Visual Collage
Slinkachu 'Little People' - (first starting point)
The 'Little People Project' started in 2006. It involves the remodelling and painting of miniature model train set characters, which he then place and left on the street. It is both a street art installation project and a photography project. The street-based side of his work plays with the notion of surprise and Slinkachu aims to encourage city-dwellers to be more aware of their surroundings. The scenes he set up, more evident through the photography, and the titles he gives these scenes aim to reflect the loneliness and melancholy of living in a big city, almost being lost and overwhelmed. But underneath this, there is always some humour. Sinkachu aims to get people to be able to empathise with the tiny people in his works.
Slinkachu 'Little People' - Digital Response
For my digital response to Slinkachu's work I composed 'little working people' onto everyday objects, which exaggerated the smallness of the people. I used objects such as oranges, head phones and wine bottles etc. I only edited my photographs slightly, considering the contrast, brightness and saturation. I didn't want to edit my photos too extremely as I think it would of taken away the focus of the picture which is meant to be the little person, either sitting or standing.
my work relates to Slinkachu's in several ways. Firstly, the obvious use of the 'little people.' Secondly, the way I composed them within the picture. For example, I replicated the idea of the use of an orange and headphones in the photos. However, I also used my own ideas too, including the use of toy cars and other objects found around a house.
I am happy with the outcome, as I believe my work can relate to Slinkachu's and I believe some of the photos are entertaining to look at. However, I am not keen on developing this idea. This is simply because I don't find it as interesting to photograph as some other ideas.
my work relates to Slinkachu's in several ways. Firstly, the obvious use of the 'little people.' Secondly, the way I composed them within the picture. For example, I replicated the idea of the use of an orange and headphones in the photos. However, I also used my own ideas too, including the use of toy cars and other objects found around a house.
I am happy with the outcome, as I believe my work can relate to Slinkachu's and I believe some of the photos are entertaining to look at. However, I am not keen on developing this idea. This is simply because I don't find it as interesting to photograph as some other ideas.
Experimentation with Landscape - (second starting point)
For my next starting point regarding Landscape and the Enviroment, I decided to experiment with the natural enviroment. I decided to look at the patterns trees could make against a plain backround. The trees in winter are bare, and therefore I thought the leaveless branches would be interesting to photograph. The sharp branches contrasted well with the bleak sky. I was happy with my photographs as I think they look sharp and the trees look very intricate and defined against the sky. I edited my pictures on Photoshop, to give them either a black and white finish or a sepia finish. I thought both effects worked well as the pictures resemble the possible theme of 'negative space.' However, to improve my photographs I could consider going on a brighter day as the pictures are quite dark.
The Natural Environment - Development
To develop my starting point of the natural enviroment I looked at natural sources within the natural landscape and took photographs of the interesting textures I found. The photographs are very bright and vibrant regarding colour, I am happy with my outcome as it conveyed the 'natural beauty' which I wanted to achieve. To improve this set of photos I could have focused more on close ups and achieving very detailed photos rather than vaguely detailed.
Tree Silhouettes and Patterns - (development)
I have decided to develop the idea of my first experimentation with trees and silhouettes. I found the patterns a trees branch can make interesting, against a sky back round. I took my photographs at Avenue House Park, because the trees there have interesting, different shapes which is reflected in my photos. I was happy with the shots I got, narrowing them down to only seven photos. I edited my photographs on photoshop to enhance the colours, and in some cases change the sky into different effects. I made sure that in every photograph my contrast was high, because I find the darkness of the tree branch important to convey the image I wanted to. I'm happy with my outcome. I think the shots I took are bright and have interesting different patterns within them. My favourite photograph is the photo third in the slide, as I think the colours in the photograph are well edited and the fine branch contrasts well with the cloudy sky. My next step would be to develop this idea further, with relating it to Slinkachu's work, of having a photograph on canvas un the picture against a similar back round. I will discuss this idea more further down.
Dominic Harris - (third starting point)
His interest in integrating technology and interaction within architecture has been evident through much of his professional work, and now forms the basis of the design studio he formed several years ago. Dominic Harris has a fascination with lighting and electronics, which is evident in the highly innovative lighting schemes that he brings to each of his projects. n his most recent work 'Journey' Dominic depicts series of work, each with a distinctive colour and feel, reflecting the environment in which they were taken. This series of photographic landscapes are shot from trains and cars in different cities and countries around the world including Italy, London, USA, India and Japan. Using long exposure to explore time, the work is both a memory of the journey and of the local landscape. His long exposures are for such a long time that the whole image is blended in to one, creating a pattern of some sort.
Analysis of Dominic Harris, Journey Collection - London Series
In the photograph Dominic Harris has used the technique of long exposure on trees whilst being in a moving vehicle. The image appears blurred and bright. The picture looks as though it has been edited as the greens of the trees, and the blues in the sky are much brighter than in real life. The trees which are further away are not blurred, neither is the sky, they both remain still. The photograph has been taken when the weather has been sunny and bright, this is shown in the photograph through it's brightness and high sharpness. Dominic's photograph of the park, is long exposed as he wants to show the journey he travelled. This is shown as he is in something moving which demonstrates he's taken the picture whilst travelling. This allows the viewer to have an insight into what Harris experienced, as he shares his photography.
Long Exposure - (Digital Response)
With influence from Dominic Harris' work I decided to pick a well know location - central london, the River Thames. I used St. Pauls for my back round, or well known buildings, with buses passing being exposed with a high ISO. I therefore created a blurred front, with a still back round. I achieved this by using a tripod to hold my back round image still. I'm happy with the outcome, as I think the contrast in sharpness makes the picture eye capturing. I reflect Dominic Harris' work in my own photographs with the long exposures of the buses and cars. My photographs aren't as extreme in exposure as Harris' are because I didn't want to take away the buildings in the back round completely. I will develop this idea towards a final piece as I find the effects of long exposure effective and exciting.
Car Photography - (development)
For my development of 'Long Exposure photography' I've decided to take photographs in a car on the motorway. I will not set my camera on a long exposure though, as I want to experiment with other ideas and effects which can be achieved whilst the camera is moving and the setting is still. I experimented from different angles to achieve different effects. The atmosphere was rather cloudy and dark which added character to my photographs through the dark clouds which can be seen throughout this set. I am happy with my outcome. However, to develop this idea I shall put my camera on long exposure whilst in a car moving, however, I shall use a tripod so my camera is reasonably still. I like the idea of taking photographs whilst in a car as interesting shots can be achieved which perhaps could not be achieved if I just stood on the side of the road.
Car long exposure - (Development)
To further my development, I again went on the motorway, yet instead of going in the day I went when it became dark as the lights of the cars would be more noticable as my photographs prove. I ranged the lengths of my exposure from 1 second to 20 seconds. The photographs where the lights look almost like lightening had a longer exposure, whilst those where more objects can be seen had a shorter exposure. I chose to drive on a motorway because it is in a straight line and therefore there would be little interferance from other goings on. I am happy with my outcome as my photographs are vibrant and exciting with lights being shot everywhere. The patterns created are colourful and eye capturing, there are a variety of photographs due to exposure time. To develop this idea further into my final set which shall be my final piece I will take photographs around usual settings. I want the settings to be busy so that more activity is fused into my photos.This is because my photographs in this set are very similar, I want to create more individual photographs.
Long Exposure - Development (Final Set)
For my final set of photographs for Landscape I decided to continue with the idea of taking photographs with a long exposure in the car whilst driving. However, to develop from my previous set of photographs, I wanted to have a brighter more crowded atmosphere, as opposed to a single motorway which is what I used as a setting previously. Therefore, I located around Highbury and Islington/Archway/Camden. These areas are very busy with cars and bright lighted shops. The traffic lights and lights of cars played an important role as they are what created the lights mainly. The patterns created by the lights look almost like lightening or bolts of electricity, this is what I wanted to achieve. I used an exposure of 30 seconds for the photographs which consist solely of patterned lights, however, for those photographs where cars can be seen the exposure varied between 1 second to 20 seconds. I am very happy with my outcome, as my pictures are bold illustrating the slightly glamourous side of the roads which are illustrated through bright lights which can be spotted. I shall develop one of these photographs into my final outcome for my Landscape project.
Final Outcome and Evaluation.
For my final outcome for the topic 'Landscape' I chose two photographs from the set above which I then printed onto A4 photographic paper and framed. I chose these two photographs because I think they are the most individual and electric. The first photograph mixes many colours making it appear as though lights are being shot towards the camera. I chose the second photograph because it shows what I was photographing clearly: cars and roads. A taxi is visible in the second photograph but it is quite vague which makes it subtly mysterious, perhaps ghost like. I am very happy with my outcomes and I believe throughout this topic I have explored several versions of landscape each showing a different perspective on the topic.