Line

Definitions:
A line represents a "path" between two points. Lines can be straight, curved, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or zigzag. A Line implies motion and suggest direction or orientation.
The direction and Orientation of a line can also imply certain feelings.


Horizontal lines imply tranquility, peace and harmony.



Diagonal Lines imply movement, action and change



Lines that converge imply depth,scale and distance.

Vertical Lines imply power and strength

Curved lines or S shaped lines imply quiet, calm and sensual feelings

Peter Keetman- Artists Research.

The Photographer I researched was Peter Keetman. Peter Keetman was born in 1916 and died in 2005. He left a legacy through his years of photography. Keetman started in 1935 and passed a masters craftsman's diploma in 1948. Peter Keetman’s photography examines abstraction and structure, often using wire screens and water nodules.

The above images were all photographed in black and white. This resulted in a more lines shown through shadows and a more dramatic look on everyday life. The last photo of the raindrops present many different types of lines. Firstly, they present the curved line of the outline of the raindrops. Looking at the picture, I can sense the 'quiet and calm' representations that curved lines convey as if the I can hear the sounds of the calming raindrops though the photo.

I took inspiration from Keetman's photos and tried to find realistic everyday lines that I could then later on edit into black and white to add effect.

Image Bank

The following images were added as part of my visual research.

Contact sheet

Some of the photos, like DSCN0175, are not the best photos I have taken and where not in the right setting to look the best they could be. Next time I will ensure I take more time and carefully decide what to photograph and in what way I should do so. The contact sheet above was made by Photoshop, using my best 30 photos.

My Best Images.

 Images that require improvement.



These images were selected as I feel they were not the right angle or setting to make a good photo. I feel these photos are very basic and don't have a good background. For the top photo, I tried to take a photo of the bird gates to show vertical lines, yet I also wanted to capture the lines of the building behind me in the reflection of the glass. If I were to reshoot this photo I would turn my camera around to make the photo portrait and frame the photo by zooming in more so you don't see anything around the glass, like the sky or the rest of the building. I could even use a tripod to keep the camera steady so I could focus the camera more.

The second image presents the lines on a shoe. I like this photo because I represents many types of lines, horizontal and diagonal etc. However I don't like the angle this photo was taken at. If I was to reshoot this photo I would have the camera on the floor to get a closer look and have a better angle

AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.

My idea for recording line was to photograph the lines of everyday life, in realistic places, exploring different lines present such as curves, horizontal, vertical lines and leading lines.  I was inspired from not only my research of Peter Keetman's abstract photos but by some of the photos in my image bank. Peter Keetman's use of water in the raindrop image in my research, inspired me to take the picture of the water ripples in the pond in my best images.

 The images came out as I expected, however I should had paid particular attention to getting the right exposure settings.   

 Best selected images...

The image of the picnic table was shot at a canted (slanted) angle so that I had more than just the lines that ran across the table. The originally horizontals lines, turned diagonal in the picture. The other lines shown or the lines of restaurants behind and the details of lines on each restaurant. This was done to create a more abstract image.    

Another image in my best images, is the stairs that was inspired by Keetman's stair image above. I tried to use a similar angle to Keetman as I liked the angle.

 With regards to some of the images that did not come out as I expected, my camera could not allow me to adapt my settings as I was an auto bridge camera. Some images lacked focus, whilst in the case of others I struggled to use the camera to the best of its ability. I believe I can overcome these issues through more practise.

AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.

I used a Nikon B500 Coolpix Camera for all the shots taken. this is a bridge camera with auto settings, so I could not adjust to find the best range to shoot in. However I could change settings to 'creative mode' or 'landscape mode' to help adjust photos. One photo that I use creative mode on was DSCN0157 to add a cooler tone to the picture and changing the colour of the building to look more urban. 

If I were to reshoot my photos again I would use a different camera and a tripod, so I could get more focus and be able to change the range, shutter speed and more.

Editing:

When editing these images i decided to change them into Black and white to look more like Keetman's work. i also decided to changed the levels and curves to make certain areas darker and to add a better highlight. I then changed the contrast so that the details of each image like texture and shadows are more enhanced.

The screenshots below are from when i edited.

AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other

 sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

The artist research was helpful as I realised that I could take lines in many different ways and could change a view of a photo by the ways lines are presented. My research of Peter Keetman helped me focus on both natural lines like water but also abstract lines like the photo of the abstract curved tree. I was able to capture natural lines as the college is located next to Harlow town with urban buildings and a lot of nature like ponds and flowers. The research of line and the emotion/mood behind them was helpful to this study as it helped me create messages behind photos and helped me know how to capture lines in certain angles to help the mood of that line show.

AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.  

 I believe that I have produced a strong series of images inspired by my research of line and the images of Peter Keetman's work. The next images I have edited to black and white to look more like Keetman's work. I think these look more like Keetmans work becuase they look more urban and dark, like the photos shown above.

My final four photos: