12/12/11 - Large Format Continued...

Suit by Wolfgang Tillmans

This is our groups Large Format image. The idea behind it is based upon Wolfgang Tillmans 'Suit' which is about how even when clothes aren't being worn, they still have the essence of human presence. I think this is a really interesting idea and when you look at the clothes with this in mind, its almost as if you're looking at another figure, like they seem to have life. The clothes are a mix of peoples in our group, which was about wanting to depict a piece of each of us. If each item is human, it shows a part of us all, but through one being.

Originally we thought about taping the clothes to the wall, but we thought this would look less figure-like, so instead we put together a frame that we could hang the clothes off. I think it worked well and i like the frame and plug being on show, it add's to the idea of something being contrived and not necessarily real, though maybe on first glance the figure looks real.

We did have a second shot, but unfortunately the image didn't come out as it got stuck in the processing machine! But we moved the bars out of shot, and dangled the clothes from the pole so it was completely on it's own. If we had time we wanted to also try some different lighting.

Sources:

Tillmans, Wolfgang 1997. Suit. [digital image] [viewed 13/12/11] available from: http://www.artatswissre.com/flash/index.cfm?ID=2E6B2DDB-C767-66DA-913278F334FA1BE7&artist=18

5/12/11 - Large Format Induction

Large format has been something that sort of intimidated me - probably due to not knowing much about it! But this session was meant to be all about getting hands on and learning how to use the kit. Since being on the course, i seemed to have learnt about the detail of processes, going from speedy digital, to manual film work, and now to large format. This large format process seems to stress the importance of thinking about every detail of the shot you're about to take, as you only get one chance! Or at £3 a slide, it’s not something you can use with out full care and attention!

I thought about why photographers use Large Format, and i think it’s fairly obvious its for the amount of high quality detail you can capture. Large prints can be made to almost fill a wall without losing any detail, like Mitch Epstein’s work I saw in the Tate a few weeks ago. His set called ‘American Power’ really amazed me. 

“Five years later, I had travelled to 25 states with my large-format camera on a visual investigation of how energy production and consumption influenced the American landscape and culture. I wanted to engage with the idea of American-ness in the new millennium. I had no political agenda. I began with a rule: in every picture there had to be a direct relationship to energy. But I allowed myself a flexible interpretation of the rule. For example, I made a Hurricane Katrina series and photographed an electric chair, as well as the 2008 Republican Convention. I like having structure, but avoid being rigid. Working with a large-format camera enabled me to make pictures that are formally layered and conceptually complex.” (Mitch Epstein 2011)

Amos Coal Power Plant, Raymond, West Virginia 2004

For me Epstein’s idea of using Large Format to create works that are ‘conceptually complex’ is very interesting. If it’s possible to get this idea in my own large format work, I’d love to see what the result is.

Sources:

Epstein, Mitch. 2011. Mitch Epstein on American Power. Tate Etc. no. 22 summer 2011, p.79.

Epstein, Mitch. 2004. Amos Coal Power Plant, Raymond, West Virginia. [digital image] [viewed 5/12/11] available from: 

http://www.mitchepstein.net/work/americanpower/gfx/americanpower09.jpg

28/11/11 - Project Time

So I re-made the Camera Obscura in my room this week and attempted to take pictures of it with various different things, such as my webcam and my phone, but neither worked. I even downloaded some software that allowed me to change my webcam settings, but to no avail!

I had a look at some other obscura's to see what inspiration i could get from the internet and found a few things:

With thanks to Alexandra Nicole Photography

Check out the other Obscura Images in this set, they're stunning!

With thanks to  jonnyphoto!

Again another fantastic set of images! This one i noticed was a 12 hour exposure, and i had previously only tried some 30 second exposures. So i tried some longer ones, only being a couple of minutes long.

And how I could i look at camera obscuras without looking at the work of Abelardo Morell...

Check out his site and other images!

So, finally for this weeks entry, here is my work! What d'ya think of it? I love the colours of it, infact might have a tweak in photoshop when i get a chance. Unfortunately i couldn't focus the obscura enough to get a pin point sharp image, but the camera was fully focused, so that's whats letting it down for me. But anyway...Enjoy!

Sources:

AlexNicole Reifenrath, Alexandra, 2009. Self portrait/ Camera Obscura. [digital image] [viewed 28/11/11] available from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandranicolephotography/3906215024/in/set-72157622201726645

Lewis, Jon, 2006. Camera Obscura test 2. [viewed 28/11/11] [digital image] available from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonlewisphotography/258711295/in/set-72157594333098141

Abelardo Morell. 2007. [online] [viewed 27/11/11] available from: http://www.abelardomorell.net/index.html