Level 2 How to read a photograph
Serena Mackintosh C.N 1312
If this is art
Considers how photographers have devised strategies, performances and happenings especially for the camera.
This challenges the stereotype that photography is all about sitting and waiting for that perfectmoment. Based in the per formance art of the 60’s and 70’s.
DAVID GOLDBLATT
David Goldblatt
(born 29 November 1930 in Randfontein, South Africa)
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oldblatt began photographing in 1948 and has documented events in South Africa through the period of apartheid till present. He has numerous publications to his name and is held in status; both locally and internationally.
David’s interest in photography was sparked by his mother giving him a camera. He was largely influenced by the work of the famous photographers working for American-European magazines such as Life and Picture Post. In the 1950s, David started photographing the unfolding political campaigns mounted by the Congress Alliance, however he found the pursuing of news very unrewarding. After the death of his father in 1962, David sold the family store and on 15 September 1963, at age 33, he ventured out to work full time as a professional photographer. In 1972 Goldblatt spent six months photographing in Soweto and from 1976 – 1977 he travelled on a bicycle photographing mainly the Johannesburg Indian area of Fietas - the community was facing removal in terms of the government’s Group Areas Act which forcefully removed people to new segregated townships. In 1979 Goldblatt began working on a project about life in a typical white suburb of the Transvaal – this lead to the publication of the book In Boksburg. ____________________________________________________________
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n the 1990s, Goldblatt argued that he would neither join a political organisation because he was not a “joiner” - nor allow his work to be used “by either side of the struggle” for propaganda purposes. Nonetheless, he participated in the Staffrider Exhibitions, organised by the leftwing anti-apartheid photographers’ collective, Afrapix. He also participated in the seminal exhibition, South Africa the Cordoned Heart (1985) curated by fellow photographer Omar Badsha, a founder of Afrapix. Goldblatt was present at the 1982 Botswana Culture and Development Conference where he argued against photographers using their craft “as a weapon” in the struggle. He argued that the role of a photographer was to go beyond the surface of things and to make a far more compelling argument against the system of white rule.
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A farmer’s son with his nursemaid, Heimweeberg, Nietverdiend, 1964 David Goldblatt
David Goldblatt Holdup in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, November 1963
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In this photograph I see, two people who seem to be children, who are playing together, The photograph fights social racism and the conflict between them, by showing the two different colours being freindly and getting along well together. This is different to what would have apeared in the news durring the 1960’s and 70’s, there was alot of racial conflict between them, especially durring aphratheid.
A word or phrase I would use to describe this image would be a picture is worth a thoasand words. I would use this expression because, all the hatefull words and deeds that were occuring in Africa and the world durring the 60’s and 70’s all these actions that are sourced from misunderstandign and lack of love.
This photograph, shows love and equality in all of it’s form. The photograph, seems to go against the hatefull words and actions and show a more of idealisitc and loving representation. The two kids, who actually adults can learn alot from, seems un aware of the conflict of social racism, he doesn’t care he likes or is freinds with the girl and that’s all to it. I thnk the world could learn more from this photograph than what they read in the paper.
Because of the Genre I have chosen, of ‘this is art’ i would think this photograph has been stylised to fit it’s purpose. The photograph shows two people that have a relationship who, in real life, may never be able to properly create this image as they would be too much tension between the two races. This image shows the genre, as it takes the political and social tension and upheaval of the conflict and seems to put together a stragety to put across a purpose to the audience. To teach the readers about equlity and love. However there are signs or showing social racism, how the child, who is white, is standed above in a domimant status even above a black women. This shows inequality and the ridcoulsness of the suitation. Where black men and women and white women and men, are not equal, and instead black women is even lower than white children.
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Once Upon a
Time
Story telling in art photography.
Tableau photography where the story has been distilled into one single image (based on 17th and 18th century painting)
Jeff Wall
September 29, 1946
Vancovour, Canada
A Sudden Gust of Wind 1993
Milk, 1984
Insomnia 1994
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In this theme, I decided to choose Jeff Wall’s work to comment on because I think it creates a good representation of our theme of ‘
Once upon a time.’ ‘
In ‘A sudden gust of wind’ it remimincent of his time in Vancovour, where there were gusts of winds, that caused havok on the scene. All the different people within the image, seems to have a story attached to them. Even though the photography was stylised by Wall and the actors were told what actions he wanted to do. Another thing Wall did to make the photograph take on this essence and feel was to collage the flying papers and the objects onto the image, adding to this sense of narrrative to the image.
Similarly with all his work, there seems to be a sense of narrative and emotion tied in with it. The way Wall shows and displays his work really follow this sense of Tableu, and narrative and stlyised content. In all of his photographs, he follows the ideologies, where the subjects are still and don’t make any motion, this leaves the audience to learn through clues of narrative and body codes to undercover the meaning of the photograph. in the sense of films, starting from the begining of the narrative with little iformation, i the sense were just landed in the middle of the film and it’s a clean state. As the film progress, we find out more information about this subject that happened in the past. Therefore creating a storylike narrative and creating a sense of
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Dead pan _____________
Distinct lack of visual drama. Usually large scale pieces of work with little central focus or obvious subject matter.
Andreas Gursky Prada 1996
rhein 11 1997
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ursky’s lack of visual drama in the frame, seems to create intruigue in it’s self. The viewer seems to start to look deaper within the composition in order to see if anything unfolds onto them.
This, I think makes the viewer, enjoy the image more, as there is less meaning and intepertation of the art peice. The photograph is bleak and to the point, it says exactly what the artist’s aim wanted. It’s oddly satifisfying and to the point. He links to the theme as there is no visual excitment that imeditaly catches the audience’s eye. Everything in the frame has purpose, but not a deaper meaning. Therefore creating satifcation without any drama unfolding within the compostion.
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Something and ` Nothing
Photographing objects and subjects that wouldn’t ordinarily warrant a second look e.g. street litter, abandoned rooms or dirty laundry.
GETTING BY 1994
Richard Wentworth Somoa, 1947
YELLOW EIGHT
Richard Wentworth takes photographs of normal, vage subjects which viewers have seen throughout the lives. This questions, that the subject is actually the art work, instead of the presentaion and meaning.
Even though the subjects are bleak and could be considered ‘boring’ they still convey meaning to the viewer and create an intperertation. Therefore the expression ‘something out of nothing’ This is why I think Wentworth really works well as a example of this theme, he creates something out of nothing. He is different to art works we have seen previously, all of the other art works are entriuging, captivating and enthrol the viewers imagination. While Wentworth, shows the ordinary with little manipulation or interference, however they still contain and spark interest in the viewer. Therefore creating something out of nothing.
CHINESE WISPERERS
1991
Human Existence
Emotional and personal relationships.A diary of human interaction, a focus of unexpected moments in everyday life.
Beulah “Boots� Hern,
Cheshire, Ohio 2004. ____________________ From the series American Power
Niagara Falls, New York 2005 _________________________
from the series American Power
Mitch Epstein
Born: 1952,
Massachusetts, United States
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In these images, Mitch Empstein takes photographs of his family members using facial expression and gestures to suggest intimanticy and love. His photo graphs seem to capture a diary, and each photograph is a new entry into a photo album. His photographs apear non- styled and seems to be spontanous and this makes the family relationship status and emotion come out from within the image.
Hisbcac photographs seem to be taken in odd ocasion with no real strucutre to them, he takes them when he is around with his family. His photographs, are images, ametur photographs would take when around with their family , they have no stricking features about them, but seem to be fimilar and relatable to the viewer. The interesting aspect of his work, is how the audience can replecate these images. There seems to be no creative intervenction, it’s a very honest and true representation of relationships. That’s why I think he is part of the human experience theme, as he just documentes time he spent with his family. He takes photogrpahs of actualaity instead of stylised content for drama and entertainment.
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Dad IV, 2003 ___________
MITCH EPSTEIN http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/nov/06/ Martha’s Vineyard Ferry I, Massachuphotography-mitch-epstein-best-shot setts, 1983
‘American Empowerment’’
Moments in History
Documenting social and ecological disaster after the event.
Using art photography to present the consequences of political and human upheaval.
Anthony haughey
birth place:
Ireland
Minefield Bosnia 1999
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In these photographs Anthony Haughey documentes various events that has caused some sort of damadge both socially and evniornmentaly. He shows the consequence and the aftermath of these events by showing the subject clearly been affected by a circumstance or occasion.
All these ocassions have a link to being a momentmous occasion any because of it, causing a impact on the telling of time. All of these events have affected people, places and things and impacted on lives. The theme of momements in history links to this photograph, as it shows momentous occasions such as: A christmas tree on the second page of this theme, being disgarded and left out to be affected by the elements. The photograph on the first page of the children with their faces crossed out communicating some sort of negative feel and emo tion towards them, almost conveying a sense of death as if their pickign off one by one from each death. Thus documentaing relaity on a day to day base and recording it in a momentous occasion of history.
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Revived and Remade Photographs that explore and exploit our pre-existing knowledge of imagery. The remaking of famous photographs, adverts, scientific imagery etc. Using old photographic techniques and styles
Gillian Wearing born: Birmingham, 1963
GILLIAN WEARING RETROSPECTIVE ________________________ “Signs that say what you want them to say and not Signs that say what someone else wants you to say”
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hese images have been stylised and remade to exploit our previous already knowledge, we have seen with many different artsists who write their thoughts and feelings on a card and holds up to the camera. However they have re-inveted what we know and use un-famous people and different words to expressed feelings felt. However the use and technique of conveying thoughts and emotions havenet changed, the still use a sign to express feeelings as well as old camera’s styles to mimick the same quality and outcome of their presuccessers. I think Gilllan Murphy has achieved it by taking photographs of new issuesfacing the twentief centuary and remodeled and styled these images to create a new affect of the images and on the audience.
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http://www.dehallen.nl/en/exhibitions/gillian-wearing-english/
2 bThe hidden structure of photographs
Size
the way we order the world, taking the immense and reducing it in scale.
Photographer focus - Clyde Butcher,
Ian Rhutter
Untilitled
CLyde Butcher
Agawamuck Creek
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like like Rhutter seems to mimise yet capture the essence and size of the mountain’s within his images. Even though, in reality we know these mountains would be huge and dominating of the frame.
Rhutter, climbed the mountains in order to reach it’s peak and therefore only documenting the tip of the mountain instead of it’s interily. Interesting enough, I feel as if he captures the power and the essence of the mountain, but similary to the theme, he reduces the immense and reduces it in size.
But he also then re-instates this, by creating a mood and power to the image, through editing. He seems to have wiped the colour from the image, and replaced it with black and white. This seems, similar to Butcher, to add mood and effect to the composition, by making it seem powerfull and domimant within the composition. The greyscale colouring makes it seem moody and the colour seems to be reacting to the subject it self, and it reflecting it through the colour.
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really like Clyde Bucther’s work of showing the great and mygestic landscapes and almost reducing it to the extent of the frame in which it holds.
Butcher’s captures breathtakingly powerfull images of nature in it’s entierly, he doesnt withold any speck of the scene, he captures all of the senses and essences within his image of his subjects. He also justifies this by creating large scale frame for his work enabling his viewers to read it and come to terms with the eye catching and awe- inspiring image. He seems to re-create the enrmousity of the image, through the process he used in creating this composition. By using the dark room process and usign black and white lens, it creates a sense of power and enmensity within the image. Therefore re-creating the sense of enormisity from the subject.
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Shape of framing Portrait, landscape, Renaissance under standing of perspective, Greek understanding of aesthetics and rule of thirds. Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus Eddie Carmel and Parents or Jewish Giant at Home 1970
Diane Arbus March 14, 1926
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On this photograph it plays with the idea of perspective and focus. The viewer is in the same POV as the couple as we see the room in the same view and understanding of them, it fits there size and perspective. However they see the giant man, and they have a perspective of him, so why isn’t he the same size as them.
Unless he is a perspective of the couple of him, so if he is a big guy, they may think he’s a giant, therefore his unusual size in relation to the composition. His pressence oculd be a figure of their thoughts and emotions. I think it plays with the idea of what’s real and what’s not. How things can be part of a playing with your mind and can be entity of one’s imagination.
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In this image, Arbus shows a image of a tribal man who apears to be laying down in some grass. Similarly to the last image, he seems to be a big guy and therefore dominating the whole of the composition of the artwork.
I think this photograph is looking at perspective again, and how we must think outside our own to understand others. We might not understand his own culture as we are foreign and westernised. Therefore Arbus may be inviting us to look into his and gain a wider understanding. _____________________________________________________________
Focus element of choice, a hierarchy of significance, a reductive process, a world in miniature. The subject is framed by the photographers values. - Lee-Friedlander
‘Reflections of the street’
Lee Freindlander
July 14, 1934, Washington, United States
‘Reflections of
the streets’
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In this photograph, Lee Freindlander captures a photograph of a inner car, which has been covered by a the sky and outdoors. This creates a juxtapostion of ideas, as the subject is a indoor object and Freindlander placed a outdoor subject in the inside. Therefore creating a contrast of ideas of subject in the compostion.
Freinlander has bridged the idea of perspective and the rules of it. He has altered and changed the idea of showing different perspectives from what would be indoors and outdoors, and mixed them into one. Where origninally they would be two different subjects and matters and art peices. He has changed what we know and disgarded it to create his own perspecition of life.
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Interestingly what was Freindlanders’ choise of subject in his photograph, his use space and focus in this image, suggestst that evyerhting from this image is part of the overall composition and that the viewer has the luxery of choise of each aspect what they are going to look at.
Freinlander has used a high focus apperture, in order to ahcieve a proper representation of what is happenign in this image. He also seems to capture the heckness of the time in the world, he seems to capture what his interperation of the world was durring the time in which the phtogrpah was taken. He was able to capture a representation of this, and produce it in miniture.
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Surface The illusion of three dimensions on a two dimensional surface. No matter how close we look at the surface the detail remains constant - Aaron Siskind
AAron Siskind Born: 4th december 1903, new York city death: 8th Febuary 1991
Aaron Siskind, Gloucester 1H,
1944 – Aaron Siskind Foundation
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In these photographs taken by Siskind, he appears to have two subjects that appear to be three dimensional however, but taken on a two dimensional surface. The man appears to be hovering in the middle of the composition, creating this sense of being weightless and free, however he is bound by his postion in the composition, to be stuck within the composition. He appears to be three dimensial because of this, as we can see from different angles of the man.
While the glove seems to have been zoomed in to, to achieve the amount of detail from within it. Siskind follows this theme as whever we look, at what ever angle, the glove remains the same amount of detail from within it. This again rcreates a three dimensial look and feel to it, as it appears that you can see the glove on many different angls, but it remains the same.
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Colour
Reflects the photographers interpretation rather than realism. Is black and white photography considered more authentic? Photographer focus - William Eggleston
William Eggleston
born: 27th July 1939 - present -
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n these images it seems to be looking at a social theme in his art work. He seems to orchestrate and edit his work to fit his interpretation of the subject. For example, the photograph of the women with red hair, seems to be wearing clothes that have some red within them, with red in the composition. This would suggest a purpose behind this feature, therefore possibly the colour red is a thought and feeling and is the key feature within the composition. In real life, the women may have decieded to wear all red to highlight and emphasise her hair and her thought, but in this photograph and her stance it would suggest there was purpose behind the image rather than realism.
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he black and white image does create a increasingly authentic feel to it. The subject, the bar or drive in was around during the 50-60’s and prior to that, this was when colour hasn’t been invented, most photograhs were captured in black and white. Therefore making the subject appropriately taken with the right and authentic colour photograph, creates a sense of false realism. This therefore creates a sense of interperatation of the artists as they have decided to take the photograph in black and white, when they had the opotion of colour.
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Time
A photograph fixes a moment in time. Photographer focus - Eadweard Muybridge
Eadweard Muybridge Born: 09 Apr 1830 路 Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom Died: 08 May 1904
Photograph by Edweard James Muybridge, time-lapse photographs of a man riding a galloping horse, 1872-1885.
Eadweard Muybridge Animal Locomotion, plate 640, 1887
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uybridge, creates a narrative by placing his individual frames together. it shows a onword journey of his subject as they progress within the compositition.
really like these images, I like how by creating a montage it attaches a narrative to it. The photograph shows each mili second of time in each frame taken, they show and reveal the journey of a horse as it runs in a race. By putting each photograph together it creates a film and onward progression of the hourse, and therefore creating a story or narrative of the horses journey.
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2c:
The visual elements
If this is art:
Size
Clyde Butcher
Born: born in Kansas City, Mo. in 1942,
VISUAL ELEMENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY __________________________
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Blowing Rocks 10 North East Florida, America
My thoughts and feelings of the photograph opposite: _______________________________________________
Light Quality
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he source of light from the photograph apears to be from natural lighting of the envionrnment. The lighting apears to be from the sun, there doesn’t seem to be artifical lighting, however Clyde Butcher seems to dull down the effect of lighting within the composition.
The lighting quality seems to be directly above, suggestig it could of been mid day when the image was taken. However by the personality and reaction of the water as well as the darker lighting towards the top left of the page, it seems as if it could be stormy weather aproaching which is minapulating the personality of the waves. The photograph seems to coppy and match the mood of the waves with the editing of the photograph.
The lighting has been dulled down, hidding the natural colour and lighting effect the sun would have on the landscape. The enlarger seems to have cre ated a contrast between the dark bits of the rocks and the light of the spray of the water. However this hasn’t created shadows within the composition, therefore showing that the lighting was very netural.
Texture
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he texture of the rocks can be clearly seen within the image. The monovers and the texture of the rocks, is so vivid and clear within the image. It makes the viewer create a visual connection of their experience at the beach. The rocks show the affect of the waves over time, the little potholes and spaces in the rock, it creates a narrative of the destruction of these rocks in action by the furiousness and destructive waves that crash upon them.
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nother texture shown is the velocity and the feel of the spray of the waves. The waves seem to disperse into different directions and apears to be acting in a solid sort of essence in the frame. Even though the spray, is obviously liquod, it takes on a sold nature to it. In the frame it looks as if it become solid as it takes on a new state in the image. The photograph is perfectly timed to capture the essence and the effect of the spray. I noticed first the texture of the rocks in the bottom of the page, they seemed as if they demanded attention to the viewer. The mood and the colouring of the photogrpah is very poinant and eye-cathcing, the colour of the rocks is the darkest colouring in thecomposition. Therefore imeditaly cathcing the attention of the viewers.
Focus ___________________
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he entire composition is in sharp focus, the rocks, the rock pool the waves and the sea beyound is all in clear focus, helping to form a sense of narrative to the image. The sharp focus has enabled the texture of the rocks and the sea to be seen within the image. The mood of the composition has been influenced by the sharp focus, the focus creates a sense of intensisty and power. By having the subjects in high sharp focus it means it can all be viewed and used to create the overal understanding of the image. The moood created is a tense and moody image reflecting the emotion of the stormy sees.
Angle of View
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he angle of view appears to be from straight on from the photographs postion. This has enabled a direct view of the rock pool and the resulting scene behind it. This creates everything in view, all the different componments of the art peice,come alive and enter into the world of the frame.
The angle on which the photograph has been taking creates a sense of melcony feel to it. The photograph angle along with the mood create a sense of mood and feeling to it. It creates a strong impulse and dramatic scene in the viewers mind that imeditaly makes the viewer think about their time at the beach. Therefore provoking emotion of remincing and melcony.
Framing/Composition
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ucher didn’t include in his compostion much of the sky. I think this was becausehe was trying to create mood and atmopshere through the arrangment of the subjects below, in the rock pool and the sea. Therefore he didn’t need much of the sky as the componments parts told the story and the moood of the image, without the sky needing to. By doing this Butcher indeed draws our attention to the rocks and the sea.
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utcher created framing through the arrangment and the postioning of the rocks. Throughout the composition, the frame seemed to be bordered/ supported by the rocks that surround it. This then directs our attention towards these rocks, rockpool and the sea, as it begins to emerge the overall powerfulll composition.
Colour _____________
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think black and white photographs create a larger impression on the viewerrather then the term ‘real.’ BY using black and white, in my impression, you can look, feel (emotion) and almost touch the composition. It creates a lasting impact on the viewer as I think we get more out of it. Even though technically, the composition is real, the sea, the rocks the matter is all real life and wasn’t placed there or made up/ stylised. This photograph was perfectly timed and thought out by CLyde Butcher, to time his photograph in order to create the greatest majestic impression on the viewer looking at the image.
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f this image, was captured in colour I don’t think it would have as much of a bigger effect on the viewer. The whole arrangment and minipulation of the image, seems to help the overall effect of the composition. By doing the composition in black and white, it establishes a stronger connection and interest in the viewer, and enables them to come to terms with the compositon, rather than slower if it was in colour.
Clyde Butcher Timeline _______________________
Birth: 1941, Kansas city, Missouri
: Attack on Pearl Harbour, America’s entry into the war.
13th August 1945: End of the Second World War.
1947: Start of the Cold war and the ‘Red Scare’ in America.
1951: There was a great Flood in Kansas and Misouri, it killed 17 people and displayed another 518,000.
1959: Butcher and his family moved to Southern California.
1960: He attended California Polytechnic University in 1960 with a major in architecture Civil Rights movement Women Rights Movement
1962: Cuban miscile Crisis
1963: While visiting Yosemite National park, he was enlightened about the photography studies of Andel Adams. 1964: Durring University, Butcher presented his architecture projects by creating and photographing miniature-scale models instead of making drawings. 1965: Durring his senior year of college, Butcher married his love, Nikki. After graduation, Butcher began a career in architecture. He was responsible for a portion of the design of the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, California 1970:
He soon realized that he could make more money in photography than he was making in architecture. By 1970, he left architecture for landscape photography.
1971:
Clyde established his second business, Eye Encounter, Inc., and began selling his photographs as wall doctor to department stores such as Montgomery-Wards, J.C. Penny’s, and Sears.
1972: He began to explore further away from Californian landscapes and started to take photographs of Wash ington, Wyoming, Ohio and Hawaii. He also began using colour photographs with his work.
1977: He sold his business and decided he needed to re- group and went around Florida. This later influenced him three years later when:
1980: He and his family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and after a short while he longed for a slower pace and moved to Ft. Myers in 1980. 1982: Clyde then began selling his color photographs of the American West at Florida art festivals. After briefly looking around Florida and not seeing anything to photograph, he began producing manipulated photographs with an outer-space theme. 1983: Clyde began photographing Florida beaches, still us using color film. 1984: a visit to Tom Gaskin’s Cypress Knee Museum, a roadside attraction in central Florida, that Clyde was introduced to a new side of Florida. 1985: He then met Oscar Thompson, who invited Butcher for a walk across the Big Cypress National Preserve and the Everglades by taking Clyde on his first walk in to the swamp. After his immersion in to the beauty he found so mysterious and primeval, Clyde was then inspired to take black and white photographs of the swamp.
1986: Clyde’s son, Ted ,was killed by a drunk driver. After which Clyde found solace in the wilderness of the Big Cypress National Preserve, where the mysterious, spiritual experience of being close to nature helped to restore his soul. Resolving to relinquish his ties to color photography, he destroyed his color work and vowed to use only black and white film. He purchased an 8”x10” view camera and enlarger.
1989: Collaspe of the Berlin Wall
2000: Butcher has been honored by the state of Florida with the highest award that can be given to a private citizen: the Artist Hall of Fame Award. 2005: : He was also privileged to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Na ture Photography Association and given the honor of being Humanitarian of the Year for 2005 from the International University. 2011: Additionally he received the 2011 Distinguished Artist Award from the Florida House in Washington, D.C. 2012: The Sierra Club has given him the Ansel Adams Con servation Award, which is given to a photographer who shows excellence in photography and has contributed to the public awareness of the environment.
Timeline of the year of 1992
januardy 15th 1992:
Yugoslav Federation broken up US recognizes three former Yugoslav republicUN expels Serbian-dominated Yugoslavia.
FEBUARY 1ST Bush and Yeltsin proclaim a formal end to the Cold War.
AUGUST 23RD 1992
HURRICANE ANDREW, SOUTH FLORIDA KILLS 14 PEOPLE AND 250,000 LEFT HOMELESS.
20TH NOVEMBER
fire at windsor castle
First Black Female Astronaut.
Dr. Mae C. Jemison becomes the first African-American woman astronaut, spending more than a week orbiting Earth in the space shuttle Endeavor.
Whisper of AIDS
Assosiative words I can use in
describing ClydeButcher’s work. _______________________________ 1. Crop: To select only a desired portion of an image for
diplay.
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n this photograph, seemingly contrasting with the rest of his photographs, Butcher has cropped his work, to focus on the key aspect of his image-the branches.
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his then focuses the viewers attention on to the key aspect of the composition, the branches. It also is domimant within the frame, where the branches seems to become immeditaly eye-catching and asethicly pleasing in the composition.
2. Split tone: The addition of one or more tones to a
monocrhome image.
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n Butcher’s work in the dark room, it clearly produces different toning within the composition. Within the colourings of his images, it’s clear to see, the different gradient levels of black and white used within them. This is known as split ltoning, as the light expsosure and chemicals used mits the different colouring within the image.
3. Depth of Field: How much of the composition is in focus.
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he deph of feild used in Butcher’s work seems to have a high apperture, as there is a lot of subjects and action within his composition. I guese as Butcher, tries to capture size in his photogrpahs, therefore having a lot of detail and activity in his composition.
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he main subject of the composition is in key focus and the background is also, all the different organisims and life behind the subject is in clear focus and this is an example of use of deph of field.
4. Decisive moment
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Described by Cartier Bresson as the precise moment that geometric pattern and action within the frame come together to reveal the most telling image. ___________________________________________________________
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n research behind Clyde Butcher’s work, I have learnt how Butcher returns to his location day after day untill he gets the perfect conditions, in which he takes his photograph. He relies on his feel and inutition toget the most out of his subject, he waits untill he know the conditions are perfect and all the elements come together in which he can create the most thought provoking image and telling image in his archives.
5. Contrast: Difference in brightness between neighbouring areas. _________________________________________________
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utcher’s technique increating his images of using the dark room creates this sense of colouring differences within his composition. Different aspects of his work range from a deap black colouring, to the colour of the clouds that are ghostly white. This creates a deap and rich contrast within his images, and is immeditaly eye cathcing in his work.
6. Framing: A visual term used to describe when certain elements of a composition enclose others. ___________________________________________________
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lyde Bucther’s use of his subject in his composition, seem to outline the foliage within the frame. The foliage then surround the whole composition, as if it’s the frame of the image and it’sthe starting point of viewing for the photograph.
7. ISO:
Measure of sensitivity to light (speed) as set by the interna tional Standards Organisation. The higher the number the more sensitive the im is to light. _______________________________________________
W
hen CLyde Butcher uses the enlarger, this measures the difference in expsosure of light within the composition. The more areas that have been expsosed to light, the lighted they apear on the photograph, the areas that are less or no exs posure are black or grey. So by looking at these fundemental ideologies, we can see the ISO speet of the photograph through the lighting gratiny within the composition, the ISO must of been set at high in order to achieve the qulaity and result in Butcher’s work.
8. Saturation:
The intensity of a hue. Highly saturated colours are at their most intense. Colours with low levels of saturation appear muted. __________________________________________________________
T
he use of colouring and contrasts in his images, create intensity within his images. By using grey-scale and split-tonning it really emphaises the areas of white and black within the photograph. This creates capturing and intense composition, as the use of the white flowers on the greyish background is immeditaly eye catching and stands out- promoting the sense ofb intensity within the composition.The key focus is on the branch and the flowers and the background apears to be perpuosly out of focus.
9. Luminosity: The quantity of light reflected by or emit
from a surface. __________________________________________________________
T
he use of lighting and colouring within the photogrpah, show different intesnities within the composition. I presume in the dark room, it picks up areas where the paper was expossed to light and therefore is the areas lighter then other areas of the composition.
T it.
he main feature of the composition- the rock- apears to have captured the most amount of lighting within the composition. Therefore apearing lighter within the composition and creating a illusion of emitting of light from
10. Focus: Where light rays converge on the sensor and form a sharp image. __________________________________________________________
I
n this photograph, the subjects and the objects within the composition havegood clarity, this means they are in focus focus and that they’re clear and the viewer is able to look clearly at all the activity within the composition. The mangrove tree’s roots can be seen clearly in the composition, this is a example of how clear and sharp the image is in composition.
T tion.
he composition get it’s clear visibility within the composition through the lighting within it. The use of contrast within the composition helps to create definition and clarity within the composi-
Similarities and differences
Compare two photographs that you have been researching for your essay. _______________________________________
Category 1: literal differences and similarties-
objects, enviornmentalists. ___________________________________________
T
hey’re both dealing with issues in the background of the image. The focus of the compositions, are to do with the subject of the image. Goldblatt’s is focused on racial inequality between white and blacks. The little boy is pocking a gun against the black man, suggesting a childlike innocence however with a sinsiter twist of the relationship between black and white throughout the twentieth centuary. They both use black and white film and or processes. This is a product of choice, Butcher’s purposely uses black film from old film camera, to achieve the emotion felt essence to the image. Simiarly to Goldblatt who also uses black and white film, as that was the only technology of that era.
H
owever a difference is the obvious comparison towards urban and enviornmental subjets. Goldblatt’s photograph is set in the urban setting, with cars and obvious developments surrounding them. However contrasting with Goldblatt’s, Butcher’s purposely have a blatant vacancy of space within his composition, there is no development, as it’s set within a rural area. The main focus of the composition is the big rock and the shrubs that surround it. The main focus of Goldblatt’s composition, is the involvment of the relatinoship between the two people while Butcher’s is the purpose behind taking photographs of the enviornment. Goldblatt’s intended message is through conveying of the relationshhip and involvement between the two people, we learn the purpose and the meaning behind this photograph. While Butcher’ uses his subject of the landscape in order to achieve the puropose of conservation.
Category 2: technical differences and similarities black and white, Colour, large format, digital, macro: _____________________________________________
A
simlarity includes both artists using large formats for their compositions and photographs. Butcher’s uses a 8x11 camera formater and develops them through a large dark room. This as a result, creates large scale photographs coverying all subjects and objects within the frame, making the subjects seem to reflect their normal state on frame. Similarly, Goldblatt uses large formats within his composition, he cuts his images and crops them into place, in order to achieve the most focus at the intended point of the composition. Both artists uses traditional ways of capturing media. Goldblatt, uses the old film camera that uses black and white film. This is ideal with his intended message, the black and the white seems to reflect the racial thoughts and feelings of the composition. Similarly to Butcher’s work, he purposely uses the camera enlarger and a large formater camera. He uses traditional ways of developing camera neggatives, this similarly creates and provokes the same emotion within the viewer, it forms a emotinoal attachtement and creates a impact on them.
A
difference between the two artists is how the use of colouring changes between them. Butcher uses split tonning within his work, where he uses a range of scales from grey to black. This helps to define each part of the image and reflects each aspect of the composition. Simiarly, Goldblatt uses a lighter tonning within his composition, he uses white to grey. This has reveals the racial intevenction behind the composition, the use of this shows the colouring within the composition.
Category 3: symbolic differencs and similaritiesemotions, human issues of wisdom, sorrow, pain and happiness. ________________________________________________
B
oth photographs provoke emotion within the viewer. Both images have some sort of attachment of emotion within them, they are both supose to provoke emotion. In goldblatt’s it’s suppose to provoke emotoin of racial equality. Even though the actions coulld be considerded as innocent-however so having a sinister intent behind it. Similarly Butcher has emotoin behind his work, in the form of preservation and conservation of the beautfull natural surroudings. Bucther’s provokes an emotion of awe within the viewer which transcribs their want of presevation. Both photographs seem to possess both of these traits.
A
nother similarty is how both images have symbolic meaning behind it. goldbllat’s imagery is the treatment of blacks under white segeration and interacitons. The image explores the tension and the relationship between the black ad white durring the twentieth centuary, it shows a young boy who is pointing a gun towards a man. this reflects the thought and treatment of black people, they were often perscuted and killed due to their collour-often violence brakes out as a result. Another thing is that Black people were often considerd lower than children and women, this is clearly shown within the composition. Similarly Butcher’s reflects symbolic meaning within his images. The black connotates destruction or bleakness which is all true for nature and the enviornment within the future by human actions. Humans have caused significant issues on the enviornment and the photograph explores this.
A
difference is the way emotion is brought out of the viewer. Goldblatt’s extracts emotion through the facial expressions of people within the composition and the interaction between them. However in Butcher’s, he makes the audinece feel emotion through previous knowledge of his purpose and this fundmental understandment.
Category 4: cultural differences and similarties: Costumes, interactions, age and knowledge. _____________________________________________
A
similarity is how both photographs require previous gained knowledge of these issues. Goldblatt uses technicues withinn his images, where through interactions and gestures you can tell it is to do with negative attitude towards the two characters. As well as with the knowledge of racial tension between the white and the blacks it shows how the subject of this composition is about racial segeration and ineqaaulity. Similarly with Butcher’s work you have to have looked up his work and see how he is based on looking at enviornmental issues. A difference is how Goldblatt, who is white, wanted to reveal the point of view of black people durring the twentieth centuary and help raise awarness. However Butcher, tries and communicate his issue to everyone. Goldblatt is trying to reverse the white’s oppinions/ westerns attuitude towards white and make them see the two races see eye to eye. goldblatt tries to recieve the racial tension between the two races and try to help make peace. Rather than Butcher who tries and reach all nations and races, he want’s to reach his message to all peoples of the world. A obvious difference is how Goldblatt’s faces a cultural issue while Butcher tackles a enviornmental issue. The segeration of blacks from whites was a issue surrounding the most of the twentieth centuary. White people didn’t have good relationship or interaction with Blacks, there was racism and huge amounts of tension. This was a culture issue and a hiumanatrian issue of the twentheith centuary. However Butcher was conveying a enviornmental issue, he was trying to reveal to the world a huge issue affecting the whole world, all cultures and ever relgion. Butcher’s was trying to show conservation of the enviornment while Goldblatt was showing cultural issues.
A plan of action for practical work. _________________________________________
1.
You have chosen which genre of photography to focus on for your essay?
I have chosen to investigate into the genre ‘If this is art’ also encoperating inspiration from Clyde Butcher. I have chosen this genre as I like the idea of stylising and creating meaning within my composition and artwork. I think I can add creativity to this and add my own interpertation and creative twist within this genre of work.
2. You have selected which two photographers to research into for your essay?
I have chosen two artists to help expand and develop my knowledge and understanding of ‘if this is art.’ I choose the artists David Goldblatt and Clyde Butcher as they’re artwork are examples of stylised compositions and technology in order to achieve their outcome. I think these two artists will be vital in my development of this theme. 3. What are you interested in photographing in response to what you have re searched? I’m interested in photographing a capturing photographs of both interactions involved with humans and with urban developments. I’m interested in taking photographs of subjects on different days, either alternatively or methodicaly, and setting up stylised images of those subjects. I will then take photograps of the subject and choose the best one. Also I want to try and capture images of relationship between different social background and see how to portray them.
4. What ideas or techniques could you explore in relation to the genre chosen?
I want to explore the idea of timing and stylised content within my images. I want to use either timer or repition in taking my photographs in order to achieve the affect of ‘If this is art.’
5. How can you develop the ideas in a wide variety of ways? I want to explore using the dark room process in my work. I want to create media throug the dark room processess, similarly to Clyde butcher. I hope to create and add emoiotn and thought to these work with the envolvment of the genre ‘if this is art.’ Another technicue I will be experimenting with is pin-hole photogrpahy. Where I will leave the camera in a location where i would take an image everyday for a month and then after that, take it down and collect the results. Overall, this will capture the movement of the sun, mooons and stars within the composition and create a good result.
6. What props, objects, people and environments do you need to source?
I need to source props, objects and people from local sites where I’m going to capture the photograph. I’m going to use all local objects and peoplee around me, I’m going to be sustainable in my approach and re-use items i have previously used before. From school, I will pick up the pin camera from my teacher. Than, I will put this in enviornment where I can capture photographs of the moon, sun and stars as it makes it’s journey across the sky for a month.
7. What is going to add impact to your photo shoots?
| think I can create impact through the use of split-tonning within the composition. I will create this through the use of the dark room processess, I want to try and create the same result of contrast through the use of the process and add mood and emotion to my artwork. I think framming and postioning will really create impact within my photographs. I want to frame the work in a certain way in order to create intrigue within the viewer. 8. Is you idea a one trick pony or can it be developed further without repeating the same thing? I feel as if I can develop my ideas further through the process of photo shoots within my course. I will be using different aspects of if this is art, I want to look at stlylising, meaning and responce within the viewer. I want to provoke a strong issue within the world locally and create a responce within the viewer.
9. Is your idea too stereotypical (make up running down the face to represent sadness) or have you really thought about your intentions. I want to create different ways of conveying meaning and responce within the viewer. i want to encouperate the mise en scene and interactions as well as different factors that will all work together to create my artwork. i will be using my knowledge formed througout this year with my other subjects, to create a proper representation of my thoughts.
10. Are you working on a literal interpretation,technical interpretation, symbolic interpretation, cultural interpretation? Explain why. I will be focusing on the literal interpertation of structering my artwork and my composition, but tan I will be looking at a deaper understanding. I want to do a deaper meaning of the theme, I want to encouperate different ideas and methods into my work and try to create a deaper understanding of these work.
Biblography
Harvard Referencing system (Excerise 2D)
_______________________________________________________
2 (A) Genres in Photography
If this is art, information from David’s Globatt’s background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Goldblatt
The website where I found David’s self potrait:
http://davesouthwood.com/2011/02/dg/
The website where I got the photographs from:
http://artblart.com/tag/david-goldblatt-travellers-from-kwandebele-buying-their-weekly-tickets-at-the-bus-depot-in-marabastad/
2(B) The hidden structure of photographs
Size example art work by Clyde Butcher:
http://www.clydebutcher.com/
2 (C) The key Visual Element
http://www.clydebutcher.com/image/33