Category Archives: Research and analysis
Filters
Structure-initial ideas
Structure-mindmap
Mood board/Brainstorming
After reading the exam booklet, I have decided to focus my theme on natural structure because I personally want to explore how natural structure is often perceived as something unclear and slightly random but still very beautiful, but plays a significant role in the strong structure it holds within an object. By exploring this topic I aim to highlight the beauty of natural structures to show how it appears for when we focus in close, and far, presenting the structure to be quite abstract and random, but yet elegant too. The official meaning behind the structure to us is unclear however, we can see its strong significance and influence on the object itself. This can be expressed through working with water and its affiliating objects such as shells and rocks for example. My aims are to explore a range of natural structures that are presented as exceptionally beautiful and highlighting the idea of natural structure being completely uninfluenced by man, and unconstrained in where and what it becomes but with a powerful and strong stance on the structure of the object. This mood board explains visually where I believe I want to go with this topic of structure. This can be explored using a range of techniques such as: macro settings to show the intricate detail of the structure linking in with my view of natural structure appearing complex and explainable, black and white to separate the structure of the object with other surrounding details, lighting (artificial and natural), environment and with this explore the purpose and role of what structure plays in these photographs.
My ideas include:
Pine cones/ Nuts
Foot Prints
Sand/Mud textures
Flowers/Plants/Trees
Feathers
Shells/Rocks
Lakes/Streams/Rock pools
Sea
Raindrops
Grass
Spider Webs
Cliffs
Fruit/Vegetables
Structure
structure
-
1.the arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.“the two sentences have equivalent structures”
synonyms: construction, form, formation, shape, composition, fabric, anatomy, make-up, constitution; More
-
1.construct or arrange according to a plan; give a pattern or organization to.“services must be structured so as to avoid pitfalls”
Primary Research : Ill-Studio Moodboard
Here is my moodboard for what I plan to progressively expand my research into and what I want to study further to experiment with the term ‘structures’. They are called Ill-Studio and are based in Paris, specialising in design.
My Inspiration:
Primary Research : Mindmap of Structure
Primary Research : Defining Structure
Primary Research : Analysing a basic structure
The Process
- Moodboard of relevant and inspiring images—link to your title
- Mindmap / brainstorm / spidergram to include all ideas and possibilities
- Artist Case Study to include analysis and interpretation
- Action Plan and Specification
- Photoshoot
- Select and edit (repeat as necessary)
- Compare and contrast your work to the work of your chosen artist
- Presentation of final responses
- Evaluate your process
Ensure that you show a creative process underpinned by interesting ideas and sustain your approach…
For example, you may want to look at these 3 artists in combination to develop your own ideas…
and then move onto colour developments like this…
and create a unique approach to the theme of structure using simple and interchangeable techniques.
Or explore the structure of a corroded surface….
Use this link to see what kind of ideas are out there…
100+ Creative Photography Ideas: Techniques, Compositions & Mixed Media Approaches
http://www.studentartguide.com/articles/creative-photography-ideas
Now look at these artists to explore the concept of layers and structure…
Jacques Villeglé 1926- (France)
The Jazzmen is a section of what Jacques Villeglé termed affiches lacérées, posters torn down from the walls of Paris. These particular ones were taken on 10 December 1961. Following his established practice, Villeglé removed the section from a billboard and, having mounted it on canvas, presented it as a work of art.
Robert Rauschenberg 1925 – 2008 (USA)
Pre pop art, neo -dada. Re-appropriation of photographic imagery to explore the structure of society, politics, hope and despair.
Collage / montage techniques + archival material, found objects
Construction / de-construction methods
Todd Mclellan…de-conSTRUCTION // typlogies
or distort the reality / structure of object, places, people…
Alvin Langdon Coburn created vortographs by using mirrros, reflective surfaces, prisms and more to distort his vision of the world and ultimately change the structure of his photographs…(one of the very first abstract photographers)
Vortograph experiments by A L Coburn
Think about shape and form…
Paper, paper, paper
Naum Gabo / Head of a Woman /1917
Interior Architecture
Still Life Objects
Time Lapse (constructing and deconstructing) ice cubes melting, flowers wilting and dying etc…
Cara Berer
Cara Berer explores the structure of books and magazines by photographing them from above and creating patterns and shapes that we associate with flowers and decoration…
Irving Penn
Franco Fontana
More ideas in this link here!
http://www.modernedition.com/art-articles/photographic-form/new-photography.html
Suggestions for exploring “structure”…
Tanja Deman // juxtaposition of changing environments // environments as temples of worship and culture //utopia // dystopia
Sculptural (photograph as object, combined with objects and ephemera or photographs as a response to a building or space ie environment)
Marlo Pascual (above)
“Pascual arranges the photos into simple, lackadaisical assemblages that she calls “props,” which rely primarily on found furniture. The images are all painfully elegant, and evoke the seductiveness of old Hollywood. In one photograph (all works untitled, 2009), a nude woman stands behind steamed glass—a scene from a movie descended from Psycho? A photograph of a set of crystal glasses is laser-cut and laid on the floor to look like it was dropped—or shattered by a single delicate stroke of a hammer. A joke about the fragility of the image, it is also a decidedly atmospheric work.”
http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/reviews/marlo-pascual/
Letha Wilson
One of a number of contemporary artists who are blurring the lines between photography and other mediums, Letha Wilson makes artworks that are as much sculptures as photographs. Amalgamations of photographic images and spray paint, lumber and concrete, these hybrid objects, medium sized and mostly wall hung, occupy territory also being explored by sculptors such as Rachel Harrison and Virginia Overton. An exhibition of new pieces (all from 2012) showcased Wilson’s adventuresome way with materials.
Thomas Demand
German Photographer Thomas Demand (born 1964) deals with inanimate objects and sterile interiors. He makes models of pre-photographed locations out of styrofoam, card and paper but leaves subtle signs of imperfections, then re-produces the images on a grand scale…in doing he alters the meaning and narrative attached to the environment he is re-presenting…
Laurenz Berges
Laurenz Berges is German (Dusseldorf School) photographer. He tackles the notion of loss and removal…and often photographs both personal and shared environments. These can beintimate interiors, or extensive exteriors.
Candida Hofer
Candida Hofer was a student of Bernd and Hilla Becher in Germany in the 1970’s. Her images are a response to glorious interior environments that explore the contrast between the intention and reality of public and civic spaces…without people interacting with them.
James Casebere
James Caseberes (USA) photographs small scale models that reduce an architectural space to a fragile set of surfaces…they disrupt our belief in the solidity of man-made spaces…what happened ? what happens next ?…we are left disorientated.
Rut Blees Luxemburg
Rut Blees Luxemburg (Germany) uses amber lighting and reflections as found in 1920’s and 1930’s style flash photography…but in a thoroughly modern context.
Andy Goldsworthy
Andy Goldsworthy is a well known British Environmental artist. He makes sculptures that integrate with the environment…they are all bio-degradeable and often end up falling apart and becoming “one” with the landscape again. The photographs, however, remain a permanent feature…
Experiment 1
- You must show that you can COPY, ADJUST, BLUR and BLEND layers using Adobe Photoshop to create a set of images inspired by IDRIS KHAN / STEPHANIE JUNG
METHOD
- Open a suitable image in Ad-Ph
- CTRL J to copy layer (copy the background LAYER for this)
- Move tool to shift image slightly
- Repeat 2 + 3 5-10 times
- Choose a range of BLENDING OPTIONS eg overlay / multiply / lighten etc
- Adjust OPACITY as needed
- Adjust individual layers as needed
- Add FILTER – BLUR – SHAPE BLUR / SMART BLUR if needed
- Flatten LAYERS
- CROP where suitable
Extend your result…
Think about layering your image(s) onto acetate or glass and exploit the transparent qualities vs. opaque shapes, colours and tones
for example
Ardan Ozmenoglu
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/315040936408995781/
Photoshop Experiment 2
- Show that you can use a range of function and techniques to create a composite image like those of Tanja Deman (below).
- Many artists use cut and paste / collage techniques to change the context of their imagery…and challenge the way we look at the world and re-imagine our environment
- Research cut and paste / digital collage techniques and ideas
-
Method
- Select 2/ 3 images that you think you can combine to create a composite image and open in Ad-Ph
- You may need to select one image that you use as your BACKGROUND IMAGE
- Select the object / building / person from another image that you want to add to your BACKGROUND IMAGE
- Click CTRL J (to copy via layer)
- Use the move tool to drag your selection across, then position
- Use CTRL T or Free Transform to adjust shape and size of selected object
- Check your layers panel on both images!
- Now blend the edges in…
- Add a LAYER MASK and click to activate it
- Select a brush, adapt the size and reduce your OPACITY to 30%
- Now click on the edges of your object to blend it in smoothly
- Take care with this part…zoom in if you need to
- You can then merge your layers, or flatten and save the image if complete
- Add to your blog
Or explore x-ray images or household objects like this as part of your response to “structure”
Walker Evans
Jim Dine and his “figurative tools”
Two Frame Photography / Diptychs / Juxtapositions
http://www.photopedagogy.com/two-frame-films.html
Luke Fowler