Monthly Archives: May 2018

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Analysis, Evaluating

Evaluation

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I believe my project of Creationism vs Evolution has taken me on a journey where I have learnt to appreciate nature and its beauty even more than I did previously.  I originally started by looking at freedoms in nature and the processes for life and death.  It was only after I reflected on my previous project of faith, I had decided to apply my own personal relationship with spirituality and try and document this in my book.  In doing this I believe I have achieved my aims of exploring the contrasts and similarities within nature between science and fiction as I can conclude at the end of my project that in my opinion the two are strongly linked.  I din’t however realize this for most of my project, it was only really whilst designing my book and exploring the layout, is where the science apparent within my images appeared very visual and I liked how this combined spiritual elements.  Although through my shoots I took images of both sides of the coin, they were always separate in my mind. This therefore explains how (much like my project) my aims have changed and evolved in looking at how rather than the two theories being different, I have shown somehow the ways in which both are connected through their relationship.  By basing most of my project on Genesis within the Bible, I have explored the freedoms of how the depths of spirituality exist within this world and out of this world but also through looking at evolution, I have also looked at the freedoms that exist with Science and how we have an understanding of what is happening.  Conversely,  the limitations of spirituality are that we don’t know why change occurs or why we are here, the closest we can get to is that we were created by God and that we have to be at one with nature to know our purpose better but yet not fully as only God knows this.  Also the limitations of evolution and science is that we obviously cannot explain the purpose and reasons for change in nature, other than that we are aware that it exists.  In looking at these comparisons, I believe I have made a balanced conclusion within my book of the freedom and limitations of both these concepts.  I believe that overall I am happy with my project and that it went successfully.  I wanted to explore spirituality further after my previous project, and that I believe because of my faith as well as my awareness to opposing and contrasting theories, I am in a good place to observe and explore both arguments.

Below are my final prints that work alongside and support my book.  I have mainly chosen to focus on light and humans as I couldn’t use images from all my chapters as there are too many for just prints – this is one reason why I chose to create a book.  Overall I am happy with my final prints, I chose the most spiritual looking shots (in my opinion) to display.

These three images I especially like as they depict not only light, but the role, purpose and significance of light within this world.  I believe the sequence as presented within the display above is important because it almost represents the stages of light entering the world – firstly the emergence of light, the presence of light and finally the disappearance of light as it fades away.  This triptych shows therefore the stages and process of this change from a spiritual and yet scientific viewpoint.

These 6 images are arranged so that compliment one another’s textures of bodily tissue.  The textures appear particularly sharp, detailed and refined and I believe that by having six, thinner strips, this helps emphasize whats in the image through the style of framing.  Furthermore, I arranged each image so that the darker tones would be simultaneously reveal-ant at having a balanced shade, whilst also maintaining strong lines of symmetry within the image.

 

I particularly like these two images sequenced together.  On the left are the fingers – the external, on the right is the palm – the internal.  This contrast allows us to see the creationist, distinctive qualities that occur on different sections of the same body parts.  I chose to have a strong, black border because I believe that this coincides effectively with the strong contrasting levels within both images – almost as if we as humans are curious to find out the depths and mysteries of what is beneath the skin.

These images I put together because of how they reflect the distinctive qualities from organism to organism.  I have captured very distinct markings that act as evidence for each person whose skin it belongs to, adding symbolism to the creationsit story that it still occurs today.  In doing this I am linking creationism and evolution together.

I particularly like these images.  I found the white photo frame not only brings out the white tones, but also is very effective at proving stronger depth to the contrasting darker tones.   As this happens, I like how the flow of white acts almost as like a circle within the squared photoframe that is important as it not only shows the relationship of light, but also furthermore the cycle of light as it changes.

Analysis, Exploring, Research

Artist Styles and Inspirations

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Wassily Kandinsky

Image result for wassily kandinsky - concerning the spirituality in art

The book published in 1912: “Concerning the Spiritual in Art” explores improvisations and compositions as an alternative to impressions which are based in external reality, improvisations and compositions are images that encapsulate images that arise from unconscious viewpoint of life and the world.  Kandinsky associates the spiritual life of humanity to a pyramid with various levels of spiritual hierarchy that emerge before one can be fully connected to the surroundings of the unconscious.  During low periods, the soul sinks to the bottom as humanity searches for external success ignoring soiritual forces.  This has been a long term key concept for my work, as within my spiritual images, I have tried to reconnect people’s relationship with nature by looking at how and why we are here.  I have therefore used this concept to explore the origins of life and being.

Furthermore, Kandinsky has further influenced me because his strong emphasis on colors is a method he uses to invoke the spiritualism that art creates.  However there is a very fine line between spiritualism and fantasy/fiction, therefore its important to not use spiritualism as a name for exploring fantasy, spiritualism must be about capturing spirituality that comes from experience.  Kandinsky’s colors evoke a double effect: Firstly a physical effect which is charmed by the beauty of colors. However secondly this effect can be deeper, causing a stirring of the soul as Kandinsky calls it: “inner resonance”— which is essentially a spiritual effect in which the color touches the soul.  This is called “Inner resonance” because it is art that directly communicates with the soul. This has also been my ambition particularly in my shots where creationism was mostly established with plants etc, I have tried to use color that can communicate to the soul.

“In the first place one receives a purely physical impression, one of pleasure and contentment at the varied and beautiful colors. The eye is either warmed or else soothed and cooled. But these physical sensations can only be of short duration. They are merely superficial and leave no lasting impression, for the soul is unaffected. But although the effect of the colors is forgotten when the eye is turned away, the superficial impression of varied color may be the starting point of a whole chain of related sensations.”

Gary Fabian Millar

Image result for illumine book

I recently came across this book which has also further inspired me.  From page 152-167, Gary Millar explores taking images from photo paper against a church window, which captures the light from the moonlight over night.  The dark blue of the Petworth windows correlate successfully with Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe’s color wheel which was designed to symbolize the life of the human soul and spirit.  Millar relates his images to ” The idea of thought or spirit as matter, and vice versa, is underpinned by the doctrine of monism – the thesis that all of reality is of one kind”.

Related image Related image

Fabian Millar isn’t someone who specifically sees himself as religious, however his work clearly relates to spiritual thinking.    Unlike his work “The Sea Horizon“, the locations were to be imagined as Utopia as within these images, there is a sense of having no boundaries.  Through Millar’s work, there is a strong sense of abstraction as well as surrealism which building from Kandinsky, “communicates universal spiritual values”.  This means that there are underlying spiritual features that unite everyone within the world, regardless of whether they are religious or not.  It is therefore the role of artists to bring this to attention.  Millar has captured images of spirit, for example ” the blue circle indicated the realm of the spirit, the yellow triangle its earthly, intellectual opposite”.  This is done in response to Kandinsky who established representational and the non representational imagery who was in turn response the Theosophist (focusing on the attainment of direct, unmediated knowledge of the nature of divinity and the origin and purpose of the universe)Rudolf Steiner.  It was these 2 coherent theses that Millar was able to produce his images that directly relate to the spirit.

In terms of method and also theory, Millar like Kandinsky has also been very influential to me in this project as both have helped me to create images that aren’t just physically nice, but from a spiritual point of view have a meaning that ensures the viewer can recognize that spirituality does have an impact within this world and its process of creationism and evolution.

 

 

 

 

Analysis, Presenting

Photo Book Layout

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Link to my photo book:

IN THE BEGINNING

This is my book cover.  The title “IN THE BEGINNING” is important because these are the very first words that are written in Genesis and the viewer also opens up to Genesis 1:1.  The title is also symbolic as to what I am representing within my book in terms of the story of creationism and how this includes contrasting elements of evolutionist factors.

Throughout the book, I have divided my book into 7 chapters, each relating to the order of how the Earth was created, element by element.  This structure was important to me as it not only is a visual attempt to record spirituality, but also is symbolic as the idea of evolution is continuous change and adaptations and I feel that by as well as documenting pirituality, including these chapters in chronograph  also represents the how succesfully as well – relating to evolution.

I chose this image as a double page spread to start the book off after the Bible quote because for me it shows not only the expanse of the Earth, but retells the story accurately of how all the elements began forming as the Earth was being molded together.

I put these images into 4 squares as a sequence because I like how it shows that order was being installed in each element of the Earth to reflect how it was created for its specific purpose. The sequence shows the haste and speed of creation as well. 

This was part of my second chapter as part of light.  Within the sky, it appears as if there is an explosion with light rays branching out in all directions.  I believe that by having no border reflects how the light is never ending.  This is almost presented as light having no limits and that is a basis for all evolutionist change since.

This is also a double page spread as it shows the after effects of the first big explosion and strongly acts as a metaphor the evolutionism’s very existence to exist.  Contrastingly, we have change occurring from the previous double page spread and my message for this is that evolution is a natural part of God’s plan for the world and evolution also can have spiritual links as well.  

This double page spread depicts how the water was formed from the sky and forms a basis for chapter 3 for water.  I have consistently used the idea of emphasisng infinite power and wonder within my images to reflect the power of change is direct evidence that there was a creator at the beginning of the universe and there is the same creator still creating today.  

I went for a 3/4 page for this underwater image because the image was quite grainy due to the environment in which I shot in.  Although I like the grainyness as it brings out the individual elements, I wanted to ensure a smoother relationship between the two.

This chapter replicates how land and the sea had been separated after the sky and the sea was separated.  I believe up to this point, I have showed gradually the very evolution of the process of creationism as gradually my images in the book have started as showing elements that aren’t Earthly and eventually have started to appear more Earthly as we go further into the book.

This chapter focuses more on the idea of plants and vegetation.  In these images I am focusing more and more on scientific, individual elements to show the very detail, advanced sophistication that creation covers.  I put these images together.  The layout appears almost as if both branches are connected, although they aren’t.  This is symbolic as it shows how everything in nature is so well connected, despite differences in each smaller individual element and larger being , and how everything is in sync which is how ot was created to be.  Thus this allows for change and evolutionary advances to occur.   

These images I put together as they show the individual element that live off the tree from an up close point of view but also to view the tree as a whole, showing how all these scientific elements make up a being that is beautiful and pure 

This image is part of my animals chapter where I look how life is becoming more potent within the world.  I took an image of a bird flying over and within the bottom right corner, a bird is flying through.  I like this because it communicates the idea that change and evolution is happening at a faster rate, however it is driven by spirituality.  

This is part of my chapter of humans.  I put these images together as a sequence because I like how the line of the hands are joined, although they aren’t joined because they are two separate images.  I am trying to communicate here, that when you biologically link up the dots, then you have a wider picture that makes you surprised  and curious of further wonders and mysteries of the Earth.   

Likewise with my plant images, I believe these images appear quite scientific, almost as something microscopic.  Although these are macro shots, I believe they appear strongly spiritual as there is a sense that although they appear human, it is hard to distinguish what they are.  Therefore in a sense towards the end of my book, I have started to go back to depicting strong levels of spirituality within my images.  Although I have done this throughout my book, by going further in taking spiritual shots towards the end of my book is significant because it shows life and change as a cycle, with one of where change and creationism, fueled by spirituality is at the very center.

 

Research

Interpretations of Genesis

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There are many differing interpretations of the story of creation and more specifically the book of Genesis.  I have tried to base my own interpretation of the book of Genesis that is going to be reflected within my book.  However the number of different interpretations often vary because they are based on a number of factors whether it be differing religions, differing times and various other factors.  In this blog post my aim is to highlight these and compare them to my own interpretation as a young Christian with very little life experience on the book of Genesis.

Cosmology is the study of the universe, and humanity’s place in it.  Cosmologists are people who argue for the Big bang’s existence which occurred around 15 billion years ago.  At this point, is where the universe, space and time began which eventually bred human and plant life.  This theory is accepted by many as to the origins of the universe, whereby it justifies the concept how the Earth just happened accidentally.  However for some, it is used as a focal point to argue as a basis that this goes hand in hand with Genesis rather than in contradiction to it.  Marcus Aurelius, someone who explores the metaphysical cosmology (the placing of man in the universe in relationship to all other entities) observes that a man’s place in that relationship: “He who does not know what the world is does not know where he is, and he who does not know for what purpose the world exists, does not know who he is, nor what the world is.”  However, in modern use metaphysical cosmology addresses questions about the Universe which are beyond the scope of science.  Physical cosmology is the branch of physics that deals with the study of the physical origins and evolution of the Universe. It also includes the study of the nature of the Universe on a large scale.  By exploring the origins from a standpoint that goes further than science, and by linking spiritual relationships with the world, cosmology clearly references creation within this subject however from a potentially further viewpoint than other theories.   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmology

Image result for the garden of eden

Religious) There are many interpretations from a religious pint of view that is inclusive to Jews and Muslims as well as Christians.  Although I have fixed my journey on the Christian viewpoint, Islam and Jews share links to the story as told in Genesis.  For example, the Quran, Torah and Bible all reference the first man on Earth as a man called Adam, and all have similer steps of process to the creation of world, element by element.  Because of these striking similarities on the interpretations of Genesis from all three religions, there are also differences.  For example Islam doesn’t mention the early of creation of women (Eve), and unlike Christian traditions, which sees Satan as a rebelling angel, Islamic tradition identifies Shaitan’s disobedience as an result of his superior nature out of fire, in contrast to the nature of humans, since angels in Islam do not rebel against God.  In Judaism also, there are differences as to the interpretation of creation such as the age of the Earth and also how the Torah came into existence at the beginning of time.  These beliefs will impact each Jew, Muslim and Christian’s viewpoint from an individual point from the doctrine of their religious views, but also collectively among each group.  Whilst these have been established, the current attitudes to these beliefs are impacted by the main beliefs of the specific religion.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_mythology#Islamic_creation_narrative

Image result for creation painting

Allegorical interpretations of thr book of Genesis are ones that believe that the the story of creationism is symbolic.  For example, Allegorists hold that the purpose for Genesis is to describe humanity’s relationship to creation and God – that creation wasn’t a single event but rather creation represents a long period of time.  For example this includes the idea that the Serpeant tempting Eve is Satan in disguise, – and that the purpose for creation was to be at one with God – focusing mre on the why than most Christians who also consider possible explanations as to the how in contrast  to science and evolution.  Rowan Williams said “[For] most of the history of Christianity there’s been an awareness that a belief that everything depends on the creative act of God, is quite compatible with a degree of uncertainty or latitude about how precisely that unfolds in creative time.”  This quote is instigating the fact that for centuries Christians haven’t examined the how of creation, but only done so really in response to the growth of science.

Bible Literalists believe that the word of creation should be taken literally, as as told and nothing more and nothing less.  A 2011 survey by Gallup found that 3/10 Americans interpret the bible literally.  Literalists unlike Allegorists refer to the teachings of the bible, focusing on it as more of an explanation of how we got here as oppose to the process of interpretation in itslef.  However the only allegory that is taken note of, is when the writer clealry intended for the story to be allegorical.  In saying this, there is much dispute as to whether the story of creation is allegorical or is meant to be taken literally.    Literalism doesn’t deny metaphors and intended allegories but sees biblical and creationist events as history.  As part of the Chicago on Biblical Inerrancy, conservative Christian scholarship the following: “We affirm the necessity of interpreting the Bible according to its literal, or normal, sense.  The literal sense is the grammatical-historical sesne, that is, the meaning which the writer expressed.  Interpretation according to the literal sense will take account of all figures of speech and literary forms found in text.  We deny the legitimacy of any approach to scripture that attributes to it meaning which the liberal sense does not support”

 

Image result for creation painting

 

Overall my interpretation, from a visual point of view I believe is clearly outlined within my book.  However from an academic point of view, my interpretaion of the book of Genesis is one which highlights the very real presence of God, however it is also one that is inclusive to science and recognizes the role science has in further uncovering the mysterious of the complexities of God’s creation.  However this interpretaion is influenced by the influences that have existed around me throughout my life.  In this blog post I have not only compared the differing interpretations of Genesis, but have looked at how the general conception of this creationist story has changed and evolved through the years so that one day we would hold the view that we hold today.  Interestingly, the fact that our views and opinions change and evolve are symbolically similar to the very scientific process of evolution that examines how we change.  For change and process, I believe the reason for us to exist and created for is to acknowledge the spiritual presences within this world, and although the real for existence isn’t something that man is meant to know otherwise life wouldn’t be worth living.  Evolution is simply the process that takes us to wherever our creator has destined for us and for that reason I believe that although I agree with literalists that the earth was created within 6 days, I believe constant updates are existent to this very moment.

why done it, succesful, why presented it, how has my thoughts chasnged, how does link to freedom/limitations

Evaluating

Evaluation

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Link to my Book: Baptism

The exam brief was to create photos around the words Freedom and Limitations. I made a book with the name Baptism. The reason for this is because when a person is baptized it is a symbolic representation of what God has done in their life. In this we believe God has washed away the old life and this person has started a new life with god. ‘Old’ and ‘New’ are keys words in the context of my book. By using software I was able to change the original colors and intensify them. Giving these photos New Life with New Colors.

Previously I have been studying the spiritual link between color and the soul. I read the book ‘Concerning the Spiritual in Art’ by Wassily Kandinsky, in this he writes about how certain colors can effect human emotions differently. I wanted this to be the case with my book. Baptism is a very spiritual thing and I found calling my book that linked everything together nicely. When a person is baptized the person has the Freedom to start over to begin a new life. Before these photos were Limited by the colors that they were captured in. But I have given these photos the Freedom to change, to be something new, with new colors that effect the soul differently to when the photos were initially taken.

I personally have had the Freedom to work with different colors and saturation levels than I would when using the photos the way they were taken. Being able to experiment and dramatically change these photos has very Freeing. Personally I think I have met the brief as I have felt Freedom making these photos and have showed how Limitations have been broken, Freeing these photos.

James Welling has the freedom to explore using different techniques and mediums. He has used color filters. overlay techniques and many others that create these beautiful abstract photos. One of the works of James Welling that inspired me the most is the one you can see below this. This is one of the photos from the Glass house project. In these photos colors have been split and changed. In this photo only the sky has changed to orange and the snow has stayed white. However, other photos there are often two of more colors. Like red and yellow and in some cases Welling used a diffraction filter that split the light into the spectrum. Throughout my work I have used digital filters. I have changed the hue, white balance and have used the Split Toning tool. All these to heighten these colors and make them pop out. I I often used the brush tool is I wanted to give something  else a different color. Welling has been one of the largest inspirations in the project.

James Welling- Glass house

Another inspiration of mine when decided how to take photos was Jessica Backhaus. It was her Symphony of Shadows (as seen above) that caught my attention as it was full of color, so simplistic yet so fascinating. This inspired me to take more simple photos. Instead of a wall I often used the sky as a backdrop but changed the colors in Lightroom, giving the freedom to make these different abstract and simplistic photos. Backhaus’ composition of these shadows and shapes on the wall is very cleverly done to make the photo much more interesting. It makes you look at something you wouldn’t think twice about looking at in normal day life. That’s what I wanted to do, I wanted to bring new life to these mundane objects. The photo below is one of my own and inspired by Backhaus’ work. I have used the sky as a backdrop, it’s so simplistic yet so effective.

This is my favorite photo of mine from this project. It was captured in the moment. I saw the bird sitting there and it stayed there long enough for me to frame up and take the photo before flying away. I also like the colors in the photo. The wide open space of just purple, with a bird almost like a silhouette to right of the photo on top of this deep orange rock. I like this photo because it links well to narrative. I wanted the photos to have a spiritually feeling to them which often people feel when looking a nature. This photo shows nature and the colors work together very well. People often see nature a freeing as it does not answer to anybody it just happens. Also people often relate birds to freedom as they are able to fly where ever they want. The phrase that comes to mind is “Free as a Bird” again showing another form of spiritual freedom.  I think I like this image so much because it was such a tense photo to take, any quick movement would have startled the bird and it would have flown away. But I took my time and got the shot I was looking for.

This project was very enjoyable. The project was about freedom and I really felt like I had that when creating these photos. To explore color and discover it’s link between human emotion was very interesting. Showing how color can change a photo completely. The time given gave me time to make mistakes and create photos I really liked. I was challenged to make photos that were interesting, full of color and had a spiritual connection.

Evaluating, Presenting

Book Layout

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When designing my book I wanted to make sure photos with similar colors were split in a sequence where it would be enjoyable to read. I also used close up photos of people in between these landscapes to try and break rhythm. I also placed more simple abstract photos after more complex, full photos. I placed the yellows in between purples as they are complementary colors. Also yellow is a very harsh color on the eyes as it reflects more light where as purple is a darker color and relaxes the eyes, this is why these colors go well together. I placed the portraits next to landscapes that looked similar to each other. This is because I wanted these close images of people to  look more like a landscape and less like a part of a human being.

Evaluating, Presenting

Photo Layout

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I have laid out my photos in such a way that shows off each photo individually. I stuck each landscape photo on some foam board and stuck each one to the wall individually. I then grouped my close up portraits together with my ghostly like photos that I took in the early stages of this project.

I placed these photos on top and used the close up portraits as backgrounds. I did this as you will be able to see the uncovered versions in the book. I liked this because it gave me an idea and a meaning. The way the photos have been laid out show how humanity often ruins photos, builds on top of landscapes and ruin the identity of a place or a person. I made a window mount and placed this inside as well as foam board and it made it stand out better.

Evaluating

Final Evaluation

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link to my magazine, Boys Will Be Boys

my magazine back cover (left) and front cover (right)

 

From reviewing my exam project which looks at the fashion of teenage boys on Jersey and how this can provide a means of expression, I feel a sense of satisfaction because the whole project project has been very rewarding. I had never produced work as I have done in this project before and because of this, the completion of the project has been very rewarding because of the effort gone into approaching models to photograph and the success of the majority of the shoots. This project has been a very collaborative project and relied heavily on the cooperation of my subjects that I was attempting to tell the stories of. Therefore, the relationship between my subjects and myself was vital in allowing for a true representation for their “story” – a story that explored the way they dress and the reasons behind why they dress in the style they do. On top of this primary focus on fashion, I also made it may aim to relate this to how teenage boys, who are often so caught up in portraying a masculine persona, can lose a sense of security and identity in themselves if they didn’t have fashion as a means to express themselves. This is how I related the whole project to freedom and limitations – my focus on revealing a certain sensitiveness behind the mask of masculinity allowed me to explore the theme of freedom.

Furthermore, my study into several artists allowed me to understanding the history of fashion photography as well as street fashion photography and the allowed me to see how this differed to the much more conceptual and socially-aware portraits of young people to tell a narrative. Having studied how such successful photographers such as David Bailey of the 20th century who captured a model’s features in a single image allowed me to understand where to start in terms of portraiture. In addition, looking at the work of young photographer, James Greenhalgh allowed me to gather a sense of understanding into how to tell a story of a subject through a use of careful body and facial expressions.

After completing five different photoshoots, I have managed to collate around 25 images, about 5 for each character and these edits are images I can be proud of because I believe this project has challenged me and challenged my ability to interact with people in order to create meaningful imagery. In conclusion, I believe I fulfilled the exam brief to my full potential and the images I have at the end of this project, all coincide with one another to create a cohesive project that follows the story of five different characters and their attempts to feel a sense of acceptance.