component 1 EVALUATION
For unit 1, I did a lot of experimenting with different processes in the darkroom, for example, cyanotypes, photo grams, chemigraphs, etc. This showed me that photography is not just using a camera to take pictures, and these processes gave me more opportunities to experiment with photography using light. Each of these processes were good options when creating final pieces for each theme. The first artist I researched was Anna Atkins, who specialises in creating cyanotypes inspired by nature. I found her work whilst researching cyanotypes. We also explored light painting, with which I had a very positive experience because Its fun to play with the lights and learn about the camera settings. I had a mostly negative experience with cyanotypes and pinhole photography. Although I liked the final results from each of these techniques, the process for each of them was quite difficult and time consuming, and they were easy to mess up because each of them needed specific conditions. For example, cyanotypes were very difficult because of the weather conditions, and if one small thing was done wrong when creating the actual pinhole camera, it wouldn't have been able to actual take pictures.
I investigated four different themes; Street photography, abstraction, edges and the natural world. I started Street photography by creating a Pinterest board, where I saved different artists take on street photography that I found interesting or inspiring. The second thing I did was take images using different forms found in street photography, for example, looking down, cropping, walk on by, etc. These are forms often found in street photography, which made it easier to identify what photos are considered street photography. For our final pieces, we took pictures on our trip to the Tate Modern. This was a fun final piece to do because we had lots of freedom and choice about what we could take pictures of and the pictures weren't limited to whats at school.
My second theme was abstraction. The first thing I did was use the Pinterest board I created for street photography to gather possible final ideas inspiration and different photographers who I could research. Using the Pinterest boards was very helpful and I continued to use it throughout my other projects. The first task I had to do was create a sort of sculpture out of different types of paper, such as, regular black and white paper and clear coloured card. I was given lots of freedom when creating these sculptures, so I could make it look however I wanted it to. I then had to take photographs, but each photo had to incorporate the mini sculpture. This task was a kind of warm up for what could be expected for Abstraction. The first photographer I researched for this theme was Uta Barth. I was really inspired by how she used the focus on a camera. I researched a number of different artists, such as, Cristina Coral, John Batho, Hannah Hoch etc. My final piece was pictures that I had taken of my friends which I later edited over with colourful lines and shapes using Photoshop. I think this fit with the theme of abstraction as they were not something you would see in real life.
My third theme was edges. The first artist I researched was Dolores Marat. I was really inspired by how she uses colour in her images, and the way she composed the subjects and objects in her images. She was the main artist I thought about when creating my final piece. Another artist I was inspired by was Jan Groover, also for her use of rusty, almost dirty looking colours. This was one of my least favourite themes as it was quite short and I didn't end up with a very refined and perfected outcome. For my final piece I took pictures of the edges of interesting things I could find around school, and I edited the colours so that they were more muted and almost muddy, which was my favourite thing about Dolores Marat's images. I displayed my images in a small black, rectangular booklet that I made out of black cardboard.
My last theme was the natural world. I really liked this theme as I had a lot of time to develop a final outcome that I was really proud of. I started off by creating a Pinterest board of photographers and images I found inspiring. This step is one I want to continue in other projects as it is very helpful. Additionally, we created a mind map of words relating to the natural world, which was also helpful when brainstorming ideas for a final piece. The first artist I researched was Sarah Illenberger. I love her use of bright block colours, and her abstract take on the natural world. She incorporated different man-made objects into natural objects. For example, she placed a small disco ball inside and avocado, which I thought to be very creative and abstract, and I initally planned to take inspiration from her work and do something similar, however I didn't. I researched other photographers such as Jason Demarte, Olafur Eliasson, Myoung Ho Lee, etc. Each of these photographers have very abstract interpretations of the natural world which inspired me a lot. I started off my experimentation by taking pictures of the different plants around school, and then editing them on Photoshop. I played around with the colours of the images because I was inspired by Jason Demarte's use of bright contrasting colours. However, I ended up with a final piece almost completely different from this idea. My final idea was to freeze flowers inside a block of ice, set the ice block up underneath artificial lighting and then photograph it as it melted. I was very happy with my final piece as the images came out like I wanted them to. I chose to display my images in small, transparent boxes to almost simulate ice, and I printed my images on acetate paper to add to the illusion of blocks of ice. I photographed them on top of a light box, and then I set them up with lights behind them, so the blocks appeared to be almost glowing.
I investigated four different themes; Street photography, abstraction, edges and the natural world. I started Street photography by creating a Pinterest board, where I saved different artists take on street photography that I found interesting or inspiring. The second thing I did was take images using different forms found in street photography, for example, looking down, cropping, walk on by, etc. These are forms often found in street photography, which made it easier to identify what photos are considered street photography. For our final pieces, we took pictures on our trip to the Tate Modern. This was a fun final piece to do because we had lots of freedom and choice about what we could take pictures of and the pictures weren't limited to whats at school.
My second theme was abstraction. The first thing I did was use the Pinterest board I created for street photography to gather possible final ideas inspiration and different photographers who I could research. Using the Pinterest boards was very helpful and I continued to use it throughout my other projects. The first task I had to do was create a sort of sculpture out of different types of paper, such as, regular black and white paper and clear coloured card. I was given lots of freedom when creating these sculptures, so I could make it look however I wanted it to. I then had to take photographs, but each photo had to incorporate the mini sculpture. This task was a kind of warm up for what could be expected for Abstraction. The first photographer I researched for this theme was Uta Barth. I was really inspired by how she used the focus on a camera. I researched a number of different artists, such as, Cristina Coral, John Batho, Hannah Hoch etc. My final piece was pictures that I had taken of my friends which I later edited over with colourful lines and shapes using Photoshop. I think this fit with the theme of abstraction as they were not something you would see in real life.
My third theme was edges. The first artist I researched was Dolores Marat. I was really inspired by how she uses colour in her images, and the way she composed the subjects and objects in her images. She was the main artist I thought about when creating my final piece. Another artist I was inspired by was Jan Groover, also for her use of rusty, almost dirty looking colours. This was one of my least favourite themes as it was quite short and I didn't end up with a very refined and perfected outcome. For my final piece I took pictures of the edges of interesting things I could find around school, and I edited the colours so that they were more muted and almost muddy, which was my favourite thing about Dolores Marat's images. I displayed my images in a small black, rectangular booklet that I made out of black cardboard.
My last theme was the natural world. I really liked this theme as I had a lot of time to develop a final outcome that I was really proud of. I started off by creating a Pinterest board of photographers and images I found inspiring. This step is one I want to continue in other projects as it is very helpful. Additionally, we created a mind map of words relating to the natural world, which was also helpful when brainstorming ideas for a final piece. The first artist I researched was Sarah Illenberger. I love her use of bright block colours, and her abstract take on the natural world. She incorporated different man-made objects into natural objects. For example, she placed a small disco ball inside and avocado, which I thought to be very creative and abstract, and I initally planned to take inspiration from her work and do something similar, however I didn't. I researched other photographers such as Jason Demarte, Olafur Eliasson, Myoung Ho Lee, etc. Each of these photographers have very abstract interpretations of the natural world which inspired me a lot. I started off my experimentation by taking pictures of the different plants around school, and then editing them on Photoshop. I played around with the colours of the images because I was inspired by Jason Demarte's use of bright contrasting colours. However, I ended up with a final piece almost completely different from this idea. My final idea was to freeze flowers inside a block of ice, set the ice block up underneath artificial lighting and then photograph it as it melted. I was very happy with my final piece as the images came out like I wanted them to. I chose to display my images in small, transparent boxes to almost simulate ice, and I printed my images on acetate paper to add to the illusion of blocks of ice. I photographed them on top of a light box, and then I set them up with lights behind them, so the blocks appeared to be almost glowing.