End of Year Project Choice: Fragments
My end of year project will be the theme Fragments. I want to be able to capture details and fragments of objects, people and places. In addition, my aims is too manipulate photographs through collages, so that theres is fragments of different subjects in the same composition.
Research
HANNAH HOCH
Hannah Hoch was a German artist, best known for her collages during the Weimar period. Hoch sliced and cut pictures from popular fashion magazines. She was admired by many contemporary artist at the time such as, Theo Van Doesburg and George Grosz and Kurt Schwitters. I think she relates relates to my chosen theme really well because her work embodies the definition of fragments, she uses different material from a variety of sources to create a whole new image hence there being 'fragments' in her work.
Hannah Hoch was a German artist, best known for her collages during the Weimar period. Hoch sliced and cut pictures from popular fashion magazines. She was admired by many contemporary artist at the time such as, Theo Van Doesburg and George Grosz and Kurt Schwitters. I think she relates relates to my chosen theme really well because her work embodies the definition of fragments, she uses different material from a variety of sources to create a whole new image hence there being 'fragments' in her work.
Gallery of her work
In this photograph I see two doll-like objects that are both hanging by a thread. This photograph is very unusual, weird, and discomforting. If I were to describe it to someone else the first thing that I would compare it to is 'creepy dolls' that is the first thing that comes to mind when looking at this photograph.
This photograph that was created by Hoch strikes me as the most interesting of her works because it is very dark and distinctive compared to all her previous photographs. The image reminds me of a pair damaged dolls, that has been so over-used that there is bits and pieces left of it. I'd define this photograph as an abstract image as it is unidentifiable, and quite odd. Although there is not much going at the surrounding of these objects, there actually is a considerable amount internally. Furthermore, there is lots of spaces in the background, which emphasises that it was made like this purposefully by the photographer to draw our attention to the main subjects of the image. It is clear to see that Hoch used a variety of materials to create this image as each part is different.
I think the colours in the image is quite dull but they compliment the image as whole, because if the colours where vibrant and bold the photograph I would have percieved it in a whole new way, they would not be lifeless looking objects anymore, they would be the opposite.I think the photograph reflects Hoch and her other works quite well because she only uses dull and mundane colours but that maybe conveys the message she wants well. The photograph is also quite geometric, when looked at closely the objects are actually made of fragments of shapes.
The most effective thing about this image is the fragments that make it up and bring it all together. However, I think the colours and lack of pattern or shadow within the image could be improved.
This photograph that was created by Hoch strikes me as the most interesting of her works because it is very dark and distinctive compared to all her previous photographs. The image reminds me of a pair damaged dolls, that has been so over-used that there is bits and pieces left of it. I'd define this photograph as an abstract image as it is unidentifiable, and quite odd. Although there is not much going at the surrounding of these objects, there actually is a considerable amount internally. Furthermore, there is lots of spaces in the background, which emphasises that it was made like this purposefully by the photographer to draw our attention to the main subjects of the image. It is clear to see that Hoch used a variety of materials to create this image as each part is different.
I think the colours in the image is quite dull but they compliment the image as whole, because if the colours where vibrant and bold the photograph I would have percieved it in a whole new way, they would not be lifeless looking objects anymore, they would be the opposite.I think the photograph reflects Hoch and her other works quite well because she only uses dull and mundane colours but that maybe conveys the message she wants well. The photograph is also quite geometric, when looked at closely the objects are actually made of fragments of shapes.
The most effective thing about this image is the fragments that make it up and bring it all together. However, I think the colours and lack of pattern or shadow within the image could be improved.
DUANE MICHALS
Duane Michals who creates of photo-sequences and usually incorporates text to explore emotion.
Michals photographys are often personal, he usually looks on his own history as a subject and re-creates scenes in his family. Michals uses the web to extend his sequencing control, so he is able to time the way the image and text turn out, to create a new form of short film.
Out of all of Duane Michals sequence photographs this one is my favourite because of the sequences show fragments of the story. Michals images hold a meaning and each part telling the audience something and I think its all about how they take it and interpret it.
The compostion he used for his images is really interesting also. Instead of just displaying them in a horizontal sequence, he chooses to do it vertically which is intriguing and makes me question why. Furthermore, Michals's photographs are all in black and white tones, and some have a higher contrast and others. I think he does this because of how we view the past and history itself. We tend to see the past in black and white, it is something that has already happened and cannot be changed. I think this incorporates with the idea as to why he has decided to do it in a sequences aswell because the sequenece is not fully complete, we do not see the ''ghost'' travel all the way to they elderly women, we just see sequences. That is how the past is, it is just fragments and sequences of our memories. Moreover, Michals has made some of this images darker in contrast and I think this represents the dark past that comes along with it. |
Karl Blossfeldt
Karl Blossfeldt originally was a German professor for sculpting. However, he made amazing photographs of plants to educate his students about the designs in nature. Blossfeldt taught himself how to photograph and only made nature based photographs. His photographs were created with a homemade camera that magnified the subject up to thirty times. By doing this he revealed the all the precise details within nature. Although Blossfeldt does not relate directly to the theme, I think I can manipulate his images to create something new.
Karl Blossfeldt originally was a German professor for sculpting. However, he made amazing photographs of plants to educate his students about the designs in nature. Blossfeldt taught himself how to photograph and only made nature based photographs. His photographs were created with a homemade camera that magnified the subject up to thirty times. By doing this he revealed the all the precise details within nature. Although Blossfeldt does not relate directly to the theme, I think I can manipulate his images to create something new.
Karl Blossfeldt inspired photograms
I love these two photograms and they are by far two of my most favourite ones I have make so far. They are both inspired by Blossfedt photographs of nature and how you can clearly see the detail in his plants. The first one looks like a snap shot from a meadow or field, it looks at if the the plant is dancing in the wind. The seeds also add that illusion, as they look like they are moving with the wind. The second photogram is quite beautiful, when looked at in real life you can see the intricate design of the plant and each detail is noticeable. However, I didn't think they emcompassed with the fragments. Furthermore, I didn't want to cut them when a re-create something out of them so I left them as there are and might use them in future.
EXPERIMENTATION
For my first my experiment, I created one piece from multiples of Karl Blossfeldts photographs to suit my theme. I did this because I felt his images were more compatible with the natural world theme rather than the Fragments theme. However, his images and the way they were created really interested me, so I decided to create a Karl Blossfeldt piece as an experiment.
ORIGNAL PICTURE AFTER
This was the final image that I create with 'fragments' of each of the photos above it. What went well with this is that everything came together well the each in way compliments each other. Also, the fact that I ruined the some of it but scrunching it up or folding it badly as the effect of it being unusual to look at. However, it would have been better if I maybe used more of Blossfeldt's images and experimented more to see what would happen if I carried on with this.
VISITING ARTIST: DAFNA TALMOR
Dafna Talmor is a artist and lecturer based in London. Her images circle photography, video and collaborations. In 2001 she completed a BA in Fine Art in Goldsmiths and a MA in Fine Art Photography at the Royal College of Art, this was in 2004. Dafnas work feature places she has visited all over the world such as Italy and some states in America. This is one of the things I find most fascinating about her works, the idea the very piece might be from the other side of the world but still looks like one whole location.
Artist Dafna Talmor visited our school for a full day of workshop to help us develop our ideas in all of our chosen themes. I found it particularly helpful as my theme is fragments and Dafna explored the idea of changing an original film and creating a new one with fragments of other pieces of film. She helped me develop and refine my ideas. Before Dafna arrived I had a hard time grasping what fragments really meant and how I was going to produce a final piece. She influenced my ideas so that I was able to gather individual films that had their own personal meanings and combine them all in interesting way, some being more emotional than others. What I have learnt from Dafna Talmor is that the more experiments that you do the closer you get to a final piece because by the end everything comes to together and makes sense especially for the artist.
Dafna Talmor is a artist and lecturer based in London. Her images circle photography, video and collaborations. In 2001 she completed a BA in Fine Art in Goldsmiths and a MA in Fine Art Photography at the Royal College of Art, this was in 2004. Dafnas work feature places she has visited all over the world such as Italy and some states in America. This is one of the things I find most fascinating about her works, the idea the very piece might be from the other side of the world but still looks like one whole location.
Artist Dafna Talmor visited our school for a full day of workshop to help us develop our ideas in all of our chosen themes. I found it particularly helpful as my theme is fragments and Dafna explored the idea of changing an original film and creating a new one with fragments of other pieces of film. She helped me develop and refine my ideas. Before Dafna arrived I had a hard time grasping what fragments really meant and how I was going to produce a final piece. She influenced my ideas so that I was able to gather individual films that had their own personal meanings and combine them all in interesting way, some being more emotional than others. What I have learnt from Dafna Talmor is that the more experiments that you do the closer you get to a final piece because by the end everything comes to together and makes sense especially for the artist.
DAFNA TALMOR WORKSHOP - OUTCOMES
These are the outcomes of the Dafna Talmor workshop and I think they were very successful and they show my understanding and what I've learnt from Dafna. This especially relates to my theme because they are fragments of many different films that combined to make new image. I like the dramatic contrast of light to dark in the images, I feel it really emphasis the fact that it an image made of other images and how each piece had its own story. I thought it would be a good idea to repeat the element of red in each image to show repetiton and its almost like a signature thing to show they were made by me. Out of the images my favourite would be the last one because I feel as though it is more dark and depressing compared to the others, the fact that the peoples heads are scratched off emphasis the emotions emitting around the image.
Treshold Concepts relating to Fragements
PANO
I used the pano setting on my camera to see what would happen if I moved my phone really fast while my phone was taking the image. I did this because pano is meant to create and nice smooth image once taken bit that can only happen if the the is moved slowly, so I wanted the disrupt that movement so when someone is looking at the image they have to think about where it starts and finishes because it is hard to tell. All the images were taken outisde of school.
I used the pano setting on my camera to see what would happen if I moved my phone really fast while my phone was taking the image. I did this because pano is meant to create and nice smooth image once taken bit that can only happen if the the is moved slowly, so I wanted the disrupt that movement so when someone is looking at the image they have to think about where it starts and finishes because it is hard to tell. All the images were taken outisde of school.
I really enjoyed taking these images because the illusion they create is quite intriguing. For example, the first which is my favourite is deceiving because it seems as though the one aisle finish and another starts however, I took that image on one straight aisle. I think the outcome is engaging and it wills people to look longer. It would have been better if I had taken advantage of the sunlight when there was some, as it would have a different effect because it is natural and everything in the image would seem more clearer.
MAGAZINES AND CYANOTYPES
With these images I used magazines that had circles cut into them and the actual circles that were cut, I also used the cyanotypes I made. With each picture I randomly placed the pieces down or just pushed around. I took the image with the standard camera setting and the square setting.
With these images I used magazines that had circles cut into them and the actual circles that were cut, I also used the cyanotypes I made. With each picture I randomly placed the pieces down or just pushed around. I took the image with the standard camera setting and the square setting.
I really liked the composition of each image and how they are all particular and ''thought of'' which is ironic because little thought was given to where each piece would be placed. I think all the pieces compliment on another. Also each image as a whole does not give the full story. Furthermore, I like how the empty spaces are filled with something.
I created these images using the scanner. I used the scraps left from my previous images and I used a squared paper as a background. I think the outcomes are quite interesting and it does show the idea of fragments. However, I think that I should explore the theme to further develop and refine my work.
DSLR Images
These are all the images I took during the half term as part my final piece idea. In my opinion, most of the photos were very successful, they portray a part of me because they were all taken in local places around I live and I think they represent where I have come from and where I was brought up.
Photoshop
Out-comes
I decied to use photoshop to the image of the used cigarettes and the image of the 'no smoking' sign together and combine them as one. First, I opened the photoshop application, then I dragged the two images I wanted to the photoshop icon. Next, I pressed CMD A then CMD C, next I picked which photo I wanted underneath, then I pressed CMD V to copy the image. I then chose what contrast I wanted between the two images. I thought it would be best to to use a soft light for the new image because it gave the illusion that it was transparent, also, it seemed ironic that the sign said no smoking but there is a picture of used cigarettes.
Final Piece
I used the website above to create my 'newpaper' like final piece. Although there was some difficulties, I enjoyed the process of making as it made the composition of the images really interesting. The display of the end result, is what put the images together as one.
Images used in the Final Out-come
I thought it was a good idea to make by final piece as a newspaper form because I feel it displays my understanding of the theme much more clearly, the images are just fragments of this urban world we live and capturing only a fragment shows what it really it. I used the website ARTHR which is a newspaper club that makes newspapers design easier, I hope to order it soon as a real life copy. In the mean time I used Calameo to turn my piece into a digital newspapers, where viewers can 'flip' the page. I embeded this onto my site. The images I used the in the newspaper were taken near the Thames at Greenwich in South East London. I have lived there for nearly four years, having previously lived further inland (Lewisham). I think this effected the outcome of my images because the fact that I now nearer to the Thames, I pay more attention to detail and I do not take images of the whole landscape. I extract the fragment I want from its surrounding. The series of images I took illustrate how people live and how they treat the surroundings they live in, this is interesting because I do not think the general public have that in mind when they mistreat their own surroundings. My final piece represents me as I person and where I come from and how I live my life. It demonstrates my view of the society I live in. I was also interested in the way the land met the water, how there was not a dramatic difference because of how mankind built things in the water.