Assignment 1

 Assignment 1

Preparation for Assignment 1:  Contrasts.  

 (refer also to my earlier posts on Assignment Preparation)

This is how I approached Assignment 1.

Planning Steps. Summary:

•                 Determine my objectives

•                 Breakdown the tasks to achieve my objectives

•                 Establish milestones and the time to complete them

•                 Allocate resources (plan, shoot locations – time to do research)

OBJECTIVES:

After reflecting on the various readings that I have done for the Assignment on Contrasts (refer to the bibliography at the end of this note) my main objectives in participating in this Assignment were to:

·    try and awaken my perceptions of what “contrasts” mean in the sense Itten had intended,

·    to try and experience “contrasts” with my senses – (including  reading about the conceptions of contrasts from the Bauhaus),

·    to produce a series of my own contrasts which hopefully exhibit of the type of contrasts I've chosen,

·    to try develop an awareness of the elements of design that exist around us, and in doing so, challenge myself into thinking more creatively and;

      in doing the above  help myself to develop good strategies in planning an Assignment which will force me to adopt good study habits.  

Breaking Down Tasks:

·       I began early  in the course by reading about and thinking about and identifying the requirements of Assignment 1.

·    Over the weeks, I kept a file entitled “contrasts” in Adobe Bridge and would add any shots that I thought exhibited qualities of contrast. (Unfortunately, I have not had the time to devote to a Flickr page outlining my images, but this is something I will consider  doing, going forward in the course)

·     I looked at examples of contrasts on the web,

·     looked at OCA study guide on compiling a learning log (this is on ongoing process - and would like to streamline or fine tune my blog a bit more).

·     planned shoots – at the Auckland Museum, the Botanical Gardens,  Marina, Urban scenes and Industrial landscapes.

What I observed: 

I researched the history of the Bauhaus and Johannes Itten's list of 27 Contrasts noting the rationale and the methodology for devising them in the first place.  I did further reading, and looked up examples on various websites (see bibliography at the end of this note).  I applied this knowledge when I thought about potential shots.  As a result my awareness for form increased – a positive knock on effect is that I have more of an appreciation for contrasts in everyday life.  Itten intended his students to experience contrasts by making use of all their senses to develop a feeling for the subject through a personal observation.     I can say, in the short amount of time that  I have devoted to this Assignment that I feel I am developing an insight into the fundamentals of design principles in photography.  I am sure that this is something that evolves over time - and will continue to do so.

Milestones:

·        to have thought about my choices from the list of contrasts,

·        to have identified potential contrasts (by 15 August or thereabouts)

·        to have whittled down my selection and chosen my final images (it took me   ages to conclude my list)

·        to review and reflect on my choices (by 24 August 2012)

Allocating resources:

My main focus was on actually getting out with my camera and taking shots of  the pairs of contrasts which I had decided on.   In future I will begin  the image selection process earlier on (refer to my recent post which outlines a criteria for image selection)  On reflection,  I realise it takes effort in preparing images, and that I do  need to do spend time on cataloguing and completing the Meta data for my files... something which I am hit and miss on.

My Selection

 Large: Industrial Gas Tanker

 

 Small: Bee on flower in hot house

 

I had been carrying a very small note book around, and had seen the gas tanker (if that is its correct name) I made a note of its location and went back with my camera.  Originally, I had thought of this for a curved/diagonal contrast.   The huge gas tanker was the exact antithesis of the small bee on the small flower.

 

 







Many names on many bamboo shoots

 

Few - banana flower (visible for a few days only)

 

This to me is probably one of the most creative shots that I have taken - in reality the bamboo stalks were huge, and I was quite struck, initially by the contrast of the "natural" with the graffiti left my people on the bamboo.   When making my image selection, I decided to use the bamboo as an example of "many".  In contrast, I photographed, a female banana flower (two pods) and chose this to illustrate "few" - not only literally, but the flower or pod, only lasted for a few days.  As a consequence, the Auckland Museum hot house, have asked for this photograph, so I am quite pleased about that. 

 

 

 

Pointed cactus spines

 

Blunt sculpture

 

 

I had the cactus in mind for the contrast of pointed and against this, I thought of a sculpture of a large oval smooth stone.  The stone, invites you to touch it, (thinking of Itten, using feeling and senses to experience contrast).   There is also a contrast of feeling when you touch both objects.. spiky and smooth.

 

Transparent: - fish swimming in pond

 

Opaque: - berries through  frosted glass

 

The water is almost invisible and contrasts nicely with the opaque glass, of a window. 

 

 

Light (strong sunlight sky viewed from under a fern )

 

Dark - chiaroscuro

 

The bright light of the sky above the fern, is typical of a cloudless day in NZ. The light is very intense.  I have not altered this image at all in terms of its saturation - this was the shot. I wanted to contrast the light with a dark lighting set up.   I took a portrait of my son to represent chiaroscuro and positioned him to get a light falling on one side of his face, at a 90 degree angle.   I did not want to photoshop his cheeks to remove the redness - that's what he looked like on the day and it is an accurate portrayal of him.  I think the shadows contrast nicely with the bright  sky of the first image.

 

 

 

 

 

Hard

 

 

Soft (spider's web)

 

The metal hook was once used to tie up yachts.  I saw the spider's web and immediately though of "light" or "soft".  I had thought about using this for "light" (but choose the balloon see below)  

 

 

 

 

High contrast - Gecko

 

 

Low contrast - tree branches

 

Freeman, lists three categories of types of Contrast - one of which has to do with contrast in the sense of colour: see   http://thefreemanview.com/observations/composition-contrast-and-the-bauhaus/ (accessed 7/8/12).      I thought about this and photographed, tree branches which I then overexposed to get a light background.  The Gecko was shot on a low aperture, and this is how vibrant the image was. 

 

 

 

Light - balloon

 

 

Heavy - shipping containers

 

 

My son found a balloon and I photographed him playing with it. I particularly like "lightness" of the image, he actually looks like a dancer.  I wanted to contrast this with the containers. I had been meaning to photograph, containers on the wharf, for about 18 months.  

 

Final image displaying both contrasts:

 

Straight/Curved.

 

This is the "Cloud" built as a venue to celebrate the Rugby World Cup 2011.  The curved roof, is quite an architectural feat,  it resembles a large caterpillar. In contrast to the curved roof you can see the straight lines of the poles to the right.   I like the way the curve draws the viewers eye into the photograph. The straight poles, also form a corresponding line which add a sort of symmetry to the image.  (If my photoshop skills were any good, I might have got rid of the car in the background).

 

 

 

 

REFLECTIONS

 

 

Assignment 1 has crystallised for me, that planning is absolutely essential to any work.  AND you can't start too early.   Also, from a practical point of view, it is a good idea to write notes in a small book or blotter pad, and carry this around with you - this helped me and I have returned to a few locations which I had jotted down.   

 

I have devoted a lot of time to this Assignment, and maybe part of that was due to me over analysing things,  I find this exasperating,  I just want to be able to "do it".  This probably has something to do with lack of confidence - or just lack of skill at the moment.  I know I am improving and  hey, that is why I am doing this course.   Going forward, I also have to work out a way to be more productive in the allocated time that I have - even if this means, getting up at 6am to have an hour to myself - before my twins wake up.

 

I have however, gained some insight into the principles of the elements of design. By some process of osmosis, the principles in the exercises in Part One, are sinking in.  I am quite surprised too, at how much I have learnt - as a result, this has been a positive experience.  I had concerns about how effective distance learning could be.  Ideally, I would love the time to join in more discussion with the OCA forums and other students - again, this is something to factor in going forward.

 

 

Comparison with assessment criteria:

 

1. Demonstration of technical and visual skills

 

 Technical:  Not really a 100% sure how to answer this.  I need feedback.  I shoot everything in manual mode, and I have hardly done any post editing.   I am a total novice at Photoshop (but am doing a brief introductory Photoshop course).    I used Camera Raw to adjust some curves and tonality in some images, and of course I have cropped photos that required it.

 

Visual:   I have improved in my visual awareness.  I look back a photos I took 18 months ago, and actually find them banal!  Therefore I am pleased that I feel that I am progressing.  I particularly think more about composition visually. I hope I have conveyed this in the Assignment.

 

 

2.Quality of Outcome

 

I need feed back on this.   I feel that I have produced some acceptable images. This is the first Assignment, so I am looking forward to some constructive feedback on the images.  At the moment, I haven't done much in the way of tidying the images up.  I feel, I am a bit of a purist. I like to shoot in Manual - (In fact I have only used AV priority once - manual allows me to be more creative.. I like shots that sometimes look like they have gone wrong! i.e., with a bit of motion blur or something interesting).  The quality of outcome, will hopefully improve as I do.

 

3. Demonstration of Creativity

 

This is what I want most from this course! Anyone can take a photograph - but does it stand out, does it say something.  This is what I want to get to.   At this level, I am wondering just how creative I am supposed to be.  I am trying my best.   Is creativity subjective?   (some of the Deadpan style of photography, leaves me to question this...I am thinking of the head and shoulder shots of young Muslim girls) What is creativity.  For me, it is something which takes a photograph out of the realm of a snapshot.  I think I have achieved this much anyway.  I am reading as much as I can, in the time that I have. Again, I need to structure this more..   Charlotte Cotton's Photograph as Contemporary Art, is a great insight into the world of creativity - and has helped me formulate ideas.   Using Itten's idea of "contrasts" and extremes, I have tried to be creative in showing examples. 

 

 

Conclusion

 

I have enjoyed Part One and found the exercises very instructive.  In terms of the Assignment, I think I have grasped the basics of what Itten had devised to help his student's embrace the fundamentals of the principles of design.  I realise I have a long way to go. 

 

This if the first time I have ever had a web page or blog, and I would like to perfect the style of my blog a bit more. I will look at this in the next few weeks.

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/phbh/hd_phbh.htm (accessed 7/8/12). 

 

Freeman, Michael, (2007). The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos, The Illex Press.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/apr/27/bauhaus-art-as-life-barbican (accessed 1 August 2012)

http://thefreemanview.com/observations/composition-contrast-and-the-bauhaus/  (accessed 7/8/12)

http://www.oxfordartonline.com/public/page/lessons/Unit4Lesson3 (accessed 7/8/12).