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AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Unit 1 Abstract

Paper Photography – Edits

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Photo Editing

My edits within this project have been kept simple, to play on the idea of how basic capturing paper is. For all edits I leveled them to make them slightly darker or lighter and ensure that the tone and sharpness of the photographs where good. For some I then decided to turn them black and white and adjust the Hue to allow the creases in the paper to stand out. I also inverted some allowing texture to be presented. For some photographs I adjusted the blend mode which helped to create the cool effect. I also decided to try experimenting with the layers and blending options to create different effects. Most of these edits I believe where successful and I am happy with most outcomes, however there are a few photographs edits I do not think where the best but I left them in to show development and experiment.

For my first edit I started turning the image black and white. I then decided to invert the image which made black areas white and white areas black. I then changed the hue to a more green colour. Finally using the curves I made the image lighter creating noise in the photograph. Overall this edit has been successful in the fact I got to experiment with different tools on Photoshop. However, it is not my strongest edit.

This second edit, in my opinion, is my strongest edit as it shows a contrast in tones and is interesting for viewers to look at. To do this edit I started off by turning the photograph into black and white, I then adjust the levels to make the photograph seem darker than what it actually is. I then proceed using the paint brush tool to pain the background black allowing the main focus to be on the paper itself.

In my third edit of this photograph I decided to level the photograph to make it seem naturally lighter. I then turned the photograph into black and white and inverted it. I then changed the blend mode until it gave off this effect, which clearly shows the texture of the paper.

For my next edit I decided to use a different photograph. I carefully cropped the image to take away most of the background. I then turned the photograph into black and white and inverted it. Moving on I adjusted the curves to allow the different tones of the photograph to clearly be presented.

In this photo edit I wanted to clearly show the light which is beaming through the hole in the paper. I thought the best way to do this was simply turning it black and white which allowed the different tones to clearly illustrate the light.

Due to this simplistic photograph I decided to keep this edit simple. I simply adjusted the curves to allow the different creases and tones to be shown. I then decided to turn the photograph into black and white which has created this cool effect making the photograph more pleasing to look at.

For this edit I wanted to show the context of where the paper has been placed, thus I decided not to crop the image. To allow the texture of the paper to be shown in this image I simply turned the photograph into black and white and adjusted the curves to allow the mouth and paper to be clearly shown to viewers.

For this edit I wanted to capture the paper trapping the light into what looks like a tunnel. To do this I made the image darker than usual by adjusting the levels, this made the background black. I then experimented with different settings, however I believed that this was the most effective way to present the tunnel.

For my next edit I wanted to create a mirror effect. I thought the best way to do this is two duplicate the layer and increase the canvas size.  I repeated this four times until I was given the effect. This edit now present the formal element of shape and repetition, which makes it more interesting for viewers to look at.

This next edit I wanted to make the photograph seem more ‘3D’ by adding in a blur. To do this I duplicated the layer and went under fx and changed the blending options. I deselected the green and the blue but left the red. Then I used the arrow keys to move the top layer which presented this effect. I like the way this edit has turned out as it makes the paper seem distorted and is more visually stimulating.

In my final edit I wanted to experiment with layers. I decided to duplicate the image layer and slowly decrease the size of it as I went along. This has made the subject seem further away than it actually is, making it almost seem like an optical illusion. I am really impressed with how this edit turned out as it has made a simplistic photograph seem more interesting.

Favorite Outcome

I really like the way this photograph has turned out. To begin with I have managed to present the formal elements of shape and texture within this photograph. Texture and shape is shown through  the folds and creases on the paper.  The Macro shot, taken from a straight on angle making it interesting for the viewer to look at. Moreover, I like how an element of 3D is created through the different tones of the paper. Also, to present tonal regions I decided to display this image in black and white. I decided to make the background plain to allow the viewers focus to be solely on the piece of paper located in the center of the frame. Moreover, I attempted to use Creed’s effect of using light to guide the viewers eye around the photograph on my image. I love the simplicity of this edit as it captivates viewers. Finally I believe this edit is my most successful due to the fact it is similar to Creed’s image.

AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Unit 1 Abstract

Edited photos 2 – Compared

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The original Photo Compared To The Edited Versions

  •  Here i have experimented with the Brightness and the contrast, you can see that have made the lighting lighter and it shows the shadows that have been created from this.
  • I have also changed the tone  with using the levels allowed me to make the tone to get lighter or darker. the curves allowed me to make the colour more vibrant.
  • I have also used the exposure to adjust how the colour and focus and how the picture is presented.
  • I have used the vibrance tool so that I can experiment of fixing the saturation of the colour so that the colour is not so bright or the there is the wrong balance.
  • I used the saturation tool so I can make the colour more vibrant.
  • i have turned this picture in black and white to show the different affect that you just have it in black and white it also also shows how the meaning of a picture can change.
  • i used the invert tool see how the picture changed and also I did it to compare the original and the inverted picture.

 

AO4 Present Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Uncategorized, Unit 1 Abstract

Paper Photography:Contact Sheet

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Photographers use contact sheets to allow them to carefully select their top images. It also allows them to annotate the photographs on where they may want to crop the photograph, issues with photographs and photographs that they may want to further develop or use. Contact sheets are also used to present all the photographs captured on the shoot, which shows how the photographer went about the photo shoot. This way of displaying images is very useful for a photographer.

Overall, in my opinion this is my best image  from the response I did. I like this image due to the use of light and tone, with a good contrast. The contrast in my opinion shows the form and line of the paper than if the frame was all highlights and all bright. 

The way I achieved my wanted contrast and brightness, I utilized the natural light in the room so that I didn’t have to  use the flash or heavily edit the picture. The only editing I did do was add a soft black filter to the image: I didn’t want a normal black and white filter that pix-elates the shadows and lines.

Alongside the use of contrast, I wanted to incorporate line and shape into my image so that it created less of a silhouette and more of a strong shape within strong shadows.

AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Component 2 ESA, Unit 1 Abstract

Paper photography

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CONNCEPT AND IMAGE TAKING

The concept of this mini project was to capture an ordinary scrunched up piece of paper, in as many ways as possible, placing it in different environments and photographing it. I captured these photos on my iPhone therefore the exposure, shutter speed etc. options were very limited when working on taking these images; paying particular attention to composition to make up for what was lost in image resolution. I started this task first by capturing some very simple photographs near a window, the light hit from the right side of the room creating a small shadow. The blurred, yet very busy backdrop for the photo really made the crisp and sharp lines in the scrunched up paper stand out.

I then moved on to making a black infinity screen on which I would capture my next set of photos. The stark contrast between the bright white paper and pitch dark background, again make the ball stand out. There is some differentiation created on the infinity screen by the light shining in from the right hand side, giving it tonal differences that can be clearly seen and make the balls shadow be seen more easily.

I then thought about incorporating movement into my photos, therefore I asked a classmate to drop the ball from a height. Although difficult to capture, I was able to get a few shots which illustrate the dropping motion of the ball. These photos though are compromised in quality with the ball having motion streaks.

I then again thought about different items I could incorporate into the images, therefore I placed the paper ball in a geometric sculpture. The wire sculpture is again very dark giving good contrast between the ball and paper. Also the contrast in shape from the randomly scrunched paper and the sharp, geometric lines of the sculpture give it a point of interest.

I then moved into placing the ball on top of a bright white vase. The incoming shadow from the left hand side of the picture give both the vase and the paper very dramatic and deep shadows which cut through the sea of whiteness giving the illusion of tonal differences. Lastly, I played around with the concept of geometry again, creating some origami which I then captured on a black backdrop, I think this gave a similar effect as using the geometric sculpture in my photos.

This overall mini project was very interesting to do. The challenge of creating many different photos with just a single piece of paper was very challenging yet this made me think about photography in ways that i have never done before. The simplicity of paper can be adapted and changed to become beautiful images that are very captivating and interesting.

MOST SUCCESFUL PHOTOS

In my opinion the most successful photo was indeed the paper ball atop of the white vase. I feel that this photo was really able to capture multiple interesting aspects of the vase and the paper ball. Firstly the light hitting from the left side of the picture creating the dramatic shadows, highlight the irregular creases and folds within the paper which are an important and interesting aspect of the paper ball. Furthermore, the shadows are able to distinguish both the white background and the foreground. The vase in these photos is also an aspect which further illustrates the interesting nature of the paper ball by again creating contrast in shape. It is very smooth, with regular curves all around, the ball on the opposite, possesses sharp and linear edges. A noteworthy aspect of the paper ball is that it was made from transparent paper, the thicker texture allowing it to create stronger geometric shapes. There are slight tonal differences with the vase, backdrop and ball. It is slightly more yellow toned whilst the ball and the backdrop are a lot more blue based.

Another very successful photo was the paper ball inside the black wire sculpture. This photo again captures the contrast between geometry and the random edges and curves of the paper ball. The dark metal is the center of attention, bringing it into the foreground of the photo whilst the white paper ball sits in the back ground. The light shining in from the left hand side of the photo creates a slight shadow from the paper ball and the wire sculpture, which fades into a darker shadow into the right hand side. i cropped the image and increased the contrast in order to make the photo more dramatic and dark.

The last photo which i thought was very successful was the paper ball on the black infinity screen. the paper which the ball sit atop of was very blue based in co lour therefore when i saturated the image, you are able to see different tones of black and blue. The contrast between the black screen and the white ball is also very striking in this photo. by increasing the contrast, I was able to create a pitch black backdrop. The light incoming from the left hand side of the photo creates a very slight yet noticeable shadow from the ball onto the screen.

CONTACT SHEETS

i made my final selection of images from the 86 I took by using contact sheets. I uploaded these onto Photoshop which I was able to manually draw onto with the brush tool. This was a very useful step i took when choosing the most successful photos from my selection. The red marks on top of the sheets made artwork in itself. The marks seem random yet to me they were a very useful prompt that reminded me of the steps i should take when editing and selecting the correct photos. I chose to make the photos monochrome as my final images are mostly black and white, therefore this helped me to visualize my final photos better.

AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Unit 1 Abstract

Introductory Project to Abstract Photography

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Mood board and ideas. This is the mood board I came up with as to what type of theme I would like to persue in my photographs. I would like to focus on color and abstract forms of art and paint. I find that color is able to convey a multitude of aspects such as mood and how eye catching the image it is for the viewer. I may capture my images indoors in a well lit setting or go outdoors and explore nature. Breurs work is largely focused on capturing photos of his own artwork therefore I will explore this options too when it comes to abstract photography.

AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Unit 1 Abstract

Paper Photography – Preparation

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Mood Bored

Martin Creed

Martin Creed
Martin Creed’s Simplistic Photograph Of Paper

Martin Creed has been one of my main inspirations for this mini project. He has managed to capture a piece of paper in an interesting. There are multiple element which has made Creed’s photograph inspiring. First of all he presents the formal element of texture, line and shape through the crumpled piece of paper. This also helps to outline the different tones within the photograph which creates an element of 3D.  The shadow of the paper tells us where the artificial light source is coming from. Knowing this information will help to guide the viewers eyes through the frame of the photograph, starting at the lighter area of the ball moving to the darkest. Creed has kept the background of the photograph plain which ensures that the viewers eyes will not be distracted from the main focus point of the photograph, the ball of paper. Moreover, it creates space within the photograph as the frame is not filled. The image is taken as a landscape image at a straight on angle which helps to present the context of the photograph. The simplistic idea of Creed’s photograph makes it effective as he has taken an ordinary, simple object and made it something more interesting that what it actually is. In my eyes the camera settings that I believe Creed has used is: ISO 100-800 as there is no noise created from the lighting which has been used, a normal shutter speed as Creed is not capturing anything moving and the photograph is in full focus and an aperture of roughly F22 as there is a narrow depth of field. Personally I really like Creed’s photography as he has such a simple idea and object and has made it into something better. He has shown creativity to be able to think of taking a photograph like that. I also love the way he has used the artificial  lighting to help guide the viewers eye around the frame, I think that this is very clever and I would like to try it when capturing my photographs.

Plan

Setting, Time and Place

The photoshoot will take place at Hatulieu school in the afternoon, allowing the midday sun to be used, which means I will be using natural lighting.

Aim

I want to use paper as my subject, to present a theme of still life photography. I will be using one sheet of paper and explore different ways I can use it to make an interesting photograph. This simplistic aim will allow me to explore and present my creativity. I would like to use a plain background  to allow the tones and textures of the paper to be presented. However, I would like to capture photographs using  a background which may be busier. To do this I need to ensure that the focus is on the paper, and the background is not in focus, which will not distract the viewer.

Camera Settings

ISO: 100-800

Shutter Speed: 1/500

Aperture: F22

Depth of Field: Narrow

Formal Elements: Light, Texture and Shape.

Thoughts and Feelings

I have a lot of different ways that I can manipulate the paper in my head, making the capturing process easy. I definitely want to experiment with light to not only create tones and shadows, but also using it to guide my viewers eyes around the frame of the photograph. However, when it comes to editing I am not too sure what I am going to do. With the editing I would like to keep it simple in order to match the simplistic theme of the project. Currently I am thinking about turning photographs black and white to really emphasis the different tones and shadows within the photographs I will be taking.

AO1 Develop Ideas, AO2 Explore Ideas, AO3 Record Ideas, AO4 Present Ideas, Component 1 Personal Investigation, Homework, Unit 1 Abstract

Abstract

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Ernst Hass

Ernst Hass was born in Vienna in 1921 and decided to do photography after the war. His early work on Austrian returning prisoners of war brought him to the attention of LIFE magazine but he declined the job as a staff photographer in order to keep independence. In 1951 he moved to the US and began to experiment with Kodachrome colour film. He soon became the first colour photographer of the 1950s. In 1962, his work was the first color photography exhibition held at New York museum of modern art. Throughout his career he has traveled and taken pictures for publications such as LIFE, Vogue and Look.

Style

  • Pioneer of colour
  • Abstract, lines, reflections, texture
  • Creating mood through colour and light
  • Beauty from the mundane

Hass used a lot of black and white film for most of his career but colour film became very important to his photography. He frequently used techniques such as shallow depth of field, selective focus and blurred motion to create metaphorical works. Once he began working in colour he often used Kodachrome which is known for its saturated colours. To print his colour work he used a dye transfer process which is expensive and a complex process and allowed for great control over colour hue.

Ernst Hass shows beauty in mundane views or objects. Most of his photography involves creating simple but eye catching pictures, ones that are heavy with texture, have beautiful light and create feelings through colour. Ernst Hass takes simple pictures by finding something fascinating and paying close attention to it. He captures detail through his zoomed in images, making it hard to distinguish what it is. Ernst Hass takes things down to their simplest elements to make it interesting for the viewer.  I like the vivid colours you see through his images and the concept of making everyday things that we see look visually stunning. To respond to his work I will focus on elements in nature as well as building structures to create images that have a seemingly unreal appearance from the real object.

My Response

Best abstract images

As you get increasingly close to a subject the detail that was not apparent at regular viewing distance will emerge as an abstract photograph. In this case the detail of the stigma is captured instead of the form of the flower. The petals and shadows casted have been blurred in the background so the colour yellow stands out in the image creating a visually interesting photo.

By capturing a section of the fan palm I have filled the entire frame with the subject, eliminating the unwanted background making the image appear abstract. The different shades of green fill the entire picture creating visual impact. The diagonal lines make the image more dynamic and provide a better overall balanced composition. They add a strong visual interest and make your eyes travel across the photo. They are dominant in the image and are the main focus point.

The zoom lens has captured close detail on the leaf as well as texture which can be shown through the focal points.  The curved lines coming out the stem are very effective in this photo as they create a more graceful composition.  By rotating the photo I created a different orientation, making the image more interesting. The shadows casted on the leave also catch the viewers attention and create a sense of depth to the picture.

The various width of lines are the main attention in this photo. Since this photo was taken up close you can see lots of detail and texture to the bark. Most of the lines are curved and seamless and create a smooth effect to the image. There’s a lot going on in the image because of the amount of detail captured, creating an unfamiliar image.

To capture this image I held a dream catcher towards the sunlight so that a light source would shine through the netting. By manipulating the lighting I created shadows and highlights to add depth and interest to my image. The feathers on the right hand side are out of focus by motion so that the main focal point is on the pattern of the dream catcher. I like the composition of the photo and how the foreground is slightly blurred to create layers.

To take this photo I scrunched a bunch of towels together to create an interesting form. The composition is complex and interesting and makes it appear like a ‘landscape’. Texture from the towels can be seen in the front and slowly begins to blur out further away. The aspect of the photo which most grabs the viewers attention is the different shades of blue which greatly contrast with each other.

This photo is of feathers that hang down a dream catcher. Most of the image is blurred since I moved the object side to side so it could create an effect of motion. I like how the photo only captures the edges of the feathers while the rest has been unfocused. The further back, the more blurred it becomes creating a sense of depth which the shadows and highlights also help create.

The sharp vertical line in the middle is the first thing that grabs your attention when looking at the image. I like how one side is focused while the other is blurred. Even through the blurred side the colour is still visible and creates interest to the image. The light specs can also be seen in the background, creating highlight.

The rectangle shapes form structure to the image and attract the viewers attention. These strong geometrical shapes with straight edges give the photo a powerful visual impact. The shadows casted by the overlapping wood panels create layers to the photo and make it visually interesting.

Evaluation

My understanding of abstract photography has changed throughout the photo shoots as I have learned different techniques on how to create an abstract image. At the start, most of my abstract images were close ups of subjects to make them appear unrealistic. Later on I learned that you can create abstract images by taking pictures of objects with dynamic shapes, texture, patterns, lines and curves, shadows etc. As long as the photo appears seemingly unreal it will count as an abstract photograph. My photos later on did become better abstract images because they had interesting compositions and were becoming more complex than a close up of a subject. The editing afterwards also enhanced my photos to make them appear more abstract however, to create more effect I could of used Photoshop as it has more editing tools to use and experiment with.

Favourite outcome

My favourite abstract image out of the ten is the section of the fan palm. Since the photo is a close up of the subject it appears to look different from what it actually is. When I look at the picture I see stairs because of the wide diagonal lines and the different shades of green that fill the entire frame. My favourite aspect of the photo are the lines since they help make the image more dynamic and provide a better overall balanced composition. The lines are the main feature of the photo because they are dominant and makes the image visually interesting since your eyes travel across. The lighting which is coming from the left hand side helps dramatize the form of the plant since the right hand side becomes darker through shadow, creating an illusion of a staircase. To further emphasize this aspect, I edited the image so there would more shadow; This made the photo a better abstract picture. This image is inspired by Ernst Hass work since the saturation of the colouris high and he has lots of bold colours in his photography. The composition is also well balanced and is simple at the same time which is what make Ernst Hass photos visually interesting and stunning.