Research
The artist that I have chosen to research for my work on framing devices is Saul Leiter.
Saul Leiter was born in 1923 and died in 2013, his work was recognised for his use of colour and worked for magazines such as Elle and British Vogue. He was one of the first artists to use kodachrome colour slide film, and despite views on colour photography at the time he produced significant praise for his pioneering role in the emergence of this type of photography. He based most of his framing work in New York City. He manipulated natural frames and objects that could divide an image into 2 or more frames. Also using techniques such as blurring backgrounds or foregrounds to add a story to the image. His use of shadows and reflections is something that I will also focus on as it can sometimes create illusions and distortions which bring character to photographs.
I will also explore this specific technique in this shoot that really create effect when using framing:
The artist that I have chosen to research for my work on framing devices is Saul Leiter.
Saul Leiter was born in 1923 and died in 2013, his work was recognised for his use of colour and worked for magazines such as Elle and British Vogue. He was one of the first artists to use kodachrome colour slide film, and despite views on colour photography at the time he produced significant praise for his pioneering role in the emergence of this type of photography. He based most of his framing work in New York City. He manipulated natural frames and objects that could divide an image into 2 or more frames. Also using techniques such as blurring backgrounds or foregrounds to add a story to the image. His use of shadows and reflections is something that I will also focus on as it can sometimes create illusions and distortions which bring character to photographs.
I will also explore this specific technique in this shoot that really create effect when using framing:
- White Space- Negative space used in framing to increase aesthetic appeal. This principle of design allows a balance in the frame to positive space. The empty area can form contrasting silhouettes with the subject and thus become a meaningful aspect of the frame; however, negative space is used mostly as a neutral or complementary background in order to draw focus upon the central subject.
Aims
I aim to achieve photos that deliver a mood and tell a story that is unique to each photograph. I aim for my images to have an abstract quality to it and in some cases deliver a political message. I also want to look at ways to interpret colour through my environment or in photoshop using tools and techniques as Saul Leiter used a lot of colour in his images.
In this first shoot as inspired by Saul Leiter I will look into the use of framing through windows, framing through still objects, some architecture and outdoor objects that can be manipulated as frame. I will also look briefly into overexposure.
Contact sheet
My Best images
Images that require improvement.
This image requires improvement as I think the shadow that is being cast across the image, draws attention away from my subject in the image. I also think the image would work better if the foreground was out of focus, to do this next time I would change the time of day I take the photo and use a lower aperture.
This image requires improvement because I don't feel as though the composition in the image fits with my subject. I could do improve this by using a tripod and aligning the objects and my subject in the image so it creates a more aesthetic photograph.
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions,
reflecting critically on work and progress.
My Idea for my first shoot with approaching framing is to look at saul leiters overexposure and the manipulation of literal framing through things such as windows and objects.
The images came out as i expected but I had to use the crop tool for some of my images because some of the framing needed to be straightened.
The first image is of a smoking shelter in which there are multiple split frames that surround the shelter. I thought the composition of this image added effect as the structure splits the photograph in half and creates the effect that in each section of the photo a different thing is going on. However, this is deceptive and therefore abstract as everyone is smoking. This links to my artist Saul Leiter due to my manipulation of objects that create a literal frame.
My second image is inspired by Saul Leiter as it uses the idea of capturing a moment through windows. I chose this image because it creates a story, almost like a snapshot of a crucial moment, allowing for a lot of interpretation. for example, are they arguing? is it a friendly conversation? why is one person standing? are they in a relationship and is the standing person the dominant one?
The third image is inspired by Saul Leiter's use of manipulating framing and using negative space. This creates two different moods due to this manipulation, which I think is very interesting. The top half of the image is a clear blue sky with a tree in the right, this connotes nature and freedom and the colour blue is often associated with depth and stability. Whereas below there are houses, one with a skip of rubbish outside and cars which are things that do not agree with nature due to pollution. This creates contrast.
The fourth image creates a sense of isolation and depth by using the space between the seats as an abstract frame.This is inspired by Saul Leiters use of public transport. It shows a woman who is alone and seems to be isolated from the rest of the world. However, this creates a sense of irony as she is clearly on her way to do something as she is travelling and may infact be meeting someone.
AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques
and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
My Idea for my first shoot with approaching framing is to look at saul leiters overexposure and the manipulation of literal framing through things such as windows and objects.
The images came out as i expected but I had to use the crop tool for some of my images because some of the framing needed to be straightened.
The first image is of a smoking shelter in which there are multiple split frames that surround the shelter. I thought the composition of this image added effect as the structure splits the photograph in half and creates the effect that in each section of the photo a different thing is going on. However, this is deceptive and therefore abstract as everyone is smoking. This links to my artist Saul Leiter due to my manipulation of objects that create a literal frame.
My second image is inspired by Saul Leiter as it uses the idea of capturing a moment through windows. I chose this image because it creates a story, almost like a snapshot of a crucial moment, allowing for a lot of interpretation. for example, are they arguing? is it a friendly conversation? why is one person standing? are they in a relationship and is the standing person the dominant one?
The third image is inspired by Saul Leiter's use of manipulating framing and using negative space. This creates two different moods due to this manipulation, which I think is very interesting. The top half of the image is a clear blue sky with a tree in the right, this connotes nature and freedom and the colour blue is often associated with depth and stability. Whereas below there are houses, one with a skip of rubbish outside and cars which are things that do not agree with nature due to pollution. This creates contrast.
The fourth image creates a sense of isolation and depth by using the space between the seats as an abstract frame.This is inspired by Saul Leiters use of public transport. It shows a woman who is alone and seems to be isolated from the rest of the world. However, this creates a sense of irony as she is clearly on her way to do something as she is travelling and may infact be meeting someone.
For these photographs I used a Canon EOS 1300D for all my shots. The images were taken between aperture of f4.5 and f10, this was dependent on how much wide I wanted my depth of field to be, the lower the aperture the more narrow the depth of field. My shutter speed remained at 1/25 as I didn't have a tripod for this shoot. I tried to increase the exposure as much as possible to link it to my artist but I found it difficult to manage the right amount of exposure to create an effect without ruining the image. In one instance I used a low aperture of f4.5 to create a focus on the rain drops that sat along the bottom of my windowsill and over expose the background but I found that the background became too bright and too much out of focus. If I were to reshoot this image again I would research further into what the best camera settings are to use with high exposure.
I cropped many of my images, as I didn't use a tripod for my photographs. I will also experiment with colour balance as I think that it adds character to the image. I will also look at fading my images as I can see this in many of Saul Leiters photographs.
First I cropped my images so the framing would be at a better angle.
I then used the offset tool in exposure to create the faded effect.
I also adjusted brightness and contrast to define the colours in the image
AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations
informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical
understanding.
My research into Saul Leiter was very inspirational as I could manipulate his various techniques such as faded photos, literal framing, over-exposure, use of negative space etc. To create images that create a story and moods. It also gave me ideas for my next shoot which will be to include his manipulation of colours in an image. I was also inspired by the idea of capturing a moment and this shoot was also influenced by an artist that I researched called Leid Friedlander, as many of his images have literal splits that have been at the cause of an object such as a pole or doors.
AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises
intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other
elements.
I believe the series of image that I have produced link well to my artist Saul Leiter. However, I feel like the images could be of a more professional quality. I have definitely shown a great link to the techniques that my chosen artist often uses and my images all follow the faded theme which I think creates a relaxed mood.
Progression
I believe the series of image that I have produced link well to my artist Saul Leiter. However, I feel like the images could be of a more professional quality. I have definitely shown a great link to the techniques that my chosen artist often uses and my images all follow the faded theme which I think creates a relaxed mood.
Progression
To progress in my next shoot I will focus on achieving an appropriate exposure and also being very careful with what angle I frame my images at. In my next shoot I will ensure I take multiple photos of the same image but at different angles, levels and views to see what different effects can be created on the story and mood. I will still continue to work in the style of Saul Leiter and will explore the city of London. I will also take inspiration from photographer Dann Ginn, focusing on his framing through objects, and including lots of people in the photos.
These images below have been inspired by some of the images in my image bank, as it captures shots of specific moments in time which allow for abstract interpretation, or numerous interpretation which is a theme carried in some of the images I chose for inspiration.
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