Negatives and Photograms II

Hand print during Developing stage

This photogram created by exposing two different positive prints on acetate on top of one another, using a level 3 filter. I created 5 version of this photogram: no filter, 3, 31/2, 4, 4 1/2. This one was voted as the best piece by my classmates. I intend to take it forward for manipulation with other materials to use as one of my finals.

Futurist Photodynamism and Chronophotography

Today my tutor (Chico) and I discussed Anton Giulio Bragaglia and his Futuristic Dynamism photography techniques. Chico suggested this to me because of the photography work with slow shutter speeds I have been doing so far. Photodynamism is focused on capturing energy and movement. This style was established in the early 20th century.


Anton Giulio Bragaglia, “Ritratto fotodinamico di una donna”, 1924

We also went over Chronophotography and I was told to look into Etienne-Jules Marey's work. This style goes back earlier than Photodynamism, originally being used in 1860s. This style was made possible by using shutter speeds of 1000 per second and capturing multiple exposures of up to 12 frames per second.

Etienne-Jules Marey, "Flight of the pelican", 1883

Other relevant pieces were:

Duchamp's "Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2"

Eadweard Muybridge's "Dancing (Fancy) (Movements Female)"

Balla's "Speed of a Motorcyle"

I have booked the studio in the media department for next Monday at 4pm. During my use of the studio I will use my Canon E0S to create photos that will reflect Photodynamism and Chronophotography.



Note for self on these techniques from learnmyshot.com

Lighting and Camera Settings:
Tradition Photodymamist Technique:
Traditionally long exposure was used. Typically Exposures as long as thirty seconds. To avoid complete blur the subject would pause for a few seconds on different planes of the image to outline details and continue the movement and stop again until desired movement has been completed. 

Contemporary Shutter Drag Approach:
Multiple light source exposure.To achieve desired results flash (pop up flash on camera) and continuous tungsten light ere utilized. You can substitute pop up flash with more sophisticated lighting just make sure the light will not spill on black background. While flash was used to freeze a part of motion, continuous light (clamp lamp) was used to allow slow shutter speed to capture the entire movement.

Please note that Robert in the video above used a Front Curtain Sink flash setting. You may also want to try using Rear Curtain Sink. (refer to your camera manual how to change it)  Rear Curtain Sink produces different effect as it captures the movement prior to freezing the motion.

Light Black Out. Black background was used to contrast light skin tones. Black wardrobe was used effectively to create the negative space for more surreal effect.

Tip: Use velvet like textured black fabric to maximize absorbency of light.

Practice Workshop I

On 10th May 2013 I held my first practice workshop. A few days before I had discussed my ideas for the workshop with one of the art tutors who had previously worked with the education section of the Tate (Jessie). I explained how I didn't really want to direct the session, and instead wanted to give the participants a theme to create something around. The tutor explained to me how it is sometimes better to put up certain guidelines to give someone creative freedom. She explained that it may be best to give the group a statement to work around, or a set of points which their pieces have to achieve, or questions which they need to answer.

My original idea looking back through my recorded discussions with other tutors I came to the conclusion to focus on something my tutor Vicky and I had gone over, "Social values and inner values in direct conflict". This came from Eliza Bennett's section of the RAW SKIN exhibition at the Karin Janssen Space Project. I also thought about the topics addressed in "Souzou" from The Wellcome Collection.

On the day of the workshop, I was unprepared for the size of the workshop I had planned and so the idea had to change. I spoke with Vicky about different workshops she knew of and we decided on an activity that would be quick and easy to put together, go through, and tidy away. For my workshop, the participants had to take off their shoes and place them somewhere on the centre display, I decided to go with this idea because I have been focusing on shoes with my photography, and I had previously been given the idea of seeing how people react to being dressed in a way that is not usual to them. The participants were expressively uncomfortable about removing their shoes.

They were given a pot of ink and a bamboo stick which they used throughout the workshop. The participants had a minute to draw the display in front of them before moving to the board to their left, rotating it 90 degrees, and repeating the process. There were 5 different colours so each person would draw on 5 different boards.

Setting Up

At the Beginning

At the End

I will be using the pieces created in my practice workshops for decoration and inspiration in my exhibition workshop.

Negatives and Photograms

QR Codes and Exhibition Online Trials

On 4th and 5th May I tested out different layouts for the site that the pieces created at my workshop would be uploaded to and began exploring the potential of QR codes which would like to the site.

I chose to test the layouts of Blogger, Tumblr, and Flickr. The effect I was looking for was a collection of all the pieces on one page, not so neatly laid out.




This is my first generated QR code. I chose to keep it simple to see if the link to the site would work. I'm looking to have the final QR code printed onto any businesses cards I create and have it also displayed through posters in my workshop.

Photography, Digital Editing, and Batique

On Tuesday my tutor and I discussed photography of  groups of people. During my class' lunch break we all got together and I took photographs of our shoes as they tell you more about a person than many people realise. Below are my three favourites which I took forward for manipulation.



Photoshop: For each image, I created a copy of the background as a separate layer and the used the eraser tool to allow the colour of the shoes to appear - a very quick and easy technique that takes a few minutes.







Today I printed these images out to develop the idea with batique. However the printer I used created a blue tint over my images so the colouring from the digital editing was not effective.



Covering selected areas in hot wax

Covered page in ink and removed dried wax

To improve this I need to use black ink to completely cover the background.






Tutor and Peer Discussions - Ideas and Beginning of Workshop

Over the last week I took part in a peer speed-dating style critique where my Foundation class were paired with the 2nd year students doing their Extended Diploma. From it I was given many good ideas such as creating pieces on objects of sentimental value to my peers, filming day-to-day activity of my class, creating a board to leave notes on of the viewer's own identity, enlarged finger prints, and dressing a man in womans clothing and vice versa and studying their mannerisms and body language in comparison to their usual attire.

After this I spoke to my tutors about the idea of creating a workshop for the audience and my peers to participate in, which would reflect the theme of identity. This idea felt right as it links into my goal of becoming an art therapist through a practical experience. I will soon be visiting the "Pick Me Up" exhibition at Sommerset House to gain inspiration and attend other workshops as well. We discussed the use of materials split by a person's facticity, for example: a person of a certain age group could only use a certain material. As my workshop will be held in a practical room below the exhibition space, I will have a live-feed from the workshop being shown in the exhibition area to advertise it. There will be coloured tape leading from my selected exhibition space to the workshop along with signs to advertise it.

Below are photographs of the workshop space not set up.