Decay
This is my decay unit, I have decided to do macro decay photography as I was inspired by multiple photographers and artists to work within close up photography. I plan on creating these photographs, then turn them black and white with a high contrast through photoshop. This follows my hidden identities as the photographs I am taking will be abstract therefore it will be difficult to tell the original state of whatever I choose to photograph.
MOOD BOARD
BRAINSTORM
IDEAS SHEETS
Jenine Shereos - Human Hair Leaves
Jenine Shereos is an American sculptor and installation artist who has created a series of installations varying from lace work to using wire and threads. However in this installation, she started using hair to create the delicate and detailed veins of the leaf. She wrapped, stitched and knotted the hair together to get the detail and delicacy of the leaf. This has inspired me to work with old plants and leaves because of the immense detail that you can capture. Also do close up photographs of objects similar to these to capture the details that are in them.
This one is one of my chosen favorites out of her photographs because it is one of the close ups of her 'hair leaves' therefore you can see all the veins that are weaved together to make the structure of the leaf. This has inspired me to do close up images of decaying objects, although these aren't decayed they still portray the similarities that decaying leaves would have.
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Aaron Siskind
Aaron Siskind was an america photography who's work was generally abstract and worked with expressionism. His work tends to consist of a lot of textures which is why I have chosen to do decay and texture as one in order to capture the textures that are shown through decaying objects. His work is all in black and white with a fairly high contrast and exposure.
Some of his photographs are obvious what they are - pealing painting and decaying wood - however some of the more abstract ones are harder to work out what they are, |
Photoshoot 1
In this photo shoot, I mainly took close up pictures of objects which are naturally decaying from being outside. For example, I took a picture of of leaves which are turning in the autumn months, therefore are decomposing and also an old wooden sign post which has warped and cracked with the weather. For my next photoshoot I am going to use a macro lens in order to get more detail in the photographs of the decay that is happening naturally.
Top Photograph
This is my top photgraph for my first photoshoot because I was able to get the detail without using a macro lens, and also the angle I took the photograph from shows the extent of the decay throughout the sign.
For my next photoshoot, I plan on getting a macro lens to get more detail and make the photos more abstract. Also this photograph beings focused then loses focus, this highlights the decay of the sign. |
Photoshop Tutorial
Experimenting with macro lens
This was an experimental photoshoot as I used a macro lens. Because it was the first time using it, I was unsure what aperture and shutter speed I would need and whether it would make any difference. I photographed an old piece of wood and the cracks that have formed throughout the years.
Top Photograph
I struggled to get to grips with using the macro lens, however once I was able to use it, I managed to get a detailed close up photograph. Whilst I am still learning how to use it, I would say this experimental shoot went quite well as I was able to get close ups of decaying objects, in this shoot it was wood.
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Photoshoot 2
In this photoshoot, I have used the macro lens, however I photographed more than one thing to see which would be best to continue photographing. I discovered that old leaves and peeling paint made the most interesting photographs.
Top 2
In this photograph, I wasn't able to get very much peeling paint however the paint that I did get it was peeling and I focused on that part as much I could as I was still learning how to use the macro lens.
I will edit these photographs by desaturating them and then giving them a high contrast to make them more abstract. |
This is one of my top photographs out of this photoshoot because I felt that the second time I used the macro lens I was able to get good detail in the leaf and was able to show the decay at the same time. I plan on taking closer photographs of leaves and flowers in my next photoshoot to get even more detail once again by using the macro lens.
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Photoshoot 3
In this photoshoot, I had left a rose and a couple of leaves for a few weeks in order for them to become decayed and dying, I've decided to take the photographs being quite bright because once i turn them black and white, I want the contrast to have quite a difference.
Top 2
This is one of my top photographs out of this photoshoot as my intention was to get a close up, fairly bright photograph of an object decaying. I chose a decaying rose to photograph and was able to get an odd angle of the rose therefore making it slightly abstract.
I plan on desaturating this photograph and then changing the contrast so there is more light and dark in it. I will also sharpen the image even more so more detail comes out. |
In this photograph, I photographed a decaying leaf that had started to curl. I was able to get a good photograph full of detail with lots of shadows and highlights.
I plan on editing this photograph in photoshop and desaturating it completely, then I will sharpen the image and change the contrasting to give the photograph more character. |
Photoshop Tutorial
From the photo shoot above, I have selected two photographs to use as final pieces and below is the Photoshop tutorial on how i edited them.
Photoshoot 4
I took this photographs of an abandoned building whilst in Norfolk. I used the close-up setting on my camera as I didn't have my macro lens on me at the time. These photographs are of the paint peeling and the weathering that has happened on these buildings.
Top 2.
In this photograph, I got a photograph of an old window sill on an abandoned building. I didn't have the macro lens with me at the time, therefore I only used the close-up setting on my camera. I was able to capture the peeling painting and some of the moss that had started to grow on the building.
I will edit this by desaturating it and changing the contrast. I will also sharpen the image to see if I can get anymore detail in the photograph. |