Collage.

In this workshop we looked at collaging existing images together to make our own unique images.

I looked at a number of different approaches to collaging and came up with these collages.

I could use this approach for my final piece creating collages like this:

These were originally images of the Tokyo subway, and I added colour and pattern to create these collages. I could do this with images of Leeds train station, or could even take pictures of bus stations etc.

This collage is also to do with the city:

It was originally a picture of a man holding a keyring with a woman inside, I cut this out and replaced it with an image of buildings. This to me speaks ‘the city is what you make it’. I could do this with images of buildings around Leeds.

Screen-printing Workshop Continued.

After preparing the image for screen-printing, I then prepared a screen from the positives, and some ink to print with.

Here is the screen with the negatives on, this is made by putting the positive print outs onto a screen and then exposing it to UV light. The yellow area indicates where the ink will pass through the screen.

Ink mixed using acrylic paint and a mixing agent which makes the paint right for screen-printing.

The next step was to print the layers onto paper. To do this you secure the screen in a metal frame therefore you can lift it up and down. Next you add the ink to the screen and push it over the stencil using a squeegee, this will print the image on to acetate so you can line it up with the piece of paper. Once you have done this place the paper onto the vacuum and lift off the acetate, turn on the switch so the vacuum will suck the paper preventing it from moving. Again push the ink over the stencil and it will print onto the paper.

I used two different types of paper, the more yellowy paper produced a better print.

Some of the prints didn’t work out too well as the alignment of the second layer wasn’t correct.

I could use this approach for my final piece, using an image/s I have taken around Leeds, as this is an image from Liverpool, to get across the subject I look into.

Digital Film Workshop.

In this workshop we looked at documentaries, how they have developed over time and also the different types of documentary.

John Grierson came up with the first principles of documentary within the British Documentary Movement. Some of the documentaries Grierson did are Drifters (1929), Industrial Britain (1933) and Night Mail (1936).

Sound didn’t generally come out in films until late 1930s early 40s. Singing in the Rain was the first film in cinema with sound, it was shown in cinema early 40s. Documentaries/films before this would lay sound over the top.

Styles of Documentary:

• Newsreel
• Realist
• Propagandist
• Cinema Verite and Direct Cinema
• Compilation
• Current
• Interactive

Documentary vs News:

News is stories of the moment, informative, tells you what’s happening there and then. Whereas a documentary uses narrative and conveys emotion. It is in more depth, retrospective and more comprehensive.

Task:

We had to create a 90 second documentary in small groups interviewing people around the city on a subject of our choice.

Making a documentary –

1. Concept
2. Research
3. Story Boarding
4. Interview/Vox Pop questions
5. Shooting
6. Editing
7. Output and Upload

Screen-printing Workshop.

In this workshop we looked at preparing an image ready for screen-printing.

First of all we had to make a line drawing of something we saw during the Liverpool Trip, I chose to do a line drawing from the Tate sign.

There has to be no shading in the drawing and the lines not too thin.

The next step is to scan the drawing into the computer so it can be edited on Photoshop.

The first step on Photoshop is to adjust the levels, this essentially makes the white whiter to get rid of any grey marks or smudges. You can also make the image black and white and use the paint brush tool to get rid of any marks the level adjustment didn’t.

Next is to add colour to the image on a separate layer to indicate where colour will be added when it comes to printing the image.

After adding the colour to a different layer, it has to be changed to black, you can do this using the fill option. It is black to make it easier getting the print ready, however you can chose which ever colour to print with.

Once the 2 layers are correct you then print out the layers separately ready to use in the printing process.

Portraiture and Series.

In this workshop we learned about portrait photography and series photography.

Portraiture.

In this section we looked at taking pictures of people in the streets of Leeds. We looked at Annie Leibovitz who took pictures of bands and away from the action photography before moving on to fashion photography. We also looked at Zun Lee who is a New York street photographer. He takes classic photographs of interesting people and interesting compositions. We also looked at Irving Penn and Dianne Arbus.

Here are some of the portrait images I took of people around Leeds, I have also edited them on Photoshop to see how they’d look black and white.

Series.

In this section we looked at taking a series of images that have ‘rules’ and that all have something in common. We looked at Keith Arnatt who did a series of owners and their dogs. He also did an open ended series, which is a series that has an end. We also looked at Bernd and Hilla.

This series of images show derelict places at the back of houses. I also used a high shutter speed, low aperture and a low exposure to make the images look darker and spooky.

This exercise tied in well with the brief of this module, as it is ‘exploring the city’. I could use these approaches to create a final piece, however the images would revolve around a subject I choose, to do with the city.

Liverpool Trip.

On our trip to Liverpool we visited the Tate, Open Eye Gallery and the Museum of Liverpool. Here are some of the images.

Jackson Pollock Exhibition – Tate.

This images are from the Jackson Pollock exhibition, I felt heavily inspired by this exhibition and really loved Pollock’s work. It reminded me of the work John Squire did for the Stone Roses album covers. I think this style is something I would like to explore.

Tate.

These are a few other pieces from the Tate by various artists I found inspiring including Peter Blake and Richard Hamilton who I have admired for some time.

Artists I have found looking round the Tate and wish to research further:

• Glenn Ligon
• Jean-Michael Basquiat
• Sonja Luekaic
• Louise Bourgeois

Rankin Exhibition.

This exhibition was put on by Rankin to raise money for a children’s hospital charity. It starred work of several artists all linked to The North.

Other pictures from Liverpool.

Photography Induction.

During this workshop we learned about manually taking pictures on a digital camera. To do this the shutter speed, aperture and ISO.

Shutter speed is how fast the camera takes the photo therefore determining how much light is let in. A slow shutter speed lets in more light than a fast shutter speed, this is set using the control dial on the top of the camera.

Aperture also determines how much light is let in, it works in a similar way to the human eye. A wide aperture lets in more light than a narrow aperture, this is set by holding the Av button and then using the control dial.

ISO also controls light, a slow ISO lets in less light than a fast ISO, a slow ISO also produces a finer image.

Our task was to take still pictures, manually controlling the shutter speed and aperture, and to also take a photo using a slow shutter speed to create a blurred movement effect.

These are 2 of the best still images, at first I found it difficult to get the settings right and the first few pictures were just white. Once I got used to the settings I was more confident in taking photos.

This image was taken using a slow shutter speed capturing the movement of the bus, however it is a little over exposed. This is because the shutter speed is slow and the aperture doesn’t match.

Summer Op-Doc.

Over the summer we were required to create a 2 minute film telling the tutors a little about ourselves. I decided to do my Op-Doc on my passion for music – I got my sister to document me through daily life and put some of the clips together.

An issue with my Op-Doc is the fact I filmed it portrait instead of landscape, so when it is shown it doesn’t fill the full screen, this is something I will change next time I make a film using my phone.

Statement of Intent.

In my first year of Visual Communication I intend to build on existing skills whilst endeavouring in new ones. In this process I would like to find an area I find most interesting and would like to specialise in. I hope to find an array of new artists that inspire me and look at artists with different styles. During my first year I want to embark on the opportunities that are put forward and gain wider experience.

 Strengths:

• I am passionate and rarely lose interest in things giving me the potential to really dive in to a subject/project.
• Having a list of artists built up who I find inspirational, and who also use different techniques. I can use these artists as a gateway to more inspirational practitioners.
• Having done a foundation course in Visual Communication meaning I already have skills in a range of subjects, in my first year these will be built on and I will gain even more experience.

To make the most of these strengths I need to attend all possible workshops and continue practising in areas that interest me. I need to take up opportunities that are available to be able to make the most of the course and to gain more research for projects. I also need to attend all visiting lecturers to add to my list of inspiring artists and learn new contemporary information.

Weaknesses:

• I find it hard to word things in a professional manner.
• Punctuality has been a problem in the past, something I have worked on but could still improve.
• Failing to realise when I need tutorials or help from a tutor.

I need to keep these weaknesses in mind and do everything in my favour to improve and overcome them.

The areas of practice I am most interested in are photography and graphic design. Having done these on my foundation course I am pretty comfortable within these areas. I focused on photography more than graphic design, particularly fashion photography; therefore I would say I am more skilled in this area.