Lydia

I purposefully photoshopped the photos to make them black and white, because l think black and white photography enhances minimalist architectural themes. The first photo was taken from a window of a building in 798, so the edges of the staircase are kind of blurred. By removing color, black and white photography highlights the shapes, lines, and textures of the staircase. Inspired by Fernando Guerra, l tried a minimalist style with these photos. Guerra often emphasizes natural light to create dramatic contrasts and textures. The bright background in my photo mirrors this technique, highlighting the staircase. The minimalist design of the staircase and its surroundings emphasizes a sense of simplicity and clarity. Moreover, this type of photography often evokes a timeless and nostalgic quality, which is my theme, timelessness. l used light, contrast, and shadow to create a dreamlike quality. The white background contrasts with the dark staircase. This symbolizes the passage of time and the continuous cycle of beginnings and endings. The negative space surrounding the staircase can also evoke feelings of solitude.

Red section:

Green section:

Yellow section:

   

 

Eve Arnold was a prominent American photojournalist, born on April 21, 1912, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. She was the fifth of nine children, and her father was a rabbi. Arnold’s journey into photography began in 1946 while working at a photo-finishing plant, where she developed a keen interest in capturing the world around her. She studied under Alexey Brodovitch at the New School for Social Research in New York City, which significantly shaped her photographic style and career.

 

 

What will your message be? 

I want to document the everyday activities of people, capturing these authentic moments in time can tell compelling stories about the rhythm of city life in Beijing. For this project I’m focusing on human expressions and emotions in public spaces that create powerful imagery and resonates with viewers. I also want to utilize reflections in windows, water puddles, or mirrors to create unique compositions. There is a lot of graffiti on walls, so l want to capture the vibrant street art. By experimenting with techniques that capture movement, such as long exposures, this can convey the energy of city life, showcasing bustling streets.

How will you show this message with your photography- What techniques, styles, subjects will you include?

One technique that l can use is perspective to offer different perspectives on a subject and highlight mundane details that may have been overlooked. Perspective provides new ways to look at familiar things, and captures the beauty of ordinary objects. For example, l could use the Bird’s eye view or close-ups to take my photos. Another technique is depth of field. I could blur out the background and emphasize the foreground by putting it in focus. This would highlight the main subject. I could also use leading lines to focus on the main subject. I want to try to experiment with different light sources, such as harsh sunlight or soft shadows, to create mood and depth. Shadows can also add depth and intrigue, allowing for a play between light and dark that enhances the visual narrative.

• These are my best 12 photos from the reflection experiments.
• The main focus of this unit is on reflections. l mostly used water, mirrors, and glass reflections to complete my compositions. I achieved this by using a mirror and glass vase filled with water that l had borrowed from the IB art studio. I splashed some water on the mirror and used the water fountain outside as the background for p2.

Lee Friedlander

• Black and white
• Use of reflections
• Shadows – Silhouettes
• Street photography
• Social landscape
• Urban life

Lee Friedlander is a renowned American photographer known for his unique approach and style. His photos are black and white, and they feature the American social landscape. Friedlander’s photos capture details of everyday life, often with multiple elements within the composition.

 

Naoya Hatakeyama

• Minimalism
• Light and shadow
• Texture
• Contrast
• Water Reflections
• Landscapes and urban environment

Naoya Hatakeyama is a Japanese photographer who is known for his distinct approach to landscapes. His work explores nature and captures landscapes that reflect the impact of human activity on the environment.

 

Lisette Model

• Subject centered
• Black and white
• Close up portraiture
• High contrast
• Blur and movement
• Light and shadow

Lisette Model, an Austrian born American photographer, is known for her work in close up portraiture and street photgraphy. Her photographs are subject centered and black and white. The featured subjects are usually focused on marginalized individuals. Lisette’s skillful use of light and shadow creates dramatic contrasts and a sense of dimension.

 

Antonio Gutierrez Pereira

• Use of reflections
• Black and white
• Texture
• High contrast
• Subject Centered
• Leading lines
• Shadow

 

Robert Holden – The burning house project

• Light and shadow
• High contrast

 

l chose this photo because it has good lighting and a pleasing tone range. l used two photography techniques: depth of field and balance. The shallow depth of field blurs the background, emphasizing the foreground, creating a sense of dimension. There isn’t too much weight on one side of the photograph, to ensure that the composition feels balanced. Influenced by the Japanese artist Tatsuya Tanaka, l mostly used everyday objects to create my compositions. He is known internationally for his Miniature Calendar project that features miniature dioramas of everyday life using common household objects. I photoshopped some of the photos to make the lighting better, and l also cropped some to make the characters seem bigger.