dressed like and their purpose at those locations. What led to one becoming a business district and one becoming a market, why is the market as such as a market in Camden etc.
Contact sheet
Final Edits
To conclude, due to my persistance in the type of images I wanted went back to bank after my first attempt, and was able to experiment with a camera using portrait mode and P, which improved the composition and quality of my pictures. However, next time I would want to use a camera and firstly go to Dalston in the peak hours so I would have more flexibility with the type of pictures I was shooting. Also when visiting bank I would try and replicate the pictures I have taken in Dalston, more consistently; for example both pictures having people's back faced away from the camera.
Surface
My interpretation of surface i.e surface level is what could be seen on the surface of many random objects
- this can also include scanned or real life textures like sand
- this can also include scanned or real life textures like sand
In this task I took pictures over a period of time of different surfaces, displaying their texture, different hues etc
Contact sheet
Final Images
WWW: I captured different surfaces, showing their unique textures
EBI: I should have had inspiration of the type of surfaces I wanted to photograph so I would be more intentional with where I was looking
EBI: I should have had inspiration of the type of surfaces I wanted to photograph so I would be more intentional with where I was looking
Development 1 - Surface
I chose to develop the strand surface, and photograph a more specific genre of objects. However this time, I would collate an artificial surface via the objects trapped in ice, with only some texture poking out. My expression of surface in this development, was quite denotative with with an interesting context. I chose to do this in relation to Bruce Boyd as I loved how the flowers we're trapped in ice yet they still had their character in colour, texture and shape.
Bruce Boyd - Zero Degrees
Bruce Boyd is a South African photographer who creates fine art photography. He does this in his " Zero degrees" project in collaboration with his wife, Artist Tharen Smith, by freezing diverse flower arrangements overnight and then at dawn submerging it into bodies of water. This allows for cracks to form in a unique way each time resulting in what he called “a painting made by camera”. Boyd wants us to consider the preserved beauty that is seen in his images, the texture, colour, bubbles, wrinkles etc that is encapsulated in this ice block before it is melting back into its natural state that will eventually wilt.
Boyd is considering the purpose of flowers in everyday life i.e. a gift, a souvenir to characterise an a special occasion etc and how it is sad to see such beauty die. Therefore the attempt to freeze the flowers is an attempt to preserve them in their most beautiful state. This is seen in his images as the flowers are held in a stationery position when the water freeze, including their vibrancy, life, shape, texture etc. However, when he puts these projects in bodies of water he is able to witness its final state in life but also the wilting process unto death. Additionally Boyd found it fascinating how ice can preserve something but also enhance and or distort its beauty.
Boyd used a plastic container and a freezer as tools in the making process as well as a digital camera. Artist Tharen Smith also intentionally makes flower arrangements of different colours, sizes and shapes and they include coloured background in their images to bring out the centre piece as much as possible. With the use of water at the end, a sea through yet partially opaque effect is created, in additions to some of the objects submerged under the ice but some poking out. This intentionality intensifies and prolongs the viewers reflection on such beauty, thus supporting Bruce Boyd’s point of capturing the essence, life, vibrancy etc of the flower.
Boyd is considering the purpose of flowers in everyday life i.e. a gift, a souvenir to characterise an a special occasion etc and how it is sad to see such beauty die. Therefore the attempt to freeze the flowers is an attempt to preserve them in their most beautiful state. This is seen in his images as the flowers are held in a stationery position when the water freeze, including their vibrancy, life, shape, texture etc. However, when he puts these projects in bodies of water he is able to witness its final state in life but also the wilting process unto death. Additionally Boyd found it fascinating how ice can preserve something but also enhance and or distort its beauty.
Boyd used a plastic container and a freezer as tools in the making process as well as a digital camera. Artist Tharen Smith also intentionally makes flower arrangements of different colours, sizes and shapes and they include coloured background in their images to bring out the centre piece as much as possible. With the use of water at the end, a sea through yet partially opaque effect is created, in additions to some of the objects submerged under the ice but some poking out. This intentionality intensifies and prolongs the viewers reflection on such beauty, thus supporting Bruce Boyd’s point of capturing the essence, life, vibrancy etc of the flower.
In this task my objective was to photograph a handpicked arrangement of flowers in water and freeze it for a set time, then experiment by take pictures of the object, putting it in bodies of water, manually cracking it etc.
Process:
I began by using many plant resources for example Greens of Highgate flower shop. as well as handpicking flowers growing in the Muswell hill area etc.
Then I began to envision the flower arrangements, considering colour, shape, height and the size of the casserole dish I used.
Process:
I began by using many plant resources for example Greens of Highgate flower shop. as well as handpicking flowers growing in the Muswell hill area etc.
Then I began to envision the flower arrangements, considering colour, shape, height and the size of the casserole dish I used.
Afterwards I filled the empty ceramic dish with water, and carefully recreated the image I previously took a picture of; and added more water where necessary to make sure I had a healthy amount of the flowers submerged in the water, only leaving out some for textural purposes. In this process I reflected on the design of nature, as when I was placing the flowers in water with only a little bit of assistance it was as if the water was already restricting the flowers position.
After arrangement in the water, an hour later I began to monitor the progress of the work, seeing how it was freezing.
After arrangement in the water, an hour later I began to monitor the progress of the work, seeing how it was freezing.
Contact sheet 1
First attempt :
My first arrangement was more simplistic as I was experimenting with this new technique. I also wanted to see how the flowers and water will interact with each other based on how much I submerged the flowers in water. When I took the object out of the freezer, I let it melt in the ceramic dish but also put water ontop of it to assist the melting process. I also experimented by adding more flowers ontop of the ice block and used the pink flower as a subtle dye aswell as adding curry power to add more colour. After taking more pictures, I began to crack the ice block randomly until I was satisfied with the cracks made.
From my first attempt, I would have taken more images without the added curry powder, as at times I thought the added orange colour was overpowering with the pink flowers. To overcome this, I used a pink tea towel as a backdrop which complimented the colours on the ice block (I then decided to also experiment with coloured backgrounds later using
card). However, I enjoyed the process of cracking the block and how this affected the back of the ice block. Additionally, I liked how the flower was partially submerged in the water, which meant there was more texture in the image.
My first arrangement was more simplistic as I was experimenting with this new technique. I also wanted to see how the flowers and water will interact with each other based on how much I submerged the flowers in water. When I took the object out of the freezer, I let it melt in the ceramic dish but also put water ontop of it to assist the melting process. I also experimented by adding more flowers ontop of the ice block and used the pink flower as a subtle dye aswell as adding curry power to add more colour. After taking more pictures, I began to crack the ice block randomly until I was satisfied with the cracks made.
From my first attempt, I would have taken more images without the added curry powder, as at times I thought the added orange colour was overpowering with the pink flowers. To overcome this, I used a pink tea towel as a backdrop which complimented the colours on the ice block (I then decided to also experiment with coloured backgrounds later using
card). However, I enjoyed the process of cracking the block and how this affected the back of the ice block. Additionally, I liked how the flower was partially submerged in the water, which meant there was more texture in the image.
https://youtube.com/shorts/gGzVgQUjoWA?feature=share
Design 1
In this first experiment, I believe my flower arrangement in contrast to the pink background worked well, however next time I would use a plain background to get a more seamless result.
Contact sheet 2
Design 2
Improving from experiment 1, I made backdrops with various coloured card which changed the sculpture's initial undertones hence the images became more interesting . However in my next experiment I would put the ice block back in the freezer throughout the shoot in order to avoid any melting as I found that this makes the sculptures look more glossy.
Contact sheet 3
Design 3
Contact sheet 4
Design 4
In conclusion, I recognised my improvement throughout the the 4 designs, as in the last design I made sure to keep the ice dry by putting it back into the freezer every now and again. Even when the ice started to melt, I was intentional with the lighting so the ice wouldn't reflect too much light, and overall I was able to successfully experiment with different backgrounds.
Final Edits
The subject I chose to photograph suited the theme as I was trapping various flowers in the medium of ice, and through several experimentations I figured out what composition would work best for example standing up instead of laying flat as the sculptures reflected less light hence the images came out better. I also used coloured backgrounds which added the the ice's colours and vibrancy, so the images became more interesting .
Development 2 - Mary Kocol - Ice Garden
Mary Kocol is an American photographer based in Somerville, Massachusetts who creates documentary images in a way. This is seen in her project " Ice Garden ", where Kocol freeze varied flowers in ice and uses analogue photography in order to document work that will surprise and inspire her. In this experimentation, we can't tell whether or not the flowers are blooming or fading etc. There is also an ominous nature to the images as we don't know when the ice set in that we don't know if the ice froze the flowers just before decay. In this, the viewers are challenged to consider the the fragility of life, and its beauty etc. Kocol also considers the Victorian era fascinations with the language of flowers and the attempt to preserve that which is temporal. This is shown by the variation of flowers in her images and the different ways they react to the ice, almost communicating different things. Mary Kocol was interested in this topic because her mother died at the end of may when spring was in full bloom, and ironically " the garden looked especially beautiful the week she passed". Therefore this series was made as a way of preserving her garden and coping with loss. Kocol works with analogue photography as opposed to digital. This creates a level of surprise and more experimentation to her work. Kocol also uses a toy camera with a plastic lens. She uses this method to revel in the imperfections of the camera and use its vagarious sharpness as a creative tool.
This series by Kocol is a lead on from my work on Bruce Boyd, however contextually though she is still freezing flowers in ice, the flowers are not full recognizable and in this I want to take a more abstract approach i.e the subject in the ice doesn't need to look like a flower anymore. This will then make my transition from flowers to humans more seamless as my focus is no longer flowers but the frozen moment, and the moment is not limited to flowers.
For this work, I used mini glass containers that were more cuboid in structure. Then I placed some flower petals on the faces of the glass, then filled some of the gaps with water.
contact sheet
Final Edits
Conclusively, I really liked the lines the ice created in the sculptures, I also like how the ice almost blurs the structure of the flowers as it makes the flowers less distinct in nature.
Development 3 - Alban Grosdidier
Alban Grossdier is a French photographer who creates metamorphic images in his series "Drowning". He does this by submerging his subjects in water, wanting us to consider the semantic context, that is the feeling of drowning and being overwhelmed in a big city like Paris. In this, Grossdier considers a the French phrase "having your head under water" which connotes the consequences of city life, through working a lot etc. In one of the images below it is as if the girl has begun to day dream and just disconnect from her reality i.e the city life. Being a French photographer, Grossdier was interested in this topic as he lives in Paris and has most likely been on the front lines of the life in Paris.
To support Grossdiers intentions he took around 600 pictures with eight models and went through a rigirous selection process with only 10 pictures kept. He also told the models to do a sequence of movements not a set pose so he could take several images and keep a dynamic between the water and the models. This allowed the combination between the water, light and models to beautifully interact and fit in with his objective of drowning.
To support Grossdiers intentions he took around 600 pictures with eight models and went through a rigirous selection process with only 10 pictures kept. He also told the models to do a sequence of movements not a set pose so he could take several images and keep a dynamic between the water and the models. This allowed the combination between the water, light and models to beautifully interact and fit in with his objective of drowning.
My intention was to respond to Grossdier, because I saw the link between my work with ice and his work with water and I really liked how his images almost communicated a story like the first image with the couple. I wanted my next piece of work to also communicate a message (which is subject to the person viewing it ) however I still continued to portray ice as my "surface" instead of water.
Set up :
Contact sheet
Editing
I set out to firstly take images of people with different expressions behind tracing paper to imitate ice as a barrier, I also used two studio lights. This layed the foundation for my attempt to portray ice. Then I edited these images, using several tools such as exposure, brilliance, highlights, black point saturation and sharpness. I found this to increase the white texture on the subjects hair and face which imitated frost. I also made sure to use some of saturation and vibrancy to keep a-bit of colour in their face. Resultantly, the images looked like the people were trapped in ice.... hence the frozen moments.
Final Ice edits
Experimentation
I put the printed ice-like images into a hollow amount of water that submerged some parts of the picture.
Then I froze the image which resulted in this frozen shape different frozen shapes that were distorted.
I plan to continue to submerge the images unevenly in more water and freeze it.
Then I froze the image which resulted in this frozen shape different frozen shapes that were distorted.
I plan to continue to submerge the images unevenly in more water and freeze it.
Experimentation - contact sheet
Final Edits
I believe this experimentation was very successful, as in the second image not everything was submerged in water which created texture. Carrying on with this idea of texture and perhaps crumpling, will allow me to explore the theme of distortion more.
Development 5 - Nigel Tomm
Nigel Tomm is an artist who creates 3D abstract images. He uses a digital camera and the crumpletogrophy method, to manipulate the images, resulting in a distorted and connotative picture. Tomm uses models, but then distorts their appearances to the viewers so perhaps he wants us to consider beauty standards, and how real beauty showcases imperfections. If anything, Tomms’ manipulated version of the image where "beauty" is mixed with "ugliness", looks better than the original as there is more depth and character in these images.
I was inspired by Tomms’ distorted work, as I found the result simplistic yet so creative. Additionally, as an artist link, his work allowed me to begin focusing on distortion as a theme and how the people in the image would look in this frozen moment.
I was inspired by Tomms’ distorted work, as I found the result simplistic yet so creative. Additionally, as an artist link, his work allowed me to begin focusing on distortion as a theme and how the people in the image would look in this frozen moment.
contact sheet
Final Edits
I used the frozen images from development 3 and used a crumpletogrophy method. Interestingly, crumpling the images changed the structure of the persons face and how I perceived them.
Development 6 - Brendan Austin
In Paper mountains, Austin explored what we mean by “nature” and the way humans have impacted upon it. He also used his resulting images to depict how a real image of a mountain or a crumpled up piece of paper imitating the structure of a mountain are equally as recognisable landscapes despite the artifice. Hence, Austin attempts to build a story of an alternate nature. By exploring ideas that provoke the questioning of truth in photographic reproduction, and blurring the boundaries between fiction and non-fiction. This could make the viewer consider question the things we see on this world perhaps on social media for example and question what is real/artificial.
At this stage, I had the images previous ice images printed out on tissue paper and then crumpled them again to imitate mountain like structures.
Contact sheet
Final Edits
Upon reflection, I would have re-printed the pictures on more firm material like normal paper so it could be moulded into a structure more easily. I also would have used tissue paper in the gaps and around the images so the picture to look more like a continuous image of mountains. I would have also printed the images landscape instead of portrait. However, in this first shoot I was able to stand the images next to each other in a towering position and I also liked the slight tint on my images.
Final Piece
For my final piece, I decided to blow up my Nigel tomm inspired pieces which would further enhance the crinkles, and distorted result of the images. To do this I used photoshop to cut the images into 4 then this was printed onto a newspaper material in the size A4 for each 1/4 of the image.
Process :
Then when I had the "blown up" printed images, I carefully removed the newspaper side from the normal paper it was attached to. Then I assembled the picture as shown below.
Final Images
In this project I explored the theme “Frozen Moment” and people's desire to remain in certain stages in life despite the inevitable change that occurs with time no matter what. Though a flower started out blossoming and beautiful with time it will eventually wilt and change, however "wilting" is a subjective term in this project and the latter stage of someones life may actually be more beautiful than the former. My first image (the flower trapped in ice) represents the stages in life people want to stay in perhaps due to the good memories, lack of stress etc however as time goes on the ice begins to melt and the flower begins to wilt and change shape hence the change from image 3 to image 5 below. Therefore this project is more so the attempt to "Freeze the Moment" whilst having to experience and accept the changes that come despite the attempt.
The Whole Development of "The Frozen Moment"