This week you will study 4 major photographers of the 20th century, Andre Kertesz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Imogen Cunningham and Dorothea Lange.
The class will divide into 4 groups. Each group will be assigned a photographer to research, view and select work to show and finally, report to the class how these photographers may influence our own work.
Monday:
Please look at select works of each photographer in this folder.
Find the 2 photos that most move you or may be inspirational to your own work.
At the end of this blog post please respond by citing the two photos by their titles (i.e., Cunningham1.jpg, etc) and discuss what draws you to each photo.
Tuesday:
Please look at select works of each photographer in this folder and on this document's links.
Compare/contrast the work of the photographers by selecting 1 photo from each photographer and write about the similarities you see and the differences. This should result in about a page reflection, 12pt type, double spaced.
Break into assigned groups and watch the movie and read the selected research articles assigned for each photographer. Prepare a Google Presentation that highlights the following questions/ideas (and make sure to use plenty of photos to accompany the points of your presentation for each page:
- Birth/Death dates, timeframe of most important work
- Location (birthplace, significant places photographer lived/worked)
- Describe their compositional approaches (particularly geometric, forms, golden mean)
- Describe their photographic practice (do they previsualize, do they look for the right moment, do they always take a camera, do they capture a moment, do they pose, do they wait for the right moment, do they analyze light, what is their practice, what tips can you apply to your process)
- What angles do you see the photographer use?
- Describe the tonality in their work
- How does their work communicate?
- What does their work communicate?
- Significant accomplishments.
- What you have learned that you may apply to your own work.
Finalize/present presentations
Assignment for weekend shoot:
You will shoot one scene or shot from 12 different camera angles, varying your position relative to the subject. The scene should be complex enough to be interesting from different angles. An example might be, your dog in the backyard sleeping shot from 12 angles might not be as interesting as your dog playing with a sibling or friend shot from 12 angles. The dinner table with family and or friends gathered around in conversation shot from 12 angles is interesting. A vase of flowers beautifully lit from 12 angles is interesting, a flower in bright sunlight at high noon sitting in a pot in your backyard, not as interesting. Walking downtown Saratoga shooting the same scene in a coffeeshop from 12 angles is interesting, shooting a coffee cup from 12 angles is lazy. Shooting team mates, bandmates or friends all doing something is interesting, again, shooting your sleeping bird from 12 angles, probably not as interesting. So the scene itself should have the potential to communicate something of value. The assignment of shooting this scene from different angles is what we want to practice. I would suggest looking around your neighborhood. A nighttime scene outside at dusk or even dark could be very interesting shot from different angles. Be creative, think about your weekend and all the opportunities you have to practice photography!
Please upload your final shots to the homework folder under the 12/8 sub-folder. You must hand in 12 photos. Late work will be docked one grade point, no exceptions, so plan ahead if you need to.
Brassal 2: I like this photo because of the two beams of light shining down, which creates somewhat of a diagonal symmetry throughout the photo.
ReplyDeleteLange 9: What drew me to this picture was the deepness of the black, white, and gray. There are very definite tones, and they contrast well with each other. Another part of this photo is the smiling face and the angle of the man in the middle.
I like Lange2 and Cunningham1
ReplyDeleteI like Lange2 because it shows the reality of life during the era of the dust bowl. The clean plate shows how little people had, and how they knew exactly the extent of their misfortune. Everything is dirty, which details how things are so bad that the people cant even wash their clothes. But, the family is still holding tight together, which shows the American spirit that nothing can separate us.
I like Cunningham1 because of its composition more than the meaning. The entire picture appears to spiral towards the center until the circling ends in the center at the stamen of the flower.You can definitely tell where the camera is placed because of the shadows cast along even the tiniest ridges in the flower's petal. Also, your eye can not sway from the true focus of the photograph because the flower's white, while appearing gentle, is still powerful enough to draw your eyes away from the dull, black, out-of-focus background.
cunningham6.jpg and brassai2.jpg are the two that i like the most.
ReplyDeleteIn Cunningham's picture, the light affect is very interesting that is makes the girl in the picture looks like a mystery.
In Brassai's picture, the light cone into the window is also very interesting, it cuts the picture into two parts and makes up the light part in the picture.
The two photographs that interest me are brassai6.jpg and cunningham1.jpg.
ReplyDeleteI find brassai6.jpg interesting because the lamp posts draw your eye to a point down the stairs along with the trees. The photograph seems to fade at the end with the change in tonality. The black and white contrast each other just enough to have everything blend yet still have enough contrast to lead your eyes down the path.
I find the cunningham1.jpg interesting because it keys in on the flower which takes up most of the picture and the background strongly contrasts the white flower. Also the gray areas on the flower give the flower texture.
I really like bresson4 because the poles that are in the background and that the men are holding contribute to the composition of the picture, sort of all leading the eye to the subject of the photo, the three men in the boat. I also like how I can tell that there is a lot going on in the photo, and yet the photo is still simple to look at, with nothing too distracting. Finally, I like the expressions, especially of the man in the bottom left, who seems to be amused at the photographer. The other photo I really liked was lange6, because of the lighting. I like how we can see sunlight through the window falling on the bed, but the little girl is facing the darkest corner of the room. Like the other photo, the subject looks very natural and I can see how she is feeling through her posture and expression.
ReplyDeleteKertesz 4 is quite a beautiful photograph of a wilting flower. What interests me is that the photo is much brighter than all the others, the bright light shines directly onto the water to create marvelous shadows in the leaves. The dark background is a deep contrast to the light shined onto the flower and water, the background also does this wave effect similar to the water. The little bubbles in the water are really interesting, making the water seem brighter than it would be . The flower itself is interesting with half of it in bright light and the other half in the shadows, almost like it has two different sides. It's like everything that is bright has a dark side except the water, which is nurtures all life. I can not get over the strange wave/disorientation effect created in the water and replicated in the background.
ReplyDeleteBrassai 5 is another gorgeous photograph.The Eiffel Tower is blended into the background like it is part of the sky while still balancing out the boats all in the front. It seems to go from the quiet, dark suburb of the canal to the bright bustling city into the deep, dark sky with the twinkle of the star. There is an amazing reflection of the Eiffel Tower in the canal, and there is like a tree versus city idea here. With these trees on the left balanced by the city on the left, the trees being darker than the city. The bridge in the middle ground separates the fore and background and seems to kind of represent the city that separates the canal to the sky. I love the fact that the photo goes from dark to light to dark, and the twinkling in the stars are so beautiful next to the Eiffel Tower.
I really enjoyed Bresson1 because the shot seemed so candid. It really captures the essence of photography that each moment only lasts for an instant. Also, it's interesting that despite how the biker is blurry, it is still the subject and it's what completes the picture. Many may not notice, but the subjects of photos are rarely ever blurry and I found it interesting he could make it so effective.
ReplyDeleteAnother picture I liked was Lange10. The photo tells a story about how despite how America was all about luxury before the Great Depression, and the stark contrast of people staggering their way to new land versus the billboard shows just how different things are and how quickly they have changed.
The two I like the most are Brassai6 and Lange6.
ReplyDeleteBrassai6: I love the use of depth and contrast, as well as the balance in the image. No part of it seems too busy, or too empty; it's also framed extremely well, and exhibits a full range of values. It's shot from a great angle, creating an interesting and dynamic composition.
In terms of material itself, I like how the fog fades the background, but the lights are still bright; the shadows are also present and pretty long, which probably indicates that this was shot in the late afternoon. I think this is one of my favorites because my eyes never go off the photo.
Lange6: This has extremely effective lighting, with the child in stark contrast to the background. It has very light highlights and dark shadows, to the point where the child almost seems to be glowing. Because she is looking to the right, but the brightest spots are to the left, my focus remains in the center. The overall effect is pretty powerful.
In addition, I love how this raises questions: why is she sad? What is she thinking about? What has happened to her? What's going on with the messy background? What's her story? I think this story aspect, combined with the amazing technique, is why this is my other favorite photo.
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ReplyDeleteLange6: The photo is really good since it has really effect lighting and contrast. The whiteness of the girls dress contrasts wonderfully with the darkness of her surroundings. She symbolizes hope. The shadow of her that is projected onto the ground also has a powerful effect. It gives off the impression of how sad the photo is since the glowing beacon of hope is staring into the shadow. The photo portrays the theme of depression well.
ReplyDeleteBrassal3: This photo looks great and idyllic. The orbs of light from the streetlamps really look good. The contrast with the dark of the night and their reflections in the water look even cooler. I would take a walk in this park. Everything looks peaceful and it gets across this message well.
The photo that speaks to me the most is Cunningham 3. I think the angle, the tone, and the composition all make the photo covey a very powerful emotion. Beginning with the angle, the photographer does not seem level to the subjects being photographed. Instead Cunningham is at a lower position. This gives an appealing perspective because it looks like you are looking up to the dancers. The tone is compelling because most of it is in the same gray tone. Yet either side is a much darker black. This darker tone pulls your eye back into the center of the photo because it is lighter. Also the darkest part of the photo seems to be the dancers shadows. This creates a really interesting shape on the bottom of the photo.
ReplyDeleteLastly the composition of the photo is really interesting. The dancers are centered vertically on the frame but they are moved over to their right. This makes it fall directly on one of the rule of thirds sweets spots, which makes it visually pleasing. Therefore the focal point of the picture is in a really good place. The people are interesting subjects because they look very emotive and powerful. Although it must have been hard to get a shot where there all at the height up their jump it provides a really good outcome to the photo.
Another photo that speaks to me is Bresson 9. This photo is visually interesting because of the subjects being photographed, the contrasts of the tones, and the position of the various objects. The little boy looks so sad and hungry he draws your eye since you feel such sympathy towards him. This creates a really powerful message because it is hard to look away from the eyes staring at you. The hand grasping his head seems to be holding him back which makes the message even stronger. This photograph is really sad and depressing and it makes it really strong and memorable.
Next the different contrasts of the tones are appealing because the shadows are the darkest part, which makes the picture really interesting. In general all of the subjects are darker then the background which makes it really appealing and brings more focus to the subjects of the picture. Lastly the position of the subjects aids to the compelling parts of the photo. The wheel is in the top right corner and the people are in the bottom left corner, which makes good contrast between where the subjects are in the photo giving it good visual balance. In general this photo is really interesting and visually appealing.
Lange10.jpg
ReplyDeleteI believe this picture is a true work of art because of all is represents. The composition of this picture is great the way that the eye just seems to flow from the walkers and the sign without leading you off the picture or getting boring.
I believe this picture clearly represents the great gaps between the rich and the poor the two farmer are seen walking down the road because they had no money to afford the more relaxing train ride and the sign shows that the rich not only live more confutable but move faster but at the end of it all they both end at the same place.
Bresson7.jpg
I really like this picture because the way it is composed has some really interesting lines from the boat and the bridge which seems to guide your eye around the picture very smoothly.
I feel that this picture could be improved by erasing the girl running on top of the bridge because its distracting and it guides the eye out of the picture.
One of my favorite pictures from all of them is bresson5.jpg. It tells a story of a man who has been following a "path" all of his life. You can tell that he is older because he is hunched over. It's really moving because it looks as if he has been following this path although it is raining and not enjoyable. i like the point of view from behind the small tree because it's kind of sneaky and it's like you are getting a "sneak peek" about his life.
ReplyDeleteI also like how it is composed. The tree is not exactly in the middle and it separates him and the sign, which is symbolic(I think) of others' going in other directions. him being the only one going this way in life.
The second one I like is Lange2jpg. I think it describes how life was like then. Not everybody had enough money to take a train so they had to walk. However, society makes it seem like everybody has the money and is fortunate enough to do so. You can tell that they are trying to look away from the sign to hide the shame that they feel.
The composition of this one is really good as well. you can tell they are walking and there are so many different shades of black and white. I also like that it looks like it it father and son. Another great aspect is the large depth of field. if there wasn't a large depth of field it wouldn't have as much effect.
My favorite picture was the photo of the starving child by Bresson. I loved the picture because i felt that it told a story about poverty and starvation. The photo really tells a sad story about the life of a poor family and how every day is a struggle and that people will do anything to try and feed their families.
ReplyDeleteI also like number four of Langes photos because it tells a story of a womans struggles during the time period and how hard everything was back then. The woman seems to try to get through things no matter what the circumstances are. I think that the photos colors give off a gloomy mood which set the tone for the rest of the photos elements.
Lange 10:
ReplyDeletethis is a master piece. this picture represents millions of americans who suffered depression in the united states. i believe this picture is great because it speaks for itself. The composition is just wonderful.. The sign on the left and the people on the right give the photo a sense of perfect balance and makes the photo very easy to look at.
Kertesz5:
Andre Kertesz is one of my favorite photographers. I really like his history and in my opinion all of his photos are amazing.
This picture is completely beautiful, i love the perspective. and i completely love what the sun did in the picture, the shades give the picture and amazing feeling. the textures and tones of the picture are great as well, i love the use of depth and contrast.
One of my favorite photographs is the one by Dorothea Lange which shows a middle age women holding her kids and looking far in distance. Making the image to be black and white causes the image to reveal a lot more of intrigue and some kind of desperation or hope in the women's emotions. The image seems to be taken during a period of time when times where hard or maybe a depression was happening during that time. The image symbolizes the plight of living in the countryside or maybe being an only mother in charge of the future of two young kids. I love this photo because it is easy to relate to events that happen in everyday lives of many families.
ReplyDeleteAnother photo I love is by Henri Cartier showing two little kids walking in an empty street. The image reveals the innocence and liberties you feel when you are so young and also complete free and out of worries and fears. The angle at which the photo is taken is really good and shows really good lines with different lengths where the audience's eyes can travel to .
Lange4: the message is so powerful in this photo. the poor woman is stressed and conflicted about something. the background is definitely effective in helping in the photo. the composition is really good because the woman is the focal point in the photo.The photo is really good since it has really effect lighting and contrast.
ReplyDeleteBrassal3: This photo looks great and interesting. The light circles from the streetlamps really look good. The contrast with the dark of the night and their reflections in the water look even cooler. it looks like an amazing park that i really wish i could go to. Everything looks peaceful and it gets across this message that this park is beatiufl.
The first photo I like is cunningham3 because it shows the story in the photo and the photo has a lot of contrast in it. I think the three women in the photo shows the hope, because they jump up and look at the shy and the sunlight brings the light in the photo that makes the photo has a lot of hope in it. The photo has a lot of contrast between the background and the women, so it make the three women really pop out in the photo.
ReplyDeleteThe second photo I like is Kertesz3, because it really tells the story about the boy in the photo. i think the boy in the photo looks anger and he has a lot of pressure and he is holding something in his hand, and he wants to throw it, I think it shows that he wants to release his anger and pressure. The stairs in the photo has a lot of the contrast in it and the shape of the stairs bring more anger feeling in the photo.