To start my investigation into Growth and Development I created a mindmap to help me think about potential topics and ideas to look in to. On the mindmap below I have labelled the most appealing ideas from 1 to 9; 1 being most appealing and 9 being least. Of the moment, the highest rated ideas seems to have the most potential for development and deeper exploration. As well as this, I have ticked any mediums of photographic presentation that seemed particularly appealing to me, at the time of creating this mindmap.
bobby neel adams
Bobby Neel Adams instigated a photographic project called Age Maps. His intention for this project is demonstrate a "map" of an individual's ageing process. He did this by taking two images of the same individual and splicing them together. Each photo is taken from different periods in time; usually a photograph of the individual in early adolescence is combined with a present image of the individual in adulthood. Neel Adams has stated that "in this fusion a jump-of-time is established at the tear of the image." Observing Age Map project has been enlightening; it has reinforced the idea of age as a potential path into exploring the topic of growth and evolution.
To begin exploring the theme of growth and development I attempted to digitally manipulate two portraits and mimic one's ageing process. When carrying out this experiment I have kept the work of Bobby Neel Adams close to mind. This was achieved by merging two similar portraits together using Photoshop software. One image is of the desired subject one would like to age, and the other is an image of an elderly figure. The tutorial below provides a better, more detailed insight, into how the process can be carried out. I admired the how realistic the final products of the editing technique can be. I feel that it encourages people (yet also discourages people) about the reality of one's mortality and the human ageing process. It is, also, very interesting to observe a visual representation of what you may look like in the elderly stages of your life. I feel, in addition, that this technique could also be used effectively, not just with humans, but with landscapes also. An example of this could be merging a modern, animated city, with a more derelict and abandoned example.
Natsumi yowayowa
Natsumi Yowayowa has a strong passion for levitation photography. She is based in Japan and mainly captures levitation self-portraits. Yowayowa gears her photographic focus towards the idea of levitation. She, normally, is the subject of her photographs. In order to capture herself in her photos she uses a self-timer. Albeit, when she wishes to place herself in more adventurous scenarios she requests an additional person to capture the photo. What is particularly creative about these photographic endeavours is that she does not use digital editing or manipulation to create the illusion of levitation. Yowayowa has trained her body to be able to form realistic stances and poses, mid-air, in order to achieve a realistic representation of levitation. Through the use of a continuous and fast shutter-speed, Yowayowa is able to precisely capture an effective levitation photograph. Natsumi Yowyowa has stated that "her photos are supposed to emphasise the natural flow of time." This is clearly manifested through the lucid orientation of all her imagery.
Levitation Experiments/SUPERHEROES and human evolution
Observing the work of Natsumi Yowayowa influenced me to create a number of images that create the illusion of levitation, simply by capturing my subject, mid-air, in an instant. I have, on the contrary, used digital manipulation for one image to create a extravagantly exaggerated scenario. Now, the aim of this particular idea was to artistically represent human evolution. In other terms, creating the replication of levitation was to address the potentiality for supernatural abilities. Through using different photographic techniques and digital manipulation, I was able to create the appearance that my subject was levitating. I then wished to expand upon the supernatural orientation of my scene by placing my subject in an entirely unrealistic scenario. This is shown in my last image, where I have 'Photo-shopped' the subject in an image of an apocalyptic field of grass. I found this experiment particularly useful, as it highlighted the unlimited photographic possibilities that can be achieved through the digital manipulation of imagery.
photographic evolution
I went about exploring the evolution of the camera; even today, new photographic developed to enhance the efficiency of the camera the accessibility of photography as a whole. In the modern age, everyone is a photographer. More digital devices utilize photographic technology, and, never before, has the exercise of photography been so tangible. In this experimentation I have attempted to show the evolution of photographic process. I have endeavoured to do this by capturing the same subject matter using three different mediums of photography. Firstly, I used a pin-hole camera; the simplest form of photographic process. Second, I used film photography; and evident development from the pin-hole camera model. And, finally, I used a high technology digital camera. Exploring the progression of photographic process, I have developed a better understanding of the effect and products the three different mediums can produce. When carrying out further work, I will reflect upon these experiment; especially when deciding on how I would like to present my images. For instance, whether or not I would like to modernise my imagery or, in another instance, create a more authentic final product.
In order to explore photographic evolution further, I and my class visited David Bailey's exhibition, Bailey's Stardust; at the National Portrait Gallery. Bailey has had a significant impact upon the visual arts, and, more significantly, photographic portraiture. This exhibition consisted of a number of Bailey's works circa 1960 onwards.The majority of the images were portraits; including work from his iconic project 'Pin-up Box'. It was particularly interesting to see the development and evolution of his photographic process; albeit, Bailey also elucidated a sense of consistency in his work. It seems that, due to the increased difficulty and technique required for taking sufficient portraits in the 1960s, his earlier works evoke a greater sense of authenticity and talent, than one's of a more modern kind. Without the aid of photoshop of digital process, a great sense of precision and accuracy must be exercised when capturing the images. Bailey preferred and normally only used natural light to illuminate his images. I find that this variety of photographic endeavour highlights the intricacy of analogue photography. His digital images, however, were extremely powerful also. Bailey instigated a modern interpretation of his 1970s project "East End", where he captured a series of images from the East End of London, only using a mobile phone camera. I found that this underpins the evolution of photographic process and the camera; and how all over the world people have easy medium into photography, as a result of the development and growth of technology.
chrisse macdonald & john short - 'overgrown'
Chrisse Macdonald and John Short collboarted on a photographic project which explored the relationship between nature and mankind. They apporached elucidating this topic through symbolic photographs of specifically engineered subject matter; in these images, plants are presented in their early stages of growth, and consistently throughout the images, the plants are, in a sense, breaking through man made structure. This symbolically creates a representation of conflict between nature and man. I admired the simplicity, albeit, profoundness of the images. Although simple, the photographs reflect upon a greater subject; venturing into the greater subject of the problematic relationship between industrial civilisation and the natural world. After observing Short's and Macdonald's project, I endeavoured to create a personal representation of the relationship between nature and man myself.
The growth of nature and its relationship with the industrial world
After studying the work of Chrisse Macdonald and John Short, I instigated a photographic investigation into the relationship between manking and nature. When doing this I kept the style and intentions of Short and Macdonald close to mind. In this series of images I have captured and engineered particular subject matter, that I find to efficiently represent the relationship between the industrial and the natural. I have fluctuated between representing and demonstrating the dominating partner in this relationship; some images I intended to present nature as an overpowering force over urban structure and vise versa.
Industrial Growth
After exploring the relationship between nature and urban civilisation, I began to extend upon representing the matter further. For a week I visited the Isle of Coll; one of the Hebridean Islands located off Scotland. The Isle of Coll is an extemely remote island; having a population of 237. While visiting the Isle of Coll, I attempted to photographically capture the rural landscape. Capturing this subject matter highlighted the distinct contrast between rural and urban civilisation. Coll, in addition, is still in the process of development; you can, therefore, see basic infrastructure in its early developing process across the Island. For instance, a telephone mast is being built. For an individual living in the city, such structure is so common, and, arguably, a necessity. In this project I have captured a set of pairs of similar images, both from urban and rural environments. With each pair of images I have either placed them next to eachother or spliced them, in order to create greater contrasting images. My intention for this project was to create a distinction between rural and industrial developed civilisation; and thus representing how urban world has grown, evolved and developed.
Population growth
Global population growth is around 80 million annually. The global population has drastically grown from 1 billion in 1925 to 7 billion in 2012; and it is continuing to grow. It is expected to keep growing to reach 11 billion by the end of the century. Most of the growth occurs in the nations with the most poverty, showing the direct link between high population growth and low standards of living. The nations with high standards of living generally have low or zero rates of population growth. This topic is very relevent and present to myself, albiet also the world we live in. I have, therefore, decided to photographically explore this concept further. In this series I have began to explore 'population growth' through the means of capturing a repetition of buildings and infrastructure. I feel that this particular subject matter reflects upon the expansion of the human population; though, simultaneously, brings the concepts of industrial expansion and its cost to the minds of my audience. In these images I intended to present the density of housing in city areas. I have gone about doing this through exercising a depth of field in my images, as well as exploring the visual effects of repetition.
Alexey titarenko
Alexey Titarenko received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Department of Cinematic and Photographic Art at Leningrad's Institute of Culture in 1983. He began taking photographs at the beginning of the 1970s, and in 1978 became a member of the well-known Leningrad photographic club Zerkalo, where he had his first solo exhibition (1978). In his photographic series 'City of Shadows' [1992 - 1994] Titarenko represents the fast pace of London in a very bleak and dark fashion. His use of blur and shadow exemplifies the passing of time and constant movement of the city people. Observing Titarenko's work and inspired me to look into the growth and travel and connectivity within London. Living in the city my whole life, I have observed the increased development in travel, and, in correlation the efficiency, albeit increased pace of the London atmosphere. In addition, Titarenko was documenting in the 90s, thus I feel it would be an interesting endeavour to explore the development of the growth of connectivity, means of transportation and population in London in this present age.
I admire Titarenko's approach to demonstrating the lucid nature of London city life. I feel the use of similar tones and colour unifies all the subjects in the photograph. It also reinforces the amount of the people in the photographs; presenting all the individuals in similar tones and light presents them as one body. This undercuts the size and amount of population in London. Although I admire Titarenko's approach to elucidating the pace and population of London, I dislike his bleak and dark approach to representing city life.
Stephanie jung
Stephanie Jung is from Schifferstadt, a small town in South-West Germany, but she spends a lot of time in Berlin during the year. In 2010 she finished her studies in Visual Communications, where she discovered her passion for experimental photography. Since then she is working as a freelance photographer, focussing on her personal projects. Her main subject matter is influenced by urban culture, especially big cities. She has stated that she enjoys " captur[ing] the vibrant and hectic mood of a place." But her work is not just about citylife, it's about time and caducity, about capturing moments that "get lost in time". Some of her work has been published in different magazines as well as exhibited in art galleries. After instigating my investigation into Growth & Connectivity, I came cross Jung's work. Her work captures everyday scenarios, and, in order to create a more surreal effect, she overlay's a number of photographs, to display a slight shift in perspectives. I similarly wished to exercise this technique to demonstrate London's frantic nature. I also admire the balance of vibrant and and dark imagery that she uses to present the hectic nature of city life. I feel that I will expand upon Jung's technique and create my own interpretation of it to demonstrate the frantic and fast paced orientation of city life.
In this image, Jung has layered a numerous number of images of the same subject matter. This creates an abstraction of relatively ordinary subject matter. Her intentions for using this effect was to show the development and passage of time. The faded imagery in the photograph demonstrates the variation of moments in the photos; more distinct images were captured later than one's of a more faded appearance. I find Jung's style to be visually effective; albeit, I feel that more people should be incorporated into her works, rather than, simply urban landscapes. However, Jung's use of repetition, I find, is greatly effective and I would like to incorporated a greater approach of repetition in my later photographic developments. |
The Growth of travel & human connectivity
I began to explore the topic of human connectivity. In this modern age, human beings have never been so well connected with eachother; as a result of technological and mechanical advances. To begin exploring this topic, I visited London's international rail stations, Kings Cross & St. Pancras. I felt these two stations as subject matter perfectly elucidated the them of human connectivity. Through buying a ticket, one is able to travel across the country or internationally; experiencing new culture, anthropology and landscape. Never before have he majority of human beings been so well travelled. In the short film below, I have documented people's departures to various different parts of the country and world. In this video I desired to show the extent and frequency of how many people travel on a daily basis. In addition to the video, I have created three images. These images are representations of the beginning, middle and end parts of the film. I have attempted to condense a prolonged time-lapse into one single still image.
Marcus Lyon - Exodus
Marcus Lyon (b. 1965) is a British artist. His study of Politics at Leeds University and his early working life with Amnesty International in Latin America was his inspiration for his 25 year exploration into the topic of globalisation. I feel that this concept of globalisation strongly reflects my representation of human connectivity. Furthermore, when visiting Lyon's studio during November last year, he demonstrated the purpose of his series of work 'Exodus'. Exodus manifestly reflects the international connection between nations; as a result of increased development in business,trade, international politics and industrialisation. He wished to present this notion through an emphatic repetition of infrastructure in his images. In addition, the use of emphasising the growth of industry, acts a means of foresight into the demand of resources - food, work, shelter - in proportion to the increase of population. He wished to also elucidate people's increased migration from rural to urban environments
In the past 2 years there has been a 12% increase in migration to the UK, in particular London. Although this demonstrates the increased diversity of culture and connectivity within our country, it also emphasises the increase of population, and thus the proportionate demand for housing and basic necessities. In these images Lyon has repeated subject matter through digital editing. It exemplifies the claustrophobic nature of the industrial civilisation globally; this reflects the increasing demand for resources as the human population develops. I find this concept incredibly interesting. In my later development I feel that it would be beneficial to explore the increase of population as well as human connectivity as they interlink.
the growth of the population and connectivity
In this set of observations I intended to expand upon the theme of human travel and connectivity; albeit, also emphasise the claustrophobic nature of city life, through a juxtaposition with rural and urban subject matter. To do this, I documented my journey to the rural town of Yeovil, Somerset. This allowed me to visit the more populated areas of central London, and, in contrast, document subject matter in the countryside also.
In my previous investigations, I created a time-lapse video in order to visually demonstrate the extent and amount of people travelling to and from London on a daily basis. I felt that this medium of presentation was effective. Therefore, I decided to utilise this medium in this development. In the video I have captured people's various commutes around London, and the means in which people travel. I wished to demonstrate the busy, frantic and highly populated nature of London. To create the contrasting effect, and emphasise the population growth of London, I captured various natural landscapes and scenes that are significantly common to rural areas. I feel that presenting the open spaces of the rural environments emphasise the overpopulated nature of urban society. I also decided to use music that reflects the atmosphere of the subject matter; for instance, using fast paced music to represent the urban scenarios frantic orientation and slow, more relaxing music to reflect the calm atmosphere of the countryside.
In my previous investigations, I created a time-lapse video in order to visually demonstrate the extent and amount of people travelling to and from London on a daily basis. I felt that this medium of presentation was effective. Therefore, I decided to utilise this medium in this development. In the video I have captured people's various commutes around London, and the means in which people travel. I wished to demonstrate the busy, frantic and highly populated nature of London. To create the contrasting effect, and emphasise the population growth of London, I captured various natural landscapes and scenes that are significantly common to rural areas. I feel that presenting the open spaces of the rural environments emphasise the overpopulated nature of urban society. I also decided to use music that reflects the atmosphere of the subject matter; for instance, using fast paced music to represent the urban scenarios frantic orientation and slow, more relaxing music to reflect the calm atmosphere of the countryside.
Growth of population - rural and urban contrasts
In my previous investigation I explored the growth of connectivity and the claustrophobic nature of the city. I did this through contrasting rural and urban landscapes through film and photographs. However, I do not feel that I explored the contrast between rural and urban environments in a great enough depth. Furthermore, I wished to aim my focus more directly upon population growth. This led me to look into the topic further in this development. In this investigation I incorporated themes and techniques from both Lyon and Jung. I investigated Lyon's topic of migration from rural to urban landscapes; and how because of this the human densities within these urban areas are rapidly increasing. This increase in urban population will lead to a proportionate increase in industrial development; in order to necessitate the population growth. To express this notion I contrasted urban and rural landscapes through combining them in one image. This is to demonstrate the growth in industrialisation, and thus the gradual diminishing of natural environments. I used Jung's overlaying technique to create this contrasting effect through combining the two polarised landscapes. Below is a step by step example of my editing process.
To begin this process, I took a rural image and uploaded it to photoshop. This acts as my primary background for my photo and acts as a guideline to edit in accordance too.
I then began to erase large areas from the second layered image; allowing the background image to physically manifest itself. However, when parts of the background image appeared incompatible with the layered image, I used a cloning tool, to replicate patches of the background image, and then manual layered it onto the second layer.
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I then uploaded an image of a city scene, and placed it upon the background image. I then lowered the opacity to 50%. This allowed me ascertain an idea of what the final product may look like. In addition, it allows me to locate the horizon lines of both images; knowing this helped greatly when I was merging the two images.
Once the majority of the background layer was revealed, I then zoomed in to achieve a greater level of accuracy when attempting to erase small, more detailed areas. This was the longest approach to the task, however, I find it had the most accurate conclusive effect.
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Overall I find these photographic developments to interestingly elucidate the theme of population growth. To the contrary, I find that they do not sufficiently demonstrate the frantic nature of city life. The involvement of the natural subject matter tranquilises, I find, London's hectic nature. This is incompatible with my intention to emphasise the fast-paced and over-populated nature of city life. Adding to this, I find that still images do not demonstrate this notion as well as animated photographic mediums. Therefore I will not continue exploring this medium of demonstrating of population growth, and instead investigate different approaches to exemplifying this theme.
gifs. - Growth of population and connectivity developments
After exploring the medium of film, I began to explore different approaches to presenting my theme of human connectivity and population. I began to look into the process of creating GIFs. This is a brief animation created from a sequence of images. I feel that this is an improvement from using film as an artistic form of presentation, as it allows me to present numerous different scenes and scenarios in more digestible fragments. The constant animated repetition and jittery nature of the GIFs. reflects the frantic and claustrophobic environment of London. In this series of GIFs. I documented an international food fair. I felt that this was appropriate subject matter as it demonstrated the increase of connectivity between different cultures and lifestyles. This reflects the cosmopolitan nature of city life, and thus the connectivity of it also. To continue my exploration into the population growth within urban locations I focuses primarily on areas with large densities of people. When demonstrating this subject matter in a GIF. the lucid and hectic nature of the people is emphatically demonstrated. I find that the continuous repetition of the animation successfully echoes the constant and frantic nature of city life. Presenting these GIFs. in a series together, in addition, accumulates a greater sense of London's continuously frenetic nature.
I think the use of GIFs. successfully demonstrates the frantic nature of the London environment. The constant repetition of the animations reflects the ongoing fast paced aspects of urban society. The large amounts of people demonstrated in this brief animations reinforced the density of the population in London. I think to develop upon this, I will create GIFS. that observe more locations within London. This will expand my capacity to represent the frenzied aspects of London as a whole. In addition, I wish to incorporate more industrial and mechanical objects. I feel that doing this will have a similar effect to the work of Marcus Lyon; as he almost entirely focuses on mechanical and industrial infrastructure, to emphasise the increase of population and globalisation within city societies. The incorporation of numerous industrial aspects underpins the closely compacted layout of London, and thus, I feel, will effectively elucidate my theme of city growth and connectivity.
GIFS. DEVELOPMENT
After first exploring the use of GIFS., I began to look into them further. However, I began observing more repetitive and constant scenarios in London. I wanted to do this to present London in a more general light. This led me to capture the different subject matter throughout the underground. I find that the process of travelling with public transport causes individuals to appear almost mechanical when congregating en mass. I feel that this "robotic" characteristic can be effectively demonstrated using GIF animations. This is due to their quick and repetitive presentation. Once again, however, my primary focus in these developments was to elucidate the hectic environment of London; and I feel satisfied with the effect the GIFs. have when manifesting this topic.
gifs. refinement
Constantly throughout central London, the roads are swarmed with vehicles; reflecting the constant pace and density of city life. In these developments I began incorporating more vehicles in my animations as well primarily people. Doing this, I find, reinforces the busy and fast nature of city life. Not only this, but I began experimenting with editing the physical appearance of my GIFS. In these developments I experimented with editing the contrasts of colour, tone and levels of the images. I felt that in my previous developments my GIFS lacked vibrancy and contrast of colour. Therefore, I began attempting to enhance the images that consist in my animations to enhance their overall visual appeal.
Gifs. - experimenting with duration OF THE ANIMATIONS
To continue my research in to the process of making GIFS. I started to investigate the duration of the animations. I wanted to see how long I could potentially make a GIF. animation, yet still achieve the hectic, repetitive and fast paced effect. In these earlier developments, the GIFS were relatively short as I was experimenting with the technique itself. However, becoming more accustomed with the GIF process, I began investigating the practicality and visual appearance of prolonged animations. This will, in addition, allow me to demonstrate more subject matter in a single animation; rather than demonstrating the same amount through a number of GIFS. When presenting my animations I find this will be a more effective medium of presentation. It will reduce the amount of attention demanded from my audience, albeit still preserve the amount imagery I can show. Adding to this, I attempted to move along with the crowd of people I was capturing. I find this makes my animations more respective of reality, and influences my audience to feel as if they were actually in the scene I have captured.
In this example I attempted to capture my movement in a dense crowd of people. I felt that this had an effective result in elucidating the frenetic aspects of London city life. It also allowed me to demonstrate my personal visual perception to my audience, and, in a sense, make them feel almost as if they were seeing through my subjective lens. This effect allows people to sufficiently grasp a sense of the claustrophobic and frenzied nature of London through observing my animation.
Gifs. further development - image layering
In this set of observations I drew from the work of Stephanie Jung - that I used in my earlier observations. I began to experiment with layering my GIFS. to reinforce the numbers and density of people in my animations. To create the animation below I captured the same scenario in two separate moments of time; and attempted to capture them from similar perspectives at both instances. Then in the editing process I lowered the opacity of one set of the images and then merged them with their similar image from the corresponding set. By drawing upon two separate passages of time and incorporating them in one single animation binds them both together, demonstrating them as one passage of time. Stephanie Jung's philosophy was to capture "moments that get lost in time". I feel that this notion is emphasised by the ghostly effect that is created through the layering process, however I wanted to reinforce it further through my animation technique. In addition, I wished to test the effects of moving along with the camera, as well as using the layering technique also. I wanted to observe whether or not the layering technique was compatible with the action of moving along with my subjects in the process of capturing. I find that these examples show how successful and compatible to two techniques are. It simultaneously generates an abstract and realistic representation of my movement, visual perspective and the scene as a whole. Because of this, I will use this technique similarly in my future developments.
Final developments - 'city ghosts'
After successfully testing the layering animation process, I began to maximise the length of my animations. I did this as I find it effectively reinforces the frenetic atmosphere of the London city, and also increases the visual appeal of my animations, as well as making them more interesting to observe. Furthermore, in response to the still-image layering technique exercised by Stephanie Jung, I created a series of corresponding images to each of my final animations. Through this technique I attempted to condense the progression of time in my animations into a single photograph. I visited numerous busy parts of London and documented particular sequences in time. In some cases I moved along with my camera. By moving along with the subjects in my animations I find produces a greater sense of verisimilitude; bringing my animations to life for my audience. Through the layering process, however, I am able to maintain an abstract effect and create a distorted perception of reality through my animations. To develop from my previous experiments with the technique, I wanted to smooth the repetition of my animations. Since the animations will be continuously playing in a loop, I wanted to create an effect of a "never-ending" cycle, rather than just an evident repetition of the animation. For instance, in my most recent developments above, the end and the beginning to the animations is obvious. However, I wished to lessen this obvious nature of the start and ends to my animation; and thus creating an illusion of a continuous, never-ending passage of time.
I find that this series of work successfully demonstrates the frenetic and busy nature of life in London. In these three sets of pieces I have focus on the abstraction of reality and the consistent and repetitive movement and pace of people within cities. I find am pleased with the colours and tones in the works also. I find that the vibrancy of the images and animations reflects the vibrant nature of London life. In addition, the layering of the imagery sufficiently elucidates the growth of population also. It exaggerates the number of individuals in the scene; and acts as an effective insight into the rise in density and population number in the soon to come future.