Annotations: Bernd and Hilla Becher

The artist has made other works as shown featuring water towers, barns, gas towers and many more, for their work in the new topographic.

The work denotes old, abandoned buildings around the world. The work shows multiple images in the same print with some being 3x3 or refers to allow the viewer to understand what is going on.

The images connoted the feeling of power with how the images have all been composed together. The Images highlight how the structures that in a normal sense are ugly and an eye saw can look in interesting. The meaning of the images is to show the everyday boring set up with the location all being mundane and ugly with the use of the topology the images look interesting. The images are about objects looking the same with the horizon and the planes to make it stand out to the eye. The use of having the subjects being in the same set up allows the symbols to come together and form a natural harmony to accompany them. 


As a viewer, I am amazed by the power that the images convey with all of them being lined up to look the same with nothing being different. All the images are designed to be equal to show the set up with the only thing that is different is the location which makes the images work in unison and as an ally. When looking at the images you will see the same pattern with the locations with your eyes looking at every detail as almost you are finding the out one out, in the setup.



The work is significant to my project as I am planning on using the composition of the images in my work with how the subjects are placed in the centre which makes them easier on the eye and with the placement allows more of a story to be told. The ideas that they have used to show the subjects are powerful with them making sure everything is aligned perfectly to give the OCD message when it comes to perfection. I like how they have taken something that we would see every day in the mundane with it being overlooked and with it being ugly and turn it to something beautiful with the setup.


The strengths of this work are the way all of the images have been lined up together, I am going to change it with it not all going to be straight on this due to safety reasons when making my project as I cannot step into a busy road or railway line as I might get injured. The weakness is that the work is not appalling on my laptop screen as they are too small which makes the need to see this in a gallery more important.

I am planning on taking forward how the images have been laid out in a contact sheet format however I am, not going to be shooting straight on due to safety reasons. I cannot shoot some of the locations that they have used due to the virus and some of them have been knocked down as they were rubbish.

The original intended audience was for students that they taught with them being able to understand what they want to show when it came to this movement. The work is aimed at people to understand what it is going on outside.

The context that I have seen this work has been on my laptop since all galleries are closed due to the coronavirus and I am not meant to travel to look at art. The work is still powerful on my laptop with the way it has all been framed but it will look a lot stronger on a wall in its full size. The work is on the wall with the original print size will allow the work to speak about how the industry is being kept and how they work gives meaning, and you can understand what is about. The work needs people to spend time looking at it which can only be achieved in a gallery setting.

ICP: Studio Test 1

 

  

Annotations - Bigwight High vis & Apex Tools

Walker Evans: The beauty of the Common Tool

Walker Evans: The beauty of the Common Tool

What is denoted & Connoted?

The work denotes large tools placed in the centre of the frame and showing huge power. The tools are all presented to look bland but showing detail of the tools showing what they are all about but making them come together. The meaning behind the tools is designed to show that the Pound-land value tools can also look beautiful when being presented and this works for the viewers. The work communicates as basic tools are positioned in a certain way the use of the captions shows the tools in the correct size with the tools official name and the price that it will cost you from the shop at the time of the shoot.

How are you affected as a viewer?

When looking at the work you will automatically look at the oversized tools due to the way the work has been positioned to the viewer. The tools do not make me happy or sad when looking at it normal viewpoint as they are dull and boring as this does not stand out to the viewer normally.

What makes this work significant to the project?

The work is significant to the project as I am planning on using the underlying theme that the tools all have all been presented in a way that they all look dull and boring to the eye. The background has been done to be basic with the tools not coming together to make it look interesting to the eye and that is what he had set out to work on. I like the composition of how the tools are with them all being placed in a vertical aspect ratio with them all being central with what I think he was trying to do is to make the tools look boring.

The text from the tools

Among low-priced, factory-produced goods, none is so ap­pealing to the senses as the ordinary hand tool. Hence, a hardware store is a kind of offbeat museum show for the man who responds to good, clear “undesired” forms. The Swedish steel pliers pictured above, with their somehow swanlike flow, and the objects on the following pages, in all their tough simplicity, illustrate this. Aside from their func­tions-though, they are exclusively wedded to function ­each of these tools lures the eye to follow its curves and angles, and invites the hand to test its balance.

Who would sully the lines of the tin-cutting shears on page 105 with a single added bend or whorl? Or clothe in any, way the fine naked impression of heft and bite in the crescent wrench on page 107? To be sure, some design-happy manufacturers have tampered with certain tool classics; the beautiful plumb bob, which used to come naively and solemnly shaped like a child’s top, now looks suspiciously like a toy space ship and is no longer brassy. But not much can be done to spoil a crate opener, that nobly ferocious state­ment in black steel, as may be seen on page 104. In fact, almost all the basic small tools stand, aesthetically speaking, for elegance, candour, and purity. -W.E...

My View Point on the text

My Viewpoint the text is that it criticises the way people will look at tools and how the manufacturers are wanting to make the tools look sexy to the viewer. The ideology from the tools is that we need to make them interesting and beautiful and the way he has presented the tools. The way he has produced the work is designed to make the tools look boring to put it as F you to the viewer to get to understand the meaning of boring tools. I think the text tells all your need to know to show them together.

What ideas (or visual styles) will you take forward to think about in your work? 

The visual styles that I am planning on taking forward are the way the tools have been presented to the viewers by adding colour to the background for the tools and the high vis jacket. The use of keeping the formatting together they work to stand out. I am not going to keep the boring background but make it stylish for this to stand out to the viewer. My work will be different from this work so I will use the setup and make it fun and contemporary.

Who is the intended audience? 

 The intended audience was for readers of the Frieze magazine and was Evans’s trying to put a middle finger to the fancy commercial industry. The tools are not designed to have the contemporary feel that the work has shown is at is designed to make the tools look boring and basic to make the viewer look at it. 

What context have you seen the work in? 

The context in that I have seen this in is in the essay by David Campany in print and online, and the tools from the internet. The tools are designed to go in a magazine as it has been mentioned before. The tools are shown to be boring and tactile so the viewer might go out and purchase the tools to match it all up so it can stand out and it would make an interesting reaction to the viewer, this would only work at the original size when it was published in the magazine.

Strength’s & Weakness

The strengths of the work have been done to show the tools being big and powerful to the viewer. The work shows the power that you can get from the tools with it being overpowered. The weaknesses of this do not stand out to the viewer in a positive way as they look boring and they do not have any colour which does not have the themes and it allows me to stand out the idea to showing it all. 

Project Proposal

Project Proposal 

Assignment: Out in the World &  Title: Beauty of the High Vis Jacket, Beauty Of The Common Tool revisited

The concept behind the project is based on David Campany’s essay on “Out in the World: Still Life Photography between Art and Commerce.” 

I am planning on taking on the simple idea of turning the unfashionable high vis jacket and turning it into the object that has got flare and it is designed for it to stand out with the diffuser. The objects that are going to be around the side is going to be based around the idea that Walker Evans created in 1955. The idea will be to take the work of the ‘Beauties of the Common Tool’ by using pillars that I have got at home. I am planning on using them to be designed to be for a working-class advert to the middle class with elegance. Unlike how Walker Evans made his work I am planning to turn my work with colour and make the tools be silhouettes so it will stand out to the members of the public at home. 

Mentioned in the essay is how “This is less nostalgia than a sign of how hard it is to develop an artistic relation to the very new. ‘Design just a little dated will interest any artist. Design current is always terrible. Anyone who has tried to find a good contemporary lamp or clock will know what I mean.”. 

I am planning on trying to contradict the statement and take something that it is seen to be contemporary and turn it around to make the current image to look decent. I don’t want to make my work look like it is from the past as it will make the work look terrible and this means I want to try and make it something look different to the viewer. 

“All of which is Art with a capital ‘A’, all of it keen to distance itself from the still life as Commerce (capital ‘C’), even though commerce is often the subject matter.” I am planning on making the work come together and make art come together will the idea of commerce to make the viewer understand how we are simple, and it comes together. This allows me to understand how I can use the simple lighting set up and turn it into something that nobody has made the work that I am planning on producing.  I make my work be a social statement and advertisement to stand out and sell the idea of High vis jacket. Context, as any photographer will tell you, is key.   

I am wanting to highlight how we overlook the humble high vis jacket and make it all look plain and boring. I want to make a statement to say that a humble high vis jacket can look good in any way shape and form when you come to present it. I am also planning on photographing the tools against the diffuser to see what the impact it will have on my work with it done to be simulated to Walker Evans’s tools to highlight the change that we are seeing in life. 


 All of this Section has got direct quotes and paraphrased references from the Essay By David Company (CAMPANY, 2011)

Methodologies 

 I am planning on shooting this project in the Daphne Oram studio Do1.08 with it being done to look formal but have a loving texture and feeling to the jacket. In the frame is going to be a high vis jacket that I will place on a light stand with a coat hanger to make it look formal with a glare to the viewer at home. I will also be placing tools around the diffuser to make it look interesting and be inspired by Walker Evans.  The work will not have any ethical implications once completed due to the fact I am not making a political statement with the high vis jacket. The only ethical implication is that if I am stopped and search they will assume the worst when it comes to the use or the tools that I am photographing. The main specific research that I will need to undertake is the essay by David Campany about in the world. 

Intended Publication/ Audience 

The indented audience is to be done for a gallery or fashion magazine setting when it comes to the high vis jacket to highlight what my jacket has done and to make it stand out to the viewer.   I am also planning on producing two versions a 10x8 version, for example, to be used for a gallery set up and square format image for the images to stand out when uploading to Instagram. Some of the images that I am planning on using will be edited to expand them to square to allow them to stand out. The format will be achieved by expanding the canvas with the crop tool and with the use of the content-aware tool it allows me to keep the tool the same but allows me to show more information to the viewer on Instagram.

Equipment Used
The lighting equipment is going to be 3 Bowen Gemini lights, with two lights placed around the back to give the background the glow and light with an umbrella to place some light on the jacket just enough for it to stand out. I will also be using a light diffuser for my background as it will be able to make the work look contemporary and interesting. The camera I am planning on using is a cannon EOS 60D & 70D this be borrowed from the university. I will also be using a light trigger with a light meter to highlight what needed to be done. The digital equipment will be used with Adobe Lightroom, Bridge, Photoshop.

Writers 

The writers that I am going to be researching is David Campany with the work being based around his essay on Out in the world. This is going to be the main influence when it comes to scholars and writers. 

Idea 3

Idea 3 Contact Sheets

This series was taken on Armistice day 2019 when one of the guys were asked me to document what went on there. This shoot was challenging in different ways, the main challenge that I found in the service is the poor noise reduction on my camera which meant the shots looked terrible. The Work highlights the services that I was at, most of the contact sheets apart from the last page are in order of them being shot in. The work highlight the brave servicemen and women who fought for our country to keep us safe. As without them, we would not be alive today. The Work has been successful with the way I have lit before and afterwards capturing the day in true colour in order to document the real that is happening before us. The Contact sheets do not do all the images justice as they are better when they are printed by a Professional as they stand out even more. The work is designed to denote the ceremony with the meaning of pride for the people who gave the greatest sacrifice to keep us safe. I am pleased with the outcome. This work also features in the book Portrait of Kent Volume 1, for ICP.

How does this idea link to Pieter Hugo?

This work links with Pieter Hugo’s work as it has got a similar theme to the Hyena men because I am to show power in the work. This has been done by showing that we are people of Kent. The Work takes the meaning as the end result have similar backgrounds and they all have got the same theme of power and pride which Hugo had when he did his work. This idea will be done for the end outcome to be submitted with the close links to Hyena men and Hood By air with the same message showing throughout.

Statement Of Intent

Statement Of Intent

The Book is going to be about the portrait of Kent and primarily focusing on people over the age of 55. The book is going to imply that people are old by the images with being able to speak for themselves the work is important to start the Portrait of Kent series and allow it to develop and get bigger as I Progress on. I am going to look at the book invisible Britain and I am planning on shooting in the Style of Niall Mcdrimand as my work looks similar to his. This will be based on the theme cruel and tender with this linking to age.

The Methodologies for this project is going to revolve elderly people this will all be shot on location in Ashford, Canterbury and Folkestone, with the subject being in the middle section of the frame to make the shots look tender.  This work is going to be done by showing what they look like when I stop them on the streets so this way I can make sure that I am not getting the wrong idea. I think this is important when looking at the project.

The indented Audience for this is going to be for people who are interested in people who are going invisible. The end work will be done to go inside a book which is for the module. In the Future, I Would Like to get done at a publisher.

The money that I am going to be spent will be on a train ticket to the location and I will be borrowing equipment from university or using my own equipment.

I am not planning on making the biggest time frame as I am planning on shooting it when I see interesting subjects. The work will be completed by 6th January 2020 for hand in. The work will be designed using InDesign or Blurb to get the right look.

For this I am going to research a book by Paul sng Invisible Britain: portraits of hope and resilience to show what is going on in the world and this will all link to the work that will come from this. I will also research John Londei Book: Shutting up shop because of the styling which I love plus this book has information about the place and what it is like today.

ICP: Book Review

ICP: Book Review

The book outcome has been strong with the way the outcome has been set. I think with the changes that I have made to the book has made it become stronger and flow deeper and have a stronger. When making the book I have learned to make sure that the book pages are done in a multiple of fours so there are no additional pages which will make the book look odd. I think the way I have got some of the pages layed out work as a strength for me as the colours work together with some of the images being a hue of blue placing them next to them allows me to make them look stronger and have greater influence over the viewer.

The other positive is that the book can be a powerful tool or relating to the theme of age without having to place stats om the work which makes the work look wrong and out of place. If I am to do this again for the portrait of Kent series I am going to try and get it done by a publisher and to get this to meet what they want. This was the only weakness as this looks like a book dummy. The book is a good start for the work that I am planning on doing for the future relating to the portrait of Kent. Overall I am pleased with the outcome as it relates to the statement of intent.

ICP: Why I choose the Selected Images

ICP: Why I choose the Selected Images

The reason why I choose the selected Images is to get all the shots to look similar enabling them all to stand out when looking at them. The Shots are done with Niall Mcdrimand and Hans Eijkelboom style of inspiration for this with the idea of typology flowing through this work. The images all have got a tender feel to them by the way that I have framed them with them all having been shown for a set distance. The selected images are of people who look old and people who just have retired which is what I had planned when linking the work to people who are past the midpoint of life. The images are designed to affect the viewer emotionally when they come around to think about age. This has been done by showing some of the names and ages to put a human feel on the work.

ICP: Book Changes Recommend By the Tutor

ICP: Book Changes Recommend By the Tutor

I have Produced three books on InDesign and showed them to Ron to get his Opinion. One of the items I Have changed from the beginning to the end product is changing the cover and renaming it to a portrait of Kent without starting the age does not define us. I was also recommended to remove the image on the front of the David and replace it as it was not the strongest image so I replaced it with a Labour election teller, which at now is cruel and tender as Labour has lost the election :-). I was also recommended to add more about the book page on page 3 and remove the small description of what it is about and what it is dedicated to. I was also recommended that I make all the images have a uniformed sizing so that the book follows smoothly by removing the landscape images and replacing with the portrait counterparts which made it look a lot nicer.

I was recommended to add more images to the book to make them stand out to the viewer so I decided to use more of the images that I got from Visual research with some of the end outcomes being similar, due to having an idea to work on a Portrait of Kent. Other changes that I have made is removing the text relating to age as it did not work when trying to get the book to follow smoothly. 

ICP: Experiments

Full Image in Black and White,  Full Image in Colour 

Experiments Subject In Contact Sheets

ICP: Experiments

The idea behind the experiments is to see what effect that I can have when working on the subjects to see if I can create a Cruel and Tender theme. The outcome of the experiments is interesting as you can understand the subject more with the subject only being in colour as they are more connected to the viewer as they stand out like a saw thumb which works as they bring them all together. The experiments I Believe are a success with making them look like they are part of the theme of being cruel and tender. The idea with this is that they come together. The Outcome for the version with the subject in colour is not the strongest because it does not allow the viewer to get a full understanding of what is going. I think if I am to go with this in another book I will just keep the subject in colour and the background in grey-scale setup.

Experiments, Process

The Process on creating the experiment was done by making sure the exposure was edited to the correct level in Lightroom and then by creating a snap-shop so if there are errors I can go back to the snapshot. To Create the outcome where the subject is in colour I made sure that I checked the colours are not similar if they and select the mask and reduce the saturation and making sure invert the settings so the area is in greyscale. This is also done in reverse to make the subject in Black and white. Shown in the contact sheets are the settings that I had the master saturation on to make the work stand out to come together.

Hans Eijkelboom

Hans Eijkelboom

Hans work focuses on people wearing something of interest, for example, a certain type of top and these shots are constant. His work is based around multicultural identity. He always looks for detail and themes he has grouped stuff separately. On some of his books, he small shots and has 1 big one as the main subject of interest with others to back it up. At times he has a combination of themes and fashion and we are part of 1 thing. He believes that we are a slave to fashion he believes we have 2 identity’s a digital and analogue and the makers chose the digital identity and others work analogue. His work has attracted headlines from the world as it shows how we follow fashion trends and we are like sheep.

What context have you seen the work in? & How have news companies portrayed this?

Daily Mail, (Fleming, 2014)

‘From plaid shirts and pink tops to the infamous Canadian tuxedo: Photographer captures 20 years' worth of 'anti-sartorial' fashion trends’

Metro, 

A portrait of the 21st century: 20-year photography project proves that we all basically dress and behave alike

The Guardian (Petridis, 2014)

Same but different: Hans Eijkelboom’s tribal street photography

Think your look is unique? Well, photographer Hans Eijkelboom may have already put you among his tribes after 20 years spying on passersby

These headlines generate the feeling that we address similarly because of the fashion trends that come and go. Hans’s work has shown that what we think looks unique might turn out to be a common pattern with others.

I Belive context that this shot is in is that people dress together and the way he has framed this has been designed to challenge the viewer's mind as they were sheep. His work I do not believe has been viewed in a different context because of the way he has framed his book. I am going to use his main context of people almost being sheep with my project that is showing links to work that I have done in the past. Looking at the work in the book stands out because you to get to understand what is going on when linking them all together and making them look strong.

Annotations

What is denoted?

His work shows people of the same gender looking the same with wearing similar tops showing the exact duplicate of the colour. For each section of the prints that he has done.

What is Connoted?

The connotations from this work show that we all look the same and that we need to understand what they are all about. The work shows the meaning of sheep and amusement of how he has shot random people all looking the same. The work all follows the same settings of them being done in the same location in New York and other Locations, the shots shown in the contact sheet which makes people think they are like sheep.

How are you affected as a viewer?

On looking at the work that has been produced the first thing that people will see is a similar colour or style to what each other are viewing. On looking at the images It stands out how we are more similar to people in different aspects and lights when it comes to ideas like photography being more democratic and understanding in a typology fashion that they all come together.

What makes this work significant to you (and or your project)?

when looking at the work I knew that it has links to my work because of what I have worked on the past Linking to the poppy. My work has had an underlying typology feel to the work, with this making it easier to understand to frame it.  The type of photography that Hans has shot is Environmental portraits and I am planning on taking them on with it being shoot at the waist and above to make the work look the same when looking at it. This will allow my work to have the same context when linking them together.

What are the strengths of the source you are looking at? What are the weaknesses of the work? (How would you do things differently? What do you think can be improved?)

The Strengths of the work are that they all look the same and that we can understand who we need to understand who we all dress when it comes to being the same. The Weakness of the work are that it is hard to follow the work in detail without looking at a gallery for the power to come into the work. I love how he has gone around to shoot it in order for it all to come together.

What ideas (or visual styles) will you take forward to think about in your work?

I am going to take his work on as an inspiration to highlight how people look similar in more way than one. I am planning on taking the underlying theme of the work that he has made. For Example, when I am planning to shoot the Poppy I will have different genders, skin colour etc. but we all wear the poppy to remember the people who died fighting for the country. I do not want the location or the areas to overtake the meaning of the poppy.  I am planning on having a consistent theme to make it look similar.

Who is the intended audience?

It is intended to go together with other work relating to August Sander as this was Hans Eijkelboom main inspiration for his way of shooting. The work has been intended to be picked up by news agencies to make a fuss of it show how we are all similar.

Is the work part of a bigger series?

The photographer has produced other work relating to this in multiple books and is trying to recreate August Sander's People of 20th Century.

Any other information that you think is relevant?

Hans has taken inspiration from August Sander for the book People of the 21st century from Sanders project people of the 20th century.

Bibliography

Fleming, O., 2014. From plaid shirts and pink tops to the infamous Canadian tuxedo: Photographer captures 20 years' worth of 'anti-sartorial' fashion trends. [Online]
Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2779649/From-plaid-shirts-pink-tops-infamous-Canadian-tuxedo-Photographer-captures-20-years-worth-anti-sartorial-fashion-trends.html
[Accessed 14 12 2019].

Lynch, A., 2015. A portrait of the 21st century: 20-year photography project proves that we all basically dress and behave alike. [Online]
Available at: http://metro.co.uk/2015/01/05/a-portrait-of-the-21st-century-20-year-photography-project-proves-that-we-all-basically-dress-and-behave-alike-5009450/?ito=cbshare
[Accessed 15 12 2019].

Petridis, A., 2014. Same but different: Hans Eijkelboom’s tribal street photography. [Online]
Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/23/hans-eijkelboom-street-photography-tribes-people-twenty-first-century
[Accessed 14 12 2019]

Books without Photos, Annotations

What is denoted?

The Book Covers do not have photos on them. This is denoted by using the use of the text of lines to highlight what the book is all about. The Denoted context is for the viewer to open the book to find out what the book is all about.

What is Connoted?

The Connotation from the books without photos makes it harder for some of the viewers to follow what it is all about due to how it has all been styled. The use of it not having any images is to communicate with the viewer to make them look in the book before they buy. So that people do not judge a book by its cover. The feeling of looking at a book like this in a book shop without any images makes it harder for people to follow what it is going on. This has the advantage of getting the viewer to look further into the book for them to understand what is going on. While in contrast the viewer might be put off buying or reading the book as it is harder for them to follow.

How are you affected as a viewer?

On looking at the covers it makes it hard to understand what the book is all about because of the way it has all be styled, this will make the viewer confused and make it harder to understand. When Looking into the book the impression changes and makes you interested in what is going on. Having the cover plain makes slightly repulsed as it can be harder for me to understand what is going on. This can be the opposite to other people might prefer this to other covers with images on.

What makes this work significant to you (and or your project)?

I am going to take forward how basic the book is with the images being not shown and allowing there being more information about the book. I am planning on using the position of the text with it being in the centre of the cover allowing the viewer to focus on this before they turn the page. I think the way that it is shown with it having some information about the work without showing any images is just important. The use of a dust jacket also works because it allows there to be images of the front while the dust jacket is pure text this another method that I am looking to explore. I think that the use of the cane without and images will show that the book is about age without having to see any of my photos.

What are the strengths of the source you are looking at? What are the weaknesses of the work?

The Strengths with this work is that the book covers are done to be simple with the way it has been presented to the viewer by showing nothing going on which can immerse them to look at the book. The use of negative space makes sure that the viewer engaged in what is going on at the moment, the user transfers across when looking at the book with it looking simple. The weakness of this is that the book looks boring and not as interesting when going to look at the book when wanting to purchase it. I am going to change this by making sure that it can be simple and connect with the viewer at the same time.

What ideas (or visual styles) will you take forward to think about in your work?

I am planning on taking forward the idea of having the text all in the middle because it might be more powerful, I am not planning on having the front cover empty because it will look wrong for what I am planning on achieving. If I am taking more information, I might have a drawing a cane to show that it has links to age.

Who is the intended audience?

The indented audience for this book is for people who are interested in what the book is all about. The Book offers people different ideas about what the work has been produced and what also needs to be edited to make it stand out. The Books are done for the time of print with them be linked at the time of it being printed off. This does not affect my reading of this now. Books are all Contemporary as they show the information for that time of being printed and produced for the importance of the artists and what they were after.

What context have you seen the work in?

The Context of the Work That I have Seen this in has been as the book cover in my hand then scanned in, The Context of the work goes in the style of the book. With some of them being used to document the artist's work and what they have produced. While other books context work with the history of something and for the viewer to understand what they are all about. The work that has been produced for all the books without photos on the cover would not work in a gallery as they all would be out of context with what is going on as they have not got any photos2. They would work the door to highlight what the book or art is all about. The message would not work in a gallery as they do not have images and they would all be lost. You can see what they are trying to achieve without changing the body position.

Is this work part of a bigger series?

The Book covers to sum up what the photographers have done with the work. For some of the photographers, there will be more to come due to the nature of the book.

Book Covers with Photos: Annotations

What is denoted? 

The Book Covers Denotes the image on the front of the book showing what the project and book are all about. The Book Covers use 1 photo for most of them with some having more to highlight more information for that project.

What is Connoted? 

The Connotation from the images of the book is to give the viewer more of an understanding of what the books are all about. Books have the feeling of being inquisitive because of the way it has been presented. The use of the images draws the viewer in because they want to look at what the book is all about from the cover. The use of doing this is done to highlight more of the connection with the subject so when looking at the book you will want to read and understand the book. The Book cover makes people want to read the book as it is interesting, and they see a decent image on the front they believe that the book will be interesting and easy to follow. Direct contrast with this is that the images might make people judge the book by the cover and not want to read it as the image might not be up to scratch. 

How are you affected as a viewer?  

When looking at the book cover the first thing that I see in the image on the front of the book this makes me pleased as I can understand what the book is all about and how it might come around to make it easier for other people to follow going forward.  The book covers are not complex and make me feel relaxed and I do not need to over analyse what is going on with the book and the way it is presented. With some of the covers, I think with the way that the artists have put text on top of the images work as it explains a bit more about the project but this might end up confusing people.

What makes this work significant to you (and or your project)? 

The work is significant to my project as this what the end outcome is going to be for my project this allows me to understand different types of book covers. The use of the style of most of them of having a border around the image makes the image to be not as confrontation. This is what I might take from this style While with some of the theme having a full bleed with the image works as it is easy to understand what they are all about and the subject is easy to understand. I am going to use the Twins book for the main stand out as it was easier to follow. With not taking up most of the page and allowing there to be text around the image with some of the text not showing it is directly quoted by the subject. The use of a dust jacket also works because it allows there to be images of the front while the dust jacket is pure text this another method that I am looking to explore.

What are the strengths of the source you are looking at? What are the weaknesses of the work? (How would you do things differently? What do you think can be improved?) 

I think the strengths are that the book covers highlight the use of style and information that has been produced on the front covers works because you can get an understanding of what the photographer is all about. The Strengths are that you understand instantly what the book is all about and is easier when looking at getting the book out. The Weakness for some of the books is that they do not all work as there are some signs that the book has become overcrowded and does not help the image to stand out and the viewer will judge the book and think that this does not work and not purchase the book. 

What ideas (or visual styles) will you take forward in your work? 

My Work will be different when it comes to this visual styles as I am going to be producing the final book because it uses the notion of connection and with them being done as a cover this important to understand that I am going to use these as examples as I Take it to the final edit. I am not planning on taking multiple images on the book cover as I believe it might Look out of Place. 

Who is the intended audience? 

The indented audience for this book is for people who are interested in what the book is all about. The Book offers people different ideas about what the work has been produced and what also needs to be edited to make it stand out. The Books are done for the time of print with them be linked at the time of it being printed off. This does not affect my reading of this now. Books are all Contemporary as they show the information for that time of being printed and produced for the importance of the artists and what they were after. 

What context have you seen the work in? 

The Context of the Work That I have Seen this in has been as the book cover in my hand then scanned in, The Context of the work goes in the style of the book. With some of them being used to document the artist’s work and what they have produced. While other books context work with the history of something and for the viewer to understand what they are all about. If I saw some of the covers in the gallery, I believe they would work as it gives a greater understanding to the photographer and the work they have produced, As they all have images relating to what the book is all about. The message from the covers would be different than in the book as they will be bigger. You can see what they are trying to achieve without changing the body position. 

Is the work part of a bigger series? 

The book covers, to sum up, what the photographers have done with the work. For some of the photographers, there will be more to come due to the nature of the book.  

Shoot 1 - Evaluation

Shoot 1 - Evaluation 

Step 1: Description

When and where did it happen?

The Shoot took place on Wednesday 16th October 2019, With the location being Canterbury High-street, The Marlowe, Ashford Town Centre, Folkestone Central Station. This was to incorporate other shots that I have done before starting University.

Who was involved and what did other people do?

No-one was involved in the shoot they were just models that I stopped on the street and I ask to get a portrait of them.

What did you do yourself?

I was the photographer which meant that I could get the shots that I was after. This was done with it being done without an assistant.

What was the result of these actions?

The result of these actions allowed a series of Portraits to come out afterwards to be used in creating the book.

Step 2: Feelings

What did you feel leading up to the event?

With some of the shots being drawn from my archive I was not worried about that. Leading up to the shoot I had a basic idea of age and does it define people, so I decided to shoot around the narrative that it does.

What did you feel during the event?

During the shoot, I met a lovely guy (pipe man) with his partner as I was talking about the project she went it truly doesn’t he is unique. This made amused because I wanted to see if I Could Find more people that were old and interesting.

What did you feel after the event?

Once I had got back and started to look at some of the shots I was pleased with the outcome because it made sure that I had got the right idea with linking it to age. I have made sure that the shots came out correct. This also allowed me to look at the archive to find people that fit the idea.

How do you look back on the situation?

Looking back on what I have shot at the time of writing this I wish that I had written down their names and age so I could add it together to show what the subjects are all about in relation to the age of them. This is the only drawback of this shoot.

What do you think other people felt during the event?

During the shoot, the 1st subject said that she didn’t have a lot of time but I managed to convince her as it was going to be shot on location and not in the studio so it would not take that long. The rest I believe went well with them as they were happy after.

How do you think others feel about the event now?

I do not know how people feel about the shoot now because I am not in communication with them.

Step 3: Evaluation

What went well during the event or activity? Why was that?

During the shoot I felt that the way I have gone around shooting the subjects to make sure that they are the ones telling the story is important. The shoot allowed me to formulate the ideas even more with understanding what age has on people on how they become interesting characters.

What didn’t go so well? Why was that?

I think not having more an idea of the subjects that I wanted to shoot did not let me have a directed pathway to shoot but this was not a negative at times but shooting the people outside of the Marlowe was not needed at the end of the day for this project.

What was your contribution?

For the shoot I was the photographer, this allowed me to capture portraits of the subjects to allow them to stand out to everyone.

What contribution did other people make?

No one else contributed other than being a model due to me shooting on my own on location.

Step 4: Analysis

What have you learned from the situation, event or activity?

During the shoot, I have Learned the necessary information to make sure that the project can become watertight. I have learned more about Canterbury with the greatest location to shoot at with the relation to making sure it is done in the style that I am after.

Step 5: Conclusion

To what positive experience did the event, situation or activity lead?

The shoot allowed me to understand more about the elderly people that are in Canterbury and get to learn what they are working with the lives that they live. The idea of this shoot has led me to think out of the box when it comes to cruel and tender in relation to age.

To what negative experience did the event, situation or activity lead?            

The negative the experience was that with a basic idea I did not yet have the correct desired the outcome being that I wasted a shoot at the Marlowe as this has no links with age and it defining people. This will need to be looked at in the following shoots.

What will you do differently if the event, situation or activity were to happen again in the future?             

For the next shoot, I will shoot people that follow the specialised theme of age. This is the main difference so that I stay on track in order for this to come together. This is all I would change going into the following shoot.

Which skills do you need to develop yourself in a similar event, situation or activity?

I do not need to develop more skills as I want to follow a similar style however making more of the shots look similar.

Step 6: Action plan

To develop this shoot I need to make sure that I selected the stand out images from this shoot and then build the premises for the next shoot in the coming days.

John Londei: Shutting Up Shop: The Decline of the Traditional Small Shop

Book's Front Cover

Shutting Up Shop: The Decline of the Traditional Small Shop

This book has links to the theme of cruel and tender with the declining independent shops that are in the high street even this might not have a direct link to the project it has links to the idea that age does not define us.

Book’s Description

Shot over a 15-year period beginning in the early 1970s, this is a tribute to an era that has all but disappeared - the traditional small shops that feature have now almost all gone. In 2004 Londei began the task of updating what had become of the shopkeepers and shops he’d photographed so long ago. (London, 2007,4 )

What Is denoted?

The Book denotes shops that have closed because of the declining footfall in these areas. The book shows the shops as they were closing and what they are today in the location.

What is Connoted?

The book connotes the message of the company is closing and the feeling is doe to be suddenness. With the use of the vignetting to add the negativity feeling in the work. The book uses negative space in the work to show that the shop is beginning to shut down which highlights the problem of what is going on in the retail industry.

What makes this work significant to you (and or your project)?

The work is significant to me work having worked before with small companies in the past to produce a project about small companies. The Work is important to the work as they all link to the end outcome of a book that is cruel and tender.

What ideas will you take forward to think about in your work?

I am planning on taking on the idea of the positioning of the camera to show the information about what is going on. I am planning on taking on the way he has used contact sheets at the end showing what they are now.

Who is the intended audience?

The audience was intended to be viewers at a gallery across the world and people interested in the subject that he has participated in. The work has lived on with many students emulating his work since his death back in 2012.

What context have you seen the work in?

I have seen this work presented in the book that he has published and seeing a MOMA image of how it was presented in the gallery. I think the way of seeing this in the book because the entire book is done in a typology fashion with every image being shot in 2 different ways of it being a landscape or portrait,

Is the work part of a bigger series?

The work was originally done in the 1980s of the main shop fronts but it was shot in the late 2000s with the locations showing what they are today. Explaining what some of the shopkeepers got up to. This is the end of the series as he died in 2012 and it can only be redone with be people doing it in the style of him.

References

Londei, J., 2007. Shutting Up Shop: The Decline of the Traditional Small Shop. [Online]
Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shutting-Up-Shop-Decline-Traditional/dp/1904587461
[Accessed 1 11 2019].

Londei, J., 2008. Shutting Up Shop: The Decline of the Traditional Small Shop. 2 ed. Stockport: Dewi Lewis Publishing.

Invisible Britain: portraits of hope and resilience

Invisible Britain: portraits of hope and resilience

A key part of the project revolves around the book Invisible Britain: portraits of hope and resilience by Paul Sng as it shows people having come invisibly.

Book’s Description: 

Invisible Britain: Portraits of Hope and Resilience reveals untold stories from people who have been left out of the media narrative and left behind by government policy. Featuring the work of accomplished documentary photographers, the book presents people speaking in their own words to create a narrative showing how an unprecedented world of austerity, de-industrialisation and social upheaval is affecting us all. (Sng, 2019 )

From this description, I am going to take on the message from people feeling like that they must be hidden. The book shows the problem that is going on with life from the government cuts and how we have made people feel like that they have to be isolated in order to get on with life and be themselves.

What Is denoted & Connoted?

The book denotes portraits and text about the lives of people in the UK. The text and images are all done to be true stories to highlight what is going on. The book connotes the feeling of people who have become invisible because of social changes and problems that they have had from life. The book symbols how the photographers have documented them and how they have become invisible. When looking at the book the feeling starts of being sad and makes you pleased that you can understand what they have gone through and they are not alone. On all the pages with portraits, it has got text next to it to make it easier for people to understand what is going on and for people to understand the story.

How am I affected as a viewer?

When looking at the book the first thing that is seen is the cover and the foreword by Michael sheen explaining what the book is all about. The first impression on the book is full of negativity with people having become invisible but this was to change when looking at the images and what they are all about. The book repulses me with the way that they have been treated during their life with racism or being ignored as they are not rich. The book makes a political point that we needed to treat people the same.

What makes this work significant to you (and or your project)?

I have seen this book online with images and descriptions while looking at the book you can get the emotional connection to this work. The context of the work I have seen shows it is almost like a labour political Broadcast with the way it is connoted. While looking it online on news websites you get to read what people looking at the work thinks of this and it gives it more of an understanding. The work is significant to my project because it highlights how people have become Invisible from problems that they have faced. This links to cruel and tender because it shows negativity that they have faced making it cruel while they are all shot in a tender way.

What ideas will you take forward in your work, What Are the Strengths & Weakness?

I am going to change how the layout with mines I am going to take most of the text out and replace it with statistics as I am not going to be interviewing the subjects that I am going to shoot. The strengths of the book are how they have got the text explaining them by the image so people can understand what is going on. I think the weakness though with this book is that it does not have the flare of changing layouts to keep the user in engaged for longer this weakness I will remove in my work.

Who is the intended audience?

The work is done to be contemporary with the way it has been shot to highlight the current problems. The audience is done for people to wake up and understand what is going on now in time.

Is the work part of a bigger series?

The editor of the book has made other works showing the inequality of day to day Britain this has been designed to photographer the problem in the United Kingdom. This book has got some of the biggest collections of celebrates and photographers.

Any other information that you think is relevant? 

Most of the artists are supporters of Jeremy Corbyn and this makes it important to understand the political viewpoint coming from this. The editor is a campaigner for labour as well as the photographer shown in the works he has produced.

What context have you seen the work in?

I have seen this book online with images and descriptions while looking at the book you can get the emotional connection to this work. The context of the work I have seen shows it is almost like a labour political Broadcast with the way it is connoted. While looking it online on news websites you get to read what people looking at the work thinks of this and it gives it more of an understanding.

Niall McDiarmid

Niall McDiarmid

Niall McDiarmid is a Documentary Portraiture photographer who has done three books about documenting the lives of people across the UK. Niall McDiarmid work shows people with colour and also the location to stand and to make the shots look similar to make the viewer think.

After watching an interview

After watching an interview with him on YouTube I have learned more parts of him around him. I have learned that he meets and speaks with strangers and he builds up a relationship that people and then he will ask to shoot them he wants to capture them in there natural state. So to this, he shoots 2 – 3 frames which account for blinking he understands the problem with digital which is, to shoot too early with the composition he shoots down the barrel to the camera lens. When some come to him and goes to him you should them he believes that they are always not the right one, He started with one lens and Fuji camera and he shoots down barrels.

 Queens Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, June 2015 – Niall Mcdrimand

Paddington, London, November 2017 – Niall Mcdrimand

Bargate, Southampton, Hampshire, July 2014 – Niall Mcdrimand

He started this project when he did not have a lot of money as he wanted to go out and shoot around the country and go to other places that he has not been he said if he was rich he would not have done it as he would have gone to somewhere they were rich. Typology X, and curate as this style, Niall does not like interwar photographer like August Sander, he knows the work but he is not happy about categorising people, his models he finds find hard to categorise themselves as people come around people across the UK and have moved over. He is not a storyteller but he includes street, town and date only. August has done a lot and him sociality categories e.g. baker Jewish baker, bakers wife as that his what was the style back in August’s day.

Women with red hair (Niall McDiarmid, 2014)
A man and his stick (Niall McDiarmid 2014)
Man in Yellow sitting on the bench (Niall McDiarmid, 2015)

These two shots are some the greatest shots that Niall Mcdrimand did for his latest book Town To Town, the shots are done with the location and the communication. These shots I like as he communicates to the model and captures them in their natural light. I want to use his styles in my work as they correlate to his message. Even though this was a personal project and a bit of fun he used this to show his work off. I want to use the style that he has done in my work. These shots are done with a similar styled compared to his first set of work of crossing paths. Niall uses a style that is relevant to him with this work he does not show peoples name or what they are like, as he hates people stereotyping what people are from different walks of life and the location, which shows how Diverse Britain is.

 Luke and Levii, Queen Street, Bridgend, May 2014
Southchurch Road, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, February 2017
Marine Parades, Hastings, May 2011

How does this fit with the Contemporary and Documentary Portrait Photography 

This work fits the Contemporary and Documentary Portrait Photography because this is documenting the UK from town to town. This style resembles with people and that these tell a story of what people are like and people can relate to what we are like. This fits the Contemporary portrait story as these are done to show what people are in the Morden life these done to show the here and now. I like how Niall is bold when making the colour choices with the subjects he has chosen what the location has connected to the viewer and we can understand what it might be in our life. When linking it to the style that I am after with his work it forms together with the way he has shot environmental portraits in the Past. 

 Hertford Street, Coventry, (Niall McDiarmid, 2012)
 Bedford Street, Rhyl, (Niall McDiarmid, 2011)
Adelphi Street, Blackpool (Niall MacDiarmid, 2012)

About the Crossing Paths shots

Niall’s shots are articulated to highlight the diversity in around London with none of his shots are showing someone looking similar because he wants to highlight that nobody is the same and that everybody is different. Niall uses prominent locations that most normal people will understand can relate in their lives. Niall turns location that looks run down or looks ugly into an inspiring masterpiece his work is taken around Britain as the crossing lines work is about a portrait of Britain. His work is done to document what real people are like he was after “the many not the few” (Labour Slogan 2017) of real people, not the rich elite that people must sadly put up with. After looking at his work in this Unit I understand how that Niall uses his work to show what Crossing paths works, this works together in and even though at times it comes together in other works for this project I am planning on using his environmental portrait style when shooting the project.

Bibliography

All photos are from Crossing Paths, Town to Town. From Niall McDrimand.