Technical Studies Brief; Light Project

For this project there are many things that I'd like to accomplish. One thing that I'd like to do is research a variety of artists that focus on light with their photography. After researching them I would like to make my own pictures after being inspired by them. Artsist that I am keen on researching are: Pablo Picasso, Edgar Martins, Andre Kurtesz and David Bailey. When making pictures I would like to use a wide range of light techniques, such as: using light pens, using the moon/sun to reflect on large and small objects to create an effect, using an ordinary light. I would also like to use an SLR camera and a digital camera to take the same picture (more than once) to see the different effects of using each camera, as one will make the picture black and white, and the other will allow us to see it in colour. It will be interesting to compare the black, white and grey tones on a picture using an SLR, to the normal colours after taking a picture with a digital camera.

Evaluation

• Are you pleased with your final prints?

 I am pleased with my final prints as they all developed as I wanted them to eventually

• How easy / difficult did you find making them? 

I found it quite easy to make the prints as I already knew what settings to use because I did photogram experiments before hand so I was aware of what settings I should and shouldn't use. 

• Did you enjoy experimenting with the different techniques learnt throughout the project? 

I did enjoy experimenting with the different techniques, particularly the photogram technique which is what I decided to do as my final project. This is because it is a technique that allows you to alter the way people view objects.

• How do your final prints link to the theme of 'Everyday'? What were your intentions / ideas?

My final prints link to the theme of 'Everyday' because I have used everyday objects to create each photogram. The objects that I used were: a perfume bottle, a pair of scissors, bracelets, rings and an earing. With these objects I used different techniques to make them look abstract. One technique that I used which I think had the best effect was the Chemigram technique. I did this by placing scissors onto a pice of photopaper and moving the pair a number of times whilst exposing to light. I then splashed developer onto the paper and rubbed some parts in with a paint brush rather than placing it into a tray of developer like I usually would.

• Would you do anything differently if you could go back? i.e. shoot different images on your film or explore a different idea. 

If I could go back I wouldn't change any of the pictures that I created because all of them turned out as I wanted them to.

• Which photographers did you look at for this project and which inspired you the most? Why? 

When I decided to create photograms, it was after I researched Man Ray and the photograms he made. 

• Overall how did you find the project?

At the beginning of the project, I felt that it was quite difficult and tricky as the photo's that I took using an SLR camera were too dark, so I had to change my whole idea/theme. However, when I changed my idea to photograms and begun making the photograms I started to enjoy the project more and found it much easier.  

Targets: 
1. Include academic & technical language when analysing.
2. Focus on experimentation; complete each experiment. 
3. Compare and evaluate my work to others.

Man Ray In-depth Analysis

 Man Ray was a modernist artist who was originally from America but worked mainly in Paris. He was a part of the Dada and Surrealist movements which is very significant as he was one of the most popular artists within these movements. He did a wide range of media work but considered himself to be a paiter (mainly). In the art world he is noticed for his 'rayographs' which is a type of technique for producing photos, formally known as: Photograms. 

Context:
This piece of work (photogram) was done by Man Ray. I believe that this picture was just done as an experiment. I have chosen to analyse this piece because it looks like he tried to create an abstract image just like I will be doing. It seems abstract because at first I thought it was a pattern that he made, then I realised he placed a flower onto the photo paper. The fact  that it was difficult to realise what object he had used made it seem very interesting. For this photogram I think he would have used F.8 and 8 seconds to expose this image as those settings allow the object to show up clearly and sharp as well as the different tones. 

Meaning:
A quote once said by Man Ray: 'of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask 'how', while others of a more curious nature will ask 'why'. Personally, I have always preffered inspiration to information'. This was not necessarily said about the picture that I am analysing but I believe that it can apply to all of the photograms that he created. This is because there is always a reason as to why he laid the objects out on the paper in teh way he chose to. If there was any theme for this photogram, I would say it could be 'nature' or 'abstraction'. Nature, because he has used a flower; abstraction because he has made the object look like something it's not.

Aesthetic:
The material used is a flower, and the technique used is named; Photogram. It has been done by placing a flower on top of a piece of photopaper and exposing it to light for approximately 8 seconds using f.8. The amount of seconds used and the F stop used for the picture has a big effect on the outcome; it allows all lines to look as sharp as possible. I think this aspect is important because the round pattern that the petal stalks create, make the image look abstract.

Personal Response:
I have chosen to look at Man Ray and his photogram as he inspired me to use this technique for my project. I selected this picture in particular because I didn't know what it was to begin with as it seemed very abstract, and this is the effect I want my photograms to create. For example: placing a perfume bottle upside down on the photopaper. I like the way that the flower fills up the majority of the paper, which adds effect to the mystery of what it is.

Rene Magritte In-depth Analysis

Context: 
Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist who became well known for his 'thought provoking' images. Originally he designed wallpapers, ads and posters, but he started painting after he recieved a contract from an art gallery. The purpose of his art was to allow the public to have a different view on things in life. He usually did this by placing floating objects in front of the face, and painted objects in unexpected contexts.

Personal Response: 

Rene Magritte has inspired me as my theme is dreams which relates to his theme of art; surrealism. I know this because he displays pictures in very unusual ways that would not be seen in real life. For example this image on the right; Personal Values.

Meaning:
I would associate this piece of work with the genre of 'conceptual art'. This is because the layout of them picture (the way the train is coming out of the wall) makes it seem as if it has a meaning. One meaning that it could have is 'time goes by'. This is because it is placed underneath a clock. I think that this work has a theme; surrealism. This is because when I researched Rene Magrittes surrealism art, I found this picture. The title: Time Transfixed gives me the idea that the train and clock symbolise something together.

Aesthetic:
I think that this work was done as a painting which makes it even more interesting as the shadows are clearly shown and all of the outlines of each shape are very sharp. 

Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali have both been inspirations to my diea of dreams as their, surrealist work relates to unreal things, like dreams. 

Salvador Dali In-depth Analysis

Context:
Salvador Dali was a Spanish painter who focused a lot on surrealism when painting. 

Dali (who was commonly known for his strange surrealist work) was a very talented draftsman. The majority of his paintings were based on the Renaissance. One of his paintings 'The Persistance 0f Memory' is the most favourited by the public and was done in 1931. He worked in various areas of art, which included sculpturing, photography as well as film. 

A phrase once said by Dali: ''love of everything that is gilded and excessive, my passion for luxury and my love of oriental clothes''.

Meaning:
The genre of art that I would associated this picture with is 'conceptual art'. This is because the way that the clocks are laying there,  possibly melting away make it seem as if Salvador Dali is trying to convey the idea that time is slowly slipping away/running out. To further my understanding of this picture I researched the meaning of it and found this phrase on wiki answers: 'Surrealist paintings are supposed to be dream like and inexplicable after reading this explanation I understand that there may not be an actual meaning to this picture. 

Aesthetics:
I believe that this image was done as a painting which adds extra effect to the picture, where the colours blend in at the background, and the way that the clocks have been made to look as if they're melting and folded.

Personal Response:
I have chosen to analyse this picture because I find it the most conceptual piece done by Salvador. Also it links to picture I previously analyse by Rene Magritte because (from my observations and opinions) they both have something to do with time going by.

Project Moodboard; Photograms

Man Ray:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photogram
2. http://zane93.wordpress.com/page/6/
3. http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/rayograph
4. http://mastershawty.wordpress.com/category/unit-9-photography/
Moholy Nagy:
5. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1987.1100.158
6. http://artblart.com/tag/laszlo-moholy-nagy-painting-photography-film/
7.http://designblog.rietveldacademie.nl/?p=17476
8. http://www.terminartors.com/artworkprofile/Moholy_Nagy_Laszlo-Photogram_41_-_Lightning_Rod

Bjork Vespertine Album Cover

Bjork Vespertine Album Cover - Photography by Inez and Vinoodh

Context & Aesthetic:
This is an album cover made by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin who are a Ducth fashion photographer duo who are known for their work in fashion magazines and advertisements. They were both born in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Inez was born on 25th September 1963 and Vinoodh was born on 29th September 1961. The name of this art piece is Bjork Vespertine Album Cover. It was made using a piece of acetate and placing it on a piece of photopaper on the board of an enlarger while the negative of the Bjork was placed in the 'neg carrier', then image created was exposed to light to appear on the photopaper. I have chosen to to analyse this picture in particular because these two artists inspired me to make my own acetate & negative prints. The contrast between the black, white and grey soft tones resemble the way Bjork is calmly resting which I think creates an effect on the public as it allows them to view it in a particular way.

Meaning:
I would say that this picture ties into two themes; doodling and portraiture. This is because the acetate image is done as a doodle, and the picture of Bjork is clearly a portrait. I think that the work has been done as a symbolisation to convey a calm image/message to the public informing us on the type of music featured on the album. This is because firstly, Bjork is calmly resting on the front cover. Secondly the drawn image of the swan also conveys a peaceful message as those birds are known to represent peace and calmness.

This is a picture that I made after being inspired by the Bjork Vespertine Album Cover. First I took a photo of a scenery outside using an SLR camera. I then made the design using tracing paper. The settings I used for the photo that I took were: F.8 and I used 2 seconds to expose it to the light. Unfortunately this picture came out too dark therefore I did the experiment again using the same negative and pattern using F.5.6 and 1.5 seconds which allowed the image to look alot clearer and brighter.