For this photoshoot, I experimented using different light settings where I achieved warmer and cooler effects on the objects. I experimented with different layouts which created interesting compositions and angles, which enhanced the objects. I was inspired by different angled, unique placed objects from the still life photos, to experiment with different formations of my own objects.

This was one of my final images that I edited on light-room. I thought the more straight-on photos engaged you in a different way compared to the more angled ones, as this created interesting depth. Also, the way I positioned the objects added to the depth because it draws you in closer leading your eye to the more of the formation of the objects. I experimented with exposure and various tones that helped engage the viewer, as well as creating an old but new look that links to the theme ‘nostalgia’.

https://visit.virtualartgallery.com/2c643fc9-fe3a-4d9e-bd60-fdb08f0d6fb5/

Here I created a virtual gallery to view some of my edited photos. The first section contains the single object and common tools images. The second room is all the still life photos.

I used virtual art gallery and added my photos to a plain room. I added a frame to each image to make them pop out more. Some images where larger than others as they have more detail in them.

Evaluation

For this Photograph I used the brush on the background but slanted the camera to give it a 3D look and also added a light behind the object to create a glow and better effect.

For Single Life I really liked the look of a still object in Black and White because it gives it an old, antique look that almost shows what people used to use for tools in the past but in fact people still do everyday! 😊

I chose these three tools because I really like how they all are different with either different backgrounds or different angles. But also are very similar themed with very different meanings.

Here is a few of my single object photos. I used a light behind the tools for some of the photos because I really liked how the glow behind the object looks because it gives it a silhouette and also I can change the colour of the glow if I want a different effect/look.

Evaluation

I have experimented with a range of different layouts in artsteps. I’ve also used a variety of images such as single objects, triptychs and diptychs to make the layout more interesting.

I chose to take pictures of these objects because I was inspired by their unique shapes and textures. I was also inspired by all the different components that are needed to create these objects certain objects especially the hand drill.

I wanted to place the objects in a certain way in which it complemented and combined their shapes together kind of like how Darren Harvey-Regan with his montage of Walker Evans’ photos of tools.

I had intended for the objects to be in black and white because it gives an older look to them and because I was inspired by Walker Evans’ own work; his images were quite old and since he only had access to black and white cameras I chose to make my images in black and white.

I have learnt that lighting is a key element when taking photographs as it can affect the different shadows and tones of the objects, it can also affect the white balance. The types of lighting can also affect the objects, for example, using a warmer toned lighting will cause the objects to have a more warmer look or glow to them.

This was my final first practice gallery on Adobe Photoshop. To create my first artificial gallery, I found an image on images and imported it into Photoshop. I chose these particular images that I took to represent still life and transitioning into formalism. I think these all correlate in some way and have some sort of direct link to each other. The colours compliment each other well and I think this helps to escalate my gallery to look better and more presentable when the images I have taken all look similar but different.

I then exported my own photos onto the image of the gallery, to put on top of the walls. I chose this image because I think it shows a clearly displayed and open space to place my photos. I also chose this image because I think it helps to challenge myself as the walls are slanted and give me an opportunity to test my new skills whilst editing images I have taken into a virtual gallery.

1. After importing them I created a new layer and resized and distorted it to fit the walls. I did this in a particular way to fit the entirety of the wall then made them smaller in order to look presentable.
2. I also changed the angle of how they sat on the walls. This helps them to look more realistic and straight. The straighter my images I took sit on the wall, the more realistic they look.
3. I then pressed blending options after clicking the rectangular marquee tool. I then press drop shadow to control where the shadow is able to sit behind my image. This is to create a 3D effect.

I then moved onto Art steps and made another virtual gallery to display my still life photography. This website provided me with a more professional looking, but simpler approach to displaying my photographs.

In my virtual gallery I made my photos look hung up on the wall. I also experimented with different borders of my photos. From a range of black white and grey backgrounds I was able to experiment which different colours complimented my photography and brought out their detail. I enjoyed using Artsteps so that I could properly evaluate my work in a digital gallery I could explore, this gave a more realistic approach instead of just a photo. I think I prefer using Artsteps as it gives me more time to focus on editing my photos without having to focus on the angle, distortion and shadowing on my artwork on the wall.

For this photo I had a metal box and piled books into it. I edited and got rid of the highlights and added extra shadows for an older look. The original photo was a lot brighter and less vibrant so I added clarity into the photo which made the photo and the reflection clearer. I added texture and shadows in the photo because I think it looks much better dark.

Before

after

For this photo of a violin and books I changed the colour to black and white to change the aura of the photo. This created a clearer image of the violin and books to make you focus on them more than the colour of the original photo. I cropped out the edges of the original photo as it looked messy and straightened it out as evenly as I could to make the photo look clean.

These photo of books are both edited but I prefer the second one as it is less dull and has a mystical feel to it as the books are glowing. I added texture to the second photo to give it a vintage vibe and added less clarity compared to the first photo for a less sharper image. the second photo gives a warm hue while the first photo has cold hue making it look crisp and sharp.

In order to make my photo gallery, I used photoshop. However, I first had to get my images from Lightroom into photoshop. I did this by exporting them into a document in which I could then open up on photoshop and access my photos. After I had exported them, I then opened up photoshop and pressed file new in order to get a blank, white page. I then went onto google and searched up ‘gallery space’, making sure to press tool, size and large in order to make sure the images had high resolution.

I chose to use this gallery space. I then copied and pasted it onto photoshop, making sure to use Ctrl t in order to make the image fill up the whole page. Next, I selected one of my photographs I had taken previously and opened it up on photoshop. Then, I dragged the image onto the gallery space and pressed Ctrl t to shrink it to a suitable size. However, when I wanted to place an image on the side walls I had to use the transform tool then select perspective in order to make it look like it is actually attached to the wall and make my final gallery look more realistic.

Finally, to complete my photo gallery I decided to add a drop shadow to each of my images to make them stand out compared to the wall and appear more three dimensional. I did this by going onto the layer with the tool I wanted to add a shadow to then right clicked on it and press blending options. I then experimented with different sizes, spreads and distances. These are the final sizes I chose:

Overall, I like how my photo gallery came out as I think it is a creative way to present my images and gives you a sort of sense of how it would look like in a real life setting. However, one improvement I would make to my photo gallery is I would add more of my still life images to the other side wall as at the moment there are a lot more tools than still life objects, giving my final gallery an unproportionate feel to it. Additionally, I could also make a photo gallery for only tools and only still life images.

Walker Evans was greatly influenced by Darren Harvey-Regan as they both paid close attention to the choice of objects, composition, lighting and exposure levels.

Walker Evans

Walker Evans began photography in the late 1920’s, taking his first snapshots while on his trip to Europe. Then on his return to New York he produced his first set of images. He was best know for taking photographs during the Great Depression, as he was mostly recognised for his documentary and social realism style. Evans then went onto produce his first Portfolio in 1955 called, Beauties of the Common Tool where it features day-to-day objects. The simplicity of only one object displayed, creates this engaging and immersing feature for the viewer, as he wants you to see them for yourself in a different way.

Beauties of the Common Tools

Walker Evans shows simplistic everyday objects displayed in black and white, which creates unique forms and interesting exposure as we get more out of the object. This is effective because he turns the objects into something that’s more distinct and eye catching, rather than just photographing basic tools.

Darren Harvey-Regan

Like Walker Evans, Harvey-Regan was interested in the concept that photographs do not exist just to show things, but are physical things that become objects themselves. Harvey- Regan first created montages of Walker Evan’s work, where he would find matching tools, cut them in half and rejoin them to create his final work. The objects he would find were both interesting and unusual as this would engage the viewer and overall make it more distinct.