Final

Over time with the advancement of modern technology, photography as an artist media has drastically changed. Once a process of pure chance, luck, skill and patience, photography is now more commonly seen as a digital art – quick and efficient. When thinking about these differences I questioned the integrity of each version of the media, and wanted to blur the boundary between traditional and new.  I shot the images in digital format and 35millimeter film and then developed the film by hand in the darkroom. I experimented with different developing techniques, mainly Solarization – a process that involves re-exposing the image to light in the developing process.  I chose this technique because I felt it closely resembled a digital editing technique that can be done easily in Photoshop by altering tonal levels. However, though it can be done easily in Photoshop, I feel the results I obtained in the darkroom were much more rewarding and organic. I then decided to take these hand-processed images and alter them in ways that would be incredibly difficult in the darkroom by using Photoshop to overlap other images and create variation in transparency. Through this series I deepened my understanding of the strengths and weakness in both digital and wet process photography, and found a pleasing balance between the two distinct variations of the media.

Variations in Solarization technique:

Producer Post 5

I’ve basically finished the project at this point- I’ve printed out all my images on 11×14 sheets and matted them for my final photography assignment as well. (Dan said that would be okay since I’ve put so much work into this series and it was through that class that I decided to combine the digital elements with the darkroom prints).

Here are the final images:

Do you like how they are laid out on the black background or would you prefer me to post them individually? (posting them this way was Julie’s suggestion). Basically my concept for this series is about experimenting with process and blurring the distinctions between digital and wet process photograph. The series progresses through the clarity of the figure as well as the technique involved. The first 2 images are digital compilations, where the figure is very clear and an obvious focus of the image. The 3rd image was shot in film and developed in the darkroom, and I used a less dramatic solarization effect to just get a subtle variation of tone. I overlaid a section of a digital image I took to blend it more with the first 2 images. The fourth image is film and developed in the darkroom with no digital manipulation, I just used a dramatic solarization effect. The fifth is also film and was printed in the darkroom, and I cleaned it up slightly with photoshop but didn’t use any overlays. The sixth is also film with the solarization effect so dramatic that the figure is harder to distinguish, and then I overlaid digital images to obscure it even more and add color. On the seventh I used a similar process as in the 6th but the figure is even more disguised.

Julie looked through my previous posts and saw these images and said she would like to see them included, not necessarily with the whole series but just to exemplify part of the solarization process:

All I really have to do now for the final week is write my artists statement to explain my concept and process and change the layout if you recommend it. I can talk to Dan about getting my prints back before next Wednesday if you’d like to see them in person.

Producer Post 3

I’ve finally got the hang of solarization so the results this week were more satisfying:

I’ve started editing them a bit in photoshop- so I think once I do that I’ll print them out again digitally and pair them with the digital prints that I’ve started editing like this:

What are your thoughts? Should I continue editing the digital ones like that and just refine the darkroom prints? I like the darkroom prints as is- I experimented with combining digital elements with the darkroom images and I’m not sure how I feel about the results:

Producer Post 2

So I’ve started printing on the 11×14 paper and experimenting with Solarization techniques. It is an extremely difficult technique to get to remain consistent, so I’ve had a ton of mess ups and wasted a lot of paper, which is discouraging because it’s so expensive! Here are some examples:

The original print ^

Solarized ^

So as you can see the results are very inconsistent, but I’m getting a little bit better of a feel for it.

I’m developing the negatives from my second shoot today.

I’ve also decided that I might want to try experimenting with the digital images a little bit- sort of make them into photo montages or something. I did these on my own last semester using the all the textures we had to take photographs of at the beginning of the year

Again this is just a vague idea- I may not have time to do manipulate all my digital images and work in the darkroom. I’ll probably be able to at least do a couple, and I feel they would compliment the darkroom prints nicely

Producer Post 1

I feel the same way about my digital images, Tom. I feel that they all turned out way too editorial/magazine/fashiony… Like they are too ‘pretty’. I definitely wanted them to feel grittier and more raw. I think part of the problem might have the been the model (though gorgeous) just didn’t really have the spark I needed to make really raw/natural images. Not that it’s really an excuse, but I feel that’s part of the problem.

I’m planning on shooting another model this Thursday, and I feel she might be better for the look I’m going for.

My main goal is to shoot images in film and work on my darkroom techniques. I want the images to reference Sally Mann, characterized by themes of nature with intense subjects. I wanted the environment to be more of the focus, and how the model is interacting with an element of that environment. I bought 11×14 wet process paper so I can start printing tomorrow morning and experiment with toning/solarization effects.

Here are the contact sheets and two of the images I’ve printed so far on 8×10 paper. I feel the film shots are more successful than the digital ones, but not quite what I’m going for yet.

Preview/Judgement

Here are some images I took today on my digital camera. I shot two rolls of black and white film which I’m hoping to develop tomorrow.

My three questions would be:

1) How could I add to the series to improve my idea?

2)Would experimenting with developing techniques strength or weaken my images?

3)What do you think is ‘missing’ from the series? Would you like to see more or less of the model?

Tentative schedule-

week 1- re-shoot if necessary, second shoot with model, in digital.

week 2- start experimenting with 8×10 prints, figure out technique that works best.

week 3- PRINT

week 4- PRINT

week 5- PRINT and mount

Designer Post 2

I’ve talked to Kaleah Horton, a Senior at CCAD and a model with me for the student fashion show said she would be willing to pose for me.

She isn’t available to shoot now until next Tuesday, since I couldn’t shoot over break due to our lovely snow and cold weather. I will be shooting some other people though as well later this week using my digital camera, just to experiment and see how those turn out. I will post those once i shoot them.

I drew out some thumbnail shots of the images I have in mind and I want to shoot mostly close ups of the hands and feet against dirt/tree bark with the ruffles of the dress for contrast.

(I’ve talked to Dan about using the dark room when I’m ready to print and he says we’ll be able to set it up for me to print larger prints in just fine.)

Designer Post 1

I went to Gahanna Woods today and shot around where I was thinking of shooting my final images. This is what I came up with-

I also selected the clothing I would like my model to wear-

I am still in the process of finding/selecting a model, but I contacted human resources and was given the list of models at the school I can contact, and will consider those options if I can’t find anyone else.

Explorer Post 2

So far for my Thesis Trial Run I would like to photograph models in nature using black and white film. I mainly want to focus on perfecting the dark room printing process – using Sabatier and Toning techniques. I was also researching a process where you can take Ruber Cement and place it where you want on the image before you Tone it, so the paper will not be toned where the cement is laid. After toning you can then peal off the cement, so I can use this technique to create patterns and other effects where I want on the image.

I’ve decided to no longer go with a mixed media process but instead focus on making really high quality, crisp, large scale prints. I still want to try and shoot nudes if weather permitting, but if not just delicate, old fashioned clothing will do. No, I do not want them to look like they are old photos from a department store catalogue, I want them to be more Fine Art, nude photographs with high quality developing technique. I would like to Matte and Frame them like they would be in a gallery if I can afford it.

These photos by Sally Mann are my main inspiration:

Working schedule:

Design Week 1- Pick out clothes for models, Scout location(s)

Design Week 2- Shoot on location, use friend to practice model, Find model willing to pose

Judgement Week

Producer Week 1- Shoot images on location (at LEAST 3 ‘good’ images)

Producer Week 2- Shoot images on location #2 – 3 more images

Producer Week 3- Develop negative, contact sheets, begin printing

Producer Week 4- Print images

Producer Week 5- Print (frame?)

Explorer Post 1

Here is a good site I found with differnt Solarization techniques:

http://www.kameraarkasi.org/fotograf/teknikler/alternatif/solarizasyon.html

I’ve also been thinking that I’m not entirely sure if I want to develop every image using the sabattier effect – I’ll probably only use it when appropriate.

I might also draw on my photographs (or just some of them) to make some mixed media pieces.

I very much like how this artist encorporates her drawing style with her photography:

http://issuu.com/missmiza/docs/missmizabook/1

I researched different gold leafing, or gilding techniques here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5384575_apply-gold-leaf-paper.html

So far, my plan for this project is develop large black and white prints in the darkroom, larger than 8×10, and print some regular and some using the sabattier effect. Then, I will place them onto a larger canvas/board and draw on top or inbetween/around the images using black ink on a gessoed surface, and MAYBE gold leaf certain areas or words that go with the composition.

Like I said in my early post, I think I want to photograph more ‘classic’ looking subjects such as nudes. This might be sort of difficult since I’d have to find someone willing to model for me, but if not I want them to look somewhat old fashioned/timeless. I’m also interested in accentuating nature in my photos by having the people posed in natural surroundings – such as the woods or open fields. Also because of this, It might be kind of difficult to shoot if the weather is not permitting.

I am not too incredibly dedicated to the idea of developing/shooting all of my pictures in film, but I would like to try since we are given so much time for the project. If I can I would like to complete multiple mixed media pieces on large canvas, so I can try doing some digitally and some using film.