Photographer Research

Artist Research - Frank Gohlke

Frank Gohlke began photographing as a twenty five year old English Literature student. He is now an American landscape photographer. He created a series based on the aftermath of a 1979 tornado which took place in his home town of Wichita Falls. Frank Gohlke was part of an art term names new topographies. This term was created by William Jenkins in 1975 and it describes a group of American photographers who photographed urban landscapes which had a similar anti aesthetic. Their images were mainly black and white. 

Frank uses a diptych technique to juxtapose the before and after images of the tornado. By doing this he is highlighting the devastation that this natural hazard has caused. Within all of his images he uses the same composition in each of the photos that contrast each other. This creates a direct comparison between the detracted image and the non destructed image. I feel as though he has made all of his photos black and white because this gives the images a dull atmosphere and I believe this could represent the way that the residents of the community are feeling. This could also be direct to the photographer himself because these images were taken in his home town therefore the black and white images could explain his feelings towards the natural disaster. He may feel emotionally connected to the town and this is why he wanted to document what has happened. Also the fact that he has used diptychs could represent his past memories of how peaceful the town was. He may have used this technique to remind people of the beauty within the town. 

This image is of the destruction of a road. In the first image it looks as if the road has been blocked by debris and branches that have been blown in the tornado. In the second image the road is clear and fully accessible. I feel as though the fact that Gohlke photographed the road being blocked off could represent the feeling of not being able to escape this tragic occurrence. Due to the road being blocked this could suggest that people are trapped in a town of devastation with no way out. Also the nature that is beside the road has been completely wiped out. This implies that the natural beauty of the town has been destroyed along with people homes and possessions. 

Within the first image above there is a child playing in the rubble and destructed buildings. This could represent the danger of the town and how this natural disaster means that the residents are no longer safe to live in their own homes. 

Artist Research - Stephen McMennamy

Stephen McMennamy is an art director however he has a strong interest in photography. His on going project, which he refers to as combo photos, has evolved from 2012 to 2017. 

Each of Stephens images consist of two different images put together. All of Stephen McMennamy's photos have a surreal atmosphere to them. He places two images together that fit exactly into each other. I like the way that the images that have been placed next to each other relate in a very subtle way. I feel like I would like to use the idea of putting images together into my own work. I think that I would like to place image next to or near each other but do it in a different ways to Stephen McMennamy to go beyond the artists concepts and bring in my own ideas. 

The image above is a mixture of a photo of a tomato and an image of a boxing glove. I feel as though these images subtly relate to each other in the way that boxing is done as a physical activity to keep fit and eating healthily, for example eating fruits and vegetables, is another way of keeping fit and in shape. I really like the way that the image represents a healthy lifestyle.

This image is of a photo of someone skiing put on top of a photo of a child holding an ice cream cone. This has been done to make it look as if the snow from the image is the ice cream in the cone. I like the way that the images fir seamlessly into each other. I feel as though the fact that there is a child holding the ice cream cone could represent the transition from childhood , eating ice cream, to adult hood, skiing and fulfilling aspirations and dreams.  

This is an image of the a chili placed below an image of the top of a fire extinguisher. I like the way that these image subtly relate to each other. I feel as though the spiciness of the chili is represented through the use of the image of a fire extinguisher. The image of the chili has been taken fairly close up with a blue background, looking like it is in the sky. This adds to the surreal effect of the image because it makes the chili look as if it is abnormally large.  

Artist Research - Harry Kaufman 

Harry Kaufman took a series of images which he called 'prestige and decay in China'. The photos were mostly taken in Shanghai and Chongqing. He wanted to try and urbanize China. 

Due to his photos being taken in another culture around the world they look as if they are slightly surreal, as if they have been photoshopped in some way. The images were all taken of city landscapes where there is juxtaposition of decaying and prestige buildings in very close proximity to each other. I feel as though all of his images imply that people live very selfish lives. This is because each of his images are showing the contrast of the rich versus the poor. The world continues to  live in this close proximity not doing anything to help people that are less fortunate. I like the idea of having juxtaposition of images that are within the same photo rather than using, for example the diptych technique where the images are completely separate. Due to me not having access to different cultures around the world I would like to use different techniques to demonstrate the close proximity of older and newer architecture. 

The image above is of a derelict building in the foreground and then a modern city landscape in the background. This image looks very surreal due to the harsh contrast of the different buildings. I like the way that the architecture in the image is the complete opposite of each other. I feel as though this could represent the fact that people who are less wealthy have to lived so close to people who have a lot of money and there is nothing that they can do about it. This could also imply that the people who are wealthy choose to keep their money rather than sharing it with people who are in need. 

This is an image of people who cannot afford homes and have to live in homes they have built with large sky scrapers in the background. This image has a meaning behind it suggesting that certain people have no option but to try and find a place to live by building their own shelter. The image above really shows just how close the rich and the poor live to each other. 

Artist Research - Daniella Zalcman 

Daniella Zalcman uses layers and opacity within her work to create juxtaposition. She uses two different images and layers them on top of each other to create one image. I like the way that she juxtaposes two different landscapes to create one. She does not always look at the juxtaposition of older and newer buildings however this is what I would like to focus on. 

This is an image of a city landscape with buildings either side which has been overlapped by an image of which looks like a block of flats. I feel as though this is effective because the images have been taken from very different angles. When they are overlapped this allows them both to be seen as two different pictures however because they are both of architecture they compliment each other nicely. I feel as though within this image Daniella Zalcman has used juxtaposition in the composition of the two different images. 

The image above is juxtaposition of a modern landscape and an older building. I like this specific image as this is something I would like to include in my own work. I feel as though the direct overlap of old and new architecture could be representing how much buildings and architecture have changed over the years. The fact that there are people in the image involving newer architecture could be portraying the way in which people use newer building and old architecture has been neglected in some way.  

The image above is a photo of a rough areas juxtaposed with a wealthier area in a city. I really like this idea because I feel as though it shows a direct contrast between the way different people live their lives. I also like the use of red throughout both of the images that have been layered. I feel like this creates a subtle link between the two images and makes them look as if they are one image. The juxtaposition of the compositions is interesting because I feel as though the photographer has used roughly the same composition in each photo to show the direct contrast between the two images. I think that by juxtaposing the rich and the poor portrays a message that people are living their lives without caring about the world around them. By this I mean that people do not take other peoples lives into account and they do not think about people that are less fortunate.   

The juxtaposition in the image above is very sub toe however I think that an image of buildings either side with a road in between is juxtaposed with an image with a skyscraper in the background. I think that in this image the photographer has looked at different areas of the same city. I feel as though this could represent the different cultures within one area of the world. 

Artist Research - Justin Plunkett

Justin Plunkett worked in illustration design and art and he believes this as allowed him to understand the 'rhythm and play of line as they engage with each other'. The series of his work that I will be looking at is part of a study in South African architecture. He uses different materials, like corrugated iron that his often used to make shacks, and turns them into a beautiful architectural structure.

I feel as though Justin Plunkett juxtaposes the surreal structures he creates with the natural environment surrounding it.  

The image above has been created from corrugated iron that South Africans would generally use to make shacks. It is an architectural structure that looks slightly unsteady. I feel as though he is showing the beauty of something so simple. I think that Justin Plunkett is trying to make people see the beauty within other cultures around the world. I like the way that he has placed this structure into the landscape that South Africans would live in because I feel as though this emphasises the fact that he wanted to portray their culture within the image, and how different it can be to people that live in the UK for example. 

The image above is slightly more shaped than the last image that I looked at. By this I mean that this structure looks like a building rather than parts of materials put together. I think that this image is trying to portray that people that lived in South Africa deserve more than they get. This is because they do not have the resources to create a structure like this however they should be able to accomplish this. 

I really like the image above because it looks very surreal even though it is a normal environment. The way that Justin Plunkett has used exposure gives the image a surreal effect. This image looks as though it has been constructed by using a lot of different materials and creating one structure. The fact that there are people within this image juxtaposes peoples real lives with a surreal structure in the background. I like the colours that he has used within this image. The saturated colour of red makes certain parts of the photo stand out which draws your attention to certain parts of the image. I feel as though the colour red could represent the fact that people in South Africa have to deal with danger within their lives.   

The image above is another structure created from many different materials and I particularly like this image because it is zoomed in on the structure itself. I feel as though this is very effective because it highlights the intricate details within the structure that Justin has created. I feel as though the image represents the close proximity in which some people in South Africa have to live. This is very effective because it sends a message portraying the importance of unity around the world.   

Artist Research - Paul Citroen

Paul Citroen was an artist who was born German. He became an art educator and co founder of the New Art Academy in Amsterdam. He has done a lot of work but his best known pieces are the photo-montage Metropolis.

Each of the images below are from the Metropolis series. In each photo in this series Citroen uses different images and puts them together in a collage to create one overall photo. 

This is an image of different buildings being put together to create one image. Citroen's work consists of a collaging technique which he uses to create a slightly surreal image. In this specific photo I like the use of the black and white because I feel as though this emphasises the different tones within the buildings. I think the photographer has used black and white because I think it draws your attention to the finer details within each of the buildings rather than the colours in the image.  

The image above does use different buildings that have been put together however he has also included other elements of a city, for example in the centre he has placed part of a road. For this reason I think that Citroen wanted to create a whole city out of different parts rather than just many buildings. He has also completed this piece with a foreground and background in mind. The further to the top of the image the bigger the building gets. This gives the image a slightly 3D effect making it appear more as a photo rather than a piece of art.