still life.product. studio

Level 5 photography
Still life- product
Studio


To get the lighting right, had to make up a mini box of a studio where you block some light on the Bowens to make a strip in the middle of the two Bowens to get a subtle light on product. Have two booms to clip two pieces of black paper over Bowens and leave  strip in the middle for balanced light to get through, if have no other boom, uses celetape on paper to bowens instead. Clean the glass before use because the lights will pick up the dirt and fluff and grease and then place paper underneath the glass onto a table. Will need a white screen behind the two dark boards to absorb the lift and reflect it onto the back of the product, this will work by having a bowen behind the white screen.

still life. vanitas/ nature motre. symbolism and meaning within still life

Level 5 photography
Still Life- Vanitas/ Nature Motre
Symbolism and meaning within still life

Skull- Symobolises death

Fruit- Represent the sweet and sour within life, which in paintings usually use a citrus fruit. Citrus fruits used to show how life can be,when fruit is ripe it is ready to eat but when it is over ripe it is rotting away and gone.

Flowers- Transience of life. They depict in paintings the expensive object as a reminder that life is temporary and moral considerations deserved more attention than material things.

Timepieces-   Clock and watches are used to signify the passing of time, time is limited, therefore use it wisely, reminds people of their own mortality. Symbol of the temporary nature of our lives and how fragile it can be

Abundance of food-  Represent wealth and a luxurious life, fruit and flowers don't last forever just like a life won't

Wine and Goblets-  Represent material pleasure and belongings, also show wealth and luxury

Mirror- A clear symbol of the vanity that should be avoided.

Books- Human Knowledge and its temporary nature

still life. Evaluation

Level 5 photography
Still Life
Evaluation

For the two weeks of each project the behind of I have produce was aiming to fit with each genre whilst also finding my own style of photography to help me choose whether I want to do fine art or commercial. The first project I was introduced to is food with Richard which the class and me have not met before in person but have learned a lot on how to improve editing using the curves as I did not realise that I could use the ink pickers on the image to brighten an image or making the whole image contrast. Doing the food photography I based it around on what I would actually eat so that I do not put in the bin if not my taste, I did enjoy a little but not to experiment more into my independent learning agreement as I like photographing people and so far perfumes, food photography looks so simple but no it is not, there is a lot of time to put into it and have a great eye on lighting food either being natural light or in the studio but I didn’t use the studio for food I did it in the natural light to be in my comfort zone.  I was influenced by my own ideas and what I had in my flat so that my funding for the 5 projects which overall helped to keep me motivated to work. My final outcome meets the requirements of the still life brief as I have printed 8 finals which all in gloss and sized 12x16 (A3) I just printed them out in the university asking the technicians to print my Tiff files which are in good quality and not too much money and presented in a portfolio box and labelled my prints and placed the prints in sleeves so they don’t get scratched or dirty. I would say I have developed skills in the studio when I was photographing products which I really liked but the lighting set up has still not really been taken in but probably due to not having much self -confidence, but do know how to set up the equipment’s to reflect light right using booms, clipping paper correctly to make the lighting subtle and keep in light using the white boards. One big goal I have achieved during this project is getting social context and colour balancing right in Photoshop but I do need to remember to shoot in Raw on my camera so I can enhance my images professionally, the tutors have time managed much better by only giving two weeks which is motivating if I have an idea in head quick but for documentary and independent learning agreement It was great to think up on meaning or story however digital montage was very difficult to attempt but think because didn't really know what the tutors were after so I felt like I was editing and hoping for the best and have to self- taught on cutting and composition the elements to fit together without defined lines, luckily I knew some manipulating skills but to be honest there is Youtube tutorials on editing skills so not the end of the world. How I did my digital montage I have related my work to Julia Geiser where she cuts into bodies in half and replace it to an piece from another source from internet e.g. rock. Julia likes to replace the human body to animals and cutting off the face.  There was a lot more self direction on this project which was challenging as I didn’t really motivate myself however I did overcome when having to do the tutorials on what I have achieved, without those tutorials I think it will be more of a struggle because not really discipline myself into doing it and leave it to last minute. I was challenged by the writing of an Independent Learning Agreement as this was something I have not done before and coming up with my own mini brief was daunting but is good practice for next year. Reflecting though my work I would of reshoot my food to be hands on food styling and push myself to go to the studio using the lights and glass to reflect the food and be lighten up and use the materials like the marbles and wood cut up work tops and balance it on stands and place my food so I will feel what an actual food photographer do to sell his images to food companies and could of gone to restaurants and asked if I can photograph their food and take out light from the workshop and use capture one on location. The Vanitas module was good team building exercise and to see if working in groups is for me but has taught me on how to make your own version from a 17^th Century painting which was fun but not for me to do for next year, being in groups wasn't everyone’s things as everyone has different ways in seeing a masterpiece so have to deal with commitments to opinions and not cause arguments and if something in the set up needs changing you have to have a necessary reason and be very strong in your own opinion and use your voice and go with instincts. Personally wanted my work to be able to have a connection with the viewer about the social context about my single mother project as socializing and still having fun with friends and feel like there is someone there that to be loved while have a child would that man look after someone else’s child and would the child accept that the mother has moved on and found a new father and the real father not cared and the love was just not there and seeing the child could possibly be a sad resemblance of memories of the mother but will feel that the love is gone and feel the child will not accept that and push the father to go back.

still life. what is digital montage

Level 5 photography
Still life- digital montage
What is digital Montage

Photomontage is the process and the result of making a composition of photographs by cutting and joining images into a new image. The technique is through an image editing software 'Photoshop' which images that are placed into the montage is from various sources, as parts of different photographs or fragments of printing and from internet, to give the illusion that the elements belonged together originally or allow each elements to retain its separate identity as adding meaning to the composition by selecting, editing and piecing together separate sections of films, photographs, internet sources to form a continuous whole. A photomontage may contain elements of real and imaginary. Combined photographs and digital manipulation may set up a conflict between aesthetics and ethics, in fake images that are presented to the world adversing can lead to mislead viewers to subjects.

Contemporary photograph editors in magazines now create digitally, by being easier to come together with editing and pasting in images to adobe photoshop as this programme allow faster workflow and more precise results. They also allow artists to undo errors, the current trend is to create images combine painting, theatre, illustration, and graphics.

still life. ILA. Sarah Cwynar

Level 5 photography
Still Life- ILA
Sarah Cwynar

Sarah's work looks very interesting as she has brought in a bunch of items that create a personality  and the first image could be about a women or male obviously this person likes to shop and travel and pictures is their treasure. the person is clumsy and likes drinking tea and reads newspapers to find out about the world, I guess the hand is representing that the newspaper is the main bit of her life as she likes to keep up to date with the events and dangers around her or him and could be just paying newspapers for up coming jobs or travels of places she not been yet and take pictures. There is coins in the picture too, maybe to show that she not got a lot of money but the money she has she uses it for something to pleasure whether it be updating her camera or traveling to boost her portfolio. Picture of the women could be of the person who photographed this image or it is part of her family, there is a male photograph in this image too which could be a model she done to do some portrait pictures to persuade an employee to give this person a job or again some one she cares about for example family or friend.

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/474989091923694491/

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/125326802103395009/

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/47006389833986580/

All of Sarah's work is all about a person which my project is about but there is two images that is different to the first image which she has used colours instead of looking bold. She uses objects that is very common to be kept in the house so she is photographing all cheaply or has a budget on what to spend to produce portfolio so then she has enough money for her living style.

still life. ILA. Pinterest research on Brooke Holmes

Level 5 photography
Still life- ILA
Pinterest research

On this Pinterest research I come across over head shots and placing objects on coloured card to make tiles or just a one colour backdrop which Brooke Holmes has done but he chooses objects to reflect the persons personality  being what he or she wears, what does the person do daily. I looked at how sweets and toys can be displayed in the image to represent a child interests so I get an idea on how to place the child's personality in my single mother project either by putting all the toys on shelves and have mannequin dressing as a mother going out to party and a bottle of alcohol near it. I could do a collage of the toys and candy mixed like the style of Emily Blincoe but with the mother side in a style like a grid but be careful in choosing the right colours so that the grid collage effect won't go all random and look as if I have just put much thought in the image by placing not contrasting colours objects and then the viewer be too distract in reading the image about the mother and childs daily life. Having spills like how Mizuki Ono to have action in the image and look as if the person I am doing about seems to have just done her daily life and I have recorded it into an image, the spills can be seen how the mother has her fun and imagine how messy her party life is or the spills could be about the child where the child may get tantrums and acts on it with damaging the house or the items which are very personal to the mother that makes the mother not have a strong bond with the child.

BROOKE HOLMES

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/31877109835629615/

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/525373112756365184/

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/525373112756365182/

Mycrica Bergqvist

EMILY BLINCOE

BEN BLACKHALL

 Jcupani

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/520869513125485311/

Mizuki ONO

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/409194316118714022/

SEAN FENNESY

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/61431982392404385/

Marianne Maguire

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/121667627410135220/

still life. Documentary. Social Context

Level 5 photography
Still Life- Documentary
Social Context

It is vital that I have included in my documentary still life mini assignment is that the image must have a social context which means the objects refer to the society and how people see things and relate to it. Documentary still life is about having a heavy meaning within a specific genre and focus on peoples lives or events that could be explored if interests me to my idea of documenting student life. Documentary still life can be a way of making an absent portrait of someones personality or telling a story visually through an image on there every day life and hobbies and interests etc.

I feel that my student life holds a social context as much as the photographer Irving Penn as I have been focusing on how he has set up his objects and tied them all together to resemble each other to subject of social gatherings. I wanted to do student life for my documentary project as I wanted to show in ways how young adults in studying wastes their money on drinks and possibly betting to get the stress of their minds and actually feel like they are living life having fun while still young because just working all the time and when your older you look back and see that you have missed out on socializing with different personality traits in people and develop a strong human being learning the dangers around you, find yourself in style and interests and learning things from others and learn from mistakes from being stupid, find love and learn from the hurt. When looking back and all you did was work could bring back boring memories of the studying life of university  but really you should be able to balance out the social and the work and make memories and make use of those young years as possible.

still life. Vanitas/Nature Motre. Paintings

Level 5 photography
Still life- vanitas/ Nature Motre
Artists


JUAN SCANCHEZ COTAN 

This painter was influential during the 17th century, painting Nature Morte, his painting of still using quince, Melon and cucumber is showing that he has an individual style  of hanging some fruit or vegetables and some sat on the ground created a curve that leads the viewers eyes through the painting, the lighting is set from the front left which is noticeable by seeing shadows. Cotan's work is similar painted to Caravaggio with the use of lighting forming shadows and detail in the objects showing the texture and shape either focusing on food or flowers as the food used within this painting his still life's doesn't look very nourishing which suggest that this is influenced highly from his experience joining the Carthusians that were known as vegetarians that has led him to this style of painting. His concern with the relationships among the objects and with achieving the illusion of reality throught the use of light and shadow was a major influence on the work of later Spanish painter such as Juan Van der Hamen. Cotan style is with Venetian and his work is placed in the transition from Mannerism to Boroque, characterically he depicts a few simple fruits, some which hang from a fine string at different levels while others sit on a ledge or window. This form stand out with an almost geometric clarity against a dark background.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Fra_Juan_S%C3%A1nchez_Cot%C3%A1n_001.jpg

CARAVAGGIO

Caravaggio was an influential painter of the 17th Century and his Nature Motre paintings were demonstrative of the fashions and symbolisms. His painting 'Basket of fruit' is all about the use of diagonal lines and horizontal lines to lead the viewers eyes into the image. Caravagio used the diagonal branch on the right side to lead the eyes towards the basket of fruit as that bit has the most light shone on it and has made a shadow of the branch and he has painted the lighting of the certain parts of the left to make the image contrast and balance out. Caraavaggio paintings combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional with dramatic use of the lighting and had a influence on Baroque painting. He likes the idea of flatness and 3D illusions and perspective, this is advance for the 17th Century. The painting 'Basket of fruit' shows Caravaggio's inspiration, the renaissance as the grapes and the leaves has been very close to depictions within paintings during the renaissance period.

http://www.artinvest2000.com/caravaggio_basket-fruit.jpg

still life. ILA. mannequins

Level 5 photography
Still life- ILA
Pinterest research 2 on mannequins


I have researched on Pinterest on people's art to get ideas which is most likely achievable and looks documentary. Looking into Manequines has helped me in which I should dress up my character in my scenery on a specific mother. I wanted my documentary having clothes in it as I wanting to do commercial in level 6 to study fashion photography and lighting in set up more professionally. It has helped looking for artists in Pinterest as the scenes looks beautiful as the artist has stuck with the specific style, all objects relating to each other and colours blending with the dress and shoes, Sandra has used light sweet colours and looks a bit fairy tale as it has a bit of woodland in the image by using branches as picture frame, looks a bit in the days of 1960s as she has used the phone from that decade, she has made this her image as if documenting that a women is getting ready for a serious party or the ball and is winter maybe by the use of tinsel and the pink tree. The mannequin is representing that the women is not high class as the chair and table and window frame paint is chipping off but the class she is in not low but middle as she can afford items that she needs to stand out to people that she is not scruff and can look after herself and not too bad on money. Personality on this image sees to be that she has been in a competition before and has won and is very girly, likes to look her best and likes photography and wildlife.

Sandra Boyd

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/147211481544306615/

Carmin L

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/435864070157435524/

Carmin image looks very different to Sandra's image as the items seem to be representing what she does to earn money. The way the mannequin is dressed she is very old fashioned  and could be working with horses due to the boot and the belt  or she works in a wood shop. Possibly does some textiles work for a hobby  because the manequinne clothing look half finished and the necklace could represent that she has a lover in her life and he works in the wood workshop and she just lends a hand. Having the lamp in the image could mean that the place she is in she uses a lamp instead of the lights in the house to save money so that wood workshop can carry on and women can carry on with her sewing but lamp could just represent she needs a lamp to see the sewing machine more. The big clock could be that the women or male in her life has to be on time with the work .

still life. digital montage. Plagiarism

Level 5 photography
Still Life- digital montage
Is it right to use others work in photomontage?


It is often found within the art of photomontage is the appropriation of other's work. This art is divided on many people claiming that it is plagiarism but others opinion it it fine as long the image is altered in some way, as the artist has done something that makes it their own.  In my opinion photo taken by someone else and used as a background and adds own images to adapt it then this does not class as plagiarism as this does not affect the creator. Plagiarism has always been a big concern in the art industry this is because  artists want their work to show their own efforts. The act of stealing and passing off ideas can become taking advantage as technology these days can be dangerous as someone out there can take your credit and reproduce and sell and publish it in their name.

still life.product. shoot 3

Level 5 photography
Still life- Product
Shoot 3



In this shoot I have done portrait framed perfumes to see more of the brand more clearly and use less objects in the frame so that the viewers can just focus on one item. To make the perfume light up more I have used paper as filters and placed one underneath the camera so it bounces onto the lid to make it more golden. I have used a white board on the left side so that the image don't get too much light and be over exposed and have used to black paper and celetaped it to the light to make a middle line to contrast the lighting.

To get the flower to stand up I have used blue tack on the stem and stuck to the glass and placed a petal to hide the blue tack. I have used petals on the glass to distort the reflections and and add colour to the glass instead of using coloured card under the glass.

still life. product. shoot 2

Level 5 photography
Still Life- Product
Shoot 2

I think the pink card works really well as it makes the image look very sweet and summery, for first image I chose my gold, pink heels that matched with the guilty secret perfume and have filled the space of the landscape frame. Having the camera rise over the glass a little helps so much in getting more of the products in to fill the space and brings out the reflections.

still life. product. shoot 1

Level 5 photography
Still Life- Product
Shoot 1


In this shoot I have been taking images of shoes and bags with flowers so then I am doing some fashion shoots advertising photos and get the idea on how they appeal buyers to get the magazine and spend money on these accessories. For my next shoot I will like to try and photograph perfume with this set up, to me I think the black card of paper is best to bring out reflections onto the glass. When doing my perfume photographs I will do a portrait frame and use the flowers more decorative and try different coloured card to put under the glass to see if brings out more reflections clearer or just great to blend the colours and texture to the perfume and flowers.

Still life. Introduction to vanitas/nature motre

Level 5 photography
Still Life- Vanitas/ Nature Motre
Introduction to Vanitas/Nature Motre

The 17th Century vanitas pieces began to develop deeper meaning than religion and portraiture, as the pieces may lie in their family fully self conscious acceptance of their 'internal flaw'. Vanitas is built on conflict between world rejection and desires. Dutch still life want their images to represent a faithful record of the hours spent in their production. Dutch still life is unique for the symmetry between anonymous and self techniques and the range of possibilities afforded by rhopographic painting. Rhopography works against the idea of greatness, exploration of others passions, ambitions, heroism and daily living.

Dutch still life painters are not attracted by still life as self expression, they know in society awareness of class and ordinary and everyday experience of eating and drinking.

The phrase Nature Motre- translated as Nature Dead was used to describe the genre after the 17th century. Vanitas relates to Nature Morte paintings with meanings to relate to vanity and death. Nature Motre and vanitas paintings are symbolism, meaning, composition and lighting that is the most important factors to consider a successful painting.

still life. ILA. Mari Mahr

Level 5 photography
Still Life- ILA
Mari Mahr

Mari Mahr is an experimental photographer who has a very specific style in telling a story. Within her work she always takes photos and prints them and then layers objects over them before retaking images of them in different positions. Her series 13 clues to a Fictitous crime is an example of her layering as she uses photographs of her moother and objects she has received from her mother which is in her youthful ways as Mari only knew her from early photographs.

http://marimahr.com/works/13_clues/index.html

http://marimahr.com/works/13_clues/index.html

Some of these images has given me an insight on how I can stage my objects in the room with a dress or coat on chair representing presence or an before act of the mother going out to party.

http://marimahr.com/works/13_clues/index.html

I find this artist helped me in ways I could represent my chosen objects to highlight the mother's personality if I am wanting to do close ups and experiment with layering taken images i have took from objects in different positions and relationships with other objects.

http://marimahr.com/works/13_clues/index.html

still life. ILA. Synopsis of study

Level 5 photography
Still Life- ILA
Independent Learning Agreement 

During this module my course class asked to write and submit an Independent Learrning Agreement (ILA), which is a chosen are on still life whether it be vanitas/Nature Motre, Documentary, food, digital montage or product. By doing a ILA for the final weeks of this project it all allowed us to decide on topic to do with still life that will help figure out a chose on wanting to do fine art or commercial in third year of this course of BA HONS Photography. The ILA format is a way of expressing my skill and writing up a professional brief then email it to a the module tutor, Jill, before we met for a tutorial to discuss improvements on english on my brief and layout is correct and further my ides, if Jill is happy from my corrections and no further ideas needed it will then be signed off so that I can go ahead and begin with the proposed project. I have to print three finals that is best suited within my ILA

Synopsis of study

My intension for this project is to develop my understanding of still life documentary by using objects meaning something or tell a story. I have in mind using objects that will illustrate a single mother who is an Alcoholic and always out partying or having social gatherings in her house, instead of looking after her child. Idea of doing this is to photograph children toys such as a teddy bear, Barbie doll or miniature animals. To do the alcoholic side of the story I will have shot glasses tipped over and some filled, or empty alcohol bottles lying on floor then scatter some cards, chess pieces and party clothing she wore that night, then I will photograph in natural light. Artists I have found that does something similar to this are Sarah Cwynar, and Rose Secure on Pinterest where they photograph kids bedrooms which gave me ideas on ways to layout the items I have in mind. However my work is going to be staged just like Andre Kertesz where he limits the amount of objects in his image as I feel many items in the frame will distract from the story and confuse the viewer. Mari Mahr I will look into if wanting to play around on layering printed photographs and zoom in on objects the way she does so that objects will be clearer what it is with no gaps. Andre also focuses on shadows and think deeply about which objects to use to create a personality and how to organize the objects at a location that has the best natural lighting whether it be just using a lamp or in front of a window.  ­­­­If I want to develop this project without using natural light by wanting to experiment with gels on lights and using backdrops so that I can go along the commercial pathway in fashion and learning more about editing in capture one and Photoshop. I am planning to demonstrate how certain single mother’s neglects their children by doing a series of photoshoots of a sophisticated mother, children messy and low income mother and finally a teen mother. It should be interesting to document a story about single mother’s life styles.

still life. digital montage. Julia Geiser influence

Level 5 photography
Still Life- digital Montage
Juilia Geiser influence

I have taken the idea from Julia on the colour background and took the idea of the rock holding the subject then carried on with the experiment of patterns like Peter Carrington for the background which I think makes my image look over all cute and lots to look at but am not too sure if this is my final print for digital montage mini assignment. I may have another go on Julias work and do less of Peter Carrington sketch idea.

Still life. Digital Montage. Julia Geiser

Level 5 photography
Still Life- digital montage
Julia Geiser

Julia Geiser is an artist based in Switzerland. Her collages are imaginative out of a diversity of modern and vintage motifs. Her collages she uses pictures taken from the internet. 'The chosen picture oscillate between legal and aesthetic borders or uses finds filters from online galleries or friends. With this strategy the collections of images from internet and her gallery of images becomes the inspiration and out of it rises a wide diversity of styles and images.



http://www.outshoot.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/julia-geiser-02.jpg


http://www.schlachthaus.ch/_upload/image/medium/i_20130311-110437-36.jpg


http://40.media.tumblr.com/b1b043b6c0aec9c539d4239b2b489154/tumblr_nk9ywhzIyp1rv44ddo1_500.jpg


http://36.media.tumblr.com/9f696440717f840a56dedcfc24a2fa29/tumblr_nkbrolckNd1rv44ddo1_500.jpg


http://41.media.tumblr.com/c894e9b2e54b6352ccb2881a7607a284/tumblr_neiumjnZ4s1qzcapfo1_500.jpg



http://lamonomagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Julia-Geiser-7.jpg

still life. digital montage. Oddly Head

Level 5 photography
Still Life- Digital Montage
Oddly Head 

Visual artist Oddly Head recently done a series of collages and other works gathered and titled "This place Must be earth", where pop and street art influences are combined to produce witty and humorous gestures of social criticism. Under its cheerful colours and pop references, some of his work conceals a strong sense of frustration, disappointment and despair about what the world has come to. For example, three collages of works from the series are inspired by the morally hollywood world which focuses on the film industry's like guns, explosions and damsels in distress.




http://thednalife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Image_3.jpg




http://www.yatzer.com/assets/Article/3546/images/Getting-The-Fuck-Out-of-Dodge-Oddly-Head-yatzer.jpg


http://www.laboiteverte.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/oddlyhead-collage-circulaire-02-1080x698.jpg


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eD5BduzRDktpGOA0gcE1aGDUa-tblMvriayH7KEheToReCkBZQ0JZSh7SejVkif4IYz0SPiqF1MYuhn1sH8Y1VZNBvBcFJm5s1qPdQAtsokKW17DHx3ONjeDNxrpeZr-xjBSZd-20Ck/s1600/Image_9.jpg