Using Lightroom, I experimented cropping my final photos that I had edited in different ways which showed different and unique views of the final photo. From this I could duplicate the photo and crop it down to various people which I thought could be an interesting concept to explore.
Why is a camera an extension of the eye?
Henri Cartier Bresson was one of the greatest street photographers of all time, viewing the camera as an extension of the eye, capturing things in the decisive moment. This approach connects humanity and is like as an extension of the eye, hunting for the perfect photo. He captures from various angles, which creates the perfect candid photo which doesn’t alter reality.
Bresson grew up in a wealthy part of France, so was introduced to the art at an early age. What initially caught his eye was paintings, which then inspired him to look at photography, as he found this was an extension of drawing and an extension of the eye.
He began to explore using a camera which he thought was a unique way of interacting with the world. Shortly after he became well know for using a specific type of camera called Leica 35 mm rangefinder camera, that was fitted with a normal 50m lens or occasionally a wide angle lens for capturing landscapes, often fitting black tape around the cameras which would make it less conspicuous. Using black and white film and sharp lenses, he was able to capture events un noticed.
Bresson composted his photos in the view finder, rather than using a darkroom, which was used to develop photos controlling the light carefully, stopping the pictures from becoming over exposed in this process. This was the reason he used a 35mm film, which didn’t make specific adjustments to the photo, instead giving spontaneity to the image emphasising the decisive moment in the image.
Bresson specifically used a Leica 35 mm rangefinder camera which was smaller and quieter, allowing him to subtly capture the decisive moment which allowed him to use a quick and unobtrusive style of shooting. This important style allowed him have a quick and effective way of capturing the decisive moment, without being too obvious.
When shooting his photos, he captured people as they were relying on his eye to capture the perfect moment, while staying virtually unseen and in the background enabling him to capture the right candid photo . This became effective, as shooting from the background using a smaller lensed camera meant he was unnoticeable.
What is the physical pleasure in making photographs?
Capturing the perfect composition of the decisive moment was very important. Henri Cartier Bresson viewed his work as a ‘sensual pleasure’ to see shapes and geometry, as these elements were arranged along with human subjects. When taking his photos, he looked for specific details other than the subject in the perfect moment, such as lines, triangles, squares, shadows, curves and shapes.
Bresson stood by the rule of “Get it right in camera!” meaning he never cropped his photos, as he preferred to actually get close enough and at the perfect angle when shooting his photos.
How can photography be liken to hunting?
Bresson described his style of photo shooting as ‘hunting’. This meant that he carefully and precisely looked for the right moment to take his photos.
Overall, I think my work related closely to Anthropocene as I communicated this through the use of different techniques that interested me from Edward Burtnysky and George Marazakis. Each artist inspired me differently as they were very different in how they portrayed their message. This was what I liked about both, as I could explore from different views and thought processes in order to create my response.
Edward Burtnysky
Burtnyskly explored more the infrastructure and industry side, capturing in abstract ways, which acts as a straight up message, as you don’t have to look for the message he wants to tell you, instead it there, right in front of you. His technique is very much giving you the straight up, real view, wanting you to see for what it is, in other words not sugar coating disasters that are happening all around us.
In response, I used unique perspectives to achieve this look which showed the abstract and detailed look I was going for. I visited Val De La Mere reservoir as this showed a unique contrast between natural and industrial infrastructure. From capturing different views along the reservoir gave interesting perspectives look at giving a stronger message.
George Marazakis
For this photoshoot, I enjoyed looking at Marazakis work and the unique techniques he uses which overall created an interesting ‘subtle’ message. This different, but effective way of communicating messages that overall has a big impact on our world. I found creating photos in this way showed different views engaging you in different ways. This closely links to Anthropocene because this unique way shows us humans impact on the world, allowing you to see from different angles things happening.
This photograph shows the close connection and relation between the humans impact on earth and nature itself. Firstly, I admired how the cliff-paths continuously change direction, leading you off into the far distance which creates an interesting depth to the photo. It subtly shows how humans have impacted earth, not necessarily displaying bad things but subtly showing you minor changes like this, which makes you think of this on a larger scale, perhaps being more aware of your surroundings. I like how the paths leads you off into the distance, allowing you to notice changes in scenery as you notice more of the changes made inland, from fields to housing developments.
In comparison to Marazakis’s work you can see how he shows you scenes which make you question his intentions behind the message he wants to communicate to you. As you can see, from looking at my work I have tried to create this effect using similar intentions and techniques, from choice of scenery to editing. Marazakis takes his photos in certain conditions in order for you to feel the message. In response I captured my photos early morning and very slightly edited the contrast in shadows.
For this photoshoot, I went to Sorrel point as I thought this would show an interesting comparison, how humans have made subtle impacts on earth. I was really inspired by Marazakis how he ‘subtly’ portrays this effect. As the real meaning behind this is engaging with the audience and figuring out what his message is about.
George Marazakis response:
Why I’m inspired by:
George Marazakis photos have a lot of meaning behind them which forces you too look deeper into the photo. For this photoshoot I want to use the softer light and it to be cloudy as I think this creates a really interesting scene, setting a unique mood.
I want to take photos of the headlands in this way showing the cliff paths and formations of the headland. This links closely to Anthropocene because they have always been around.
Places to Photoshoot:
George Marazakis is a Greek photographer, he looks at a link between civilization and nature.
He takes pictures of his native Crete during winter where he can achieve the soft light. This effects the viewer in ways which makes it memorable to us, as it allows us to look from different perspectives where we are able to notice different things that are communicated to us. The first glance we notice and admire the aesthetics of the photo, whereas the second glance is more thoughtful, allowing us to reflect and contemplate what humans leave on the surface of earth and landscapes.
George Marazakis captures is photographs, that show the impact the world has on climate change, in subtle ways. The reason for this was because most people would visualise Anthropocene as visual impacts on the environments showing clear destruction happening for example, manufacturing or incinerator buildings with smoke.
His style of photography was capturing landscapes effected by human interactions in the middle of natural spaces.
“If humans are a product of nature, then we can say that we are a disease attacking our own organism, just like an immune system can attack its own body – like autoimmune diseases.”
https://www.lensculture.com/articles/george-marazakis-a-cure-for-anthropocene
I find George Marazakis photographs really interesting and engaging because I like how he subtly describes climate change through the use of his minimal subjects in his photos allowing you to depict what he is trying to communicate and tell you about climate change or environmental changes. For example the photo above depicts a green house with sunlight shining through leaving you to engage with it. I think this is an interesting way for you to engage with the photo, because for some photo’s at first are not obvious that the message is trying to perceive about climate change.
George Marazakis photos are taken in Greece, using the original colours and scenes in his final outcomes. His photographs are never taken in harsh light, as he loves photographing the scenes with heavy clouds and fog, so to achieve this he generally photographs during early morning or late afternoon. I think how he chooses to take photos is interesting because it sets the tone for the photo, making it more obvious of the message he is trying to portray, otherwise without the cloudy, fogy, morning or evening effects you wouldn’t understand the true message.
For this photoshoot I went to Val de La mare reservoir, I captured the reservoir from different angles, which included the wall and the small turret. The wall caught my eye as I found the water marks gave this really exaggerated and in-depth look which reminded me of the theme, Anthropocene. It shows the indicate but exaggerated contrasting details, creating the ageing look from over time.
I chose to capture this area from specific angles, as this overall created really interesting photos. For example I thought capturing the reservoir water with the wall appearing from the side, gave this really unique look to the photo. This creates engaging leading lines to the small turret coming off the wall at an angle.
I experimented with capturing the wall coming in from angles which leads to the centre of the photo. To make this more engaging I cropped my favourite images down to make the turret the centre focus. This way I thought gave interesting depth.
Edward Burtynsky response:
What I’m inspired by:
Edward Burtynsky depicts locations where there is an increasing level of industrialisation and its impacts on humans and nature. The use of his wide angle camera and abstract view helps to show this.
For the photo shoot I would like to go to sites where you can see industrial parts as well as rural. I want to capture the contrast between the landscapes because I think this gives an interesting photo to look at. This shows in ways the beginning of industrialisation which I think is an interesting concept to explore in Anthropocene. I would like to capture the abstract and intricate look by experimenting with different views, so by having up close and slightly more far away images. I don’t want there to be much negative space because without, it gives the photo more depth, engaging you more. At first it might look to much and overcrowded but this makes it more memorable.
Places to photoshoot:
Edward Burtynsky mostly uses drones to capture his photography, capturing very unique photos. In response of my own work I want to still capture the unique forms, but instead capturing from far away angles but editing it to creating an abstract look.