Shape

Definition:

•        A shape is an area enclosed by a line. It could be just an outline or it could be shaded in. Shapes can be either geometric, like a circle, square or triangle, or irregular.
•        When drawing shapes, you must consider the size and position as well as the shape of the area around it. 

•        The shapes created in the spaces between shapes are referred to as negative space.
•        A geometric pattern or arrangement is made up of shapes such as squares,triangles, or rectangles:
•           irregular- without symmetry, even shape, formal arrangement

Image Bank:

Task:

This Photograph was taken by Bill Brandt.

Brandt uses  tight composition cropping the image creates three negative spaces. In the photo, Brandt

uses light and shadow to convey how women are sexualised objects. This could be shown through

the negative spaces that covered half her face, showing the message that men only look at half of a

women and only see them for their body.

Artist Research:

Edward Westson:

Edward Henry Weston (March 24, 1886 – January 1, 1958) was a 20th-century American photographer. He has been called "one of the most innovative and influential American photographers…"and "one of the masters of 20th century photography." Over the course of his 40-year career Weston photographed an increasingly expansive set of subjects, including landscapes, still lives, nudes, portraits and genre scenes.

Intrigued by the many kinds and shapes of kelp he found on the beaches near Carmel, in 1930 Weston began taking close-ups of vegetables and fruits. He made a variety of photographs of vegetables including his most iconic image, peppers. Of these, Pepper No. 30, is among the all-time masterpieces of photography.

I took inspiration from Weston's photos by getting shape of a food, like a Jamie dodger, because it has many shapes. I also used his photography to take photos of unique and abstract shapes, like wooden seats or playground equipment. I wanted to make my photos more like Weston's by editing them into black and white after taking them.

Bill Brandt:

Bill Brandt was born Hermann Wilhelm Brandt on the 2 May 1904 and died on 20 December 1983. Although he was born in Germany, Brandt moved to England, where he became known for his images of British society for such magazine as Lilliput and Picture Post, later he distorted nudes, portraits of famous artists and landscapes.

Brandt became Britain's most admired photographer of the 20th century. Many of his works have important social commentary. His landscapes and nudes are dynamic, intense and powerful, often using wide-angle lenses and distortion

Brandt's images show connotations of dark and lonely emotions, with empty places and horrible dark weather. The natural shapes show a feeling of a normal-like atmosphere like the photographer was used to being alone, maybe always feeling lonely within himself.

Contact sheet:

Best Images:

 

Images that need improving:

These images were selected as I feel they were not the best angle and didn't look aesthetically pleasing.  For the top photo, I tried to take a photo of the windmill to capture the shape of the blades. However, i only had one lens which didn't zoom it very well so i ended up with a far away image with the houses in the view. I think this may have helped by showing loads of different shapes in one photo. If i was to do this again i would have like to have a close up image as well.

The last image presents the shapes on a tire. I like this photo because its a shape on a shape. 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 shape was to photograph abstract and man-made shapes like road signs and buildings.  I was inspired from my research of both Edward Weston and Bill Brandt. These photographers inspired me edit my best images into black and white, adapting the contrast and more.

The images came out as I expected, however I wish I had a lens with a better zoom to get the more detailed pictures.

Best selected images...

The image of the lamppost was at a low angle so that I had the shape of the light inside as well as the circles in the décor. I also wanted a plain background which I did by having the clear blue sky. This was done to create more focus on the lamppost.    

Another image in my best images, is the buildings in the street that was inspired By Brandt’s images above. I then went on to edit this picture into black and white to look more like Brandt’s work. I like how the many different shapes there are in this picture.
With regards to some of the images that did not come out as I expected, my camera could not allow me to get up close to the details with the zoom as the lens is a simple lens.

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

I used my Nikon D3500 camera to take these photos. I tried to adjust the camera setting, like shutter speed, aperture and ISO to make the photos look their best. However when taking these photos I didn’t know what each of these things did properly so rarely changes the setting. I can’t remember what every photo was taken it however I know that most where taking with the aperture of f.22.

The settings of my best images are:

The lamppost:

Shutter speed= 1/100

Aperture=f/22

Zoom=55mm

The street:

Shutter speed=1/320

Aperture= f/9

Zoom= 55mm

The light shade:

Shutter speed=1/160

Aperture=f/3

Zoom= 24mm

Editing:

 To edit these photos i changed them into black and white . I then changed the Photo into black and white.  I then changed the levels to darken the darkest parts and to add more depth to the shadows. After i changed the curves to add a more  smoother contrast. Lastly, i added a higher brightness to highlight the more whiter areas, and lowered the contrast.

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 edit my photos of shape to make them more effective. My research of Edward Weston helped me focus on abstract Shapes. For example the photo of the curved tree was inspired by Weston’s famous ‘pepper’ photo. The research of Bill Brandt, helped me explore more landscape side of shapes like buildings. This inspired my street photo and the photos of the Stansted Mountfitchet castle from afar.

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 shape and the images of both Edward Weston and Bill Brandt work.  The next images I have edited to black and white to fit the inspired photographers work and to look more effective. I also changed the levels and curves. 

My Final Photos: