Exploring Spaces and Challenging Perspectives
We were asked to take two pictures within 5 minutes of our home. One is dull but to make look as existing as possible, and the other is something that is able to engage the viewer but to present it as unappealing.
The picture of the computer is the first ideology that something dull is made to look alive. The play house is the second ideology that is presented as unappealing.
View Point
For this project we were asked to investigate the relationship between the photographer, the camera and his/her subject influences the way the viewer sees the world as represented in the final image. Here are some examples of photographs that play with the idea of viewpoint:
ViewPoint Gallery
Images above show the use of viewpoints, I used ifferent methods such as using wide lenses below or ontop of focal point, such as the flag pole and stained glass.
I have also used other methods such as framing the objects between other things, such as the window, bench and door frames.
What Techniques Have I Used?
In my photographs, I tried to find more obscure angles to take pictures, this has made my pictures stand out as the viewer can see the world from a new perspective.
I used a 10-18mm lens to capture wider shots to make the objects look more amplified.
I used mostly cooler colours from colour grading, which make them look cleaner in my opinion.
I used Lightroom to be able to add depth to the images using things such as contrast, this allowed me to amplify the effects of the wide angle through the editing process.
What Went Well?
I took pictures from obscure viewpoints, which allowed the pictures to grasp the feel I wanted. This in turn helped me achieve my goal. I took pictures through banisters and benches to create a tight feel that obscured the viewer’s view.
What Improvements Could I Make?
In Lightroom, I could have rotated pictures such as the banisters to make them look less natural. I also think that I could have made some pictures in black and white as the contrast in shades can create more depth in pictures, which can accentuate viewpoints.
Visual Elements Annotaion
Stairs:
In these pictures I did both top down and bottom up views of the stair wells. This draws the viewer down into the centre, creating a pull effect. Which my aim was to make the stairs seems un-naturual and made of odd shapes.
The World is Flat
The world is flat is a project showing the viewer in how the world can be viewed in a 2d perspective, with everything being shown as how someone may view an object with their eyes.
Walker Evans
Walker Evans (November 3, 1903 – April 10, 1975) was an American photographer and photojournalist best known for his work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Much of Evans’ work from the FSA period uses the large format, 8×10-inch (200×250 mm) view camera.
He said that his goal as a photographer was to make pictures that are “literate, authoritative, transcendent”.
Social Realism: Evans’ photographs, especially those taken during the Great Depression, are powerful examples of social realism. He captured the harsh realities of life during that period, highlighting poverty, struggle, and resilience.
Portraiture: Evans often photographed people in a straightforward and unadorned manner. His portraits are known for their honesty and the way they reveal the character and essence of his subjects.
Architecture: He also had a keen interest in architecture and captured it with an almost anthropological approach. His photographs of buildings, signs, and urban scenes often served as cultural artifacts.
Subtlety: Evans had a knack for finding beauty in simplicity and everyday life. He used black and white photography to great effect, creating images that were both straightforward and deeply poetic.
Lewis Baltz
Lewis Baltz was an American photographer associated with the New Topographics movement, which emerged in the 1970s. He was known for his minimalist and objective approach to photography. Here’s an analysis of his work:
Minimalism: Baltz’s work is characterized by its minimalist aesthetics. He often photographed industrial and urban landscapes devoid of human presence, emphasizing geometric shapes, lines, and the interplay of light and shadow.
Urban Sprawl: One of his most famous series, “New Industrial Parks,” focused on the sprawling industrial and suburban landscapes of Southern California. These images reflected the impact of urbanization on the environment and the loss of natural landscapes.
Critique of Modernity: Baltz’s work can be seen as a critique of modernity and the impersonal, industrialized landscapes it produced. His photographs evoke a sense of alienation and isolation.
Seriality: Like many photographers of the New Topographics movement, Baltz often presented his work in series or grids, emphasizing repetition and the systematic nature of the subjects he photographed.
Comparing both Photographers
Walker Evans and Lewis Baltz, though working in different eras and styles, share common ground in their keen ability to capture the essence of American life. Both photographers have an eye for the ordinary, embracing a straightforward approach in their work. While Evans documented the human experience during the Great Depression with a focus on people, Baltz, during the New Topographics movement, shifted his lens towards the impact of human development on the environment, often portraying the desolation of urban and suburban landscapes. In their own ways, Evans and Baltz used photography to tell compelling stories about the American experience, albeit with different subject matter and stylistic choices. Evans’ emphasis was on the human connection, while Baltz’s lens was directed at the evolving, often starkly minimalistic, human-made landscapes.
My World is Flat
Our task was to take pictures using the styles of photographers such as Walker Evans and Lewis Baltz. To do this I took the photographs head-on at around eye level, making sure to get the whole subject in shot. This reflects the style of the time.
I have used many visual elements within my photographs. I have framed all the pictures with the subject centered, Kept all lines parallel and pointed up.
I took pictures on a day which had not much direct sunlight so the picture looks as 2d as piossible without any shadows distorting the image.
I have tried to minimally edit these pictures to show how the world is actually portrayred. Either leaving them in colour or making them black and white, and or duller tones.
Flat Final Outcome
Foreshortening
Foreshortening in photography is a powerful technique that involves manipulating perspective to create a visual illusion of depth or distortion. By changing the angle and distance between the camera and the subject, photographers can compress or elongate elements within an image. This effect is often used to create dynamic and dramatic compositions, making objects appear closer or farther away than they actually are. Foreshortening is a valuable tool in storytelling, architecture, and portraiture, allowing photographers to convey a sense of depth and dimension that can enhance the visual impact of their images.
Lee Friedlander is a photographer who shot in this style.
In the picture below we can see a cloud on top of a triangular sign, This looks like an icecream, however in reality it’s not.
My Foreshortening Outcomes
These are my final outcomes for this project. I think they came out well and I used some inspiration from Friedlander.
CRITICAL REFLECTION
What Went Well
I managed to use the techniques I learned through this project. I have managed to capture each level of foreground, middle, and background within my images, using a tight lens to be able to focus on the lines in the pictures.
What Could I Have Improved On?
I think I could improve by finding more natural examples within nature as many photographers have done. Using trees bushes and the landscape may have given an excellent outcome.
Photographers eye evaluation
All of these projects have developed my understanding of the photographer’s eye. Each project has a unique style, and in my work, I have focused on buildings and objects rather than natural formations.
I most enjoy my work based on Walker Evans and Friedlander as I think their style of work captures the most within the frame and tells a bigger story.
Overall I think I have used many techniques to photograph in different styles and to be able to understand and adapt to be abe to shoot in this style.