Artist: Angie McMonigal

Characteristics;
McMonigal uses a lot of perspective and shadow in her photos to create an abstract composition. She also uses lighting and framing to her advantage to make an object look like something else, which can be seen especially in the stairwell photo as it sort of looks like a lotus flower, when in actuality it’s just a staircase. McMonigal also uses a lot of existing structures, with the only thing she changes being how she positions herself and the lighting. I have chosen Mcmonigal as I really like her photos and hope to emulate them and their uniqueness. As well as they just seem incredibly clean and precise.

“-to create something that defines their work, something that allows a feeling of accomplishment and portrays a piece of themselves and how they see the world.” A quote, that i think i can relate to and really admire.

Photo Evaluation:

I chose this image to evaluate as I really liked the way McMonigal framed the building to seem like it’s leaning over the camera, adding an intimidating effect that is backed up by the clouded sun (I think) in the background being covered by its size. As well as the decision to make the photo black and white really caught my eyes.

The most important formal element of art in my opinion is the composition itself. The placement of the building, the framing and angle the photo was taken at. As well as the focus, the sharpness, and the black and white filter. There is also a sense of balance as the building is placed quite evenly in the middle and the sun in the background is as well. All of these culminate to create a powerful and imposing image that really catches the eye. These photos are pretty abstract as they use simple buildings and transform them by altering the composition into something that looks completely different. With some of the photos being up to interpretation as well. I don’t think it has the most “meaning” but it definitely makes people think.

My favorite part about McMonigal’s style is the framing. The buildings are always posed in such an aesthetically pleasing way that I just want to keep looking at her photos. More and more enamored by the direction her photos go in. I also hope to incorporate this into my work by using her idea of framing and changing the angle rather than the subject. As well as possibly making some photos black and white, all whilst making sure every photo is focused and looks sharp.

Revised Statement of Intent:

The beauty of Angles

My vision is to mainly use different angles and perspectives in my photos to capture the audience. I will attempt to take photos in the style of McMonigal and emulate her work which incorporates a variety of perspectives, angles, and framing to create a sense of abstractness to her photos.

The Beauty of Simplicity

I want the audience to be captivated by the appearance of my photos. To have an everlasting effect of “how could this be”, wondering about the resources and planning that went into both the subject and the images. I will get inspiration and further my work by looking at images that include a variety of features, such as perspective, lighting, framing, etc. And hopefully this will encourage others to take photos like mine that are simple yet feature much.

photo

I think that Edward Weston was trying to incorporate multiple ideas with this photo. With the main theme being fear. I think this is because he has taken the photo from a low angle, trying to make the plant seem larger than it actually is. This can be seen as the plant seems to look somewhat like the eye of a storm, or perhaps a tornado from ground level. I think Weston has specifically done this by altering his composition, changing the angle the photo is taken at. As well as the art element of scale. Which is visible as he has intentionally captured the width and surrounding area of the plant rather than just the top leaf. Further emphasizing the message of fear. The crinkly texture of the kale leaves also create a widening effect, as well as making the circles around the stem more intimidating and fierce. If this photo didn’t have a title, and I were to give it one, I would label it “Kale-nado” . As it is a kale plant that looks like a tornado.

The pictorialism movement in photography was a movement where photographers made their photos seem like pieces of art rather than a shot of reality. They did this by using special effects, altering the focus, and many other techniques to make their photos look like art pieces. On the other hand, straight photography is quite the opposite. Straight photography is when you are trying to capture a part of reality, making it seem as real as possible and being truly a photograph rather than a painting, like pictorialism is.

Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind were both very influential straight photographers, however in different ways. Edward Weston focused on taking highly detailed photos of the things that were, making sure to make it seem as real and focused as possible. He was known for incredibly sharp images of landscapes and natural forms. Aaron Siskind was similar yet different, he also focused on straight photography, but, he had a sense of abstraction to it. He would take photos that were as detailed as possible in a way that the thing he was photographing would seem like something different. Rather than the traditional literalness of straight photography.

Edward Weston example:                                            Aaron Siskind example:

Whilst Andreas Gursky and Uta Barth’s photographs may not seem particularly abstract, they are. Andreas Gursky is known for his grand-scale landscape photographs, however, they are also digitally altered. With him combining photos and changing certain elements of the composition to enhance the meaning and impact of his photos. To me, he is neither a true pictorialist nor a true straight photographer. Yet he is still an abstract one. As he seems to take literal photos, meaning he is not a pictorialist, yet he edits his photos, meaning he is not fully a straight photographer. However his photos do seem to lean towards straight photography, yet they are not the normal close up detailed photos that can be seen in photographers like Edward Weston and AaronSiskind’s work. Uta Barth is somewhat similar as well, as she also takes photos of landscapes and urban environments, as well as she also alters her photos. Changing the amount of blur and focus a photo has. Also making her art abstract, somewhat similar to Gursky. In my opinion she leans more towards pictorialism as her photos seem edited to look more like painting, used to convey meaning and enhance the message present. Whilst also incorporating elemts of straight photography with her taking photos of natural and urban forms. Capturing moments in time altered  to seem like half-paintings.

Andreas Gursky example:               Uta Barth example: