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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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)

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)

 

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: https://www.theartstory.org/images20/works/pictorialism_3.jpg)

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: https://www.theartstory.org/images20/works/straight_photography_2.jpg?1)

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.

Abstract photography can be defined as capturing images in which the subject isn’t the most interesting element. Albert Renger-Patzsch and Aaron Siskind photographed the ordinary to reveal their beauty. Uta Barth reversed the typical use of the camera, shooting out of focus and Andreas Gursky photographs the repetition of elements. During this unit, you will investigate appropriate examples of abstract photography and respond in your own way.

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“Abstract photography can be defined as capturing images in which the subject isn’t the most interesting element.”?

I think this quote means that abstraction is taking a photo of an element or subject that is not familiar to modern society or people. Mainly, photographers try to get a picture of an object that is common and meaningful in real life to get the viewers’ attention and create sympathy. However, some pictures show rare objects or phenomena. Actually, abstraction creates more attention because of its unique style that is not related to real life, which creates a marvelous and wonderous feeling.