The Genius of Photography- Part 2 ,,Documents for Artists’’

1) What are Typologies?

Typology is a study of types. In photography it is the systematic, accurate recording of places, people and things (to create pure a document, just the facts nothing else). The series of photographs usually taken in a similar way (angle, lighting, composition, framing) which enables comparison of the subjects. 

 

Bernd & Hilla Becher

 2) What was “The Face of The Times”?

August Sander was a German commercial portrait photographer who in 1929 published his selection of the portraits under the title ,,The Face of The Times’’.  His human typology used a system of categorisation based on 7 social types and focused on functionality of the individual in society. He presented these images as strict documentary however each of them have a meaning behind it that you couldn’t talk about at the time when they were created (chaos in Germany during the period of post war).

August Sander

3) Which magazine did Rodchenko design?

Rodchenko designed the “URSS en construction” magazine. He was a master of photo- montage who introduced a new way of seeing. This radical photographic style was combined with cutting edge graphic to create political propaganda.

4) What is photo-montage?

Photo-montage is a graphic technique which has been taken from cinema montage. It’s composition obtained by  cutting, posting, retouching separate photographs and  re-photographing very last outcome. The final piece has a different and stimulated  meaning more than the original photographs.

5) Why did Eugene Atget use albumen prints in the 1920’s?

Albumen prints were used to print in the sunshine not in the darkroom. For 1920 the technique was quite old. However Atget didn’t know how to print using modern material and methods.

6) What is solarisation and how was it discovered?

Solarisation was discovered by Man Ray’s assistant Lee Miller in the late 1920s. No camera is involved when making this type of photograph. Solarisation is simply a characteristic effect created by exposing the print or film while is developed to the white light. It is a surrealistic metallic effect with areas of reverse tones like on negatives.

Man Ray

7) What was the relationship between Bernice Abbott and Eugene Atget?

Bernice Abbott was an assistant of Man Ray.  Eugene Atget was also a photographer and his work was inspiring for Bernice Abbott and she decided to take a portrait of Eugene Atget in 1927.

8) Why was Walker Evans fired from the FSA?

Walker Evans in 1935 was commissioned to produce propaganda images for the FSA – Farm Security Administration (the photography program created by American government to deal with the crisis). The photographs were supposed to show a perfect and idealised society in America. Evans shaped reality to fit his personal vision but he couldn’t make that vision fit to the propaganda requirements of FSA. He was sacked in 1937.

The Genius of Photography- Part 1 ,,Fixing the shadows''

1) What is photography’s “true genius”?

Throughout 170 years photography has served us, delighted us, moved us, intrigued us and sometimes disappointed us by showing the secret strangeness that lies beneath the world of appearance. It’s about what frame you put around the image, what comes in and what is cut off,  it tells its own story. Yet the story doesn’t end, is told beyond the frame... That is the true genius of photography.

Andre Kertesz 1928

2) Name a proto-photographer.

Henry Fox Talbot was one of the first proto-photographers. He was a British inventor of calotype process who also experimented with paper covered by silver salts. He also contributed to the concept of  negatives and positives (many positive copies can be made from negative).
 

Another proto-photographer worthy of mention is Louise Daguerre who was using copper plates to fix the images. A downside of this type of photography was that the image could not be reproduced like a Polaroid picture.

3) In the 19th century, what term was associated with the daguerreotype?

19^th century term refers to “A mirror with a memory”, which gives a very precise description as to what daguerreotype is.  Fixed images were done on mirror metal plate and reflected a highly detailed picture with impregnable sharpness. Tones of grey within the image and subject which seats on the background creates a very unique visual experience, almost like a 3D effect.

4) What is the vernacular?

Vernacular is a genre of photography which refers to unknown or amateur photographers work. Its subcategory contains journalistic, touristic, scientific photography. All media such as postcards, snapshots, passport photos and every kind of photography used except art. It contains some of photography’s greatest natural accuracy, a gift of the media itself rather than the genius of the individual photographer.

5) How do you “Fix the Shadows”?

Henry Fox Talbot experimented using chemistry, paper coated with silver salts and shoe box size cameras, which were nicknamed mouse traps. All of his images were paper based. Another photographer who found different way of fixing the shadows was Louis Daguerre. Basically “Fix the Shadows” is the process of stopping a picture from disappearing by overexposing to create permanent image.  

6) What is the “carte de visite”?

It was a type of photography which stood for the portraiture in 1854, patented by Andre Disderi. A person was photographed 8 times in rapid sequence by a camera with multiple lenses (8 poses in a space of few minutes). Cards were small and handy ie easy to send by post. It has turned photography into a true industry.

7) Who was Nadar and why was he so successful?

Nadar (Gaspard-Félix Tournachon) was a French celebrity photographer who photographed upper coming stars in the style that has changed the rules of portratuire. He photographed people as equals, they were standing in his daylight studio, plain background, looking authentic and wonderful. That is why they are considered to be the best portraits ever. Nadar had a specific way he looked at people. There was nothing to indicate what was the background or profession of the photographed person. It was the force of personality alone that was to convey the character of the person.

8) What is pictorialism?

Pictorialism is the era of an international style and aesthetic movement that dominated photography in late 19^th and early 20^th century. It refers to the style where the photographer deliberately manipulated the object to create this imagined photograph. It was a little bit like painting, creating the image rather than recording it.   

Edward Stychen

ITAP Lecture 9

IMAGE AND TEXT

In photography image is equally important as text. The relationship between two can significantly change the perspective and the way we look at the composition or a person and  object within a photograph. By adding text to the image we are able to totally overwrite the meaning of it. For example when we look at a photograph we try to interpret the message and purpose of it. Our thinking and view change when we start to read a text added below the photograph by the artist. We can then see the whole concept of that image from a different angle.

In documentary photography it is essential how we frame the scene and overall composition. An image doesn’t always tell the truth but it captures what we want to.

In a similar way the words can have another meaning depending on the image they have been placed by.

As a first example I would like to look at the work of English conceptual artist Gillian Wearing. She was born in Birmingham in 1963. She has put together photography exhibitions that were based on idea of photographing strangers in the street. They were asked to write on the piece of paper what was on their mind. With the permission from that person she photographed them standing on the street and holding their personal statement. Below is one of the most known images which represents a smartly dressed young man who looks quite calm and happy on his face. However the signs he is holding says ‘’I’m desperate” which completely changes our interpretation and a meaning of that photograph.   

Another image again shows a young man who is dressed a little bit scruffy. His face looks like he could have been on drugs or drunk. Also the background of that image looks very dingy. On the attached sign we can read his thought ,,I signed on and they would not give me nothing”. It gives a twist to the overall image and forces us to think about the story of that man. Why he feels and looks like that? Maybe someone or something made him to feel like that? Maybe he is not drunk but very upset...?

The next artist whose work I found inspirational is Sophie Calle. A French writer and photographer who uses in one of her series of images a projector to overlap a text with a photographed person.

Below I have included some of my photographs which incorporate with the text.

Image source
http://artwednesday.com/2012/05/13/whitechapel-x-gillian-wearing/
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/wearing-i-signed-on-and-they-would-not-give-me-nothing-p78350
http://eighteen39.com/2011/06/10/friday-feature-sophie-calle/

ITAP Lecture 8

PRODUCTION OF DESIGNERS

Principle 4

From novice to expert

Below we can see the Novice-to-Expert scale which provides certain criteria for each stage of becoming an Expert. It is used within various areas to rate peoples capabilities within that area and puts measures in place for overall performance.

In my opinion I consider myself to be between beginner and competent depending on the area and subject I am working on.

Throughout my practise and projects I have always been able to deliver a good quality of work. Each time I try to find the best solution for problem solving for the given brief. So far I have managed to be on time with final outcomes. Nevertheless I could improve on that in the future and be even more organised. Completing my previous course in the college contributed to my knowledge and understanding of photographic techniques on a satisfactory level. However after my first term at the University I know I have to place more consideration on the target audience of my work and inspirations as well as recording all my ideas in the RVJ. My weakness is drawing. That is why I prefer to put images or photographs of other practitioners which might influence my work in the future.

Below are examples of my work which, to some degree, confirm my knowledge of camera, post-production techniques and quality of work.

The experts

I feel like I have to master many aspect of a photographers ‘life’ and obtain more experience in order to go beyond those standards to become an expert. However there is many experts around that I can be inspired by and their work will have an impact on my creativity. I don’t have a favourite photographer and generally I don’t like the word favourite. In my opinion many historical and contemporary photographers deserve attention for the work they have produced which also impacts on how the photography has been formed.

One historical artist whose creations I admire is Henri Cartier-Bresson. He was a French photographer considered to be the father of modern photojournalism and a master of candid photography. He helped develop the street photography and life reportage style that has influenced the photographers of future generations. He created the concept of ‘The Decisive Moment”.

‘’The decisive moment, is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of events as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression’’.

Another expert of this kind is contemporary British photographer Martin Parr. He is known for his photographic projects that take a critical look at certain aspects of modern life and society in England. For me personally the most outstanding project is ,,The last resort’’ where Martin Parr, in a very innovative way, documents the seaside of Brighton. The very colourful images show the truth about British culture  in the mid 19^th century.

Image source

http://www.swiatobrazu.pl/100-najwazniejszych-zdjec-swiata-henri-cartier-bresson-decydujacy-moment-21062.html

http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/hyeres-cartier-bresson/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/photography/genius/gallery/parr.shtml