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The Location = An office park in Chiswick, London (6:30 pm)
We moved from two dimensional to three dimensional expression this week - looking for a visual connection between the two. Once the sculptures were completed we examined the impression the viewers had when interpreting the work of the artists. What sort of character did the sculpture take on when it came to listening to the shape, form, volume and treatment of the material. What did they “hear” in the artist? What values or judgments did they form?
A fantastic evening with alot of discoveries being made.
Reminder that next week we move on to the photography in terms of expression through compositional elements - PLEASE BRING YOUR CAMERAS.
See you next week!
Fabulous to meet all of you folks this week. Great group and look forward to the weeks ahead.
For those who could not make the first class we explored creating a visual message through the simple symbols created using lines and dots. A very primitive method of communication however still extremely successful in offering a platform for interpretation and testing the results of the final diagram. We discovered that with each movement of the pen comes the potential iconographic assoiciation which will either be read correctly by the viewer or have the potential to deviate away from the intended message. We also discovered that in the event of deviation how imortant the artists imput - his/ her concept behind the work - can steer us along a new path of understanding and a reinvention of a visual code.
 Homework - To collect and bring in for next week 10 images which are photographs you have taken and feel confident about. Please have them in paper form - either as photocopy/ inkjet print or photoprint — we need to see them all at once and reposition them in a display. Digital images/ laptops etc. will not be useable for this exercise.
See you next week.
The Architecture of an Image
Most people have heard of RULE OF THIRDS when used to describe composition.
However an image can be built by the items listed below in isolation or in combination.
LINE
SHAPE
VOLUME = Shape with depth.
PERSPECTIVE - Line with vanishing point.
PERSPECTIVE - Point of view. Depth of Field. Focus.
LIGHT
MONOTONE
SYMMETRY
ASYMMETRY
Picture for Exercise One
Behind the Gare St. Lazare by Henri Cartier Bresson
Jim Harrison, Montana by Alec Soth
Picture for Exercise Two
Fairway Motor Inn by Alec SothÂ
HOMEWORK.
Using only paper, light and shadow, create a series of five photographs which serve as samples of one or more of the above compositional elements. Have 5 images ready for viewing. Images can be on any online gallery you wish.
Samples:
CHRISTMAS CARD DEADLINE LOOMS —- IMAGE DUE NEXT CLASS
 We reviewed the components that are required in making an exposure. From there we went on to discuss in detail the various meters in a camera. Spot, Evaluative, Center Weighted, Evaluative, and Matrix were all discussed and reviewed where each would work best.
For next week students are to experience shooting in low light/ evening situations and record examples of night traffic by creating the following:
-Â one completely abstract image of lights blurred eveywhere.
- the second image is to have the background sharp but the only evidence of the cars are to be the headlights and/ or rearlights bled across the picture.
Next week we will be intrducing Panning so please come prepared with you cameras fully charged and dressed for outside.
See you soon!
We have to go through some admin stuff first — so that means checking all the following boxes:
1. Fire exits and procedure.
2. Toilets
3. Class start times and end times and importance of getting the homework done for your own learning.
4. Introductions
5. Christmas card
Done that — Ok.
Well here we go … learning about these amazingly complexed tools in our hands in the form of the camera.
Before we begin though thought you might like a look ahead to our weeks together.
W1. Introduction/ Exploration/ introduction of vocabulary/ registration to online gallery.
W2. Shutter speed explore/ lab 1.
W3. Shutter speed review/ lab 1 due/ Aperture explore/ lab 2.
W4. Aperture review/ lab 2 due/ Metering/lab 3.
W5. Lab 3 due/ Focal length/ white balance/ image type and file size.
W6. Composition - Line
W7. Review photos of line. Composition - Light, shade and shadow
W8. Light, shade and shadow due. Composition - Expression
W9. Expression assignment due.
W10. Light lab due/Class reviews and comments/Exhibition.
We begin the course by introducing the terminology and concepts behind the following:
* ambient light
* meters
* focal length
* aperture
* depth of field
* shutterspeed
* iso
* white balance
By the end of the class most of you will able to successfully produce your first manual exposure and understand what was technically happening between the subject matter and the available light and the combination of iso, shutterspeed, and aperture you chose and metered for.
Your homework over the next week is to set up a photographic account to view your images in places like Flickr or something similar.
Have a great week!
Ok — so you are getting in the frame of mind of a photographer. Now you know how to use the camera in its manual mode, you know how to adjust for the right exposure and you know more and more about the aesthetic and conceptual elements which make up a photograph or a body of work.
Now the practice begins!!!
Tonight you were exploring creating photographs which are in minimalistic style of the Chiswick Park environment. You were creating visual “swatches” which on their own may be interesting but in a body of work will establish a theme and focus to the work. This is the visual exploration which assists in developing your eye. Think of it as visual practice — like a pianist who spends hours going over a score of music to perfect their performance you are now engaging in that same study. Photography becomes more than just taking the grab shot. Photography becomes a manner in which you SEE.
For next week you are to bring in a minimum of 24 images of the Enjoy Work assignment to be displayed. The images should be the coupon size images that Snappy’s gave you — 4 x6 with borders and on gloss paper.
This will be your first visual assignment with a focus. The brief is simply to capture Chiswick Park in a minimalistic pattern (see example above)which when brought together in a series of images DEFINE the experience of the space. Feel free to continue this exercise over the week — perhaps catching it in different light forms or in better lighting conditions then we have tonight. Maybe the way YOU SEE it is under a different light. With more shadow and contrast and brighter colours. If that is the case then create those if you can.
LAB VISIT
Tuesday April 1, 2008
After an extensive review of the mechanics of the camera we are now on our way to working with creating images with vision and aesthetic. Before we move in that direction we are going to visit a professional lab where we will:
- be given a tour of the facilities
- witness the procedures in place that are responsible for creating your prints
- learn how a printer at a lab interprets your work to give you the results you receive - and what you need to do in order to get things the way you want.
- see the opportunities that are out there for your images - from mouse mats to wallpaper for your home — you can be your own artist in residence.
Please bring up to 36 images on film, cd or other digital storage media for printing on Tuesday. You can also bring old works which you were not pleased with and have this lab print it and see if there is a difference in the result.
This is always a very successful class and students walk away from this feeling more empowered about their photography.
We are meeting AT THE LOCATION and class will begin at 6:45 and probably go later - 9:00 we usually end as we are printing the work on site right before your eyes so you can observe the entire process.
See you then!
Great workshop tonight folks. As we begin to turn the corner and apply some of the techniques we have been learning it is time to see if you can creatively match what you are learning to do technically.
To date you have understood and can make use motion as a means to communicate an idea or mood and as of today you can use depth of field to isolate a subject and make the viewer focus on them by setting the backgroud and/or forground out of focus.
*****Â EXERCISE *****Â
Over the week try to get an image - a portrait -Â which is an example of shallow depth of field. Remeber to begin to think about your composition here and start concentrating on the elements which are being placed into the photograph.
 A checklist:
1. will you photograph the image in portrait or lanscape mode?
2. what is happening in the forground and or background and does it support the theme or idea of the photograph that you are setting about to create?
3. colour or black and white?
4. what is the light like - direction it is coming from - the quality of it? Is this photograph going to be something postive and happy or something dark and brooding or mysteroius - and how is that light working with the mood you are creating?
5. Hair, clothing, makeup — is it all working to show the sitter in their best light?
6. camera angle/ focal length – are you choosing a camera angle/ zoom length which also benefits the sitter and the image as a whole? If the image is being distorted or cropped tight — what does this communicate to the viewer?
7. expression - happens not only in the mouth but in the eyes and the body language — if the person is looking uncomfortable and being difficult then that will translate onto the image. Since this is your first exercise work with someone who enjoys being photographed to make your life alot easier.
That’s it — enjoy the exercise and have a great Easter.
K
A review of all things technical which we have covered to date. Following this we explored depth of field and aperture and spent the evening creating photographs of still lifes which had a shallow depth of field.
NO HOMEWORK WAS GIVEN.
Workshop 4 will be a review of the depth of field, aperture control, understanding metering and we will end off with an in-class portraiture assignment.
See you on the 18th!
Hello. Well here we go … learning about these amazingly complexed tools in our hands in the form of the camera. Above is an image which is one of my better selling stock images. It was not a difficult shot to take at all. I was just observing and was ready for what was about to happen. It was all about time and place and all the little things in between which you will learn about over the next ten weeks.
Seeing and visualising also produced these works:
Before we begin - let’s take a look ahead to our weeks together.
W1. Introduction/ Exploration/ introduction of vocabulary/ registration to online gallery.
W2. Shutter speed explore/ lab 1.
W3. Shutter speed review/ lab 1 due/ Aperture explore/ lab 2.
W4. Aperture review/ lab 2 due/ Metering/lab 3.
W5. Lab 3 due/ Focal length/ white balance/ image type and file size.
W6. Visit to professional lab.
W7. Aesthetics and Concepts - lecture in composition with “line” lab.
W8. Line due. Review and discuss/ Mood in photography with “colour” lab.
W9. Colour lab due/ Light in photography with “light” lab.
W10. Light lab due/Class reviews and comments/Exhibition.
We begin the course by introducing the terminology and concepts behind the following:
By the end of the class most of you will able to successfully produce your first manual exposure and understand what was technically happening between the subject matter and the available light and the combination of iso, shutterspeed, and aperture you chose and metered for.
Your homework over the next week is to set up a photographic account to view your images in places like Flickr or something similar.
Have a great week!
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ANNOUNCEMENT!!! - THE CLASS HAS REQUESTED LAST CLASS DRINKS ONÂ TUESDAY DECEMBER 18th, 7:30 pm. Â Don’t miss out! Trying out the pub across from Gunnesbury Station. Set your calendar for the last day of class and we’ll see you there.
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Leaving the study of LINE behind, having recognised its power to direct and set up an architectural structure to a photograph we are now going to go another direction where we are going to make the viewer grasp a bit in order to get a foothold on what they are looking at.
Compositional Elements assignment 3
DUE DATE - 11:12:07 @ 6:00 pm.
ABSTRACT FORM
Using the camera to capture that which the eye does not see is a very effective tool in creating creative, punchy images. There are many ways in which this can be achieved - over/ under exposure, white balance play, dramatic out of focus images, intentional blur, obscure cropping, colour play through colour filtration. And all of these are obtained by adjusting the controls on the camera and nothing else.
Y our assignment for next class is to have a selection of 10 images which have been created by turning the real into the surreal simply by amplifying the controls on the camera to create effects. You are now taking the rules and tech knowledge that you learned over the workshop and going against the grain. Getting magical and creating, making.
Enjoy your adventure!
Due to many people ill or on travels the assignment which was due today will now be due DECEMBER 4th @ 6:30 pm. Please have it in print or online gallery form. The assignment on “line” can be found here - please read the blog to find out presentation options and assignment notes.
See you next week!
OOoooooo there better be a few nice and shining red apples for teacher next week!
What happened?
The exhibition was a lead into our next half of the workshops - a focus on creating creative/ conceptual content.
For those of you who enjoy working with prints - Anthony at Snappy Snaps is certainly a good starting point — and you have all those credits to use up. So please bring in the assignments in print form if you choose to not go the web upload/ portfolio route.
For those who wish to display on the projection screen you will require a online gallery and Flickr is one which we have exampled. You can of course use any blog or personal site like MySpace or Facebook to show your imagery — whatever works for you.
It is very important that these assignments are completed since each will be the main topic of discussion and you will be presenting your work for critique and exploration.
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Compositional Elements Stage One assignment.
DUE DATE - 27:11:07 @ 6:00 pm.
Line
The formation of line allows the eye to be led through a photograph. It is a strong compositional element with directions for the viewer to look INTO the work.
Exercise No.1
Produce 10 images that show line. It can be a literal documentation or something which you observe and organise pictorially. Be sure that LINE dominates the photograph. Use this word “line” to be the stimulant to thinking and observing the world in this way. Suddenly lines will pop up all around you and some will even make great images!
Closed Casino by Karl Grupe
Think of the shape of line, the direction, the colour. Think of plays on the word of “line” and see if something clever comes up. Whatever you do use “line” as an inspiration and then as you begin to record it, as you are shooting keep asking yourself “how can I make this clearer or better - how can I improve on this.” This focus should pave way towards stronger image making.
Enjoy and see you next week back at the meeting room.
Don’ t forget that next week we are at fugitivesfleurs. The Private View is from 6-8:30. I will take you on a group tour at 6:45 with introduction to the artists work consisting of
- history of the artist
- ideas behind concept and development of the exhibition
- decision behind the curating - size/ format/ framing/ materials/ image placement
- and hopefully - if her schedule can accommodate us on the night - a brief interview with the artist herself.
This exhibition will serve to launch us into the remaining classes with a study on composition, voice and concept. So do try to make it. Please bring your invite with you.
I will meet you at the bottom of the stairs at 6:45 to begin our tour and discussion. If you arrive before that please feel free to take part in the evening. If you arrive later, please look for us in the exhibition itself.
Directions: 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT, Institute of Physics
See you there!!!
Notes for those who did not get to make Snappy Snaps Chiswick visit and a recap for those who did.
1. Your recorded image is only part of a process. The lab you work with to produce your images into print or other media is vital to your success as an image maker. Shop around for a lab who will listen to your requests - understand how you like your images to be printed. This can take some time but is worth it in the end.
2. Once you have an image there are many variations on how that image can be printed. Simple colour adjustments (more blue, less red, stronger yellow etc.), contrast, or light/ dark levels can have an amazing affect on how your image is read. All these are at the hands of a mini lab. These are not specialty items — a good printer knows how to use these effectively.
3. The quality of your prints will be a result of the quality of service the labs provide towards their own equipment and supply. Higher quality photographic paper, better optics in scanners and processors, a consistent schedule of replenishment of the chemistry in the printers, all work towards a quality product.
4. The printer at your lab will not always interpret what it is you need… let them know what you want and they will help you get to that point. Don’t be afraid to ask — better printing comes about from asking and understanding the potential of your image.
5. Once you have a quality print — the real adventure begins. Canvas printing, enlargments, specialised custom printing, specialty borders and framing — all allow the image to take on a new feel and grow closer to a final “art work”.
A lab is a lab for a reason — a place to play and experiment with your work. To turn things around a bit adding an edge to your imagery. Think of it as the next phase in producing your prints. In the professional world what one does with their prints after capture is called “post production”…. sounds pretty high end huh?
A great night and I hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves.
See you next week.