Independent Development
Eliot Porter
Analysis
Eliot Porter was an American photographer noted for his detailed colour images of landscapes and birds. Porter’s early photographs of birds were in black and white, but in the early 1940s he began using colour film. He used large format camera and because the camera was so large he sometimes had to wait days for specific birds to perch near him. Porter’s photography shifted from birds to natural landscapes. Porter was active in the cause of environmental preservation and had several books publish before his death.
Eliot Porter was an American photographer noted for his detailed colour images of landscapes and birds. Porter’s early photographs of birds were in black and white, but in the early 1940s he began using colour film. He used large format camera and because the camera was so large he sometimes had to wait days for specific birds to perch near him. Porter’s photography shifted from birds to natural landscapes. Porter was active in the cause of environmental preservation and had several books publish before his death.
Photographers Intensions
Eliot Porter intended to show his deep love for the wilderness and the environment.
He did this by spending a lot of time trekking in the wilderness to find his compositions.
He wanted us to think about how beautiful the natural world is and how important conservation is.
Wider issues
Eliot Porter is considering man's potential impact on the environment.
This is shown by his decision to not include anything man made in his photos. It feels like his photos could have been taken before humans altered the environment forever.
He wanted to explore how he can show how delicate nature is.
Elements, Materials and Techniques
Eliot Porter used a large format camera and colour film to create his work.
This creates a natural effect. It feels like you could almost walk into the pictures, as if you where standing there next to him.
This helps supports his point about wilderness conservation. He wanted his photos to feel very natural because of his love for the natural world.
Eliot Porter intended to show his deep love for the wilderness and the environment.
He did this by spending a lot of time trekking in the wilderness to find his compositions.
He wanted us to think about how beautiful the natural world is and how important conservation is.
Wider issues
Eliot Porter is considering man's potential impact on the environment.
This is shown by his decision to not include anything man made in his photos. It feels like his photos could have been taken before humans altered the environment forever.
He wanted to explore how he can show how delicate nature is.
Elements, Materials and Techniques
Eliot Porter used a large format camera and colour film to create his work.
This creates a natural effect. It feels like you could almost walk into the pictures, as if you where standing there next to him.
This helps supports his point about wilderness conservation. He wanted his photos to feel very natural because of his love for the natural world.
Matt Barnes
Analysis
Matt Barnes is a London based photographer whose subjects are usually non-human. He has a series of photographs called Cold Stations. These photos show fuel stations captured at their most deserted in the middle of the night.
Matt Barnes uses hardly any post production to his photographs such as Photoshop or Lightroom. His main influences are street photography and Graffiti.
Matt Barnes is a London based photographer whose subjects are usually non-human. He has a series of photographs called Cold Stations. These photos show fuel stations captured at their most deserted in the middle of the night.
Matt Barnes uses hardly any post production to his photographs such as Photoshop or Lightroom. His main influences are street photography and Graffiti.
Photographers Intensions
Matt Barnes intended the viewer to consider what it was like to work and live in isolated areas of the world.
He did this by taking pictures of petrol stations when they where at there quietest.
He wanted us to feel like we where working there and the sense of loneliness that might come with it.
Wider issues
Matt Barnes is considering why some man made areas continue to look the same even though none is looking.
This is shown by the fact that the petrol stations are still illuminated, even though it feels like nobody has used them for hours.
He wanted to explore the atmosphere around a man made building when nobody is there to see it.
Elements, Materials and Techniques
Matt Barnes used a 35mm film camera and Fuji T64 film because this film is very good for rendering light from tungsten and fluorescent light bulbs.
The T64 film creates a blue effect.
The blue cast makes the photos feel colder and uninviting and more like they are in a unpopulated place.
Matt Barnes intended the viewer to consider what it was like to work and live in isolated areas of the world.
He did this by taking pictures of petrol stations when they where at there quietest.
He wanted us to feel like we where working there and the sense of loneliness that might come with it.
Wider issues
Matt Barnes is considering why some man made areas continue to look the same even though none is looking.
This is shown by the fact that the petrol stations are still illuminated, even though it feels like nobody has used them for hours.
He wanted to explore the atmosphere around a man made building when nobody is there to see it.
Elements, Materials and Techniques
Matt Barnes used a 35mm film camera and Fuji T64 film because this film is very good for rendering light from tungsten and fluorescent light bulbs.
The T64 film creates a blue effect.
The blue cast makes the photos feel colder and uninviting and more like they are in a unpopulated place.
Tokihiro Sato
Analysis
Tokihiro Sato is a Japanese photographer known for his unusual expressions of light and space. He originally a trained sculptor, but decided use photography to communicate his ideas. Sato uses a large format camera and long exposures up to three hours. During the exposure he moves around the composition creating illuminated lines drawn with a torch.
Tokihiro Sato is a Japanese photographer known for his unusual expressions of light and space. He originally a trained sculptor, but decided use photography to communicate his ideas. Sato uses a large format camera and long exposures up to three hours. During the exposure he moves around the composition creating illuminated lines drawn with a torch.
Photographers Intensions
Tokihiro Sato intended to explore ideas about things being temporary.
He did this by photographing points of light that where only there during the exposure.
He wanted us to think about his movements through space within the composition.
Wider Issues
Tokihiro Sato want to express how our lives are temporary and what we leave behind ones we are gone.
This is shown by the light trails in the photos only being visible for the length of the exposure. If you were to visit the location now, there would be no sign of his activity.
Tokihiro Sato explores themes of light, time, space, body and life.
Elements, Materials and Techniques
Tokihiro Sato uses film cameras and vey long exposures during which he moves around the composition painting light trails with a torch.
This creates a star trail effect of where he has been.
This helps supports his point about things being temporary because the light was only there during the exposure.
Tokihiro Sato intended to explore ideas about things being temporary.
He did this by photographing points of light that where only there during the exposure.
He wanted us to think about his movements through space within the composition.
Wider Issues
Tokihiro Sato want to express how our lives are temporary and what we leave behind ones we are gone.
This is shown by the light trails in the photos only being visible for the length of the exposure. If you were to visit the location now, there would be no sign of his activity.
Tokihiro Sato explores themes of light, time, space, body and life.
Elements, Materials and Techniques
Tokihiro Sato uses film cameras and vey long exposures during which he moves around the composition painting light trails with a torch.
This creates a star trail effect of where he has been.
This helps supports his point about things being temporary because the light was only there during the exposure.
My Favourite
Tokihiro Sato is my favourite of the three photographers because his process means he needs to physically provide the important elements of his work by using the light and his own movement. It seems like he had more fun setting up his shots because he has to experiment with his own movement. Eliot Porter's and Mark Barnes's work are more traditional and don't feel like they had as much fun making them.
Tokihiro Sato is my favourite of the three photographers because his process means he needs to physically provide the important elements of his work by using the light and his own movement. It seems like he had more fun setting up his shots because he has to experiment with his own movement. Eliot Porter's and Mark Barnes's work are more traditional and don't feel like they had as much fun making them.
Further Development - Tokihiro Sato
My Response
I made a set of photos in the style of Tokihiro Sato. I took the photos in the hallway of my home during the day. I closed all the doors and blinds to make it dark so I could make long exposures. I borrowed and tripod and a neutral density filter to use with my camera. The neutral density filter is a piece of dark glass that is attached to the front of the lens. It means that I had to use a very long exposure because the filter stops so much light into the camera. Even though I like how the photos look in colour, I used Photoshop to turn my favourite ones into black and white so they are more like Tokihiro Sato's.
I made a set of photos in the style of Tokihiro Sato. I took the photos in the hallway of my home during the day. I closed all the doors and blinds to make it dark so I could make long exposures. I borrowed and tripod and a neutral density filter to use with my camera. The neutral density filter is a piece of dark glass that is attached to the front of the lens. It means that I had to use a very long exposure because the filter stops so much light into the camera. Even though I like how the photos look in colour, I used Photoshop to turn my favourite ones into black and white so they are more like Tokihiro Sato's.
How I Did It
The filter allowed me to set the exposure time to between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. I then moved across the frame while waving the torch. Although I like how the photos look in colour, I used Photoshop to turn my favourite ones into black and white so they are more like Tokihiro Sato's.
What Went Well
I thought my reaction photos worked well because they look similar to Tokihiro Sato's photos., especially after I converted them to black and white. The bicycle headlamp had two settings, on and flashing. Using both settings gave different interesting effects. I also used a neutral density filter for the first time and understood how it can be used to create long exposures.
Even Better If
I think I could have taken the photos at different location other than my home. Tokihiro Sato's photos are made in a range of environments including outdoors. I also could have changed the view of the composition by trying both high and low angles with the tripod. I could have also taken the pictures using different coloured lights and left the final photos in colour.
Top Five
Below are my five best images from the project.
The filter allowed me to set the exposure time to between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. I then moved across the frame while waving the torch. Although I like how the photos look in colour, I used Photoshop to turn my favourite ones into black and white so they are more like Tokihiro Sato's.
What Went Well
I thought my reaction photos worked well because they look similar to Tokihiro Sato's photos., especially after I converted them to black and white. The bicycle headlamp had two settings, on and flashing. Using both settings gave different interesting effects. I also used a neutral density filter for the first time and understood how it can be used to create long exposures.
Even Better If
I think I could have taken the photos at different location other than my home. Tokihiro Sato's photos are made in a range of environments including outdoors. I also could have changed the view of the composition by trying both high and low angles with the tripod. I could have also taken the pictures using different coloured lights and left the final photos in colour.
Top Five
Below are my five best images from the project.