STRUCTURE
Exhibition Visit
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The Radical Eye
Penn 'Corner Portraits'.
Portraits/Bodies
Experiments
Documents
Objects, Perspectives, Abstractions
Structure in Nature
Myoung Ho LeeMyoung Ho Lee has produced a series of photos that simplistically represent the reality and art within nature and the environment around us. Myoung Ho Lee makes us look at the structure of the tree in its natural element but made artificially solo. His work is largely composed of four different procedures; selection of the subject, separation of the subject, photographing and confirmation of the subject.
ResponseIn response to this artist we have taken white card out into the natural environment and have searched for interesting structures within nature to photograph against the white background and then again showing the extra context of surroundings where the photo was taken.
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The, above, slideshow shows a close up of the plant I was focusing on, the before image prior to editing on photoshop and the process of editing that I did. On photoshop I used 'auto colour' and 'auto contrast' as well as sharpening the image to enhance the detail as well as adding a new 'curves' layer to depend the contrast and whiten the paper.
Field Work
Sanna KannistoSanna Kannisto isolates plants and flowers in devoid of their context. She puts them in front a backdrop and displays them on scientific apparatus. She closely inspects the structures of the plants and the amazing depth and detail they have to them.
ResponseIn response to Sanna Kannisto we used scientific apparatus to display items of nature in front of a white backdrop. We photographed the plants independently as well as showing the apparatus that was holding it up.
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Extension Task - I am the Door
Diane BielikDiane Bielik has a collection of images of blossoms taken over a few years. Half of her images are taken on site with a basic camera and the others are taken on a film camera in a studio, that are left to wither and painted. Bielik suspends the blossom in front of an artificial sky.
ResponseIn response to Bielik I took images of blossoms in front of a white backdrop using lights to create shadows. I then took these images onto photoshop where I edited them using Bielik's images as inspiration.
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With Diane Bielik's film images as my inspiration I used photoshop to recreate similar images. I started off by using 'unsharp mask' to enhance the detail in the image as well as adding a new 'curves' layer to edit the contrast. For the first image (above) I used 'layer>new fill layer>solid colour' and chose a shade of blue to overlay the image with. I then changed its opacity to 'hard light' which allows you to still see the image underneath the layer of colour. To edit the image to the right, I followed the same steps as above but duplicated the layer and used 'filter>artistic>smudge stick'. This gave a subtle effect of grain, similar to if it was taken on a film camera.
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Brutalist Structure
Simon PhippsSimon Phipps photographs brutalist architecture from a unique perspective and considers angles, focal points and symmetry that portray brutalism in a distinctive and contentious style.
ResponseIn response to Phipps I travelled to the Barbican and the Brunswick Centre where I photographed brutalist architecture, similarly to Phipps, thinking about lines and symmetry and how to capture the buildings creating an interest and a focal point.
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The image above was taken in Chelsea. I took the image standing quite close to the building at a a very low angle and looking up at the building to direct the eye up the lines of the image.
I then went onto photoshop where I added two new layers of 'curves' and 'black and white' and I then sharpened the image to enhance the detail. To make the image more abstract I duplicated the layer and used 'edit>transform>flip horizontal' and followed this by lightening the new layer so that you can see a merge of the two images crossed over each other.
I then went onto photoshop where I added two new layers of 'curves' and 'black and white' and I then sharpened the image to enhance the detail. To make the image more abstract I duplicated the layer and used 'edit>transform>flip horizontal' and followed this by lightening the new layer so that you can see a merge of the two images crossed over each other.
The image to the left was taken at the Barbican. Similarly to the image above I took a low angle image looking up at the building. The eye is drawn up the image even though most of its lines are horizontal. On photoshop I did the same by adding two layers of 'curves' and 'black and white' enhancing the contrast between the blacks and the whites. |
Extension Part 1 - Brutalism
Thomas DanthonyDanthony partnered with Black Dragon Press regarding brutalist architecture in London. He simplifies his images on photoshop and creates screen prints of the buildings.
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For this task I used my previously taken brutalist images and simplified them on photoshop using the 'polygonal lasso tool'. With this tool I selected each individual shape in the building and then selected 'filter>blur>average' which simplified averaged the colours within the selected areas. When the editing was complete I also made a second copy of the images with a black background which is similar to Thomas Danthony's work.
Extension Part 2 - Brutalism
EVOLEVOL is a German street artist who places images onto urban surfaces transforming them into mini lifelike buildings. To create these images EVOL uses stencils and photography combined onto urban surfaces producing mini city structures. He also draws balcony's and windows straight onto pieces of cardboard creating more mini buildings.
ResponseIn response to EVOL we used our brutalist images of buildings that we then printed and cut out and re-glued the windows onto a piece of large cardboard. We ended up with similar creations to EVOL and photographed them in urban situations to create an illusion of a real building.
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Using EVOL as inspiration I selected one of my images of buildings, however I had none that were face on. To make the image (below in slideshow) look as if it was taken face on I went onto photoshop and used 'edit>transform>distort' to play around with the angles of the image eventually achieving a face on image. I then, once again, used 'curves' and 'black and white' to simplify the image and enhance the contrast. |
Once I had a final image I printed it off A3 and cut out chunks of the image such as the windows and placed the cut outs back onto a piece of cardboard to create a the look of a building. Once I was finished creating my faux building on cardboard I took pictures of it by placing it in scenes and photographing the cardboard as if it were a real building. |
Three Strands
Strand One - Migrants
Krista SvalbonasSvalbonas has created a series called 'Migrants' in which she edits multiple buildings into one picture as if they were one. She describes it as a turn on the "analytical gaze of the architecture of her past and present while offering a personal reflection on the nature of home."
ResponseFor this strand I have photographed buildings of different styles including brutalism. I chose to mix contrasting structures by editing them on photoshop and pasting them together to create the illusion of one building.
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Using Svalbonas as inspiration I selected a couple of images of buildings and selected each building, inversed the selection and cut out the background. I then duplicated the layer and repeated this process resulting in having a translucent background. I pasted these solo buildings onto one image and moved them around using free transform until I was happy with their formation.
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Strand Two - Geometric Maps
May XiongMay Xiong has created a series of photographs entitled 'Geometric Maps'. In this series Xiong enhances and highlights the complexities of the structure of the human body. She uses a neutral palette to keep the attention on the detail of her editing. Xiong uses paint and edits geometric shapes onto the model.
ResponseIn response to May Xiong I have been inspired to outline and enhance the structure of the human face and body. I have photographed different models, some standard portraits and some similar to Xiong's, and I have taken these images onto photoshop where I added lines to create a 'geometric map'.
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To create these 'geometric maps' I used the 'pen tool' on photoshop and then selected the 'line tool'. I then drew random lines stemming from the structure of the models face to create an abstract structure around the face. I also added a filter on top of the image using the 'gradient map' followed by lightening the filter and decreasing the opacity. |
Strand Three - 'Everything is Beautiful'
Hayley WarnhamHayley Farnham brings back old black and white photos and adds a touch of fun and colour to them. She adds quirk to old family photos by reviving them with new life.
ResponseUsing Warnham as inspiration I have photographed my family and friends in natural settings to create a feel for old style family photos. I brought them onto photoshop and edited them to look older as well as erasing people and objects into block colours, like Warnham's images.
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To edit these Hayley Farnham inspired pictures I used the polygonal lasso tool to select the section of the image I wished to block out. Once I did this I used filter>blur>average to average out the colours of the image and I then used the paint bucket tool to make it a bright colour similar to the artists work. To finalise the editing I used a filter, 'sepia', to make the image have a vintage feel as well as adding a neutral border to make it look as if it was a scan of an old photograph.
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Strand Three Development 1 - Urbanscapes
Mauren BrodbeckIn Brodbecks's series 'urbanscape' she photographs a series of urban images and erases the architecture within the photo. With her erased structure she transforms them by averaging them into one pop of colour.
ResponseIn response to Brodbeck I photographed the streets of London to capture an urban feel. I then took these images onto photoshop where I chose one piece of structure to average and turn into a blank canvas.
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To create these images I opened them on photoshop and using the 'polygonal lasso tool' selected the building I chose to erase. I then used filter>blur>average to average the colours within the image. To finish the image I used the paint bucket tool and chose a bright colour to put on the structure of the building.
Development 2 - 'Urbanscapes' Extension
Second Response
Similarly to my first development I have taken photographs of buildings and taking them onto photoshop I have cut out the structure of the windows and replaced them with a 2D block of colour. I have used Mauren Brodbecks work as inspiration where she blocks out one whole structure.
Development 3 - Collages
Guy CatlingGuy Catling focuses on collage work and takes old pictures and make them look 'new' again. He does this by gathering old war photos and drawing inspiration from his surroundings to create bright and contrasting images.
ResponseIn response to Catling's work, I photographed my own buildings in central London. I then took these images onto photoshop were I erased one or two buildings, of many, and placed my own pictures of nature behind it. I merged two - three images into one to create the illusion of nature structured buildings.
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To create these images I brought an images of buildings into photoshop that I edited into black and white and adjusted it using curves where I felt it was necessary. I then carefully selected the buildings that I wanted to erase using the 'polygonal lasso' tool and once selected I cut the buildings out. This left the buildings with no background. For the below image I erased two buildings so I opened two images of nature, a tree trunk and some leaves, and copied and pasted them into one image formed of two layers. I then selected the image of buildings and copied and pasted it onto the image with the 2 layers of nature. i rearranged the images until they fit perfectly and merged the layers into one.
Development 4 - 'Natural Act'
Merve OzaslanOzaslan is an Istanbul based artist who uses collages to create a relationship between nature and humanity. He uses old black and white photographs of people on streets and buildings and inserts natural, scenic images onto them. The black and white of the photographs against the coloured scenery heightens the contrast between the two images making the image stand out even more.
ResponseI am using Ozalan's series called 'Natural Act' as inspiration for my next development where I will be pasting images of nature onto the sides of buildings and end of terrace buildings. This mixes two contrasting structures in an interesting and exciting way.
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To create these images inspired by Merve Ozaslan I used the 'polygonal lasso tool' to select the side of a building. I then cut this selection out and pasted an image of nature behind it. I used 'transform>distort' to edit the image to look like it's at the same angle as the side of the building. I then selected 'new adjustment layer>black&white' to make the building black and white like the artists and i merged these two layers so that the image of nature was the only coloured one.
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Development 5 - 'Natural Act' Extension
Second Response
As an extended development of Merve Ozaslan's 'Natural Act' series I have moved on from buildings to windows. For this development I will be putting images of nature behind windows to create the illusion of looking out. I photographed different types of doorways around London to merge with an image of nature.
To edit the above picture I used the polygonal lasso tool to select each individual window and then cut them out. I ended up with the above image where the windows were transparent. I copied and pasted an image I took of nature and placed it behind the building layer so that it appears through the windows. The screenshot on the right shows the method I used and how I repeatedly used the same steps. I like how the image turned out as it looks as if the leaves are coming out of the windows.
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Final Piece - Merging Structures
John DivolaThese images show Divola's 'Zuma' series where he photographed a beach font from a property that has been vandalised plus his own added graffiti. He wanted to portray the natural and inevitable processes of decay.
ResponseUsing John Divola as inspiration for my final piece I photographed shops on the streets of Muswell Hill as well as images of nature and water. I took these images onto photoshop where I cut out the windows of the shops and placed the image of nature behind it. This merges the two structures and creates the illusion of looking out of a window when you're really looking in.
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As developments from my fifth development 'Natural Act Extension' I decided to take pictures of shops with no people, lamp posts or objects in the front. I wanted to just have the shop in the image to keep with the simplicity of the artist's work. I have also decided to take nature pictures with more depth and land in it as the images I used in my fifth development were up close and you couldn't see much land. I think this will look more realistic and capture the eye with the simple but fascinating merge of structures.
In editing my pictures I used layer>new adjustment layer and chose different methods of editing (shown below). With these I adjusted them to the settings I thought suited best for each picture. I also made sure to sharpen and straighten the images, using the grid as a guideline, to get the best results out of my picture. To get the images I have created above I used the 'polygonal lasso tool' and selected each individual shop window. I then cut out each selection and I was left with transparent windows. I then opened the images of the sea/nature and edited them ,similarly as below, and selected, copied and pasted them into each image of the shops. I was left with two layers that I moved around to how I liked I made sure the horizons were below each of the shops structure so it wasn't cut of by any of the building. I particularly like the images where there is still land in the image through the shop window as it looks like you would still be able to go through the door and be on land.