After having conducted a shoot at low tide I wanted to return at high tide to show this sense of variety within one place. Personally, I prefer high tide as I believe there is a sense of mystery about what lies beneath the surface. I think it is really interesting to imagine that there is a whole other world under there which makes me appreciate the beauty beyond just the water itself. This links to the ideas of Zen Buddhism and trying to find beauty in everything. For this shoot, I went down to the same locations as the low tide shoot to capture similar images that in post productions i could easily show a comparison.

Inspired by Michael Martens project I wanted to complete a second shot displaying the large tidal movements here in Jersey. I found it very interesting how significant the sea change plays in changing the landscape causing variation within the same location. The force of nature that is present through the comparison of the low and high tide photos really intrigue me. It is oddly satisfying to see the same landscape with a different sea level which stimulates ideas in my head about the reality we are seeing. With this interest I decided to go to La Rocco and Corbiere to conduct a photo shoot at low tide.

After completing a series of shoots displaying the depiction of light I wanted to give a direct comparison of how the light alters a landscape and changes our perspective. I thought the best way to do this was to construct a variety of typologies to give a direct and easy comparison of this change. I feel as if this typology method would give an easy understanding for the viewer to see how the landscape can be transformed by these external factors such as light and how it creates a different mood and feeling. To progress further I want to create larger typologies with around 16 images however i need to undertake some more shoots in order for this to be successful. I think this experiment would also work effectively with my images that show a change in water height as the comparison is easily distinguished. All of the typologies below focus on the depiction of light however there is one which shows the power of the ocean shown from a variety of perspectives. I thought it was interesting how the waves look so different from different angles and focal lengths yet they’re essentially the same thing.

How well have ideas developed?

I feel as if my work has developed into a sustainable idea that is consistent with it’s approach and has a clear focus. The focus of my work is the changing light and tidal movement that shape our landscape and alter our perspective on things. This, provoking the ideas about what exists beyond our reality since at a particular time of day we view everything in the same light and also at high tide we cannot see what lies beneath the surface.

Are ideas explored and selective appropriate to intentions?

My ideas that i am exploring have a specific intention to explore the ideas of spirituality, perspective and zen Buddhism. By looking at external factors that shape our environment brings a different type of thinking and shows importance in these things which are often over looked. This is a part of Zen Buddhism and Japanese culture seeks to do, seeing beauty in everything.

Are they sustained and focused?

I feel as if I have a sustained focus on the depiction of light within the series of shoots i have completed at the ‘white house’ location in St Ouens. I think it would be more interesting if i could go to the location a few more times which would allow me to clearly show the changing light at many points within a day. I have been to the location 3 times now, once at golden hour (low tide), once on a stormy day (low tide) and once at a large spring tide. It would be interesting to construct a typology with all the different types of light at the same location for example I would need to go at night, blue hour and sunrise. I could also use another location to show a clear focus on this topic and then do a similar thing with tidal movement too. So far, I have completed one shoot that has a clear focus on the tidal movement in a particular location however i want to complete several more. With these tidal movement shoots, there is also a sense of changing light because they are obviously taken at different times in the day.

How many responses/ shoots?

So far I have completed 6 photographic responses to my ideas associated around depiction of light and tidal movement. I intend to complete at least 1 more at the ‘white house’, 2 more shoots that reflect the change in water level and another series of shoots at another location focusing on how the light shapes the landscape at different times of the day.

Command of camera skills/ photographic techniques and processes

I have clearly demonstrated my use of camera skills and my ability to adapt the settings to meet the particular requirements of the location and lighting. I have yet to explore further with creative techniques and processes however i do not feel as if it is appropriate for the ideas which i have because i am dealing with documentation of lighting and tidal movement that needs to be truthful and trusted. My projects usually consist of manipulation and digital re-touching however this documentary approach is challenging my creativity and allowing me to show my other skills I posses.

Understanding of composition/ considering quality of light. What are the overall quality of the images?

I think my images are strong in the way they have been composed and framed. With the absence of any digital manipulation I need to be strong with the framing of my images to ensure they are aesthetically pleasing and draw the viewer in. I feel as if there are potential areas for improvement to get a little more creative when framing my images however overall they are strong and of a high quality.

How do they respond to research and artists references? ?

My photographic images were inspired and therefore respond to the research i have completed on Hiroshi Sugimoto and Michael Marten. Additional research that has inspired my work has been impressionism and Zen Buddhism which has changed my way of photographing to try and see beauty in everything and disconnect the mind from any logical thinking. I feel as if I need to try and develop my own unique style inspired by all these things which make my work unique and stand out from my inspirations.

How do they interpret exam theme?

Changing light is clearly an example of variation due to the way it is constantly changing and looks different/makes things look different. The light helps us see everything in our world which too is an example of variation. Within our world there are things which are similar too and the light helps us view these similarities. Lighting can also be similar in the way it is similar at different times of the day for example at sunset there are sometimes similar colors. The tidal movement is also a clear example of variation and similarity. It is always moving either up or down changing the way in which we see our landscape. However can also be seen as a similarity because it causes the landscape to look similar when comparing it to another time the tide was at the same place.

After my first response to Michael Marten where I contrasted a particular location at low tide and high tide I was particularly taken by how the change in water drastically changed the landscape. When reviewing my images, I felt more of an attraction towards the images at high tide. The high water makes me question what exists beyond our reality. At high tide we cannot see the sand and rock formations that are covered by the water, so this makes me think how much more we cannot see in our reality. Questions such as what lies above and below us are stimulated making me wonder how much do we not know. Existence is a never ending process and there is so much more to learn and explore. With these ideas, I wanted to create a sense of power and overwhelming feeling that links to the undiscovered realities that could be out there. Due to the full moon, there were some really big tides in the week that i knew would create some amazing displays. The power of the ocean, creating what can be seen below, shows the force of nature which may be distorting our reality and preventing us from seeing things. Essentially this photographic response is displaying the emotions felt when questioning reality. I feel like photographing the ocean links to the ideas of Zen Buddhism due to the relaxation the ocean can create, helping to disconnect the mind from reality and see beyond this.

Contact Sheet

Edits

Analysis of shoot

Overall, I think this shoot has been a great success. Not only does it show the effects of high tide but it has elements of power, force and underlying symbols that reflect emotion. The destructiveness of the ocean seen in these images act as a metaphor for the anger people have in the world. Emotion cannot be seen, and I wanted to explore through this imagery what it could look like if it was seen. Through my own past experience, I felt as if these waves demonstrated these emotions perfectly. Through my contextual studies on Zen Buddhism and Metaphysical, I wanted to have underlying messages through my images other than what they actually are. Therefore, the purpose of these images other than the aesthetic beauty of them was to show a sense of emotion that one cannot see in our reality.

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Inspired by Michael Marten I have responded to his work by selecting a location and photographing it at low tide and then returned at high tide to take photos in the same position. I feel as if I have displayed a clear understanding of his work through my responses and there is a strong correlation between the images seen above. Without taking Martens image into consideration it appeared we had a similar composition and framing by using the leading line of a man made structure. I like the sense of urban vs rural within this image and the metaphor that the tide could be suggesting that the urban landscape is invading the rural world. There is also an incorporation of the changing light and how it differs at different times of the day. I like how this change in light and tidal movement is directly compared from the same angle at a different time. Usually these changing matters cannot be seen without a photographic/video evidence of it. This stimulates the ideas about what we cannot see in our reality and has these deeper meanings about our perception. This links to the contextual research i have collated about metaphysical and the several theories suggesting whether things exist in our mind or exist independently. I like how within Martens image he has divided the horizon directly through the middle of the image which is similar to Sugimoto’s sea scapes project. I think when I complete my next shoot in this style i will aim to try and take some photos with this incorporation which will link my two artist studies together.

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, between substance and attribute, and between possibility and actuality. Metaphysics studies questions related to what it is for something to exist and what types of existence there are. Metaphysics seeks to answer, in an abstract and fully general manner, the questions:^[

1. What is there?
2. What is it like?

I feel like this study links to the ideas of Zen Buddhism and the works of Hiroshi Sugimoto in the way there is a sense of deeper thinking. Through my works I have set myself the aim to have underlying messages about what exists past our reality for example underneath the sea at high tide. Also connections to what we may not be able to see in our reality such as the changing light as it happens. This has clear links to the ideas around metaphysical which is intriguing to me.

Topics of metaphysical investigation include existence, objects and their properties, space and time, cause and effect and possibility.

There are two broad stances about what is “the world” studied by metaphysics. The strong, classical view assumes that the objects studied by metaphysics exist independently of any observer, so that the subject is the most fundamental of all sciences. The weak, modern view assumes that the objects studied by metaphysics exist inside the mind of an observer, so the subject becomes a form of introspection. Introspection is the examination of ones own conscious thoughts and feelings.

• Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that studies the ultimate nature of existence, reality, and experience.
• Metaphysics includes all religions but transcends them all.
• Metaphysics is the study of ultimate cause in the Universe.
• Metaphysics is the only science capable of inquiring beyond physical and human science.

Zen Buddhism is a mixture of Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. It began in China, spread to Korea and Japan, and became very popular in the West from the mid 20th century. The essence of Zen is attempting to understand the meaning of life directly, without being misled by logical thought or language. Zen techniques are compatible with other faiths and are often used, for example, by Christians seeking a mystical understanding of their faith. Zen requires an intense discipline which, when practiced properly, results in total spontaneity and ultimate freedom.

‘Zen’ is the way the Chinese word Ch’an is pronounced in Japan. ‘Ch’an’ is the Chinese pronunciation of the Sanskrit word Dhyana, which means meditation.

Christmas Humphreys, one of the leading pioneers in the history of Buddhism in Britain, stated that “Zen is a subject extremely easy to misunderstand.” Zen Buddhism is a practice that needs to be experienced, not a concept that you can intellectualize or understand with your brain. Zen does not depend on words – it has to be experienced in order to ‘understand’.

Zen sends us looking inside us for enlightenment. There’s no need to search outside ourselves for the answers; we can find the answers in the same place that we found the questions. The first step is to control our minds through meditation and other techniques that involve mind and body; to give up logical thinking.

Clues to the meaning of Zen (From BBC Website)

Because Zen is so hard to explain here are some quotations that may help you get an idea of it:

• The essence of Zen Buddhism is achieving enlightenment by seeing one’s original mind (or original nature) directly; without the intervention of the intellect.
• Zen is big on intuitive understanding, on just ‘getting it’, and not so hot on philosophising.
• Zen is concerned with what actually is rather than what we think or feel about what is.
• Zen is concerned with things as they are, without trying to interpret them.
• Zen points to something before thinking, before all your ideas.
• The key to Buddhahood in Zen is simply self-knowledge.
• To be a human being is to be a Buddha. Buddha nature is just another name for human nature – true human nature.
• Zen is simply to be completely alive.
• Zen is short for Zen Buddhism. It is sometimes called a religion and sometimes called a philosophy. Choose whichever term you prefer; it simply doesn’t matter.
• Zen is not a philosophy or a religion.
• Zen tries to free the mind from the slavery of words and the constriction of logic.
• Zen in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one’s own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom.
• Zen is meditation.

My photographic Ideas from this

My initial ideas for the exploration of Zen Buddhism was as a result of a previous artist study i have completed on Hiroshi Sugimoto. He is a japanese artist where zen buddhism plays a significant role in his culture. Through his work there is this sense of spirituality, by seeing beauty in everything and the ideas of Zen Buddhism is also portrayed through his work. After having explored it more, i want to try and free the mind from the logical way of thinking about a landscape through my images. I want to try and convey a sense of beauty and importance in every aspect of what I am photographing. This links to the study of Monets Hay Stacks which show the importance of Hay Stacks in agriculture despite usually people being unconcerned with some Hay Stacks. Despite the absence of any real definition of Zen Buddhism i feel as if i can contribute to the explanation of it through my photographic responses that will have a focus on freedom, beauty and importance in everything that will help to relax and disconnect the mind from any logical thinking.

From my previous research and photo shoots I am leaning towards the focus of depiction of light and external factors that shape our environment. Essentially i will be focusing on elements of a photograph that people tend to not look at. Usually people will try and capture a certain object or subject as the main focal point of a photograph however I want to defy these conventions and look at the depiction of light, textures and other things that form and change our landscape. These initial ideas came from my artist reference on Hiroshi Sugimoto who photographs the ocean without a direct focus on the ocean itself but how the atmosphere shapes it. Leading on from this I looked into Monets Hay Stacks paintings which link to this idea of the environment being formed by external elements such as the light and atmosphere. He captures the changing light and how it colored his surroundings by painting a landscape at different times of the day.

Having explored the light i wanted to look into another factor that shapes the environment thus being tidal movement. I have researched one artist Micheal Martens who looks at how the tide forms the landscape at different times of the day. I have responded to this in one shoot however plan to look further into this in a scientific way, exploring how this occurs and why. As well as this i will also complete some more shoots simply exploring how the low tide vs high tide changes a familiar landscape into something quite different. Furthermore, as well as this scientific exploration I will also look into the spiritual culture as a whole and how this is demonstrated in photography. Through this i will look into Japanese culture and zen Buddhism inspired by the spirituality that is conveyed through Sugimoto.

My current ideas for an end product is a photo book and possible cinematic video that will be inspired by Koyaanisqatsi. Through the photo book there will be a sense of spirituality looking at the beauty within things that aren’t usually seen as beautiful. I will include aspects of the way in which the landscape is transformed by elements such as light and tidal movement. With intentions of creating a video, it would consist of cinematic sequences of the environment throughout a day to show how the landscape is transformed through a day and how light effects it. Also, there would be clear reference to the ocean since this plays a significant role in transforming the landscape from something familiar to a place vastly different.

Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, and the rotation of the Earth.

While tides are usually the largest source of short-term sea-level fluctuations, sea levels are also subject to forces such as wind and barometric pressure changes, resulting in strom surges, especially in shallow seas and near coasts. Tidal phenomena are not limited to the oceans, but can occur in other systems whenever a gravitational field that varies in time and space is present. For example, the shape of the solid part of the Earth is affected slightly by Earth tide, though this is not as easily seen as the water tidal movements. This links to the previous contextual studies I have engaged with and the fact of seeing past our reality at things that cannot be seen.

Tide changes proceed via the following stages:

• Sea level rises over several hours, covering the inertidal zone; flood tide.
• The water rises to its highest level, reaching high tide.
• Sea level falls over several hours, revealing the intertidal zone; ebb tide.
• The water stops falling, reaching low tide.

I decided to do this research as a result of Michael Marten sea change project as i wanted to gain a scientific understanding of the tidal movement. As well as this scientific approach I will look into the spiritual approach that this sea change could be viewed as and I will try to display these ideas in my work. Perhaps with a scientific approach it could be interesting to add text into the images that display the height of water, time of day and weather types too.