“Object”-ivity? Katrine Dybkjær 300308004 dybkjakatr@myvuw.ac.nz Outnphoto.wordpress.com
1
Table of Contents Ideas behind my project ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Why? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 How? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Techniques/ methods ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Key light from the side ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Rim Lit lightning .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Light temperature ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Composition ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 The order of the sequences ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 The series and the text ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Paolo Pellegrin ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Alex Majoli ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Ananda Van Der Pluijm ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Others I was inspired by ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 ”Object”-‐ivity? series ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 The process ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Shooting in a studio ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Complications ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 The learning process ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14 References .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15
2
Proposal slide
objects we want and objects that illustrate how we want to be seen by others (Curtis, 2004). As the quote above illustrates this materialism demands more and more. How will our society look in the future with this tendency? Have we
Ideas behind my project
already crossed the line for how much objects, brands and materials
“The world says: "You have needs -‐-‐ satisfy them. You have as much right as the
goods should be a part of our present society?
rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more." This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe
My aim is to put focus on this discussion. The purpose is to make my
that this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide, for the poor,
audience think about our society and the role objects play in it.
envy and murder.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
Freud’s cousin, Bernays, started after WW2 to work with a concept he
Why? We often judge people by what they eat, wear and do with different objects instead of looking at the actual person.
called “manipulation of the masses”. He transformed objects to be
By actively using light my aim is to put focus on this character in our
important symbols that links to your emotions and even the image you
society and make people wonder about this phenomenon.
want to have amongst others (Curtis, 2004). With this project I wanted to set focus on objects and the important
How? For this project, I choose to experiment with light in the studio. I used
part they play in our society today. Materialism has been growing
different kinds of light such as rem-‐lit, fill light and key light.
since industrialism came along with an increased amount of good a
My goal was to show how much focus we have on objects today
decreased amount of money (Armstrong, 2013). Materialism today is
instead of the actual person.
an enormous part of our society and even plays a role in the way we
I used models for my project, which is the first time for me to try that.
perceive others and ourselves. This materialism is an “all consuming
I asked my models to bring an object they felt said something about
self” (Curtis, 2004). Today we don’t only buy objects we need, but also
them or meant something to them.
3
Techniques/ methods
Light temperature
My primary focus in this project was to use light to show my purpose
I choose to have a warm light in all of my photos to create consistency
with this series.
in the series. The last photo was shoot with ISO 400 and I think this
Key light from the side I many of my photos I only use key light coming from the side (90-‐45 degree from the camera). Key light is placed so its focus is on the objects rather than the models. I the first photo I choose to include the actual lamp that is focusing on the object to visualise how much affect
gave a cold light temperature, as I had the same lamp and distance to the lamp as with photo two, where the ISO was 100 instead. I could not reshoot it, so I had to do some editing afterwards to make it match the others.
Composition
light from a lamp has on where our eyes are drawn into a photo.
As a general rule I choose to frame the photos as my artists precedents
I choose to have the light coming form the side on my photos to avoid
and only include my models over part of their bodies. The point of
lightning up my models faces.
view is the same with the camera standing directly in front of each
Having light coming from the side created a split lightning effect,
model. I found that this point of view was best suited as my goal was
which is very notable on photo one.
to create portraits. I found that with this point of view people are used
Rim Lit lightning I used rim lit lightning or background lightning in some of my photos as well. In photo two and seven this background light is the only light on the photo. My purpose with this lightning was to create a black shadow of the model and focusing more on their objects. Photo five has two kinds of light. The sidelight lights up the object. The rim light is creating a light around the models hair to make the audience remember that there is still a person in the photo, even
to se portraits of people and putting objects in the place they would expect humans it could create a stronger focus on our materialized and object focused world. In photo five model standing with her back to the camera, photo six is cut so only half of the face is included and photo two and seven are taken from the side. I choose these different set-‐ups to create a more vibrant feeling in the series.
though it is not possible to see her face.
4
Most often the objects are placed in the rule of third to draw attention
The next two pictures (book and computer) are objects we use to
to them. In photo four and five I choose to have both the object and the
retrieve information and new learning. Again, what you read, which
model in the middle deliberate to break this pattern.
computer you choose and even what information you retrieve from
these media with reflect and affect what image you create towards
The third photo is shoot with long shutter speed, 1.3, to create a
other people. Computer brands, and especially the Apple brand
blurred book when she turns the pages. This was done to create some
reflects back and affect your own “brand”. The Apple brand has been
action in the picture and make it easier for the audience to see what
voted the world’s most valuable brand third year in a row now
her object was.
(millwardbrow, 2013). Heterogeneous brands, brands that can be
differentiated e.g. through band image are often bought to represent
Photo two has a connotation to the movie E.T. where the alien and the
people’s personality as Bernay started to discover in 1920’ies.
human meet under the moon. Here the object and the human meet
and melt together as she is drinking the coffee.
The fourth fifth and sixth photo (running shoes and knife) both
I choose to use a black jacket for photo six to make the hand almost
represent and outdoorsy and active life. Running shoes are used when
flying in the air and create a strong focus on the object.
being active and the knife, for this model’s representation, is used
when being “outdoorsy” e.g. when tramping, kayaking or backpacking.
The order of the sequences
Whether you are active, outdoorsy or don’t do anything active will
I choose to create an order after what people use the objects for. The first two objects represent nutrition. Anthelme Brillat-‐Savarin wrote in 1826, “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are” (Martin, n/d). What people eat is being judged upon by other people and will be part of an overall judgment of who that person is and their image.
bounce back and again affect your image. Our bodies have a huge saying in how we are being judged. Ongoing exposure in the media of skinny women can have an effect and shape our perception of the “norm” of people’s bodies. (Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, 2011).
5
The last photo with soap bobbles represents an object we use to have
fun with. Children are often the ones to use soap bobbles. When using
it as an adult you send a special signal that you can still be childish and don’t have to take yourselves that seriously. I choose to have this photo as the last, as I fell that the connotation of
soap bobbles as not taking yourself that seriously and do not judge other people by their objects. This could be represented with bobbles flowing out into the audiences minds and make them think about how we interpret ourselves.
The series and the text I chose to include text in this series as well as I have done in my other porjects. I am a writer and communication student and text represent my style. Furthermore, each model has chosen the objects themselves because they are important to them in some way and I wanted to tell their stories, to make the photos more alive. People need to belong and fell a social bond with others (Greenwood and Long, 2009, page 639) By humanising the models with including their own story about their objet and their names, I was hoping to create a stronger attachment with my audience.
6
Artist Precedent slide
Response They all focus much on light and dark effects to create a vibrant photo. It creates an interesting photo.
Paolo Pellegrin
Relation to my work
Title: Theatre des Bouffes du
The contracts between dark and light was very inspiring for my
Nord
project, as mentioned above. I, furthermore, choose this photo, as an
Date: 2009
object, the hat, is covering her face and dominates the photo.
Genre: Fashion shooting Method: This photo is shoot standing on line with the model. The key light is coming from the side and making a spilt lightning effect. It seems like some light is also coming from above to the left the model and lightning up the hat. Description This photo is from a fashion shooting. She is placed with front to the camera, but her face is turned so the hat rather than her face is in focus. Context/Idea The photographer uses these dark light based portraits a lot. He also has some series from Liberia (2006) and Afghanistan (2006) with the same photo style.
Alex Majoli Title: Scampia Date: 2008 Genre: photojournalism Method: This photo is in black and white. Light seems to come from above in front of the model. There are shadows under his eyes and his shirt it lightened but not his shoulders or the background. Description The photo is a photo of a gang member placed in the middle of the photo with an object in his mouth. The photo is cut so you cannot see his eyes. The object in his mouth is, on the other hand, lightened up and is very noticeable.
7
Context/idea Majoli is a photojournalist who has been working in a lot of countries, for various projects. His photos series from among others Georgia (2009), Parktistan (2008) and USA (2005) have the same dark style as Paolo Pellegrin. He is shooting photos of people using light to tell a
Ananda Van Der Pluijm Title: Martin Date: 2011 Medium: World Press Photo Competition Genre: Photojournalism
huge part of the story.
Methods: 35 mm camera is used with 1/125 shutterspeed, f/5.6 and
Response
ISO very high at 3200.
I like how the light plays a huge role in this photo and I like the detail
Description
with the object in this mouth and the fact that you cannot see his eyes. Normally eyes are a huge part of a portrait and by framing it so the eyes are not included in the photo makes it different and interesting. Relation to my work The framing is interesting in this picture as well as the lightning; I was inspired by that to shoot some of my photos. I was especially inspired
The photo is a black and white photo of a person, Martin the photographer’s half brother. He is hiding behind a pillow. Context/idea This series was a project of getting to know her half brother better as she haven’t had contact with over the previous decade.
with my sixth photo, where I have framed the photo so it only includes
Response
haft of the model’s face.
This photo is interesting, as an object, a pillow, is covering the
person’s face. You don’t know that person, but the object and how he
uses it, helps us interpreting what we think is traits of his personality.
8
Relation to my work
My project is about how objects play a huge part in our interpretation
Jonas Bendikson (Moldova 2004)
of people. I stubbled over this photo when I went the World Photo
Exhibition and now I can use it as inspiration for my project.
In photo five I have chosen to exclude my model’s eyes by having her standing with the back to the camera. The picture of martin inspired my to use such a setting.
Others I was inspired by Christopher Anderson (Kosovo 2008)
Martin Parr (Magdalene College. 2006)
Ferdinando Scianna
+ my first project with light, where I used my macro lens to transform objects and play with our perception of what we see. The pictures can be found on my blog.
9
“Object”-ivity?
”Object”-‐ivity? series
“ I try to live a healthy lifestyle. Honey is my weak spot –
and I love it“ -‐ Gabriela
FOOTBALL FIELD how people create their own paatern to match their “ Coffee is what keeps me going in my stressed life as
an architect. Without coffee I could not have this job“
-‐ Mari
10
“I need order, planning and k nowing what will happen in the future. I cannot live without my calendar” -‐ Anne Sofie
FOOTBALL FIELD how people create their own paatern to match their beh “ My computer is like m e: creative, stylish and fast working -‐ we are each others best friends” -‐ Helle
11
“ W hen I run I can think. No one is judging me. I can be myself and fell my body getting stronger “ -‐ Lea
FOOTBALL FIELD how people create their own paatern to match thei “ Outdoorsy and opportunities is what my Schweiz knife
represent. I couldn’t live without nature and feel the wind
in my hair”
-‐ Katrine
12
FOOTBALL FIELD how peop
“ W ho says you can’t blow soap bobbles as a grown up? I am bobbling, childish and can do whatever I want“ -‐ Elisabeth
13
Evaluation
get some inspiration of how to use light creatively in a studio. Finally, I also read a lot of blogs where people tell about lightning set-‐ups and good ideas when shooting with models.
The process In the beginning of this project I was fascinated by still lifes and how
After that I used some time in the studio, before taking the final photos with my models.
you can transform objects when using macro and getting so close that
Complications
the object change meaning. I used two days in the studio shooting
I had booked the studio for Tuesday and Wednesday to make sure I
different objects and got some very interesting outcomes. But there
had enough time for taking the right photos and being able to reshoot
was something about the whole project, that wasn’t good enough. My
if some of them did not turn out well enough.
project did not have a deeper meaning. I only shoot all these photos
Unfortunately, I booked the studio for the wrong week. In the end I
because it was fun to transform objects.
was able to use the studio Tuesday afternoon, but it did give me some
I was in the studio with Elisabeth (also from DSDN 144) and suddenly
complications. One of my models could only do Wednesday and I
I saw her standing with an object in the fill light we used for our
could not find any substitutes. But it all worked out in the end anyway.
objects and that suddenly gave me a new idea. I though about it for a
But that is one of the downsides by using a studio.
while, but I felt that this would be a much greater project and it would be fun to use models and play with light in that way.
The learning process
Therefore, I choose to change my project.
Of course I used a lot of time on the first project, which I ended up not using. But this first project, on the other hand, helped me understand
Shooting in a studio
our perceptions of objects and how light can affect what we see. I used
It was the first time for me to take photos in a studio and to have
this in my final project when lightening up the objects and having my
models for a project. I used a lot of time watching “portraits and
models being “hidden” in the shadows and thus using light as showing
lightning in studio” YouTube videos. I also looked at various
my purpose with my project.
photographers and photo communities, such as Magnumphoto.com to
14
References Armstrong, Martin (2013) The Age of Materialism/Consumerism, Armstrong Economics, Retrieved 02.10.13 from: http://armstrongeconomics.com/693-‐2/2013-‐2/the-‐age-‐of-‐materialismconsumerism/ Boston Women’s Health Book Collective (2011) Our bodies and Ourselves, 9. Edition, Touchstone: New York Curtis, Adam (2002) The Century of the self, BBC: United Kingdom Greenwood and Long (2009) Psychological Preditors of Media Involvement: Solitude Experiences and the Need to Belong, retrieved 03.10.13 from Sage Journals Martin, Gary (n/D) The Phrase Finder, Retrieved 03.10.13 from: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/you%20are%20what%20you%20eat.html Millward Brown (2013) Brands 2013. Retrieved 03.10.13 from: http://www.millwardbrown.com/brandz/2013/Top100/Docs/2013_BrandZ_Top100_Chart.pdf
15