The phrase of ‘Formal Elements’ in photography means the different fundamental components or the visual features that creates up the whole image, these elements helps to compose the structure and conception of a photograph, which can guide audience’s eye and convey the meaning.

The six formal elements that we discussed in photography are lines, shapes, patterns, texture, tone and focus:

Lines are an common and powerful element that can be present in straight, curved, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal forms, it can helps to lead and create the sense of movement and emphasizes the subject matter.Shapes are the two-dimensional subject that is created by lines, it can rather be geometric, such as squares and circles, or organic like flowers and shells. Shapes can compose the framework and create the pattern, which can emphasize the main subject, build up the contrast and highlight the visual flow.
Patterns are elements or shapes that repeat themselves in an predictable way, patterns can enhance the impact of an image by portraying  and holding the viewer’s attention with  different shapes or colors.

Texture is the feel or quality of an object or surface, it is revealed through the difference in shape, tone and color depth. Capturing the texture in the photo can help to add visual effects, highlight unique patterns, and evoke emotions through the scene.

Tone are the values from bright to dark, it refers to the level of brightness in the photo, which can helps to create different mood and add contrast between colors to make more visual effects through the photo.

Focus is the most highlight area in the photo, it can shows the process of photographers making adjustments to find the most maximum resolution, sharpness, and contrast of the chosen subject. Focus can help to draw audience’s attention, which helps to emphasize the subject that photographers were planing to show.

By looking through different photos, I believe an image can show more than one element each time. Photos can conveys different message and ideas from the scene that is being captured, by combining various elements together, the picture can portrays more visual effects and conveys more emotions to the audience. For example, a photo that is focusing on shapes can include patterns, tones and line elements inside, these elements can help to enhance visual view and the interest through the image, which emphasizes the subject that the photographer was trying to show and making the photo more attractive for audience to view on.

Citations:

1. Dima. “Shape in Photography [Examples & Definition].” Mylio Photos Blog, 1 Jan. 2024, inspire.mylio.com/shapes-in-photography/. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
2. Anthony, Jordan. “Emphasis in Photography – What Is Emphasis in Photography?” Art in Context, 12 July 2023, https://artincontext.org/emphasis-in-photography/. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.

The Pictorialism Movement arises in the late 19th century, it was characterized to create images with the use of soft focus, atmospheric effects, and artistic manipulation of photographs. Instead of capturing the reality, Pictorialism highlights more on the beauty of subject matter and aimed to express their emotion and thoughts. In order to achieve this goal, Pictorialists often uses various techniques such as involving natural elements, manipulating exposure, and filters to make the photos more effective.

The Straight Photography Movement emerged in the early 20th century,  it mainly emphasizes on the clarity, detail, and the inherent qualities of the photographic medium, this helps the pictures to portrays with a more objective and realistic style. As the cameras and the lens improves, photographers began to capture more photos with rich details, the unique style of the photos sought to reflect out more about the realities, which quickly aligns straight photography as the broader artistic trends and the mainstream in photography.

In summary, Pictorialism and Straight Photography shows two styles of capturing photos, while straight photography aims for realism and objective representation, which capture realistic scenarios with clear details, sharp focus and a documentary style. Pictorialism, on the other hand, emphasizes more on the artistic expression and emotions, which often features idealized subjects with artistic effects.

As a popular style in photography, straight photography influenced many artist and photographers, Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind was two of these who had been significantly influenced.

Edward Weston’s work demonstrates Straight Photography through its attention to the different details and shape forms, he mainly focused on natural subjects, exploring their textures and shapes with a precision that revealed their inner beauty. This commitment of authenticity fits with the principles of Straight Photography, which emphasizes the reality of what can be actual seen rather than interpreted by the art piece. Aaron Siskind, on the other hand, focused on the principles of Straight Photography in the realm of abstraction. He often photographed surfaces and textures by focusing on the aesthetic qualities of the image rather than representing the accuracy of the actual reality. Aaron Siskind’s work reflects the movement’s influence by pushing his drawing style boundaries towards abstraction while showing the unaltered representation of reality.

Eventually, the two contemporary photographers Andreas Gursky and Uta Barth created works that can be classified as abstract, however both of them do not fit into the two categories of Pictorialism or Straight Photography.

Andreas Gursky is known for his large-scale photographs, which often demonstrates an vast landscapes or crowded scenes. The use of digital manipulation technique had resulted a view with hyper-real clarity and creates an abstract experience. Although, Andreas Gursky incorporates elements of Straight Photography, but his focus theme and the use in technique put his position closer to the contemporary abstraction. Furthermore, photographer Uta Barth focuses more on the perception and the act of view, her work often shows a blurred images, which helps to draw attention to the act of looking rather than the subject. This creates an abstract quality, which helps the audience to engage with the image in various ways.

Overall, both Uta Barth and Andres Gursky creates an work with an abstract effects, however, due to their focus, using of techniques, and the conceptual themes, neither of them completely fits in with the two categories of Pictorialism or Straight Photography.

Citations:

1. Kukulski, Mike. “A Brief History of Photography: Part 12 – Movements: Pictorialism versus Straight Photography.” Not Quite in Focus, 15 Dec. 2014, https://notquiteinfocus.com/2014/12/15/a-brief-history-of-photography-part-12-movements-pictorialism-versus-straight-photography/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
2. Seiferle, Rebecca. “Pictorialism Movement Overview and Analysis.” The Art Story, 24 July 2018, https://www.theartstory.org/movement/pictorialism/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
3. Goodman-Wilson, Don. “Setting the Stage—Pictorialism vs Straight Photography (All Photographs are Lies).” Uncanny Bingo, 19 Jan. 2024, https://don.goodman-wilson.com/pictorialism-vs-straight-photography/
4. Gorlinski, Virginia. “Pictorialism.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/technology/Pictorialism. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
5. Seiferle, Rebecca. “Straight Photography Movement Overview and Analysis.” The Art Story, 30 Oct. 2017, https://www.theartstory.org/movement/straight-photography/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
6. Hull, Craig. “The Straight Photography Movement: Capturing Reality Through the Lens.” 100ASA, https://100asa.com/blog/the-straight-photography-movement-capturing-reality. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
7. Vorel, Martin. “Guide To Fine Art Photography + 53 Styles & Techniques For Pros.” Martin Vorel Photography, https://martinvorel.com/blog/fine-art-photography-complete-guide/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
8. Carson, Liz. “A Response to Edward Weston’s Photography for Slow Art Day.” The Chronicle, 13 Apr. 2015, https://aegeancenter.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/a-response-to-edward-westons-photography-for-slow-art-day/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
9. “Edward Weston.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Jan. 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Weston. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
10. “Edward Weston, 1886-1958: Influenced How Photography Was Seen.” Voice of America, 29 Oct. 2006, https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-23-2006-11-07-voa1-83128062/125522.html. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
11. “Aaron Siskind.” Google Search, Google, https://www.google.com.hk/search?q=aaron+siskind. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
12. “Uta Barth: Peripheral Vision.” The J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty.edu, https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/barth/index.html. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
13. “Andreas Gursky: Revolutionizing Photography.” PRO EDU, https://proedu.com/blogs/photographer-spotlight/andreas-gursky-large-scale-photography-in-the-modern-era-redefining-visual-perception. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
14. “Andrew Gursky.” The Museum of Modern Art, https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/170. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
15. “Andreas Gursky. 99 Cent II Diptychon.” The Museum of Modern Art, https://www.moma.org/collection/works/420826?artist_id=7827&page=1&sov_referrer=artist. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Abstract Photography is a unique genre of photography that emphasizes the use of shapes, colors, forms, patterns, angles and textures that create images which do not directly represent the original elements. Instead of capturing a clear image of the reality, abstract photography focus more on the main elements itself, this allows the audience to interpret the image based on their personal feelings and experiences, which allows the image itself to have more creativity and imagination.

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

My initial thoughts about Abstract photography was Abstract photography can helps to capture pictures that are mainly focusing on normal or common elements, it may bestow various meanings, perceptions, and feelings by taking the photos with different angles, lights,  patterns and scene.

This photo depicts a reflection of a random scene, it portrays error by the weird angle and ratio of the photo that is being taken, this had caused to a disorganized space, leading a unclear key structure/focus point to be seen by the audience

This photo indicates an image that is mainly focusing on the puff chair, it shows errors by including too much complex details in the background, which blurs the focus point and blocks the view, making the picture look disarray. It also shows a weird ratio of the photo, which intermingle the balance and portrays a disorganized space.

This picture presents an working space inside the design center, which demonstrates a mood of busy and a focus point of the game consoles being shown on the table, however, the picture includes too many elements inside the workspace, leading out a unclear key structure and a disorganized space.

This picture shows mainly an organized space with a gray and white tone, the photo is separated by the floor of reflection, which reflects out the image of the couch, table and TV beside it. From the picture, it brings out an mood of depression and an emotion of loneliness, the bright color of blue from the TV can attract and indicates the focus point, however, the unbalance ratio of the picture leads out a unclear key point and makes the space too empty.

This photo demonstrates an image of looking up viewing the ceiling, the area that is being shown on the left presents a leading line to lead to the end of the picture, however, the weird ratio of the picture shows too many details and make the focus point unclear.

This photo portrays an entrance image of the art studios, it indicates a feeling of experiencing and exploring for new things. The white wall on the left area isolate the hallway on the right area, which creates a leading line to lead to the end of the photo. The area on the top depicts details of the light which might shows an emotion of hope but also blurs the focus point.

This photo present a scene of stepping in to the design center, the area of the entrance indicates a color of sky blue, which separate the whole picture into two parts. The light that is being present in the blue area brings out a mood of hope, which portrays the mood of exploring new things, however, the right area to the end of the picture also brings out light which might blur the key points.

This photo presents a reflection of the table and the lamp on the top of the ceiling. The picture included to many random details and elements in the background, this had lead the key points unclear , which presented a messy picture with weird ratio.

This picture had shown a reflection of the light being hung on the ceiling with different patterns, it indicates the complex emotion that is being reflected in your heart. The image demonstrates a weird space organization by not catering the focus point of lights, it also included too many elements and random details in the background which might blurs the main idea

Referencing the picture above entitled “Wrong!” Can a ‘bad’ picture ever be ‘great’? – How important is context in photography?

The picture “Wrong!” present a photo with only black and white colors. The main structure inside the picture was a person standing beside the road, in front of the tall palm tree, on the back of the person was a blurry house with some trees surrounding around.

Throughout the whole picture, there are some ‘errors’ inside the picture that made the photo unable to understand. First, the only person that appears inside the picture was standing just in front of the palm tree which made it portrays a weird scene that the palm tree ‘grows’ on top of the person. Another ‘error’ that shows inside the picture was the blurry background, which was cause by the whole color tone of the picture. The background of the picture shows mainly darker colors instead of lighter colors, this unified the background colors, which made it blurry and hard to identify the details. The last ‘error’ that appeared inside the picture was the unequal space organization, the unequal space organize shows a unbalance picture, this had lead out a view that some part of the photo was too empty and made the photo monotonous.

From the scene that the picture presents, the person standing alone in front of the tree evokes a feelings of loneliness and disconnect, the unique color tone of black and white shows the a old texture of the photo, which explains the time of the picture. This photo influence my appreciation by showing various errors and the irregular style, which helps me to understand the feeling of ‘not being restrained.’

Eventually, talking back to the question, I believe that a ‘bad’ picture can be great by using specific techniques, such as editing the ratio of the whole picture and using the filters to change the overall color. These techniques can help to revise the picture by changing the view of the picture, which can help emphasize the key points.

Lanterns give people a sense of warmth and comfort, it also has the meaning of bringing hope and light. And so, inspired by the colorful, bright, lights when walking down the street, I decided that I should make a lamp for my first wood project because it is both practical, and it has a good meaning. I want to have two sides with strong light coming out from the lamp and two sides with weak light coming out from the lamp, so I designed my lamp on the progressing paper with two sides having the letter of X and B, and the other two sides with a cat and a moon. I have spent a lot of time on changing the the lines and the mm for offset of the cat to make sure it is what I want and the light is weak enough. I had made a few mistakes during the process of making the lamp, for example, I accidentally mixed up the distance of the circle that is between the bottom wood of my lamp, and I accidentally glued the wrong side of the “B”on my lamp.

While making the lamp, I had faced many challenges. Such as designing the decorations for the lamp and drawing out different designs on Fusion. One of the biggest challenge that I faced during the time of making the project was tighten ing and securing the light bulb to the lamp with screws and nuts. I received my light bulb late, but I have already glued nearly all the wooden pieces to my lamp. And so, this turned my lamp into a semi confined space. I wasn’t able to fit my hand in and tighten the nuts on to the screws, and the tools were too big, and so, I changed the size of the screws and nuts and it finally fit in. From this challenge, I have learned that I should make sure that every step is right before I make a move, and I should try from different ways and think from different sides, which I believe will help me a lot in the future when solving problems or facing challenges.

Looking back to the time when I just began designing the product, I want to give some advice to myself while making the product. Stay focus and use your time wisely can be very important while making the project. Sometimes projects can take longer than you think, everything can take up time, do not attempt to finish everything in the last day of class. It is important to finish your tasks during class time, if you do not, it will be necessary to finish your task in home. The second advice I want to give to myself or the students is to make sure you are done with every steps of your project. No matter when you are at home or in class, keep an eye on the every steps you make. Do what I do now will effect the future of my project? Try to make less mistakes as possible. At last I want to give one advice to Ms.Kim about this project, I believe it will be a great idea if we have a chart for steps that we are making our product or make us an own chart of the progress of where we are in the project. This will better contact and we can know better on where we are in the project.

Overall, whether the final product for this project is successful. I still want to thank all the students and teachers who helped me during this project.

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This journal is written in a first person view by a man who was born in the poor class, the bad economy environment made him had a dream about going to the rich class. However reality shattered his beautiful fantasies, so he followed Castro and went on the path of revolution.

During this trip at ShiMenShan, I learned how to make a simple water filter, how to use the knife correctly and how to make fire. My favorite part during the trip was the scavenger hunt, I really enjoy the activities in the hunt, we collaborate with friends and earn the second place at last.