Idea Experimentation

I did further experimentation based on the concept of drug and alcohol abuse. I constructed a number of images that present the use of drugs and the effect it has on the mind.

I experimented with these photographs on photoshop, changing lighting, colours and shadows to create a dark effect that would represent the gloomy atmosphere that is associated with taking drugs. I first changed them to black and white and them added tones of other colours such as blue, red and yellow by using the Colour Balance tool. On some images I created a vignette and reduced the opacity so that it blended with the image and made the focus of the shot on the subject whilst creating a gloomy background. 

I then experimented with the images that represented the mental high experienced when taking drugs including hallucinations. I played around with colours to make them brighter and to give them a lomography effect. Inspired by Rankin and the abstract nature to his work I also added elements from other photographs and distorted parts of the picture. To creare the lomography effect I changed the Curves and raised the contrast, brightness and saturation levels. I also added other images for example birds and a bow, I brought down the opacity so that they looked natural with the shot and explored using different Blending Mode options to also make them look like they were originally part of the shot. To distort sections of the picture, like the road lines I used the Liquify tool on Photoshop. 

Exam Project Idea

An idea for the exam project of Meetings/ Encounters and Experiences is to demonstrate the stages of drug abuse, from the actual taking of drugs to the mental high experienced. It would include dark, mysterious, eerie pictures to demonstrate the taking of the drugs, followed by lighter images in the style of lomography, with photoshop edits to recreate the effect of the drugs on the mind.

This is an example of the first set of images that represent drug taking. The picture is taken in an abstract environment (for example a bath) and is edited to look eerie and dark. I have used different techniques on photoshop such as turning the picture to black and white, adding slight sepia and red tones and editing the levels to create darker shadows to the picture. 

This is an example of the second part to the concept, being the effect of drugs on the mind. I edited this picture alot to create a lomography and brighter effect on the image by changing the contrast and brightness levels aswel as the colour curves. I have also edited the image using the liquify tool to change the appearance of the road markings, this is to recreate the "high" effect of the image. I also added birds to the image flying out of the models mouth to also portray the hallucinations that can result from drug taking. 

Exam Idea: Family Experience

This idea was based on the concept of experiences and encounters of family life. For the images I used a mother, her son and her new born baby to photograph their behaviours and how they interacted with each

other. for most of the shots I chose to photograph close up portraits to capture facial expressions.

Whilst shooting I found it hard to capture the attention of the young baby as well as the two other people within one shot. I like the composition of the shot and how each subject is at different levels which breaks the image up. I also like how the mother's head is at a slight angle over the children which gives a sense of affection and a protective nature, however to improve the baby would have been also looking toward the camera and the picture could have been lightened as there are some harsh shadows in the frame.

Like the other pictures, this shot would have been better if it had captured the attention of the baby also a range of levels to position the models would have created a more interesting photograph. It would have also been better if you could see more of the mothers face and her expression. 

I like this picture due to the composition and positioning of the models, for example how the young boy is coming over the mother's shoulder and his arm is around her. I also like the leaves in the background as it adds colour to the shot, however it could have been lightened in editing as again the shadows are quite harsh and in this case hide a part of the boy's face. 

I like this shot as it focuses on the baby's expression but also gives a warming sense of affection due to him being held by his brother and receiving a kiss. I also like how the shot is predominately white as it draws the focus on the people as well as bringing a innocent, pure feel to the photograph. I find the shot a little over exposed and too bright, the contrast could also be brought down as there is a over saturated colour. 

I also like the composition of this shot. I like how there is different levels and the mother is lower than the son. They also hold eye contact which gives a natural, 'in the moment' feel to the picture as they are not looking directly at the camera. The facial expressions add to the warm nature of the photograph. I feel it has however, too much contrast and it could be a nicer image if it were changed to black and white. 

Rankin Inspired Work

I have created and modified portraits in the style of Rankin - Destroy. Like Rankin's work, each photograph represents an emotion, thought or belief. First I took basic portrait photographs of the subject expressing a particular emotion. I then printed the images and "destroyed" then by; drawing, painting, ripping, burning them etc. to enhance the emotions presented.  I then took a picture of the final outcome.                                                               

This image was created to present rage and anger. The subject was positioned in a typical pose that represents anger, her facial expressions also matched this. I then added reds and brown paint in an erratic fashion and drew birds flying from the subject's mouth to represent shouting and freedom of speech. 

This image represented sadness and loneliness. I tried to express loneliness by ripping up the picture and detaching the piece. I burnt some edges of the image to represent destruction. I also added blue paints and tears to the image to represent sadness. I then drew on the image in a random fashion to represent confusion and loneliness.

This image represents happiness. I wanted to keep the image simple and concentrated on the emotion therefore I only added to image to extend and exaggerate the smile. 

Rankin

Rankin - Destroyed Analysis

In celebration of Youth Music's 10th Birthday, 70 notorious musicians and visual artists such as U2, Alex Zane, Andre 3000 and Florence and The Machine, collaborated with photographer John Rankin Waddell to create extraordinary, abstract art based on the emotions presented in their portraits and lives inside and out of the music industry. 

              

 

Rankin took ordinary portrait photographs of the subjects and destroyed them creating unusual abstract images to repesent emotion, feeling and senses. He often appeals to the visual sense through his work by creating eye catching creative images. Through the uses of added materials, inserted images, painting and  burnet and ripped images, he presents the sense of emotions through what were, ordinary portraits. By destroying images Rankin is able to connote feelings of loneliness, sadness, anger and a range of other emotions as well as presenting dreams, ambitions and beliefs of his subjects. His work varies from busy images which engages the audiences visual senses and excites them through the abstractness of his pieces to simple art which encourages the audience to think and find meaning within each image. 


I love how each piece that he destroys is individual and represents the subject in both overt and subtle ways. By using a rang of colours and materials, he also is able to make audiences feel a particular way when looking the photographs. Amongst many, one of my favourite pieces is that of Billy Brag (third image above). I particularly like this photograph as it has been transformed from a somewhat conventional portrait, which would not provoke any thought, to an interesting piece of work that can connote many emotions and thoughts. The simplicity of ripping up the picture and the placement of the sections, to me connotes loneliness and being torn between beliefs or areas in the subjects life. The image seems slightly dirty which makes me believe that it is slightly old and forgotten, it has not been preserved or seen as a treasured photograph. This thought of loneliness and neglect is mirrored by the subjects positioning in the photograph and the expression on his face. He is crouched down and is slightly reserved, this connotes that he is unconfident and reserved, this is replicated by the lack of colour and the use of black and white. I also like how some segments of the photograph have been placed back together and others are misplaced and disjoined. 

Giacomo Brunelli Inspired Work

I have taken a number of photographs of my cat, and edited them in the

 style of Giacomo Brunelli's photography.

With each photograph I first edited it to make a black and white image. I then enhanced the contrast levels on each image and changed the 'levels' to make the highlights in each shot stand out against the darker shades. I also brought down the the brightness level to create and eerie effect across each photograph, I then changed the colour levels so that blues and slight sepia tones came through with the black and whites. On some images I changed the vividness of the shot and added blurs and shaddows to improve the look of depth of field on the necessary shots; such as the close ups, in which I wanted the face or main features to stand out and be perfectly crisp, which would contrast the blurred background. 

 I like this image as the slight low angle presents a feel of power to the shot and makes the subject appear of high status and proud as well as the positioning of the subject and how the direction of view is away from the camera . I also like the contrast levels, how the light hits the subject and how the whites contrast the shaddows and darker areas of the photograph and also the blurred areas of the shot, which makes the face of the subject stand out.

 

Giacomo Brunelli's work has inspired these photographs by the lighting, the colours used and the eerie, mysterious nature that is continued through his work. I tried to recreate the feel of his photographs by editing the above pictures to be darker and creating dramatic contrasts between highlights and shadows. However, unlike Brunelli's grainy, unclear images which present a sense of aged photography, I used high focus and clear images to create a modern twist on the photographer's work. 

Giacomo Brunelli

Giacomo Brunelli Analysis 

Giacomo Brunelli is an Italian photographer that uses animals to inspire his work to portray the effects of development in current urban and country side wildlife. His images are bases upon both wild and domestic animals in their own habitats and shows a slightly unsettling representation of the animal kingdom that we understand. His work makes us question how much we understand each animal and the predictability of animals that we familiarise ourselves with. His work presents us with the darker side of the life of an animal, by using darker tones and capturing unusual behaviours in black and white, Brunelli creates an eerie, mysterious adaptation to the images of common animals that audiences are used to. He often takes the photographs from low angles to be able to capture the subjects in full and uses shallow depths of field to concentrate on areas of the photograph which infers emotions such as fear and anger. His images are commonly slightly blurred and  unclear, he also maintains a border to images and finishes them with rounded corners to recreate a dated effect. He often captures subjects while startled or angry, to create the intense emotional power that his photographs present, this adds to the unusual, abstract nature of his work. By constantly pushing boundaries and creating dramatic, shocking images, Brunelli produces captivated pieces in which he has described as “animal focused street photography”.