Still life
Still life tools
Virtual Gallery and evaluation
Evaluation:
My intentions for these photos was to produce a diverse set of photos that still followed the theme that I was asked to follow. For an example, for the still life arrangement of objects , I had a diverse set of objects yet they all connected to each other, how? well I wanted to create a mysterious/crime story with the arranged objects. The use of the hat was to show someone hiding their identity, the car to show that it can be used to flee, the class bottle like object was to show that maybe alcohol was involved, the food was to portray stolen goods, the candle was to imply that it was a dark crime and finally the animal was to show that an animal was involved in this dark crime.
For the tools I didn’t have a theme or story I wanted to show, I was inspired by Walker Evans work but I also wanted to corporate some of Darren Harvey-Regan work into my photoshoot. Like Walker Evans wanted to show was the simplicity yet beauties of common tools. I was able to show that. I took pictures of single tools, made sure that when I was editing them I was showing the details just like Walker yet I didn’t have the old look with my photos, I made them look more modern just like Darren’s by having a white and clear background instead of a black and white background like Walker.
I learnt a lot of things when it comes to practical. I learned how aperture, shutter speed and ISO is so important when taking photos. Setting them to the right setting is extremely important and is dependant on what types of photoshoots are being shoot. For an example if you want to photoshoot something that is moving, you should have a slower shutter speed. A lower shutter speed will also help create a darker scenery and having a higher shutter speed will illuminate the photo, increasing the lighting in the photo. If you are photographing a something, depending on how much or how little lighting there is, you should change the ISO. If the aperture is too low, the depth of field is low which is good for photos that are close ups but not good for photos that have need to be taken with a higher depth of field.
Theory wise, I learnt that almost everything, if not, everything has meaning when it comes to photography. When I was researching about the theory part in Still Life, I found out that in Northern European Renaissance was an idea that people love the pleasures of life, the things that make them feel important or wealthy, and yet it all means nothing because time soon passes and we die. Objects that were used to represent this was things like skulls which meant, ‘the certainty of mortality’ and burnt candles, ‘the passing of time’. Everything in photography has meaning. Although Still Life in before the 20th century meant various things, from the 20th and to 21st century, Still life is more of a reflection of an artists style and because of this Still Life paintings in the 20th century became more abstract and unrealistic images.
I learnt that most famous photographers photos expressed their views or shouted for ‘help’ using photography. For an example, Walker Evans, who was one of the photographer that we researched and had to produce photos based off of his work, was a talented photographer who expressed the effects of the depression and telling the story of the Americans in working class. His project. ‘beauties of common tools’, showed the simplicity yet hard working side of common tools. I think he did that to show people a different way of viewing working class. The working class are just like common tools, they are hard working yet they are so underappreciated. I strongly believe that, he was trying to show that with his project ‘beauties of common tools’. So I learnt photographer work always have some type of meaning, even if some have more depth than others.
Lastly, I learnt that presenting your project is very important because you provide a clear, detailed representation of what you want people to see your work as. If you don’t properly present your photos then its most likely that people won’t care for your work, but if you present your work with such creativity yet simplicity, it is more likely that people will appreciate your work and clearly see your vision.
These were the links that helped me understand more about the context of still life and links that inspired me to produce my final products.
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/evan/hd_evan.htm
https://prezi.com/broeh2z4cj4k/history-of-still-life-painting/
Vickie : this is a clear and purposeful project with controlled and confident outcomes.
Keep working hard – – and look for opportunities to get more creative with your developments too!