Task 1

Exploring high contrast images with Keld Helmer-Petersen

Helmer-Petersen was a Danish photographer who was inspired by Albert Renger-Patzsch, the experiments at The Bauhaus in Germany and by Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind at the Art Institute of Chicago. He achieved fame for his colour photographs but he also published several books of black and white images that explore dramatic contrasts of tone. In some, we are only presented with images that are black and white. All mid tones have been removed. He created and found these images, using both cameras and flat bed scanners to achieve the effects he was looking for. These books are beautifully designed and encourage us to consider the space around the image and the accompanying text as integral to the meaning of the work.

Choose 4 x images of your own to work with
Edit the images using the THRESHOLD ADJUSTMENT in Adobe Photoshop
Choose how far you “push” the image
Option : Add a “stroke” to the final image
Present your final images in a grid of 4 x square / rectangle format
Remember to Flatten Image and check file size
Blog files should be reduced to 1000 pixels on the long edge

Create a blog post that includes your experiments, including original images, edits and final outcomes
Include key information about Keld Helmer-Petersen
Add annotations to describe and explain your process
Critically evaluate your outcomes
Print your final design A4 to Photography Printer

Task 2 (extension)

this task is designed to encourage you to explore Adobe Photoshop further and select areas of an image to reveal / conceal
You will begin to use LAYERS and LAYER MASKS
You will also use the 2 x OPACITY sliders