Yellow:

Lightroom (P1111060.JPG and 79 others)

shows photos with lines and focus on an object.

Green:

Lightroom (P1111061.JPG and 16 others)

shows photos with focus on one object or shows lines and texture

Red:

Lightroom (P1111067.JPG and 1 other)

Top photo: this is a photo of a lock.

 

Michael Kenna

Kenna has photographed various locations worldwide, including Japan, the American West, and the Scottish Highlands. His work often emphasizes the interaction between nature and man-made structures, showcasing the harmony and contrast between them.

Kenna’s photography is characterized by its serene and ethereal quality. He often captures landscapes with a focus on light, shadow, and form. He favors long exposures, which give his images a dreamlike quality and allow for the soft blending of elements in the scene. His compositions often include simple, stark elements that highlight the beauty of nature in a minimalist fashion.

8 photos he took:

Punta della Dogana,Venice, Italy, 2022

de, L’Œil. “Michael Kenna, a Taste of Paradise.” The Eye of Photography Magazine, L’Œil de la Photographie, 11 Jan. 2018, loeildelaphotographie.com/en/michael-kenna-a-taste-of-paradise/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.

Anatomy Films. “Michael Kenna Is That Landscape Guy. Or Black and White Film Guy.” Anatomy Films, Anatomy Films Analog Photography, 18 May 2020, www.anatomyfilms.com/michael-kenna-the-long-exposure/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.

“Tim and Ally Wilson.” ImageExplorers, 20 Aug. 2018, imageexplorers.com/photograph-like-michael-kenna/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.

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“Expert Guide to Minimalist Photography.” Amateur Photographer, 8 Oct. 2016, amateurphotographer.com/technique/michael-kenna-master-of-minimalism/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.

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Yuan, Michael. “Learning from Michael Kenna.” Ilikecalculus, 10 Oct. 2019, blog.ilikecalculus.com/learning-from-michael-kenna/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.

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Yuan, Michael. “Learning from Michael Kenna.” Ilikecalculus, 10 Oct. 2019, blog.ilikecalculus.com/learning-from-michael-kenna/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.

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“Torii Gate, Study 3, Shosanbetsu, Hokkaido.” Bau-Xi Gallery, 2014, bau-xi.com/products/torii-gate-study-3-shosanbetsu-hokkaido. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.

‌Style

• Minimalism:
  • Kenna often employs a minimalist approach, focusing on simple compositions that highlight essential elements of the landscape. This creates a sense of tranquility and clarity.
• Black and White Photography:
  • He primarily works in black and white, which enhances the play of light and shadow, emphasizing textures and forms without the distraction of color.
• Long Exposures:
  • Kenna frequently uses long exposure times, which results in smooth, ethereal images. This technique can blur moving elements, such as water or clouds, creating a dreamlike quality.
• Light and Atmosphere:
  • His work places a strong emphasis on natural light and atmospheric conditions. He often shoots at specific times, such as dawn or dusk, to capture unique lighting effects.
• Juxtaposition:
  • Kenna explores the relationship between natural and man-made elements, often contrasting organic forms with architectural structures, adding depth to his compositions.
• Sense of Place:
  • His photographs evoke a strong sense of place, often capturing the essence of a location rather than just its physical appearance. This invites viewers to contemplate the beauty and solitude of the natural world.
• Emotional Resonance:
  • Kenna’s images often convey a sense of quiet introspection, encouraging viewers to reflect and connect emotionally with the landscapes depicted.

Connection to Your Vision

The serene, timeless quality in his abstract works. This connects to your own vision in photography by inspiring you to simplify your compositions, focus on essential forms, and experiment with light and time. You may adapt his techniques by exploring long-exposure photography or capturing landscapes or objects in ways that feel stripped down and eternal, rather than rooted in a specific moment.

Hokkaido, Japan

In this photograph, we typically see a serene winter landscape featuring snow-covered trees and a soft, misty background. The composition is minimalistic, with a few striking elements set against a vast, empty space. Michael Kenna’s “Hokkaido, Japan” exemplifies his unique style and philosophy. Through minimalism, effective use of light, and attention to detail, he creates a powerful emotional experience that resonates with viewers, encouraging them to pause and appreciate the beauty of the natural world.

1. Composition:
   • Simplicity: The image often includes a limited number of elements, allowing the viewer to focus on the beauty of each individual part. This simplicity creates a peaceful atmosphere.
   • Negative Space: Kenna uses negative space effectively, which enhances the feeling of isolation and serenity. The vast expanses of snow or sky draw the viewer’s eye to the focal points.
2. Use of Light:
   • Soft Lighting: The soft, diffused light typical in Kenna’s work enhances the ethereal quality of the scene. It creates gentle contrasts and smooth transitions between light and shadow.
   • Mood Creation: The light often contributes to a tranquil mood, inviting introspection and contemplation.
3. Texture and Detail:
   • Snow and Trees: The textures of the snow and the delicate branches of the trees are captured with remarkable detail, drawing attention to the intricacies of the natural world.
   • Contrast: The stark contrast between the dark tree trunks and the bright snow highlights their forms, making them stand out more dramatically.
4. Emotional Impact:
   • Sense of Solitude: The composition evokes feelings of solitude and quiet contemplation, allowing viewers to reflect on their own experiences and emotions.
   • Connection to Nature: The image fosters a connection to nature, emphasizing its beauty and tranquility, which can be both calming and inspiring.
5. Cultural Context:
   • Japanese Influence: The choice of location reflects Kenna’s admiration for Japanese aesthetics, particularly the Zen influence which values simplicity and the beauty of nature.

 

Revised Vision Statement

My vision is to capture the essence of time and space through minimalistic and abstract photography. Inspired by Micheal Kenna. I would try to take photos with smoke and having clear differences.

 

 

Lightroom (P1111060.JPG and 79 others)

Annotation: most of these photos are showing skills of lines and focus on an object.

Lightroom (P1111061.JPG and 16 others)

Annotation: most of these photos show more of a focus on one object or shows lines and texture

In this photo I show the skills of focus since the lock is right in the middle and with black shadows leading to the lock. The color combination can also be seen as something interesting. the orange rust of the middle of the lock and the silver chains shows a great difference.

In this photo we can see 3 elements. First, the texture of the paint and the broken parts and holes we can see on the wall. Second, the focus, in this photo the focus was to the orange painting and i have blurred out the brick walls. Lastly, lines, the line of the photo shows the art of the wall and theres also lines at the back on the brick walls.

 

Photographer: Hiroshi Sugimoto

“Hiroshi Sugimoto | Fraenkel Gallery.” Fraenkel Gallery, 3 Sept. 2024, fraenkelgallery.com/artists/hiroshi-sugimoto. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.

 

Five words that describe these photos:

1. Tone
2. Lines
3. Texture
4. Glow
5. Ancient

In what ways are your chosen artist’s photographs abstract?

Blurring of Reality: Sugimoto often blurs the line between reality and illusion, capturing subjects like seascapes or theaters in a way that emphasizes their form and texture rather than specific details.

Long Exposure: His long exposure technique creates smooth, ethereal images that can obscure identifiable features, transforming familiar scenes into abstract forms.

Minimalism: Many of his works feature minimal compositions with limited elements, drawing attention to shapes, lines, and the interplay of light and shadow.

Conceptual Depth: Sugimoto’s photographs often carry philosophical undertones, exploring themes of time, memory, and perception, which invites viewers to interpret the images abstractly.

Use of Light: His manipulation of light and shadow creates dramatic contrasts that enhance the abstract quality of his work, often resulting in striking visual effects.

Connection to my vision

1. Perception of Time: His long exposure images evoke a sense of timelessness, prompting viewers to reflect on their own experiences of time and how it shapes their lives.
2. Nature and Environment: Sugimoto’s seascapes remind us of our connection to nature, encouraging appreciation for the beauty and tranquility of natural landscapes.
3. Memory and Reflection: His work often evokes nostalgia, inviting viewers to contemplate their memories and the fleeting nature of moments in life.
4. Philosophical Inquiry: Sugimoto’s exploration of reality and illusion challenges us to consider how we perceive the world around us, inspiring deeper thought about our own interpretations of reality.
5. Aesthetic Appreciation: By presenting ordinary subjects in abstract forms, Sugimoto encourages us to find beauty in the mundane and to appreciate the artistry in everyday life.

‌One Image

 

1. I chose this photo because this photo is very unique and has used a lot of the elements that we have learnt.
2. the shades and the shape of this photograph is unique so it stood when i was choosing the photos.
3. the light is very important in this photograph. As you can see most of the photo is black and there are black shades on the object.

 

Formal element represented: Line, Shape, Pattern

Formal element represented: Shape

Formal Element Represented: shapes, pattern, texture

Formal element represented: Lines, Pattern

This didn’t really work for me as i couldn’t find as many patterns around the school that are shaped like this. But this is something close to the example but it has less patterns.

Formal element represented: Lines, Pattern

Formal element represented: shape

Formal element represented: Lines, Pattern

Formal element represented: shapes, pattern

Formal element represented: Lines, Shapes, Pattern

Formal element represented: Lines, Tone

Formal element represented: Lines, Tone

Formal element represented: Pattern, Texture

In this photo, I think the photographer focused mainly on lines, tone, and focus, when these three elements are put together it results as this great looking photo.

I would give this photo a title named “A Long Circle”. First, because of the eye-catching combination of the formal elements. A circle, lines, if you see these two elements separately, it wouldn’t be as “surprising”, however if you be creative and combine them together, you can eventually have a photo like this. The unique and creative combination of focus and lines has created a photo that somehow looks like an extremely long circle. This is why i would name this photo a long circle. The photographer has used focus to make these lines feel like they are very long and these leads to the middle circle.

In photography, formal elements refer to the fundamental components that make up an image and influence its composition and aesthetic appeal. Understanding these elements helps photographers create more impactful photographs. The primary formal elements includes: Line, Shape, Pattern, Texture, Tone, Focus.

Lines

(DX Image)

This photo by Albert Renger-Patzsch is a great example of formal element, lines. Lines in photography formal elements can guide the viewer’s eye and create structure. Lines can be straight, curved, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. In this photo we can see lines all over the place and it seems like it is a tree.

Shape

Citation:

“What’s Shape and Form in Photography?” Portraits Refined, 9 Nov. 2021, portraitsrefined.com/shape-form-photography/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.

This photo took by David Em give a clear example of formal element, shape. In photography shapes are created by lines and can be geometric (like squares and circles) or organic (free-form shapes found in nature). In this photo you can see different sizes of squares and pattern as the photographer takes the photo of this building.

Pattern: 

Citation:

“All Sizes | We All Live in Little Boxes…. | Flickr – Photo Sharing!” Flickr.com, All sizes | We all live in little boxes…. | Flickr – Photo Sharing!, 2024, www.flickr.com/photos/jezbills/3241556911/sizes/z/in/photostream/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.

‌This photo taken by Jez Bills gives us a great example of what pattern in photography  means. Pattern in photography refers to a repeated design or arrangement of elements within the frame. This can include shapes, colors, or objects that create a visual rhythm. In this photo we can see the pattern in the houses.

 

Texture: 

Citation:

http://www.facebook.com/goodhart.photography. “Photography Element of Composition: Texture – Goodhart.” Goodhart , 12 Jan. 2022, goodhartphotographyva.com/28-day-photography-challenge-texture/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.

‌In this photo by Goodhart we can see clear examples of texture. Texture is the surface quality of objects, which can be seen or felt. Texture adds depth and interest to an image. In this photo we can see the rises of the tree skin and the cracks and bumps.

Tone: 

Citation:

Art, Rise. “What Is Tone in Art?” Rise Art, Rise Art, 7 Jan. 2021, www.riseart.com/guide/2420/what-is-tone-in-art. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.

In this photo by Rise Art, it clearly shows what tone is in photography. In photography tone refers to the lightness or darkness of an image and the overall mood conveyed through the use of light and shadow. It encompasses the range of brightness levels in a photograph. In this photo we can see the brightness and darkness shifts.

Focus:

Citation:

Laubscher, Michael. “The Importance of Focus in Photography – Wild Eye – Michael Laubscher.” Wild Eye, 3 Apr. 2023, wild-eye.com/the-importance-of-focus-in-photography/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.

‌In this photo by Michael Laubscher, it give a clear example of what Focus is in photography. Focus refers to the sharpness or clarity of an image, particularly concerning the subject. It determines what is in sharp detail and what is blurred. In this photo we can clearly see that the elephant that is closer to the photographer is not in focus and is blurred out. However the zebra behind it is the main object of this photo so it is in focused.

 

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