looking at formalism

 

Paul Strand - was an American photographer and filmmaker who helped establish photography as an art in the 20th century. 

Although Strand's Photographs lack colour, they still contain a wide range of tones and shades and a great sense of depth, even in his simplest photos. 
I like these photographs because of the symmetry, pattern and shapes that are found in each of the images. These scenes are seen all the time in everyday life - each photo grants a satisfaction in the simple and basic shapes, set-ups and man-made structures.
Each of these photos hold a sense of stillness in the frame and transmits a feeling of tranquility/content.





Brett Weston - Brett Weston was an American photographer. His work gives the same sense of stillness and focuses on natural/man-made shapes and forms - the second photograph's stillness is broken with the man passing the through the frame. Weston's photos are simple and complex - with complex shapes and layers. 
This first picture has a cluster of forms and rigid lines and demonstrates high contrasts between black and white. The last photograph has less in it - a simpler photo but also contains textures in the roof with its many ridges. 

Plan - go out and take pictures of rigid shapes and forms in man made structures / simple pictures of everyday structures, look at buildings and pipes
my photographs - 

 
Best Photographs - I chose the simplest images because it helps to keep the focus on one point of the image. Each of these photographs are minimal which creates a sense of satisfaction. I chose to not have colour in the images so I could of focus on the tones in the image while still keeping the images basic and minimal.   



 
  

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