Evaluation

Throughout this project I have created a range of different experimental images, thinking about how I can develop on my ideas and acting on some of them to produce 6 final images. I have produced many successful images, experimenting with different styles of photography and using different methods to create effective outcomes. Also using equipment other than a camera, such as a scanner to produce scanograms, which I feel I used to create two successful images for my final images. Some areas for development would be to try to continuously shoot interesting images and include interesting objects within my images, and also for each different experimental photography, experiment more with it and show different ways of producing different types and styles of images. If I was to do this project again what I would do differently is that I would try to include a bigger range of experiments within my work. I would also try to include different styles of experimental photography such as multiplicity, which is something that I was hoping to include in my project but couldn't fit it in, to change this I would have to make sure I had more time by planning out my time for everything, such as a certain amount of time for research etc. I am happy with and like my final images, I feel I have created a range of successful outcomes, experimenting with different methods. I feel that my most successful images and the ones I like the most are the scanograms and double exposures. I think that this project has encouraged me to think more creatively, because I have had to think differently for each images and make sure I make each image different, which means I have had to think creatively to be able to create different and effective images each time, which had given me the ability to experiment a lot with the different styles of experimental photography. Overall, throughout this project I feel that I have consistently produced a range of successful outcomes and have shown development within my work, which I am happy with, and also happy with my final images.

Final Shoot

Double exposure
To create these two double exposures I went out to shoot a set of pictures to expose together on Photoshop. I shot images of trees with part of the sky in the shoot and also a photograph of another students face. I had taken a few different photographs of each of these subjects, from different angles and perspectives. I then chose two different sets of photographs to create two double exposures with, one portrait and one landscape. I went onto Photoshop and opened the first set of images separately. With the first image, of the students face, I used to Magnetic Lasso Tool to cut out around the head to remove the background, once I had completed this I then dragged the cut out of the head onto the second image of the trees and placed it in a position that I thought looks better, I then started to experiment with the layer blending effects to blend the top laying into the bottom and expose the two images together, once I had experimented with the different effects I then chose one that makes the image look well exposed and gives a good effect, and I also changed the opacity to make sure the layer didn't have too much of a blend. I then repeated the same process with the second set of images. Which created the two images shown on the right. Although these two images are very similar as they are images of the same subjects, I have created two different double exposure images, that are photographed differently. With the first image, the face is blended a lot into the background image, the effect I have used makes it look like their head has been cut off around the shape of the trees, which gives off an interesting effect and shows a good creation of creating a double exposure and blending layers together. Whereas the second image isn't as blended into the background, I have chosen a blending effect that brightens up the image as well as blending it slightly, which I think gives a nice calm effect, it makes the image of the face stand out, but also makes the background visible through this. Overall these two images have turned out successful and I am happy with them to be used as final images. As always developments could be made on these images, such as using different effects on these images, maybe changing the background images slightly using Photoshop.

Scanogram

Making more developments on creating more scanograms, I had put more thought into the what I will scan and how I will position it. I started off by deciding to scan the side of my face, with my hand covering my eyes and face to give the effect that I don't want to be seen or don't want to see, sort of like I am hiding from something, and I also have made sure my watch has been scanned which I think gives a nice detailed effect and fits well into the scan. I like how detailed this scan has been produced, and I am happy with how I have developed this image and put a lot more thought into it to create a better image. There is a few things in this scan I think give a good effects, things such as how my hand has been squashed against the scanner with being underneath my face. I also think that my watch and earrings make it interesting and less boring, and as said previously, the main effect of this image, how I am covering up my face to not see and not be seen. Overall I think that this image is very effective and I have developed and improved very well, by putting more thought into creating this image which creates a successful image.

I then added more objects, I took off my watched and placed it face down on the scanner, scattered around a few sequins and placed the lanyard that I used for my USB across the scanner, whilst also leaning across the scanner once it started to scan, which gives the effect that I am about to eat the sequins, which I think gives something interesting and different to the image. This scan is very detailed and I have shown a range of different object, that are layed out well, within the scan. Although these objects don't really have anything to do with each other, I think they are a good range of different interesting things to show. Overall I am happy with this image and I have used a good range of objects to create an interesting scanogram. I have developed well on creating scanograms and have created a good set of scanogram images.








Emulsion Transfer

I have developed on creating an emulsion transfer by going out and shooting an image specifically to create this emulsion transfer, in which I chose to shoot an image that I thought would be successful. I chose to shoot an image of this tree because I felt that it would look good and by making the image more faded would give it a vintage type of look, which I did by opening this image in Photoshop, editing it black and white but changing down the opacity to bring in a small amount of colour to give it a faded look. I have also experimented more with this by using material instead of paper to transfer the image onto. I used to same process of applying white acrylic on top of the image and placed it onto the material. I then left it to dry over night to give the ink more time to transfer onto the material. I then, using water, rubbed off the layer of paper which then exposed this image, transferred onto the material. Although it was not planned I like how some parts of the image have been tared away through to the background, it makes the image look old. I think I have shot a good image and edited it well to produce a good emulsion transfer. Overall I think that this image is successful and to develop further on this I need to experiment with different styles of images and thinking about maybe removing parts of the image to give different effects.

Zoom burst
For the last image of my final shoot I have chosen to shoot a zoom burst. Using a slow shutter speed of 1/6 and selecting the correct ISO and aperture, I shot an image of a fruit bowl, but zoomed my lens after pressing down the shutter, which creates this effective image. I have also shown images I had taken whilst experimenting with this that had been unsuccessful due to not zooming the lens at the correct time. I like the effect that a zoom burst image gives, although it blurs the image it does it nicely and produces a nice image with a trippy, but brilliant effect. I have photographed a simple object but have still gotten the outcome of an interesting image that overall I am happy with and feel that I have used zoom burst well to create a good outcome.

Shoot 1

Scanogram
First off I created my scanogram images, to do this I used a scanner, on which I placed objects which I felt represent me for the first image. This includes my camera, phone, earphones and keys, because these are objects I used every day. Whilst scanning this I kept the scanner lid open to give the image a dark, black background. I then decided to use my hand and move it down the scanner as it scanned my hand, which gives the effect of having an extremely long hand, which I think gives a good and creepy effect and is an interesting image. I like this technique and think that there can be very successful outcomes, it shows a lot of detail and can create lovely images. Although I think that my idea was good and I set out to create a good image, my  first outcome was unsuccessful, I had put in too much thought about what I will place onto the scanner to create the image and not enough thought into how I will lay out the objects on top of the scanner. But I feel my second outcome was fairly successful. There are many improvements and developments that can be made on both of these images. On developing these images I will put more thought into how I will lay out these object, such as making sure objects are the correct way round whilst being scanned and making sure they are in the frame, and also thinking about which way round I will place the objects to create a better and more clear scan of the objects for them to be more visible as to what they are, and as for the second one I will maybe add more onto the scanner other than my hand and make sure everything is shown on the scan, which I will do whilst developing this image into a final image.














Emulsion transfer

I then moved on to creating an emulsion transfer, I used an image that I have previously shot in the studio and used Photoshop to edit the photo black and white but turned the opacity down to make the image look faded. I printed this image twice, so that I could experiment with what would happen with using yellow paint as well as white. I got two different outcomes. The first outcome I created using white acrylic, which turned out to be a successful image, it looks very faded and has a vintage effect which is what I was aiming for. Whereas my second outcome I which used yellow acrylic to create was unsuccessful, most of the white sections of the image has turned yellow due to the yellow acrylic. I think that this was a good experiment and using yellow acrylic shows that I have tried different ways to create an emulsion transfer. Although this was unsuccessful, I think that using a different color acrylic could work, it would just have to match up with the picture well. Whilst creating these two images I firstly applied a thin layer of acrylic to the images and to the page I was applying the image, then once I had stuck them down left them over night to dry to give time for the acrylic to dry and to transfer the ink. I can move on from this and develop this image by taking a photograph specifically for creating an emulsion transfer, which could be another portrait or a photograph of the outdoors. I will also develop on this idea by transferring onto fabric instead of paper. Overall I think that this was a good experiment and can be developed further.
















Projection photography

Using projection photography I created this image, using an image of the galaxy and projecting it onto another member of the class as they face with their back towards me. I feel that this is a successful yet simple image, it could be developed a lot further and made more exciting. So I went into photoshop, cropped the image to take away the edges of where the background is and shadow underneath and give more focus to the main object in the image. I then started to experiment with adding different adjustment layers such as black and white and HUE/saturation. The outcome of this is the image I have shown underneath the original image, and underneath is the layers that I have shown to show the effects I have used. I used the invert adjustment layer and changed the effect to pin light to give it a completely different look, then used HUE/saturation, HUE to change the colours of the image to what I think looks better and then Saturation to change the dullness of the image, using these photoshop effects I feel makes this image look a lot more interesting and successful and I will continue to use these precesses in creating more projection photography and will move this idea forward by doing things such as creating my own image to project, by using paper and paint to create paint splatters which I think would work well with this type of photography. Or I could also go out and shoot my own image to use for this. To develop this image I need to be more creative and have more thought into creating an image to project and how I will have the model standing, and make it more than just an image projected onto the back of someone and then again using photoshop to make it more interesting and experimental.

Double exposure
To create this double exposure I went out onto the college campus and searched for some interesting things to photograph that would work well as I double exposure. I photographed a graffiti wall and a fruit bush as two separate images. I then went back to the classroom and used photoshop to expose these two images into each other. I placed the image of the fruit bush on top and played around with the effects and the opacity until I had one that I felt worked and was happy with. I like how this image has turned out because of the way they have been exposed to each other and have blended together. To experiment more with this style of photography and move it on I could change the style a little and photograph something different, such as a portrait of someone, blended with something such as the sky. From researching I have found that images using portraits have been successful and are very popular and I enjoy the way the images have turned out. Overall I am happy with this image, I feel it was successful in creating a double exposure and know how I can develop this to create an even better outcome.

Zoom burst
Moving onto zoom burst photography I went out around college and found the fruit bush I had used in the previous shoot for double exposures, as I felt that this would create a good image using zoom burst because of the colors. Whilst taking this image it appeared to be difficult to get the correct outcome, I had to experiment with how to zoom the lens before creating this final outcome. I had created a range of interesting images, some that I felt worked, and some that didn't work due to not having the correct shutter speed or not being quick enough when zooming the lens, I have shown all of the images I have created in a contact sheet to show how my shoot went and it took some experimenting and practicing to get the correct image. I felt that this image I have shown one was the most successful from this shoot. It has a focusing point and has a nice abstract/zoom effect. I enjoy this style of images and like the image I have created and to expand on this style of photography I could experiment with photographing different objects, such as faces and lights using zoom burst and see what type of outcome I get. Overall I am very pleased with this image and will continue to experiment and move on with this style of photography.





Joiners

Starting off my joiners experiment I chose images I have taken previously and went into Photoshop to experiment with creating a set of joiners. With the first two images I started off by using the rectangular marquee tool to create a range of small and large boxes around the image, whilst holding shift to be able to create a range of boxes. Once I was happy that I have a good range of boxes around the image to create a good joiner, I selected the move tool and moved the boxes slightly to a different position. I repeated this process for the first two images. To make the boxes more clear and visible and make it more clear to be a joiner, for the first images I made the box brighter and for the second I made them darker. For a first experiment I feel that these images worked well and gave me the experimenting of creating a joiner, but can be developed and improved on a lot more, in ways such as putting more thought into where the boxes will go and the effect I am going to make to the image to make it stand out more.

After creating my first two joiner images and putting in some more thought how I could make a more creative and effective joiner image I came up with the idea to create this image. In which I have used the same process, but this time instead of creating squares I have created long rectangles right the way across the image, and instead of moving them all together, I have moved the shape each time it has been created, so that each time it gets moved it moves a different distance to neither of them will me lined up, which gives the effect of the object in the images being irregular shapes. I think this image has been successful in creating a joiner and developing it from the last two images. But as always it can be developed and worked in even more and I could do this by using the same method but using an image that would give more of a weird and interesting effect such as using an image of a person. Overall I am happy with this image and feel that I have developed well and know how I can develop on this even more.

I then moved onto a different method of creating a joiner, which I created by going out and taking a photograph of one subject but photographing parts of the subject separately, using different camera angles and different distances. I then went onto Photoshop to put this image together and I did this by selecting 'File' 'Scripts' and then 'Load files into stack', which then brings up a window where I selected all the images that I wanted to include in this joiner and also making sure that the box 'Attempt to automatically align source images' is ticked, which will then make sure that Photoshop will take these images and place them where it thinks they belong. I slightly moved a few of these images to where I would like them to be and feel makes the image look better, I then slightly darkened the image using saturation because I felt it looked better. Overall I think that this images is successful and is a good example for a first experiment but can be developed and improved on by creating even more successful joiner images.



Light painting  

Finishing off my shoot with light painting, I shot these images in the studio. I created an outcome of many different image which I have shown in a contact sheet, some of them did not work due to the settings of the camera which caused the light to show up too full and the first seven shown are incorrect to the frame. Although it took a lot of thinking about creating different images and how I will create those I came out with two images that I think work well and are successful images. The first image is a creation of a trail of light, using the inspiration of Michael Bosanko, selecting the correct camera settings and having the correct lighting conditions, using glow sticks, I created this image by starting off by being stood far back and moving forward with the lights, moving them in different motions as I moved forward, creating this interesting trail of light. I like this image and has worked well and using the inspiration of a photographer who uses light painting. Some areas of improvement for this image are that I need to think more about filling the whole frame of the image and creating more of an outcome, maybe using a different scene such as shooting outdoors rather then inside in a dark studio, which is a way I could move this idea forward.
I then experimented with creating words with light painting. Again shooting the studio with the correct camera settings and this time using the light on my phone I painted the word 'LIGHTS', and also moving glow sticks about with my other hand underneath the word to give some colour into the image. I think this image has worked well and shows good experimentation. A lot of improvement would have to be made on this image, such as improving on light painting words and getting them correct so that there is only one like of each letter and also trying to change the settings or using a duller light to stop the shinning of the light behind the words. Although there is a lot of improvement to be made on this image to take this idea further and move it in, for a first try and experiment I am fairly happy with the outcome of both of these images.

Using a sparkler, I have produced a quick experiment image by using a fairly slow shutter speed to capture this light painting image by making circles with the sparkler in front of the lens. I like the outcome of this image and how the outline of the circles I created by spinning the sparkler around in a circular motion stand out, and also how the sparks coming off it are very clear. From this I know that using a sparkler to create a light painting image would create an interesting and successful outcome. 

Shoot plan

Scanograms
When creating a scanogram I will scan objects that I have or are from my bag that I think represent me and I will leave the scanner lid open which will give me a dark, black background. I will experiment with moving these objects around and placing them where I think will look better. The equipment I will need to create this is a scanner to scan the objects and a computer to scan them onto which will take place inside the classroom. Possible difficulties for this could be that some objects may not be shown as well within the scan if they are not completely flat onto the scanner, or there could also be difficulties with the scanner or computer.

Emulsion transfers
My plan for creating an emulsion transfer is to print out an image in black and white that I have previously taken in the studio to use for this experimental technique. The equipment I will need to create this image will be the image I am using, paper, acrylic and a paint brush, water and a sponge which I will create in an art classroom. Possible difficulties could consist of applying too much or too little acrylic which could cause problems with being the ink transferring correctly, and if I am not careful whilst rubbing off the top layer I could press down too hard and rub too much off, which is not always a problem, but if it is a big chunk in the middle it may cause problems with the finished image and may not look as good as I had hoped.

Projection photography
My plan for projection photography is that I am going to use an image of the galaxy because I think it will give a nice dreamy effect. This shoot will take place in the studio and to carry out this I will need a camera, an image, laptop, projector, a backdrop and a model. Because this will be shot in the studio and the lights will be turned off I will have to consider the aperture to let in more light make sure the image is correctly exposed. Possible difficulties whilst shooting this could be that the it could be difficult to get the image the right size or in the right position or there could also be difficulties with the projector or laptop.

Double exposures
My plan for double exposures is that I am going to take an image of graffiti and nature such as trees or a bush because these are two opposite things so I think that blending them together will give a good example of man made and natural objects. The equipment I will need to create this image will be a camera to shoot the images, and a computer to put the images onto and put together in photoshop, I will shoot the images outside and will then go into the classroom to create the double exposure. As I will be shooting this outside I will consider having a low ISO and a smaller aperture. Difficulties whilst creating this could be difficulties with the computers or photoshop and creating the image.

Zoom burst
My plan for zoom burst is to photograph flowers whilst using the technique of zooming in whilst pressing the shutter. The only equipment I will need for this will be my camera and a flower which I will find around the college outside which is where this shoot will take place. Whilst carrying out this experiment I will consider the shutter speed, to get a better looking image I will try to experiment with having slower shutter speeds as I think it will give it a better effect. Difficulties with this could be that the image being created could be blurred and give the wrong effect.

Light painting

My plan for light painting is to use this image created by the light painting photographer Michael Bosanko as inspiration, I will create an image not the same or copying but using this as inspiration to create my own light painting of an abstract style image.To create this image I will need my camera, a light to paint with which I will use my phone light as and to create different colours I will use material and place it over the light which will then produce the light as a different colour, and I will also experiment with using glow sticks. The technical things I will need to consider is the shutter speed, I will consider having a very slow shutter speed such as 4 or 8 seconds having it on bulb so I have as long as I need to create this image without running out of time.

Research

For this brief I have been asked to create a series of images using experimental photography. Experimental photography is experimenting with different ways to capture photographs, putting them together in different ways and experimenting with styles that are out of your comfort zone and things you have never done before. Examples of experimental photography are techniques such as Double Exposure, Scanograms and Emulsion transfers.


Scanography
Scanography is used to capture images of objects using a flatbed photo scanner. Popular images using scanography are often portraits or parts of the body and collages. Items that can damage the scanner must be placed on a plastic barrier to protect the scanner bed. The optical resolution of a flatbed scanner can exceed 5000 pixels per inch, this is excellent for capturing and producing excellent detailed high resolution images. I think that using a scanner to produce images works well, it gives a different effect from a camera and can include different effects within the image.

I have researched the scanography artist Richard Dawson and have chosen to show this scanography image of a crushed heart sweet as an example. I like this image because of how much detail there is of all the tiny pieces that have scattered when this sweet has been crushed.










Emulsion Transfers
Emulsion transfers are a way of transferring images which gives them a vintage, faded kind of look. To create an emulsion transfer the equipment needed will be the image you want to transfer, the paper the image will be transferred onto, a paint brush and acrylic or emulsion transfer, the acrylic/emulsion transfer takes the ink off the image and pastes it onto the piece of paper. The process of creating an emulsion transfer is to start off by taking the printed out image and applying the acrylic or emulsion transfer on top of the image, then place the image face down onto the paper, make sure it is completely stuck down and leave it to dry, once it is dry rub the back of the image with water or a wet sponge and the image will start to show up onto the piece of paper. I like this style of experimental imaging because of the way it can give different effects depending on the photograph and how sometimes it tears off corners and parts in the image but doesn't make it look like its gone wrong, it makes it look more vintage and I also like that this takes away colour from the image which gives a good effect. But I think using emulsion transfers can have its disadvantages, it can take time to get it right because if there is too much or too little acrylic on the image it won't go as planned and may rub off too much of the image or can give a horrible look and it can also be hard to be sure all of the layer of the paper has been rubbed off correctly.

I have researched the artist Guy Archard and have chosen this emulsion transfer image to show as an example. In this image I like the dark colors and how the whole image is dark and faded, the person in this image almost fades into the background but stands out enough to be able to notice she is here. I also like how parts of the image have torn away which gives it more of a vintage effect.

Projection Photography
Projection photography involves taking a photograph of a person or object against a backdrop or wall with an image projected onto it. For this process the equipment needed will be a laptop to connected to the projector to project the image, a backdrop to project the image onto and a camera to take the photograph. Projected photographs must be as bright and vibrant as possible to show a good result. I like this style of experimental photography because of the different outcomes that can happen whilst using a projector, such as projecting a pattern or city scape onto someones body or projecting an animals face onto a humans face, there is many different things that can be done with this style of experimental.

I have researched and found this projection photography example, taken by Eva Mueller, who used nude models and projected things such as money, floral and many kinds of patterns. Also as shown on the left, fruit projections.

Double exposures
A double exposure is exposing one image into another, which can be done on Photoshop or sometimes on the camera itself. To do this in Photoshop you would take two separate photographs which would then be edited in Photoshop, in which the two images would be placed over the top of each other and would be blended together changing the opacity and if you wanted to give a different effect the effect type can be changed. I like this style of experimental photography because some good effective images can be produced. Some of the images I have found looking at this experiment and blending people into buildings and nature is a popular one which I like because I think the two go well together.

I have found and researched the artist Andre De Freitas who is a photographer who has used double exposures within his work. I have chosen to use this image to show as an example because I like it and to me it is showing that the place shown within the outline of this person face means something to them or that this is where they live and have grown up, I enjoy this image and the effect it gives, the only thing I don't like about it is that there isn't anything else in the other parts of the image.

Joiners

Joiners is creating one image by assembling a set of images and overlapping them. This is done by taking loads of separate images of one object then assembling them together using prints or using Photoshop. To give a different effect whilst using this a good thing to do would be to take the separate images from different distances and tilting the camera so each image is from a different perspective. I like this style of experimental photography because of the way it shows one image with each different section from a different distance or angle. But I think that using joiners takes time and attention to get it right. 

I have researched the artist David Hockney who has used this style of experimental photography within his work. I have chosen this as an example image because I think that it is a good example of using joiners and the image is put together well which I like. I also like how some parts of the image are all from the same perspective but some others are from different distances and angles and some parts of objects are missing but it still looks like a good overall image,

Abstract images

Light painting

Light painting as the name suggests, is painting using lights, which is done by using a slow shutter speed, such as 4 seconds or blub so there isn't a limited time and to make sure you have time to finish, and colouring parts of the subject or scene using handheld lights. I like this style of experimental photography because of the outcomes that are possible, from researching I have looked at a lot of amazing and creative images that have been created using light painting. It is amazing how an image is created by moving a light around in front of an open shutter which then creates a complete image.

I have researched the light painting photographer Micheal Bosanko. I have chosen to show this as an example image because I think it is a good example of light painting. I like this image and I like how he has light painted skeletons in a road with one taking a photograph of the other. I also like the scenery, its not too dark and not too light, it looks like the sun has just gone down which I think helps towards giving this image a good look.

Zoom burst
Zoom burst is involves having a relatively slow shutter speed, which will require a small aperture, and whilst the shutter is open zooming into the object you are photographing. I like this style of photography because it makes the image look trippy and interesting, some of the photographs I have researched makes it look like the image is moving in and out.

I have researched zoom burst photography and found this image. I have chosen to show this image as an example because I think that it is a good use of zoom burst. I like how it has only given a massive effect to the lights, which makes this image look light the lights are beaming out.










Multiplicity
Multiplicity is used to create one single image of one person several times in different positions and poses. To do this it is a lot easier if a tripod is use so then the only thing moving will be the person in the photograph which makes it easier to edit together. Each photograph should be taken separate and will be edited together on Photoshop to place all of these images into one. I like this style of experimental photography because there is a range of different images that can be created using multiplicity, such as one person talking to themselves etc. Showing one person doing more than one thing in one photograph can create a very interesting image.

I have researched into multiplicity and have found this interesting image. I have chosen to show this because I think that it is a good example of multiplicity and has a meaning behind it. To me this image portrays the message of a girl behind stabbed in the back by herself whilst she is watching. I think that this technique is very clever and can have a wide range of outcomes.