Puzzled Em':
This 'puzzled em' challenge we have been set to do over the course of the set time of 5 weeks. Our challenge has been to make a series of photos that others can find puzzling. We have spoken about the unconventinal photographs of objects that could puzzle the viewer, how they have been used, and whats different about them. We have also been shown some of the photography by the artists and attempted to see if we could analyse and work out what the was picture was off. Over the course of the 5 weeks we have also been told to make our own game involving all the puzzling pictures we have taken over the course of time. We have to be creative and see what we can come up with and how to make our games interesting and fun. We looked out some previous games that had been made beforehand and had a go with the. There was a couple of interesting and fun ones we enjoyed. One student had made a snap game out the all the different pictures she has taken of her sister. Another student also had a picture he had taken and stuck it into a box, the then used another copy of the photo to make puzzle shapes out of them, and you had to piece them together.
Laszlo Moholy-Nagy:
Laszlo Moholy-Nagy is one of the greatest influences in post-war art education in the United States. He believed that humanity could only defeat the fracturing experience of modernity's- only feel whole again- if it harnessed the potential of new technologies. He later delved into various fields from commercial design to theater set design and also made films and worked as a magazine art director. When brought to the US he was established the highly influential institute of design in Chicago. His interests in photography encouraged his belief that artists understanding of vision had top specialise and modernize. Moholy-Nagy's interest in qualities of space, time and light endured throughout his career. He was ultimately interested in studying how all these basic elements interact.
Berenice Abbott:
,Berenice Abbott was an American photographer best known for her portraits or between wars. She was a central figure in and important bridge between the photographic circles and cultural hubs of Paris and New York. She studied sculpture independently in 1921 and moved to Paris and continued her work there. Later, in Berlin, before returning to Paris and becoming an assistant at the Man Ray Studio, where she would master photography.
When looking at the photos I noticed they had all been taken in different angles and had been taken in a way to puzzle the viewer. I think they've been taken in black and white so it gives a different effect. It can add an effect to the photo that can make it look like something its not to meet the photographers purpose of the whole photo. Using black and white also gives off the tones and make them seem more vibrant throughout the photo, it can make the object they are using stand out more so it does not always fade in with the background; However,
Independent learning:
For our home learning we were asked to take a series of 12 unusual photos that were similar to some photos we had looked at in the previous lesson, that were all taken in different angles and upload them onto our websites.
Home learning photoshoot 2.
Puzzled em' handmade game:
As part of this project we were asked to come up with our own game using our photos we had taken over the course. We looked at several different games students before had come up with to inspire us. We had over 6 weeks to create our own boxes, cards, instructions and rules. As an idea i thought i would do a game of snap, but change it up and use pictures i had taken instead of the number cards you would usually use. I thought it would also be a good idea to add a twist to the game and add another round. The game as a whole was called snap and match. The whole idea of the matching round was for the last to players to go head to head and try to figure out weather they would match the pictures to the objects they are.
The handmade box was definitely a challenge as finding the right materials to make the box and keep it together to hold all the cards and everything else to go along with the game. Trying to keep the edges and everything together whilst folding the cardboard was difficult, however we got there. The instructions and rules were typed out and folded into the box.
The handmade box was definitely a challenge as finding the right materials to make the box and keep it together to hold all the cards and everything else to go along with the game. Trying to keep the edges and everything together whilst folding the cardboard was difficult, however we got there. The instructions and rules were typed out and folded into the box.
Half term photoshoot- pictures on a white background:
As part of the puzzled em' project we were asked to take 10 photos of something that fits the puzzled em' project but on a white background.
Saul Leiter:
Saul Lieter was an American photographer and painter whose early work in the 1940's and 1950's was an important contribution to what came to be recognised as the New York school of photography. When looking at Saul Lieter's photos there's recognition he very much used the same formal elements.
For example in each picture there is a lot of use of form, which is the use of the camera where you use it to made the photo to like a look three dimentional representation. The use of focus has also been played around with, for example he has used some pictures in a very clear focus, on the other hand some are out of focus and more blurred.
In many of his pictures there are a variety of different colours used throughout the photos. Most of the colours are vibrant and make things stand out in the photos, and there is not many dull coloured photographs by Saul.
Throughout the photos as well there is also a lot of different lines and patterns in the photos, some lines are dead straight, whilst others are more curved and diagonal.
As well as this, shapes are also a big thing in the photos, when looking at them there are so many different objects that make unusual shapes, and shadows and the lights that make different shapes.
For example in each picture there is a lot of use of form, which is the use of the camera where you use it to made the photo to like a look three dimentional representation. The use of focus has also been played around with, for example he has used some pictures in a very clear focus, on the other hand some are out of focus and more blurred.
In many of his pictures there are a variety of different colours used throughout the photos. Most of the colours are vibrant and make things stand out in the photos, and there is not many dull coloured photographs by Saul.
Throughout the photos as well there is also a lot of different lines and patterns in the photos, some lines are dead straight, whilst others are more curved and diagonal.
As well as this, shapes are also a big thing in the photos, when looking at them there are so many different objects that make unusual shapes, and shadows and the lights that make different shapes.
Out of all of the photos we looked at that were taken by Saul Leiter we were asked to use our favourite one and explain why. I personally like this one the best out of all of his work. I think he has taken a simple picture but made it something interesting. The use of how he's used the angle of the camera with the water and how it reflects the lines in the picture. I like it as well as it allows you to use your imagination; it's not obvious of what the white lines are and where they are coming from, so it allows people to use there creative side and come up with their different ideas. It could also be something interesting to have a group discussion with other people and share their theories and ideas on what the lines are, It allows people to compare and share which is a important part when it comes to photography.
Photography is about finding something, and painting is different- it's about making something"
- Saul Leiter
Saul Lieter photoshoot:
For todays lesson we looked at Saul's photography and we discussed the different elements of things he uses in the photos. For example we talked about how he uses reflection in many of his pictures, and condensation on the walls and glass. We were then asked to go out and take a series of photos that were similar to Saul Lieters. When taking these photos in the lesson i mainly focused on the reflection part of his work, as i thought it would be interesting to play around with, and could get some nice pictures using the different doors around the school to reflect 2 parts of the school.