Urban/Photography research

To start off my photography research, i decided to go online and fine photographers that were based around social documentary photography, urban photography or fashion as all these wide ranges of photography are assembled for my project. I started off by researching a social documentary photographer that i had already researched before in my earlier education, who was Martin Parr. Martin Parr is a British documentary photographer, photojournalist and photo-book collector. He is known for his photographic projects that take an intimate, satirical and anthropological look at aspects of modern day life, in particular documenting the social classes. Parr's use of intense and over exposed colours and his ability to raise the snapshot to the level of art has led him to being recognized as the master chronicle of every day. From my own point of view martin parr always seems to have a certain view point or critique not necessarily positive. It gives me the impression that people are unsure if to laugh or cry about society.    
I then moved onto a photographer named Humphrey Spender that was also a social documentary photographer but sadly died aged 94. His work captures positive moments of everyday life but all in black and white also this was in the 50's/60's. Rather than just sticking to the usual documentary photography shots of people he also took shots of streets and vehicles. His work reflects every day life and the natural images rather than staging his work.
 
Saving best for last my most favourite photographer of them all was a fashion photographer named Mario Testino. Testino is a photographer well known for fashion photography, portrait photography, creative director and a philanthropy. His work has featured internationally in magazines such as Vogue magazine, V magazine, Vanity fair and GQ which is a great achievement for a fashion photographer. As i, myself is wanting to go into the fashion side of photography i thought that Testino was a great inspiration and a extremely good role model to look upto considering his achievements as a photographer. He has worked with people such as, lady Gaga, Blake lively, Taylor swift, Also the legends Mick jagger, Keith Richards and David Bowie.

Transcribing Caro part A

The “Transcribing Caro Project” was my first experience exploring a 3D project also interpreting photography and a variety of elements joined together to complete the whole task. Firstly, I found a collection of primary research and images from my visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Hepworth gallery valuable because it allowed me to explore my manual settings on the camera further, and a range of media such as completing set tasks by my photography instructor and tasks set by my art tutor which was to complete one folding sketchbook of some of caro's sculptures. Throughout all of the visit to the galleries I took both close up and none close up's, also landscape photographs when exploring the wide range of sculptures. Collecting these images helped me a lot because I got an idea of what materials and shapes Anthony Caro goes for.  I also found it valuable collecting primary research from the gallery visits because it allowed me to compare Caro’s work in both galleries with the folding sketchbooks and images. It also helped me think of idea's how photographer's that use 3D elements could relate to Caro's work.  The trip was valuable because it allowed me to collect a variety of primary images that were placed into my sketchbook for further development and to explore ways in which I could put both Caro and photography together using 3D throughout the project. Also I found the visit important in particular as collecting primary images allowed me to look at 3D from a different perspective and different angles when taking images that was useful for the project and a photography point of view of 3D.  I found looking at the sculptures in real life better than secondary images because you can explore the piece at different angles and perspectives. Also it’s better to look at sculptures in real life because you can look closely into how the elements were placed together and this was shown in Caro’s work with strong fixtures and fittings. From my perspective it is  better to look at sculptures up close than secondary images because you can see how it fits in the environment and how other people in the gallery interact with the pieces. I think that my primary research turned out extremely well because I collected a variety of information, but mainly photographs as the photographs were to come in handy further into the project and also one completed folding sketchbooks from both galleries. I strongly believe my photographs showed turned out extremely well capture the landscape of the sculptures and looking at different angles and view points. Also I think they turned out well specifically for my primary research because I collected a variety of photographs not just photos of one specific sculpture. It allowed me to explored different types of caro's work, and the use of different materials, how the sculptures were placed and the scale of sculptures. I captured sculptures in ways that they looked abstract at different angles and perspectives and the photographs ended up looking great and it allowed me to use them for my sketchbooks also for my mini sculptures to just get a little inspiration to what my own sculpture would look like. Also including the one completed primary folding sketchbook turned out better then expected as it gave me observations or Caro's work from my own drawings with a variety of different drawing techniques.

The secondary research I collected was effective because I explored a variety of photographers that interact with 3D in different ways, these photographers were; Mark Bulford, Lisa Kokin, Lee Kirby and Joseph Parra. These photographers interpreted 3D in many ways such as projecting imagery, picture sculptures and so on. For my secondary research I collected a variety of images from each of the photographers and created sketchbook pages for each individual photographer and tried to copy some of there work and create it as how I imagined it would have been done or how to create it in a sketch book. Considering it myself as a photographer I thought it was quite challenging combining both 3D and photography as one. But, seeing some of the work of the other photographers I had chosen gave me a lot of inspiration.

Throughout the development stages for my 3D sculpture and 3D photographic sculpture task I have developed, organised and planned what I was going to design and create. Whilst thinking of a design that could also interpret photography was quite hard but whilst looking at photographers I had a inspiration from a photographer called isidro blasco who's work looked like this. I then thought on about applying some of caro's sculptures to my sculpture itself and making an elution that different parts of the sculptures were coming forward and some behind. 

Isidro Blasco  work

Ceramics workshop

On Thursday the 26th I had my last workshop ahead of me which was Ceramics, with my instructor Debra. Last time in ceramics I had a great experience doing it and my last project went extremely well because of it. To start off with we had to gather all research and sketches and dicuss our idea's with our instructor and see what ways, techniques and materials could be used to create part oof our sculpture.Once I had created them it will help me when I was exploring the other workshops for the sculpture. The task allowed me to solve problems in 3D and apply practical skills to create the final product. Also, the project allowed me to apply my knowledge that I have learnt in the previous ceramics task and use the methods within the workshop to create my final piece.
For this project in ceramics I did not really have much planned as it wasn't a main aspect of my design but I did have a small individual role for this workshop. My idea was to create something similar to one of Caro's paper sculptures but obviously with clay, clay that is able to go really thin that it actually looks like paper. The clay I used was paper clay which explains why I used it as I wanted it to look as realistic as I could get it. Firstly when messing around with any clay you have to need it and get rid of any air bubbles, because if  there is any air buddle's it is more likely to explore to the kiln. After rolling out the clay I measured 20cm x 20cm for both pieces of clay and once finished I ripped the clay off all around he edges of the clay as I did not want my paper to be just flat I put some round objects underneath the clay so that one it had been fired it would come out curved. Now all my ceramics work is finished I am now just waiting for in to be fire in the kiln.

3D workshop

On the 19th of November I continued to plan and create a photographic 3D sculpture for my project "transcribing caro". The 3D workshop was the main workshop session my sculpture was interpreted for as I needed to create practically all the elements that will connect all the pieces for my photographic 3D sculpture. I was inspired by an sculptor/photographer that goes by the name Isidro Blasco that involves 3D by overlapping images and making you see an image from either a different point of view or angle. By interpreting both Blasco and Caro I came up with the idea that I would use the same idea as Blasco by using my own images of Caro's sculptures from my visit to the Yorkshire sculpture park and overlapping them and creating a 3D photographic version of my interpretation if Caro was to be involved with photography and saw it from an abstract way. By creating a photographic sculpture it allowed me to see things from a different point of view and different ways 3D can be created through not only using ceramics, wood work and other hands on projects but photography also.

To start the session we were given a recap from the woodwork introduction about the health and safety that was required in the workshop. When we entered the workshop we were told to place our bags and coats out of the room away safely to avoid tripping hazards and causing serious injuries as well as if  left in the room it may get damage. We were also reminded of certain safety logo's on the machines which were "wear safety goggles", "wear eye protection" and "tie long hair up". The rules and safety signs must be followed at all times throughout the workshop to avoid any injuries. After recapping health and safety rules from the induction, we followed them all way through the workshop to avoid risk of injury.

Firstly, to start the workshop I collected all my secondary research of Blasco's work, images of Anthony Caro's sculptures and rough sketches. After gathering all my research and sketches I discussed to the workshop leader Brad my idea and what I wanted to create. When discussing to the workshop instructor Brad about my design I faced a problem which was think of how to create this idea I wanted to create and by looking at Blasco work try and get some sense of how he made it so secure and made it look so out there and 3D like. When coming to a decision I decided to start working on the base and how it was all going to stand so I made 5 stands that were stable and secure to, when making them I did not have exact measurements to what height was going to be but when me and the workshop leader were working at it we went along as it went and marked down the measurements to what I sticked to. After collecting measurements I measure upwards where the piece of wood for the base would go and once measured I took all the pieces of wood to the drill and drilled where it was marked. After applying the holes I drilled screws into the main piece's of wood going through to the other so that it was able to stand. I then got on to make a flat surface to place a background natured image onto.                

Print making and photography workshops

On the 12th of November I had my first workshops for the Caro project, being print making and photography we had half a day to finish both workshops. Before any of the workshops took place every individual instructor explain what the process was going to be and for print making it was that we were going to be making an etching print either to make prints go on to out final sculpture or to make the etching part of the 3D sculpture. The process on this day was that print making would take place in the morning and photography in the afternoon. Moving on, when starting early hours on print making I was oblivious on an idea to do but not only that thinking of something that would relate to Caro's work and being the photographer I am I decided to be adventurous and use one of my photographic images I had taken of one of Caro's sculpture from my visit to the Yorkshire sculpture park. After choosing one individual image I was instructed by Jess, our print making instructor, to start collecting and sketching ideas, from the image I had chosen I started to collect basics shapes on the sculpture and drawing them as they were but more simple and adding detail and with a sheet full of different etching techniques, I was able to see what each tool looked like on a etching plate without testing it myself and making any mistakes. Firstly, I got my etching plate and removed the plastic base and began etching the basic shapes of the "Caro" sculpture I decided to use. I then tested it with black ink and a white play piece of card to discover that the print wasn't showing up as good as I wanted it too. So, I used a wood carving tool as my instructor "jess" recommended it as she has a lot of experience. By using the tool I was able to make deeper and thicker lining and which the etching tool I used before I was able to use it for great detail. It then enable me to then make more finer and better prints.

Once we had finished our etching plates and final prints we then moved on to the photography workshop At the start of workshop I was curious to explore photography because  was unsure how it was going to relate to the “Transcribing Caro” project. When arriving at the workshop we were given a task which was to create an interesting, abstract paper sculpture that was going be taken into the studio to be used to create different shadows and lighting techniques. The piece we created had to be 3D like Anthony Caros work and incorporate an abstract layout in the design. Before we started to create our designs we were given instructions about health and safety which we followed throughout the task. As we were using craft knives, we had to be careful when using them as they can be very dangerous. We also had to use a cutting mat on the surface to avoid damaging surfaces. Also we had to use a metal ruler to avoid cutting yourself when cutting straight lines as craft knives can easily move out of place. These instructions were followed throughout the workshop. For my designs I did an archway in simple terms kind of like a rainbow, one with swirls twisted stuck to the top of the card and last one I cut out shapes like fire and stood them up. I decided on all of these designs as I knew what would make a shadow and what wouldn't as I have experience when it comes to the studio and lighting.

3D Workshop Introduction

On Thursday 5th November, I was introduced to elements of the 3D workshop. It was important to complete this workshop as it taught me the safety and knowledge of each machine that I can use throughout the course. Also it was important to complete the workshop as I wouldn't be able to complete the brief for the "transcribing Caro" project, another reason being that if we didn’t do the workshop we wouldn’t have been able to go on any of the machines as we hadn’t properly been taught how to use them or shown the proper safety risks. For me I found the workshop quite easy and simple as in my past school I had already been taught and shown how to use the equipment in a lesson called “product design” that I had studied for gcse. However, the experience was useful as it did remind me of my previous knowledge that I had forgotten in 3D. I was curious to explore the workshop as it allowed me to think about the materials I could use in the "transcribing Caro" project.  Throughout the workshop we followed the PPE (personal protection equipment) for the health and safety instructions.  Firstly, all loose clothing had to be removed for instance baggy jumpers, cardigans, scarfs  ect, long hair had to be tied back to avoid the risk of being injured and getting trapped in machines by these elements. Bags were not allowed to be placed in the workshop room because they are a tripping hazard which is dangerous for a room surrounded by machines. Also, lanyards must be removed for our own safety as they can get caught in machines which make it very dangerous when working. Finally, strong shoes must be worn in the workshop to avoid the risk of injury to your feet if any equipment fell on the floor. All of these instructions were followed throughout the 3D workshop introduction.

Yorkshire Sculpture park and Hepworth Gallery

On Wednesday the 21st October myself and the rest of my course visited the Yorkshire Sculpture park and the Hepworth gallery to explore the exhibitions and works of Anthony caro, a sculpture which helped us get ideas and inspiration for our upcoming project. By exploring both galleries it allowed us to visually collect information and inspiration to start our new project which is based on 3D and the sculpture himself, Caro's work.

At the start on the day we went to the Yorkshire sculpture park to explore Anthony Caro exhibition at the longside gallery. Once we arrived at the gallery, i was separated from the rest of the group to be given an individual task relating to my photography which was to focus on one of caro's sculptures and capture different images focusing on both the landscape and close up's of sculpture itself. The task itself was set by one of my new instructors who goes by the name even who gave me great feedback and really liked my work. Not only did i do the task i focused on all the landscape capturing different sculptures and the autumn season looking its finest. After my individual given, my course instructor Claire Harrison set everyone a task which involved sketch books we made at the start of the day, in them we were told to do quick sketches to create a range of drawings that observed different pieces of work in the gallery. All the drawings explored different uses of materials but as i noticed caro used a lot of metals in his work which to me made me think that he was a very handy man and likes DIY. It also allowed us to explore different displays of work viewed at different inside and outside of the gallery at different angles and perspectives which made the pieces of work more interesting and detailed. The display of the work also change my view point of the work itself as i believed it helped to figure out the meaning behind the pieces of art  and how it related to the kind of materials being used. Some of the pieces of work made me think of industry as a lot of metal was used and were displayed on plinths which helped me to view the pieces better as they related to construction sites and factories. However, some pieces of work were displayed on the floor which made me view them from an organic point of view as the materials used were natural. Throughout the trip i constantly took lots of photographs capturing the pieces of work from different angles and points for instance low points, high points, close ups and landscape focus. With these photographs i will be able to use them for my sketchbook and work more into them from my perspective. I felt i was able to capture more from the sculpture park as i had natural light and the quality on the sculptures from outside were amazing.Also the Gallery focused on more of Caro's smaller pieces of work and were great for close up's.

Overall, I found Caro's work in both galleries both unique and interesting as all the pieces of art expressed individual inequality, also similarities with the types of materials that were used. I found some of the pieces work mysterious in a way as they had hidden details you couldn't just look at it from one angle there were loads of angles needed to been seen with different details and interests of the piece of art. The trip gave me some inspiration for my upcoming project with evidence being shown throughout my sketch book.