Monday, 8 June 2020
Contingency
photography may be used in future personal projects, taking inspiration from the ideas planned within this final major project.
Tuesday, 24 March 2020
Case study - Note to self, Connor Franta
The product I am conducting research under is a bio/autobiography titled Note to Self by Connor Franta consisting of artistic photographs in parallel to notations the artist had, this including observations, personal thoughts, emotions and an overall "scrapbook" of the artists mind at certain time periods. The book has two meanings, one personal for the artist - the fact that he wanted to document his emotions into a widely accessible piece to an audience and the other for that audience - Franta being an online influencer, starting of being a YouTuber/
vlogger, photographer and developing to a clothing creator, his audience have followed and grown over his career, developing an attachment or so called 'fan base.' Franta's previous memoir titled 'A Work in Progress' being successful both to the specific audience and outside world, becoming New York Times Bestseller, he decided to create another piece, this being reasoning behind the creation of the product and indicating his audience socially contextual wise. The primary audience for the product therefore being the 'fan base' and secondary being autobiography readers / possible photographers, authors, etc. Franta embarked on the idea that his young age was different to the typical age of creating a memoir, though this possibly being the reason the book did so well. The overall presumed target audience being teenagers, but also young adults, as the book, Note to Self, explores deeper themes, this including depression, love and heartbreak, travelling and new experiences, anxiety, etc. The book offers advice at ends of poetry and said experiences, catering and catching the audience's attention to the fullest. Franta embarks on things he has been through over the course of a year, photographs being ones taken on his journeys and day to day life, and poems recorded in the moment. The poems include times of days and titles, these being notes Franta took in his iPhone at particular moments of high emotion, this being whats makes the wording so real and impactful - quotations and language being equally as important to the photographs within my proposed book to represent my subject context, immigration. The overall message of the book possibly being hope for those going through similar emotional situations, or inspiration. The response from the book after its distribution included a wide interaction between Tumblr and We Heart It users and a demographic of photographers. As those websites are seen as uploading aesthetically pleasing images and or videos, the composition and photographing within the book seemed perfect and fit the aesthetic vibe.
The layout of the book is aesthetic and consists of various patterns and pastel colours. The cover has been constructed with dark pink leaves and a rose, with faded shadow effects placed perfectly in the square foreground. The writing and font text is simple and lowercase in reflective series pink. Besides the writing, the background and hard surface of the book is a soft hue pink, the cover as a whole explores many shades of pink with subtle white faded areas. The creative intention behind these colours could be to provide a calm, soft mood (provided by the pastel.) The fonts and text colours are not strikingly bold, further contributing to this idea. Initially viewing, I feel the front cover is creatively intriguing, an overload of pink by a male artist further breaking stereotypes. The idea of using design to have an impact being something I have taken note of - within my book, I will experiment with placements / colours of quotes from / representing the Windrush generation. The text within the book includes bold headlines and fainted time text, indicating when Franta wrote the note. My favourite composition /page within the book being a page where the quote links directly to the photograph, but in a hidden manner - The phrase being "sometimes the quiet ones
are yelling on the inside" with the photograph on the previous page being a hand reaching upto the sky. The page in which the phrase is visible, the photograph is see through. This adds depth not only through written words but a photograph accompanying. Though this may technically / physically be difficult, I will consider the manner of portraying a message this deeply, and being especially creative when planning the pages.
Language wise, the whole book is from the perspective of Connor, metaphors and similes are used in the poetic language, for example, "our love was like a wildfire... but eventually every flame must go out" As the book is essentially 'notes' to the artist himself. In paralell to my project, where there will be notes / quotations from others, though these may be in first person with added quotation marks, e.g "I fought for my life."
The product was made through the process of large-scale printing, distributing initially in the USA then to further areas such as the UK, Australia, Asia. Marketing and getting the book out there included the creation of a trailer (link) as an introduction along with book tours within the USA,UK and Australia. Due to the online audience Franta has consisting of audiences around the world, there was an initial start point to where buyers of the book would start from and spread further through recommendations, etc. The company who published the book are Keywords press, commonly known for publishing social influences pieces of work. The company is big socially wise under the audience of what young teens and adults would buy, however in the wider industry of publishing books the company are smaller. The reach the company has is therefore revolved around individuals who have platforms on social medias, then developing on these to merch and clothing, websites, books, etc.
vlogger, photographer and developing to a clothing creator, his audience have followed and grown over his career, developing an attachment or so called 'fan base.' Franta's previous memoir titled 'A Work in Progress' being successful both to the specific audience and outside world, becoming New York Times Bestseller, he decided to create another piece, this being reasoning behind the creation of the product and indicating his audience socially contextual wise. The primary audience for the product therefore being the 'fan base' and secondary being autobiography readers / possible photographers, authors, etc. Franta embarked on the idea that his young age was different to the typical age of creating a memoir, though this possibly being the reason the book did so well. The overall presumed target audience being teenagers, but also young adults, as the book, Note to Self, explores deeper themes, this including depression, love and heartbreak, travelling and new experiences, anxiety, etc. The book offers advice at ends of poetry and said experiences, catering and catching the audience's attention to the fullest. Franta embarks on things he has been through over the course of a year, photographs being ones taken on his journeys and day to day life, and poems recorded in the moment. The poems include times of days and titles, these being notes Franta took in his iPhone at particular moments of high emotion, this being whats makes the wording so real and impactful - quotations and language being equally as important to the photographs within my proposed book to represent my subject context, immigration. The overall message of the book possibly being hope for those going through similar emotional situations, or inspiration. The response from the book after its distribution included a wide interaction between Tumblr and We Heart It users and a demographic of photographers. As those websites are seen as uploading aesthetically pleasing images and or videos, the composition and photographing within the book seemed perfect and fit the aesthetic vibe.
The layout of the book is aesthetic and consists of various patterns and pastel colours. The cover has been constructed with dark pink leaves and a rose, with faded shadow effects placed perfectly in the square foreground. The writing and font text is simple and lowercase in reflective series pink. Besides the writing, the background and hard surface of the book is a soft hue pink, the cover as a whole explores many shades of pink with subtle white faded areas. The creative intention behind these colours could be to provide a calm, soft mood (provided by the pastel.) The fonts and text colours are not strikingly bold, further contributing to this idea. Initially viewing, I feel the front cover is creatively intriguing, an overload of pink by a male artist further breaking stereotypes. The idea of using design to have an impact being something I have taken note of - within my book, I will experiment with placements / colours of quotes from / representing the Windrush generation. The text within the book includes bold headlines and fainted time text, indicating when Franta wrote the note. My favourite composition /page within the book being a page where the quote links directly to the photograph, but in a hidden manner - The phrase being "sometimes the quiet ones
Language wise, the whole book is from the perspective of Connor, metaphors and similes are used in the poetic language, for example, "our love was like a wildfire... but eventually every flame must go out" As the book is essentially 'notes' to the artist himself. In paralell to my project, where there will be notes / quotations from others, though these may be in first person with added quotation marks, e.g "I fought for my life."
The product was made through the process of large-scale printing, distributing initially in the USA then to further areas such as the UK, Australia, Asia. Marketing and getting the book out there included the creation of a trailer (link) as an introduction along with book tours within the USA,UK and Australia. Due to the online audience Franta has consisting of audiences around the world, there was an initial start point to where buyers of the book would start from and spread further through recommendations, etc. The company who published the book are Keywords press, commonly known for publishing social influences pieces of work. The company is big socially wise under the audience of what young teens and adults would buy, however in the wider industry of publishing books the company are smaller. The reach the company has is therefore revolved around individuals who have platforms on social medias, then developing on these to merch and clothing, websites, books, etc.
Contextual research - Polaroid
Progressing further into the project, due to the circumstance that I am unable to get film developed, I will be focusing on the use of Polaroids. In lead up to this, I have informed myself on the beginning of Polaroid, and where the idea of instant photography became idolised.
The technology used to give the outcome of a Polaroid is an instant camera, consisting of self developing film with chemicals that allow the photograph to develop in a short amount of time. The first form of instant photography was created by Samuel Shlafrock in 1923, using an instant camera and process, in which film and photographic paper would develop under dark lighting then to be processed with chemicals.
The first instant camera was the 'Land camera' created by Edwin Land, later developed by worldwide company Polaroid in 1948. This was the first form of technology that began instant photography.
Monday, 23 March 2020
COVID-19 - Contingency planning
Due to the current situation of COVID-19 and self isolation, there are certain limitations I have to my project, therefore ways I have planned and aim to overcome these. These are as follows, with future plans to ensure my final project still has the same impact I would like it to for viewing audiences, along with continued research and any further that will occur to inform some new ideas, as stated below, separated into the different components I have organised in lead up to production.
Film photography -
As I will not be able to get film developed due to shop closure or use film acetate within college, I will be using Polaroids and exploring Polaroid photography only, using ISO 800 film I acquire with my own Polaroid camera, in which I will describe within pre production, explaining the effect the camera and film give, along with intentions behind the use in linkage to my subject context - immigration.
Photojournalism / symbolic photography -
I aim to use my garden and home space to take the photographs, including outside nature and objects I use within personal photography and objects within my house, still following the idea of symbolic photography. I also aim to explore some garden photographers within future research, as suggested with mentor Rob, such as Derek Jarman. Much of my previous photography has also been taken within my garden, already providing me with a rough idea of certain areas/ angles of interest.
Technicality -
Due to no access to the college's equipment / a Nikon camera, I will use a iPhone 11 / iPhone 7, changing the normal video setting to 4K for best quality, as shown below are the difference in settings, and difference they have had on my photography as I have practised - the first image in 720p HD and second in 4K, further taken within my garden. This being for the digital photography aspect.
Distribution -
Box -
Initially, I planned to order a glass / wooden box that would aesthetically be parallel to the other segments of the project in terms of visual pleasure with documentation of found sites /places to buy from, however due to shipping issues and technicality of going outside, I will be using a DIY box, made aesthetic using resources around me, whilst documenting the stage of progression on my blog with photographs / videos. This may include printing photographs onto the box with/ without text, and using skills I acquire from studying Textiles previously, including the use of plastic manipulation, heat transferring or painting, etc.
Book -
Continuing, I still aim to create a book using site Blurb with software Bookwright, considering I can access the software from home. Ensuring there will be minimum issues for the production stage, I have checked shipping updates for the site, in which I am still able to order / get the book produced. If shipping becomes an issue within a few weeks due to constant changes in current environment, I plan to create only a E-book version using the same software, considering this is also an option under Bookwright. I also will ensure that the aimed 18cm x 18cm book will fit into the box, alongside the Polaroids as a physical piece - embedding photographs of this onto my blogger.
- When viewing, the box may be open, Polaroids to one side, book on the other and phone in the middle - for example.
Prints -
With no access to the college printer, one in which prints A0 - A4 at a high GSM, my digital photography will be represented digitally - this being on a phone / iPhone or iPad, represented in a collection which I will be able to access offline in case of any internet issues. I will add this collection to my blogger, along with pre production planning of how many digital photos I aim to showcase finally - with the other photographs possibly being used within the book, alongside quotes from the Windrush generation - as I may have contact with them through a project called Image17, based in the area in which I attend college, and other quotes through found research. The digital photography will represent the opposite to what the Polaroids represent, this being society now - therefore digital, and how times have changed, in comparison to when immigrants / the Windrush Generation faced racial discrimination and inequality, and the link between this / when British Subjects changed to British Citizens.
Film photography -
As I will not be able to get film developed due to shop closure or use film acetate within college, I will be using Polaroids and exploring Polaroid photography only, using ISO 800 film I acquire with my own Polaroid camera, in which I will describe within pre production, explaining the effect the camera and film give, along with intentions behind the use in linkage to my subject context - immigration.
Photojournalism / symbolic photography -
I aim to use my garden and home space to take the photographs, including outside nature and objects I use within personal photography and objects within my house, still following the idea of symbolic photography. I also aim to explore some garden photographers within future research, as suggested with mentor Rob, such as Derek Jarman. Much of my previous photography has also been taken within my garden, already providing me with a rough idea of certain areas/ angles of interest.
Technicality -
Due to no access to the college's equipment / a Nikon camera, I will use a iPhone 11 / iPhone 7, changing the normal video setting to 4K for best quality, as shown below are the difference in settings, and difference they have had on my photography as I have practised - the first image in 720p HD and second in 4K, further taken within my garden. This being for the digital photography aspect.
Distribution -
Box -
Initially, I planned to order a glass / wooden box that would aesthetically be parallel to the other segments of the project in terms of visual pleasure with documentation of found sites /places to buy from, however due to shipping issues and technicality of going outside, I will be using a DIY box, made aesthetic using resources around me, whilst documenting the stage of progression on my blog with photographs / videos. This may include printing photographs onto the box with/ without text, and using skills I acquire from studying Textiles previously, including the use of plastic manipulation, heat transferring or painting, etc.
Book -
Continuing, I still aim to create a book using site Blurb with software Bookwright, considering I can access the software from home. Ensuring there will be minimum issues for the production stage, I have checked shipping updates for the site, in which I am still able to order / get the book produced. If shipping becomes an issue within a few weeks due to constant changes in current environment, I plan to create only a E-book version using the same software, considering this is also an option under Bookwright. I also will ensure that the aimed 18cm x 18cm book will fit into the box, alongside the Polaroids as a physical piece - embedding photographs of this onto my blogger.
- When viewing, the box may be open, Polaroids to one side, book on the other and phone in the middle - for example.
Prints -
With no access to the college printer, one in which prints A0 - A4 at a high GSM, my digital photography will be represented digitally - this being on a phone / iPhone or iPad, represented in a collection which I will be able to access offline in case of any internet issues. I will add this collection to my blogger, along with pre production planning of how many digital photos I aim to showcase finally - with the other photographs possibly being used within the book, alongside quotes from the Windrush generation - as I may have contact with them through a project called Image17, based in the area in which I attend college, and other quotes through found research. The digital photography will represent the opposite to what the Polaroids represent, this being society now - therefore digital, and how times have changed, in comparison to when immigrants / the Windrush Generation faced racial discrimination and inequality, and the link between this / when British Subjects changed to British Citizens.
Thursday, 19 March 2020
Contextual research - Ansel Adams
Considering a vast amount of my photography will be black and white signifying the Windrush time period and negative connotated emotions, I have researched a significant, notable black and white photographer - being Ansel Adams.
Ansel Adams was a monochrome, western landscape photographer based in America. His work under the 19th century explored the landscape and wilderness side of america in relation to his personal interest in nature since his young age. Exploring a creative medium was bound for Adams, considering his passion for other creative mediums such as painting and music. One would say that Adams is influential and notable due to his many practises and the ability to consistently show his thought and view of a subject through perfectly technically adjusting camera settings giving the end desired image he had initially visualised. His knowledge inspiring other photographers, insightfulness provided in his written books.
In terms of my photography, I would like to follow the way in which Adams has exposed and carefully chosen certain shadows and highlights of photos, along with compositions of main subjects, and messages behind this, for example, the whole theme of monochrome and dark imagery with hints of lighter grey or white. This could symbolise how he saw things around him as negative, but with 'light at the end if of a tunnel,' possibly linking to the childhood Adams had after facing an earthquake, great fire and financial family struggle at a young age. The lighter use of colour may have represented the hope and passion he held for creative mediums, yet the blacks being the downside experiences.
One of his books which I have studied is "the making of 40 photographs" this including information of Adams best work, including technical and aesthetical qualities about each piece. One photograph within the book which is my favourite being "Moon and Half Dome," 1960. The composition of the shadows and placement of the darker mountains in contrast to the lighter ridged landscape creates an interesting, aesthetical end view. I particularly enjoy how no part of the part of the photo stays at one predictable shade and renders through the monochrome stage unevenly. The question I found myself wondering about this photograph being what the main subject is - the moon due to its clarity and not overexposed brightness, and perfect composition timing, or the big sized cliff taking the foreground, dominating the photo in terms of size. The element I enjoyed reading/ researching most was Adams intentions behind the photo, taken in his grown up environment of photographing, Yosemite Valley. His visualisation of continuously going and photographing in the valley based in California, but always having different visualisations of what the photograph will be, though the same area. Considering how fast landscapes change in terms of lighting and ways in which certain trees move, for example. His comment on this photograph, "I have photographed Half Dome innumerable times, but it is never the same Half Dome," "Half Dome is a great mountain with endless variations of lighting... and seasonal characteristics" (Adams, 1983) In terms of historical photography figures, Ansel Adams provides all technical settings he used to capture certain photographs, and explains his reasoning behind them and references other photographers. His evidenced work has acted as guidelines & as inspirations for developing photographers from 19th century onwards. Realising the passion he held behind the locations chosen has made me realise the importance location will have for my final photographs and possibly how these places hold significant personal meanings. I also intend to take inspiration from his composition techniques and consideration, - "you don't take a photo, you make it" (Adams, 1960)
Ansel Adams was a monochrome, western landscape photographer based in America. His work under the 19th century explored the landscape and wilderness side of america in relation to his personal interest in nature since his young age. Exploring a creative medium was bound for Adams, considering his passion for other creative mediums such as painting and music. One would say that Adams is influential and notable due to his many practises and the ability to consistently show his thought and view of a subject through perfectly technically adjusting camera settings giving the end desired image he had initially visualised. His knowledge inspiring other photographers, insightfulness provided in his written books.
In terms of my photography, I would like to follow the way in which Adams has exposed and carefully chosen certain shadows and highlights of photos, along with compositions of main subjects, and messages behind this, for example, the whole theme of monochrome and dark imagery with hints of lighter grey or white. This could symbolise how he saw things around him as negative, but with 'light at the end if of a tunnel,' possibly linking to the childhood Adams had after facing an earthquake, great fire and financial family struggle at a young age. The lighter use of colour may have represented the hope and passion he held for creative mediums, yet the blacks being the downside experiences.
One of his books which I have studied is "the making of 40 photographs" this including information of Adams best work, including technical and aesthetical qualities about each piece. One photograph within the book which is my favourite being "Moon and Half Dome," 1960. The composition of the shadows and placement of the darker mountains in contrast to the lighter ridged landscape creates an interesting, aesthetical end view. I particularly enjoy how no part of the part of the photo stays at one predictable shade and renders through the monochrome stage unevenly. The question I found myself wondering about this photograph being what the main subject is - the moon due to its clarity and not overexposed brightness, and perfect composition timing, or the big sized cliff taking the foreground, dominating the photo in terms of size. The element I enjoyed reading/ researching most was Adams intentions behind the photo, taken in his grown up environment of photographing, Yosemite Valley. His visualisation of continuously going and photographing in the valley based in California, but always having different visualisations of what the photograph will be, though the same area. Considering how fast landscapes change in terms of lighting and ways in which certain trees move, for example. His comment on this photograph, "I have photographed Half Dome innumerable times, but it is never the same Half Dome," "Half Dome is a great mountain with endless variations of lighting... and seasonal characteristics" (Adams, 1983) In terms of historical photography figures, Ansel Adams provides all technical settings he used to capture certain photographs, and explains his reasoning behind them and references other photographers. His evidenced work has acted as guidelines & as inspirations for developing photographers from 19th century onwards. Realising the passion he held behind the locations chosen has made me realise the importance location will have for my final photographs and possibly how these places hold significant personal meanings. I also intend to take inspiration from his composition techniques and consideration, - "you don't take a photo, you make it" (Adams, 1960)
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Contextual research - Metro imaging
Taking in information from my meeting with my mentor Scott, I am beginning to research film photography, using negatives, Polaroids, etc. I aim to use film photography within my project to replicate truth in emotions of the Windrush Generation and Scandal, as I feel the dark, vignette effect adds aesthetic depth to the feelings I wish to replicate, - (these being sad related, linking to the struggle and racial discrimination many from the generation faced) an example being a Polaroid of broken glass on the floor. A darker, vignette effect would show the photograph in a completely different manner than if taken digitally in vivid.
Metro Imaging - Metro imaging are a professional photographic specialist company associated with the Barbican and V&A, ranging from printing, framing, retouching, scanning and film processing. Their company has services that indicate what can be done with film processing, ones in which I have seen / feel are relevant to my project are the following -
Giclee printing - A digital, fine art printing process combining pigment based inks with high quality archival paper (acid free paper) to achieve an inkjet print of high quality. Commonly used by artists due to the high result pigment of colour.
C-type print - A photographic print on a 'light-sensitive' paper. The photograph is exposed in a different manner to darkroom techniques using digital technology, created by exposing the paper to lasers or LED's rather than a traditional bulb in a darkroom. The paper is then processed within a photographic developer and bleach fixed, then washed to remove all processed chemicals - following the same process as a darkroom (only for the second half of the process)
Duratran print - Translucent base film that allows light to diffuse through an image. Processing done within LED lighting in a light box.
Film processing - Metro imaging are a company where you can get film processed, using 'dip and dunk' processes. Photo processing for transparency (E6) means colour reversal, and negative (C41) means coloured films, in which are formed of dye. Prints are developed from 6x4 or 7x5 frames.
Metro Imaging - Metro imaging are a professional photographic specialist company associated with the Barbican and V&A, ranging from printing, framing, retouching, scanning and film processing. Their company has services that indicate what can be done with film processing, ones in which I have seen / feel are relevant to my project are the following -
Giclee printing - A digital, fine art printing process combining pigment based inks with high quality archival paper (acid free paper) to achieve an inkjet print of high quality. Commonly used by artists due to the high result pigment of colour.
C-type print - A photographic print on a 'light-sensitive' paper. The photograph is exposed in a different manner to darkroom techniques using digital technology, created by exposing the paper to lasers or LED's rather than a traditional bulb in a darkroom. The paper is then processed within a photographic developer and bleach fixed, then washed to remove all processed chemicals - following the same process as a darkroom (only for the second half of the process)
Duratran print - Translucent base film that allows light to diffuse through an image. Processing done within LED lighting in a light box.
Film processing - Metro imaging are a company where you can get film processed, using 'dip and dunk' processes. Photo processing for transparency (E6) means colour reversal, and negative (C41) means coloured films, in which are formed of dye. Prints are developed from 6x4 or 7x5 frames.
Monday, 16 March 2020
Reflection - week 2
Within the week, I have spoken to my mentor Scott, asking questions about the use of film photography and overall explaining my idea. From the meeting, I aim to look into Metro Imaging, a professional printing company, and Magnum, a photography company that has supported many famous photographers in the past, and have archives and information of many of their works. Considering my idea will be around the Windrush Generation, Scott has also provided me with a contact who is in touch with the Windrush generation, called Image17, in linkage to a photography project some students within the department were apart of, this meaning I can get in touch with said contact and ask whether they require help with their organisation and programme, and whether I could photograph those from the actual Windrush generation.
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