WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
"What makes photography a strange invention is that its primary raw materials are light and time."
Statement of intent
I aim to produce a website based around the theme weird and wonderful, by demonstrating my ideas, imagination and creativity work. I will develop my inspiration from my chosen photographer Laura Williams to give me ideas on my final outcomes. When I was given this project my first idea was mirrors and fairy-tales as that to me is weird and wonderful.
For my initial research I will start by looking a different mirrors photography. I have already started by looking at one photographer called Laura Williams, I chose Laura because her photography is unique and realistic and I can gain a mass amount of inspiration from it. I feel that mirrors are in an important aspect in today's society, as you can use them for several purposes and I would like to capture this within my work.
When I first got given this project my first thoughts were magic and illusions but after doing my research and thinking more about it I realised its much more than that, for example mirrors, fairy-tales, mythical (ect). After thinking more about it I realised I could use different locations and camera settings to make my work better and more effective.
To show progression in my work I will start to develop my work further by using Photoshop and experimenting with different effects and try out different filters to see which one works the best and makes my work stand out. After that to show more progression I will take another series of pictures by using a different location, different camera settings and different props to show development in my work. I want to try push myself by making a film based around the theme weird and wonderful.
I would like to experiment with a wide rang of techniques with my photos using my camera, such as depth of field, shutter speed, aperture (ect) to see which one works the best with my photos. I would like to push my self by learning properly how to use Photoshop and all the different techniques there are to make my work better.
I have 2-3 months to complete this project, I aim to complete my photographer research and my plan within the first 2-3 weeks, after that I hope to start taking my pictures and experimenting with lots of different techniques and then hopefully see lots of progression in my work.
As I work on this project I will keep developing my ideas and show progression within my work. I will also reflect on the work that I produce, to make it better and try achieve a higher grade in my GCSE. I will mainly seek help from my teachers but will also get ideas and help from my peers and research. I will push myself to achieve the best in this topic and to get the high levels that I want.
My theme for this project is mirrors
Mood board
Mirrors
Surrealism
Surrealism aimed to revolutionize human experience, rejecting a rational vision of life in favor of one that asserted the value of the unconscious and dreams. The movement's poets and artist found magic and strange beauty in the unexpected and the uncanny, the disregarded and the unconventional.
In my opinion this means they paint the dreams and minds of what other people, they can use it for poets and writers. This quote suggests that surrealism is aimed to distort a persons view on something and incorporate unusual aspects to it.
In my opinion this means they paint the dreams and minds of what other people, they can use it for poets and writers. This quote suggests that surrealism is aimed to distort a persons view on something and incorporate unusual aspects to it.
Photographer research homework.
Salvador Dali
In this painting Dali is famous for his weird and wonderful, and his creative photography, in this image he has used a range of different colors such as gold, bright blue and white, brown which makes the painting catch my eye and draws my attention to it immediately, it also gives and idea of movement and animation within the photo.
In this painting Dali has used an outside atmosphere and has placed a clock in the foreground, he took this painting with some meaning behind it, to me this photo suggests that time is flying away and shows there isn't much time left, because it shows clock parts flying around and moving about.
He has painted this image finely and painted every aspect with detail which shows that he has put a massive amount of effort in his paintings and also paints his images with meanings behind it, this makes his painting more effective and unique for the viewer.
He has also created a contrast with the colors by using hot and cold colours and mixing them up for his painting. The background of this image is quite sharp and solid as he has painted it mostly 1-2 colours, however, the front of the image has a more softer tone as he has mixed a variety of colours together, which makes his work look more creative.
He has used a sharp edge by separating the solid sky and the softer landscape and the melting clock. He has also used a small scale and has made his picture very realistic with all the detail he has used. The painting is uncanny because it is a dream state as it is quite unusual what is happening in the picture, also to me it looks as if quite a lot of imagination and thought process has gone into this image.
In this painting Dali has used an outside atmosphere and has placed a clock in the foreground, he took this painting with some meaning behind it, to me this photo suggests that time is flying away and shows there isn't much time left, because it shows clock parts flying around and moving about.
He has painted this image finely and painted every aspect with detail which shows that he has put a massive amount of effort in his paintings and also paints his images with meanings behind it, this makes his painting more effective and unique for the viewer.
He has also created a contrast with the colors by using hot and cold colours and mixing them up for his painting. The background of this image is quite sharp and solid as he has painted it mostly 1-2 colours, however, the front of the image has a more softer tone as he has mixed a variety of colours together, which makes his work look more creative.
He has used a sharp edge by separating the solid sky and the softer landscape and the melting clock. He has also used a small scale and has made his picture very realistic with all the detail he has used. The painting is uncanny because it is a dream state as it is quite unusual what is happening in the picture, also to me it looks as if quite a lot of imagination and thought process has gone into this image.
Second photographer research
Rene Magritte
Rene Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist best known for his witty and thought provoking images and his use of simple graphics and everyday imagery.
Form-
In this image Rene has used a range of bright colors such as bright blue/green to make his image stand out and catch the viewers attention immediately, Rene has used solid colors so his painting does not blend in with other colors. The main shape in this image is the rectangular square book right in the centre of the image. In this image Rene has used the same background for the book which in my opinion makes the image look weird and unique. This image looks like a painting and in my opinion it looks like it has been painted with oil or acrylic. The white outline of the newspaper balances the contrast between the clouds and the newspaper which brings the picture more realistic and also makes the painting stand out. The black, thick line going across the middle of the painting makes the picture look more distant from the man to the background which makes it look more further away.
Context-
"Rene Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist best known for his witty and thought provoking images and his use of simple graphics and everyday imagery. To me it looks like this image has been located in a field on a windy day, you can tell by this as the trees are swaying and he has painted a block of green as the field on where the man could be standing. This work relates to other images around his time as many other artists would paint on theme 'surrealism' such as Salvador Dali, to me both of there images link to each other as they both use similar techniques to paint there images." (Research From the internet)
Content-
In this image I think there is a business man stood in the fields reading a book as he is wearing a bowl hat, however the newspaper cover blends in with the background of the image, which makes this image seem bazaar and also get a weird feeling about it. This image has been painted portrait as everything in this image has been painted up right, also this image is an abstract as he has taken the reality out of this painting to make it look more unrealistic and creates a unusual atmosphere. In my opinion this image represents the secretive of life and also shows people who may not be out spoken.
Process-
In my opinion it looks like this image has been spent a lot of time working on, and he has taken every detail in consideration. To me it looks like this image has been painted with a thin line brush and has been painted finley which makes every detail stand out for the viewers. Also he might of taken inspiration from everyday life experiences. To me I think this image was taken of a man holding a newspaper and has taken the background and placed that into the newspaper to make it weird and unusual.
Mood-
This image makes me feel weird as it is unusual to me, however bright colors have been used in this image which creates a good atmosphere for the viewers. What makes the image different is that it's unique and you don't get many artists like this, different people may have different feelings about this image depending on what they think it represents. In this image the artist has used solid colors as the sky is a solid blue and the and the grass is a solid dark green, this then puts a unique contrast on the imaged from the sky to the grass.
Form-
In this image Rene has used a range of bright colors such as bright blue/green to make his image stand out and catch the viewers attention immediately, Rene has used solid colors so his painting does not blend in with other colors. The main shape in this image is the rectangular square book right in the centre of the image. In this image Rene has used the same background for the book which in my opinion makes the image look weird and unique. This image looks like a painting and in my opinion it looks like it has been painted with oil or acrylic. The white outline of the newspaper balances the contrast between the clouds and the newspaper which brings the picture more realistic and also makes the painting stand out. The black, thick line going across the middle of the painting makes the picture look more distant from the man to the background which makes it look more further away.
Context-
"Rene Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist best known for his witty and thought provoking images and his use of simple graphics and everyday imagery. To me it looks like this image has been located in a field on a windy day, you can tell by this as the trees are swaying and he has painted a block of green as the field on where the man could be standing. This work relates to other images around his time as many other artists would paint on theme 'surrealism' such as Salvador Dali, to me both of there images link to each other as they both use similar techniques to paint there images." (Research From the internet)
Content-
In this image I think there is a business man stood in the fields reading a book as he is wearing a bowl hat, however the newspaper cover blends in with the background of the image, which makes this image seem bazaar and also get a weird feeling about it. This image has been painted portrait as everything in this image has been painted up right, also this image is an abstract as he has taken the reality out of this painting to make it look more unrealistic and creates a unusual atmosphere. In my opinion this image represents the secretive of life and also shows people who may not be out spoken.
Process-
In my opinion it looks like this image has been spent a lot of time working on, and he has taken every detail in consideration. To me it looks like this image has been painted with a thin line brush and has been painted finley which makes every detail stand out for the viewers. Also he might of taken inspiration from everyday life experiences. To me I think this image was taken of a man holding a newspaper and has taken the background and placed that into the newspaper to make it weird and unusual.
Mood-
This image makes me feel weird as it is unusual to me, however bright colors have been used in this image which creates a good atmosphere for the viewers. What makes the image different is that it's unique and you don't get many artists like this, different people may have different feelings about this image depending on what they think it represents. In this image the artist has used solid colors as the sky is a solid blue and the and the grass is a solid dark green, this then puts a unique contrast on the imaged from the sky to the grass.
Laura williams photography
Laura is a Bristol based photographer and a graphic designer, she specializes in fine art portrates, she likes to use her photography to blur the lines between real life and fantasy to create unusual art works. Laura gets her inspiration from every day life objects that tell a story to her that can be used in props and objects in her photography. Laura allows us to experience her interest in the subject area.
Guillaume Amat photography
Guillaume is a photographer based in Paris, he is dedicated to long term projects which produce photographic narratives. He aims to produce a narrative story in what he captures which is usually buildings, he does this by using different camera settings, in the images I have looked at depth of field is definitely a key setting in his work. In his images he seems to build up a story which navigate between documentary and poetry.
5c's on a image
COMPOSITION-
In this image Guillaume has used a large depth of field as the whole image is all in focus, and I can see every detail and shows clearly what is happening in this image. The photographer has used bright vibrant colours in this picture such as, bright blue, different shades of green, this gives a positive atmosphere. To me this image looks like it has been taken in a large empty field which is surrounded by hills and nature, this image suggests peacefulness and calmness as that is what nature is to me. The main shape in this image is the rectangular mirror which has been placed in the centre of the image, this is the main focus and the main eye catching point in the image.
CONTENT-
This image caught my eye immediately as I was fascinated by the imagination and the creativity the photographer has used. This image has been taken in a large field, to me it looks like it has been taken on a windy day, during mid day as the sky is bright blue with clouds. In this image the quality the clear and I can see every little detail as the whole image is in focus, and gives a clear show of what is happening. There is man stood in the centre of the image holding a large mirror with his body covered leaving only his hand and legs exposed, this is the main attention of the image and the main focus point. This image is effective because because it suggest loneliness and peacefulness as that is what nature is to me.
COMMENT-
In my opinion this image has a vibrant and positive feeling to it as there has been bright colours used and to me it looks like a bright day in the image. The photographer has been creative and has taken a lot in consideration while taking this image such as the angle it has been taken, the landscape and background, the camera settings and also the angle the mirror has been placed. This image is unique as while I was researching there wasn't many other images like this, and this image caught my eyes instantly, however in my opinion the photographer could have taken this image in a different landscapes and tried other settings to see which one has worked out the best.
CONNECTION-
This image links to my work because the project I am working on is weird and wonderful, and the theme I have chosen is mirror. While I was researching I have gained quite a lot of inspiration from Guillaume's photography as his images are creative and unique and he has also given me many ideas on what I can do while taking my images. For this project I will also need to experiment on using different landscapes and camera settings to see which one has been used the most effectively. I will also need try on using different angles with the position of the mirror and see which angle has been used the best.
CONTEXT-
This image has been captured by a photographer called Guillaume Amat, "Guillaume is a photographer based in Paris, he is dedicated to long term projects which produce photographic narratives. He aims to produce a narrative story in what he captures which is usually buildings, he does this by using different camera settings, in the images I have looked at depth of field is definitely a key setting in his work. In his images he seems to build up a story which navigate between documentary and poetry." (Research from the internet)
5c's on a second image
COMPOSITION-
In this image the photographer has used medium depth of field as the trees in the background are in slight blur and the main focus is on the girl and the mirror. In this image the photographer has used harsh lighting as the image isn't bright and it suggests Gothic and horror. While I was researching different images to gain inspiration from, this image drawn my eyes to it immediately as the image is freaky because her body is covered with a reflection of a field. In my opinion this image has been taken in the middle of a field this allows us to see the full image and see everything that is taking place in the image , this suggests that there is loneliness and peace in the image.
CONTENT-
I am fascinated by this image and use of the creativity and imagination the photographer has used. This picture looks like it has been taken in a large field / park, as the girl is sat on a empty land, to me this suggests loneliness and peacefulness. In this image Laura has used simple colours such as black and different shades of green, this creates a gothic and dark atmosphere, and also freaks us out as the girls body is covered by a mirror in empty field with a back blurred out background. In this image the quality the clear and Laura has been effective while taking this picture because you can see every little grass in the detail and has shown clearly the features of the surrounding. The main shape in this image is the circle of the mirror as that is the main focus of the image and also has been placed right in the centre, I think Laura has done this so it draws out attention to the image immediately.
COMMENT-
In my opinion this image does not give a positive feeling to It as the image is quite strange and unusual. To me this image is bizarre because the girls full body has been covered with a mirror and an empty field has been reflected in the mirror only leaving her head, fingers and legs exposed, however I was extremely memorised when I saw this Image because it is unique and a lot of imagination and creativity has been put it while Laura has captured this image. Laura could improve this image by using a different landscape, maybe somewhere where this a darker and more gloomier atmosphere.
CONNECTION-
This image links to my work because the theme I have chosen for weird and wonderful s mirror, and while looking at Laura's photography it has increased my imagination on what I can do for my images and also has given me a variety of ideas that I can use for my own images. While looking at Laura's images I have gained many ideas from her creativity that I can also use in my own project. For this project I will need to experiment on using different landscapes and surrounding to see which one works the best for my images and which one has been used the most effectively. I will also need to try out different angles and camera settings to see which one works the best for my images.
CONTEXT-
This picture was taken by a photographer called "Laura Williams who is a Bristol based photographer and also a graphic designer. She uses her photography to blur the lines between reality and fantasy to create an unusual art work. She gets her ideas from every day life objects that tell a story to her. In her photography she allows us to experience her interests in this particular subject area." (Research from the internet)
Plan for my shoot
Shoot 1
Shoot 2
Best and Worst
This is is my worst picture from shoot 1/2 because the mirror has water drops on it and is not as clear as I wanted it to be. Also the reflection in the mirror is not in focus and is all blurred out. In the future I would need to take this image again and take it on a dry day and take the angle and focus/setting in consideration.
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Photoshop on 1st image
Final outcome
Next step
For my next step I would like to re-do my shoot 2 again as the weather wasn't good and ruined my images. I would need to go back to longford park again in the morning and take the same props that I had last time, such as the mirror and camera. I will lean the mirror against trees and reflect other nature in the mirror such as other trees, fields, and rocks. I will take a range of images in different locations of the park to show progress in my work.
Shoot 3
Shoot 4
Photoshop on my 2nd image
Final outcome
Shoot 5
Shoot 6
Shoot 7
Plan for my next shoot
Shoot 8
Photoshop on my 3rd image
Final outcome
Photoshop on 4th image
Final outcome
EVALUATION
The project I have been working on recently is Weird and Wonderful. The theme i have been working on in this project is 'mirrors', in my opinion I believe it has been my strongest project in photography so far, as I have learnt and developed my skills on a further level and also have enjoyed being creative and gaining ideas from other inspirations, then trying them out for myself.
In this project I have mostly enjoyed being creative with my images and trying out new things to see which one has worked out the best, for example I have enjoyed and took great part in the trips to Longford Park and to capture some weird and wonderful images there. To me that has given me a booster level in confidence as it has allowed me to use my imagination and creativity skills to the next level.
Throughout this project I have gained many new skills and ideas on how to improve my images, on my previous projects I have completed. I believe I have learnt a variety of new techniques, for example, on Photoshop. I was able to use the cloning stamp tool confidently, however it took a few attempts to get to the level I wanted. In my opinion photography has allowed me to open my mind on the creative and imaginative side. On the side of capturing my images, I was able to achieve the standard I wanted. From the start of the course not knowing how to use aperture properly, I have learnt how to change my aperture to be able apply it to my shoot, for my future projects I hope to develop my techniques furthermore.
Throughout this project I have researched a variety of photographers to gain inspiration and ideas from, such as, Laura Williams and Guillaume Amat. The reason I specifically chose these photographers was because my main theme was 'mirrors' and these photographers images were mainly focused around the theme mirrors. These photographers gave me multiple ideas for my own images, which I gained lots of inspiration from and I also tried capturing there images with my ideas and with my own imagination and creativity.
The techniques I enjoyed the most was developing my skills on Photoshop and also being creative with my images. Also I feel this has been my most successful part of photography as I have learnt new techniques for images, and also to take them on the next level and to make them look more effective.
In this project I didn't come across many problems as I thought about it properly and had a good idea on what I wanted to base my theme on, however for my next project I would need to improve on my planning for my shoots and also would like to take my camera out of the school and to capture my images else where, as that would bring my grade to a higher level.
In this project I have mostly enjoyed being creative with my images and trying out new things to see which one has worked out the best, for example I have enjoyed and took great part in the trips to Longford Park and to capture some weird and wonderful images there. To me that has given me a booster level in confidence as it has allowed me to use my imagination and creativity skills to the next level.
Throughout this project I have gained many new skills and ideas on how to improve my images, on my previous projects I have completed. I believe I have learnt a variety of new techniques, for example, on Photoshop. I was able to use the cloning stamp tool confidently, however it took a few attempts to get to the level I wanted. In my opinion photography has allowed me to open my mind on the creative and imaginative side. On the side of capturing my images, I was able to achieve the standard I wanted. From the start of the course not knowing how to use aperture properly, I have learnt how to change my aperture to be able apply it to my shoot, for my future projects I hope to develop my techniques furthermore.
Throughout this project I have researched a variety of photographers to gain inspiration and ideas from, such as, Laura Williams and Guillaume Amat. The reason I specifically chose these photographers was because my main theme was 'mirrors' and these photographers images were mainly focused around the theme mirrors. These photographers gave me multiple ideas for my own images, which I gained lots of inspiration from and I also tried capturing there images with my ideas and with my own imagination and creativity.
The techniques I enjoyed the most was developing my skills on Photoshop and also being creative with my images. Also I feel this has been my most successful part of photography as I have learnt new techniques for images, and also to take them on the next level and to make them look more effective.
In this project I didn't come across many problems as I thought about it properly and had a good idea on what I wanted to base my theme on, however for my next project I would need to improve on my planning for my shoots and also would like to take my camera out of the school and to capture my images else where, as that would bring my grade to a higher level.