Level
2 How to read a photograph
Tori Searle 1210
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 perfect moment. Based in the performance art of the 60’s and 70’s.
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IF THIS I
These photographs show the the photographs strategie ly for the camera. I thin the photographer has phot signs, that say different text has been used in thes very different and intere well with the theme of th that photography is all ab
IF THIS
IS A R T
e theme of ‘If this is Art’ well, this is because es and performances have been devised especialnk that these photographs are effective because tographed a variety of different people holding t things. I think that it is very effective that se photographs, because it makes the pieces look esting. I think that this artists work links in his is art because it challenges the stereotype bout sitting and waiting for that perfect moment.
S IS
A R T
Seidou K
Keita I think that Seidou Keita’s work links in very well with the theme of this is art- this is because her work focuses upon a variety of different people being photographed who are wearing a variety of different patterned clothing. I think that this photograph is effective because I think that it stands out well- I like how his work is in black and white because it is more eye-catching and I think that the black and white effect links well with the photographs that he has taken.
DAVID GOLBLATT
I think that this photographs that have been taken by Golblatt are effective and link in well with the genre ‘This is Art’. This is because not all of these photographs look like they have been planned and set up- for example the photo of the man sleeping on the bus with another individual behind him yawning looks like it has just been randomly captured- this links in extremely well with the idea that the stereotype that photography is all about sitting and waiting for that perfect m o m e n t .
Phillip Lorca di
Head
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Lorca’s work also links in extremely well with the theme of this is art- this is because the people that he has photographed are not models, he did not set up a scene for them to pose and then he was going to take their photograph. He had set up a camera on a scaffolding pole in New York city, when someone walked past because it was motion sensor it would automatically take a picture
Alfred St
tieglitz I think Stielglitz’s work is very unique because he photographs a variety of different things; including crowds of people, people by themselves, objects up close and buildings from far away. You can tell that these photographs were taken a while ago- or they are made to look like have been because of the colour that they are in. These photos link in well with the theme of this is Art because again he has not waited for the perfect moment and has set up photo-shoots specifically he has just taken photographs of what he has seen.
Sophie Calle The Chromatic Diet 19 I find Sophie Calles work very interesting to look at because it is so different from a lot of photography that I have looked at before. Calle was on a diet that required her to eat food of all the same colouring that day- one day she would eat completely blue food, the next day pink and the day after orange. I think that this work links in incredibly well with the genre ‘This is Art’ because Calles work challenges the stereotype of what photography is all about- because her work is so much different to many others.
998
Joseph I like America and America likes me 1974
Joseph Beuys photographs are very interesting to me because I feel like they are almost telling a story. This particular photo-shoot has been taken in an almost empty room and involves a blanket, a man and a dog. I think that it is effective that the photographs have been put into Black& White because it allows the darker and lighter areas to stand out more- and it gives a sense of old fashion to the photographs.
Beuys
Bettina von Zwehl Made Up Love song
Von Zwehl’s work is interesting to me because of the way that she has presented it- she has presented this particular photo-shoot so that the images are in circles and they are not square or rectangular like you would normally see. I like these photographs that Bettina has taken because they are set up so similarly (the background, the shape, how the model is standing and what they are wearing), but she has chosen such a wide variety of different looking women.
DAVID SPERO
I find David Spero’s work very interesting to look at because he has photographed such simple things such as a room in a house, or a building but I think that they look so much more interesting than that. His work is very different to any of the other artists that I have looked also far which I think is a positive aspect, because it means that his work stands out to me more.
Once upon a time ...
JEFF W
I like the variety of Jeff plicated because he has s environment with one or t how simple the names are explain what is going on has been captured in thes around by the wind and h this looks very interesti
A sudden gust of wind
M
WALL
f Walls work because none of it is too comsimply taken a photograph of a particular two models in the photograph. I also like of the photographs and how literally they n in the photo. I also like how movement se photographs- like the paper being blown how the milk is exploding. I think that ing and adds a lot to the image as a whole.
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od Soliloquy I
Francis
Five People t same thing 19
Kearney
thinking the 998
I think that this particular photo-shoot by Kearney links in well with the theme ‘Once upon a time’. This is because you can tell by looking at the different photographs and the title of this piece that the photographs are telling a story by just one single image. The title of this photo-shoot I think is interesting because this variety of different photographs are very similar because all of the models have been photographed from behind and are holding something.
Andrea
Gursky’s work links in extremely well with the genre Deadpanthis is because he has photographed large scale pieces such as a supermarket and a rack of shoes and there is not a particular point that you need to focus upon.
Dead
Gursky
dpan
Bridge
Smith’s work also links of Deadpan because again point in the photograph cusing on. Your eye is whole and the different a
et Smith
s in well with the theme n there is not a certain h that you should be fodrawn to the image as a areas of the entire image.
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Fa i
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19
73
Baltz’s work is very simple because he has photographed empty walls with doors, a shop window and a car but I think it is still interesting to look at. You can tell that these photographs have been taken a while ago because they are in Black& White which I think looks very effective and interesting.
This artist has photographed large scale buildings and room which links in well with the theme of Deadpan. I think that Matthias’ work is interesting to look at because you are able to focus on the whole of the image instead of just one certain point. He has photographed pretty simple rooms but it has been made to look interesting because of the quality of the picture- all of the colours stand out extremely well.
Ma tth
ias
Ho
ch
Lei
pzi
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(A Machine for living) 1999
I think that Holdsoworth has taken good use of using his camera at different angles to take these pictures. This is because you can tell that some of them have been taken from below an object, some have been taken from a height and some have been taken straight on. His work links in well with the theme of Deadpan, this is because he has photographed a scene that does not have a main focus to it.
Dan Holdsworth Untitled
S
I like Richards work and think that it is interesting and different to many other photographers that I have previously looked at. This is because he has photographed a scene that looks very damaged which makes it look much more exciting. It is not a perfect environment that he has decided to photograph, he has decided upon something that looks interesting and has clearly had something happen to it- to result in it looking like this.
Rich ard Misr ach Salt on S ea
a m o h T r t r o P
Thomas Ruff’s work is simple but yet still interesting, I like how he has used a plain background and the woman in the photograph is looking directly at the camera and she does not have much of an expression on her face. I think my making these photographs simple it dosent make the piece look messy and you are able to focus on the whole of the piece.
f f u R as t i a r
Joel Ste
ernfeld Sternfeld’s work link in well with the theme of Deadpanthis is because he has again photographed a large scale environment so that you are interested in the piece as a whole and not just focusing upon one part of the image. I like the variety of places that he has photographed because he has chosen somewhere as simple as a field with a few houses in the background- outside a supermarket, on an aeroplane field and with a burning house in the background.
Someth and Not I find this theme one of the most interesting because it is focusing upon objects that are so simple and nobody really takes a minute to look at them. But he has made them look so much more interesting by the way that he has set them up. For example I like the way that he has balanced objects on-top of each-other, because they would be so simple by themselves but putting them together has made the image as a whole a lot more exciting and interesting.
Peter Fischli Weiss Quiet afternoon 1984-85
hing thing
& David
Richard Wentwo
d orth
Wentworth’s work also links in very well with the theme, has photographed ordinary things such as markings on the road that are not normally looked at for a long period of time but because he has photographed them it makes you think they are more interesting, so it makes you look at the piece for longer.
Shafrans work is interesting to look at because of the environments that he has chosen. He has chosen something as simple as a living room, and food in a supermarket.
N i g e l Shafran Sewing Kit 2002
Something is missing
1997 I like how Jean-mark has photographed an environment through a fence. I think that this adds a lot to the photograph and as the fence is blurry you are able to see clearly through the gaps in it which I think is effective.
Jean-Marc Bustamante
Wim Wenders
I like the use of bright colours in Wim Wenders work. Alot of different colours have been used in his work link pink, blues and greens. They are simple things such as a street shop, and a man unlocking a door. But because the colours are so bright it adds a lot more to the photographs.
Wall in Paris, Texas 2001
Peter Fraser
These photographs link in well with the theme ‘Something and nothing’, this is because such a basic item has been chosen to photograph but it is made to look so interesting. I think this is because a bright green colour has been placed in an environment that is dull so it stands out well and it makes you want to look at it more.
Materials 2002
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Tillmans
1997
Tilman’s work covers a wide variety of different aspects. I think his most interesting piece is the suit outfit hanging from a pole. I find this the most interesting because it is so different to so many other photographers work- no-one would think to hang some clothes up so they would look like the are making an outfit and then to photograph it.
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Unititled #40 Rome 2001
ky
I like the use of a number of different bright colour in Laura’s work, also how she has decided to photograph such basic things like a messy table after all the food has been eaten. This links in extremely well with the theme of something and nothing because she has decided to photograph something that people will never normally focus upon; they wont give it a second look and will just past by it.
Uta
Barth
h Nowhere near series 1999 Barth’s work is exciting to me because I like the use of lighting and shadows that she has created. She has taken a photograph of something as simple as a curtain or a wall- but the lighting on that has made the piece look much more interesting.
Billingham’s work is very real and shows almost the ‘ugly truth’ of what life looks like. Most photography is based upon people look perfect but his work is based upon human existence and I think that it portrays that very well, looking at emotional and physical relationships. Linking in very well with the theme of ‘something and nothing’ because pictures of everyday activities such as; arguing, sitting on the sofa, or sitting on the floor would not normally look interesting in a picture and no one would normally think to give them a second look.
Ray’s a Laugh series 1994
Human Existen
Richard Billingham
nce
B
Tina
T i m ,
P h i l i p
&
P h i l
I like Tina Barneys work because I think that it is very interesting to look photographs of people who are not posing and who are just doing normal basic everyday activities. It links in very well with the theme of Human existencethis is because a variety of different groups of people have been photographed, and between them they will have a number of different personal and physical relationships.
1996
Barney
Mitch Epstein Dad IV Epstein’s work has a very good link with human existence- again he has focused upon taking photographs of such simple activity like a man swimming or a couple looking out to sea. I think that it is interesting and effective how he has decided to use an older man in his photographs. This is because you do not normally see older people in photographers work- and I think that this is an excellent way of portraying human existence.
Colin Gray Untitled 2002
Colin Gray’s work shows a lot of raw emotion- you can tell this because of the expressions on the models faces. I think that this is an excellent way of portraying human existence because it is of focusing upon a number of different moments that are unexpected in everyday life; for ex-
Breda Beban The Miracle of Death 2000
I don’t think that Breda Beban’s work has such an obvious link with the theme of human existence because it does not involve an actual images of people interacting. But if you think deeper into it all of the photographs in this series are photographs were a human would interact and perform such basic activities. Such as cooking in the kitchen, lying in a made or unmade bed, sitting on a chair or simply just looking out of their window.
Moments in History Willie Doherty God Has Not Failed Us
Dohertys work links in very well with the theme moments in historythis is because as well as the images that he has taken he has linked them with a quote that he has placed on top of the image.
I think the use of images and text combined together is very interesting- this is because it adds more to the piece as a whole and you are able to look at something and also able to understand it more because of what the text is saying to you.
Anthony Haughey Minefield Bosnia 1999
Haugheys work is looking at the consequences of human upheaval his photographs have been taken in Bosnia. He has photographed something so simple as the grand, or a plant and also a reef. This links in very well with the theme of ‘moments in history’ this is because he has decided to photograph a tragic event that happened in Bosnia.
Fazal Sheikh Halima Abdullai 2000
I like the use of black and white in these an interesting effect, and a good link with ry. This is because you can tell that this graphs link with because black and white is
images. I think that it creates the theme of moments in histois the theme that these photoassociated with the olden days.
Allan Sekula Conclusion of search for the disabled and drifting sailboat ‘Happy Ending’ 1993 -2000
I like the use of colour here and how these photographs have been taken at sea. This is because I think that it creates a good picture because the sky is always captured and it can either look stormy and cloudy or the sun can be breaking through- which I think is very effective. I think that it also links in well with the theme of moments in history because this series of photographs is focusing all around the search for the disabled and drifting saiboat- which is an event that happened in the past, and now it is being photographed and changed into art history.
Martin Parr Bristol, Unitied Kingdom 1998
I think the use of bright colours in martin parrs work is effective because it drawn your eye into looking at the image in more detail because it is so bright. He has photographed a rather random choice of objects and activities such as a young boy eating an ice lolly, someone holding a cigarette and a dog wearing sunglasses. Because there is some humour to these photographs I think that they are made to look much more exciting.
d n a d e v i v e R
Cindy Sherman Untitled
e d a m d Re I like how all of these photographs have got some similarities, they are all of woman and they all look like they are portraits- they have all been posed, and they look like they have been taken a few years ago because of the clothes that are being worn in the images. I think that these photographs link with the theme of revived and remade, this is because in some of her images she is recreating some famous images that we have seen before.
Gillian ing Self por as my father
I like the contrast of has been chosen here, t lighter than it is darke makes the images look bri esting. I like how all have a black background to focus on the model al These photographs also l theme of revived and re she has decided to put h in black and white which that was used for photogr clothes that the model what people would have w compared with the crop jacket that is being sh
n Wear-
rtrait Brian
black and white that this is because it is er and i think that it ighter and more interof these photographs because you are able lone and nothing else. link in well with the emade, this is because her more recent images h is an old technique raphy, and some of the is wearing looks like worn a few years ago, top jeans and leather hown in another image.
Susan Derges River 23rd November 1998
I think that this photography is very interesting and different from others that i have looked at. this is because i think that it is focusing widely upon textures and something that is closed to the camera lenses. for example the water droplets that are on the front of the camera screen in one of the images, resulting in the image behind that being more blurred.
John DivolaInstalla-
I like the variety of images here and think that they are very effective. this is because John has decided to photograph a variety of different aspects including a simple living room in someone’s house, a snowstorm outside and the ceiling with a number of different patterns and markings on it. i think that it is effective how the images have been put in black and white, this is because you can see the certain areas that are lighter, and you are able to see the areas that are darker, allowing you to see more detail in the image.
tion Chairs
Vibeke Tandberg Line 1999
I think that vibeke’s work is exciting to look at, and i am drawn to look at it in detail. this is because the majority of her photographs do not look like they have been posed. i think that this is very effective because most of the photography that we look at that involves people is posed, but her deciding to take photographers of people doing there everyday activities and not really paying attention to the camera is effective.
Sophie CalleThe chromatic Diet
The UK takes over the Presidency of the EC’s Council of Ministers until 30 June. Stamps commemorating Diana, Princess of Wales go on sale across Britain 7 – 22 February – Great Britain and Northern Ireland compete at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, and win one bronze medal. Mohamed Al Fayed, the father of Dodi Fayed, says that he is “99.9% certain” that his son’s death in the car crash that also claimed the life of Diana, Princess of Wales on 31 August 1997 was a conspiracy to kill rather than an accident. He also claims that his son had purchased an engagement ring just before the crash and had been preparing to propose marriage to Diana. A lawyer in Mr Al Fayed’s native Egypt is planning to sue The Queen and prime minister Tony Blair on the grounds that they had conspired to kill Diana because her love for a Muslim would embarrass the state. Rolls-Royce the German
Motors car
acquired manufacturer
by BMW.
Vauxhall launches its fourth generation Astra small family car range. The initial range consists of hatchbacks and estates, with coupé and saloons due next year and a cabriolet in two years. Kevin Lloyd, who has played Tosh Lines in The Bill since 1988, is dismissed from the role by ITV due to his alcoholism. He died, aged 49, within a week. Nurses Deborah Parry and Lucille McLaughlin, who had been convicted in Saudi Arabia for the murder of Yvonne Gilford the previous year, have their sentences commuted by the order of King Fahd and are returned to the UK. The DVD format is released onto the UK market for the first time. Among the first set of titles released on the new format is Jumanji. Three young children are killed in a loyalist arson attack in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.
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i THINK THAT CLYDE BUTCHERS WORK LINKS TO THE THEME OF SIZE BECAUSE OF THE PLACES THAT HE HAS DECIDED TO PHOTOGRAPH. FOR EXAMPLE HE HAS TAKEN A PHOTOGRAPH HERE OF A WATERFALL AND A NUMBER OF BRANCHES AND TREES ETC. AROUND THAT TREE. THIS LINKS IN WITH SIZE BECAUSE THE WATERFALL IS THE BIGGER PART OF THE IMAGE AND YOUR EYE IS STRAIGHT AWAY DRAWN TO THAT. THE TREES AROUND THE WATERFALL AND ALL OF THE LEAVES ETC. ARE ALOT SMALLER SO YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY ARE NOT THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE IMAGE.
de Butcher the way we order the world, taking the immense and reducing it in scale.
SIZE
Ian Ruhter Ian ruthers work links in well with the theme of size, this is because he has used a variety of different aspects in his photography including people and objects. the motorcycle looks like the biggest object in this photograph- this is because you cannot see anything in the background because it has been blurred. the man is sitting down on the floor against his bike, and he is the second biggest thing in the image. the biggest contrast between size is the bottle and the bike, the bottle is directly infront of the bike but because it is so small your eye draws to the bike and then the bottle.
-
Shape of fra Arbus
Portrait, landscape, Re perspective, Greek unde rule of thirds.
Size of framin ages being po linking in wit Diane arbus’ w this because i she wants to frame with the is photograph want any othe in the backg an excellent
aming- Diane
enaissance understanding of erstanding of aesthetics and
ng is all about the imortrait or landscape, th the rule of thirds. work links in well with it follows those rules. fill the whole of the e models face that she hing, and she dosen’t er objects or anything ground- which creates focus on this piece.
Focus
Ele a r sub
Lee-F
ement of choice, a hierarchy of significance, reductive process, a world in miniature. The bject is framed by the photographers values.
I think that lee friedlanders work links in very well with the theme of focusthis is because you can tell exactly what the focus point of this photo is, and it links in with what he has decided to put in the frame, based on his values. You can tell that the stop sign is of focus because it is the only object in the piece that has writing on it- and your eye is instantly drawn to that.
Friedlander
AARON SISKI SURFACE The illusion of three dimensions on a two dimensional surface.No matter how close we look at the surface the detail remains constant.
INDI think that Aaron siskinds work links in well with the theme of surface, this is because you can tell that there has been graffity on a wall- which shows that something has been put on that wall, so it shows a two dimensional surface. surface is also about the detail in the work, i think that there is alot of detail going on here because of the graffity- even though it may look messy to some, i think that it creates a very interesting effect.
Reflects the photographers interpretation rather than realism. Is black and white photography considered more authentic
COLOUREGGLE
I think that the colour stands out well in this photograph, this is because everything is of a similar shade. eggleston’s work is focusing upon the colours of blues and purples and i think that this links in very well with the theme of colour. the theme of colour is all about whether black and white photographs are more authentic, i think that some photographs can look better in black and white but others in colour because it can make them look much more interesting and exciting.
- WILLIAM ESTON
A photograph fixes a moment in time.
T I M E
EADWEARD MUYBRIDGE I think that muybridges work links in very well with the theme of time, this is because it is focusing upon two images that have been repeated over and over again. this links with how a photograph is able to fix a moment in time
i think that the repetitive technique in his work is effective because it really allows you to focus upon that certain image and i think that is what the purpose of this photography was to do.
Sophie
calle
Light quality
describes the source, amount, and direction of lighting in a photograph. Light can come from natural sources, like the sun. It can be altered or created by humans, by using such things as flash bulbs or lamps. It can also be diffused by clouds or by humans putting a veil of cloth over a lamp. The direction of light is also important when looking at photographs: it can come from above, behind, or from one side. Bright, dim, cloudy, directional, diffused, and flash are some terms used to describe lighting. Determine the source of light (sun, lamp, flash?). What is it? From which direction does the light come? Does the light come from above the subject? Below it? From the side? What kind of light do you think this is? Is the light harsh with strong shadows, or is it diffused with soft, light shadows?
Texture
is how the surface of an object appears to feel or actually feels to the touch. Texture can be described as rough, smooth, soft, etc. Texture is shown in photographs by the way the light falls on an object and through value changes. The paper on which the photograph is made also determines texture. What objects in the photograph show textures? Describe those textures. Is the texture of objects something that you noticed right away or do you notice it after looking for a while? Why?
Focus
is the sharpness or clarity of subjects in the photographic image. Soft focus is created when a photographer manipulates the Camera to achieve blurry, gentle edges. Photographers use the aperture (lens opening) and limitations of the lens to create sharp detail, soft edges, or both; this is called selective focus. What is in sharp focus? Has the photographer kept everything in sharp focus? Has the photographer kept only a few things in focus? Explain Has the photographer made this image in soft focus? What mood or feeling has the photographer created by using soft or sharp focus?
Time
The very essence of photography is the ability to capture a moment, split second in time and history. No other media can be so immediate and historical in its documentation of time and events.
Angle of view
is the position from where the photographer took the picture. A photographer can point the camera from below, above, or straight at an object. In other artistic media, this is often called point of view. When looking for subjects, especially in nature, a photographer often shifts the angle of view to make interesting images. Angle of view can also express emotion or mood. It can give the viewer a sense of being small if looking up, or a sense of being big if looking down. What is the angle of view for this image? Is the camera angle in the photograph at eye level, lower than eye level (ground level) or above eye level (birds eye view)? Is the viewer looking straight on or from one side or another? How does the photographer’s angle of view make you feel about the subject?
Framing
is how a photographer carefully presents a subject. Unlike painters, who usually begin with a blank canvas, photographers begin with everything in front of them. Once a subject is found, a photographer decides what to include in the picture frame. The photographer then composes the image to draw a viewer’s attention to the subject in a way that best expresses the artist’s idea of it. What do you think the photographer chose to include or exclude from this scene in order to draw your attention to the centre of interest? In what ways did the photographer use framing in this image? What in the photograph helps frame the centre of interest?
COLOUR
Artists use colour to achieve many effects. Colour gives viewers a sense of mood, place, and time of year. Colour can also move your eye around a composition and create a sense of space on a flat surface. Some artists achieve very saturated (strong, intense) colour in their images, while others intentionally use subdued or muted colours in their subject matter. Are colour photographs more real looking than black and white photographs? Why or why? What can a photographer achieve with colour that she or he cannot with black and white pictures? How would this scene be different if it were in black and white or in colour? How do you think the photographer has captured wither saturated or muted colour? Time- I think that these photographs would have been set up and taken inside, so i do not think that there would have been a massive effect if the photographer decided to take the photo a minute later. i think that the shutter speed was high when taking these photographs, this is because a lot of light has been able to get through but not too much so you are able to see the whole effect of the colour. I think that the photographer captured the exact right moment in all of her different photos, because she captured the food that she ate for that particular day- and what colour she was focusing on.
Light Quality- i think that the light here would be coming from an overhead lamp as i believe that these photographs would have been taken inside. flash may also have been on, i think this because the background of this piece is bright, and there seems to be a lot of brightness in this photograph. I think that this light is coming from directly above the set up on objects, and i think that is has soft light shadows. this is because you can see some darker areas where shadows are forming, but they do not stand out massively. Texture- The different foods that have been chosen to photograph here show a variety of different textures, one of the foods that has been chosen is cucumber. this would be a soft texture, but because it looks like it has some sort of pattern on it you would think it to mauve have a bumpy or rough surface. you do not notice the textures straight away when looking at this photograph, because the main focus is the colourbut after looking at it for a while you begin to see the textures in the photograph. Focus- I believe that the majority of this photograph is in sharp focus, this is because the whole of the piece is what you focus on. Normally in photography the part that is the main focus will be sharper, but because the focus is on the whole of the photo then everything is in sharp focus. I think that sharp focus would create a harsh mood. Angle of view- the angle of view that the photographer has taken this photo from is birds eye view. i think that this is effective because it has allowed you to be able to see everything that is in the image, including all of the different shades of blue and green and all of the different objects. Framing- I think that the photographer chose to include only objects and a background that was of a similar colour to blue and green for this particular photograph- as this shoot was based all around the theme of colour, this helps frame the focus of interest because if another colour was to be included in the slightest way, then it wouldn’t look as effective. Colour- this whole photo-shoot is based around colour, because Sophie calle decided to use a different colour everyday and only eat that certain colour food and drink for the whole day- she was very dedicated to her work. these photographs would not have any meaning if they were in black and white, and i think that it was very effective using such bright colours and using everything in the same colour.
Glos
Hue: Another term for colour. Macro: A lens specially designed to take close up phot JPEG: A digital image format which compresses the size Exposure: The amount of light that reaches the image s Burning in: A form of local control of print density b print to make them darker while shading the remainder Filter: A glass, plastic, or gelatine disc or square t Shutter speed: The duration of time during which the s the lm) during a shot. White Balance : The way in which a camera measures and as all other colours - appear normal to the eye of the Luminosity: The quantity of light rejected by or emitt Brightness: Subjective impression of luminosity. HueSophie Calles work includes alot of colour- that was the theme for her photoshoot, including blue, pink and orange.
MacroI believe that these photographs would have been taken up close because they are focusing on the food on the plate so that is what wopuld be important.
jpeg- These photographs would have been taken using a JPEG, you can tell this because it says unused colour data would have been removed, and all the colour in this is authentic.
white balance- all different colours were used in calles work, so i think that she would have used white balance so she was able to keep those colours appearing normal to the eyes of the viewer.
exposure- i think th the exposure for the images is medium, th is because you are ab to see just enough- b it is not too high, mea ing you wouldnt be ab to see the full exte of its colour scal
luminosity- i dont think have been much light emi face, but you can tell light coming from directl
ssary
tos. e by the removal of unused colour data sensor to create an image. by which you increase exposure in some parts of a of the print from the enlarger light that ts on the front of a lens. shutter is open (thereby allowing light to reach
d records prevailing light so that whites - as well e viewer ted from a surface
hat ese his ble but anble ent le.
burning inI believe that in some points of these photographs the exposure would have been higher to make some of the prints darker.
k that there would itting from the surthat there was a ly above the set up.
Filter- i dont think that anything would have been placed infront of the lens when these photographs would have been taken. this is because everything in this photograph is very clear, and there is no form of anything being blurry. .
shutter speed- i dont think that the shutter speed would have had to be that high when taking these photographs. this is because i think that the surrounding light would have been bright as so light would have been able to get through. .
brightness- i think that there was alot of brightness in these photographs because the colours are standing out so well and you are able to see the actual colour as they havent been faded etc.
Sophie Calle
David Spero
Similarities and differences-
both of these photographs are from the same genre ‘if this is art’ both include a lot of colour in them they both include a variety of different objects they are both focusing on a number of different objects and areas to look at Neither of these photographs are souly based upon people one of these photographs is taken outside, whereas the other is taken inside one has been set up, and the other hasn’t one photograph has everything of the same colour in it, and the other is built up on a variety of different colours the focus of one of these photographs is colour, whereas the focus of the other is landscapes and objects
literalDifferences are the objects that were used in both of these photographs, for example in Sophie calles work food, drink and cutlery was used- whereas in speros work buildings and cars were used. another difference is that the environments that they a set in are completely different to each-other one is outside and the other is inside.
technical-
Differences- one is a much larger format to the other as it is focusing upon taking photographs of big buildings and cars which are of a larger scale, but the photograph has been taken from further away. Whereas the other includes smaller objects but has been taken closer up. similarities are that they are both using a number of different colours in there work, and neither of them have used black and white at-all.
symbolicSimilarities tions, and
are that neither are based upon also neither have human issues
people with of wisdom-
emosou-
ly because they are not based upon people, but are based upon objects.
cultural-
differences are that one has included interaction with people in some way, for example speros work has some interaction with people because there is someone walking down the road, and another is emptying something out of there boot. in calles work human interaction has not been included
atall
because
there
is
not
people
in
her
work
whatsoever.
ESSAY
You have chosen tography to focus
which on
genre of for your
phoessay?
The theme that i have chosen to base my essay upon is ‘if this is art’, i chose this theme because i think that it is very interesting, and i like the artists that linked in with that particular theme.
You phers
have to
selected research
which two photograinto for your essay?
I have selected Sophie calle and david spero as my two artists that i am going to focus upon in my essay. both of these artists are from the theme ‘if this is art’. i decided to chose sophie calle because i think that there is so much thought being put into her work, because she made sure that she would only eat food of a certain colouring for that entire day. i think that colour in photography looks very interesting and this is another reason as to why i decided to chose her. i decided to chose david spero as by other artist to research because although he is from the same theme as calle, i think that his work is the complete opposite and i thought that it would be effective to compare two artists work that is very different from each-other. i also like his work because of what he has decided to photograph, they are very simple things but he has made them look much more interesting and exciting.
What are you ing in response
interested to what you
in have
photographresearched?
i am interested in doing a photo-shoot that is based around colour, taking inspiration from sophie calle- as Color gives viewers a sense of mood, place, and time of year. i plan on changing it slightly instead of using food and drink, i will use a person and photograph them in different environments. like sophie calle would take a photograph of her food before every meal, and she would only eat that colour for the entire day- i plan on using a model, and dressing them in clothing that is all of the same colour- following them around and photographing them throughout the whole day doing a number of different simple activities.
What plore
ideas or techniques could you exin relation to the genre chosen?
i think that i am able to explore ideas with using a certain colour in my photo-shoot, and basing it all around that. i think that i also will experiment with taking photographs that are no so much set up and posed. i think that this will be effective because it will challenge the stereotypical view of photography that it is all about sitting and waiting for that perfect moment to take the photograph. i researched a number of artists to do with the theme of if this is art, and i think that their work will be able to help me with planning for my photo-shoots. i think that i will also be able to explore techniques with the camera and editing my photos such as the exposure, luminosity and brightness.
How can you develop the ideas in a wide variety of ways?
i think that i will be able to develop these ideas in a number of different ways because i will be able to photograph all different things, such as objects people and environments and buildings. this is because you could take pictures of almost anything that you see- which is again challenging the idea that photography is all about sitting and waiting for that perfect moment.
What camera techniques could you apply to the photo shoots?
i think that i will be able to use a number of different techniques during my photo-shoots. this could include the shutter speed that i chose on the camera settings. i think that this would be an effective one to change because if i was to decide to photograph something that is moving then i would need a higher shutter speed so that i was able to capture all of the motion in one shot. in contrast to that i would then have the shutter speed lower if i was photographing something that was still. linking back to the theme of if this is art photographing something that is already there such as a building, and photographing a group of people that are walking past. i will also be able to change the exposure and brightness and experiment with what is best in different environments. for example it would probably be best to have the exposure higher when you are outside if it is a dark day so you are able to capture everything that is there (the same with the brightness). however if you are indoors and it is bright then it would be better to keep the exposure lower so that your photographs would not come out too bright.
What set up techniques could you apply to the photo shoots? the set up techniques that i could use may be the angle that i plan on taking the photograph at. there are a variety of different angles that i could use including front on, from below, birds-eye view, from the left and from the right. i would decide on what angle i am going to chose depending on what i was going to photograph. another set up technique that i could apply to my photo-shoot is the lighting. if i was planning on doing my photo-shoot outside then i would need to make sure that i do it on a day where it is bright, so that i am able to get some good clear pictures- if it is not so bright then i will decide whether or not to use flash on my camera. if i was going to do my photo-shoot inside then i would decide if i need an overhead lamp, or a lamp closer to whatever i decide to photograph. this can be effective because if you have a light source that is closer to the face then you may be able to see some shadows.
What props, vironments do
objects, you
people and enneed to source?
i would need to source a number of different props, objects, people and environments for my photo-shoots. for a particular one that i have in mind based upon the work of sophie calle i will need to make sure that i have one model, and the props that i will need to use will all be of the same colour. the objects that i photograph the model next to or near will need to be simple everyday objects that would be around the house. the environments that i would photograph the model in could be a variety of different places that they decide to go to- as i will be following them around for the day and photographing them. i think that this links well with sophie calles work because i would be basing my photo-shoot around the theme of colour, which is similar to her. but i have decided to change this idea slightly and i will photograph a person instead of food and drink.
What is going to add impact to your photo shoots?
I think what will add impact to my photo-shoots is if I decide to use a model or not, what they look like and what I decide to dress them in. linking to my theme of if this is art, I think that if whoever I am photographing know’s that I am taking a picture of them or not will also add impact to my photo-shoots. I think where I take my photographs will also add impact to my photo-shoots, if I decide to photograph them in an exciting outdoor environment, in a field, inside in a certain room in my house, or in a large building with interesting exciting rooms.
Is you idea a one trick pony or can it be developed further without repeating the same thing?
I think that my idea will be able to be developed further than the idea that I have now. This is because I think that I will be able to look at my photographs after I have done a photo-shoot and look at what I think will look better next time for example I may be able to change the environment of where I decide to take my photographs. I may also be able to develop the original idea that my photo-shoot is based around- adding something to it, for example emotion to the models face and different sources of lighting making my photographs look even more effective.
Is your idea too stereotypical (make up running down the face to represent sadness) or have you really thought about your intentions. I don’t think that my idea is too stereotypical because I have decided to base my photo-shoot around a colour theme and take photographs of a model in a certain colour clothing in different environments. I do not normally see a lot of this work because I don’t think that basing photographs on a colour theme is that stereotypical. However after I do the photo-shoot and I think that it looks to basic, and too much like other peoples work then I will be able to suggest changes for myself which I think will make my work look better as a whole.
Are you working on a literal interpretation, technical interpretation, symbolic, interpretation, cultural interpretation? Explain why.
I am working on a technical interpretation. This is because I have decided to focus upon the work of sophie calle, she has based her work all upon photographing the same coloured foods when she eats them on different days. Colour is a technical interpretation and I have decided to base my photo-shoot around colour but changing it slightly.
Sophie interpr
calle etations I have taken inspiration from the artist sophie calle and have done a colour based photo-shoot. I have dressed a model in all pink and have followed her around and photographed her doing everyday normal activities- such as driving, sitting on a chair and bed, looking at her phone, and walking down the street. I think that sophie calles work was interesting and this is a good look on her work, however i have slightly changed it and have only chosen to take inspiration from some aspects of her work.
If this is Art- What are the
key characteristics in this genre? “The photographers in this chapter collectively make one of the most confident declarations about how central photography has become within contemporary art practise’- all of the photographers work has evolved from one idea and have progressed onwards and the purpose being that an image is created. “Although making an observation framing a moment from an unfolding sequence of eventsremains part of the process for many here, the central artistic act is one of directing an event specially for the camera”. Alot of the work is focused on nature of performance and body art, but the physical act isn’t witnessed directly. “The roots of such an approach lie in the conceptual art of the mid- 1960’s and 1970’s, when photography became central to the wider dissemination and communication of artists’performances and other temporary works of art” “The motivations and style of such photography within conceptual rt practise was markedly different from the established modes used in fine art photography of the time” “it made an asset of photography’s unshakable and everyday capacity to depict things: it took on a distinctly ‘non- art’, ‘de-skilled’ and ‘unauthorised look and emphasized that it was the act depicted in the photograph that was of artistic importance” “Conceptual art used photography as a means of conveying ephemeral artistic ideas of actions,standing in for the art object in the gallery or on the pages of artists’ books and magazines” “The precedents for conceptual artists of the 1960s and 1970s were created in the early twentieth century by the French artist Marcel Duchamp 1887-1968, the father of conceptual art- as he is often called- submitted a factory made urinal to the armoury show in new york”. Today only photographs remain of the urinal that he created taken by alfred stieglitz, in his gallery in new york. I think that this piece is very interesting because it is not like something that many other photographers would have created and later taken photographs of. Sophie calles work is all about documentation- she decided to follow a man through venice, and documentation his activities. She later took a job as a chamber made and photographed the temporary items that she would find in peoples hotel rooms.