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.
