EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE
LARRY SULTAN & MIKE MANDEL
As a class we were introduced to the photo book 'Evidence' created by Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel in 1977, specifically we analysed to the picture on the left. We tried our hardest to understanding what was going on in the image and came to an agreement that we see animal, possibly a monkey being held down by a human for animal testing which suggested by the thick gloves covering the face of the creature and the twisted neck showing its being pushed to it's limit. Sultan and Mandel created this photo book to showcase to the world how companies we may work to create their products.
INSTRUCTIONS
As an assignment, I followed a set list of rules which resulted in a gallery of abstract, unusual images.
THE LIST OF INSTRUCTIONS STATED :
1. Photograph the photograph inside a book.
2. Photograph the photograph with someone else's hand (holding, pointing, obscuring etc.)
3. Photograph the photograph so that light is reflected on its surface.
4. Damage/disrupt the photograph in some way.
5. Photocopy the photograph, you may do this anyway you like.
THE LIST OF INSTRUCTIONS STATED :
1. Photograph the photograph inside a book.
2. Photograph the photograph with someone else's hand (holding, pointing, obscuring etc.)
3. Photograph the photograph so that light is reflected on its surface.
4. Damage/disrupt the photograph in some way.
5. Photocopy the photograph, you may do this anyway you like.
I decided to not completely follow the order of the list as I prefer to just 'go with the flow' in terms of how I capture my work, I personally find it helpful to start with the most challenging task for me and work my way down to the task I know exactly what I want to do, throughout completing the assignments I saw myself finding it easier to find more creative ways to assemble work and perform to my best ability.
#1: |
I started of the task with the 'Photograph the photograph inside a book' task, in my opinion, this was quite challenging as it felt was quite difficult to get this task to seem creative as it was very limited and direct, however I tried my best using during the process of editing, with cropping in the image, making the image darker creating a whole different theme to the photograph compared to the original that was taken.
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#2: |
The second task was take a 'Photograph the photograph in somebody else's hand', whilst walking around school searching for places to produce the best pictures, I came across a circular light on the top of the wall. I got my friend to reach up to the light, holding the picture almost adapting the perception of the light as if it were some sort of halo behind the image. With the use of editing, I made the image darker to really enhance the light, whilst almost creating a shadow out of my friends hand. Furthermore, the contrast of the bright light and black and white editing adds an almost horrific scene to the image which I didn't explicitly look out for in the beginning and I'm very pleased with the outcome.
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#3: |
Moving on, the third rule was 'Reflect light onto the photograph', I got my friend to shine a phone torch onto the photograph, however I feel like the light wasn't as sharp and it didn't really emphasise the 'spotlight' like I had envisioned in my mind. With editing, I added a black & white filter this slightly enhanced the the light in the photo and completed the task.
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#4: |
Next I had to 'damage or disrupt the photograph', photocopied the image and produced a second version, I then tear the second and randomly placed the pieces around. I wasn't quite sure with what I was planning in my mind but I am pleased with the outcome and 'distressed' look. If I were to re attempt this task I think I would photocopy a third version of the images but in a different colour to add even more 'layers' onto the piece.
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#5: |
Lastly, the final task was to 'photocopy the image in anyway I like', with the help of my teacher I decided to screen print two coloured layers of the image onto the original copy, I slanted the blue photocopy to add almost 'dimension' onto the work. My teacher then suggested that I enlarge the image, perfectly the last layer of the work is the image almost like a banner at the bottom of the photograph. Personally this piece is my favourite outcome of this assignment because it was the most flexible and creative in my opinion.
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WHAT IS EVIDENCE ?
Evidence is proof, evidence allows the verification and confirms of your point and will 'back you up'. Evidence is most commonly used when someone is being testified claimed for a crime, possibly in court and evidence is needed to plead the guilt or innocence. Evidence is extremely important and is used in all cases of life confirming any situation, for example a marriage certificate. Photographic evidence is effective as it grants the privilege of knowledge and visibly seeing a situation.
A photograph may be used as evidence to work to pled someone's case or tell a story, for example in the book we studied 'Evidence' Larry and Mike, the two artists told a story of how companies worked, for example adding into the photobook the animal cruelty that took place in factories. This evidence then taught us as people to understand how possibly our ways of life may be insensitive and teach us how to better ourselves as a society. Moving into modern day, the evidence of possibly racial incidents for example gives the general public awareness and an understanding of what may have taken place.
A photograph may be used as evidence to work to pled someone's case or tell a story, for example in the book we studied 'Evidence' Larry and Mike, the two artists told a story of how companies worked, for example adding into the photobook the animal cruelty that took place in factories. This evidence then taught us as people to understand how possibly our ways of life may be insensitive and teach us how to better ourselves as a society. Moving into modern day, the evidence of possibly racial incidents for example gives the general public awareness and an understanding of what may have taken place.
Today as a class, we anonymously selected a collection of 12 images, taken by other students from the class and created our own book layout on our classroom tables. In my group, we decided to follow the storyline of colour and structure in the images, for example the first two opening images are similar in the theme of colour but also how the both images are photographs taken of photographs with wider canvases surrounding them. Moving down the line, we find our links between the images such as images 5, 6 and 7 have hands or fingers as the subject.
I heavily enjoyed this experiment as it opened my eyes, in terms of linking and analysing images to find relations for one another. I love the concept and creation of phonebooks as they are so personal and typically the creators leave just enough questions unanswered for the consumer to use their imagination to figure out the answer, therefore this experiment helped me to 'peak behind the curtain' effectively in how photo books are constructed.
I heavily enjoyed this experiment as it opened my eyes, in terms of linking and analysing images to find relations for one another. I love the concept and creation of phonebooks as they are so personal and typically the creators leave just enough questions unanswered for the consumer to use their imagination to figure out the answer, therefore this experiment helped me to 'peak behind the curtain' effectively in how photo books are constructed.
爆発後 Rhianna Blake & Wren De Lima In today's lesson we were set a task to create a story but only to be told with the use of pictures. As Wren and I walked around the school whilst others were in lesson, we realised how isolated and empty the school looked, we used this to our advantage and created a narrative as Tallis being some form of abandoned building after the event of a war. We found areas with the most litter to portray this 'distressed' look whilst also showing usually the busiest areas in school such as outside the canteen and captured how empty it was, emphasising the theme of rejection. In the process of editing we decided to turn the images black & white to further imply the idea of pain almost as if Tallis were cursed. We cropped down the images to not show too much of the surrounding to not revealing too much, leaving questions unanswered. The sequence of the images travels from the widest to last being the closet to the main subject, this suggests the motion of leaving and abandoning. The Japanese writing of 'After the Explosion' additionally enhances the ambiguous concept of the project, not fully disclosing too much to the audience.
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AFTER THE STORM
For homework we were set a task to go out and create a story with the use of pictures. Whilst I was out after school with my dad in Toca Social at the o2, the football theme of the restaurant helped me to create my narrative. I decided to go with the storyline of the depression after losing a football match. The empty cups and empty bar amplifies the concept of giving up whilst the extremely dark lighting and editing adds to the sense of disappointment. I feel like I completed the task more metaphorically as opposed to showcasing a blatant storyline with the traditional beginning, middle and end. I'm not quite sure on an answer as to why I completed the task this way, so if I were to reattempt this challenge, I would try follow the traditional way of storytelling. Possibly, I could set up situations or scenarios to fully follow the lines of a story but in general I did enjoy this task.
JACK LATHAM SEQUENCE
In class we handed out each other twelve different images each, our teacher then gave us the freedom to put the images in our own story sequence. The images had to have a link to connect them and we had to be able to explain our reasoning for placements. I decided to go with the order of the viewer going through the process of going inside a house, following the footsteps, going upstairs then walking past all of the home offices and more. When the sequence moves forward to the images of black and white attic photo I'm not quite sure where the story goes so I tried to link them with what's going on in the photos. I found this task quite difficult as it was challenging for me to find a link between them also creating a narrative for them, however I did enjoy trying my hardest to find our way to make sense of my story and sequence. |
SUGAR PAPER THEORIES
While studying the layers of meaning behind Jack Latham's "Sugar Paper Theories," we stumbled upon a noteworthy insight into the contemporary challenge of photography's capacity to distort and change people's beliefs. In today's digital age, the use of tools such as Photoshop and the ability to stage and manipulate images has given rise to a concerning trend where entirely assemble narratives and illusions can be effortlessly fabricated and spread globally. This highlights the intense influence that visual storytelling thrives in shaping societal perceptions and constructing alternate realities.
HOMEWORK RESPONSE
ANTI - OIL & FRACKING PROTEST
For homework we were set an assignment to create a story out of images but this time be a true story, after brainstorming ideas all week long by the Grace of God the perfect story had fallen in front of me. On a trip to central London with my dad, we stumbled across an Anti-oil & Fracking protest in Piccadilly Circus but in particular one young man had glued his hand to a police van as a form of spreading his word. As crowds of people had started to load watching him giving a passionate speech on his protest, police officers had placed a mission to get him down. Whilst people chanted and police raced to the top of the van, I thought this was perfect time to catch a moment of mayhem that has been happening at lot more recently these past couple of years. In the end, the Police climbed to the top of the van, poured a chemical over his hand to remove the glue, placed his body in a stretcher and drove away with him in the back of the van. The rest remains unknown. The series images showcase the story of London and how passionate Londoners are when they have something to fight for. The usually tourist area of Piccadilly Circus had been taken over by activists expressing to everyone else why we need to wake up and understand what's going wrong.
I added a 'Dramatic Warm' and grain filter to images to convey the exaggerated scenes that are taking place, I also like how toned down the colours are to explain the importance of what's happening in the images, the dark colour give the photos a documentary style.
I added a 'Dramatic Warm' and grain filter to images to convey the exaggerated scenes that are taking place, I also like how toned down the colours are to explain the importance of what's happening in the images, the dark colour give the photos a documentary style.
CLOCKS FOR SEEING
LOVER'S ROCK
JOHN GOTO
LOVER'S ROCK
JOHN GOTO
In class we researched the history of multiple photo books but in particular the book I loved the book 'Lovers' Rock' by John Goto. The book consists of series of well-crafted photographs of black people of the 1970s in Lewisham, South London. As someone who grew up in Lewisham, the images almost felt similar to me and I caught myself looking at all people trying to find someone I know. Some may find the images very simple with just the use of black backdrop and stool for people still however, I think the 70s fashion style and the beauty of the people speaks for itself. With the understanding of how badly black people were treated in South London in the 70s, the book today is almost a nice look back on how far society has come. I'd love to respond to this book by recreating the format of how the images were taken with a very simple background people sitting down in the middle of the screen. |
SOUTH OF THE RIVER
NICO FROEHLICH
NICO FROEHLICH
Above is work crafted by young photographer Nico Froehlich and his series named 'South Side of the River' a colletion of photographs based around areas in South London. Froehlich's work is familiar and comforting, possibly this could be because I am from South London myself but also simply may just be because he is just making art out of normal, everyday life for people who live in South London. His work isn't set up or thought about before, he just goes outside and captures what he sees surrounding him.
Photozines
Photozines
Photozines
Photozines
Photozines
Photzines are man made, printed books that tend to be hand size. The word originates from 'magazine' and it is clear that they follow the same structure when they are being created. Photozines are a way of visually storytelling your images and a way other than an exhibition. With using a template you are able to lay the images in countless of different formats, personally I like the look of one image taking over two pages and I will make sure to include that in my final print.
During lesson, I followed a step-by-step template using Adobe Photoshop to craft a zine, which I have linked below. The template not only facilitated a seamless process but also empowered me to effortlessly manipulate, reposition, and resize images, granting me a considerable degree of creative control in bringing my vision to life within the pages of the zine.
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File Type: | psd |
Here is the final product of my 16 page zine, I printed the images onto yellow coloured sugar paper and trimmed down the edges.
DIMA MAGHREB
As a personal project in school we had to create a piece based on our community. I chose my Moroccan heritage to portray in my project after their recent success in the 2022 World Cup that helped the country to be more recognised around the globe. In the collection of images I selected places that are very special to Morocco, including West London that is known have a large Moroccan immigration and is home to many. Furthermore, I have images from where I have gone back to Morocco to visit my family. I edited the pictures very vibrantly to enhance on the rich, colourful culture. 'Dima Maghreb' is Moroccan dialect of Arabic (Darija), which in English translates to 'Forever North Africa'. I love having the creative freedom of being able to speak about my culture and how I am so passionate.
THE MAKING PROCESS
To start my zine project, firstly I had to decide what style of zine I would like to create, I chose a 16 page zine as I could showcase as many pictures as possible. I started with using the template provided by Mr Nicholls and uploaded my images, with some of the from the village, I made them smaller in order to look like a polaroid photo when flicking through the pages, I tried to make sure that all of the images were mixed and there weren't any similar images placed together. I used a different picture for the final cover, a side road of Morocco, and used my Moroccan surname on the cover to completely celebrate my culture. There were some mistakes made when printing such as, printing in a4 as opposed to a3 or using the wrong texture of paper when photocopying, but as a result I am very content with the outcome.
When on one of the final steps of the making process, using the scalpel to form the structure of the Zine, I realised that I placed the title on the wrong side of the page which meant that I couldn't fold the zine in the correct format. Resulting in me having to start the process again.