For this photoshoot I set up my father in his work vest and hat to portray his job in the building department. He ensures that safety is met on the site and keeps everyone involved safe. To match this job we found a messy building site which he would need to check.
This site was on a hill which in some photographs makes the fence look tilted which I didnt realised when taking the images. I stood a few meters back for these so that they would be full body portraits like most environmental portraits and for lighting, we waited until the sun was out so that it would be well lit.
I filtered out blurry and samey images until I settled on a few traditional portraits and a few where he was looking into the site like he would do on his job. I then adjusted the exposure to brighten the vest and cropped down these images to better frame the images.
First Cut
I chose these two photographs because one was had my father engaging with the camera like an environmental portrait and one where were following my dad through his job which actively utilises the background. Although I liked these two final images I wanted to experiment with how I would present them so I decided to change them into black and white.
Photoshoot 2
I didnt like these photographs as much as the first photoshoot mainly because the lighting was an overhead artificial light. I wanted her to be working on some cookies because those are her favourite things to bake. I wanted some photographs indoors and with foreground so I figured this would be best photoshoot to try these out.
Karen Knorr is a a German photographer who’s lived in both America and the UK. She combines animal studies with conceptual art and lifestyle. Her work consists of intricate and meaningful backgrounds with animals as the focus.
Academies was Karen Knorr’s project from 1994 until 2001 where she began experimenting with fine arts transmissions and consumption as well as animal studies. These ideas continued through to her projects Fables (2004-2008) and her most recent projects. She uses heritage sites with rich history and aesthetic and combines feminine subjectivity and animality.
Case Study
This photograph shows a grand house with rich embellishments from an older period. This building radiates wealth and therefore power and so would have been built for someone with lots of influence. Instead of a person that would be associated with such an environment, Karen Knorr photographs birds. There are three birds in frame and all of them are centred in the frame. By placing these birds in such an impressive building it makes these birds seem important and powerful.
This photograph is all in focus because the photographer used a high focal length to capture the whole hall. This is important because it ensures the whole hallway is visible and showcases the fine details to highlight the wealth in the interior design. The interior design of a building is different to the exterior which everyone sees. Only people invited into the building will see all these fine details and wealth. Someone’s interior is only shown to friends, family and close piers. Someone wealthy would host an even to other wealthy individuals to showcase how they deserve to be in elite circles and deserve respect. Being invited into someone’s home is personal and intimate.
There are two different species of bird: the first is a tall, elegant bird and the second is a small, colourful one. The tall one has long, slim legs which showcase a lack of muscle or strength. This bird does not need strength to radiate power as its height towers and its wingspan takes up space showing importance. This bird has neutral colouring with a splash of pink which isn’t showy and instead elegant. Its neck creates an ‘S’ shape which reflects a swans which is associated with femininity, elegance and grace. I think that this elegance makes the bird look at home in its environment. It doesn’t stick out for any reasons other than the fact that its a bird inside of a house which is unusual.
-The small bird has bright green, blue and yellow colouring. It looks out of place for its flamboyant colour and disproportionate size. This bird lacks the elegance that the taller one has and instead reflects a child who accidently stumbled into a showroom. This not only makes everything else seem larger and more sophisticated but also shows elitist biases. The colour palate is muted with exception to the small bird which makes it stand out massively in comparison. This ostracization of the bird through colour shows us through the eyes of the elite how they would view a common folk or ‘outcast’. The birds physical size is representative of its wealth and therefore power in the room. Unlike the tall, powerful bird, this little one does not fit in. The birds small size also makes the viewer look down on it like someone of the elite would.
This photograph is vertical to elongate the doors and make the building seem even taller. This is because high ceilings are associated with wealth and power. In terms of wealth, vertical height requires more materials and space which would require a significant sum of money in the past. All the space is unnecessary for practicality and purely to showcase an abundance of wealth. Height is commonly associated with power because physically something tall towers over everything else, stands apart and looks intimidating. Additionally something tall is powerful because throughout history, height is symbolic of being closer to a heaven above and whatever has been believed to be there. The tall bird also encapsulates this power which is part of why it blends into the environment and almost looks natural.
I believe that this photograph has been created to break down what would typically be expected in an environment and present it in an unconventional way. A grand environment like this would be associated with generational wealth, elegance and importance. Britain is still rooted in a class system which would have impacted Karen Knorr who is currently living here. By moving to the UK she would have an exterior perspective on these beliefs. Karen Knorr took these traits (elegance and importance) and presented them in the form of a bird. Despite the bird meeting these traits it looks unnatural in its environment because its doesn’t meet subconscious and conscious criteria such as being human. By association, we would probably also expect the owner to be on the older side and typically a white male but by using birds which don’t match stereotypes, she’s questioning this subconscious bias in a light-hearted way.
Alternatively this photograph could be approaching an angle of symbolism. Animals throughout history have had meanings associated with them such as a deer with antlers pointing to the sky make them leaders. A lamb is associated with innocence for its pure white colour, soft wool, and eyes. They are prey not predator which signifies helplessness. A sheep is stupid which makes it seem like a brainless herd following animal. However a horned goat is associated with evil because its similar enough to a sheep for a false sense of security but has aggressive tendencies, and large horns which curl around/downwards as opposed to a strong deer with sky grazing antlers. These powerful horns reaching downwards shows strength being drawn from ‘low’ or evil places.
This idea could be associated with the birds. Birds are associated with hope because their flight allows them further transport through the sky which means they can see from height. This has led sea travellers to utilise birds to find land by staving them and letting them try to find food. This has lead to associations with good fortune, new beginnings and hope.
Alec Soth is an American photographer who photographs strangers in different parts of America. He targets individuals out and about with unique equipment like tents and suitcases. One of his projects was called ‘Sleeping by the Mississippi’ where he travelled by the river and photographed interesting individuals he past. He aimed for people with a unique story and showcased their characters through props and environment.
This photograph shows an older lady sat on her chair in a large, old house. She is centred in the frame surrounded by woods, patterns and greens. It looks as though there are two images overlaid: one of the house and the second with a tree. There is an out of focus plant also at the front which creates a sense of depth as everything else in frame is further away and sharply in focus.
This photograph is laid out as though the viewer is looking through a window and the trees appear like a reflection. By peeking through a window into the lady’s personal home the viewer is peaking into the woman’s life as homes are used in the media for as a reflection of a person/characters mind and personality. Her home has earth tones and lots of wood which shows a down to earth headspace. She has a plush orange chair which shows her loving/comforting personality. To her side is a large, modern window which lights up the whole room. This shows an open mind and cheerful personality which shines bright despite being realistic and down to earth. Additionally she has a selection of bold patterned cushions and carpets which show an unconventional look on life.
The woman herself is dressed in a green nightdress. Its shape reflects a nightgown which shows how she values comfort. By making the photograph look like its been taken through a window this isn’t necessarily how she would present herself to others and instead how she dresses on her own in the comfort of her own home. Despite being alone in her home, she is dressed well in a clean and tidy dress which shows how she values and cares for herself.
The overlay of greenery shows how she isn’t in a bubble or closed off but overgrown with external influence, has a successful social life and constantly growing as a person. Alternatively it could show what the woman is looking at. Since it looks like a reflection, it seems as though the woman is staring out her window at the woodlands. This could show an appreciation for the plant life but also outside in general which she might’ve taken for granted when she was younger and able to spend long periods of time in. If her house is representative of her mind then this staring out a window could be showing her longing for the outside world around her and what’s past her through the years and therefore her youth. She could be reflecting on her past with regrets or pride or wishes to go back. I believe this could also show a disconnect with the viewer as she is looking at the world around her with appreciation while the viewer is looking inwards at her instead and judging her based on her environment in the comfort of her home. We weren’t invited in were just looking.
The woman is well lit in light colours to make her stand out from the darker background. Additionally she is centred and well lit which draws the eye and showcases that nothing makes up her personality but her. Some people put too much importance into work or material items however this woman understands the balance. The flower in the foreground could represent her love for her garden however since it does not obscure her in away way it shows that she doesn’t let it takeover her life.
This portrait also showcases and highlights the woman’s age. The abundance of bright colours with bold patterns creates a vintage appearance. The background also highlighting outdated maximalist styles with woods, a grand fireplace and an excess of cushions and rugs also looks old in comparison to white, modern minimalistic styles. I believe that the background having an older look is significant because it reflects both the woman’s age and her interests. This tells us a lot about the woman without ever meeting her as interests and experience will impact her personality and therefore her home.
An environmental portrait shows a person in their working space or a spot associated with them for example a pianist at his piano. This tells us about the person and their typical surroundings while also placing them how someone else would view them. These are posed typically with the person in there centre engaging with the camera.
Photoshoot Action Plan:
Who
For this photoshoot I wanted to take photos of several people. It would be easiest to photograph people I already know as the photoshoot would be more natural. I would also already know these people so I would know where they spent time and what they mean to me.
First would be my sister, she likes to bake cakes and has gotten really good at the basics.
Second would be my father who works in the building trade to ensure houses and community spaces are safe for use.
Finally my friend. Her house was damaged during the storm which has affected her family negatively.
What
Environmental portraits need a person in front of a meaningful background. I will take images where they are both engaging with the camera and looking away. Some will be front on and I would like some to experiment with foreground and positioning. Additionally I don’t want all the images to be of people just standing. So I will experiment with poses also.
Where
My sister will need to be in a kitchen of some sort for a least a few images however I might try and position her at a stand or cake sale also holding her cakes.
My father will be in front of some building site where construction is clearly underway. Ideally one which wont particularly safe either.
My friend will be in front of storm damage. This could include fallen trees, damaged housing and excessive build up of debris.
How
For my sister I will set her up in a way where we can see the process of her baking and her. This will probably be by having her stand in front of a counter I can get behind so she can work as normal and I can see the whole thing. For my father I will make sure he’s wearing a helmet and hi vis jacket so that he looks like a builder and set him up in front of a building site. I will stand quite far back so that the background is visible too. For my friend I will try and experiment with poses and with props. I will also be stood back with a 55mm lens so that I see the whole background also. I will mostly be using natural lighting since these will be outside however for the insides I will experiment with lighting to find what looks best. I might set her up near a window or under some artificial lights but I’m unsure what will photograph best.
To create this virtual gallery I opened a blank gallery space in photoshop and each image to add separately. I opened all 4 images together and arranged them onto each wall. The two angled walls didn’t fit the image so I changed the perspective of each image. Then using the fx drop shadow I created a shadow under each image and made sure each one had the same.
Artsteps
Using Artsteps I created an empty room and opened up the same three photographs. I arranged these on the walls and sized them up since they loaded in really small. In this virtual gallery the side images looked better because in photoshop the perspective made the images look wonky. However the room I used in photoshop looks better because It has lights and a skirting board which makes the room feel more real. The room was also a little claustrophobic. I wouldn’t want it as wide as the photoshop room but somewhere in the middle which wont make the centre image look too small or big. It should frame it nicely. Maybe next time I could use Artsteps to get the perspective right and layer it on the photoshop layer.
Evaluation
Arrangements
I began this project with still-life arrangements were I used the infinity screen with a continuous studio light. The light was at an angle to the side so that the objects were well lit with shadows to create depth and variation. These was inspired by 1600 Dutch still life paintings so they included assortments of many different objects, sizes and colours.
The second photoshoot was inspired by modern still-life arrangements with one main focus and less going on. I used two pieces of card to replicate the table often holding the objects and got up close for a tighter frame.
When editing I had to rotate and crop the images especially in the second photoshoot because there was a horizontal line which was obviously not straight. I adjusted the white balance so the background was bright and clearly white.
I think I should have dulled colours and lighting to represent the aesthetic of he paintings and combined more objects into the arrangements. I would also like different levels of objects and cloths on tablesw with neutral colours and rustic wooden tables to look more like an old painting.
Singular
The singular tools were inspired by Walker Evans. They were household items in front of a plain background with simple overhead lighting to reduce shadows.
I edited these photographs in Lightroom with black and white pre-sets, exposure settings and white balance. To present them I used photoshop to over crop and add a boarder which is different to the inspiration but presents the photographs well.
I wasn’t able to raise each item like Walker Evans however with a lightbox there were no shadows. I should have photographed a wider variety of objects and not be limited to household tools. I could have found other shapes with more meaning to me like a hairbrush for example to take ownership over this project however it wouldn’t have been as much of a response to the artist.
I chose four images overall as my final images. This included two single tools and two arrangements. The single tools were set in black and white inspired by Walker Evans.
I used a black and whitepreset which had high contrast. I then opened them in photoshop to add a border with the stroke option. I added this because the white background meant that the frame around the objects wasn’t clear. The framing was different between both images also, scissors were wide and pliers were thin. In photoshop I couldcrop outside of the image to add in more white around the plyers so they’d both have similar boarders.
Both of these images now look like they should be together so in photoshop I opened a A4 landscape page which I added both images to. I really like how the boarders look when the images are together and this helped visualise what the images would look like mounted. I chose the diptych style of presentation which places two similar photographs together. This process taught me how to experiment with arrangements as well as how to edit in photoshop.
I tried a triptych including the mixed photograph too but I don’t think the three sit together very well. The two are similar enough but the edited one is changed a little too much from the other two. Both halves are smaller and moved which becomes obvious next to the original.
Still-life arrangement
These two images don’t look like they would look right in a collage together and I believe this is because they are at different angles at different distances from the camera. The plyers are much closer to the camera than the violin. Also the set ups are different. I took the plyers in front of two pieces of card with a harsh split between the two. The card is matt and the lighting was just natural lighting. This looks significantly different to the infinity screen I used with the violin which used a continuous spot light, a backlight and a reflective white background without any harsh lines behind.
I tired arranging both photographs into a diptych but I think presenting these as single photographs looks better. This is because the objects used are extremely different. The plyers are balancing with tapes which have anindustrial style while the violin uses household items which creates a homely feeling. This shows the importance of items as they can completely change the meaning of a photograph.
Still life (Coined in the 17th century and derives from the Dutch word stilleven) is a Dutch style of painting popular throughout Northern Europe during the early 1600s with arrangements of lavish and exotic objects with depth and meaning.
Abraham van Beyeren is a Dutch artist who painted ‘The Hague’. This painting includes fruits, a lobster, metalwork and glass to represent wealth, luxuries and earthly pleasures. Previous paintings of the century focused on reminders of immortality with wilting flowers, human skulls and rotting foods.
Timeline
Still life solidified itself as a genre from the Netherlands in the late 16th century hence ‘stilleven’ the Dutch origins for the English term still life. These were paintings made up of religious symbols. It emerged from rising fascinations with high detailed realism in art.
Gradually the religious symbolism was swapped with moral lessons, the natural world and exploration of the new world. This prompted the beginning of scientific illustrations and the appreciation of objects without religious or superstitious meanings. Interest with exploration of the new world brought newfound wealth and with it expensive arrangements of silvers and golds as opposed to flowers and meats.
By the 18th century production decreased in favour of Rococo decorations on porcelain and wallpapers. All religious symbolism had been lost and paintings were made up of interesting textures like feathers and fur instead.
The 20th century saw attention shifting to abstract, representational art instead. Detail had been replaced with bold outlines and vibrant colours, backgrounds were no longer plain and incorporated many different colours which was a major step towards abstract art.
Now in the 21st century still life has extended to all sorts of mediums such as sculptures, photography and digital art.
Objects and Meanings
Vanitas are a metaphor for transience(the state or fact of only lasting a short time) since the 1620s saw the outbreak of bubonic plague.
Memento Mori is an artistic reminder of the inevitability of death. Skulls, hourglasses, clocks and snuffed candles are all common symbols used in Memento Mori photography.
Skulls represent the certainty of mortality probably because the skeleton is only visible after you’ve begun decomposing after death.
Flowers represent life and growth because spring is when flowers bloom and their lives are so short that you can witness their whole cycle.
Mirrors represent soul in reflection because they reflect.
Musical instruments represent beauty and transience because music requires skill to master and can singlehandedly change the mood of a room as well as being an admirable skill and can create beautiful art pieces.
Silvers and golds represent luxury because of the price tag associated with these items.
Candles represent the passing of time because they gradually burn down.
Seashells represent birth, purity and fertility.
Insects represent transformation and decay because of the change from caterpillar to butterfly and they slowly eat away at plants and creatures.
Dead animals represent contradiction and the hunt because they are either a predator which hunts or prey and will be hunted.
Final Image
For this photograph I only used 3 objects. The background is split in two with both black and white card used which lines up with the tapes and tools. I used a low angle which made the objects appear slightly larger so they would fill the shot. There are only three colours: black, white and red which I think creates a more uniformed look and gives the photograph a simplistic appearance. I changed the temperature because it had a blue tint before but also increased the exposure and contrast. This made the photograph brighter and the difference between tapes and tool clearer.
Albert Renger Patszch takes black and white photographs with distinct shadows for the appearance of depth. His photographs focus on plants and landscapes and with repeating patterns and clear lines. I believe this photograph is a good example of these features combined.
This photograph shows a plant stem vertically filling the frame which creates a clear line through the centre. This creates a sense of symmetry without both sides being the exact same.
This photograph is black and white with the subject dark and the background much lighter which contrasts to separates the two. Black and white is more dramatic since colours are vibrant and cheerful. This photograph could have easily been taken in colour but that would focus attention to the shades of green as opposed to its shape and texture.
Aperture controls the blur or sharpness of an image. f/2.8 blurs the background so makes the subject stand out so is used in portraits. Lower number means more background blur. f/22 has a clear background so is used in landscapes.
Shutter Speed
Shutter Speed is how long the camera is taking the photograph. A longer shutter speed (i.e 1 sec) will have moving objects blurred. This shows movement. A shorter shutter speed (i.e 1/4000) will have a moving object crisp.
ISO
ISO affects the exposure by sensing how much light to let in. On a bright day you would use a low ISO so it isn’t as sensitive and in the dark you would need a high ISO. You always want to be using the lowest ISO possible because it will look grainy otherwise.
Camera simulator
I used Cannons camera simulator three times with different settings to see what affect they had on a photograph and I think the third turned out the best. The colours are bright, the shutter speed is slow so shows movement and the background is slightly blurry so the aeroplane stands out. The photo before is grainy and too dark but the propeller is completely still. The second photo had its ISO too high and looked grainy and the first was a bit too overexposed.
“Beauties of the Common Tool” was originally published in 1955 by Walker Evans with several photographs of individual tools.
The tool is clearly made of metal which reflects light and creates a clean, elevated appearance which demands respect. Depth is clearly shown with the tools harsh shadows that the lighting provides giving the tool a more complex appearance.
This photograph shows a utility tool raised in front of a plain background. This is a birds eye view with an overhead light and raised so that the shadow is kept to a minimum. This ensures that the tool is shown like you would see it and is clearly in focus showing that the subject is deserving of attention and easily draws the eye.
The photographer made sure that there were no distractions in the photograph by using having a plain colourless background framing the object. This ensures that focus is purely on the tool and forces the viewer to see the subject in an isolated environment and appreciate it in a way they wouldn’t have before.
Response
For this photoshoot I arranged tools in front of a lightbox for a bright white background, this made sure the objects were well lit. The second part used two sheets of card with only the pre-existing natural light. This meant that the images were much darker. To adjust the camera settings was difficult and required the ISO to be largely increased as well as the shutter speed and white balance changed. As a result lots of the photographs looked blue or dark because I had to trying out each option. Only the final 6 were bright and the correct white balance.
To narrow down the selection of photos I compared a few images at a time and selected the better one either with stars of colours. I managed to narrow the images down to 3 photographs highlighted with yellow.
I edited these final two images using the basic tab in develop. I changed the temperature, exposure, highlights etc until I was happy the whites were white and the objects were visible. These both were most similar to Walker Evans since they were taken at a birds eye view.
Final Image
Darren Harvey-Regan
“Beauties of the Common Tool” was created in 2013 by Darren Harvey-Regan inspired by Walker Evans photographs of the same name.
This photograph combines two work tools through editing. They would have been two separate photographs that were joined together down the centre for a a clearline of separation.
I believe that this line was vertical because it purposefully shows both the head and handle of both the tools. This is significant because had the split been horizontal, one of the tools would have been beheaded. This would look more like the photographer was picking and choosing his favourite parts of the tools rather than appreciating both tools for their usefulness. A tool is useful as a whole rather than dismembered parts
Similar to Walker Evans, this photograph is to celebrate and appreciate house tools for what they are. The tools are infront of a plain background as to not draw attention however this time the background is much lighter. I believe this is because the photograph isn’t supposed to be as dramatic, it is brighter and more celebratory. Both the tools have different functions and different appearances but by stitching them together, this shows that they are equal. The tools are significantly darker also which contrasts with the background making them stand out more.
For this image I set the ISO to 100 since the lightbox was really bright and didn’t need any higher. Since it was so bright I also used alow aperture so that only a small amount of the light was allowed into the camera. This meant that the tool would actually be visible. I used 1/13sec shutter speed which was higher than the others to balance out the light slightly and the camera was zoomed to 41mm so that the whole tool was in frame.
Response
For this photograph I used the two Walker Evans photographs in black and white with a frame. Using photoshop I halved the plyers and layered the cropped image on top of the scissors. I tried to line up the round middle for both and arranged the handles on the same half. I think this image works best in black and white.
