CREATE - PHOTO SETS, photography

Yellow Highlighted Contact Sheet and Evaluation (Pattern)

Yellow Highlighted Contact Sheet (Pattern)

I chose the following images for yellow highlighted photos. During the 798 photography trip, my topic changed from the beautiful side of nature to objects because there was less nature that could fit my idea. Considering my new topic, I mainly focused on taking photos of sculptures and shapes that formed a specific pattern by repetition. My yellow highlighted photos fit perfectly with my new topic; they show a particular pattern by repetition of shapes and lines, and the light and color are well spread with calm and smooth texture.

CREATE - PHOTO SETS, photography

SETS PART 4: Further Sets

The other chosen artist: Yann Arthus Bertrand


8 outstanding photos

Citation:

  • https://www.yannarthusbertrandphoto.com/produit/olive-groves/

I chose Yann Arthus Bertrand because he usually focuses on shapes and patterns, which is opposite to my theme, “beautiful side of real nature.” Compared to my first artist, Eliot Porter, these two take photos using entirely different techniques. Eliot focuses on  landscape and nature, while Yann focuses on patterns made from shape. 

CREATE - PHOTO SETS, photography

SETS PART 1: Select and Analyse an artist and their work

My chosen photographer: Eliot Porter


PART 1: Select an artist

Gallery:

Citation:

  • Holden Luntz Gallery. “Maple Leaves and Pine Needles. Tamworth, New Hampshire, October 3, 1956.” Holden Luntz Gallery, 8 June 2024, www.holdenluntz.com/product/maple-leaves-and-pine-needles-tamworth-new-hampshire-october-3-1956/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.

  • Holden Luntz Gallery.“Lichens on River Stones—South Coast.” Holden Luntz Gallery, 8 June 2024, www.holdenluntz.com/artists/eliot-porter/lichens-on-river-stones-south-coast/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
  • Porter, Eliot. “[Frostbitten Apples, Tesuque, New Mexico] (the J. Paul Getty Museum Collection).” The J. Paul Getty Museum Collection, www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/108GDB.
  • Porter, Eliot. “Aspens and Fallen Leaves, Maroon Lake Road, Aspen, Colorado.” Getty.edu, 2024, www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/108GE4. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
  • Porter, Eliot. “Cliff, Moonlight Creek, San Juan River, Utah.” Getty.edu, 2024, www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/108GEB. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
  • Porter, Eliot. “Foxtail Grass, Lake City, Colorado.” Getty.edu, 2024, www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/108GD7. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
  • Porter, Eliot. “Sea Weed at Low Tide, Hellnar, Snaefellsnes.” Holden Luntz Gallery, 15 Nov. 2023, www.holdenluntz.com/artists/eliot-porter/sea-weed-at-low-tide-hellnar-snaefellsnes-2/.

Porter, Eliot. “Tidal Marsh. Mount Desert Island, Maine, August 4, 1965.” Holden Luntz Gallery, 15 Nov. 2023, www.holdenluntz.com/artists/eliot-porter/tidal-marsh-mount-desert-island-maine-august-4-1965/.


Characteristics:

1. The leaves in different colors encourage me to feel the mood of autumn.

2. The fruits on the tree make me wonder what type of fruits they are and where they grow.

3. The unknown brownish landscape gives a mystical and unique theme.

4. The difference between the traits of rocks interests me to find out the main effect.

5. The green and pink mixed bushes give a mystical and wonderous theme.

 

Connection to my vision:

I chose Eliot Porter because he uses calm, soft, and gentle moods to take photos of real nature, which completely fits my purpose. The overall photographs inspire me of the unnoticeable and beautiful sides of nature, and I will adapt his ideas in my photographs too, which will be done by fostering relaxable moods by setting the camera stable and soft, taking the photos a bit far from the main points, and mainly focusing on the nature obviously.


PART 2: Fully Evaluate ONE image

(Porter, Eliot. “Cliff, Moonlight Creek, San Juan River, Utah.” Getty.edu, 2024, www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/108GEB. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.)

I chose this image because it showed abstraction the most.

 

According to the title, this is a photo of a cliff. However, what surprised me is that when I saw the cliff in real life (not the place where this photo was taken, though), I didn’t notice that the cliff would be creating multiple shapes that were this outstanding, and the colors show a clear contrast. If you divide the photo diagonally, you will notice that the top part is bright while the bottom is relatively dark. The texture is mainly smooth and barely shows bumpy lines, but the darker areas show bumpy lines to create roughness. Relating to real life, this picture reminds me of food, which has holes in repeating patterns on the surface, like a waffle. The rock that has holes reminds me of a waffle because of its depth and shape. Surprisingly, food can be imagined from a photo of a cliff.

 

Shape is the most important element in this photograph because the cliffs create mystical and all-in-different-size shapes by crossover. Shape also takes the main parts of this photograph because the picture clearly shows how cracks and holes can be made even on one cliff.

Develop Ideas through Investigation, photography

BLOG POST 8: Statement of intent

Recalling nature

The message of my triptych will be the beautiful side of nature. The beauty of nature is known by most people; however, it is barely noticed by all people. I want the audience to appreciate the beauty of nature, by looking at my photos and using a calm and colorful mood and theme to engage the audience. For inspiration, I will refer to a photographer, Eliot Porter, who mainly takes photos of real nature, with a soft and gentle mood. In my opinion, nature is now an inseparable element that coexists with humans but many seem to forget about it, so recalling memories about nature will help the readers to identify my purpose.

 

Develop Ideas through Investigation, photography

BLOG POST 6: Photo Safari

I think #6 is the best because it looks the same as the original. The circle is in the middle and the background is solid.

Meanwhile, I feel like #8 and #12 are the worst because I couldn’t find any things that could fit them; therefore, I had to get photos from Google, but I still feel like #8 isn’t the same as the original because the original photo has 5 x 5 amounts of circles while mine has 2 x 3 amounts of circles.

Develop Ideas through Investigation, photography

BLOG POST 5: Analysis of a photograph

EOS 600D, EF100mm F/2.8L Macro IS USM lens, f/14, 1/30sec, 100mm, ISO100 by Olli Henze

The photographer might have been interested in capturing:

  1. black and white
  2. Different amount and proportion of light
  3. abstract

If I were the photographer, I would name this photo “The pens in one line”. For me, the black sticks that are in a row look like a stack of pen, so I came up with this name.

 

Line: Both straight and curved lines are used in this photo. Straight lines are from the base of the stick and curved lines are from shadow. It creates a direction to connection.

Shape: The shadow form a cylinder-like shape, which are related to sticks because they are all shadows.

Pattern: There’s obviously a constant pattern because the pens are all in one single row, and so do the shades. They create repetition and rhythm, because the pattern becomes a bit different.

Texture: This photo forms smooth and soft texture. If I were able to touch this photo physically, “smooth” came up to my mind all of sudden. Smooth texture make the sticks look even more soft.

Tone: There’s a range between black and white. The darkest value is shades, pen and some top and mainly bottom parts while the lightest value is the middle.

Focus: This photo blurs the background, only trying to make the sticks outstanding.

Develop Ideas through Investigation, photography

BLOG POST 4: Formal Elements of Photography

Formal Elements: These are the basic parts used to make up the photography. Each photographer has its own formal and visual elements they want to show off. These include line, shape, pattern, texture, focus, and tone. Once they are used equally and proportionally, well-done photography is created.

6 elements

Line: The objects create specific lines; the thickness and curves can be random. The lines create visual interest and outline the main appearance of the photo. Lines can be used to direct the viewer’s attention, create a sense of depth, and can even be used to create a sense of movement and energy.

Example)

Shape: Usually two-dimensional, and can be both geometric and organic shapes that are captured behind the lens. Geometric shapes are in straight lines, such as rectangles, while organic shapes are in curved lines, like circles. They are related when it comes to the purpose of their usage, but they are quite different. Organic shapes are usually used to describe natural, flowing, soft, or calming, but geometric shapes are used to symbolize chaos, anger, or rigidity.

Example)

Geometric shapes are used in this photo

Organic shapes are used in this photo.

photography, goodhart. “Photography Element of Composition: Shape – Goodhart.” Goodhartphotographyva.com, 24 Jan. 2022, goodhartphotographyva.com/28-day-photography-challenge-shape/.

Pattern and repetition: Pattern is a regularity within a scene. Since the pattern is just a repetition of the shapes themselves, it reflects and echoes the predictable way. Patterns and repetition can be found and commonly seen in any objects, lines, or shapes.

Example)

Texture: Texture is the visual depiction of variations in the color, shape, and depth of an object’s surface. Simply, if you were able to touch the surface of a photo or object, you might have been able to have a specific feeling that immediately came to your mind. Texture decides the photo to be brought to life and vibrance to images, which could affect the viewers.

Example)

Kenney, Krystal. “How to Capture Texture in Photography.” Great Big Photography World, 24 June 2021, greatbigphotographyworld.com/texture-in-photography/. Accessed 9 Sept. 2024.

Tone: Tone is decided by the proportional amount between light and dark. Shadows are dark tones, while highlights are bright tones.

Example)

Focus: The object or subject that is outstanding by making the background and useless elements blurry.

Example)

Greengo, John. “Photography Basics: Fix Your Focus.” CreativeLive Blog, 17 Jan. 2018, www.creativelive.com/blog/photography-basics-focus/.

I feel like the number of elements shown in a photograph can vary depending on the photographer’s purpose. While it is possible to include only one element in the photo to make it simple, it’s not always possible to be shown like that. Usually, two or more elements are included in a photo regarding the photographer’s purpose because the balance between background and object creates diverse aspects of elements.

 

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Blog Post 3: ABSTRACTION IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Pictorialism changed the overall recognition of photography. Before, photography was only treated as a simple record of reality, but soon there was a claim that photography should be advanced as a true art form. Pictorialism lasted from 1885 to 1915, which was enough time for the definition of photography to be changed as those wanted. Pictorialism focuses on patterns of light and shade, blurring detail, and compressing space, similar to art alongside painting and drawing. (Link to the example photo: )

Straight photography attempts to depict a scene or subject in sharp focus and detail. It is a bit different from pictorialism though; while pictorialism focuses on the main subject by blurring the background, straight photography emphasizes and engages with the camera’s own technical capability to produce images sharp in focus and rich in detail. Straight photography was popular among photographers because it celebrated the truth and beauty found in everyday life and nature. By refraining from altering images, photographers aimed to connect viewers with the world around them. It aimed to inspire a deeper appreciation for the ordinary. (link to the example photo: )

Edward Weston started to sharpen the straight photography before his trip to New York. He took pictures of people, objects, and buildings, which appeared to represent the true nature of his subjects.

Aaron Siskind started to take pictures of found objects that were simultaneously true-to-life and abstract. He was one of the first photographers to combine what was known as “straight” photography with abstraction.

Andreas Gursky‘s pictures do not have a specific subject or object in focus and test the boundaries of photography by composing works mostly in the studio, digitally creating spaces and scenes that never existed. This means that Gursky can be classified as straight photographer.

Uta Barth‘s pictures focus on a specific subject or object and makes the background blurry. This means that Barth  can be classified as pictorialism.

Develop Ideas through Investigation, photography

Blog Post 2: DEFINITION OF ABSTRACTION

My own definition of abstract photography does not clarify the specific subject in real life with the purpose. Therefore, materials and objects that are not common in real life and have their own characteristics are used often. I feel like abstract photography is fascinating and peculiar because since they use subjects that aren’t associated with the real world, the subjects are awkward and new to the viewers, making abstraction more mystical.