November 2007

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 - 06:12:07 @ 6:30 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!

first class by Karl Grupe

The next club meeting is scheduled for Wednesday December 5th, 2007 12:30 - 2:00 pm.

We will discuss Photography and Composition and look at what sort of ingredients help in making a photograph successful. This will be a 60 min discussion. The following 30 mins will be a trouble shooting tech session, hopefully making you aware of what may go wrong for the Christmas season.

Please bring in any of your own work for critique and feedback.

Feel free to invite a friend and we’ll see you soon.

To know more about Karl Grupe, please visit www.karlgrupe.com.

Ciao!

PHOTOGRAPHERS LONDON at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

DEADLINE FOR ENROLMENT DECEMBER 15th, 2007.

Start date January 12th, 2008 Saturdays 10 - 4

This course is aimed at people who may be new to photography or new to London. During the course your classroom will be the city of London, where you will explore the workings of your camera while daily photographing a theme. Each day will include an introductory talk and technical seminar followed by a field trip to put into practice the skills learned. This course will not include any darkroom practice, so students are asked to budget for their own developing costs, as well as a travel card to cover visits around London. On the first day students are asked to bring in ten examples of past snapshot photographs (mistakes encouraged) for discussion and critique. Locations will include places where we can explore the following photography topics; people and portraiture, architecture and the urban landscape, nature, travel.

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ART OF THE SNAPSHOT at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

DEADLINE FOR ENROLMENT JANUARY 15th, 2007.

Start date February 16th, 2008 Saturdays 10 - 4

Ping Pong, Dublin C-print 700mm x 550mm

Whatever one’s photographic experience, at some time we all have passed into photography through the doorway of the snapshot. Its power in catching the narrative, documenting a moment, or expressing an emotion in an instant, almost void of any technical or formal perfection has allowed for a photographic “”democracy”" to all who pick up a camera. In this series of workshops we will use the informal nature of the snapshot to serve as a vehicle to promote and explore concept and interpretation. Uncovering what is your own visual identity, isolating the voice that makes a body of work original. Through exercises exploring aesthetic and analytic photography, concept generation and story telling, and the importance of the edit and presentation of one’s work you will examine what are your components of visual voice and how can you express what it is you see or believe to your audience. This course involves assignments that require students to use photographic labs or desktop printing facilities at home or work in addition to local travel to galleries and an assignment on location. Please budget for this. Students are asked to bring 10 – 15 unbound samples of personal work for a presentation on the first day.

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ANNOUNCEMENT!!! - MAKE UP CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 10th + THURSDAY DECEMBER 13th. Times for both days are 6:30 pm - 8:00pm.

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Compositional Elements assignment.

DUE DATE - 29:11:07 @ 6:30 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!

clouds in g minor 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 ranch.

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ANNOUNCEMENT!!! - MAKE UP CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 10th + THURSDAY DECEMBER 13th. Times for both days are 6:30 pm - 8:00pm.

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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.

Neue Deutschland  2007,  C -Print 1200mm x 900mm

C-Print 500mm x 500mm

For Wendy and Sophie.

A reminder to have set up some sort of online photo gallery account for the next workshop.

Flickr is an example of such a venue. However, as I mentioned, if you wish to have a critique from a photographic print perspective - especially with regards to presentation/ layout - then prints are the only way to go.

Tonight we reviewed last week’s exercise. “25 things” allowed us the opportunity to react and create images through a series of stimuli. The result was a matrix of pictures. But this matrix allowed for us to witness how each of you have, inherently, your own approach, your own style, already, so early in this stage of your photographic experience.

Building on that knowledge and observation - the next assignment is an exercise in story telling.

Office by Karl Grupe

scanned Polaroid SX 70 film

600 second Office by Karl Grupe

Scanned polaroids from Mamiya RB67

Assignment: My Space.

Practice. Offer an opportunity to reflect on that which has become unobserved and through the pursuit/ art of picture making have the learner “seeing” on a wider level.

In other words develop a more visually savvy eye.

Work. Choose a space which you wish to begin your visual study of. It can be absolutely any sort of space. One which has meaning to you or not. A place which serves simply as a function, an intimate space, a secure space, a new space. It simply must be a single space.

From here you are to develop a character study of that space. Your goal is to, through your pictures, bring the viewer into that space and “read” into it as much as they can. Yes , it could be one single photograph which documents the entire space, but we are looking to dig further here. We are looking to draw out the character of the space as much as seeing simply what it looks like.

You are to begin thinking about how you wish to present this as well. Your “exhibition” is an extension of your images. The presentation is used to enhance or amplify the images. So please consider this as an additional visual appreciation.

Home as a Metaphor by Karl Grupe

scanned Polaroid SX70

As many images as you would like. Examples are given here of my style/ approach to the exercise or if you go to Project 1 and read the concept statement you will find a good example of a personal study of a space (it may take a bit of time to load) . And something which was thought out to a large degree from images to film/camera choice.

Have fun with this, enjoying the ride that photography can take you on, and see you next week.

One of my assistants took this one of a lovely wedding we did recently. As I sit here, looking at pricing out a few jobs, I am thinking about the competition that is corrupting the market. People who think they know photography just because they are armed with the awesome firepower of a Nikon D2x etc. Indeed, on automatic, or even with those that have a manual understanding, good results are there to be made. But shooting a job is so much more than simply shooting a job. There are the directorial roles, the liason and support roles, the vision, the ability to trouble shoot and not come undone when the demands are there - and at all times, looking for the creative, distinctive image.

Digital photography, in some ways, has also changed the shape of the client. A belief exists that somehow not only should it make photography cheaper but it makes it is faster. But 1/125 of a second is 1/125 of a second. And recording is the same amount of time between film and digital. It is in the set up and organisation and flow of the events where the time moves seamlessly or hits brick walls. And it is here that the professional far surpasses the amateur with his pro camera. The pro can dance and tick boxes off at concurring moments. Or at least he/ she should.

Finally it is this expertise that one pays for. Not just in making the photographs, but in contributing to the execution of time management with confidence and understanding. The professional must wear many hats on a job. I am glad that there are still clients around who see and recognise this. Like the job seen here in the photo, when everything I speak about here comes together, it makes it all worthwhile.

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.

Polaroid off Hasselblad 503CM by Karl Grupe.

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What a fabulous group - in size and energy this was. I want to thank you for coming out on the 7th.

To recap, we spoke of all the options that are available and quite easily accessible/ affordable to take each of our photographic gems and create something for the home/ office or as gifts. As a guide we looked at 55max. We also reviewed Snappy Snaps.

Following along with the art and design thread we looked at samples from the Lomo, Holga and Polaroid SX70 cameras. Work from past students on Lomo and Holga . And a shot of mine on the SX70. The important fact about each of these is that they are FILM for starters and offer no exposure controlling options. The creativity is in matching subject matter to the character of the camera - something which is kinda lost in digital worlds. Also one must be prepared for happy accidents and/or creating them — throwing the film in the washing machine before exposing it was one suggestion. Seriously!

Our next club meeting is scheduled for Wednesday December 5th, 2007 12:30 - 2:00 pm.

We will discuss Photography and Composition and look at what sort of ingredients help in making a photograph successful. This will be a 60 min discussion. The following 30 mins will be a trouble shooting tech session, hopefully making you aware of what may go wrong for the Christmas season.

Feel free to invite a friend and we’ll see you soon.

Don’t forget to bring cameras for the meeting and comments for future ideas in the comment box would be appreciated.

Ciao.

Notes

“25 things” is due. 4×6 or 5×7 inch glossy pictures with white borders please.

This class will be running through various exercises in determining your visual eye, and establishing the ground work for the rest of the remaining workshops which will focus on composition and personal style.

See you at 6:30!

Well, today was a very, very exciting time. Wye Ho, a wonderful artist - whose exhibition I have had the pleasure of curating- opened her delivered art works and we placed them. They look absolutely beautiful and I do hope those of you who know about the show do come — it’s spectacular work. Exhibition opens November 5th at the Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London, Uk, W1B 1NT. Visits by appointment - Please contact Jenny Hollock on tel: 020 7470 4871.