5x4 Workshop was really fun, but found the task a challenge as I had never worked with a Horseman 5x4 large format camera. We also used black and white and colour film. To start our induction we started off by observing some photographers.
I really enjoyed researching this image. The photo emphasizes a shallow depth of field and was shot with a 10x8 deardorff wooden plate camera. I found this hard to believe, as we were using a 5x4 large format camera, which I thought was big enough. The deardorff camera, is a large format, and produces polirad prints. When looking at the Photo you can see how the edge of the image is diffused and only the eyes are in focus.
Furthering our research we were introduced to the photographer Peter Fraser. The image we looked at was created using a plaubel makina camera. This medium format camera was first released in 1931, and was the first model with the shutter speed ring placed around the lens. during the middle of the 1970's, the unique strut camera was succeeded by a Japanese New Makina 6x7, first was first shown on an exhibition in 1977 and appeared in 1982 . As I hadn't heard of this camera, I researched into the model, and found the background history very interesting and helpful for future references.
Philip Lorca Dicorcia, the American photographer was another artist we observed . I enjoyed researching him, as I loved how he used frames to draw the attention towards the subject. His style involved informal snapshots and iconic quality staged compositions, making awareness of the psychology and emotion contained in real-life situations. He would capture everyday occurrences beyond the realm of banality, and his work is described as documentary photography mixed with the fictional world of cinema and advertising, which creates a powerful link between reality, fantasy and desire. I think his photographs give a sense of heightened drama and enjoy how he creates accidental poses, unintended movements and insignificant facial expressions. When focussing on the body unit, I will defiantly research this artist further, and experiment with a similar style.
Other photographers we explored where David Bate, Gregory Crewdson and Thomas Struth. When researching these photographers you realise noting looks distorted in their photographs.
Gregory Crewdson
When looking at Gregory Crewdson`s pictures, I noticed a lot of his work is featured as disturbing, and captures surreal events. Some of his little stories were not even about the photographs, instead they were about the people, places and processes.
My favourite series of work he has produced is `beneath the roses` as I love the cinematic lighting. I also admire how he uses long shots, and how instead of focusing on the people themselves, he emphasizes the importance of the ambience around the people. His style is seen as dramatic and cinematic, and his photographs are shot using a large crew, and are elaborately staged and lighted.
Crewdson’s work is controversial in the photo community; his photos are each elaborately staged, the complexity and scale of which can rival small-budget films.
I see a lot of Edward Hopper in Crewdson’s work. I think many, many photographers are influenced by Hopper simply for the fact that the man understood light, and light is the most influencing element in any photograph. Crewdson’s images are constructed with meticulous attention to how light affects the scene: which objects it illuminates at what angle, how it can back-light fog or mist, how it reflects off of wet or shiny surfaces- not to mention which areas in the frame are not lit- as well as numerous other aspects.
David Bate is a London based visual artist and critical theorist, known particularly for his work on photography. He photographs domestic objects accidentally broken by him, Bate elevates these things from the humble still life to extravagant dramas of lost memories and enjoyment of the emotions involved in a broken object.
Thomas Struth is a German photographer whose wide-ranging work includes depictions of detailed cityscapes, Asian jungles and family portraits. He is one of Germany's most widely exhibited and collected fine art photographers.
Quote
"has a clear language, one that speaks openly not only about its subjects ... but also very much about the attitude of the photographer toward these things. In this regard, a photograph is always objective."
from researching all photographers, if you use a pale background the subject will be emphasized. I will keep this in mind when making some test shots.
Depth of field useful information
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