Re-View, The Exhibition (NGV International)

The exhibition featured works from brilliant photographers throughout history. The photographs were selected from each decade from the 1840s onwards. It was amazing to see William Henry Fox Talbot's photographs that were taken in 1843. These photographers looked very old and had faded to a sepia tone. Talbot used salted paper to produce his images. The subject matter of the early works (1800s/early 1900s) seemed to be portraits and landscapes. These periods included works by Henry Le Secq, Thomas Annan and Edward Steichen. Ironically, I found myself drawn to the smaller photographs by Talbot and Ansel Adams, rather then the recent digital photographs which were printed at a large scale and were quite bright in colour. Adams and Stiechen's landscapes were quite dark and eerie. The strong contrasts between light and dark areas produced amazing images. I particularly liked Steichen's Moonrise (1901) which featured a lake with the moon light sillhouetting tall, thin trees in the distances. The image was very dark, black and white, and rather grainy. The scene appeared calm and silent, and I imagined what it would be like to stand at the edge of the water.

The exhibition allowed me to view a timeline of photography, exploring different mediums and subject matters used throughout the last two centuries.

Moonrise 1901

Edward Steichen

The Alice Series

This was a series photographed on the same night as the 'bizarre' series. I'm not sure if I want to present this series as it doesn't quite fit with the other images. I was looking at the idea of people disguised in costumes, hiding their real self.

Final Folio: Series Four - Portraits of Friends and Family

I have chosen these four images for my series of portraits. Each photo is unique as each person is unique. The environment in each image is closely connected to the people. This series contrasts to the others, as here people are expressing themselves and their personality and what creates the image.

Final Folio: Series Three - Objects

This series explores the idea of people as objects, blending in with their surroundings. Certain people maintain a strong hold over their material possessions, and I think the idea of people transforming into objects themselves is quite interesting.

Final Folio: Series Two - Bizarre

This series focused on bright colours and bizarre positions. The photographs also symbolise an attachment to material objects. I am exploring the relationship between people and objects, people as objects, as well as colour and shape.

The photographs were transformed to an angle where they would appear the most bizarre. I think this works effectively as they are eye catching and hard to understand at first glance.

Final Folio: Series One - The Body

This series focused on the human body in its abstract form. I wanted to draw attention to the shapes the bodies made in the photographs, therefore I desaturated and darkened them. The series each person is simply an object, void of any personality. The series also looks at the unique qualities each person has in terms of their body.

Night Photography

This was an earlier idea I was experimenting with. I wanted to create silhouettes of figures placed in odd positions. However it was too dark to achieve the look I wanted. I decided to discontinue this idea.

Inspiration for Bizarre Images

Richard Avedon

Refining Ideas For Folio

I have decided to complete the following series for my folio:

Series One: Portraits of Friends and Family

This series will concentrate on placing the people around me in a setting that describes their personality. I am aiming for approximately five images in this series.

Series Two: Bizarre

I want to photograph a series of bizarre and loud images. These photos will concentrate on placing people in odd settings and stances. I will focus on high contrasts and bright colours. I want the images to be eye catching and puzzling to the viewers.

Series Three: Architecture and Objects

I want to emphasise a connection between objects and settings and their owners. Houses and the furniture inside reflect the personality of the residents. Through these images I want the viewers to imagine the owner of the house and the kind of life they lead.

Discarded Objects

I think there is a connection between objects and people in my folio this year. I am interested in people's attachment to material objects.

Frank and Roy

Inspired by Arnold Newman, I want to place the sitter in an environment that reflects their personality.

Portrait of a Friend

I had this idea in my head before we set out to shoot the photos. I wanted to create the illusion of the subject towering over his surroundings. We managed to find a hill that was perfect for the shot. The sun setting in the background created a perfect silhouette. I want to produce rather abstract images for my series titled, "Portraits of Family and Friends." There is going to be approximately five portraits in this series.

Drive-In Shoot

I adjusted the saturation to create an unnatural "plastic" look.

Coburg

I decided to visit Village Drive-ins as I knew it would be deserted during the day. By chance I encountered this man there and was able to capture this photograph. While I was there I began to shoot some really interesting photos of the surroundings. The idea for these photos came from Arnold Newman's early work which features abstract architectural images.

Portrait of a Stranger

I drove out to Coburg to photograph some people in the suburb. I found this task a lot more challenging then what I thought it would be. Although I do like the idea of capturing a random moment by chance, I think I prefer to set up a scene. I'm leaning more towards photographing people I know as I find this more comfortable.

Ideas For Final Folio

I have a number of ideas I want to explore throughout Digital Photography this semester. All of which involved photographing people.

Idea One - Portrait of a Stranger

The tutorial exercise in week two inspired me to look further into portraits of strangers. This would involve photographing an individual and their appearance, expression and body language will provide inside to their personality.

Idea Two - The Human Body

Looking at the human body in an abstract way, I want to create a series of images that focus on form, shape and contrast in relation to the human body. I might shoot these photographs at night, playing with lighting to silhouette figures dressed in black. I want to prop the subjects up in unusual positions that emphasise particular elements mentioned above.

Idea Three - Portraits of Friends and Family

Inspired by Arnold Newman I want to photograph people around me, placing them amongst a setting that best reflects their personality.

Arnold Newman - Colour

Arnold Newman's use of colour in his images was originally what caught my eye. In the past many of my photographs have been black and white. I also generally photograph at night. I would like to experiment with vibrant colours in my images this year.

Robert Moses

New York, 1959

Arnold Newman

Arnold Newman - American Portrait Photographer

Newman's work inspired me to focus my folio on portraits of people. Newman photographed many famous celebrities, artists and world leaders. His portraits involved placing the subject amongst a setting that reflected their accomplishments in life.

"I am interested in what motivates individuals, what they do with their lives, their personalities, and how I perceive and interpret them."

"I work the way I do because of the kind of person that I am - my work is an expression of myself. It reflects me, my fascination with people, the physical world around us, and the exciting medium in which I work."

- Arnold Newman "A life in photography"

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/N/newman/newman_articles2.html

Pablo Picasso

Cannes, 1956