Laura Letinsky
Laura Letinsky is best known for her still life photographs. In the early days of her career she took pictures of couples in their daily lives and at home, however she later moved on to objects, a stained napkin, half eaten food, orange peels, and cutlery that hinted at human presence. Letinsky wants us to consider how the narrative has already happened, the meal has already been finished and something has been consumed, focusing on what remains. She uses lots of light and high exposure on her images.
"Still life increasingly drew my interest. It interests me as a genre in the same way that concepts of love interest me—its association with the feminine, its characterization as 'less important,' its affiliations with domesticity and intimacy."
What Were Laura Letinsky's Intentions?
Her intention was to hint at human presence in her photos of cutlery and napkins without showing people.She says that it suggests larger narratives, that the situations already occurred, the meal has been eaten, the cornucopia has been consumed, something has been consummated, and this is what's left in the early morning light. I also believe her intention is to play with ideas of perception and the forgotten details of daily existence.
What Wider Context Was Laura Letinsky Addressing?
The wider context of Laura's images are to explore the relationship between materials and images, as she extracts images from existing imagery in magazines of food and domestic objects. She brings attention to the moment after, foods and leftovers. Her work never shows the human subject, but the notion of people are always still included. This also includes pictures which are off putting and aesthetic at the same time.
Do I like Laura Letinsky's work?
My favourite thing about this artists work are the light colour tones and how food is presented in not just a messy way, but a human way that every day life at a dinner table can relate to. I like the fact that no people are ever included in the pictures, but instead the remains and aftermath of human activity.
Laura Letinsky's Photos
Task
Photograph the aftermath of a meal or snack, arrange objects so they seem balancing on the edge of a table. Create similar setups
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- Food items
- Cutlery
- My kitchen
- A good light source
- A camera
Laura Letinsky: My Response (Unedited)
Laura Letinsky: My Response (Edited)
Extended Task
I've chosen to colour co-ordinate my photoshoots with items in the kitchen listed by colour
Pink + White
What Are The Items Used In This Photoshoot?
- Table salt
- A pink glass
- A pink powder
- Soya Sauce
- Spices
Blue
What Items Are Used In This Photoshoot?
- A box of Philadelphia
- Hand wash
- A knife (In the theme of Laura Letinsky leaving some foods uneaten I made sure the cutlery was used)
- Cornflour
- A blue tub
- A blue glass
Yellow
What Are The Items Used In This Photoshoot?
- Half of a lemon
- A yellow mug
- A yellow paper
- Spices inside a face shaped container
Red
What Are The Items Used In This Photoshoot?
- An apple
- Half a pepper
- An onion
- A penguin chocolate
- A red mug
- Oven gloves
Green
What Are The Items Used In This Photoshoot?
- A nature valley crunchy bar
- A green lid
- A cucumber
- An apple
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: The range of colours and differently positioned angles
EBI: To improve I would not take pictures that are too up close and better quality images
EBI: To improve I would not take pictures that are too up close and better quality images
What Compositional Techniques Have Been Used?
- Balance: I have tried balancing the objects so they are of equal weight on either side of the frame
- Layers: There aren't layers included in this photoshoot
- Triangles: Haven't been used in this photoshoot
- Rule Of Third: Hasn't been used in this photoshoot
Jan Groover
Jan Groover is an American photographer best known for her kitchen still life in 1978 and 1979. She uses cutlery like knives, forks and spatulas. Her work features every day objects, experimenting with space and illusion. She used 20th century camera technology for elongated, horizontal presentations. She explored the study of motions through conceptual series of images showing the movement of cars, displaying the colours as they pass through the frame. This highlights Groover's main interest of working with colour and their ability to create compositons.
""Each object has a certain kind of physical characteristic. A lemon lies down. It can’t do anything else, but lie down. An apple sits. So all these objects have these attitudes. The objects talk to each other, and it’s either one special relationship or the other, that I don’t know how to talk about. But I know it’s there."
What Were Jan Groover's Intentions?
Her aim was to link her work to the 1970's feminist debate. It showed kitchen utensils and cutlery used in every day life and the kitchen utensils of the housewife piling up on the sink. This is in relation to the light, colours and structures of her pictures. It also subtly connects to the feminist debate through the inspiration of photographers like Martha Rosler's semiotics of the kitchen.
What Wider Context Was Jan Groover Addressing?
To capture the aftermath of daily life, eating meals and leaving the plates and cutlery in a sink, but in a minimalistic way as the colours of the staged objects like utensils show her interest in formal composition, and the mystifying scenes allow the viewer to question if these objects are recognizable or in your imagination. Furthermore, Jan Groover introduced colour photography in her work in the 1970's at a time where other photographers were still trying to legitimize their place in the art world. After her kitchen still life, Groover helped colour work with commercial photography to be taken as something seriously and a real art.
Do I like Jan Groover's Work?
Even though I do enjoy some of the visuals in Jan Groovers work, it's not my favourite choice of photographer. In my individual photoshoots I didn't feel like there was much flexibility in what I could do, and working with cutlery didn't draw my interest as much as other photographers.
Task
Place a number of items in your kitchen sink, consider different shapes and colours of the objects, also consider how items interact with each other
Jan Groover's Photos:
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- Knives
- Forks
- A sink
- Plates
- Pots/pans
- A camera
- A whisk
Jan Groover: My Response (Unedited)
Jan Groover: My Response (Edited)
Second Response
Evaluation: How Have I Developed My Photoshoots?
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: What I like about this are the display of different kitchen items and the water included
EBI: If there was more colour and range of lighting I think that would enhance my pictures
EBI: If there was more colour and range of lighting I think that would enhance my pictures
Robert Holden
Robert Holden is an American photographer that focuses on documenting items to travel experiences through his emotional, narrative style. He is also a journeyer and environmentalist, his work revolves around the humanistic idea of travel, the journey and the encounter are his main themes he explores. is photographic approach Robert Holden takes is emotional and subjective.
"It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable and sentimental"
What Were Robert Holden's Intentions?
His intention was to put the viewer in the perspective of someone that had their house burning down and the precious items we'd take with us. It encapsulates interests and character description of the person through the reflection of what things we choose to prioritise. This work has more layers to it than just the image, because you're also putting yourself in the position and imagining a scenario which brings Holden's work to life in a different way. You see the image from more than one angle.
What Wider Context Was Robert Holden Addressing?
I believe Robert Holden wanted to convey a persons character and personality based off their belongings and how it acts as a lens into our life and what kind of person we are. For example the wider context of saving items like headphones allows the viewer to understand this person enjoys listening to music and does on a regular basis. Moreover, another item was a guitar which could also suggest this person is musically inclined. It builds a theme and allows you to relate or know the person without having to see or hear them which is a powerful tool in Holden's photography.
Do I like Robert Holden's work?
Although the visual aesthetics of Robert Holden's photography aren't my favourite I still enjoy the idea of being in a situation and imagining yourself in it, like a burning house and thinking about what possessions you would take. I think it adds more interest and value into his work unlike other photographers that leave less context for their work.
Robert Holden's Photos
Task
Find a plain background and lay out ten 'burning house objects' consider lighting and avoid strong shadows.
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- Books
- A mask
- Tablets
- A clock
- gum
- Notebook
- Pens
Robert Holden: My Response (Unedited)
WWW: Range of different sizes, colours and shapes
EBI: Edit more images and unique arrangement
EBI: Edit more images and unique arrangement
Robert Holden: My Response (Edited)
Individual Items
There are some individual items I would take with me, inspired by Robert Holden.
Item 1
What Is This Image Of + Why Would I Keep It?
- This is in image of a lavender candle
- I would take it as important possession of mine because i tend to use candles a lot
Item 2
What Is This Image Of + Why Would I Keep It?
- This is an image of a mini clock
- I would use it every day as it's an essential item for timekeeping
Image 3
What Is This Image Of + Why Would I keep It?
- This is an image of a jewellery box
- It's important to me since I use the items in there every day and regularly have it with me
Image 4
What Is This Image Of + Why Would I Keep It?
- This is a reading book
- I enjoy reading and like to carry around a book, I think it would be an important item to take for entertainment
Image 5
What Is This Image Of + Why Would I Keep It?
- This is an image of a mask
- I thought it would be necessary to include a mask because it's mandatory in a lot of places so it would be vital to have this wherever I go
Image 6
What Is This Image Of + Why Would I Keep It?
- This is an image of hand gel
- I thought it would also be vital if i'm on-the go it's a popular item needed for everywhere
Image 7
What Is This Image Of + Why Would I Keep It?
- A toothbrush
- Another every day item you take overnight or if you're away
Image 8
What Is This Image Of + Why Would I Keep It?
- This is a picture of plasters
- As a measure of safety I thought bringing these would be needed, in case of injuries, especially in the burning house scenario that Robert Holden addresses
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: I like how each image looks slightly different with a different colouring over it and the different objects and shapes and sizes
EBI: To make these photos better I would use more objects and different backgrounds
EBI: To make these photos better I would use more objects and different backgrounds
Andre Kertesz
Andre Kertesz was a Hungarian photographer known for his contributions to photographic compositions. He is widely regarded as one of Europe's biggest photographic artists. He is best known for his contribution to photojournalism. It was not until 1964 that his photos began gaining recognition in the US, he eventually got his own show in the Museum of Modern art. During his early career his unique camera angles and style prevented him from becoming more known as his style wasn't recognised by other artists at the time.
"I just walk around, observing the subject from various angles until the picture elements arrange themselves into a composition that pleases my eye"
What Were Andre Kertesz's Intentions?
At the start of his career Andre's intentions were to infuse his work with crafted compositions based on geometry and form. He integrated these forms and shapes into the foreground and background to give more elegance and meaning to his subjects. He also took pictures of still lives and items that seemed simple like forks, glasses and flowers in his home. The way he composed these simple objects captures attention of an overlooked item of every day life. The photos are mysterious and is said to be a 'formal poetry'.
What Wider Context Was Andre Kertesz Adressing?
Kertesz endeavored 'to give meaning to everything' when he had his camera with him, he quotes 'to make photographs as by a reflection in a mirror, unmanipulated and direct as in life' this gave Andre's work a strong contrast between spontaneity tied with a sophisticated understanding of what composition is. 'You don't see the things you photograph, you feel them' .
Do I like Andre Kertesz's work?
I find Andre Kertesz's background and story of how he became a photographer and his experiences that led up to his career to be interesting, he is a huge name in photography and at first I didn't like his work or understand the context behind them, but after seeing more I do like a lot of his still life, shadow work, mirroring life images and distortion.
Andre Kertesz Photo's
Task
Take a series of pictures with close up cutlery, focus on shadows and how they're positioned against a plate
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- Forks
- A white bowl
- My kitchen
- Strong source of light
- A camera
Andre Kertesz: My Response (Unedited)
Andre Kertesz: My Response (Edited)
The fork series inspired by Andre Kertesz:
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: The shadows and different angles are what I like about my images
EBI: More images in colour would make my work better
EBI: More images in colour would make my work better
What Compositional Techniques Have Been used?
- Balance: I have tried balancing the forks on one side to make the proportions symmetrical
- Layers: There is not any layering in this photoshoot
- Triangles: There are no use of triangles in this photoshoot
- Rule Of Thirds: has been occasionally used
Luke Stephenson
Luke Stephenson is a London based photographer. He was born in North East England and his work epitomizes life in Britain where he focuses his style on up close, colourful portraits. His work has been published in a variety of publications including The Guardian and The New York Times.
"I like to collect things and have done so since I was a child, and I think photographers generally are collecters, they amass images from their work"
What Were Luke stephensons Intentions?
His intentions in the series of photos of a cornflake were to photograph the cereal and see how over time a food can change shape, colour, texture and other physical properties develop over a period of time. It's an interesting way of capturing change, just like humans change over time Stephenson has photographed food. You notice the colours and shapes changing in a way you don't notice in every day life.
What Wider Context Was Luke Stephenson Addressing?
In his work 'incomplete dictionary of show birds' Luke was inspired by the hobby of bird keeping. He took images of budgies first as they are a 'very common bird pet in the UK' He explained that initially he didn't know much about birds but he visited places that gave him more knowledge and discovered a 'hidden subculture' and found it to be very interesting. Stephenson decided he wanted to photograph canaries next as his interest developed and from there created a list of birds he was keen to photograph.
Do I Like Luke Stephenson's Work?
I like the bright colours in his work and some of the subjects and themes of nature he captures through birds. However, his portraiture style with the subject of his pictures being just one single object or food doesn't capture my interest like other photographers. I prefer more going on in the photo than focusing on a single item.
Luke Stephenson's Photos
Task
Take several pictures of the contents of a packet of foods like popcorn, cereal, crisps, etc. Make sure the background and lighting is uniform and upload them as a slideshow. Turn the pictures into a GIF.
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- Doritos
- A plain white background
- Good natural lighting
- A camera
Luke Stephenson: My Response (Edited)
Luke Stephenson: My Response (Edited GIF)
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: Plain white background and clear focus of the crisp
EBI: The lighting getting darker at one image and creating a shadow effect
EBI: The lighting getting darker at one image and creating a shadow effect
Second Response
Individual Pictures
GIF Format
Animation Speed: 250ms
Animation Speed: 100ms
Third Response
Edward Weston
Edward Weston was an American photographer of the early to mid 20th century, he is mainly known for his composed, up close and sharply focused pictures of landscapes. His style also consisted of carefully composed, sharply focused images of natural forms. This style developed in the 1920's and was influenced by Alfred Stieglitz. His aim was to give a new meaning to mundane objects.
"My true program is summed up in one word: life. I expect to photograph anything suggested by that word which appeals to me"
What Were Edward Weston's Intentions?
Edward Weston's had a modernist style, with large-format cameras and sharply focused, richly black and white detailed photos. It was highly influential and the aim was promoting unmanipulated images to encourage the audience to reflect on their daily surroundings with more appreciation and awareness. Weston says about his still-life work experimentation with fruits, vegetables and seashells “It is a classic, completely satisfying ‒ a pepper ‒ but more than a pepper; abstract, in that it is completely outside subject matter. It has no psychological attributes, no human emotions are aroused: this new pepper takes one beyond the world we know in the conscious mind.”
What Wider Context Was Edward Weston Addressing?
In Edward's journal he wrote that his aim was to render the 'very substance and quintessence of the thing itself, whether it be polished steel or palpitating flesh' from here the photographer went on to capture pictures of seashells that were collected by his wife and photographer Tina Modotti, and in her words these seashells had been transformed into something 'mystical and erotic' I believe he wanted to see beyond what the human eye can see and give everything he photographed its own mystery and art.
Do I like Edward Weston's Work?
Due to how much Edward Weston helped revolutionize photography so that it became an important component of modern art, I like looking at his still-lifes of landscapes, fruits and much more. On his trip in Mexico, Edward Weston started to sharpen the straight photography way of taking pictures that he had begun to develop before his trip to New York. He took pictures of people he met and of objects and buildings. His pictures represented the true nature of his subjects.Furthermore, Weston also captured images of cultural objects, this was called 'folk art'. This made many other artists reconsider the importance and value of folk art and helped them to realize that traditional forms of art are equally as important as art displayed in museums.
Edward Weston's Photos
Task
Set up objects in a plain background, light them using a torch or phone. Create a series of shadows that fall, underneath or against a chosen fruit/vegetable.
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- Pineapple
- Orange
- A pepper
- A red apple
- A green apple
- Kiwi
- Lemon
Edward Weston: My Response (Unedited)
Edward Weston: In Colour Response
I want to add some more in colour responses with different fruits before the edited responses in black and white to fully replicate Edward Weston's work.
Orange
Green Apple
Kiwi
Lemon
Yellow Pepper
Red Apple
Edward Weston: My Response (Edited)
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: A good fruit with a variety of patterns, different angles and contrast added. It is close up and far away to show the textures and colours but also shadows and different uses of light
EBI: Crop out background better so images are neater and the framing is better
EBI: Crop out background better so images are neater and the framing is better
David Hockney
David Hockney is connected to the pop art movement. This movement was interested in responding to portraiture. Hockney created photo-joiners where photographs are taken of the same object from different perspectives. The images are then collaged together to recreate the place, person or object even though they may look distorted. This work connects with the cubist movement, one of Hockney's major aims. Here is some of his work:
"People feel that the world depicted through photography is absolutely real. But it’s not. That’s just an aspect of reality."
What Were David Hockney's intentions?
One of the main aims of the Photojoiners project was to take photos from different perspectives at different times and discuss 'the way human vision works'. It's been said that the varied exposures on each individual photograph that make up the full picture and collage give each piece of work a 'fluidity' and 'movement'. The idea behind Hockney's grids was to include multiple reference points in photography, to make it 'cubist'. Cubism helped objects and figures together in the same image through blending or collages. It results in paintings that seem fragmented and abstracted.
What Wider Context Was David Hockney Addressing?
Hockney, through his photojoiner work, managed to introduce three elements which a single photograph can't have, that being layered time, space and narrative. The context behind beginning this project was Hockney saying he didn't like the photographs which have been produced by wide angle lens, saying that the images came out 'distorted' and the perspective of the image is limited by using this medium. He created this effect out of twenty four polaroid prints because of his interest in how we turn a three dimensional world in a two dimensional image.
Do I Like David Hockney's Work?
I like David Hockney's work for the experimentation in different angles, perspectives and how he fragments the images into smaller segments.
Task
Photograph an object from different angles, take several pictures.
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- Different rooms in my home
- A camera
- Strong lighting
David Hockney: My Response (Unedited)
David Hockney: My Response (Edited)
What went well + Even Better If
WWW: I like the variety of different spaces, colours and angles
EBI: More photos joined together and looked connected instead of random rearrangement
EBI: More photos joined together and looked connected instead of random rearrangement
Lauren Marek
Lauren Marek is a Texas based photographer specialising in portraiture, editorials, and events. Lauren is interested in gesture, action and people's complex range of emotions. She does this by compiling images of different body parts and creating up close collages. Another part of her work includes focusing on small details, gesture and action. She likes to photograph something right after an event happens to capture a moment better.
"I think the goal is to be in the moment. I’m an observer. I don’t usually go out of my way to create scenes or shots, but I try to find them and capture them as they are.
What Were Lauren Marek's Intentions?
Lauren Marek herself stated that the intention behind photographing so much of people and human faces is because she's interested in gesture and action. She enjoys capturing something that's about to happen or right after it happens. Marek says 'people are complex with such a range of emotions-there's always something new to capture.' I believe her work is authentic and collect moments from life that reflect every day life, emotions, faces, objects, reactions.
What Wider Context Was Lauren Marek Addressing?
Lauren stated that she draws inspiration from family, 'middle school' and Texas where she grew up. She also went on to explain that her photoshoots vary from using iphones to SLR's. Marek explained how the mobile phone process is very quick and efficient, she edits and uploads images on the same day. On the other hand, for her full frame photography she said she tends to be very 'methodical' with her photos and carefully editing them. This is why lauren went on to say how she prefers using the Iphone recently because it's less time consuming and she uses 'VSCO cam' as well. VSCO is an editing app where you can edit and upload pictures, which she uses as another resource for her work.
Do I like Lauren Marek's Work?
Although Lauren Marek's work didn't stand out to me as much as other photographers, I think her more casual approach to photography and use of phone cameras, photographing things that a lot of people do in every day life make her pictures more authentic and sentimental. She is capturing her family and friends faces and reactions as well as random moments from her day to day life which make it relatable to the viewer that's looking at the picture. This is in the same way that we have camera rolls on our phones and document photos and recording videos of things that we see or like around us. I like that the pictures are never over-edited and there isn't such a wider context to the pictures, it's more what meets the eye that is all the pictures are actually about. This more relaxed approach to photography makes it distinctive because we can relate with the simplicity of the pictures.
Lauren Marek's Photos
*We have been looking at three photographers, Lauren marek, Chad Pitman and Jesse Draxler who all have a very similar style of photography. A photoshoot was not required for this artist as I've done photoshoots instead for the other two photographers, as they are focused on the same subjects
Chad Pitman
Chad Pitman is an American photographer that discovered his interest in photography through his father's love for taking pictures. Chad went on to study colour theory and photographic arts in Boston, where shortly after he moved to New York. His trademark style includes the application of paint to photographic prints, high sensitivity colour and capturing up close and personal shots of human faces.
"I look at my work as a sort of journal. Each part of it is related to something going on in my life."
What Were Chad Pitman's Intentions?
I believe Chad PItman wants to capture the most distinctive and characterizing facial features and details of who he photographs. The feeling of closeness is emerged by the emphasis on certain items of clothing and body parts. PItman, in an interview, explains that 'only in the most intimate moments, we have the possibility to get close to someone's waist, their belt, hands and mouth.' This shows that the meaning behind these detailed shots of people's faces is to grasp every feature and appreciate the finer characteristics of our face that go unnoticed.
What Wider Context Was Chad Pitman Addressing?
Pitman explained that by nature he studied people and because he had to move around a lot growing up, he learnt to 'find footing' and blend in in new towns and areas. More context behind his project on human bodies and faces are how he feels being a photographer changes the way he sees the world, in people doing acitivties like shopping and things that might seem mundane and uninteresting but he finds in art in the different stages of human life and the simple things he sees around him for inspiration.
Do I Like Chad Pitman's Work?
I like that his style of photography and project that focused on people and capturing precise details of a person changed his view of the word and ade him more observant in every day life. Even for things that seem mundane or uninteresting to everyone else, activties like someone shopping or driving. In an interview Pitman said I'm at the grocery store thinking about how amazing some old man looks as he is leaning heavily on his shopping cart, staring out, wandering the aisles. Or some kid on the street that is just so cool but doesn't know it.'
Chad Pitman Photo's
Task
Use a member of your family and take a series of up close images of their face/chosen body parts. Take the images in isolation and then place them next to each other.
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- A model
- Close up pictures of each feature
- A plain background
- A camera
Chad Pitman: My Response (Unedited)
Chad Pitman: My response (Edited)
WWW: Plain background and close views of each facial feature
EBI: Stronger focus on the eye pictures, less blurry
EBI: Stronger focus on the eye pictures, less blurry
GIF
a slower version:
Photojoiners
Development
Jesse Draxler
Jesse Draxler is a contemporary photographer that works in many different mediums, his style combines collaged photography and paintings. His abstract outtake on his pictures are created by distorting and overlapping bodies to form abstract, creature like-beings.
What artists link to this?
A few artists that link to Jesse Draxler are Chad Pitman and Lauren Marek. The intimate style of up close, detailed visuals of human faces and drawing attention to features that you don't take notice of in every day life creates the similarity between the photographers. Specifically Jesse Draxler and Chad Pitman explore distinctive characteristics and tackle the ideas of beauty and sexuality in their work. The main difference in their photography is the contrast between Jesse's dark, monochromatic and visually challenging pieces versus Chad's attention to high sensitivity of colour and the application of paint to his photographic prints.
Why do I like this?
I enjoy this specific style because it brings out the stuff you ignore in daily life and captures significantly more detail than the human eye percieves. This kind of camera shot in television and film generally is used to convey emotion and a connection with the audience almost as if the viewers are seeing the perspective of the character.
What is my photoshoot plan?
I plan to individually photograph my family members facial features and compile them in collages together to create a distorted, dreamlike effect
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- A model
- A plain background
- a strong light source
- A camera
Jesse Draxler: My Response (Unedited)
Second Response
Third Response
Jesse Draxler: My response (Edited)
Image 1: A compilation of eyes from friends and family as well as my cat. I like the mixture of blues, greens, light browns and dark browns
Image 2: I've used my friend and my eye, mums lips, friends ear and brothers nose to make a full face. Next time I would find a way to lower the exposure and try and combine the different skin colours
Image 3: A picture of my cats eye with the background of my eye overlapping each other in a collage with my dads eye too. I like the way the main focus of the picture is my cats eye and it's bold in black and white with a coloured background.
Image 4: I have combined a total of about eight eye pictures and blended them all with similar colours to create a hazy dreamy effect, there's a mixture of human and animal eyes. The blue in the center is a mixture of about five different eyes merged into one.
Image 5: My dads eye collaged over my sisters eye, I like the creepy effect it gives the picture. It was quite difficult to blend the eyes together and multiply them in a smooth way.
Image 6: This was originally a picture of my cats eye overlapped with other facial features like my mum and sisters lips, my eyes. I like that the more you focus and look at the picture the more features of human and animal you can see, it shows the contrast between the two
Image 7: My dads eye with my eye surrounding it, the difference in colours and shades and surrounding colours make it a more striking image
Image 8: Multiple pictures of my cats eye duplicated and overlaying it.
Image 9: Multiple eye pictures within a black and white photo of my cats eye. This has a combination of about five other human eyes.
Image 10: Different colours, lighting and ages of human eyes.
Image 11: My eye multiplied over my dads eye, some images are more faded and others more blunt, lighter and darker.
Image 13: Sister and mums lips overlapped with hands as well in the background, some images brighter and others darker.
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: Using a variety of people's features and experimenting different styles
EBI: Blending the pictures together smoothly so you can't see the overlapping
EBI: Blending the pictures together smoothly so you can't see the overlapping
Ed Ruscha
Ed Ruscha is an American artist associated with the pop art movement. He specialised in painting and drawing, with his main focuses covering colour, font, composition and other visual effects. From the late 1960's to the mid 1970's Ruscha painted in alternative mediums as gunpowder, food, condiments and blood. He uses these materials to reflect contemporary American life, what people ate and used every day. Ruscha has influenced artists worldwide and is considered to be one of the most important figures in contemporary history.
What Artists Link To This?
Some photographers that link to this are Edward Weston and Andre Kertesz. Edward Weston was also an American photographer that had works of soft focus pictorialism that was popular at the time. They both focused on carefully composed, detailed and focused images. Another similarity shared between the two artists are their most famous works which are up close shots of buildings.
Why Do I Like This?
I enjoy Ed Ruscha's art style based on the use of imagery and techniques that's also commonly seen in commercial art (like advertising) and his love for popular culture and every day surroundings connects him with the pop art genre. Ruscha was an influential figure to the development of conceptual art through his depiction of words and phrases, which set him apart from many photographers in the 60's and 70's.
What Is My Photoshoot Plan?
To take both black and white and in colour pictures of the objects found in my cupboards.
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- Glasses
- Tins
- kitchen cutlery
- Jars
- Fruits
- A kitchen counter
Ed Ruscha: My Response (Unedited)
Ed Ruscha: My Response (Edited)
Second Response
Evaluation: How Have My Photoshoot Been Developed?
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: I love the range of different kitchen products and the use of colour and B&W on the white table
EBI: More angles that give a diverse selection of pictures
EBI: More angles that give a diverse selection of pictures
What Compositional Techniques Have Been Used?
Balance: Balance has occasionally been used
Layers: Have not been used in this photoshoot
Triangles: No triangles have been used in this photoshoot
Rule Of 3rd: In a few pictures for instance the grey mug the rule of third has been applied
Layers: Have not been used in this photoshoot
Triangles: No triangles have been used in this photoshoot
Rule Of 3rd: In a few pictures for instance the grey mug the rule of third has been applied
Steve Purnell
Steve Purnell is an optical illusion based photographer focusing on visual art.He lives in South Wales and was heavily influenced through the photographic background of his father. He mainly uses bottles and glasses to convey a distorted effect through water. His photos are taken in black and white striped backgrounds to enhance the photos. His images have been featured in many magazines and has taken several prizes at the Bedwellty Agricultural Show in the photography section and winning 'Best photograph on show'. His latest work 'Adventures from Smallville' show a range of 319 brightly coloured homes, scenes at graveyards at night, skeletons.
What Were Steve Purnell's Intentions?
Steve Purnell has said that his father was a keen photographer and Steve was used for many wedding photo shoots. Through his help and surrounding of photography he gained an interest and purchased a DSLR camera in 2007 and Purnell says his 'hobby reawakened'. His intention is to photograph a brand range of subjects as he says that 'he doesn't feel photography should be limited to one specific genre.' He enjoys processing the images in multiple styles to keep his photographic style fresh.
What Wider Context Was Steve Purnell Addressing?
Steve Purnell draws inspiration from all experiences in life, from optical illusions, abstract fractal art, kitchen art and smoke art. Purnell says that he wants to bring something new to the table with his unique pictures of smoke trails from an incense stick. In doing this, the photographers aim was to turn different shapes into humanoid forms. Upon publishing these websites, it led online arts and fashion magazines to contact Purnell. The artist made other pieces of art in his portfolio including 'Adventures from Smallville' which was insight to his self created world of miniature models. He wanted to make wall art and create aesthetically pleasing imagery. In addition, Steve made another project of work he titled 'The Smoke Guru' that features a range of abstract smoke images.
Steve Purnell's Photos
Task
Create a series of patterned images using different backgrounds through glass distortion
What Will I Need For This Photoshoot?
- A glass
- A patterned background
- Strong lighting
- A camera
Steve Purnell: My Response (Unedited)
Steve Purnell: My Response (Edited)
Second Response
Third Response
Evaluation: How Have My Photoshoots Been Developed?
What Went Well + Even Better If
WWW: In focus images
EBI: to improve these pictures I would create a wider variety of angles from different points and more backgrounds
EBI: to improve these pictures I would create a wider variety of angles from different points and more backgrounds
What Compositional Techniques Have Been Used?
- Balance: I have tried to evenly place the glass in the middle of the frame using balance
- Layers: In front of the backdrop I have used the wine glass so there's an element of layering involved
- Triangles: Have not been featured in this photoshoot
- Rule Of Third: Has rarely been used