Negotiated study - Test scans with the college's Epson Perfecton V750 Pro

Yesterday I got the college's Epson Perfecton V750 Pro (in the photo department's computer suite) to work (kept on freezing on me before). The scanner takes about 5 to 10 minutes to scan (!), which is in sharp contrast to my scanner, which takes a minute. Here are the scannographs I made, and personally I'm really proud at how some came out.

Used a business card holder (text is visible in places)

Used a business card holder (but flipped over so no text was visible)

Used a business card holder

Used a clear ruler (black vertical lines created by holding lid down briefly)

Used a pair of scissors

Negotiated study - Further research

Here is some of my other research for the self-negotiated project. As you can see, this section of the research focused more on paintings, but did also include two scannographs and a photogram; so quite varied types of art are used as research.

Abstract painting by Karen Day-Vath

Cubist art by Picasso

Photogram by Laszlo Maholy-Nagy

Abstract photoscan by Simon Larbalestier

Scannography by Diana Kaye

Negotiated study - Test scans

Here are some test scans I made when trying out various objects for scanning, and moving them while scanning. Although some of the results are good, I think these images are not abstract enough. Perhaps fogged glass or something similar could be used to disguise what the object is...

Make-up project - final choices: location & studio

So the make-up project finished today, and here are my final few that I narrowed it down to. One location and one studio image had to be chosen for submission.

The theme of the location shoot was 'special effects make-up', and thus a street performer-like motif.

The first models from the location shoots, and the best of the mime ones. The annoying part was the background lights, which detracted from the subjects.

The third model from the location shoot, who was meant to be a street performer; a 'silver lady'. 

Another from the third model, which I think is better framed than the previous one.

The fourth model, who is meant to be a 'corpse bride'. This one was chosen as the final image for the location shoot, as I was satisfied with the lighting and framing the most with this one.

 The studio shoot was focused on 'fashion make-up'. With this one, I had fewer final choices, as I had a clearer idea of which ones I was most satisfied with.

The second model from the studio shoot. I liked the heavy shadow, but the model could have been framed so that the filled more of the frame horizontally. 

The third (of four) model from the studio shoot. It was mostly between this photograph and the next, but the next one was chosen as I liked the composition slightly more.

This is another photograph of the third model from the studio shoot. I like the shadows that formed on the front of the dress, and how here back is in shadow. Therefore, this was chosen as the final image for the studio shoot.

Negotiated study - another idea: 'Abstraction in scannography'

Although the idea is to have a focused topic for the negotiated study, I think I'm making mine too focused. So, I was thinking that something like 'exploring abstraction in scannography' could be an idea. This could cover the more abstract parts of scannography, considering that scanners are meant to record the object accurately.  It could also mean that several techniques that produce similar and/or complementing results.

The kind of abstraction I was thinking of was the kind where the subject is barely (if at all) recognisable. The below images are a few examples. After looking back over them, I'm more intrigued by the ones that are colourful, and especially the ones which produce a 'rainbow of colours'.

According to the artist, this involves using mirrored objects to reflect the scanner's light in different direction

s

Negotiated study - early ideas continued

Concerning my previous idea; the problem is that I'm not sure if my scanner can come close to pulling off that kind of detail, among other aspects of the images.

Another idea stems from these scannographs I made recently with an A4 sheet of black card, and involved moving it back and forth during scanning. It made me think that I could do some kind of abstract image (more complex than this, obviously). The problem with this one is that it seems too easy.

So, to recap:
- The first idea may not be possible with the scanner I have and based on which scanner Diane Kaye uses, an suitable one would go into thousands of pounds.

-  The second idea seems too easy and not challenging enough.

Negotiated study - early ideas

An early idea for this project is to continue my interest in scannography from my micro seminar. The feedback from the class during the deconstruction was good, especially when links were made between the scannographs and photographs. So, I was thinking about using scannography to create still life images that are high in detail and could be a studio image, such as some of  Edward Weston's work.

Below are a scannograph by Diana Kaye which draws influences in composition, colour (or lack thereof), and lighting from Edward Weston's studio still life images, such as the one below of a cabbage leaf.

Diana Kaye scannograph

Edward Weston photograph

2nd shoot for Book Project [Note: originally created 7/10/11]

[NOTE: I'm posting this so you can see the improved images, but this post is out of date to when I originally intended to post it]

Last tuesday I reshot the Book Project as the original ones were to grey/had too many shadows. This time, however, I used a light table with a light shining up from  beneath. The following are some of the results; note how there are very few shadows now, and compare them with the old ones (particularly the same keyring that is in those posts as well as this one).

Although the lighting is better in this shot of this keyring, the composition of the older ones is better. Perhaps I should have printed off a copy of the older ones so that I could replicate the composition.

The composition of this keyring compared with previous versions (which were laid out flat) is much better. Due to the lack of shadows, the stormtrooper appears to be shot from below, while the keychain appears to be shot from above.

In other shots of this keyring the side of the letter cubes is in shadow, due to strong lighting from the right, whereas in this one, lighting is more prominent from below/left.

In previous shots of this keyring were unsatisfactory and did not do the keyring justice. In the latest shoot, there is a reflection of the inside of the gyro bar, and as you know, I like reflections, so this one is one of my favourites now.

I've decided that this will be the cover photo for the photo book because it has the word 'keyring' in the label at the top, and because it shot as it was when purchased (in a display box).

This one does not change much between each of the shoots. All that really changes is the removal of shadows.

Wistow canal [03/08/2011]

I decided to bring my camera on a dog walk alongside the Wistow canal a week and a bit ago and below is one of 10 or so photographs that I transferred to my computer. It demonstrates my love of reflections once again. Also, this photograph was taken the other way up but I took it with the intention to flip it 180 degrees, thus creating this slightly mind-bending photograph that confuses 'up' from 'down'!

Photos from my photo-related trip to Liverpool

As mentioned in the last post, I visited some exhibitions as part of a photo-related trip to Liverpool (and to some stops on the way e.g. a National Trust site or two). Of course, that was not the only thing I did. As I had (obviously) brought my camera, I photographed the new environment between exhibitions and during other attractions I visited e.g. going up Liverpool Cathedral's tower (which was open, with an entrance fee, from 5:30pm - 10:00pm).

Below are a selection of 10 of the photographs I took. I took at least 150 photographs, so obviously I cannot represent all the things I did.

This photograph was taken at one of the National Trust 'stop-off points' on the way to Liverpool. It was taken through a first floor semi-stained glass window on the first floor looking down on a tour guide and their tour group.

This photograph was taken at the same site as the one above and is of a blue glass flower pot. The low contrast used resulted in a watercolour-esqe appearence.

This photograph was taken as I was about to disembark a river ferry I took while in Liverpool. One thing I really like photographing are reflections, particularly in water as you'll see later. I liked this one because of how clear the reflection is.

This is one of my many water reflection photographs (in recent times). I liked this one due to the distortion of the reflection to the left of the frame, while the right remains undisturbed.

This photograph was taken from the top of Liverpool Cathedral of unsuspecting passers-by. I liked the pattern of the pavement, which looks evem better when photographed from above.

This photograph is of the Liverpool Big Wheel (...or 360°... not sure of it's proper name) a.k.a. Liverpool's answer to the Londen Eye. It's located near the Echo arena and my accomadation. Late in the evening, the carriages are lit up, which was great to photograph.

Near the end of the holiday this building was lit up with a cycle of different lurid colours. I didn't see it lit up then, however, I did see it by chance when the light show was being tested a few days before.

On one of the days I was in Liverpool, there was some sort of Latin festival. As part of this, there were paper fish strung up across a nearby waterway.

On the same day as the Latin festival I photographed the reflection of the clock tower. I particularly liked the 'fuzzy' appearence the reflection has due to water movement.

Near the Liverpool Big Wheel (or whatever it's called) there is a restaurant. In some of it's windows are a reflection of the wheel (at the time I passed by).