Over Easter I went on multiple walks around St.Helier and St.Savour and took photos which show Anthropocene (the human impact on the planet)

Below are the photos I flagged as pick as they are the ones which visually look the best, look the most interesting and best show the theme of Anthropocene. I will also be choosing my final images from these photos.

-Edits-

For the photo above I wanted to enhance the sunset to add an element of beauty and romanticism to create a contrast from the anthropocene side of the photo. I did this by slightly increasing the contrast and increasing the colours by using the graduated filter in Lightroom to increase the vibrancy in the sky.

For this photo I took I enhanced the reds in the photo to make them look more deeper and eye catching. I also made small adjustments the the lighting to make the photo look better.

I Just made small changes for the photo above mainly to enhance the sky by making it look nicer as it contrasts with the smoke being released in the photo. What I like about this photo is the trees in the photo contrast with the man made chimney in the photo as it shows nature vs humanity.

In the photo above I also changed the sky to make it look more bolder and more colourful as it makes the photo more eye catching. I also increased the contrast and shadows as it improves the lighting in the photo because it was a bright day when I took it. Lastly I made the temperature in the photo more cooler as it creates more effect in the photo and makes the photo look less dusty and dry.

Final Images

Above are my final images I took which I thought best fit the theme of Anthropocene and look the most interesting and engaging. After that I narrowed it down to my top three by choosing the most visually appealing and ones that stood out to me the most for no apparent reason.

Out of all my Anthropocene photos I’d chose this as my best outcome. It was a hard choice as I liked all of the photos I selected, but I could only have one. I chose this photo out of the other ones because it combines anthropocene, agriculture and romanticism into one photo which I like about it.

My final photo is also similar to my artist reference as both our photos focus on an overgrown area with a few buildings in the horizon. The lighting is also similar in the photo as both photos capture the evening golden hour light. However the sky in my photo is a lot more colourful creating a bit of contrast between the two photos.

-Analysis-

My photo was taken of some development work going on in an abandoned field and aims to capture the impact humans are having on the area of land.

My photo has a warm tone to it with the light being from the sunset which contains lots of deep orange and yellows which give the photo a warmer feel. This sunset and warm colours partnered with the nature in the fields in the background give the photos elements of romanticism.

The photo uses rule of thirds with the wheelbarrow being placed in the first third and the containers being placed from the first third to the middle in the centre of the photo, this draws attention to them to show the human impact on the natural field, while having the rest of the image on the right to see where the humans have flattened the land.

The photo doesn’t have many lines, but has some horizontal lines from manmade houses to show the horizon point in the background of the photo, which contrasts to the natural lines of trees and bushes which divides the fields below the horizon. There is also a contrast in texture between manmade and natural with the land the humans have flattened having a rough texture, compared to the soft grass in the field next to the one which has not suffered from the impact of humans (anthropocene).

What is artificial intelligence (AI)?

Artificial intelligence (AI), is the ability of a virtual laptop or laptop-managed robotic to carry out responsibilities normally related to sensible beings. The time period is often implemented to the undertaking of growing structures endowed with the highbrow tactics feature of humans, consisting of the cap potential to reason, find out meaning, generalize, or research from beyond experience. Since the improvement of the virtual laptop within side the 1940s, it’s been confirmed that computer systems may be programmed to perform very complicated responsibilities—as, for example, coming across proofs for mathematical theorems or gambling chess—with fantastic proficiency. Still, no matter persevering with advances in laptop processing pace and reminiscence capacity, there are as but no applications that could fit human flexibility over wider domain names or in responsibilities requiring a good deal normal knowledge. On the opposite hand, a few applications have attained the overall performance stages of human specialists and experts in appearing sure precise responsibilities, in order that synthetic intelligence on this restricted experience is observed in programs as numerous as scientific diagnosis, laptop seek engines, voice or handwriting reputation and now producing content material via way of means of textual content prompting generating images, tune and films. The start of the synthetic intelligence communique turned into denoted via way of means of Alan Turing`s seminal work, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” , which turned into posted in 1950. In this paper, Turing, regularly known as the “father of laptop science”, asks the subsequent question, “Can machines think?” From there, he gives a check, now famously referred to as the “Turing Test”, in which a human interrogator might attempt to differentiate among a laptop and human textual content response. While this check has gone through a good deal scrutiny in view that its publish, it stays an essential a part of the records of AI in addition to an ongoing idea inside philosophy because it makes use of thoughts round linguistics.

Photoshop AI (beta version)

Use Photoshop (beta) for earlier access to the latest features, given that these features are still being updated based on user feedback. For example, Generative Fill and Generative Expand have been in the Photoshop app and are designed to be safe for commercial use.

Adjustment Presets

Adjustment Presents are filters that enable you to preview and extrude the arrival of your images in only some steps. With this release, about 30 new Adjustment Presents are delivered within side the Adjustments panel, permitting you to hover and preview your photo with every present carried out earlier than deciding on it. Once a present is selected, it could be similarly subtle with the aid of using enhancing its modifications within side the Layers panel. Under the presents, you`ll have ways to view the different Adjustments — within side the shape of a listing or icons. Use the three-line icon next to Properties, Adjustments, and Libraries to choose between View as icons or View in listing.

Neural Filter

Neural Filters is a brand new workspace in Photoshop with a library of filters that dramatically reduces tough workflows to only a few clicks the usage of gadget gaining knowledge of powered by Adobe Sensei. Neural Filters is a device that empowers you to strive non-destructive, generative filters and discover innovative thoughts in seconds. Neural Filters enables you enhance your images by producing new contextual pixels that aren’t definitely found in your unique image.

Inside the Neural Filters panel, you can now find all of your Neural Filters, whether featured or beta, in one place. Choose Filter > Neural Filters and select the All Filters tab. You can even cast your vote for filters you would like to see implemented in the future.

Gradients update

The Gradients function has been drastically advanced and the workflow has been expedited with the creation of recent on-canvas controls and a stay preview, this is created mechanically and that may be edited non-destructively. You can now quick draw, preview, and regulate lovely gradients with an advanced Gradient Tool within side the Photoshop computer app. You can create the colour stops and edit your gradients from the canvas itself. Also, you can control the colour, density, opacity, and blend mode of the gradient, see the mid-point and spread on the canvas, add multiple colour stops, and change the colour of the colour stops to edit the gradient with this feature.

Remove Tool

The Remove Tool is an AI-powered characteristic that allows you to update an undesirable item via way of means of genuinely brushing over it, retaining the integrity of close by items and presenting an uninterrupted transition on complicated and sundry backgrounds. The Remove Tool is specifically effective while putting off large items and matching the clean cognizance shift throughout the photograph. For example, the device can eliminate a whole constructing or vehicle from an alpine panorama photograph whilst seamlessly retaining the constancy of the development from meadow to mountains.

Use the Remove tool for:

• Big objects
• An object near other objects
• An object on a varied-focus background
• An object with structure behind it (think lines, like a fence or horizon)

Contextual Task Bar

The Contextual Task Bar is an on-display screen menu that recommends the maximum applicable next steps in numerous key workflows, reducing the number of clicks required to finish a project, and making the maximum common movements extra effortlessly accessible.

For example, when an object is selected, the Contextual Task Bar appears below your selection and suggests actions for selection refinement that you might want to use next, such as Select and Mask, Feather, Invert, Create Adjustment Layer, Fill Selection, or generate something with the new Generative Fill capabilities.

Generative Fill

The innovative and magical new suite of AI-powered abilities grounded on your innate creativity, enabling you to add, extend, or cast off content material out of your images non-destructively the use of easy textual content prompts. You can reap practical outcomes with a view to surprise, delight, and astound you in seconds.

Generative Fill – Adobe Photoshop – Quickly create, add to, remove or replace images right in Adobe Photoshop with simple text prompts powered by Adobe Firefly generative AI.

My Generative fill example:

what is Anthropocene?

Anthropocene is essentially the effects/impacts that humans have on the earths topography. it covers everything that impacts the planet such as landscapes, ecosystems, and limnology. this was driven mainly driven by industrialisation such as deforestation and urbanisation. The term Anthropocene originated from the Greek words “Anthropos” and “kainos” (which mean human and new)

Why and how are people exploring Anthropocene?

photographers have started to gain a big interest in this topic as its all of the things its linked to (damage to the earth) is being spoken about on all social media which is why i believe the topic has gained to much interest over the years this is how

documenting environmental degradation: photographers are capturing images degradation of the environment, such as climate change, overpopulation, and deforestation. the point of these images is to show the evidence of the damage that we have made to the planet.

the human-nature relationship and how its portrayed: photographers are exploring the relationship between nature and humans. these photographers are taking photos to essentially document how we are treating the planet, as well as how we are damaging it

raising awareness and advocacy: through photographers work they are helping raise awareness of all the problems that we are creating. they use tools by to help engage peoples emotions and to get people thinking about how we can change what we are doing to the planet basically getting people to take action and make change.

showing how nature is fighting back: some groups of photographers and single photographers are capturing what nature is doing to fight back. they do this by capturing ecosystems and species that are able to adapt to the damage that we have created to help survive.

Overall photographers are very important when it comes to documenting Anthropocene not just for the present by also for the future so we can look back to see if we have made difference in the future if that’s going to be positive changes or negative changes who’s knows. inconclusion these photos can inspire people and also encourage people to be different.

What is AI photography?

AI-powered cameras let you remove unwanted objects, create special effects, even shoot clearly in low light. The Google Tensor chip helps your camera learn to identify objects quickly, since the processing happens right on the phone. Even pros think Pixel’s AI camera often takes better pictures than a DSLR.

AI is also being used to enhance the quality and accuracy of photographs. With deep learning algorithms, AI tools can automatically identify and remove unwanted artefact’s and noise that can detract from the quality of images.

With the use of AI you can interpret/predict what the future could look/in the past present or future, such as examples of this..

People use AI nowadays for many different reasons and thus could be good or bad, could be mislead or lied to but could also be useful for some people.

Contact Sheet and Image Selection

These images are inspired by the works of George Marazakis and Edward Burtynsky and they display the industrial areas of Jersey and places where the landscape has been highly affected by man. I am going to make my images B&W because I think that it will have more of an industrial effect and less natural due to the lack of greenery.

Contact Sheet

Image Selection

Edits

Edit 1

This is my base image for my first altered landscape:

I continued to edit this image by making it B&W and adjusting the following:

This is my final result:

Edit 2

Edit 3

Edit 4

Edit 5

Edit 6

Edit 7

Edit 8

Edit 9

Edit 10

Edit 11

Edit 12

Virtual Gallery

Virtual gallery

For my final Images I wanted at least one image from each section. I decided on one Anthropocene, 4 industrial and 5 natural landscapes. I experimented with a virtual gallery on arrangements and sizes etc. I was going to create one triptych in A5, one diptych in A4 and 5 single images presented in both A4 and A3. I didn’t like all the industrial ones together and the Anthropocene image I pictured in A3 however there was too much plain black so I decided to try and fit it in a circular shape instead. I like the idea however I should have created it with the shape in mind initially so the ring would fit the frame better. I ended up printing it as a square since I didn’t arrange it properly to fit in a ting.

After deciding on the sizes of each Image the arrangement was much easier. Aside from the triptych and diptych on the left wall all the others are going to be framed on their own.

Final Images

I arranged my final images into groups:

1- New Topographics

2 – Landscapes

3 – Anthropocene

Evaluation

I think that I understood new Topographics the best and created images based on my interpretation of these ideas. This was the most successful outcome in my opinion as each final outcome showed a different aspect of new Topographics such as deadpan, industrial structures and the changing urban landscape. I think that while I explored some ideas I could have created more inspired or creative outcomes.

For Anthropocene I think that the stationary donut turned out better than I thought. Looking back I wish I created it in a circle frame or used some additional pieces. Stationary is a wasteful industry from the large packaging to the harmful plastics used in disposable items which I believe has the same themes as Mandy Barkers photographs without going out and finding these items washed up on the beach which is originally why the images are supposed to appear like underwater currents however I instead just used waste before it was thrown away. Each piece of stationary I photographed was single use and would have ended in some sort of waste outlet regardless.

As a response to romanticism I wanted to photograph the damage caused by storm Kieran. I focused on fallen trees as they have heavily impacted the landscape but didn’t take photographs of the new bare landscapes. I don’t think these photographs turned out very well as I didn’t have much direction when going out to take the photographs. This came across clearly in the final outcomes. I also photographed some landscapes without the theme of the storm and I think these turned out better since I wasn’t focusing on a specific theme. I used these photographs mostly when experimenting with AI because the large spaces allowed for generative fill and remove also. Although I didn’t originally have much direction and was simple practicing the tools, these also turned out better then the storm. I chose not to print these ones out as final images because they weren’t saying enough to be framed and presented.

Edward Burtynsky

I used Edward Burtynsky’s photos of Industrialisation and litter for inspiration when I was doing my photoshoot. He used a birds eye view mainly especially when taking images of industrialisation, so I also experimented with birds eye images.

Litter Images

In this image Burtynsky took an image from birds eye view of lots of litter. I tried to recreate this image, but in a different way, because I did not have access to a big dump site like this, so I used the seaweed to give off the same feel, as they had the same brown colours. However, I only took a photo of one piece of litter, rather than a large amount, that I had found on the beach from a birds eye angle, just like he did. As I didn’t have the resources to take a photo of large amounts of litter, I searched the beach for litter and took individual photos of litter from a birds eye angle, like Burtynsky used.

Industrialisation Images

Edward Burtynsky took images of all different industrialisation sites. In my inspiration image I thought that this industrialisation looked like it has been there a while and was quite old, so I explored some of the older industrialisation sites at La Hougbie.

He also had people in my inspiration shot, so I had Katie stand in front of one of the older industrialisation sites, so that I could also capture a person in my image.

He also took images of newer industrialisation sites, so I did that too, as I wanted a range of images for my contact sheet and was interested in the differences between the newer and older industrialisation sites.

Birds eye view experiments

Edward Burtynsky usually uses a birds eye view for most of his industrialisation images, so I experimented with getting higher up views for my images. Burtynsky often used helicopters, so he could achieve his birds eye view shots, but I obviously didn’t have access to this, so I attempted to to get to higher up places so I could take shots from as high as possible. First, I visited Fort Regent as seen above. I took images of town down below from the top of Fort Regent Hill to achieve these images.

Next, I visited La Hougbie.

I stood on top of the hill where the church is at La Hougbie and I shot my images of the café and cars below to achieve a higher up, almost birds eye view angle.

Analysis

For my industrial images, I like that I have taken the time to explore both new and old industrialisation, so that now my images can present different stories, just like Edward Burtynsky’s. I also found it quite interesting.

I also like how I experimented with getting higher up angles like Burtynsky does, because I think that produced some of my better images.

For my litter photoshoot, I would like to next time try and not capture the shadow of my phone or camera, when taking the photos, but also experimented with taking images of a few pieces of rubbish, instead of just singular shots.

John Divola

John Divola took images of abandoned buildings, especially abandoned buildings on beaches.

As I was exploring Bouley bay’s abandoned hotel and taking images, I wanted to make sure I got a shot of the beach and the building, so my work would be similar to John Divola’s, as he took many picture of abandoned buildings near beaches.

I also wanted to capture the damage of the building and all the rubble, just like John Divola captures in his images, because I really wanted to highlight the impact that it has on the earth.

I also took images of abandoned buildings, which were not near a beach, such as St Saviours Hospital, because there are not many abandoned buildings to choose from in Jersey and because I thought this building would photograph well.

This image of Divola’s above really highlights how damaged these buildings are, so I made sure to capture all the different types of damage I foundl.

Analysis

I am pleased with this photoshoot, as I think I was able to capture just what John Divola captures. I was able to capture the scale of these abandoned buildings, as well as there whereabouts and the damage that they have. I think my images relate to John Divola very well, as they both show the impact that these abandoned building are having.

I really like the pictures of the abandoned hotel next to the beach, because it really helps to present the impact that these buildings will be having on the wild life near by.

Barry Rosenthal

Barry Rosenthal collected litter off the beach and turned it into a piece of art work. I was inspired massively by this, because she was able to make something ugly and bad for the earth look very beautiful.

Rosenthal often colour coordinated her litter for each of her images as well, so I decided to experiment with colour coordinating mine.

Barry Rosenthal also collected all this discarded litter herself, so I also wanted to do this. Katie and I went walking along the beach with a bag and collected all the litter we could find.

We put all our rubbish in a co op for life bag and brought it to the studio, so that we could use a black background and an above shot angle, just like how Rosenthal does.

As you can see here, I used the same sort of angle and the same black background as Barry Rosenthal.

Analysis

I think this photoshoot went well, and that I took inspiration from my artist very well. I am pleased I got the experiment in the studio with this and create something beautiful out of rubbish.

I think my images came out well, as they had good lighting and a good black background from the studio. I also like the images, which I have colour coordinated, like Barry Rosenthal does, because I feel like it creates a harmony in the image.

Dafna Talmor

Dafna Talmor is a London-based photographer known for her abstract and conceptual landscape photography. Originally from Jerusalem, Israel, Talmor frequently explores themes of place, memory, and perception in her work.

Talmor often creates her images through a process of layering and blending multiple photographs together, creating dream-like landscapes that challenge the viewer’s perception of reality. Her work blurs the line between photography and painting, resulting in visually striking and thought-provoking compositions.

Talmor’s photographs have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Aperture Foundation in New York, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Israel. She has also received numerous awards and accolades for her work, solidifying her reputation as a talented and innovative photographer in the contemporary art world.

Michael Marten

Michael Marten is a British photographer known for his captivating and thought-provoking series “Sea Change,” which documents the dramatic transformations of coastal landscapes caused by the ebb and flow of tides.

Marten’s unique approach involves setting up his camera at the same location at low tide and high tide, capturing two separate images of the same scene. When the images are juxtaposed, they reveal the stark contrast between the two tidal states, showcasing the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the coastlines.

Through his work, Marten explores themes of time, impermanence, and the impact of human activity on the natural environment. His photographs not only highlight the beauty and fragility of coastal ecosystems but also serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing effects of climate change and rising sea levels.

Marten’s “Sea Change” series has been exhibited internationally and has garnered critical acclaim for its innovative and visually stunning depiction of the coastal landscape. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as National Geographic, The Guardian, and The New York Times. Marten continues to create impactful and thought-provoking photographic projects that resonate with viewers around the world.

Chris Jordan

Chris Jordan is an American photographer and environmental artist known for his powerful and thought-provoking work that addresses issues of consumerism, waste, and environmental degradation.

Jordan’s most famous series, “Running the Numbers,” uses large-scale photographic images to visually represent staggering statistics related to consumption and waste in modern society. Through his intricate and detailed compositions, Jordan aims to raise awareness about the impact of human behavior on the planet and the consequences of unchecked consumerism.

In addition to “Running the Numbers,” Jordan has created other notable projects such as “Midway: Message from the Gyre,” which documents the devastating effects of plastic pollution on the albatross population of Midway Atoll. This series of photographs and films serves as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of environmental issues and the need for collective action to address them.

Jordan’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world and has been featured in numerous publications and documentaries. He is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and is actively involved in using his art to inspire positive change and promote sustainable practices. Jordan’s captivating and impactful images continue to spark important conversations about the state of our planet and the urgent need for environmental stewardship.

Keith Arnette

Keith Arnatt (1930-2008) was a British conceptual artist and photographer known for his innovative approach to photography and his exploration of everyday objects and concepts.

Arnatt initially studied painting but later transitioned to photography in the 1960s, where he became known for his deadpan and analytic style. He gained recognition for his series “Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self” (1969-1970), in which he posed as a shadow against a wall, questioning the artistic identity and representation.

Throughout his career, Arnatt continued to challenge traditional notions of art and photography, often blurring the lines between reality and artifice. He was interested in mundane and overlooked subjects, finding beauty and significance in the everyday.

Some of his other notable works include “Notes from Jo” (1972), “Notes on Sculpture” (1969-72), and “Trouser-Word Piece” (1972), where he humorously and critically engaged with language, representation, and the art world itself.

Keith Arnatt’s work has been exhibited internationally and is held in prestigious collections, including the Tate Gallery in London. He played a significant role in the development of conceptual art and his impact can still be seen in contemporary art practices today. Keith Arnatt passed away in 2008, leaving behind a legacy of innovative and thought-provoking artwork.

These are mood boards of artists I have decided to study and am using as inspiration.

Dafna Talmor Inspiration Mood Board

Michael Marten Inspiration Mood Board

Chris Jordan Inspiration Mood Board

Keith Arnette Inspiration Mood Board