Gregory Crewdson's suburban settings of an elaborately detailed staged setup of American homes, interiors and neighbourhoods invoke haunting, cinematic photos of alienation and eerie isolation. I've always been interested in Crewdson's work in wanting the reconstruct the world in photographs. His ideas creates a sense of longing with his subjects within the photographs. A deep felt unhappiness that divides them from reality and fantasy adding to what he has created with his dream like world in this controlled environment. His work combines the documentary style of William Eggleston and Walker Evans with a dreamlike quality. Yet unlike those photographers, Crewdson is compelled by how the still image freezes time and sets limitations, once saying he is fascinated with how he can capture a cinematic moment and freeze it for all time. His quietly disturbing American settings, with their immaculately staged lighting and sombre, solitary figures, are often seen as working in conjunction to the works of Edward Hopper.
For my series of images, I wanted to present the emotions of the figure. It is left unintentionally unclear what the subject is experiencing. However this adds to the photographs, giving an underlining mysterious nature to the subjects.
Using Adobe Lightroom and photoshop, I added blue filters subtly into my images whilst retaining most of its colour. The blue gives connotations of a gloomy, lonely and supporting the emotions I intended to present. For many of them I too darkened the frame, reducing the light in the background.
MY RESPONSE 'TERRA FIRMA'
My Series reflects the social deterioration with dealing with mental health and the contemplation of seeking identity as well as the social struggles in a world vastly more interactive and yet ironically where it is increasingly more difficult to find closure. My inspiration comes from the collective works of Carrie Mae Weems, Philip Lorca Dicorcia and Gregory Crewdson, all of which inspired my final series called “Terra Firma.” These photographs were designed cinematically and reflect the works of Dicorcia, stylised like Crewdson’s with the subjects private lives being made exclusive to us like Carrie Mae Weems.
Overall with the outcome I was quite pleased with the results, Although I did not have the same resources as Crewdson did, I feel like it was a worthy achievement for me. The main tool used throughout the project was the manipulation of lighting especially with the last photograph which was particularly one of my favourites. Using the Adobe Light Room I was able to enhance the look of the lighting and tone in all of the images. A few issues I realised was that some of the images had randomised colour marks and that the subjects were looking at the lens in the last image, although I do believe it did not spoil the image itself but merely enhance the reality of it all.
T J Scott is a renowned film and television director and producer. He is also known for his screenwriting and photography. The 30 years that he has spent working in the film industry has earned him various awards for a variety of tv programmes, such as Orphan Black and Gotham. However despite his success in film and television I want to focus more on his photography.
The Idea of looking at silhouette photography came to me after the second workshop that we had on Tuesday 24th January 2017. The workshop was based on creating a well lit scene, with the use of different lighting sources and techniques to add dramatic movie appeal. One of the issues we faced was how to get rid of the casting shadows that spilled into the background of our scenes. These shadows often caused much frustration to me. But through this workshop I realised the usefulness of shadows and how they could be used to create an dramatic and effective portrait in photography.
What I like about his pieces, and something that I try to interpretation in my own work, is his reflections of ourselves. The shadows we cast are symbolising perhaps our desires or an alternative to reality and are suggestive of where we'd rather be or be going. I would suggest this because the layout of his pieces seem to explore a sense of fiction alongside his subjects that are coated in black shadow. The shadow itself could portray his subjects craving to be basked in the light or are maybe a reflection of society and personal motives. Especially as the background is lit with warm colours and tinges of subtle orange to give it a comforting feeling.
Whats I also find interesting about his photography is how they seem to be created to be looking in a specific direction. This implies to me that a lot of his subjects appear to be on the precipice of making a long journey onwards, which could be an emphasis on decision and the choices we make that are setting us on a path within our own lives.
My response
My response was to create a similar piece using the sunrise as my light source. I chose to do the shoot at this particular time at sunrise because the light gave off a faint glow, which applied a luminescent effect to my photographs. The glow rising from the background also creates symbolism of new hopes, fresh start and that a new day coming. What I like about these images in terms of underlying meaning and my exploration of symbolism, is how the night is darker just before the dawn, and that both of these concepts can be seen in the photograph.
The image above was more experimental than the rest of my chosen pieces. I thought that it complimented T J Scotts work, as it shows lines heading towards a direction - the sunrise. Which in turn gives off a warm and pleasant feeling, that a new day is coming over in that direction.
In this image I experimented with shapes and lines. The contrast between the dark night and the brightness of the day can be clearly seen. The glow of the approaching Sunrise runs along the middle line separating the dark and light.
The subject appears to be looking toward the sunrise and also into the sky. Suggesting a state of wonderment, and thoughtful pondering potentially leading to decisions and chasing a path to take.
Bill Viola is an American video artist and has been widely renowned and praised for his artistic manipulation of life, death and rebirth through the use of earthly elements within his short videos. Music has also been an important part of Viola's work.
Viola explores universal human experiences, such as birth, death, and consciousness with influences from both Eastern and Western art. He is also influenced by Zen Buddhism, Islamic Sufism and Christian Mysticism. Voila makes his works personal to the individual by using subjective thoughts and universal ideas. His videos are often immersive and emotionally provoking.
Bill Viola, The Dreamers
Video/sound installation by Bill Viola, The Dreamers 2013.
One of Viola's works is named The Dreamers and can be observed in the video above. The exibition contains a series of seven plasma screens that each depict an individual, whom are of various ages and are submerged in water. Their eyes are closed, and they lie perfectly still as if resting peacefully. The sound of water running over their bodies can be heard. The atmosphere is calm and provokes a sense of peace upon its observers.
Bill Viola, Tristans Ascension
Bill Viola, Tristan's Ascension, 2005.
Another of Viola's works is Tristan's Ascension which depicts what appears to be the raising of a persons soul after death and drawn up in a backwards flowing waterfall, similar to a ray of light taking the soul into heaven. In this piece, the body of a man is lying on a slab in an empty concrete room. The waterfall gradually becomes visible, only a few drops at a time until eventually it is a large feature above the body. Further into the piece and the body begins to glow, similar to how an Angel is depicted. The body begins to lift from the slab, beginning with the arms and torso until eventually the entire body is drawn up into the waterfall and disappears above. The water then begins to slow, and the droplets decrease until only the empty slab remains. The entire sequence is projected onto a tall vertical screen mounted upon the wall. There is also a 4.1 surround sound system incorporated.
Bill Viola, Emergence
Bill Viola, Emergence 2002.
Two women are seen sitting on either side of a marble cistern in a small courtyard and are waiting patiently in silence, occasionally acknowledging each other's presence. Time here is suspended and indeterminate, the purpose and destination of their actions unknown. They are suddenly interrupted by a premonition. The young woman turns suddenly and stares at the cistern. She watches holding an expression of disbelief whilst a young man's head appears, and then his entire body rises up, spilling water over the sides and out onto the base and the courtyard floor. The water catches the other woman's attention, who turns to witness the miraculous event causing her to stand. The younger woman grasps his arm and caresses it as if greeting a lost lover. Once the young man's body is fully above the Cistern, he totters and falls. The older woman catches him, and with the help of the younger woman, they struggle to lower him gently to the ground. The young man is left lifeless, and he is covered by a cloth. the older woman breaks down in tears whilst cradling his head as the younger woman, also emotional, tenderly embraces his body.
The video is mounted into a wall and has the characteristics of a painting. The view is made to feel like a observer, or bystander of a random event. It appears to be inspired by a fresco from the 1400s by Masolino da Panicale, in which the dead Christ is shown at the moment of Resurrection.
I remember seeing this particular piece back in college a while ago and although I appreciated the theme and dramatic layout, I hadn't taken into account the symbolical and the divinely majestic meaning created in this film. It speaks a lot about the religious background and the retelling of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Yet it speaks further than just the biblical story. In an interview Viola expressed his attempts of recreating the tale of Tristan and Isolde. A love between the two built to be so strong. (spoilers) Tristan dies at the end. What could be seen in this is perhaps the next stage of evolution in love that is rehearsed in the biblical sense. In essence rebirth. Love was a particular theme Viola kept running throughout his pieces but I believe none more so than this piece, Emergence.
Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away
A very well received film I could use to relate Viola's work is an all time childhood favourite of mine that so happened to be on television a few days back. Although this story is more about a coming of age tale. It tells its story through the stages of change and reflects the willingness to change and learn for the betterment of loved ones. I'd compare this to Viola's exploration of universal human experiences and his technique of involving the observing in the work. The location used in this film, the bath house, is visited by the spirits of the world which in my own opinion could relate to Viola's exploration of religion as a way to express a message. The main character herself is reborn within the movie, a theme also explored by Viola.
Mechanical Dolls, Vogue Italia, 2011. Photography by Tim Walker.
Self- portrait with eighty cakes, 2008. Photography by Tim Walker.
Tim Walker has bedazzled the fashion industry with his dramatically staged subjects. His extravagant styles and furor pieces has undoubtedly set his style and engaged audiences for decades. Although, his first major vogue exhibition was in 2008. Furthermore, Walker has begun to express his modus operandi in moving film. Walker's book 'Storytellers.', published by Thames and Hudson in 2012 is my area of concentrate for my portraits.
Story Teller published in 2012 by Thames & Hudson.
I intend to stage scenes, capturing the spirit of the moment, whist retaining that extravagant feel Tim Walker furnishes his photos with. I personally enjoy his images because they engage my mind and allow me to contemplate - in depth - the messages conveyed. What fiercely draws me to his portraits is the subject itself, such as the photograph below of Helena Bonham Carter. In particular, this photograph gives me a mental picture of lost hope and dreams unfulfilled.
Helena Bonham Carter, Photography by Tim Walker for vogue, 2010.
Furthermore, the image featuring Helena Bonham Carter is layered with objects that could possibly relate to the psyche of herself, and being encased in webs is presumably a measurement of time. There is more that can be said about this singular image, however its relation to my work coexists with my idea of who we are.
My response to Tim Walkers portraits was to create an elaborate scene. Through a few layout and prop decisions I finally came to the conclusion of creating an Alice in Wonderland styled tea party, using my little sister as the primary subject. I decorated the layout with objects from around my home. The idea behind this was to reflect the desires we have and implicate them into a mental picture that would create an image much like a dream to the individual.
The entire photoshoot took around two hours to complete.
The photoshoot produced over two hundred individual photographs. My favourite five were numbered down to just three, of which I chose to display here, simply because I felt that they are the most dramatic and I am personally very fond of. Once I had concluded down to my final three I used post editing software Adobe Light Room to give them an over opposed look and also heightened the colours using saturation techniques and strengthened the detail by raising the clarity.
Besides Tim Walkers affection for his estranged and exaggerated photography. His creativity extends into short films where he has directed, produced and occasionally written them. What intrigues me about his work with film is that he often uses a super 8 camera, which offers a more personal touch to the short films. Additionally I have found that mixing the old with the new can create a very indie or vintage feeling. A selection of Tim Walkers films have been collected below. I highly recommend taking a look at his photographs or short films on his website to discover more about him !
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