For my seventh and final photoshoot, I again chose to photography modern buildings to ensure that I had perfect images for my photobook. Unlike my other shoots I didn’t go to a specific area for this one. Some of my images were out east, some were out west and some were more central. I think that this was one of my more successful shoot and I was happy with how quite a few of them turned out.
contact sheets:
final selection:
For the sixth shoot that I did, I decided to go back to St Helier around the Jersey Museum and Art gallery as in one of my pervious shoots many of my images came out blurry. However, I really liked the architecture that was there and wanted to try and photograph it again. This time my images came out much better. Whilst editing these images, I chose to make them black and white as I think it defines the detail and adds to the old effect of the picture. This shoot was much more successful and I selected a larger amount of final images.
final selection:
As many of my other shoots were based on modern buildings, I decided that for my fifth shoot I was going to photograph some of the bunkers around Jersey. For most of them I went down to St Ouen’s and walked around the sand dunes and the coast. I am happy with a few of my images that I made and I think that the architecture fits well with the heritage of Jersey.
contact sheets:
final images:
For my fourth shoot, I decided firstly to focus on older buildings as I had already accumulated a large amount of modern images. I took these images in St Helier around the Jersey Museum and Art Gallery as I thought the little roads that run behind the museum are lined with old buildings that would be perfect for my personal study. I am happy with how a few of these images turned out however some were blurry.
contact sheets:
Secondly, I went up around Rozel area as there a some nice modern building up there that I thought would look good. I think that the lighting in these images are what made them look a lot better some some of my previous images. Again lots of these images were blurry so I only selected a few.
final images:
For my third shoot I also decided to focus on more modern buildings. I went out to Gorey as they are many along the coast that I wish to photograph for my project. Whilst I focused on modern buildings, I also photographed Mont Orgueil Castle (Gorey Castle), as I thought it would fit in perfectly with some of my older architecture images. Once I had made my selection I wasn’t left with very many images as I wanted them all to be perfectly how I had imagined it.
contacts sheets:
final images:
Overall, I think that I made some good images in the shoot, however, I think I could have tried to make a few more as I only ended up selecting a small amount as I wasn’t happy with all of them.
For my second shoot I decided to go more out west (St Brelade’s and St Ouen’s) to photograph some old buildings but mainly modern buildings.
contact sheets:
As I wasn’t very happy with this shoot when I went through them all and made my first selection using ‘X’ and ‘P’ I cut quite a lot of them out either because they were blurry, too close or far away or I just didn’t like them. I then made a second selection to make a final pick of images.
final images:
For my first shoot I decided to focus on more modern buildings and an odd couple old ones that I found. All of these images are out east between Gorey and and Fauvic. I have imported them into Lightroom Classis and I am going to make a selection of my best ones and adjust them to get the perfect lighting and make sure they are all straight. Once I have done that I am going to begin to think about the layout for my photobook. and start placing images where I want them.
contact sheets:
I then made my first selection using X and P to pick or reject my image that I liked or thought that were my best ones as I had lots of similar images to ensure I made the perfect one.
final selection:
possible questions:
what are the differences between Eugène Atget and Ezra Stoller?
‘To photograph is to appropriate the thing photographed‘ Susan Sontag (1971), On Photography
For my personal study I want to follow the theme of architecture through nostalgia with different buildings from old to modern. Through this I want to show the evolution of architecture and how is has changed from what I used to see when I was younger to what I see now becoming more and more modern. Within this I may photography different houses or buildings that have been damaged due to the storm to develop my study as well as the environmental side of building in Jersey and whether or not our heritage is keeping its legacy or if it is slowly disappearing being a main reason to keep my images untouched. ‘Photographs, which fiddle with the scale of the world, themselves get reduced, blown up, cropped, retouched, doctored, tricked out.‘ Susan Sontag (1971), On Photography. Previously I have studied Anthropocene which I feel may fit into my personal study slightly as I photographed some buildings during that topic as well as used it as a way of awareness about the environment and how the use of plastic has rapidly increased. Not only has plastic increased but also wasted materials which some have come from building sites. I have chosen this topic because not only do I enjoy exploring different architectures, but because I find that there are so many hidden buildings that aren’t seen very often around Jersey which should be shown, and I want to explore this further with some being edited etc but also some being left to showcase the architecture itself. To develop my project I am going to visit the different parts of the island to find building that have been here for a while to newer builds or ones that have been done up to show modern building that are becoming more and more common. Once I have collect all of my images I am going to present them in a photobook so that you can clearly see all of my images. To begin my study I am going to photograph older building all over the island to showcase what architecture Jersey has. Most of my image are going to be taken in landscape in order to include the whole building in the image, however, some may be in portraiture if I think that will look better. I think that my images will look best in day light so that I can capture the detail in the buildings exterior, and that all of my images will be outside as I am focusing on the exterior of buildings rather then the interior. My images won’t be staged as I will photograph the buildings how they are without adapting them at all to show the raw architecture in Jersey. Some of my images may be presented by accompany text to tell the viewer why I have photographed the building as well as having my essay at the end of my book, however, most of my images will be presented on their own so that the viewer can use their imagination and can explore their own thoughts on them. I will use a linear sequence approach to display my images to tell a story from old buildings to new ones which will allow the viewer to see the change that is happening over time. Once I have my images I may collage some of them with different materials to tell something about the building rather than using text as it allows the viewer to have there own interpretation on the building whilst having a hint to guide them. I will leave most of my images plain so that the building is the main focus and the viewer doesn’t get distracted from me editing it etc. I will use Lightroom classic to adjust the images slightly to make them clearer or to set the mood of the image, i.e., some of my images may be in black and white. I think that this will make my images stand out and tell a story which hopefully the viewer will understand whilst still being able to have their own thoughts about what I have captured. I aim for my personal study to represent the theme of nostalgia from how the building have developed from building that have been on the island for a very long time or even listed buildings to buildings that are more for the looks or being very modern which are becoming more popular these days. Whilst photography has been developing architecture has too, almost alongside it and that is what I aim to show.
Within Photography, its relationship with architecture is immense. It is said that they are both on the verge of art and a service. I think that this is very clear in more modern buildings that we see these days as they are almost more about how they look as opposed to how they function, they are there to please the human eye and catch your attention as you drive or walk past. In architecture one of the main isms is functionalism. It focuses on the emphasis of the shape, size, materials and its aesthetic etc. This inspires many architects to this day, from recreating shapes, particular features, materials used, and techniques, etc. Functionalism in architecture is all about what the pieces provided us with whether is it natural light, a cosy, safe place that you live in, or something that provided you with a space to sleep. Whilst it will be different for everyone architecture is a massive part of all of our lives even though we may not all realise it, not only does it effect how we live but also how we act alongside our emotions. Another ism that is very involved in architecture is culturalism. Culturalism has a big effect on architecture and has for a many many years. Lots of places all around the world are well known for pieces of architecture like Big Ben in London, the rock houses in Turkey or the Taj Mahal in India. They are all influenced by the culture of the location and how each style of living is very different to each other. I think that they all ‘fit in’ as such with their country/city etc and if we were to swap them they would become out of place and almost lose their meaning and value as different cultures worship different things following into architecture. ‘Architecture belongs to culture, not to civilization’ Alvar Aalto. I think that this is a very influential part to architecture and is what make the buildings etc so special to some people and makes them gain a deep value that so many of us treasure. Finally, the last ism that I am going to talk about is surrealism. Surrealism wants us to get us to think about what the architecture is representing, and its purpose of being created. Whilst in photography surrealism now means a dreamy like photography containing things that feel unreal or representing unconscious ideas it didn’t always mean that. It is thought to be ordinary sights that sparked the appearance of surrealism. Within architecture it shows that buildings can be much more that bricks layered on top of one another. They have a much deeper meaning that many of us do not perceive, and is often only revealed when we have some sort of relationship with the architecture its self. Overall, I think that architecture has become a very influential aspect to photography. Not only has it made us photograph more but also architecture has gone from a backdrop in images to the main focal point or the protagonist. Visa versa, photography has changed how we perceive buildings etc in images and has adapted how we design future pieces, filling our minds with ideas.
Eugene Atget was a French pioneer in documenting photography. He began making images in the 1880’s and did so to provide artists, painters and architects with studies. Many of his images are based on capturing the streets in Paris before they began to disappear into modernisation which gained admiration from big artists such as Man Ray, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Similarly, I feel deeply influenced by his motivation for his work as I wish to do the same with Jersey for my study, even thought it is much more modern than Paris was back in 1920. I also feel that Atget photographed to hold memories of living in Paris in his early twenties as he knew change was just over the horizon. ‘A good photograph is like a good hound dog, dumb, but eloquent.’ Eugene Atget. Whilst I don’t think Jersey’s architecture will develop much more rapidly in the next few years, I do believe that it eventually will and capturing it now will produce valuable memories for years to come. Atget was a very influential photographer. He played a large part in the founding of surrealism in photography and his work was inspirational and seen as a forerunner of Surrealism in the 1920’s. Surrealists found his work of empty streets in Paris deeply suggestive leading to the founding of the ism. Eugene’s work made a tremendous and sudden impact on the world of photography and ended up influencing many future photographers including me.
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/atgt/hd_atgt.htm
Whilst Ezra Stoller was also a documentary photographer however, he captured completely different buildings. He photographed the newer more modern buildings that had began popping up in developed countries. Stoller was American and had lots of opportunities to capture these developed buildings. As Jersey is not only less developed but also much smaller I have tried my best to capture the newer buildings that are appearing more and more after every building site. I have tried to convey the theme of focusing on the structure of the buildings, and how they please the human eye as well as how influential they are. Stoller has a keen eye for composition meaning that his images turn out to be very pleasing. I think that this means his images are very striking and engage the viewer into the image immediately. In Strollers work I feel that it shows that more developed structures appear more approachable and convey a more inviting effect. I think that I have been able to achieve this effect in my work in my more modern images, however, my more older images provide a more nostalgic feeling as they have been here for longer and are built in a very different way, maybe using older techniques etc.
mini fact file about both artists to introduce
Atget is about taking image to remember how Paris was and that he knew it was going to change
Stoller is about more modern approach and taking images to please the human eye more functional formalisation
both avoid humans in images
the human element, we are very influenced by architecture want to capture memories of it etc
structures of it, how the mood of the buildings is conveyed
especially stoller his images are almost sterile must be perfect all about the building very clean look almost staged in a way
new topographic, Gabriele Basilico
New Topographics arose in 1975 and is where photographers capture contemporary, urban or suburban landscapes. The movements was a reaction to the increasingly suburbanised world and landscapes around them. People involved were trying to keep the world more natural and used photography to get their message across as opposed to words in the hope that they were more powerful. I think that this also contributes in my personal study as it shows that the world is changing not only in architecture but many other things. As this is one of my aims to show, I think it plays a big part. Another style I aim to show is the Bauhaus style. This style hold the characteristics of simplicity and functionality with the use of authentic materials whilst mass producing. Throughout my personal study I haven’t focused as such on this style but it may show through in some images. A photographer who focused on this style was Gabriele Basilico. Basilico was an Italian photographer who focused on the representation of the city. His photography was later used as a way of documenting the effects of war on the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Within this, he captured many apartment blocks/ complexes either that appear to have been newly built after the war or ones that were damaged and are falling to pieces. I think that his work is very effective in the architecture photography world and they hold great detail that many people may miss at first.
Eugene Atget and Ezra Stoller both created intriguing images within architecture photography leading to inspire me deeply. Whilst they photograph the the same area of photography, their images are very different but both hold great detail. Whilst one is trying to photograph the old street of Paris to produce treasurable memories for many people, the other is providing us with humanly aesthetic images of a world that we are seeing become more apparent everyday. I think that together they show how much the world is developing and what is becoming the new normality. I think that both these artists link to my projects as they show how much architecture has gone from being suitable and efficient to more about pleasing the human eye. In my project I have tried to capture how architecture isn’t just buildings etc but it also effects how we live our lives massively. I think that it influences human activity hugely from how we act and our behaviour, to communication and well-being within the world. It is proven that a well ventilated, greener area can contribute to our mental health and how we feel on a daily basis. Not only can it influence our well-being but also our happiness, being in a gloomy, noisy, dull environment can make us less productive and encouraged. ‘We shape our buildings: thereafter they shape us‘ Sir Winston Churchill (1943) His speech to the meeting in the House of Lords. The way I see it, architecture is much more than just a building. It is more like a frame work for our lives that keep stability and gives us guidance.
bibliography:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Stoller
https://utilitiesone.com/the-relationship-between-architecture-human-behavior-and-construction
https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/eug%C3%A8ne-atget?all/all/all/all/0
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/atgt/hd_atgt.htm
bibliography:
book:
Bright, S. (2010). Auto Focus: The Self-Portrait in Contemporary Photography. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
‘sentence'(surname date of publication: page no)
i.e.,
In her text Bright writes, ‘informality in domestic self-portraiture has long been popular with amateur photographers.'(Bright 2010:24)
online article:
surname. initial publish date title of article who published it and where URL address (assessed todays date)
MON: Academic Sources
Bibliography
List all the sources that you have identified above as literary sources. Where there are two or more works by one author in the same year distinguish them as 1988a, 1988b etc. Arrange literature in alphabetical order by author, or where no author is named, by the name of the museum or other organisation which produced the text. Apart from listing literature you must also list all other sources in alphabetical order e.g. websites/online sources, Youtube/ DVD/TV.
Quotation and Referencing:
Why should you reference?
What should you reference?
How should you reference?
Use Harvard System of Referencing…see Powerpoint: harvard system of referencing for further details on how to use it.
Here is an full guide on how to use Harvard System of Referencing including online sources, such as websites etc.
photoshoot 1:
Eugène Atget shoot-
what: For my first shoot I am going to base it off of Eugene Atget’s work with the theme of old and historical architecture. Once I have collected a set of images I am going to edit them to try and create the same effect on my images that Atget has on his.
when: I am going to take this shoot maybe an hour or so before sunset so that my images have a gloomy effect and they turn out more dull that taking my images in the middle of the day. I want an effect that adds to my image and make it more alike Atget’s as all of his images were taken in monochrome with an old effect to them which I want to try and recreate.
where: For this shoot I am going to go all over the island to find building that are similar to Atget’s. This shoot won’t be my only one on old architecture so I wont worry too much about photographing every old building but just the ones that are similar to Atget’s.
why: I have chosen to do this as my first shoot as I wat my project to start in this place as I want to show the evolution of architecture so I think starting at older building is a good place to begin.
how: For this shoot and most of my other shoots I am going to use a digital camera and for some images I may use a tripod to ensure that my images are straight and are focused/steady to produce a good quality image.
photoshoot 2:
east side of the island-
what: For my second shoot I am going to focus it on buildings located on the east side of the island as that is where I live. This may include buildings that I have a connection to or ones that show how architecture has changed.
when: For this shoot I will take my images at around noon so that there is good lighting and it makes the building be the main focus point and is clear.
where: As this shoot is based on the east side of the island I am going to focus on architecture in St Cements, Grouville, St Martins and maybe St Saviours.
why: As I live in the East side of the Island I think that this would be a good place to start as I know the area well as also have connections to some of the buildings in this area.
photoshoot 3:
Ezra Stoller shoot-
what: For my third photo shoot I am going to base it off of Ezra Stoller as his work captures modern architecture which is what part of my personal study is based on. His work includes lots of lines and symmetry so that it what I am going to try and find to capture in this particular photoshoot.
when: I think for this shoot it will look better in day light at noon so that my images are clear and the focus will be on the buildings as opposed to having duller lighting as I don’t think that it would add much to my image.
where: Similar to my shoot inspired by Atget, I am going to start on the East side of the Island but also focus on the style of the buildings to replicate Stoller’s as I will do other modern shoot to add to my study.
why: I have chosen to do this as my third shoot so that I have a beginning and an end with the old and modern buildings. I think that this will help me to realize what kind of images I need more of to develop my project.
mind map:
about Atget and why I studied him:
Eugene Atget was born in 1857 and was a French pioneer of documentary photography. He was well known for his images of architecture and the streets of Paris. Atget wasn’t always passionate about photography though, after becoming an orphan at the age of just seven, he was brought up by his grandparents in Bordeaux. After he had finished secondary school he joined the merchant navy and in1878 he moved to Paris in the hope of getting into an acting class but initially failed the entry exam, on the second attempt he was accepted but later got expelled as he rarely attended due to being in the navy. He then became an actor from being in a travelling group in Paris where he met his partner Valentine Delafosse, and they were together until her death. In 1887 he gave up acting due to an infection in his vocal cords, and took up painting in the providences. At the age of thirty he took his first image which dates back to 1888. Shortly after in 1890 he moved back to Paris where he became a professional photography, using a large format view camera to take images for architects, studies for painters and artists, and stage designers. From 1898 many institutions began to buy his work and commissioned him to systematically photograph building all over Paris, but he then moved to Montparnasse. In 1920-1921 he sold thousands of his images to different institutes and then took up photographing the parks of Versailles, Saint-Cloud and Sceaux, producing a series from it. Bernice Abbott, another photographer, tried to promote Atget’s work through articles, books, exhibitions and also sold her collection of his work to the Museum of Modern Art. In 1926 Valentine, Atget’s partner passed away. Shortly after Eugene Atget also passed away in Paris in 1927. Eugene’s work made a tremendous and sudden impact on the world of photography and ended up influencing maybe future photographers.
I have chosen to study Atget because I think his images show the detail of old/historical buildings which I would like to show in part of my personal study. Because of modern technology I may not be able to take my images in the way that he has as we have a lot more developed cameras etc, therefore I may try to edit my images to recreate that same effect. I like how all of Atget’s images have the same style and work together very well as I think it makes his work stand out to the viewers. As most of his images are produced in Paris I think that some of the streets are very similar to the ones here in Jersey meaning that I can re create his images to a high standard. Lots of Atget’s work shows what appears to be run down buildings which I think I will be able to recreate as there are many over here. I also think that Atget was very good at focusing on the architecture, managing to include the detail of the building, the texture, and the area that the images were taken in. Overall I think that Eugene Atget is the artist that I am most inspired by as his work captured my eyes and focuses on what I want to base part of my personal study on.
artist zoom-in:
bibliography: