Firstly, to create my Paul Reiffer Images, I selected some images that I had taken previously of urban landscapes that I thought would look aesthetically pleasing as a ‘little world’. I then downloaded the app ‘roll world’ in order to recreate Reiffer’s photographs and I thought this would be the best option since Reiffer also downloaded apps onto his iphone in order to create his images. I played around with the app until the urban landscape appeared to look like a ‘little planet’ and this was quite easy to do and the app was very easy to use.
Final Outcomes
This is the final outcome created from the first image seen above. I also leveled the image in order to make the landscape a lot more vibrant and old; creating an aesthetically pleasing image. This is a second final outcome image from using the roll world app. I used a different urban landscape image and again played with the app until I was happy with the shape of it. I again also leveled the image in order to make the landscape appear more vibrant and to enhance the colors of the sunset.
VISUAL: The colours within the images that Helmer creates are not diverse but in fact literally just black and white which creates a somewhat intriguing image since the objects in the photographs appear as silhouettes; making them hard to identify. There are also dramatic differences in tone as mentioned before, between the black and white which makes it strikingly aesthetic. The texture within these images are very flat and not grainy at all, which almost makes the photograph look animated and completely edited; not as if it had come from real life. The image is also not 3 dimensional but 2 dimensional since this image was created using a flatbed scanner. There seem to be patterns within Helmer’s work. There is always a certain type of aesthetic that Helmer goes for which is basically patterns of sometimes indistinguishable lines. There is no specific layout for his images, and I feel this is done purposefully in order to create a mysterious photo.
My Own Black Light Images:
To create these images I took some urban landscape images that I thought would look aesthetically pleasing in the style of black light and also images that I thought matched Helmer-Peterson’s aesthetic. To edit these images, I went to photoshop, opened my image. Then, I went to image > adjustments > threshold. The threshold ‘meter’ then popped up onto the screen and then I moved it to where I found suitable. This was a fairly easy yet effective process.
This is one of my favourtie final outcomes because of the atmosphere of the image. Although, the object within the photo is what creates that eerie atmosphere. The hole within the chair creates a derelict atmosphere which emphasizes the creepy vibe. The leaves also give the atmosphere of abandonment, since it looks like it has been a long time since anyone has been in this area. I levelled this image in photoshop. I increased the contrast of the image to enhance the atmosphere and also lowered the brightness for that same reason.This is another one of my favourite final outcomes again because of the atmosphere of the image; abandonment. The bench is broken which gives the audience the impression that no one has been here for a while and there is no one to take care of it. The leaves, again also emphasize the atmosphere created. I levelled this photograph in photoshop by increasing the contrast and the vibrance of the image in order to bring out those ‘old’ colours that show the decay of the objects. This is another one of my favourite final outcomes because of the composition and colouring of the image. I find it intriguing how perfectly placed the tires are upon one another, although this was probably accidental since it looks as though the tires have been there for a long time. Also, I like the angle of which I took the image as it shows most of the elements that the tires hold. The placement of the tires also looks aesthetically pleasing. I levelled this image in photoshop by increasing the contrast and increasing the vibrancy and slightly the saturation in order to bring out the aged but vibrant colours that lay on the tire. This is one of my favourite final outcomes because of the dramatic contrast in colour within the image. I levelled this image in photoshop and increased the contrast so that an eerie, creepy atmosphere would be conveyed. Increasing the contrast of the image allowed the dark concrete to darken and appear dramatically different from the yellow lines that are on the ground. I also like this image because it shows the industrial, bleak, buildings that man now creates. Because the area looks unpleasing; it sends a conscious message to the audience just as it did in the New Topographic’s Exhibition.
Image SelectionThis is one of my favourite final outcomes because of the architecture and context behind this photograph. The image shows a skeleton of a gas tank that exploded and caught fire a few years ago. To me, this represents the destructing effect that man has on this Earth. I like the composition of the image because it reveals the skeleton of the building clearly and shows where most of the damage occurred. I levelled this image in photoshop just by increasing the contrast. I would’ve preffered to photograph this on a nicer/ sunnier day so that the building would stand out more. This is one of my favourite final outcomes because of the bold use of colour within the piece of art that has been painted on the side of a building. I also like the contrast in colours between the sky and the building; the sky is eerily grey whereas the building is bright and happy. I am a huge fan of graffiti since I find it so intriguing to look at. I levelled this in photoshop by increasing the contrast of the image to make it bolder. This is one of my favourite outcomes again, because of the colours that stand out within the image. The piece of graffiti also in a way matches the theme of New Topography. The phrase ‘changes’ suits the theme since humans are changing the world into a concrete jungle. I levelled this image in photoshop to make the colours bolder and much more vibrant. This is another one of my favourite final outcomes because it reveals the construction of buildings; which are the things that essentially create an urban landscape.
I used the dial on my Camera to increase or decrease the exposure. The dial controls how much light is entered into the lens; the more light entering, the higher the exposure, the less light entering, the lower the exposure.
I used different f-stops to control how much light was entering which was controlled by the dial. Often, I used f/22 to really get the colours in the sky to come out and look bolder.
One thing I should’ve done differently when taking different images with the same f/stop is to take the images from the exact same angle and position. Maybe a tripod would’ve been helpful.
