Photographers Research

PHOTOGRAPHERS RESEARCH

Ben Heine is an photographer that recently, in 2010 decided to merge drawing and photography. His project was title 'Pencil vs Camera' usually focuses on the themes of love and friendship through his study of architecture, animals and portraiture. Although it's not always obvious his work includes elements of poetry and story telling.

This first image is interesting from an artistic point of view, with his use of one point perspective. This really draws the viewer in to the image - into the message that the artist is trying to convey. In my own interpretation I believe that the artist is trying to say that if you speak your mind you will feel all the better for it. I have come to this conclusion through the use of the mouth being the exit out of the corridor and then the light from the sun that shine at the end of the corridor.

This image catches the eye immediately with the use if a physical element, fire. The message from this image, I think is quite clear, it is showing the fear of the drawing as it burns way to ash and becomes nothing. This is the same fear felt by people when they are faced by death. I like how the drawing of the image leaves its boundaries of being just a drawing and you feel as if you can connect with the face and recognise it as being human rather than just a drawing. 

I like how Heine's work varies from image to image in terms of message and style but how the composition remains the same. The drawing in all of these images is centre piece, to illustrate that it is no different to what's going on around it, as if it is almost 'hidden in plain sight'. I believe the message Heine is trying to portray through this image is an interpretation of the phrase 'The sky's the limit'. The positioning of the ladders up into the clouds and the man stood at the foot of one of these ladders looking up, it's almost poetic. 

I will look include this element of drawing into my work as a way of experimenting and developing my work using different mediums. One idea I have had of adapting his style would be to recreate album covers, framing my models within a CD case and then drawing in the key elements of the album art that I cannot recreate in real life. Similarly I could develop his idea further by physically placing these drawing onto the landscape. 

PHOTOGRAPHERS INFLUENCE 2

'Sleeveface photography' as much as it is not a specific photographer was a movement on the internet which quickly became mainstream due to its popularity. The basis of practise is to have one or more persons cover their face or body parts with a record sleeve. 

What I live with this photo as with the movement as a whole is the personal, significant attachment to the record. Just from the way the model is dressed it can connote their is a deep personal connection to the record, they have dressed up to try and replicate it perfectly and because of the record sleeve covering the face you cannot know the age or identity of the person behind it. Perhaps this was their first bought record? I love the way the image gets you asking questions.

 With this image its not so much the personal attachment to this image that attracts me too it, but its scruffiness. The way the child is still holding a toy in his hand it gives the model personality without giving them identity. It shows how accessible people all ages are to music no matter the decade it was produced. Maybe this record was used due to the physical similarities with the child's hair being the same curly messy perm that Prince's is within the record sleeve.

What I like about this one is similar to what I enjoyed about the first. The dedication to try and make it as accurate as possible, as well as then using a prop to give it more character. It shows a collective ownership, how all of these people are part of the same movement stripped of their individual identity but still managing to give their images this feel of an individuality. 

This image is so unpolished the CD case is out of focus the hand can draw the attention. However, this maybe where people criticise the image I believe it makes it quite interesting. I cannot help but be drawn to the man's uncanny resemblance of George Michael. It's been shot in the bathroom which again gives it individuality that's his bathroom not someone else. It's more than just the recreation its the smaller things going on around the image that make it.

                                                         PHOTOGRAPHERS INFLUENCE 3

David Hockney is well involved in the art world popularly known for being a painter Hockney is also credited for being a draftsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer. with a considerable contribution to pop in the 60s he is now considered one of the most influence 20th century British artists. 

 I am going to be looking at David Hockney's joiners photography for inspiration. I like the way that not only has the image been broken up into smaller individual frames but that these frames do not line up equally it makes you want to analyse each one closely. From this image one might infer that the man is an intellect the rows of book shelves that cover the top left of the image. One could also infer that from the way the frames increase the size of the room that he is wealthy, which could also be indicated by his clothes and posture.

In the previous image there was more of a focus on distorting the surroundings where as in this image there is more of a focus on the man. This could infer that in his old age he's is frail and less independent. The way his face is broken up into 6 frames could infer that he is suffering from a form of mental illness and his mental health is fragmented. The mans facial expression seems to change from left to right which helps aid this thought.