Simon Strong

Simon Strong:

Website: www.simonstrong.com

 

 

 

"He creates works, exploring the audiences opinion into what is plausible, questioning responses to our reaction to the ‘reality’ of our surroundings.

He reconstructs memories and plays with dreams, questioning our interpretation of events influenced by previous experiences … this is an interesting perception of how we can manipulate the images we take,….. as artists we can distort what we see and create a slightly twisted or distorted version

Strong’s photographs have a long gestation period,  his work is labour intensive, and his ideas go through a lengthy editing process. Strong takes thousands of photographs and rejects numerous half-formed images before producing only a few fully resolved artworks each year." http://www.artcollector.net.au/SimonStrongTellingTaleshttp://www.artcollector.net.au/SimonStrongTellingTales

 

This is an important point for any artist to consider, rarely do you find the perfect shot in your first attempt, it may take hours and a lot of patience to get that perfect angle, light, etc and then it may take hours working with technology to further manipulate the image to get the ideal/perfect shot.

His work is weird and wacky, but that's what I like about it, it makes you think and creates and emotional response from the viewer through use of set-up, texture, colour and digital manipulation.

Alexia Sinclair

Alexia Sinclair:

• fine art photographer
• digital artist
• could also add she is a commercial artist
• she mentioned fashion and the influence of fashion
• polished images
• smooth skin and hair (beautiful elements)
• digital illustrating/drawing hair and other elements
• promotional tools, example: Pope Alexander 6^th – The Borgia Pope (below): saturation, vibrance, highlights, balance, light
• using layers in photoshop
• stylistically commercial photgraphs, contacted by New Zeland Opera – commissioned by them and the Ballet and frequent flyer as well,
• fashion editorials
• ** was she picked for the exhibition because of her work or did she do the work because of the exhibition

www.alexiasinclair.com

'Previsualise your lighting'

Elizabeth I – “The Virgin Queen” (1533-1603) from ‘The Royal Twelve’

Pope Alexander VI – The Borgia Pope (1431 –1503)

Source Video: Alexia Sinclair: Pope Alexander VI – The Borgia Pope on Vimeo (the making of)

"Using a visual narrative to seduce her audience with each photographic feast, Sinclair’s art is dark and seductive, baroque and symbolic. Her multilayered photographs subtly present contemporary notions of fashion and beauty through innovative digital media, whilst restoring antique notions of classicism, elegance and luxury." (https://alexiasinclair.com/about)

 

The Regal Twelve “Marie Antoinette”

Looking Glass, 2010

I really like Alexia Sinclair's work! It may be 'over' edited using Photoshop and not look 'realistic' but I think her work is very impressive because there is a lot of thought gone into the manipulation and editing, as well as the set up. I love the strong colours and contrasts she uses in her works.
 

LECTURE 05/04/2013

LECTURE NOTES 5/4/2013

Samstag Museum: Phantasia
Phantasia – Part I

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id25-BCV-6U&feature=player_embedded

Alexia Sinclair:

• Regel 12: 3 years worth
• 1 woman show
• hundreds of layers
• push and polish

Simon Strong:

• dreams
• childhood memories
• water
• urban  spaces we live in
• sinister and dark things happen on our doorstep

Mark Kimber:

• recreate a painting from his childhood
• travel and escape
• reconstruct life
• 15-20 images
• range of sketches, images and photos arranged together in photoshop

CJ's Thoughts:

• taking hours, days, months, etc. in production
• what this means for them (the artists)
• polished imagery “photoshoped”

"Phantasia" on ABC Sunday Arts, 7 June 2009

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3V9BXdYGkk&feature=player_embedded

S Aussie Photographers

• distrort photography
• Alexia Sinclair’s quote “push pixels as far as they could go"
• Want people to think they're real
• Literal doesn’t satisfy photgraphers
• Angus McBean – surrrealists, Francis Day
• Magdelna Bores recreates Angus McBean – fairytale images in dometic setting
• They refer back to paiting, storytelling, and fiction

'Vapourtrout' by Mark Kimber:

• Panoramic
• Vary in coulour and quality
• Visual yearning for pre-history
• Combine and build fictional landscapes

Andrew:

• Idea that civilization was emerging
• 1990’s – top hats etcs

Robin McFaralan – Art Critic

• said he was "glad he made the artwork, because it was memorable"

Alexia Sinclair:

• respect of women from bygone age
• such as: Marie Antoinette

Simon Strong:

• Childhood
• Anxieties – fear of leaking water and bugs inside
• Conscious and inconsciousmemorable

“Fine Art Photographer” – hiarachy in art

• The idea photography: documented visual art

Bill Henson – controversy

• admiration/inspiration for technical detail

Loretta Lux

Lorretta Lux:

http://www.lorettalux.de

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2006/nov/23/photography



Some of Her Works:

"Self Portrait" 

“Isabel” 2 (2009)

“At the Window” (2004)

“The Drummer” (2004)

“The Red Ball” 2 (2000)

Video Source: http://player.vimeo.com/video/38856344

Further Research:

Loretta Lux is known for her surreal portraits of young children, they have a sense of haunting behind them, the eyes have a look of a secret that you are never going to know, or understand

The works of Loretta Lux are, "…eerily still, minimal and vaguely disturbing photograph…." (http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/culturalelsewhere/1898/loretta-lux-photographer-a-disturbing-childhood/)

Lux often uses a prop (a ball, drum fruit bowl) to bring in a touch of reality to her portraits.

“The sheen of blemish-free perfection, unusual period costume, and the subject's unwavering gaze - combined with the small scale of the works which invite close inspection - draw in observers but at the same time keep them emotionally distant” (http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/culturalelsewhere/1898/loretta-lux-photographer-a-disturbing-childhood/)

This links to pushing the edge of controversy to get your work out there and get the viewer interested, even if it is not for the right reasons… at least you are known for something!

I am not sure if this sentiment is a good point to push, I would not like my work out there for the wrong reasons, I would like to be known and my work to be known for a positive factor. Can we push technology and manipulation of an image, scene, or feature too far?

I do appreciate her work in a technical sense, the crispness of the portraits and the colours are strong, vibrant and wall composed. 

Petrina Hicks

Petrina Hicks:

http://www.petrinahicks.com/

http://www.stillsgallery.com.au/artists/hicks/index.php?obj_id=main


Some of her works:

Fragrant Memory, 2010

Kylie, 2003

Lambswool, 2008

Bloodsweet, 2011

The Crysalis, 2011

Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuxwZxIGXxc&feature=player_embedded



Her work is often unconventional, focusing on young people and highlighting  ”the tension between beauty and imperfection”  (http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/318.2006/)



I think her work is quirky and intersting but also distrubing! I feel a sense of uneasiness when I look at her work. Although I do think that the quality of her photographs as exceptional and they have quirky qualities about them which I find intriguing. Such as the blood dripping off the hand of the girl holding the rose. The thickness and colour is not the kind of thing you would see from normal blood.

Jessica Ramsey

Bio: 

"I am a 20 year old photographer from Adelaide, Australia. I specialize in fashion, portrait and commercial photography but am also available to be booked for events and weddings. While studying an Advanced Diploma in Commercial Photography, I have fallen into my own unique photographic style which can be described as quirky and contemporary. My creativity and love for photography has continued to grow and grow from a young age. I love my work, and enjoy every new project that comes my way." (http://jessicaramseyphotography.4ormat.com/about-me)


Her collection: Alice in Wonderland


I really like this image! In particular the composition and the colours used. I think the set up in the forest with the quirky aspects of wonderland is what's great about this photograph.



Although this image is similar to the one above, the subject matter has moved and changed. I think this image is successful in emphasising the quirky characteristics of the Alice in Wonderland characters, except Alice is sort of sitting on a chair whereas in the movie she is up and moving, going about being curious and wondering around.



Again this imge is similar to the first image! I still like the composition of this image but again Alice is not charicterized as her curious self. The use of the massive clock is clever and a very cool, quirky aspect, which I would like to use in my photographs. 



This image represents the Mad Hatters Tea Party to me. With the tea cups and tea pots, and the use of the clock, which the Mad Hatter and March Hare break. The composition is centred but I like the editing and the colours used on this image (which is also used on the others).



I love this photograph. In particular the use of macro photography, which is what I would like to use in my images. The use of Alice in the baackground and her holding the potion bottle shows a good relationship to her character. I just really like the colours, textures and composition, because of the subtle quirky mood they create. 




This image works well in the collection with the background similar to the first couple of images. The dress-up of the subject matter emphasises the character of the Mad Hatter physically. I would like my images to do this as well, but in a simple way without dressing up as the Mad Hatter myself! Althogh I did go to a 'Twilight BBQ' Dress-up event we had at school in year 12 as the Mad Hatter.




This image has a strong connection to the macro photograph of the drink me bottle. I like the subject matter and the dress up of the girl as Alice (similar to the Mad Hatter). The use again of the same background as the first set of images creates a good connection between the images. I could use this in my own photographs by using a similar texture in each background. I don't think this image is repetitive of the other image because it shows further context and the personality of the character.




I LOVE this photograph! The focus on the stopwatch which is such an important feature in the movie with the White Rabbit, running around saying "I'm late". The use of the stopwatch over the teacups, again relates to the Mad Hatters Tea Party when the Mad Hatter and the March Hare smash, break and cover the stopwatch in tea, sugar, honey and everything they could find. I love the focus, detail, composition and colours of this image. The quirkiness of the tilted teacups and vintage colours empahsises the Alice in Wonderland theme.



Source: Click Here

Film Vs. Digital

"Film: TMAX 400 @ ISO1600
Processed in HC110 (1:31)
Pentax 6x7, 105/f2.4

Digital: Nikon D700, ISO2000
50/1.4D (shot at f2.2)

I don't usually carry my digital camera to shoots with me but on this occasion I decided to do a comparison. For this shot I was right up against a wall (small room) so I couldn't match the subject size in the frame. These are both uncropped images. The digital is the embedded JPG from the RAW file, untouched."
Information and Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bossnas/8215554090/in/photostream/


I think both images have their own strengths and good qulaities about them. The highlights in digital photograph are more vibrant and obious but there is a strong contrast. Film has more even spread of tones in black and white. The background is a good example to use for this comparison. There is a difference between the detail in the curtain and textures in the film to that on the right (digital) which is barely visible.
Personally I prefer digital media because I can see what I have taken a photograph of, review and retake if neceesary, whereas film makes it harder to do so (longer process).
That being said, film photographs have particular qualities about them which make them unique, such as the greater range of mid tones.