Shokhin

"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein

Identity Project: Present

Artist: Yousuf Karsh

Yousuf Karsh was a renowned Armenian-Canadian portrait photographer. Karsh was born in 1908 in Armenia. His family later emigrated to Canada. He showed an early interest in photography and apprenticed with a photographer in Boston. Karsh is particularly famous for his powerful and iconic portraits. His images have a distinct style, often characterized by dramatic lighting and a deep sense of the sitter’s character. He photographed many of the most prominent figures of his time, including Winston Churchill. The photograph of Churchill taken by Karsh, with the prime minister’s determined expression and cigar, became one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. Karsh’s work was not limited to political leaders. He also photographed artists, scientists, and other luminaries from various fields. His portraits were published widely and exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world. Throughout his career, Karsh continuously refined his technique and artistic vision. He was meticulous in his approach, carefully choosing the lighting, composition, and moment to capture the essence of his subjects. Yousuf Karsh passed away in 2002, leaving behind a remarkable body of work that has had a lasting impact on the field of portrait photography. His images are not only a record of the individuals he photographed but also a testament to his unique talent and ability to freeze a moment in time and reveal the soul of his sitters.

 

Contact Sheet:

 

Evaluation of ONE photo (2nd row 3rd column):

The first photo features a cute kitten. It’s a simple black-and-white snapshot. I wanted to show the kitten’s innocence and charm by focusing on its face and posture. The black – and – white filter gives it a classic feel. I took the photo when I saw the kitten lying there, and I think it turned out nice. The second photo is a text document, which isn’t relevant to a visual evaluation based on the rubric meant for visual presentations.

Evaluation of ONE photo (2nd row 1st column):

The first photo is a portrait. I didn’t really apply any particular techniques or skills intentionally. It’s just a straightforward shot. There isn’t much demonstration of a command of visual language as it’s a simple, plain – looking portrait. Regarding creative processes, there was no complex process involved; I just took the photo. It doesn’t reflect any deep intentions or creative challenges. The second photo is a text document with evaluation criteria that don’t really apply to the first photo as it lacks the depth and complexity required by the rubric.

 

Introduction To Portraiture

What is a Portrait?

A photograph is a portrait when it emphasizes the personality of an individual or group, typically focusing on their face and expression. Yes, selfies are considered portraits as they capture the individual’s  expression, often showing their personality. A portrait should focus on the subject’s face and expression, while background elements should be minimal, avoiding distractions that draw away from the subject. A good portrait effectively captures the subject’s personality and emotions, utilizing effective composition, lighting, and context to create an engaging  image. Yes, a portrait can consist of a small detail, like a close-up of a hand, as long as it conveys the identity of the subject in a meaningful way. A portrait does not have to be a single photograph; a sequence of images can also portray a subject’s personality or story, capturing different aspects or moments in their life.

 

Mind Map:

Working the Scene 01 – RESEARCH

My definition of Street Photography: a type of photography that documents daily life in a public setting.

Mind Map – Brainstorm (hutong pics, themes, techniques):

6 concepts (chosen from the list of 20): Perspective and angles, Capture Eye Contact, Work the Scene, Focus on the Background,Visual Elements, Concentrate on Framing.

The general concept I want to focus on – “Narrow Road within the Hutong”

Updated mind map (to include the 6 concepts):

Mood Board:

Statement of Intent:

  • The title of this project is “Street Photography in the Hutong’s”
  • The concept/story I want to tell with my photographs is what does it feel like in the Hutong (mainly presenting the life of people that are living in the Hutong’s).
  • I want my audience to feel resonated when they see my perspectives of photos taken.
  • I will get inspiration and develop my ideas by looking for photographs that corresponds with my 6 elements but mainly on perspective and angles since in my opinion it is the most important element of technique that can show my idea of Street Photography, specifically on the narrow roads inside the Hutong, and the people who live there.

 

 

 

Abstraction 05 – Present (Triptych Final Evaluation)

I was hoping to capture photos that include light bulbs but turned out when I tried to edit them they didn’t work well, so instead I took photos of room floors. I think my final triptych worked pretty well as they connect to each other no matter on the view or color. I was inspired by an exemplar work that was posted on dx, so I used the same color as what the exemplar showed. What was personal about my work was that I took a total of 48 photos but in my perspective these 3 photos were the best. If I had more time I could’ve took photos that include light bulbs since that was what I hoped for, but I didn’t have time, sadly. Overall, I think my combination of the 3 photos in my triptych worked pretty well.

Abstraction 03 – Set 1

All Photos:

Lightroom (IMG_4092.JPG and 110 others)

Yellow:

I chose these photos because I think these correspond to abstraction by shooting from different angles. It was on purpose that some of the photos were a little blurry to show better visions of the photos in the different angles.

Lightroom (IMG_4097.JPG and 20 others)

Green:

My thought process of choosing these green photos from the yellow photo pile was, I just chose 2 sets of abstraction photos to show my understanding of abstraction and a few blurry photos to show what my focus and vision was when I took those pictures.

Lightroom (IMG_4097.JPG and 9 others)

Red:

These were my favorite pictures because I think I shot the picture really well with my friend in it from a special angle and the set of abstraction photos were also shot in different angles. One area of improvement could be to take more abstraction photos, I didn’t find much places/items to take.

Lightroom (IMG_4097.JPG and 3 others)

 

Formal Elements of Photography

  1. Explain what the phrase Formal Elements means in photography.
  2. Describe each of the 6 elements discussed so far (line, shape, pattern, texture, tone, focus)
  3. Give an example that emphasizes each element (you can use your own image or an image from somebody else – but it must be cited!)
  4. Can an image show just one element at a time? Justify your answer.

Formal elements are visual features that can transform simple subjects into great shots.

Line: Start by looking for lines in your composition that can guide the viewer through your shot or to a specific focal point. These are known as leading lines. Your lines don’t necessarily need to be straight, horizontal or vertical; they can be curved, angular, or random too.

Shape: Regarding shape in photography, this usually means a 2D subject outline. In contrast, form refers to a shape with a more 3D appearance. We’ve put these two together for this video as one formal element.

Pattern: Symmetry and repetition make interesting photographic subjects. And when you start looking, you’ll see a surprising amount of patterns around you in the natural and built environment.

Texture: Texture in your composition can bring your image to life by giving the viewer a tangible connection with it, and is particularly popular in macro photography. You can draw textures out of all kinds of surfaces and environments. And to do this, you can use a wide range of lighting setups and shoot with a variety of depth-of-field.

Tone: Focusing on tone in your image means using variables of contrast and light and dark areas to bring depth to your image.

Focus: When taking photographs you’ll have to seize the focus rate in order to avoid blurriness.

Some artists like to focus on just one or two formal elements in their artwork, however most artworks have a mix of visual elements in one piece. Usually, there will be one or two dominant formal elements that help to convey the meaning or mood of an artwork.

Abstraction In Photography

How have Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind (above) been influenced by the Straight Photography Movement?

 

Aaron Siskind started approaching Straight Photography at around 1940 and identified the ideas and styles. In the later photographs he continued to emphasize the modernist concern with the flatness of the picture plane, but intensified his approach to picture making – with close-up framing, as well as emphasis on texture, line, and visual rhymes – creating abstract images of the real world.

 

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.

 

Andreas Gursky was decisive in creating a new standard in contemporary photography, a pioneer who furthered the possibilities of scale and ambition.  His use of large-format cameras, scanning, digital manipulation, the layering of multiple pictures to create a cohesive image, and technical postproduction positioned him as an important bridge between the old ways of shooting and presenting pictures and the current highly, technologically advanced era of photography.

 

Citations:

“Aaron Siskind Artist Overview and Analysis”. [Internet]. 2024. TheArtStory.org
Content compiled and written by Kara Fiedorek
Edited and published by The Art Story Contributors
Available from: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/siskind-aaron/
First published on 05 Jun 2014. Updated and modified regularly
[Accessed 20 Sep 2024]

“Andreas Gursky Artist Overview and Analysis”. [Internet]. 2024. TheArtStory.org
Content compiled and written by Hope Guzzo
Edited and revised, with Summary and Accomplishments added by Kimberly Nichols
Available from: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/gursky-andreas/
First published on 21 Sep 2017. Updated and modified regularly
[Accessed 20 Sep 2024]

Definition

Now write your own definition of abstract photography add to your blog.

I think abstract photography means to take images created using photography materials and equipment that don’t have an immediate connection with the physical world. Abstract photographers often use perspective, movement, and light to transform the world we see into an unexpected, often recognizable image.

Starting Point

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.

Under the starting point, 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”?

I think the sentence meant that in Abstract photography, the target is to take pictures in any way the photographer wants, and not setting a clear subject when he is taking it to make the photo look more unique.

Abstraction 02 – Photo Safari

When comparing my images with the actual drawings, I think 01, 03 and 08 fits the best.

01: They fit the actual drawing because they didn’t break the ‘rules’ of photography but made a marvelous comparison between the 2 sides, the grass and brick floor would be an example.

03: It fits the actual drawing because we can see every single “particle” on the image, which matches every single “dot” on the actual drawing.

06_2: The image shows the leaf is right in the middle which fits the actual drawing.

08: This image fits the actual drawing because it’s just a copy of the actual drawing (In other words, they look similar).

When comparing my images with the actual drawings, I think 06_1 fits the worst.

06_1: The image is a little tilted, which might make the people who sees this image uncomfortable.

 

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