Christmas Holiday Tasks
Task 1: Laura Letinsky Analysis
In this first task inspired by Laura Letinsky I had too photograph the aftermath of a meal and photograph objects on the edge of a table. Letinsky is best known for her still life photographs which is driven by her interests in control, accidents, and contrivance.
Letinsky creates an abandoned feeling in her images. She does this by leaving an finished meal alone.
Laura also creates an uneasy atmosphere in her images. She does this by putting objects on the edge of a table. In an interview about her work, Letinsky said "You could say that my work is in part about the relationship between looking at something and other bodily experiences." I find this interesting because she is trying to make the audience feel a strong distinct feeling. For example the audience gets goose bumps or their heart flutters while looking at her pieces of work.
She uses natural light to create her work. It just makes everything brighter, naturally.
Below are some of her pieces.
In this first task inspired by Laura Letinsky I had too photograph the aftermath of a meal and photograph objects on the edge of a table. Letinsky is best known for her still life photographs which is driven by her interests in control, accidents, and contrivance.
Letinsky creates an abandoned feeling in her images. She does this by leaving an finished meal alone.
Laura also creates an uneasy atmosphere in her images. She does this by putting objects on the edge of a table. In an interview about her work, Letinsky said "You could say that my work is in part about the relationship between looking at something and other bodily experiences." I find this interesting because she is trying to make the audience feel a strong distinct feeling. For example the audience gets goose bumps or their heart flutters while looking at her pieces of work.
She uses natural light to create her work. It just makes everything brighter, naturally.
Below are some of her pieces.
My Response
Objects on the edge of a table images.
WWW: The contrast with different objects I used.
EBI: If I used phone for the chrismas version one so I should of used camera.
EBI: If I used phone for the chrismas version one so I should of used camera.
Aftermath photos.
Best edits
WWW: The use of depth of field is really good, I like that the front is in focus and the back is out of focus.
EBI: It would be better if I made a second set of images and tried out a different meal.
EBI: It would be better if I made a second set of images and tried out a different meal.
Task 2: Jan Groover, Kitchen utensils Analysis
For my second task I had to capture utensils and kitchen objects in a sink together. In 1978 and 1979 Groover created her famous "Kitchen still life".
Jan Groover creates the still life of dishes and cutlery on a sink. She does this by setting it up to capture the various different shapes. She wants us to consider that these take on a new visual meaning as a result of Groover’s juxtaposition of the elements. Groover used a large-format camera in creating her work. This creates transformed colanders, spatulas, knives and pans into objects of beauty that still hold a visual interest that transcends their common use.
Below is some of her work.
For my second task I had to capture utensils and kitchen objects in a sink together. In 1978 and 1979 Groover created her famous "Kitchen still life".
Jan Groover creates the still life of dishes and cutlery on a sink. She does this by setting it up to capture the various different shapes. She wants us to consider that these take on a new visual meaning as a result of Groover’s juxtaposition of the elements. Groover used a large-format camera in creating her work. This creates transformed colanders, spatulas, knives and pans into objects of beauty that still hold a visual interest that transcends their common use.
Below is some of her work.
My work
For this task I had to take photos of cutlery and cups in the sink just like Jan Groovers work.
WWW: I think setting up the cutlery and cup is very natural
EBI: I could take more images.
EBI: I could take more images.
Robert Holden Burning House Task
For this task I responded to the work of Robert Holden's project. I needed to take photos of all the objects I would take from home if my house burned down. I was supposed to make it neat too.
This is inspired by the artist Robert Holden. Holden said in an interveiw explaining his work, “It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable, and sentimental,”. Below are examples of other people trying out the project he created.
This is inspired by the artist Robert Holden. Holden said in an interveiw explaining his work, “It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable, and sentimental,”. Below are examples of other people trying out the project he created.
My Response
Best edits
WWW: I think setting everything out in an orderly way was good and neat.
EBI: If I change out the layout.
EBI: If I change out the layout.
Form over Function
For this task my aim was to take photos of a fork and it's shadow in a low lighted room, using a torch. This is inspired by André Kertész. Kertész sparse amount of kitchen utensils into a poetic statement by implying the beauty in the fork’s simple geometry and form. He once said “I attribute to photography the task of recording the real nature of things, their interior, their life."
André Kertész created the image ‘Fork’ in 1928. At this time he lived in Paris. Where he mixed with artists from the Dada movement. This image is deliberately simple. Kertész is paying attention to the photograph’s composition, emphasising the fork’s geometry and form. The fork becomes more than just a kitchen utensil. Kertész believed photography should reveal the real nature of things. Whilst in Paris Kertész felt like an outsider. Kertész expressed this loneliness through the subjects of his photographs. He was able to combine formal composition with an emotive charge. Henri Cartier Bresson said “Each time Kertész’s shutter clicks I hear his heart beating".
André Kertész created the image ‘Fork’ in 1928. At this time he lived in Paris. Where he mixed with artists from the Dada movement. This image is deliberately simple. Kertész is paying attention to the photograph’s composition, emphasising the fork’s geometry and form. The fork becomes more than just a kitchen utensil. Kertész believed photography should reveal the real nature of things. Whilst in Paris Kertész felt like an outsider. Kertész expressed this loneliness through the subjects of his photographs. He was able to combine formal composition with an emotive charge. Henri Cartier Bresson said “Each time Kertész’s shutter clicks I hear his heart beating".
Fork
By André Kertész
1928
My response
Best edits
WWW: Improving Composition while taking the photos. You can see in my slide show how i improved.
EBI: I took more photos.
EBI: I took more photos.
Lockdown Sequence
In this task my aim was to photograph food that each picture the food has been bitten into, until its been eaten fully. I chose an apple not only because it was the only fruit in my house but because they change so much in shape which is interesting. Below you can see all of my pictures separately and not edited.
In my final photoshopped image i left out one photo, to make the photo not look de-organised. And I made a GIF too.
In my final photoshopped image i left out one photo, to make the photo not look de-organised. And I made a GIF too.
Final Result
WWW: I did well with my photoshop work.
EBI: there were less shadows so my photoshop work could of been easier
EBI: there were less shadows so my photoshop work could of been easier
Lockdown Sequence GIF
I have also made a gif for all of the separate photos. I used the website ( https://gifmaker.me/) to create the gif. It shows the journey of an apple being eaten being eaten bit by bit. This way of not a human holding it but it is centre of stage shows how more intense it is.
WWW: Working with the gif maker app
EBI: I kept the camera still when I took my photographs so that the Gif didn’t move around so much.
WWW: Working with the gif maker app
EBI: I kept the camera still when I took my photographs so that the Gif didn’t move around so much.
Luke Stephenson Response
Every olive in one packet
In this task I was set to take around 20 photos of each olive in a packet. They are all different shapes and sizes even though they taste the same. Again I used the Gif website to create this Gif.
Below are all the photos I used.
Below are all the photos I used.
And here is the GIF.
WWW: The lighting is mostly similar.
EBI: I cropped all the picture's so it looks neat for the gif. Also if the images were more in focus.
EBI: I cropped all the picture's so it looks neat for the gif. Also if the images were more in focus.
Photojoiner
David Hockney
David Hockney is connected to the Pop Art art movement. This movement was interested in responding to Popular Culture. Hockney has also created photo joiners. Photographs are taken of the same object from different perspectives. The images are then collaged to recreate the place, person or object even though they may look distorted. This work connects with the Cubist movement. Below are two pieces of his work.
The photomontages created by Hockney between 1970-86 were all very interesting. In some of his photographs he wanted to show all angles of the object e.g. the green chair above. And in other photos he was showing how your eyes move. Which is captured in your camera. You can see that he had shown different distances in the photos and how something has move during the time he was taking tho photos. He was inspired by the Cubism movement and showed it through his photographs, this was one of his aims. He achieved this by using a polaroid which prints out all his photos in a square shape.
I also found out that the famous singer from the 80s Grace Jones had the same idea of Hockneys work. In her 'Slave to the Rhythm' album front cover, she has a photo of her that her mouth and her hair was widening (by more photos) which reminded me of Hockneys work.
I also found out that the famous singer from the 80s Grace Jones had the same idea of Hockneys work. In her 'Slave to the Rhythm' album front cover, she has a photo of her that her mouth and her hair was widening (by more photos) which reminded me of Hockneys work.
My response
So in this task I was set to take photos inspired by David Hockey. The easiest way I took the pictures was to take photos of the object, wall, room in rows. After I took the images I had to use Adobe Photoshop and photoshop it so all the photos together become one, but in separate images.
A Single object
A Wall
A Room
WWW: Using this new photoshop and understanding it.
EBI: All the photos had the same colour of lighting.
EBI: All the photos had the same colour of lighting.
With a person
WWW: My images express my intentions which were to use the photo joiner method in photoshop.
EBI: I find a more interesting scenery with the model not just sitting down.
EBI: I find a more interesting scenery with the model not just sitting down.
Extension work
In this last Task I had too copy this version (all angles) of Hockneys work. This looks like his 'Chair' photo, that I presented above.
WWW: Taking each photo precisely.
EBI: I could do the photoshop work better.
EBI: I could do the photoshop work better.
Eyebombing Challenge
During the half term holiday in February 2021 I was set homework/ a challenge. The homework was to put googly eyes stickers on an inanimate object. This is what I did.
WWW: Finding different object to take each photos. And winning first place on this challenge.
EBI: I could of edited them more.
EBI: I could of edited them more.
Light and Focus
Uta Barth
Barth considers the criteria of ‘How do i get you to let go of thinking about what’s depicted’. She wants us to be aware of our own perceptual process (understanding, opinion, interpretation) in relationship to what's hanging on the wall. And to become immersed and fully invested in their own perception. She also wants the viewers to “walk out of the gallery seeing differently”.
Barth says that most photographers use the camera as a pointing device and that their images present the subject and content as the same thing. She means that whatever the other photographers take are what they want the viewer to actually see. E.g. If I take a photo of my cat it's the meaning and the subject unlike Ute’s work.
During her life in school the camera taught her that there's a difference between what she looks through the viewfinder and what comes out in the end in the red room. So she learned about how to become more observant. She felt like the camera was teaching her how to see.
Barth takes her photos in her house. Below is some of her pieces.
Barth says that most photographers use the camera as a pointing device and that their images present the subject and content as the same thing. She means that whatever the other photographers take are what they want the viewer to actually see. E.g. If I take a photo of my cat it's the meaning and the subject unlike Ute’s work.
During her life in school the camera taught her that there's a difference between what she looks through the viewfinder and what comes out in the end in the red room. So she learned about how to become more observant. She felt like the camera was teaching her how to see.
Barth takes her photos in her house. Below is some of her pieces.
My response
In this task I was required to photograph the light reflecting from outside, into the inside of my house. This is inspired by Uta Barth's 'Light' work. The best part of this task is that you can't tell where the shadows and light has came through from and also how the day carries on and how the light reflection moves around the room/house.
Unedited photos
Best edits
WWW: My images express my intentions which were how light was shown through my house.
EBI: I could find more spaces where the light is shown different. I could wait until another time of the day to take new photos in new rooms.
EBI: I could find more spaces where the light is shown different. I could wait until another time of the day to take new photos in new rooms.
Uta Barth is also known for her photos which are blurred. So I took photos similar too her's. The first four photos are her's and the others are mine.
WWW: Successfully using manual focus to take the blurred photos.
EBI: To improve my images I will experiment further with blur. Perhaps going outside.
EBI: To improve my images I will experiment further with blur. Perhaps going outside.
Ordinary to Extraordinary
Edward Weston
Edward Weston used a Graflex camera it was a 1/2 by 3/2 inch negative camera. It had a high depth of field and very long exposure, It showed shadows and highlights. In his work you could so the photo before he took it which was a big benefit for himself. He was called a master of competition and he's was very precise in framing. He developed his own photographic language because it had to be pleasing to him.
The issues that Weston faced during his time was firstly the camera could of shook while he was taking a long exposure photo by a car. He lacked depth of field on f'64 so he created his own aperture(f 2'40- pinhole). It took Weston 4 to 6 hours taking one photo each. He used natural light so many of his photographs looked luminous. Also while he was taking his photos the sun obviously moved around thats why for example in his famous photo 'Pepper no. 30' all around it was very shiny. |
My response :Natural light
In this task I was supposed to photograph fruit and vegetables with a dark scenery behind it. For these natural light photographs the background was A3 black card. This is inspired by the famous photographer Edward Weston. I love his work because he makes the objects look some how realistic, especially his photograph of the pepper, which looks like the back of a person that is crouching. Below is some of his work.
Unedited photos-Natural light
Edited photos-Natural light
WWW: Applying Edward Weston throughout my work. E.g. putting the red pepper in a black paper cylinder.
EBI: Try use smaller aperture so I can capture every detail of the objects.
EBI: Try use smaller aperture so I can capture every detail of the objects.
My response: Artificial light
This task was not to different form the natural light task, I just had to use artificial light. There were many lamps around these objects. I moved around the lights and the objects to capture the perfect photos. For this version the backdrop was a set up of a velvet like blanket that was put on a table. I also got to take photos of not just food but shells, which Weston used a lot in his photos.
Unedited photos-Artificial light
Work in photoshop:
Best edits- Artificial light
WWW: Good contrast and photo angles.
EBI: Should of used a tripods to avoid camera shake. Also in photoshop make few photos less granulated.
EBI: Should of used a tripods to avoid camera shake. Also in photoshop make few photos less granulated.
Independent Development
Melissa Gamache
In this assignment I was supposed to take photos inspired by the photographer Melissa Gamache. This is connected with the task above, 'Ordinary to extraordinary'. Gamache titled this still life series 'Arrangements'. She explored the use of everyday objects, vegetables and fruits. She created an extraordinary visual result by putting them on vivid gaudy backgrounds. To me the food in the photos look like jewellery in an advertisement, because it is arranged around the props to look valuable and unique.
I chose her work out of many others because I thought her images are fun and quirky. Everything in this series of work is very vibrant and alluring. Below are some of her work pieces.
I chose her work out of many others because I thought her images are fun and quirky. Everything in this series of work is very vibrant and alluring. Below are some of her work pieces.
My Response (Edited)
Favourite Edits
WWW: I think all the different arrangements of the still life photos I took look very similar to Gamache's work.
Which i'm glad about.
EBI: I could use different coloured background for example purple and more vivid colours. I think this would make the objects pop more. Also, I wanted to find more props I could put my food on. For example, a frameless mirror to put the food to top of and so it creates a reflection. And I want to try out an artificial light instead of natural light
Which i'm glad about.
EBI: I could use different coloured background for example purple and more vivid colours. I think this would make the objects pop more. Also, I wanted to find more props I could put my food on. For example, a frameless mirror to put the food to top of and so it creates a reflection. And I want to try out an artificial light instead of natural light
Ana Straze
Adding on to Melissa Gamache's work I also took photos inspired by Ana Straze's 'Forbidden Food' series. Straze also uses fruit and vegetables in her photographs but in a different way than Gamache. She puts white pearl pins and pearls on and in the food to make them uncanny looking. She is trying to show how everyday objects can be elevated to modern artwork.
Below is some of her photos in this series.
Below is some of her photos in this series.
My response
Best Edits
WWW: I think for this task I managed the exposure very well. My ISO settings was on 100. This helped because I was using artificial light in a low lit room.
EBI: It would be even better if I experimented with the pearl like objects even more. Perhaps use singular pearls instead of the pins. Making the fruit to look more expensive and unusual.
EBI: It would be even better if I experimented with the pearl like objects even more. Perhaps use singular pearls instead of the pins. Making the fruit to look more expensive and unusual.