Artist Reference 3 -Joshua Sarinana


Mood Board

Image of Structure

Joshua Sariñana’s “Image of Structure” is a captivating photographic project that explores the themes of order, geometry, and symmetry in architecture. Sariñana’s project consists of a series of black and white photographs that capture the stark beauty of man-made structures through precise angles, clean lines, and intricate patterns. The image also seems to have a sort of filter over them consisting of a dark grainy texture which blacks out the background and highlights glare from lights.

In this project, Sariñana showcases a variety of buildings, from complex skyscrapers to simple apartment complexes. What links these structures is their uniformity and repetition of patterns. This repetition is highlighted through Sariñana’s use of composition, often positioning his camera to emphasize the symmetry, complexity and repetition of the structures.

Sariñana’s photographs also elicit a sense of order and control. By showcasing the precise angles and clean lines of each building, Sariñana emphasizes the meticulous planning and engineering that goes into the construction of these buildings. This emphasis on order is especially effective when contrasted by the organic shapes and chaos of the natural world.

Furthermore, Sariñana’s project references to the human “desire “for order and structure. We are drawn to the symmetry and patterns of architecture because it provides us with a sense of stability and predictability which is something that people find comforting. Sariñana’s photographs capture this desire for order and structure in a visually stunning way and so make somewhat simple images complex with connotations and meaning.

“In my photographic work I seek to create a distinct – often dire – reality, which points to my long and exhausting history with depression, paranoia, and hypomania. This ominous quality of this series also speaks to the power of the buildings looming strength. I am not looking to have the viewer feel how I feel or see how I see, but to use it as a projective test to identify internal conflict that they may not have been aware of prior to viewing this work. The tension of being elevated and grounded by Gehry’s work, has for me, created a tense and silent drama that unfolds into surreal observation and removes it from the architectural context into the photographic space as a separate art object.”

Joshua Sarinana

https://www.lensculture.com/search/projects?q=architecture&modal=project-304845-image-of-structure


Image Analysis

I chose this image because I feel like it is most similar to the majority of buildings that I will be photographing in town in Jersey, with the majority of the building being concrete. I really like this collection of images mainly because of the angles used to make the structures look so big and daunting which is something I intend to imitate in my pieces. It is a great use of monochrome photography as by getting rid of the sky and the colour it really focuses attention on the scale and shape of the building, creating a particular focus on the shape and texture of the bricks. I also appreciate how he has created a “flair” where the light is coming from, most likely a street light as it creates an abstract take in normal lighting.

I also appreciate the meaning behind this project/photo, as in the artist’s project description he talks about his battles with anxiety and depression and how it has influenced the images he took. He has intentionally made the buildings look big and daunting through the use of the angles and eerily depressing by using only shades of black.


First Response

One way I will be referencing Sarinana’s work is by using low up-looking angles of big buildings, as well as editing the images in lightroom and photoshop to filter out the colour and create some darker images. While I will be using normal buildings I also want to add some variation by using some local POI such as the castles, as they are themselves giant buildings with unique architecture which can prove quite daunting.

Selections
First response, requires further editing on photoshop to remove sky and add lighting flare

Photoshop edit after levelling, removing sky, making monochrome and adding noise

Second Responce

Photoshoot selections

For this shoot, I went around the area of Castle Quay and the ‘Finance District’. I chose this area as I feel that the large, complex buildings and apartment complexes that tower over the older architecture represent the gentrification of Jersey really well and so links back to my statement of context + meaning adding complexity to an image. I aimed to capture images similar to that of Joshua Sarinana primarily.

First Edit, diffusion filter, made monochrome with emphasis on blues and cyan.