Methods and Meaning - ForumTask: Post an image to the forum that you think is an example of a good use of a photographic ‘faux pas’ or what we might traditionally think of as a ‘mistake’. This might be a ‘happy accident’ or it could be when someone has deliberately subverted, or broken, the technical rules of photography. It could be one of your own images or a picture taken by someone else. My response: This photo was taken on a 1954 Voigtlander Vitessa (http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Vitessa). It has an unusual film winder mechanism in the form of a large plunger rod. For some reason on my camera the film does not always wind on, resulting in the occasional double exposure. I do like the randomness of not knowing when this will occur and the resulting ‘happy accident’. This particular shot was taken at Fort la Latte in Brittany where I was on a high vantage point on the fort and so took a photograph of part of the fort and another of the surrounding scenery. The combined double exposure has blended these 2 shots giving a surrealist feeling to the resulting outcome and also created a layering effect to the background, giving a further sense of depth to the image. These were the responses from other students: I like the multiple horizon lines almost looking like hills in the background behind the castle. Works in B&W but I don't think it would work in colour. Oh yes... a double exposure is a great example of a happy accident.. I had to think quite hard to get my head around what a 'happy accident' or faux pas would even look like. Thank you for opening my mind!! This really is a happy accident. I've had often had similar issues with my analog cameras and the accidental exposures have a special place in my heart. The unexpected and unintentional beauty is often the powerful. METHODS and MEANING: Activity and WebinarTask: Write a short entry (c.150 words) to the forum below explaining, in your own words, how their methodologies contribute to how you interpret the work. Please insert an image or a hyperlink to examples of the work with your entry. My response: Brassai’s was inspired by the work of Eugene Atget, although whereas Atget’s is best known for capturing the disappearing architecture of ‘Old Paris’, Brassai was more intent on capturing the Parisian nightlife, especially the ‘shadier’ side of nightclubs, bars and brothels. Brassai’s methodology derived from his training as a painter and sculptor. Brassai framed his shots so that small areas of light pierced large areas of blacks and shadows. Light reflected in wet streets and diffused by fog, would define shapes within the dark. This contrast gave his printed images richness and depth. In order to light the darker areas of Paris at nighttime, Brassai was equipped with a Voigtlander 6.5x9cm camera, a slow lens and a wooden tripod. He used harsh, direct lighting with long exposures, which were often given an excessive contrast from streetlights or car headlamps. This resulted in a cinematic quality to his images with a film noir feel to them that I find distinctive about his work. METHODS and MEANING: ReflectionReflect:
Consider also the points raised in the presentation:
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We were asked to post the following on the forum last week: Post an image to this forum by way of an introduction to your peers and your tutors. Try and respond to ideas and examples discussed in the presentation. You could use a mirror quite literally, or think about views into your personal world that reveal something about yourself or your interests in photography. Include one or two lines about your concept and/or visual strategy. This was my response: I have chosen to use this 'selfie' for as I feel this both introduces myself and acts as an analogy for 'Mirrors and Windows'. This image was taken at the Goodwood Revival on Friday which is a celebration of bygone days, vintage fashion and motor racing around around the classic circuit from the 1948-1966 era. It was part of a series I was taking as a window on the event itself, to try to capture the mood, atmosphere and context. I was using an Olympus Pen-F which is a retro camera based on the original 1960's Olympus film camera of the same name, but to get more of an authentic feeling to the images I used a vintage Asahi Takumar lens. This is shown in the reflection in the mirror which I feel also gives an insight into my interest in the evolution and history of photography.
Here are a couple of responses, one from one of the tutors and another from a fellow student: 'I love that the camera (or the lens) has become the mark of the nostalgia of the even and that's reflected in the image itself and its out of focus swirls of red (Saul Leiter again).' 'The camera and lens immediately captured my attention... Your story about the image and the event has me wanting to see the entire series! There is a great reverence shown--photographing a vintage event with vintage gear... Profound. Thank you for sharing!' |