Daily Archives: January 17, 2018

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Analysis

Critical image analysis

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METHODOLOGY OF ANALYSIS

Describing ~ FORM ~ What is here? What am I looking at?

Interpreting ~ MEANING ~ What is it about?

Evaluating ~ JUDGEMENT ~ How good is it?

Theorizing ~ CONTEXT ~ Is it art? How does it relate to the history and theory of photography, art and culture?

 

FORM

This photo has been spread over two A4 pages. It has a white frame and has been photographed in color. The photo is taken from inside the house looking out at a man who seems to be deep in thought. The subject is at the center of the image looking away from the camera. The sun is very bright causing an almost over exposed background. Due to it being taken behind a window it also caused glare. There are no bright colors only browns, blacks, greens and grays. The photo seems to be taken in a documentative style; not set up.

CONTEXT

This photo is from a collection that can be found in Laia Abril’s book ‘The Epilogue’. The subject of the photo is Cammy Robinson’s father Wejun. The book that features this photo is about Cammy and her lost battle against bulimia that lead to her death. The book is the aftermath of her death. The photos explore her families grief and the shock they felt. Abril has done two other projects on eating disorders this was here last project on subject so far.

MEANING

The photo is clearly of a grieving father. It’s a photo of those alone moments that many people have their life where they are just still. Those moments involve reflection, reflecting on the life one has lived, the regrets, the happy times, the deep frustration that may torment the soul. This is very much a happy/sad moment, this is displayed in the photo as there are neither really bright, saturated colors and the photo it not a dark photo either. I like the way the photo has been taken through a window as it’s almost as if, through the window, we get an insight to his raw emotions. The window represents more than just a glass plain it represents an emotional barrier that we are able to see through.

JUDGEMENT

The window works as a second frame causing us to focus on the man in the photo and really focus on his face. The color scheme of the photo displays a melancholy approach that works well, this may not have been planed however, it works. The main subject is at the center of the photo giving another way to tell the audience where to look. The subject is looking away from the camera allowing us to get sense that the subject does not know the camera is there and also showing us that he is not playing up to the camera. The over exposed sky allows the photo to still be bright but not too colorful. The photo is not like a tableaux photo that has been perfectly planned it’s a great documentative photo that has been well timed and framed allowing the photographer to convey the meaning they want to.

 

Analysis

critical image analysis // insomnia // Michal Konrad

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http://www.scopionetwork.com/node/1000#1

Another series that Michal Konrad created is called “Insomnia” Its this series that I am linking closely to because I love the influx of images that Michal captures. The main subject of Michal’s photography is the male form. Michal also uses the environment a lot within his work to inspire his ideas. He uses the environment to create these unique thought provoking portraits. His images have a surreal feel to them because they are his dream like visions.

According to Michal, the title Insomnia “shows the anxiety of the modern world caused by lies. The era in which we live is called energy. As far as man is concerned, it means his constant excitement.
Lots of information that constantly stimulate my brain. Ask yourself the question that is true and which is false? Where is the boundary between fiction and reality? Maybe I’m not real either? Maybe I’m not here? Maybe I just think I’m!”

Michal is questioning his existence by asking these questions. According to the internet, Insomnia means “habitual sleeplessness; inability to sleep”.  Michal uses the words “constant excitement”. I believe Michal is calling this series Insomnia because of the constant excitement caused by the world, and the confusion of our everyday lives causes our brains to constantly have an influx of thoughts. This perhaps would then cause us to have a sleepless night because of the endless thoughts moving around our heads.

This concept links to my personal study because Michal is using the process of the mind, and the emotion “excitement” to influence his series.  I love the way he uses the blur of the mind to represent the movement of thoughts. I am going to choose an image from this series to critically analyse.

The image above is the photo that I’ve chosen to do a critical analysis on. Its the most interesting and thought provoking one from the series.

~ FORM ~ The image above is a black and white portrait image. It’s a self portrait taken by Michal Konrad. He’s using the environment around him to simulate ideas. He’s used the puddle of water in front of him to create a reflection of his own body form. Within the image, Michal is captured in the mid air jumping. He’s deliberately kept a slow shutter speed so that the image of him is blurred.

~ MEANING ~ The image is from a series called Insomnia. The series is about how the lies from the modern world can cause anxiety. The series is trying to represent how the excitement and confusion of the world can cause Insomnia. Michal uses the blur of the head to symbolize the influx of thoughts. Within the series Michal is also questioning his existence by asking “Maybe I’m not real either? Maybe I’m not here?” 

~ JUDGEMENT ~ I really like the image by Michal because its a very thought provoking image. Although its a simple framing and simple form, the depth of analysis and meaning that Michal thinks about makes the image into a highly sophisticated one. The technical side of the image is very good, the environment around him is in focus, and Michal is blurred, however this was deliberate. I like how Michal decided to make it a black and white image because it highlights and really captures  the tones.

~ CONTEXT ~ This image and series from Michal Konrad relates to the history and theory of photography because they are all fundamentally self portraits of Michal.  Self-portrait is a representation of an artist that is drawn, painted, photographed, or sculpted by that artist. Although self-portraits have been made since the earliest times, it is not until the Early Renaissance in the mid-15th century that artists can be frequently identified depicting themselves as either the main subject, or as important characters in their work. With better and cheaper mirrors, and the advent of the panel portrait, many painters, sculptors and print makers tried some form of self-portraiture.

Independent Study

Le Marais Estate

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Le Marais is a housing estate in Saint Clement, containing Jersey’s biggest high-rise with a staggering fifteen floors. Although the buildings withhold an enormous physical  presence, it is the vulnerability  of the social-renting tenants on the ground that cause my interest. My curiosity stems from what I believe is the main problem facing society, and that is the mere fact social classes are so divided. Stereotypically, the tenants of council housing attend state schools where the education is not to the same standard as private, fee-paying schools. This is exacerbated by the influence which is detected in state schools as people misconduct and misplace their priorities due to a lack of education and awareness, consequently leading to that person growing up and struggling to escape the working class status. The cycle is vicious, but it is important to know my philosophy is acquired from attending a state school named ‘Haute Vallee’ in years seven to nine before moving to a selective school.

At Haute Vallee, I was an academic genius effortlessly. I would shine against other children, including Portuguese and Polish pupils who could barely speak English, giving me immense confidence and the correct criteria to move to Jersey’s only selective school, Hautlieu. I made the move in June 2014 along with twelve other pupils which is considerably low in a Hautlieu year that consisted of 170 students from a possible of three other state schools, demonstrating the lack of education or motivation being imposed to strive for the best. However, when I reached Hautlieu after the summer break, the work load expected of me was completely different to what was expected of me at Haute Vallee where homework was deemed “optional”. In retrospect, I don’t blame myself for never doing homework, I was thirteen and being told homework was voluntary in a class where I was already one of, if not the most academically talented. Hautlieu had a very different homework policy which often saw me kept in at lunch times or after school in “homework support”, causing a very big shock to the system. Often I would avoid cooperating with my teachers who clearly cared for my future and I pretty much did until the Easter before my GCSEs because I was so fed up of constantly being behind and it was hard for me to accept I was no longer the natural big fish in the pond. Students from other schools worked harder than me and were naturally smarter than me so I thought “sack that” and focused on my paramount social life. Fundamentally, I couldn’t be more glad I moved to Hautlieu when I did rather than trying to move for A-Levels as I would not be accustom to the work load if I had not come, which is crucial since I am pretty sure the “A” of “A-Levels” stands for application. The point being, if I did not make the plunge to move school, which few people from did, students could be at a school that is too busy to teach the correct information as they’re still teaching the fundamentals to the slower students, giving them a huge disadvantage in our rat-race lives.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-15555535

5 A* to C GCSEs with English and Maths

  • Les Quennevais (45%)
  • Le Rocquier (28%)
  • Grainville (13%)
  • Haute Vallee (18%)
  • Hautlieu (97%)
  • JCG (96%)
  • Beaulieu (71%)
  • De La Salle (81%)

Throughout history, social critics such as Charles Dickens illuminate the working class’s difficulty to overcome the strains of a poor economic status, as well as being inferior to the leading upper classes. This same attitude still exists, however, it is rarely discussed or challenged. Crucially, there is schemes in place to help the poorer members of society, both financially and in terms of their welfare, but there is still problems and disadvantages that the children born into these circumstances will encounter.

My ambition is to study my friend’s background, all stemming from completely different, unique upbringings which shape the people we are and how, despite all of us being individual to one another, we have all united through Hautlieu school. An organisation that brings both ends of society’s economic citizens together for the sake of learning and developing as people. I will also capture all the activities or hobbies that make my friends who they are and where and how they live.

Analysis, Artists References

Contemporary Photographer // Michael Konrad

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http://www.artconnect.com/projects/promised-land

Michal Konrad

Michal Konrad is a polish photographer who was born in 1983. He lives in Wodzislaw Slaski. From an early age Michal was interested in visual art.  He is a Physical Education teacher, but he does not let it stop his artistic motivations. The focus of Michal’s photography is man. Within his work he primarily concentrates on the ‘psychological sphere’. It shows how a person perceives the environment in the modern world and ho environment effects him. His visions have a surreal character, balancing on the border of sleep and imagination. According to Michal, “Inspiration comes mainly from observation, but also on his subjective feelings.”

My project is fundamentally focused on how the body can be used to physically express hidden emotions, and mental illnesses. I also plan on linking body dysmophia into it. I believe that the photographer Michal Konrad used this  conception within his work. He describes the different ways he creates his ideas, and one if them is based on his “subjective feelings.” This definitely links with me project because he is using his emotions to conceive the unique perspectives that he creates. Some of the projects that he has done are called “Promised Land”, “Amnesia” and “Insomnia.” He uses the body, mainly a man, to express his views.

The images below are from his project called Amnesia. Michal has an extremely unique outlook on his perspectives. He describes his ideas in a very descriptive, poetic way which I really like.

“I can see the horizon somewhere in the distance, the noise in the ears. I’m sort of without a head, but the body trembling. I’m going ahead, looking for a trace in the memory. In the reflection of the water I see myself. I think it was me. Although I do not know who I am. I thought to myself how is it suddenly lose memory. This cycle is just about it. It is my imagination, as well as experience. As a small boy I have experienced short-term memory loss as a result of the accident.”

Although the images have a simplistic look and feel, with the soft light and simple colour scheme, the atmosphere that each image has creates this deeper meaning within the frame. The images as a series unfolds a story. From Michal’s description we learn that he experienced an accident as a young child, and because of this he had short-term memory loss. Michal uses this experience and convey’s the emotions into his work. He describes one of the images as ” I’m without a head, but the body trembling.”  Michal uses his imagination as well as his experiences to create his unique ideas. I really like this conception and way of planning and I now want to use this process in my own project.

Another project that Michal did is called “Promised Land.” This is how he describes it, “I had a dream, like a strange helplessness overwhelmed me. I felt heavy and tired. My legs like roots were rooted in the ground. Each step was hard after which grew tired. I stood there motionless, unmoved snow and cold. I watched the others go, and I was tied to the ground. I prayed to God. God told me to play music.

 The cycle presents the difficult relationship of man to the place where the man lives. Photographs are my self-portrait. All I have done using a 20-second shutter release. Series of conceptual photography. The cycle presents the difficult relationship of man to the place where the man alive. Photographs are my self-portrait.”

According to the internet, Conceptual Photography is “a type of photography that illustrates an idea” The whole of this series is based on the idea of conceptual photography. Michal uses his imagination rather than his experiences. He describes the series as “I had a dream, like a strange helpless overwhelmed me.” Similarly to the series called Amnesia, the series is told like a story. I really like the way Michal presents his work, and the description that each series is introduced with. You can see the each series has a theme that Michal keeps too. This is what makes his work so appealing.

I really like Michal Konrad’s images because they are simple yet they express a deeper sentiment. he created image that are made to make the viewer think more about what they are seeing. He is a surrealist photographer who wants to provoke a thought process in the viewers mind. Most of Konrad’s images are based on an emotion or thought process. He use using himself within his images to express his feelings.