Line
Definition & Theory
- A line represents a "path" between two points.
- A line can be straight, curved, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or zigzag.
- Lines imply motion and suggest direction or orientation.
- A line can also be implied and is then filled in by the mind when several points are positioned geometrically within a frame.
The direction and orientation of a line can also imply certain feelings
- Horizontal lines imply tranquillity, peace and harmony
- Vertical lines imply power and strength.
- Diagonal lines imply movement, action and change.
- Curved lines or S shaped lines imply quiet, calm and sensual feelings.
- Lines that converge imply depth, scale and distance - a fence or roadway converges into the distance provides the illusion that a flat two-dimensional image has three-dimensional depth.
Research (of artists and techniques)
WALKER EVANS
Walker Evans was an American photojournalist best known for his work documenting the effects of the Great Depression in 1930s. He rejected the aestheticised view of artistic photography, claiming his goal as a photographer was to make his pictures "literate, authoritative, transcendent".
The images where photographed in a black and white film, creating a gritty feel as if they are to send a bold statement about 1930s America.
(Connotations) Because of the way that the photographs have been taken the signs stand out with them implying some form of motion, whether it be in the traditional sense with the moving car or in an less conventional way with the damaged sign being pulled out of the truck, connoting that America is moving through troubled times. Paying particular attention to the 'Borrough's work shoes', the image itself is rather simple, a stand alone pair of empty boots but the connotations of this image are rather deep. In the 1930s there was not a lot for everyday working American's to hold onto, that was until Hoover introduced this idea of the 'American Dream' that was achievable for anyone. This is displayed within this image as the boots represent the average working American and the fact that they are empty symbolises the false hope that they were given. There was in fact no achievable 'American Dream', that is all it ever was a dream and so the boots show that they were not working towards anything.
The following images were added as part of my visual research.
The collection of photos seen above represent the type of images I believe I could capture in Much Hadham and Harlow, with a variety of horizontal, vertical and converging lines. With regards to the research that I have done and the images I gathered for further study, I will adopt a similar approach and shoot in black and white.
AO:1.
AO:1.
Selected Images
Contact sheet(s)
The images marked in red were either out of focus slightly or the lighting distorted the image. For future reference I will need to consider how I am positioning myself during a shoot but also how natural light can affect the quality of my image.
My Best images (target 4 - 6)
I selected the following as my best images
Images that require improvement.
(AT LEAST 2 IMAGES)
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I selected these images as the set up and composition of the image isn't right. The first image is blurry and a little bit out of focus, the second and third photos both have problems with exposure. The second would need the slightest of re framing as there is some wasted space but that can be edited out in photo shop but it would also need to be re-shot as there is an over exposure of light in the image. The the third image is framed as I would like but there is an over exposure of light in the background so you cannot see the image of focus.
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
I I had the idea of recording line in both urban and natural landscape, so I used the two locations of Much Hadham and Harlow. Harlow had strong links to my artists research of Walker Evans as his images illustrated urban America. Much Hadham has looser links with it being more based around my everyday locations. This links to Walker Evans as he photographed the lives of everyday Americans and the images I had taken were based off my everyday locations.
The images that I have taken came with mixed results, there were a few images I wanted to capture but I couldn't quite get the framing and/or the exposure right, which was reflected in the results. However, there were other images that I believe came out really well and would only need slight tweaking.
With more reference to my best images they were all framed shot to establish different lines.
My first image was taken from underneath the bench and therefore, was at a canted or dutch angle. The effect that this has is it distorts the image and requires the viewer to really think about what they are seeing and really creates abstract art which links to Walker Evans. The angle that have taken the image means that there are an array of vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines that converge to also create this abstract image.
The second image of the pillar in the street is inspired by Walker Evans as it is on a street that is usually bustling with people and Walker Evans images portrayed urban America. I framed it so that the pillar created my vertical line with the diagonal line of the shadow protruding from it. This was a relatively easy shot to take as the framing was not difficult and it did not require me to squeeze into a small space to take it unlike the previous one.
With more reference to my best images they were all framed shot to establish different lines.
My first image was taken from underneath the bench and therefore, was at a canted or dutch angle. The effect that this has is it distorts the image and requires the viewer to really think about what they are seeing and really creates abstract art which links to Walker Evans. The angle that have taken the image means that there are an array of vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines that converge to also create this abstract image.
The second image of the pillar in the street is inspired by Walker Evans as it is on a street that is usually bustling with people and Walker Evans images portrayed urban America. I framed it so that the pillar created my vertical line with the diagonal line of the shadow protruding from it. This was a relatively easy shot to take as the framing was not difficult and it did not require me to squeeze into a small space to take it unlike the previous one.
The bike wheel image was inspired by Walker Evan's image of the moving car, the wheel of the bike, like the car are more conventional images of movement. The image in itself is relatively simple but it did cause me some inconvenience. When I initially tried to shoot the photo, I only wanted a smaller portion of the wheel so I used the cameras zoom to frame what I wanted. However, I could not seem to get the camera in focus and had to compromise for a bigger section of the wheel. This is something I will be able crop down in photoshop.
The street sign on the road is a direct inspiration from Walker Evans. The image again was taken at a canted angle. This was done withe purposes of the vertical shadow cutting across the sign to have to directions crossing over. The only trouble with getting this shot was timing, as I had to get the shot before more cars came along.
The street sign on the road is a direct inspiration from Walker Evans. The image again was taken at a canted angle. This was done withe purposes of the vertical shadow cutting across the sign to have to directions crossing over. The only trouble with getting this shot was timing, as I had to get the shot before more cars came along.
AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
I used a Fuji Fineopix S9600 for all of the shots taken, The images were photographed at an aperture range of between f4 and f8. (YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THESES VALUES MEAN AT THE START OF THE COURSE, WE WILL HELP YOU TO SHOW HOW THESE VALUES AFFECT HOW THE FINAL PICTURE LOOKS). I tried to increase the aperture setting to as high as possible so that I might have sharper pictures with a wider depth of field, however in some cases this was not possible as the lighting was poor. In one instance shot of the stair well the lighting was poor so I had to increase the ISO setting to 800 and balance the camera on a railing. The shutter speed used to get this shot was about 1/15 s with an f stop of 7.1. The image is slightly out of focus.
If I were to reshoot this image again I would use a tripod to hold the camera steady and use a camera with a higher f stop range so that I could make sure the image was sharper....
To improve my images I decided to import some of them into photoshop and use this to create black and white images with more contrast. Not much was done to the image however, it resulted in big positive changes. Reducing the brightness meant the shadows became darker and increasing the contrast meant that the lines stood out, creating a darker gritty image like the ones created by Walker Evans.
The screen shots also show how I have used curves to create a further contrast in the image. By using the slider I have created a hard contrast to make the lines bolder.
I used a Fuji Fineopix S9600 for all of the shots taken, The images were photographed at an aperture range of between f4 and f8. (YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THESES VALUES MEAN AT THE START OF THE COURSE, WE WILL HELP YOU TO SHOW HOW THESE VALUES AFFECT HOW THE FINAL PICTURE LOOKS). I tried to increase the aperture setting to as high as possible so that I might have sharper pictures with a wider depth of field, however in some cases this was not possible as the lighting was poor. In one instance shot of the stair well the lighting was poor so I had to increase the ISO setting to 800 and balance the camera on a railing. The shutter speed used to get this shot was about 1/15 s with an f stop of 7.1. The image is slightly out of focus.
If I were to reshoot this image again I would use a tripod to hold the camera steady and use a camera with a higher f stop range so that I could make sure the image was sharper....
To improve my images I decided to import some of them into photoshop and use this to create black and white images with more contrast. Not much was done to the image however, it resulted in big positive changes. Reducing the brightness meant the shadows became darker and increasing the contrast meant that the lines stood out, creating a darker gritty image like the ones created by Walker Evans.
The screen shots also show how I have used curves to create a further contrast in the image. By using the slider I have created a hard contrast to make the lines bolder.
AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
The artist research was helpful as it got me looking at buildings, objects and signs differently, I went out looking for the vertical, horizontal, diagonal lines, experimenting with how I could frame them to look somewhat abstract. This was aided by my research of Walker Evans as geometric shapes were a big part of his work.
AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
I believe that I have produced a strong series of images inspired by my research of line, composition and the images of Walker Evans... The final images produced were refined by developing the contrast and converting them into black and white images..
I believe that I have produced a strong series of images inspired by my research of line, composition and the images of Walker Evans... The final images produced were refined by developing the contrast and converting them into black and white images..
good progress but later than expected ij terms of a submission, although you transferred to the course late, you now need to show evidence that you are willing to get the overdue tasks completed otherwise this will effect your final grade. The work you have presented shows a good level of development and refinement. There is a need for you to take this further by photographing more images based on the formal element line.. additionally you will need to show evidence of the editing of more than just two images.. under AO4:
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