Line
Definition and theory
Horizontal lines give the effect of peace, calmness and harmony
Vertical lines are used to make a great impact of strength and power
Diagonal lines show change in action or movement
Curved lines or S shaped lines imply quiet, calm and sensual feelings
Lines that converge suggest depth, scale and distance, for example, a fence or roadway converges
I have found and selected several images on the internet that relate to the theory above.
Research (of artists and techniques)
Peter Keetman (1916-2005)Peter Keetman was born in 1916 in Germany and grew up in a wealthy family. He was born in his parent's house which was destroyed in 1981. Keetman studied photography for 2 years in the 1930's with which he later took (and passed) an examination for photography in 1948 for the Master Craftsman's Diploma, which. After his studies in the 1930's, he assisted an industrial and portrait photographer, Gertrud Hesse for 1 year. In 1940, Keetman was recruited, served as a solider to the railroad pioneers, and returned to the war in 1944. He returned seriously injured and unable to work, except he did return to his studies which proceeded to his exam in 1948. In 1949, he became a founding member of the fotoform group. The fotoform group was founded by Otto Steinert, a German photographer. The group made photographic experiments and aimed to draw attention to the potential of photographic creativity which had been put to an end by Nazi cultural policy. Fotoform was the preeminent group of avant-garde West German photographers until 1958.
Keetman took inspiration from his father in his photography work, who was a serious amateur photographer. Keetman became known across the world for his work, in particular Reflecting Drops.
This image shows water droplets on glass. It looks like rain, but could be just water so this factor is unclear. The connotations and denotations of this image could be negative as rain is seen as more of a depressing weather.
This image shows poles with overhead cables coming off in different directions. The sky is very cloudy and looks to be fairly dark, which could imply that there might be a storm approaching.
This image is of several Volkswagen cars lined up. The image is taken at an angle and captures the reflection of other cars.
This image looks as though it was taken through a window, with which there appears to be rain on the window. The background looks like a train station with people standing on the platform. The people are shown as silhouettes so it is unclear to make out what they are doing. Similarly to the first image, the connotations and denotations could be seen as negative as there is a lot of rain.
This image is a closeup of a couple of leaves which shows the pattern that they make. This image could be seen as having positive connotations as the leaf looks healthy and fresh.
Keetman took inspiration from his father in his photography work, who was a serious amateur photographer. Keetman became known across the world for his work, in particular Reflecting Drops.
Peter Keetman captured the detail of elements, such as water, by taking very close-up images. He didn't only do this kind of photography work, he took pictures of other things such as a row of Volkswagens. All of Keetman's work was without colour, which has inspired me to photoshop the images I have taken and add a filter to make my own pictures black and white. I also took inspiration from Keetman's work taking images using a variation of lines. It seems that the majority of Keetman's photographs are based on outdoor aspects, which again, inspired me to do the same with my images.
The several images above are images that I found on the internet by searching line photography. I wisely selected these images as they clearly represent lines in different positions. I have tried to provide images that show a variation in types of line such as diagonal and curved. These images inspired me to take my pictures by capturing a variety of lines. I took my pictures locally and used these images to help create similar images.
Below, I have selected several images which I think are the best and fit all criteria:
Images that need improvement
Below, I have selected several images which I think are not to a good standard and would require improvement if taken again in the future:
I captured this image being inspired by Peter Keetman and I wanted to show the detail of the lines, but most of the image looks blurred and the focus wasn't right. To improve this picture, I would focus the camera on the whole of the item, as it is only focused on the back section and not the front. Also, I should have taken it from a different angle so that I could get more of the item in the picture rather than the surface it is on or the background behind it.
I initially liked this picture that I had taken until I looked at it properly and realised I had captured my reflection from the glass. The reason I took this image was because I liked the different types of lines captured. The main of the image is the vertical lines, but then the window is smashed showing other sharp lines. The whole image presents aggressiveness by the way the lines vary forming jagged and simple lines. Everything in the picture would have been great to use as one of my best images if I hadn't managed to capture my reflection as well. To improve this, I could take the picture again but at a different angle to capture the same thing but without myself in it. For example, rather than standing directly in front of the window, I could have stood to the side so that it would reflect something else such as the building behind.
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress
For capturing line, my intention was to find natural lines outdoors such as trees. I intended to do this because of the research I had done for photographer Peter Keetman. I didn't manage to take as many images like this; I generally took pictures of man-made things outdoors. However, very few of Keetman's images were of natural resources, so my failed intention wasn't a major issue regarding how I interpreted my work from Keetman's.
With reference to my best images:
The image of the poles was taken from a height at a slightly tilted down angle. I did this so I could capture the shadow of the poles as well as just the poles so that I could add to the lines in the picture. I took this image because I saw vertical lines and instantly thought back to my definition and theory, stating that vertical lines suggest strength. The poles in my image were holding the roof, which relates to the theory.
I took the picture of the bench, specifically after it had been raining. I did this because it was similar to the kind of thing Peter Keetman did. The bench also looks very similar to the one in my image bank; the same intention was applied but the picture is just taken at a different position and distance (bearing in mind it is a different bench). One of the images I found in my research of Keetman showed a window with rain droplets on it, so I thought the bench with rain droplets looked good to capture as it reminded me of the window image.
The image of the window that I took was inspired by Peter Keetman after I had done my research on him. My initial interpretation of Peter Keetman's work was that he capture line in detail by taking close-up pictures. I saw the line pattern on the window and decided to capture it as it linked to the idea of close-up line in detail and it was my own interpretation of his work. Not only does the pattern form a line, you can make out a skyline above the trees through the patterned window, which forms an s shape horizontally.
The image of the trees shows vertical lines, relating to the theory. I took this picture with Peter Keetman's work in mind. The last image shown in the research section, the leaf, was an image I found on the internet. I selected this image because I liked the idea of line in nature. Peter focuses on the detail in the leaf forming lines, but with my image, I focused on the shape of the trees forming lines. However, lines in the tree's pattern is visible, therefore I would say links to Keetman's leaf image.
AO2 Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops
I used a Fuji Fineopix S9600 to take my images. I didn't use the zoom lens for most images as I wanted to capture detail and would need to physically be up-close. I didn't always stance myself directly in front of what I was capturing; I would often kneel down or stand on surfaces to find the best position to take my pictures. I could have used a tripod to do this as it would be able to be positioned anywhere, so if I were to retake my photos, I would use a tripod.
I decided to improve one of images that were not at best by simply editing it in photoshop to make it black and white:
After doing some research, I found that reflection in an image isn't necessarily bad, it can be interpreted as creative in the sense that it makes it interesting. I came across a German photographer, Vivian Maier, who takes pictures with her reflection or shadow being the main focus for the viewer. Below is an example of her work.
Without the reflection, we would just see the mirror, but the reflection adds interest to the picture as the viewer has more to look at. They can see the mirror, the background it's on, and what the mirror is reflecting, herself holding the camera, the building behind and leaves. With my image, the viewer can see the smashed window, the frame, the bars and the reflection on the window, myself holding the camera and trees behind. I edited it black and white to link the image to the work of Peter Keetman who I was inspiring my work from.
To improve my best selected images, I edited them in Photoshop to make them black and white. I edited all these images so that they would be closer to the style of Peter Keetman's work, which were all black and white due to there being no coloured photography in his time. In photoshop, I would increase or decrease the level of particular colours within the image to improve the quality of black and white. For example, in the tree picture (last image), I slightly decreased the amount of green in the black and white filter so that it would lighten the leaves and I increased the level of red to darken the wood and ensure that the leaves would be lighter than the wood.
I opened one of my images in photoshop and selected "black and white" from the adjustment panel. This automatically changed the colour tones to grey scale. I changed the level of each colour in the image to the following:
I experimented with the different levels of colour for each to find the tone I thought was best. I aimed to make the wood darker than the leaves, so the colours to make the wood darker were red and magenta which I decreased the level of. Additionally, I increased the level of yellow and green to make the leaves brighter. For the other 2 colours, cyan and blue, I changed the level to what I thought was most appropriate for the picture. The only difference it made to the picture was the few parts of the sky background.
This screen capture shows the result of the image's colours after making these edits. The last thing I did was change the darkness of the image as a whole image.
I selected "curves" from the adjustment panel and the point on the line of the grid. I experimented with this by dragging the point to all different places on the grid until I found a shade the darkness that I liked best. I had made the image slightly darker than it was before being black and white as this was my preference. After I finished these edits, my picture was finished. I did this editing for the other 4 of my best images.
AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytic and critical understanding
After researching photographer, Peter Keetman, I was able to go out and about to take my own images. Within the research I had done, I found the information about his life interesting but not helpful towards my own photography work. However, I was able to find many images that Keetman had taken which gave me ideas for my own photography. From finding his images, I was able to understand the perspectives and image focus that he used and I would be able to transfer this understanding of it to my own work. I found that Keetman had taken many images of water droplet, which was physically hard to grasp the same intention when there wasn't much rain in Harlow. However, when it did rain, I was able to capture one image, which I chose as one of my best due it being most like Peter Keetman's work. Overall, the research was helpful to my photography work as I was able to aspire from it and make my own interpretations of it.
AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections on work and progress
My initial intentions for taking my pictures was to show an variation of line types based on the definition and theory I added to this post. I wanted to capture nature of the outdoors because I thought that there would be a better range of line types than what could be found at home. To take my pictures, I had the inspiration from the photographer that I researched, Peter Keetman. My interpretation of the images he took was that he would capture close up images of line and the detail in it. He took many images of water droplets, so I tried to imitate this by taking a similar approach. I took a picture of a bench with water on it to link my own image to the style of Peter Keetman's images. With this interpretation I had in mind, I took images similar to this style. For example, I found a picture by Peter Keetman of a window with rain droplets on, which I took as an inspiration. I captured 2 pictures of windows, not with rain droplets on, but with other details such as patterns formed by lines.
The final edits are displayed below:
Image bank
The several images above are images that I found on the internet by searching line photography. I wisely selected these images as they clearly represent lines in different positions. I have tried to provide images that show a variation in types of line such as diagonal and curved. These images inspired me to take my pictures by capturing a variety of lines. I took my pictures locally and used these images to help create similar images.
Selected images
Contact sheet
Best images
Below, I have selected several images which I think are the best and fit all criteria:
Images that need improvement
Below, I have selected several images which I think are not to a good standard and would require improvement if taken again in the future:
I captured this image being inspired by Peter Keetman and I wanted to show the detail of the lines, but most of the image looks blurred and the focus wasn't right. To improve this picture, I would focus the camera on the whole of the item, as it is only focused on the back section and not the front. Also, I should have taken it from a different angle so that I could get more of the item in the picture rather than the surface it is on or the background behind it.
I initially liked this picture that I had taken until I looked at it properly and realised I had captured my reflection from the glass. The reason I took this image was because I liked the different types of lines captured. The main of the image is the vertical lines, but then the window is smashed showing other sharp lines. The whole image presents aggressiveness by the way the lines vary forming jagged and simple lines. Everything in the picture would have been great to use as one of my best images if I hadn't managed to capture my reflection as well. To improve this, I could take the picture again but at a different angle to capture the same thing but without myself in it. For example, rather than standing directly in front of the window, I could have stood to the side so that it would reflect something else such as the building behind.
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress
For capturing line, my intention was to find natural lines outdoors such as trees. I intended to do this because of the research I had done for photographer Peter Keetman. I didn't manage to take as many images like this; I generally took pictures of man-made things outdoors. However, very few of Keetman's images were of natural resources, so my failed intention wasn't a major issue regarding how I interpreted my work from Keetman's.
With reference to my best images:
The image of the poles was taken from a height at a slightly tilted down angle. I did this so I could capture the shadow of the poles as well as just the poles so that I could add to the lines in the picture. I took this image because I saw vertical lines and instantly thought back to my definition and theory, stating that vertical lines suggest strength. The poles in my image were holding the roof, which relates to the theory.
I took the picture of the bench, specifically after it had been raining. I did this because it was similar to the kind of thing Peter Keetman did. The bench also looks very similar to the one in my image bank; the same intention was applied but the picture is just taken at a different position and distance (bearing in mind it is a different bench). One of the images I found in my research of Keetman showed a window with rain droplets on it, so I thought the bench with rain droplets looked good to capture as it reminded me of the window image.
The image of the window that I took was inspired by Peter Keetman after I had done my research on him. My initial interpretation of Peter Keetman's work was that he capture line in detail by taking close-up pictures. I saw the line pattern on the window and decided to capture it as it linked to the idea of close-up line in detail and it was my own interpretation of his work. Not only does the pattern form a line, you can make out a skyline above the trees through the patterned window, which forms an s shape horizontally.
The image of the trees shows vertical lines, relating to the theory. I took this picture with Peter Keetman's work in mind. The last image shown in the research section, the leaf, was an image I found on the internet. I selected this image because I liked the idea of line in nature. Peter focuses on the detail in the leaf forming lines, but with my image, I focused on the shape of the trees forming lines. However, lines in the tree's pattern is visible, therefore I would say links to Keetman's leaf image.
AO2 Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops
I used a Fuji Fineopix S9600 to take my images. I didn't use the zoom lens for most images as I wanted to capture detail and would need to physically be up-close. I didn't always stance myself directly in front of what I was capturing; I would often kneel down or stand on surfaces to find the best position to take my pictures. I could have used a tripod to do this as it would be able to be positioned anywhere, so if I were to retake my photos, I would use a tripod.
I decided to improve one of images that were not at best by simply editing it in photoshop to make it black and white:
Without the reflection, we would just see the mirror, but the reflection adds interest to the picture as the viewer has more to look at. They can see the mirror, the background it's on, and what the mirror is reflecting, herself holding the camera, the building behind and leaves. With my image, the viewer can see the smashed window, the frame, the bars and the reflection on the window, myself holding the camera and trees behind. I edited it black and white to link the image to the work of Peter Keetman who I was inspiring my work from.
To improve my best selected images, I edited them in Photoshop to make them black and white. I edited all these images so that they would be closer to the style of Peter Keetman's work, which were all black and white due to there being no coloured photography in his time. In photoshop, I would increase or decrease the level of particular colours within the image to improve the quality of black and white. For example, in the tree picture (last image), I slightly decreased the amount of green in the black and white filter so that it would lighten the leaves and I increased the level of red to darken the wood and ensure that the leaves would be lighter than the wood.
I opened one of my images in photoshop and selected "black and white" from the adjustment panel. This automatically changed the colour tones to grey scale. I changed the level of each colour in the image to the following:
I experimented with the different levels of colour for each to find the tone I thought was best. I aimed to make the wood darker than the leaves, so the colours to make the wood darker were red and magenta which I decreased the level of. Additionally, I increased the level of yellow and green to make the leaves brighter. For the other 2 colours, cyan and blue, I changed the level to what I thought was most appropriate for the picture. The only difference it made to the picture was the few parts of the sky background.
This screen capture shows the result of the image's colours after making these edits. The last thing I did was change the darkness of the image as a whole image.
I selected "curves" from the adjustment panel and the point on the line of the grid. I experimented with this by dragging the point to all different places on the grid until I found a shade the darkness that I liked best. I had made the image slightly darker than it was before being black and white as this was my preference. After I finished these edits, my picture was finished. I did this editing for the other 4 of my best images.
AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytic and critical understanding
After researching photographer, Peter Keetman, I was able to go out and about to take my own images. Within the research I had done, I found the information about his life interesting but not helpful towards my own photography work. However, I was able to find many images that Keetman had taken which gave me ideas for my own photography. From finding his images, I was able to understand the perspectives and image focus that he used and I would be able to transfer this understanding of it to my own work. I found that Keetman had taken many images of water droplet, which was physically hard to grasp the same intention when there wasn't much rain in Harlow. However, when it did rain, I was able to capture one image, which I chose as one of my best due it being most like Peter Keetman's work. Overall, the research was helpful to my photography work as I was able to aspire from it and make my own interpretations of it.
AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections on work and progress
My initial intentions for taking my pictures was to show an variation of line types based on the definition and theory I added to this post. I wanted to capture nature of the outdoors because I thought that there would be a better range of line types than what could be found at home. To take my pictures, I had the inspiration from the photographer that I researched, Peter Keetman. My interpretation of the images he took was that he would capture close up images of line and the detail in it. He took many images of water droplets, so I tried to imitate this by taking a similar approach. I took a picture of a bench with water on it to link my own image to the style of Peter Keetman's images. With this interpretation I had in mind, I took images similar to this style. For example, I found a picture by Peter Keetman of a window with rain droplets on, which I took as an inspiration. I captured 2 pictures of windows, not with rain droplets on, but with other details such as patterns formed by lines.
The final edits are displayed below:
please follow the set structure including the AO: definitions for 1 to 4 and within 4 show a connection of your work to research. https://harlowasphotography.blogspot.co.uk
ReplyDeletegood post you will need to edit to remove the spaces and work on the final series selection to create a stronger final series (please discuss with your tutor) finally work on the contrast within the images to create more dramatic images based on line... current grade D+ will be upgraded to a C providing the changes are made above...
ReplyDelete