Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Research- John Goto

John Goto.

John Goto (b. 1949, Stockport, England), a British artist best known for his photo-digital artworks, notably coming to wider attention with the "High Summer" section of his Ukadia series of pictures. Goto has worked with historical, social and political subjects throughout his career.
In the late 1960s John Goto studied Fine Art at St. Martin’s School of Art, London, where an interest in the narrative forms of European cinema and literature led him to the medium of photography.
‘Dreams of Jelly Roll’
Work in progress on a series of pictures
by John Goto.


Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton was first and foremost a great musician and composer. A good starting point for the new listener is his 1926 masterpieces recorded with the Red Hot Peppers, with whom he remained until 1930. Then maybe listen to the earlier solo recordings and piano rolls, before turning to his late solo sessions, the tracks made with Sidney Bechet, and finally his Hot Six and Hot Seven recordings. Jelly Roll was ‘the true connecting link between ragtime and jazz’ (Blesh R and Janis H, 1950) or as Morton put it ‘... I myself figured out the peculiar form of mathematics and harmonics that was strange to all the world but me’
(Reich H & Gaines W, 2003).
"Pictures about a musician, as presented here, might seem paradoxical as the images remain forever silent. And yet music has been a recurring theme in the history of western narrative painting. As well as the symbolic and allegorical meanings to be found in musical pictures, within each viewer resonates a world of imagined sounds, evo
king the musicality of silence."


Women of the Family
Morton’s family was Creole, and is seen here in front of the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans. From left to right – Edward Joseph Lamothe (father); Jelly Roll Morton; Louise Hermance Monette (mother); Frances (Mimi) Mouton (sister); Laura Hunter (aka Eulalie Hécaud, godmother and voodoo priestess); and Laura Péché (grandmother).

jelly roll
Jelly Roll Morton's wedding
BridegroomAt the alter of St Louis Cathedral in New Orleans a group of eminent ragtime pianists and composers make up the wedding party.
From left to right are - James Scott; Arthur Marshall; Joseph Lamb; Artie Matthews; Tom Turpin; and Louis Chauvin. In the bishop’s vestments is Scott Joplin and dressed in the groom’s attire, Tony Jackson. On the far right in the bridal gown is Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton.


The final series, entitled Dreams of Jelly Roll, will consist of between ten and twelve pictures. It will first be exhibited at the Freud Museum, London, in 2012. It is hoped that the viewer may occasionally return to see progress over the coming year or so.

I enjoyed reading about John Goto and his exceptional cv and was suprised to learn that he is a Lecturer at Derby, I like his work because although it does seem very fake and unrealistic it gets me thinking and wondering why?? It also reminds me of cartoon animation works.
John Goto is the past present and future and his work is ongoing.

Melbourne Hall

Out to Melbourne Hall on a quite dull, dreary afternoon. The light wasn't to good so with my camera fully charged and my memory card clear and my tripod packed up off we went.
I had been to Melbourne Hall on many occasions but I found a few new places to take photos..
Here I changed the picture to black and white on Picassa and Smudged the edges. 1/10 F5 Iso 200.
                                   

                                                                      1/50 F5 Iso 200
                                                          1/3 F5 Iso 200, Rubbish in the Pond.

                                                     1/10 F5 Iso 200, Edited to black and white.

                                                                      Iso 400 f7 1/125.
 With this photo ensured that I focused in on the top of the old wall to lead the eye over the water to the other side.

                            
                                                                 Iso 1600 F5 1/2

                                                    f5 1/20 Iso 1600
 Edited to black and white, the old oak was such a focal point on the Hill that I had to get a shot. I wanted the tree to be the only thing in the frame. I positioned myself and zoomed in to miss out the two bushes that could have been in the frame also.

                                                                      Iso 400 F5 1/6
 I felt that the coloured Ivy and the Iron fencing would frame the pond shot well drawing the eye out over the pond.
                                                                  
I was disapointed in myself , as although I had checked my equipment I had forgotten the attachment for the tripod so I could not use it effectivly for the planned water shots, which means I will have to go again for the shots I was planning!I feel as though I still need to sharpen up the images to have a final image that I will be happy with and that alot of the images I am happy with are very loosly connect with my actual theme of water,

Sunday, 27 November 2011

Research- Helen Saunders

Helen Saunders
Helen creates photographic collages, exploring the layers in the urban environment and creating a tension between the photographic realism and surface beauty of the image. Her work uses the power of photography to transform our everyday surroundings, and for this commission celebrates Highfields in Leicester.

 
Constructed landscape.

I enjoy looking at Helens work because it is very detailed and she uses everyday recogniseable objects and places, her pictures are very good at depicting what is going on in the world which are good topics for discussion.


 


Research - Joe Cornish

Joe Cornish.
Joe Cornish was born in Exeter in 1958. He studied art at Reading University, where he first came under the spell of photography. After graduating in 1980, he worked as an assistant for four years in London and Washington DC. A few years of penury as a young working photographer followed.
Joe moved to North Yorkshire in 1993. After a decade shooting 35mm and 6x6 film, in 1995 he started working with a Horseman SW 612 wide-angle camera. After another year he switched to 5x4. It was a move that allowed Joe to develop the style that characterises his work today.
Joe Cornish - a photographer at work, published by Envisage Books, explores Joe's philosophy and working methods. A joint collaboration between Joe and Eddie Ephraums, it is a unique record of Joe's working approach.
The style of photographs are portraiture, the title of the work is Life force which is important as Joe is establishing the importance of woodland and the way trees and woodland show us growth and life.
The works were made in early June 2009 over a four year project for the book Joe Cornish – A Photographer at work. The composition of the works in lundy bay woods of which there are three in the book have been stated to be “to firstly seek out the underlying structure, secondly seek out the things that appealed to Joe such as expression and gesture and thirdly, make sure the light was right".
I like the images as they remind me so much of playing in the woods as a child and how I used to imagine the tree trunks as people and made shapes and images with the Ivy. Joes work is inspirational to me as he create shots of beautiful places that truly reflect the beauty of natural landscapes and trying to reciprocate the photos myself show what a hugely talented man he is.

Lundy Bay Woods.

DunstanburghDunstanburgh


Research - Fay Goodwin

Fay Goodwin


1931 Born Berlin, Germany, father was a British diplomat, Her mother an American artist. Educated at various schools all over the world. In 1958 Settled down to live in London. 1966 Became interested in photography through photographing her young children. No training.                               
The Photo below is featured in the book Our forbidden Land 1990, where Fay gives a passionate account of the effects of the closure of vast tracts of countryside for commercial, venal reasons, such as the rearing of animals and birds merely to shoot them. this the importance of the title.

                                 
Sleeping Fisherman, Dungeness, 1974
                                                                             
A good majority of fays works are in black and white.These are from her book landmarks.
Copper beech, Stourhead, 1983
Flooded Tree Derwent water 1981.


In a stroke, Godwin had changed the context in which her work was to be seen. She has done it retrospectively, as well as prospectively; Our forbidden land makes it impossible that we will ever be able to look at any of her photographs again without being aware of the passion which informs her output. The experience of the new work makes us savour the photograph of that unsullied moment, down to the last detail, obsessively, noting how it was, hoping that it still is, and praying that it yet will be; despite the worst efforts of the barbarians, more often witless than unwitting, whom Godwin now reminds us are surging round the gate.
Fays works are inspirational to me as I love the simplicity of her photos, they appear dramatic yet sometimes bleak, however sometimes that is how some landscapes are and she captures the moment well.
I have started taking reflections of trees as well and love the mirrored effect.

Research!-Ed Collacott

As part of the qualification I have had to research 10 photographers,at least three have to be Photographers that manipulate there images.Time is ticking on and I needed to get my teeth into it.
I have taken quite a few books out of the library and have also been on various websites to collate the information.

ED Collacott

Ed Collacott has a passion for taking photographs and his work features the finest landscapes in the UK. Aided by a background in Geography and Geology, Ed appreciates the natural and human processes that have shaped our environment. The patterns, textures and natural forms that reflect nature's rhythms are a continual source of inspiration.


He is very much a landscape artist and his work reflects a great love and deep understanding of the countryside. A thorough technical knowledge and a "seeing eye" enable his pictures to convey the beauty of the landscapes that surrounds us all. This has earned him the envied reputation as not only one of Britain's finest but also most popular landscape photographers.

Dramatic lighting, patience (lots of it!), the use of mood and atmosphere and attention to detail help to create his distinctive and evocative photographs. The photographs are all taken on either medium format camera (6x6cms) or on a large format panoramic camera (6x17cms) - these achieve truly outstanding quality. Every image has been captured using Fuji Velvia film and a sturdy tripod.
Filters are rarely used. Ed prides himself on using natural light in natural surroundings and dislikes the obvious use of filters especially grads.
Ed believes his photography reflects these qualities and the reputation he has acquired over the last 25 years is testament to that.( http://www.fineartphotographs.co.uk/index.htm)

The below images are from Eds Book Landscape Britain 2010, I love the fact that what he sees is what you get , no filters a pure natural photograph something that I will endeavour to do, as then, you can see the real beauty of what is around you.I feel that his photography is amazing!!

I have taken a picture similar to the avenue of limes myself at Calke Abbey and will be going back at various times of the year to create different coloured shots.



Avenue of Limes, Nottinghamshire

 

Avenue of Limes, Nottinghamshire.





My Attempt- Calke Abbey.

Fantasy Photo 1 -Di Liu

Di Liu
As part of the course I have to manipulate four Photos using Photoshop I have taken some inspiration from Photographers that manipulate they work.
Below is my first attempt at this and using photo shop for the first time was very confusing to say the least. I have used, Di Liu as my first example as I love the way Di Liu, a 25-year-old Chinese photographer, worked on the difficult relationship between nature and human society, the consequences of the galloping urbanization in China today.


Med_animal_regulation_n6_di_liu_lacoste_elysee_prize_2010-jpg
Di Liu, a 25 year old chinese photographer won the 2010 lacoste elysée prize. His work examines the relationship between animals and the city, and it’s totally awesome.
The perpetual conflict between man and nature is illustrated by young Chinese photographer Di Liu in a series of photos depicting oversized animals at odds with their settings. The rapid changes in urban development play a major role, of course, in this conflict. However, despite the seriousness of the situation, Di Liu chooses to highlight it by using humour and playing with scale.

Here is my attempt,

I used a photo that I had taken in the Peak district and combined it with a photo of a sheep that I took whilst at Calke abbey using photo shop and the Magnetic lasso tool.
I like what I have done as it shows the dominance of the sheep in the peak distict and the fact that they are such a large part of the country side not forgetting that they can block our path at any given time.

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Research-Graham Vasey.

Graham Vassey.
"My photography is inspired by the landscape. I attempt to create pictures which draw from the atmosphere of the environment around me. Rather than just taking a photograph of a location, I hope to give the viewer a sense of what’s beneath the surface of the land. It is my aim to convey what it feels like to be there in the moment surrounded by the elements. For this reason I am often drawn to the wild moors, mountains and dramatic coastlines of Northern Britain."    

Equipment...

"I have a few favourite cameras which never leave my side when I am out shooting. I have a trusted old Hasselblad  500cm  which has been a faithful companion for many years, as well as a host of folding and twin lens reflex cameras many of which date back to the 1920's. All of them have their own characteristics which I feel add something to the final image. I produce all my work using traditional hand printing techniques because of the control they give me, and the unique quality of the final piece they produce."



I find that black and white photos are really good at exploiting the baroness of places, I love the composistion of the photos also giving me the feeling of the vastness of the open spaces.The images can be found in books and on his website, The photoghrapher is influenced by the county around him.
The images have been manipulated to create borders and turned into Black and White.



Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Abstract photos

The task was to create eight abstract photographs, four colour and four black and white,all photos have to be cropped to a square.
I firstly had to decide the kind of look that I wanted and what would look good black and white, using my fully charged camera and empty memory card I began to capture the images.

Iso 800 F5 1/100


Iso 400 F5 1/10, Saturation

Iso1600  F5 1/80, out of focus


Iso 1600 F5 1/125, Saturation



Iso 400 F5 1/80 Black and white.


Iso 800 F10 1/30 Black and white.


Iso400 F5 1/80 Black and white.

Iso400 F5 1/80 Black and white.

I enjoyed doing this task and at the moment prefer the black and white images to the coloured ones this is because I feel as the colour ones lack drama I think next time more dramatic colours will need to be used to achieve the coloured look I would like, next time I will also try more fine, delicate objects for the black and white images.

I took a series of these and quite liked the outcome.
Iso1600 F 5 1/125.

Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Moira Furnace

What another beautiful afternoon as I walked along the canal at Moira Furnace with my fully chrged camera and my Tripod and my clear memory card I planned to take some photos of the low sunlight and was going to take more reflection pictures as i'm enjoying these at the moment.
Iso 200 1/500 F5

Iso 200F10 1/100 I changed this to black and white as I prefered it like this.


1/60 Iso 200 F6

1/640 Iso 200 F5

Iso 200 F8 1/125


Iso 200 F9 1/125

Iso 200 F5 1/160


1/400 Iso 200 F4

Iso 100 1/160 F5

Iso100 F5 1/250
I then tried the same picture in black and white to improve the antiquity of the place and liked it.


1/30 Iso100 F5

I then wanted to shot into the fading sunlight to get a shadow effect and sillouette and really like this however I would have liked to get a little more detail on the edge of the canal.
I
Iso100 1/4000 F5

1/2500 F5 Iso 100

I wanted to recreate a picture that I took at calke Abbey but with more depth to it this time, so I picked a clear spot as I felt last time that a few leafs spoilt the effect and got stone throwing, this again I would like to do as a series of three pictures to show the ripple effect.




All above Tint black and white 1/20 F9 Iso200
I Particularly liked the bubbles in these pictures and aim to perfect the ripple effect.
I still feel they could be sharper.