Shape Straight Images

Shape Definition Post

    Definition:
    Dictionary: Shape - 
                          noun

                            the external form, contours, or outline of someone or something.

  

Adjectives & Synonyms for Shape:

• form
• appearance
• configuration
• formation
• structure
• round
• square
• pointed
• circular
• spherical
• aspect
• image
• mould
• build

Annotated Pictures:

This photograph shows shape because the leaves of the plant are made up of loads of shapes layered up.

This second image is an example of a star, the big shape is created using lots of little hands.

This shape is a spiral leading into a circle which incidentally looks like a camera lens.

This photo is a huge cog made up of lots of small shapes, the many small shapes all create a larger cog shape.

My Own Definition: Shape - The outside appearance of something or the size of it or the outside aesthetics.

Shape Work Diary

Evaluation
My photography session on shape was more difficult than expected e.g most of my straight images are of circular objects due to the fact that this was one of the easier shapes to show however I tried to find new and interesting shapes although it wasn't easy. One thing I liked about this topic is that it was quite expansive, everyone looks at shape differently and can take it to mean anything at all. I think my best photographs come from quite obvious examples of shape such as mirrors or drains. These are some examples of my work...

I like this photograph because there are a multitude of shapes for example the floor pattern is one example being squares then the bin itself is an oval then the shapes on the bin include triangles and circles,

This photograph is an example of shape again due to the shape these bicycle racks give when they are spaced in this way.

The shapes exhibited on this photograph are the triangles and the diamonds and squares.

Progression:

If I could progress with the topic of shape I definitely would however I think I would carry on with a different area of the topic for example body shape; I would focus on a photography version of the work that Jenny Saville, the painter, does. One progression idea that I have is to focus on the different shape of skylines in different cities or areas over Britain or the world although this may be a far-fetched hope.

Shape Image Bank

I chose this photograph for shape because I think the spiralling effect shows off multiple oval shapes.

I chose this photograph because I love the way the heart shape here is created by the bendy pages of the book.

I chose this photograph to represent shape due to the grapes spherical values. I love the way the bouncy roundness of each grape looks like a bouncy ball.

I chose this photograph to represent shape due to the quality of the point of the building and the odd shape of the one below it.

I chose this photograph to represent the shapes the human body can make and what those shapes represent.

I chose this photograph to depict shape due to the fact that one shape can create another shape in its shadow.

Mid Project Evaluation

I have really enjoyed this unit so far, learning about the formal elements has shown me what to look for in other peoples photographs and my own in order to tell if the photographs are good or bad. During this unit I have specifically enjoyed studying form and tone as these are the main formal elements used in portrait photography and fashion photography which I find especially interesting and would love to do a complete independent shoot on.

I love the use of tone within photographs especially portraits because I think the different light and dark tones help to show off specific features of a persons face. I like form as I like to see the way the human form can change so much in milliseconds. The formal elements that I disliked were pattern as I found it difficult to take inspiration from something so repetitive, I also disliked lines due to the fact the topic was very vague and it was difficult to pull excitement from straight lines.

I have found it difficult to keep up with the mountains of work set but have managed to complete everything despite struggling and stressing sometimes. One of my favourite things do to is changing the colours in a photograph (selective colouring) and photomontaging (photo joiner).

David Bailey

David Bailey is a fashion and portrait photographer from Leytonstone in England. He was dyslexic at school which is one of the reasons he fell into photography another thing which contributed to him ending up as a photographer was that he was lover of natural history. David Bailey is extremely celebrated in the fashion photography world he has worked on Vogue covers since the early 1960's after he graduated from being an assistant to fellow fashion photographer John French in 1959. After this he became the decades iconic chronicler with two defining portrait publications David Bailey's box of pin-ups (1965) and Goodbye Baby and Amen (1969). They focused on a new social order that evolved from the decade of change, David Bailey was a leading figure in the Swinging Sixties London scene. Since 1966, David Bailey has also directed several television commercials and documentaries. From 1968 to 1971 he directed and produced TV documentaries titled Beaton, Warhol and Visconti. As well as fashion photography, David Bailey photographed album sleeve art for musicians including The Rolling Stones and Marianne Faithfull.

 This photograph of Twiggy is many famous head shots of her taken by various sixties photographers however I think this one stands out because of the way David Bailey used the formal elements. The formal elements used within this photograph are tone, form and texture. Tone is used to show the shadowing on Twiggys face and the drama of her makeup. Form is used because the form of her as a person creates something which creates shadow. Texture is used due to the fact that the use of tone adds to the texture of both Twiggys jumper and her hair. I like this photo of Twiggy due to the fact I think it is very fitting with the themes of the time.

I like this photograph because the way the formal elements used by Bailey increase the dramatic nature of the photograph. The formal elements used are form, tone and lines. Lines are used because the middle of the photograph is down the center of her face. Tone is used to emphasize the light and the dark areas of the photograph for example her hair, makeup and eyebrows. Form is used to show the shadowy areas of her face to show that she is 3D as a concept.

 This photograph of Kate Moss was taken as a fashion venture for David Bailey, this photograph shows the formal elements of tone, shape, texture and form. I like the way the photographer has set the photo so Kate's collar bones are emphasized. Form is used to show she is 3D, Form is used to show he angular nature of her cheekbones and roots of her hair and lightness of her skin. Texture is used to emphasize her hair and eyes and Shape is used to show the shape of her face and hair.

This photograph of Mick Jagger is probably one of David Bailey's most famous along with that of Kate Moss and Twiggy. The formal elements used in this photograph (As so in the other photographs due to this being David Bailey's main styling) were form, shape, texture and tone. Form was used to show the 3D shape of Mick Jagger's face.  Texture was used to show the fluffiness of the collar on micks throw and the furiness of it. Shape was used to emphasize the features of Micks face, another formal element used to show a similar thing would be the aforementioned form. Tone was used to add depth to Micks face rather than have it all a faded grey its full of light whites and dark blacks.

How I was Influenced…

David Bailey has increased my interest in fashion photography and the idea of portraits. I would like to experiment by perhaps doing my own fashion and beauty shoots and focusing on people, clothes and makeup similar to the ways fashion photographers do. I love the photographs that David Bailey takes because they have stayed the same throughout his whole career which spans over half a century, I love the way his Vogue covers from 1992 are reminiscent of his Vogue covers from 1961, the colours and styles are all very similar the same way his photographs of Twiggy and Mick Jagger are similar to that of Kate Moss. If I was to do a shoot the same way David Bailey I would keep the monochrome theme, dramatic posing and emphasis of expression whereas I may drop the hair blowing. After studying David Bailey I feel connected to his photographs not only because of their natural beauty of the human form but also their historical relevance, for example I adore the way he has captured some of the most famous, inspirational people with his camera lens. In my opinion I think portrait photography and fashion photography such as this is some of the most beautiful work in the world despite the fact they are staged they still have some air of natural grace about them and David Bailey - one of the most iconic fashion photographers in the recent period - creates this type of photography brilliantly.


Since studying David Bailey I have taken many photos which I think are similar to his style. This particular photo I have chosen I thought has the same elements as a lot of David Bailey's photographs, it is very posed and she is making a point of her facial expression, I used the photo frame in the picture in the same way David Bailey has used the coat that Mick Jagger is wearing, plus the exaggerated facial expression of my model is similar to the one that Twiggy wears in the first photograph I annotated.

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