Photographer: Aaron Siskind

5 Characterisitcs:

• Bold
• Texture
• Lines
• Shapes
• Tone

Something similar in the photos are the tones and contrast between texture. I like this photography style because I think it is very different, it portrays textures in real life that are mostly ignored by people. The texture is strong and gives a sense of mood which is depressing, death, cold that is interesting to me. His photos create a strong sense of contrast between textures like for example in picture 2, there is a clear view of texture between a soft smooth side and a sharp and chunky side. The side with the more texture shows both geometric and organic elements, like the rectangles, squares that are cut from the wall represent geometric, and the cracked/ripped lines in between the shapes show the organic elements. Another significant element Aaron Siskind’s work uses is the contrast between light, like in photo 2 there are different places where the photo shows tones of black and white between the textures of shapes.

“We look at the world and see what we have learned to believe is there.” -Aaron Siskind

This is a quote from the photographer I chose. I believe this quote explains what he wants us to see in his work. What we see, is what we have been taught. But what about what hasn’t been taught, or what we cannot see due to what we have been taught. The differences in what he is showing is the contrast of live and learning. This photography style relates to my vision by conveying the aspect of life and beauty that is unknown to a lot of people.

silver Gelatin Print5

Why did you choose this image in particular?

I chose this photograph because I saw the strips of material and immediately thought they resembled people.

•What do you find surprising or unusual about this photograph?

I find the texture contrast between the material surprising, it is very unusual and unique.

•Look carefully and choose ONE of the Formal Elements that you think is important in the photograph (E.g. Focus, Light, Line, Repetition, Shape, Texture, Value/Tone).

Texture

•Describe why you think it is important (2 or 3 sentences)

It shows the difference between the material which creates a unique view. The background material comparing to the other material shown conveys stronger difference and view due to how you see it.

Citation:

Aaron Siskind

Aaron Siskind

https://www.wahlstedtart.com/exhibitions/aaron-siskind

https://www.taylorandgraham.com/artists/403-aaron-siskind/

AARON SISKIND "LIMA 25" PHOTO, 1980

https://www.lamodern.com/auctions/2024/07/photographs/355

Compare your images with the drawings. Which ones worked and why?

Which ones didn’t work so well, and why?

The first picture worked well because it has a strong sense of shape and shadow. The second picture worked well because of the strong sense of line. The eighth photo also worked well because of the strong contrast between color, shades and texture. The last photo also worked fine because the object of focus was captured in a way that it was supposed to be. The other photos didn’t work well because of shades, angles, color and composition. Some of the photos are a bit blurry and the perspective of them are quite unclear, with many objects in the photo it makes it hard to focus on the main point.

1. List 3 things the photographer might have been interested in capturing in this picture?

• The shades and shadows of the cups
• The patterns inside the cups
• The shapes that could form inside the cups (with light in)

1. If you were the photographer, what title would you give it? Explain why

If I was the photographer I would name it ‘size’ because in the photo different types of shapes of glass cups are shown and the reflection of all of them are different but unique and beautiful in each way. The photo also has a lot of aspects of tone and texture in it. There are different tones portrayed because of the way the light is put over the cups and it makes the contrast clear to see. In the photo the cups look very shiny and smooth, and the angle where the photo was taken makes the cups layer over each other creating a texture wise that looks clear but stiff.

Work by: Albert Renger-Patzsch

1. Explain what the phrase Formal Elements means in photography.

In photography formal element means using the 6 elements in your photos creating the awareness of these different elements with composition and conveying the meaning of your photograph.

2. Can an image show just one element at a time? Justify your answer.

I think if you purposing try to capture only one element you can achieve it. But mostly in photos you can find more than one element because of the natural ways of forms.

line:  Arrangement of lines, guides the eye around the image, often placing emphasis on the subject matter or conveying a sense of movement

shape: Shapes in a form of patterns used to emphasis to part of the frame. Shapes can create contrast between the subject and their environment.

The contrast of shades bring out the unique shape used in this photo.

pattern: Elements that are shown repeated and organized into rhythm, patterns.

texture: Element of touch,  a visual representation of how something feels,( rough, smooth, soft, prickly…).

tone: Defines the lightness or darkness of a color.

focus: The focus control centers on a part of the image, and when in focus the area is clear, sharp, and detailed, with distinctions between forms.

Citation:

https://www.getfokusdproductions.com/elements-of-photography-line

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/shape-color-space-and-form-i-like-this-photo-because-its-so-simple-but-also-just-interesting–305189312233576173/

https://www.wellypictures.com/wellypictures-photographers-blog/patternphotography

Understanding Texture in Photography

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z2thmsg/revision/1

The Importance of Focus in Photography

Pictorialism is revealing photography as art. In the days, people put chemicals or vaseline on their camera lens to capture photos of blur and shades.  Straight photography on the other hand is capturing a object/person… in great detail and sharp focus. Pictorialism is different from Straight Photography in that it is prefers that the main object/person… is mostly in focus and everything else is blurred. Straight photography was more popular because it was capturing a scene practically and realistically. Its goal is to portray a photo look like a photo, unlike Pictorialism where they are trying to make the photo look more like an piece of art. Edward Weston was influenced by the Straight Photography Movement because it inspired him to capture the essence and beauty of everyday objects. Another photography Aaron Siskind found lots of joy in the process of discovering subjects and capturing them in such a way as to emphasize his reading of the world as essentially abstract, a series of echoing forms, lines, and textures. Photographer Andreas Gursky’s photographs are typically taken from an elevated perspective, enabling viewers to fully grasp the scale of a scene, which would be challenging from a lower viewpoint. This approach enhances the understanding of the overall composition, including its central elements and surroundings

• What makes the work of contemporary photographers Andreas Gursky and Uta Barth abstract? Can they be classified as pictorialist or straight photographers? Explain your response.

Citation:

describe your Initial thoughts about the unit. What do you think is meant by “Abstract photography can be defined as capturing images in which the subject isn’t the most interesting element”?

Abstract photography can be capturing images where the subject isn’t the main element, but the texture, color, or scenery is. This form of art inspires many people and allows ideas to flow. I’ve mostly only seen “abstract” in art but through texture, composition and color I think abstract in photography would be really cool too.

My definition: capturing subjects that combine and portray texture, color, scenery… but could also be creating something “weird” but in a special way of perspective.