I chose the theme of architecture over the other choices I had because I feel like I could consistently take pictures on the theme of architecture for months, as I find it the most interesting and I enjoy taking pictures of architectural structures. I feel like I could take some interesting pictures of buildings around London and visit different exhibitions of architectural photographs. Also, there are many different pictures I can take of different objects that link to the theme of architecture, for example, pictures of buildings from a very close range to capture the material the they are made from, or pictures of doorways inside buildings, or windows on buildings. An example of an architectural photographer who takes photographs of the inside of buildings would be Margaret Stratton.
The photograph above was taken by a photographer called Lucien Hervé. It is one photograph out of many of his "Le Corbusier" set of architectural photographs. This one is called "Unité d'habitation à Nantes-Rezé", which means housing unit in Nantes-Rezé.
In this architectural picture, I can clearly see the colour has been taken off of it, it is a black and white image that has been taken from a slightly bent angle looking up at this tower.
This is a naturalistic image that has been taken with a camera. I can tell it has been taken with a camera because of the detail in the architectural structure. Hervé dealt with space in this photograph by not revealing much of the world itself, he has ensured that the building takes up all of the space in the picture, and the fact that it is in black and white makes it even more difficult to tell exactly where this was taken. If I met the photographer, I would ask him where this picture was taken and why he took it. I think Hervé took it in his own country, wherever that may be, to try to show a little bit about the culture of where he grew up. Personally I would prefer it if the picture was in colour. This is because you would be able to see even more detail and it would be brighter.
In this architectural picture, I can clearly see the colour has been taken off of it, it is a black and white image that has been taken from a slightly bent angle looking up at this tower.
This is a naturalistic image that has been taken with a camera. I can tell it has been taken with a camera because of the detail in the architectural structure. Hervé dealt with space in this photograph by not revealing much of the world itself, he has ensured that the building takes up all of the space in the picture, and the fact that it is in black and white makes it even more difficult to tell exactly where this was taken. If I met the photographer, I would ask him where this picture was taken and why he took it. I think Hervé took it in his own country, wherever that may be, to try to show a little bit about the culture of where he grew up. Personally I would prefer it if the picture was in colour. This is because you would be able to see even more detail and it would be brighter.
Most of Lucien Herve's photographs are taken with a black and white filter. Some examples are below.
These photographs are interesting because they are all about one thing, buildings, architecture, yet they are all different. They are all shot with the same film, yet they are all different because of the range of locations Herve uses to take his photos. I will be taking a photoshoot of pictures as similar to Herve's as possible. I am inspired by Herve's pictures to experiment with the black and white film.
Below are some of the pictures that I have taken for my photoshoot inspired by Lucien Herve.
The main thing about these pictures that makes them similar is the colour. The two pictures that I believe are the most similar are the two below.
These pictures are the most similar out of all of the other ones because the architecture in the building looks the same, and they both have no colour. I could improve my picture by taking a picture of a building that has been built instead of taking photographs of unfinished architecture. I could also take pictures of buildings from different angles instead of straight on as it makes it a more interesting picture to analyse and for the viewers of the picture to look at. This may be one of the reasons that Herve takes his architecture photographs from different angles.
Image Analysis
In this photograph, Lucien Hervé has hidden many things. For example, shadow has been used to cover up the top quarter of the photograph, meaning the viewer will never know what is above. Another example of light being used as an object to limit the viewers sight is the shadow on the wall. We will never know any features or details about this person, as everything is hidden. Hervé has taken a photograph which is both abstract and naturalistic. He has shown us by taking a photograph of two pieces of architecture, one of these being a building with about twenty windows (some may be cut off by the frame of the image, the is the number of windows I've seen) all positioned in a very peculiar and abstract way. The second piece of architecture Hervé has used to show you the naturalistic side of the image is a plain building. This building shows naturalistic side, where the sun is shining on the top half but casting a shadow of darkness on the bottom half. However, on this building there is also an abstract feature, which is the shadow of a hidden person. I believe that this shadow is abstract because shadows are strange. They can take the shape of people, with no features. They are darkness created by light. Another way Hervé has hidden things from the viewer is through colour, as the picture is monochrome (black and white). The thing I find most puzzling about this photograph is the fact that Hervé has hidden many things. If this photographer as here now, I would ask him why there are 2 people on top of the building, why he decided to cut of the top quarter of the picture and where was the photo taken. The fact that this photograph is 2D makes it harder to see many things, making it easier for Hervé to hide large portions of the photograph. This picture is different from real life, because in reality there is no frame and everything is 3D. I think the artist made this photograph to show the viewers that it is possible to have an image that is both abstract and naturalistic and also hide a lot of the photograph at the same time, and to show people different ways of taking photographs. The people on top of the abstract building are worth remembering in my opinion because we will never know why they were there or what they were doing. This picture hasn't been cropped but Hervé uses shadow to hide certain parts of the picture. I would give this picture the title "Unknown" because there are many questions for the viewer to ask about it, there are a lot of features in this photograph that only Hervé may know the reasons behind being there. One very effective feature of this photograph is the monochromatic filter that was applied to it by Hervé. I think this is very affective because it means the viewers of this picture will never know the true colours behind the picture, another way of Hervé keeping the picture mysterious and creating more questions for the viewers to ask and at the same time adding more abstraction to his photograph. This all makes the photograph much more interesting and complicated then it looks, as there are many things in this picture that a viewer may not notice. I decided that the theme of this photograph is mystery by carefully analysing it, which made me notice that there are many things in the picture that are hidden, by using, for example, shadow. I also decided that the theme is mystery because there are many questions to ask about the image, as there are features of it, things inside this photo, that the viewer may never know why Hervé decided to include them. Hervé managed to capture the play of light by using shadow to make it look like there is a shadow on the wall of a young girl that has appeared out of nowhere and is walking on a stable floor. This could one of the reasons behind Hervé using another architectural structure just to cut of a portion of his photograph.
Below are some architectural photographs I took during a GCSE photography lesson.
some of the pictures above are a mix of both abstract and architectural. They were all taken as an experiment during a GCSE photography lesson to help me understand my chosen theme of architecture in a bit more detail.
The three pictures above were also an experiment, to try and create a more interesting photograph by using photoshop and discovering new features on photoshop, helping me not only with my architecture project but also with photography as a whole, because I now know things about photoshop that I did not know I could do before.
The photograph above is another experiment with photoshop. These experiments have taught me how to use photoshop a lot better then I could before, and I also find it interesting, it will help me with my future in GCSE photography.
Bas Jan Ader
The mind map shown below are notes I made during a film about the life of Bas Jan Ader.
The video we watched about Bas Jan Ader's life inspired me to work harder in photography and be more imaginative in order to make better artwork and create more interesting photographs.
Below are some photographs that I captured during the summer holidays when I traveled to Dubai. All of these photographs are linked to the theme I am currently studying, which is architecture.
Taking these photographs taught me that there is more to architectural photography then just taking normal pictures of buildings.
Iwan Baan
.Iwan Baan is another architectural photographer I have researched. Some of his work is shown below. Most of Baan's photographs are of modern architectural structures, which is the main reason I like his work.
Diptychs and Triptychs
Diptychs are two photos (usually) in a horizontal or vertical row that relate to each other in any way. Triptychs are also photographs that are in a vertical or horizontal row, however a triptych includes three photos. The triptych below was created by me using pictures that I had previously captured.
These photographs are all related because they all include sunlight and they are taken at angles that show a sort of panoramic view. Below is a diptych that I created.
These photographs are related because they both include buildings, and as the second picture is very zoomed in, it seems that it is the first picture zoomed in.
Independent Learning:
Quote
As some independent home learning, I have been asked to find a quote that relates to my theme of architecture and explain why I chose it.
"you don't take a photograph, you make it" ~ ansel adams
I chose this quote by Ansel Adams because it has made me realise that there is a lot more to my chosen theme then just buildings and materials. Everything can be included as architecture, from the device used to capture a photograph to the photograph itself.
Independant Learning:
Photographer Research
As some independent learning, I have been asked to research a photographer who captures architectural pictures that I like personally, as my chosen topic is architecture. Once the research has been completed, I must create some photographs which are inspired by the chosen photographer. The photographer I have chosen, whose work I admire, is Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji. Some of his architectural photographic artwork is shown below, as well as the reason behind why I like his photography.
The reason that I like Ganji's photographs is because of the angle he has taken pictures of the Islamic architecture shows that this architecture is mathematically perfect, as it is all symmetrical.
These photographs are taken by me with inspiration from Mohammed Ganji's work. They are examples of architectural photography with mathematical ideas (symmetry, mirroring). Some are very similar to Ganji's work as they are pictures of islamic architecture.
Alexander Rodchenko
Alexander Rodchenko is another photographer whose photography interests me. He captures pictures of architecture from different angles.
These are examples of Alexander Rodchenko's artwork. His photographs are taken using a greyscale film. The main reason I am interested in his work is because the angle at which he takes his photographs turns some of his work into an illusion, or an image that is strange to look at.
Independent learning:
300 word essay
~ Nasir al-Mulk Mosque
~ Mohammed Reza Domiri Ganji
~ Mohammed Reza Domiri Ganji
The area that appears clearest in Ganji's panoramic photograph is the centre, which is also the brightest part of the curved picture. This was captured in early 2014, in January during winter at 10AM, when the sun is on the horizon. The sides, far right or far left, as they are dark, do not appear as clear, and are clearly less colourful. Just by looking at this image, you can tell that it was taken during the day. This is because of the natural light that travelled through the glass windows, which made the centre of the photograph bright and allowed the first two pillars on the left and right to cast clear shadows. The light reflects the design of the stain glass windows onto the floor. The patterns on the carpet on the ground and the patterns on the ceiling are good examples of lines being used, as you can see the patterns are outlined, making them bold and clear. The lines are mostly straight on the ceiling, but some on the ground are curvy. The repetitive shapes on the ceiling create the patterns. Ganji's architectural panoramic photograph of the mosque shows the mathematical knowledge used in Islamic architecture. The geometric shapes and symmetry that is used is effective, it makes the building stand out as it is different from other buildings which you would see in your day to day life. The fact that this photo is panoramic creates depth in the image, especially because there is something interesting to see everywhere in the picture, the space has been used positively. The texture of the photo varies. If I was to touch the top of it, it looks like it would be a hard surface, but if I was to touch the bottom of it, it looks like it would be a soft surface. The lightest value the photo, from what you can see in the image, is the centre of the panorama. This is because this is the point where the most light travelled through the stained glass windows, which creates an extra pattern on the ground.
8 Week Plan
This is an independent learning I was asked to complete. It is a plan of what I am going to do during the lessons of GCSE photography I have during the next 8 weeks, making my final outcome for this personal project.
Week One: Research. Use the internet or read books to help me think of new ideas. Any questions that I am unable to find answers to online about someone's photography, attempt to get in touch with the photographer to find detailed information on the photograph(s).
Week Two: Continue to research, find different perceptions on architectural photography. Different photographers have different ways of photographing architectural structures.
Week Three: Begin planning ideas for an actual final outcome. Use all of the research to help create an idea.
Week Four: Carry out a photoshoot based on an idea for a final outcome and research. Upload photos to my website.
Week Five: Refine and develop the photographs taken. What went well? Even better if? Take more improved photographs and upload them to my website.
Week Six: Plan more ideas of what to do with any architectural pictures that I have taken. Begin working on a final outcome, using the most successful photographs.
Week Seven: Complete a plan for a final outcome.
Week Eight: Try to make small improvements help create a real final outcome.
The tasks in red have not been completed yet, the tasks in green have been completed.
Week Two: Continue to research, find different perceptions on architectural photography. Different photographers have different ways of photographing architectural structures.
Week Three: Begin planning ideas for an actual final outcome. Use all of the research to help create an idea.
Week Four: Carry out a photoshoot based on an idea for a final outcome and research. Upload photos to my website.
Week Five: Refine and develop the photographs taken. What went well? Even better if? Take more improved photographs and upload them to my website.
Week Six: Plan more ideas of what to do with any architectural pictures that I have taken. Begin working on a final outcome, using the most successful photographs.
Week Seven: Complete a plan for a final outcome.
Week Eight: Try to make small improvements help create a real final outcome.
The tasks in red have not been completed yet, the tasks in green have been completed.
Final Outcome
The research I have completed during week one and two leading up to the end of my personal project will help me with ideas to plan and create a final outcome for architecture. One idea I have had is to take inspiration from both Mohammed Ganji and Alexander Rodchenko and take photographs of different buildings from different angles and experiment with them, for example, on photoshop, or using different applications that can be downloaded onto mobile phones or computers, in order to create a final piece of work. I could also take symmetrical architectural photographs using a greyscale film in order to mix the ideas of both photographers together.
Some pictures above may be used for my final outcome and some may be used for a draft version. I will use the same application that I used to create similar photos to Mohammed Ganji's, and I will experiment with some on photoshop.
What Went Well: Most of the photographs above show symmetry without manipulating them in any way, relating them to Ganji's work, and others are captured from strange angles, making them similar to Alexander Rodchenko's work.
Even Better If: The pictures need to be more clear, more effort and thought must be put into making sure all of the pictures seem similar to Ganji's and Rodchenko's work.
What Went Well: Most of the photographs above show symmetry without manipulating them in any way, relating them to Ganji's work, and others are captured from strange angles, making them similar to Alexander Rodchenko's work.
Even Better If: The pictures need to be more clear, more effort and thought must be put into making sure all of the pictures seem similar to Ganji's and Rodchenko's work.
This is an example of a mix of Ganji's and Rodchenko's work put together using the Instagram "layout" application and photoshop. The greyscale tone is the Rodchenko side of the photograph, along with the photo being captured at an unusual angle. The symmetrical effect shows the style of Mohammed Ganji.
My next photoshoot will show examples of my experimentations with repetition in architecture. This could potentially be a key theme in my final outcome, maybe replacing the Alexander Rodchenko style.
My next photoshoot will show examples of my experimentations with repetition in architecture. This could potentially be a key theme in my final outcome, maybe replacing the Alexander Rodchenko style.
The picture above was captured in my previous photoshoot and has been edited by me using photoshop. Again, it is similar to Ganji and Rodchenko's work because it is greyscale (Rodchenko) and symmetrical (Ganji). Also, the blending mode was altered using photoshop.
This photograph is only an example of a picture that is inspired by Mohammed Ganji. It shows symmetry, and the blending mode was altered using photoshop.
These photographs were taken by me and are inspired by Alexander Rodchenko. These are unedited examples, before they were photoshopped.
These pictures show a mini final outcome I made, a draft. Below. are pictures of another draft outcome.
The pictures used are a mixture of Alexander Rodchenko and Mohammed Ganji's themes, black&white/unusual angles and symmetrical. I arranged the pictures in a diamond-like shape, using the different sizes of them to my advantage.
Architecture Final Outcome
This final outcome shows a mixture of photographs taken and edited by me using photoshop, all inspired by Rodchenko and Ganji. The order of the photographs also shows symmetry, all small pictures are similar to the large ones above them in different ways.