Abstraction.
The first task we were asked to do was to firstly take 24 photos with a certain set of instructions, we were only allowed one piece of paper. We were not allowed to rip, write or cut the paper. We were allowed as many light sources as possible. We could do anything with the camera and had the option to change any variable to do with the camera, for example the shutter speed or white balance. This meant we could create some more intricate and creative photos with the limited options we had with the paper. One example of this is when we placed one or more of the light sources behind the paper creating a red glow effect. Shadows were a large part of the experimentation when making these photos. As a reference see photo 0114. Here the shadow is used as the main focus of the photo. This theme is presented throughout. After the first few photos we were given access to camera and light filters and coloured glass. This gave us more choice to experiment to.
Photoshop and manual adjustments to prints:
Here is the same photo shown previously. i started to develop and slowly abstract the photo. I used the printed out acetate paper we were given to create a projection of the photo onto photographic paper. The photo itself was then submerged in bleach. Doing this removed some of the material. I did this with a paint brush making the pattern shown to the left.
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Here i printed the same photo as before, bleached the top of the paper to give it an affect that of a rip in the sky the same way as shown before. I also outlined the car by scratching into the surface with a screwdriver. I also scratched crosses into the eyes of the deer giving it a demonic feel.
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Here i started to experiment with different techniques of abstraction on Photoshop. Firstly i used the polygonal lasso tool to select the skyline only. I then used the artistic stained glass filter to create a mosaic like affect. This further emphasised the abstraction effect i am trying to achieve. I then added a colour changer effect on the bottom half below the skyline. This made some of the colours warmer and some colder. This randomness further added to the abstraction.
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Photoshop processes:
Here i used the filter gallery to experiment with different techniques of altering and abstracting the image. I think what went well was how the picture came out. It gives a soft outline to everything which further abstracts this image as it is something that we would not expect to see in life. However i think if i thought about the photo i chose to do the edits of more the final outcome would have been better.
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Here i continued to experiment with the filter gallery. however this time i created 3 new layers each respectively containing the 3 other quarters of the photo. After this i used the filter gallery to separately change each quarter to a different filter. This could have been better if i chose flyers that flowed better together. I think the abstraction in this photo is what i desired from it and that went well.
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Abstract Portraits:
Bill Jacobsen Response
In the 1980s and 1990s, Jacobson became well known for portraits and landscapes rendered in what critic Vince Aletti called "a focus so soft the results looked like a half-erased drawing."
Erwin Blumenfeld Response
Erwin Blumenfeld was an influential photographer, best known for his work in the fashion industry in the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Berlin, Blumenfeld began photographing at an early age, and in 1913, got an apprenticeship. After serving as an ambulance driver during World War I, in 1923, he established his own store in Amsterdam called the Fox Leather Company, which specialized in handbags. In 1932, Blumenfeld began photographing his female customers, which were exhibited at a local gallery, and were later featured in the French journal Photographie.
Three Strands
First Strand: Andrew Curtis, Rituals
Concept for this plan is to capture people during moments of ritualistic emotion, for example using Andrew Curtis he uses people on their phones. However i plan to do something similar(not the same), however i plan to apply the abstract aspect of the strands and remove the object the person is focusing on. This will leave a person without their object. I plan to do this through Photoshop and or through taking it away while i take the photo.
For my first strand i have decided to use the photographer Andrew Curtis. I have chosen his photos to base my first contact sheet on. The photos shown on the right are from a series called "cell" where Andrew sat in bars and clubs taking photos of people going through with these "rituals". All of the photos in this series follow the pattern that the soft glow that illuminates the peoples faces is the light emitted from the cell phone. |
Edit 1:
WWW: The photo itself came out as desired. The image itself is sharp and clear. The two photo compbined well together. The position the person was in remained the same after the mug was removed from his hand.
EBI: When i took the photos that appear in this edit i did it in the stuido. This made it easyer to mass produce a contract sheet. It would have been better if i set up people in a natural enviroment such as a cafe or in their homes doing these "Rituals".
EBI: When i took the photos that appear in this edit i did it in the stuido. This made it easyer to mass produce a contract sheet. It would have been better if i set up people in a natural enviroment such as a cafe or in their homes doing these "Rituals".
Edit 2:
WWW: The photo here encompassed what i tried to portray through these photos. A lack of autonomy when performing our daily "rituals".
EBI: If i had more time i would have liked to experiment with doing the same but with subjects outside the studio, in real life. |
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Edit 3:
Second Strand: Lola Dupre: Dismorphed Faces
Concept for this strand i plan to abstract the figure of peoples faces by dismorphing their portraits using photoshop. Through combining different facial features, i will produce a series of faces which i have manipulated the scale of facial features.
Lola Dupre is an artist who dismorphes faces of people. in the cases here, she uses images of politicians and creates a photographic caricature |
Edit 1:
WWW: The persons face here had a very uniform coloour. This meant thatv when i blended the skin it came out very smooth and lifelike. On top of this the photo itself is very crisp and clear. Making the overall visual appeal better.
EBI: I think this photo would have been better if i implemented another form of the face being dismorphed. I could possibly continue changing and further dismorphing his face however using a printed photo.
EBI: I think this photo would have been better if i implemented another form of the face being dismorphed. I could possibly continue changing and further dismorphing his face however using a printed photo.
Edit 2:
WWW: Nadia's face blended well here, her nose was removed and a path of skin from her forehead replaced it meaning that whe it all blended the shading and colouring was just right of skin that would be there
EBI:
EBI:
Edit 3:
Third Strand: Grant Simon Rogers - Patterns and Contrasts in nature.
Edit 1:
Edit 2
Edit 3:
Continuing development on my second strand:
I have decided to conitinue develpoing my second strand. Insipred by photographer and aritst lola dupree. I will be taking inspiration from other artists and expanding and showing my experimentation in the field.
Final Pieces:
My Final pieces are derived from a combination of insiration from artists like Lucas Simoes and from my previous pieces. All of these photos are taken of people specifically asked to keep as straight of a face as possible. This was done as to be able to show emotion and confusion not through facial expression as they usually are. But as a confusion of the facial features through abstraction.
As it shows above i made a leyer for every "Break" of the face. Following a copy of it to create the black shadow behind each and every piece.