JR Chronicles - Saatchi Gallery
JR: PORTRAIT OF A GENERATION 2004 - 2006
These photos are about proving the media does not define people, and how the media displays negative images of people against the government.
These photos were taken in Les Bosquets, a run down area in East Paris. In 2005, two teenagers were electrocuted whilst hiding from the police. This caused a riot to break out that would last three weeks, the authorities could not cope with the riot, and the media blamed the young rioters for what had happened.
JR took these to show that the youth were not the evil rioters that the media claimed, but are just trying to make a change.
Something that they all have in common is the silly poses that they are in, and how they choose to represent what the media doesn't.
Once all the photos were taken he would let the model choose which one they wanted to display, as they would be taking back their identity. After that, JR blew up the photos and stuck them all over buildings.
This work has inspired me by showing how photography can represent what you want. I have responded by taking my JR inspired photo and letting the model choose the one they want.
These photos were taken in Les Bosquets, a run down area in East Paris. In 2005, two teenagers were electrocuted whilst hiding from the police. This caused a riot to break out that would last three weeks, the authorities could not cope with the riot, and the media blamed the young rioters for what had happened.
JR took these to show that the youth were not the evil rioters that the media claimed, but are just trying to make a change.
Something that they all have in common is the silly poses that they are in, and how they choose to represent what the media doesn't.
Once all the photos were taken he would let the model choose which one they wanted to display, as they would be taking back their identity. After that, JR blew up the photos and stuck them all over buildings.
This work has inspired me by showing how photography can represent what you want. I have responded by taking my JR inspired photo and letting the model choose the one they want.
WWW: positioning of the portrait in the environment
EBI: Better compositional techniques
EBI: Better compositional techniques
Gordan Magnin
Gordon Magnin is an LA based photographer who is influenced by his environment of Hollywood and celebrities
Gordon Magnin creates edited portraits of people that changes their appearance. He does this by using geometric shapes to cut out sections of the image and pastes them on other places, or removes them completely. He wanted us to consider looking at celebrities and fashion icons through a different perspective.
Magnin is considering expressionism and representation in this piece of work. This is shown by the contortion of the faces.
Gordon Magnin creates edited portraits of people that changes their appearance. He does this by using geometric shapes to cut out sections of the image and pastes them on other places, or removes them completely. He wanted us to consider looking at celebrities and fashion icons through a different perspective.
Magnin is considering expressionism and representation in this piece of work. This is shown by the contortion of the faces.
In these photos I have mimicked the editing style of Magnin, by contorting the images to create impossible shapes. In addition, it hides the identity of the subject, as their face is obscured.
Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley creates images that take back the years of oppression that white people had imposed. He does this by getting a more ethically diverse person to pose similarly to an old portrait and he then paints a background and then the person. He wanted us to consider a new way of looking at society as there is now significantly more equality then there was.
Kehinde Wiley is considering abstract representation in this piece of work. This is shown by the use of patterns in the background of the portrait. Wiley wanted to make a comment on how how people can be represented in a different way to typical portraits by adding an abstract background.
Kehinde Wiley has used flowers in the background in creating this work. This creates a soft and calming effect. this helps to support Wiley's point about the typically threatening representation of black people, and the flowers contrast it.
Kehinde Wiley is considering abstract representation in this piece of work. This is shown by the use of patterns in the background of the portrait. Wiley wanted to make a comment on how how people can be represented in a different way to typical portraits by adding an abstract background.
Kehinde Wiley has used flowers in the background in creating this work. This creates a soft and calming effect. this helps to support Wiley's point about the typically threatening representation of black people, and the flowers contrast it.
Alma Haser
Alma Haser creates surreal images. She does this by contorting the face. In this photo she wants us to consider the identity of the child and how its been covered up.
Haser is considering society in these images. This is shown by the fact that the child's face is obscured and is displaying her identity as something else. Haser is interested in this issue because she wants us to pay attention to the representation of people through images.
Alma Haser has used plain colours in recreating this work. This creates a ordinary environment that almost looks washed out. This helps to support Hasers point about showing an identity, as not only is the persons identity hidden but so are their 'true colours'.
Haser is considering society in these images. This is shown by the fact that the child's face is obscured and is displaying her identity as something else. Haser is interested in this issue because she wants us to pay attention to the representation of people through images.
Alma Haser has used plain colours in recreating this work. This creates a ordinary environment that almost looks washed out. This helps to support Hasers point about showing an identity, as not only is the persons identity hidden but so are their 'true colours'.
This is my interpretation of Haser's work. This was done by folding a printed portrait and then placing it onto a normal one, obscuring part of the face. This fragments the subjects face, and changes how you look at them. However, the lighting was poor and its hard to see the photo in the background, so next time I would shoot with overhead lighting.
WWW: Obscured face and folded shape
EBI: Less colour, more washed out
EBI: Less colour, more washed out
Fragments of Buildings
Patrick Cornillet
Patrick cornillet is a contemporary artist who paints pictures of buildings that highlight only the architecture. He does this by painting just the concrete or plain parts of the building, and removes everything such as decoration and people. This makes us consider the foundations of buildings we normally see covered up and populated.
In these photos, Patrick uses a black and white colour scheme to make the structures seem empty and barren. The way he frames it so that we can only look at the stripped down building forces us to see what he wants us to as there are not other distractions in the image.
Patrick takes these photos at an angle to the building, allowing us to see depth, so we can see as much of the structure as possible. He also removes all windows there there is no chance of seeing anything that isn't part of the concrete foundations. This makes us consider the way we never look at bare buildings, only the masked and decorated ones. This may link to a theme of representation, as we choose to represent buildings differently to how they are.
In these photos, Patrick uses a black and white colour scheme to make the structures seem empty and barren. The way he frames it so that we can only look at the stripped down building forces us to see what he wants us to as there are not other distractions in the image.
Patrick takes these photos at an angle to the building, allowing us to see depth, so we can see as much of the structure as possible. He also removes all windows there there is no chance of seeing anything that isn't part of the concrete foundations. This makes us consider the way we never look at bare buildings, only the masked and decorated ones. This may link to a theme of representation, as we choose to represent buildings differently to how they are.
These photos are my response to Cornillet's work. I have edited them so that they appear hollow and barren, similar to him. The photos were taken so that you get an idea of depth, as it follows the wall of the building. However, the buildings I have taken photos of have similar structures, so next I would move on to more exotic architecture.
WWW: Editing to make buildings architecture stand out
EBI: Greater range of buildings
EBI: Greater range of buildings
Mauren Brodbeck
Mauren Brodbeck is a Swiss photographer who replaces forgettable buildings with a neon coloured silhouette, making the image more interesting. This turns the ordinary buildings into vividly coloured landmarks.
In these photos, Brodbeck is making us consider how we ignore most buildings. She has done this by making us notice them by colouring them. buildings such as car parks and shops are examples of ones that get passed by without a thought, Brodbeck makes us appreciate their shape.
Brodbeck also makes us consider the structures relationship to their environment. She does this by only colouring in the selected building and by leaving the background untouched. This highlights the contrast between the forgettable buildings the ones that surround them.
In these photos, Brodbeck is making us consider how we ignore most buildings. She has done this by making us notice them by colouring them. buildings such as car parks and shops are examples of ones that get passed by without a thought, Brodbeck makes us appreciate their shape.
Brodbeck also makes us consider the structures relationship to their environment. She does this by only colouring in the selected building and by leaving the background untouched. This highlights the contrast between the forgettable buildings the ones that surround them.
This is my response to Maureen Brodbeck. I have chosen to highlight buildings or structures that stand out, and that work in accordance to the rule of thirds. These were takes with high aperture, so that the depth of field was greater as I wanted the buildings in the distance to the in focus. This works as Brodbeck used the environment to contrast with the subject.
WWW: Positioning within the environment
EBI: Better angles to take photos at
EBI: Better angles to take photos at
Thomas Kellner
Kellner creates surreal images. He does this by taking picture of small parts of a building and ten editing them together in a different way. He wants us to consider how landmarks we know can be looked at in a different, more abstract way.
Kellner is considering representation in these images. This is shown by the alternate way of piecing the image back together. Kellner was interested in this issue because they felt it was meaningful to us now, as representation is always changed through media platforms.
Kellner has used collages in creating these works. This creates an strange and surreal effect. This helps to support Kellner's point about abstract representation and how we can easily alter it.
Kellner is considering representation in these images. This is shown by the alternate way of piecing the image back together. Kellner was interested in this issue because they felt it was meaningful to us now, as representation is always changed through media platforms.
Kellner has used collages in creating these works. This creates an strange and surreal effect. This helps to support Kellner's point about abstract representation and how we can easily alter it.
STRANDS
Nicholas Kennedy Sitton
Sitton is a photographer who edits similarly to Gordon Magnin, but he takes pictures of buildings in stead of faces.
In these photos, Sitton wants us to consider abstract representation. he does this by reshaping buildings into surreal structures that twist in unrealistic ways.
Sitton also doesn't include people in his photos, this could be because they would not look good in the edit or because he wants to retain the surreal features to his pictures.
In these photos, Sitton wants us to consider abstract representation. he does this by reshaping buildings into surreal structures that twist in unrealistic ways.
Sitton also doesn't include people in his photos, this could be because they would not look good in the edit or because he wants to retain the surreal features to his pictures.
In these photos I have edited in the style of Sitton. This is done by highlighting a section with the elliptical tool and then free transforming so that it is rotated. This makes the building look like it is twisted and warped out of shape, giving you the impression that it has come to life. I also colour graded these photos to remove red and yellow, putting an emphasis on the sky and windows. However, because the buildings were made mainly out of concrete, they appear dull. This is why for my next shoot I will take photos of larger and more detailed buildings.
Patrick Cornillet
Cornillet is a photographer who edits buildings so that they leave behind just the bland concrete structures. This forces us to look at these parts of the building which we usually wouldn't.
In these photos, Cornillet has used a contrast between the building and the negative space, to that it stands out for us to see with no other distractions behind it.
Also, Cornillet takes photos of stained and used concrete, so it shows the continuous wear that they experience, which we also usually ignore.
In these photos, Cornillet has used a contrast between the building and the negative space, to that it stands out for us to see with no other distractions behind it.
Also, Cornillet takes photos of stained and used concrete, so it shows the continuous wear that they experience, which we also usually ignore.
Daniel Crooks
Crooks is a time focused photographer who blends photos of the same place but at different times. This makes us consider how much a place can change, and how it contrasts to how it looked.
He wants us to consider change in these photos, he does this by finding a location that undergoes a lot of changes, and then by taking photos at different times, showing what has happened after taking the initial photo.
In these photos, Crooks was thinking of how time passes by without us noticing, as we are used to subtle changes, but theses photos show the dramatic change of scenery that we usually wouldn't notice. This is done by blending together the old and new photos.
He wants us to consider change in these photos, he does this by finding a location that undergoes a lot of changes, and then by taking photos at different times, showing what has happened after taking the initial photo.
In these photos, Crooks was thinking of how time passes by without us noticing, as we are used to subtle changes, but theses photos show the dramatic change of scenery that we usually wouldn't notice. This is done by blending together the old and new photos.
Development 1 - Sitton
These photos are my development to my response of Sitton. I improved these by shooting in a better location, with more interesting architecture. These photos were colour graded to show their base and highlighting colours, making them stand out. The use of large and complex buildings makes it more interesting after the final edit, as their features are more detailed and make a better end product.
Development 2
In these photos is have edited it so that the layers are mixed with other photos. This makes the image more confusing and adds further texture. In addition, I have colour balanced the photos to add atmosphere, similarly to Sitton. The use of colour moves the images further from reality, and the shape of the spliced images further reinforces this.
Development 3
This photo has been edited so that its not only twisted, but also spliced with different sections of the photo, creating a complex pattern, in addition to being colour balanced. The use of the clashing textures creates a chaotic scene in which bits and pieces of buildings are in places they shouldn't be. Next time, I would photos at more contrasting angles in order to make it even more complex.
Final Piece
This project has imitated the style of many photographers, including Sitton and Crooks. Colour grading and colour balancing them has added atmosphere and upping the contrast has exposed more depth. A deep depth of field was used in order to make sure that all of the buildings were clear, as it added more texture to the photo. In addition, the twisted images convey a sense of falling, and everything coming apart. Looking through the developments, I can see that my editing and composition has improved, however, when colour balancing is should aim for more than one colour to be involved in order to add more contrast, also I could aim to add more depth by placing subjects in the foreground