Form
Form is the visual shape or configuration of something. The difference between form and shape is the fact that shape focuses on two dimensional objects whereas form is about the contours and grooves in an object that can be brought out using different types of light.
Image Bank
The photos above show inspiration for different ways of photographing form. Photos such as the shell, flower and the cat focus on the texture and detail in the subject, highlighting the shadows the fur and petals.
Other photos such as the ball and the rocks objects show the form and contours in the object as a whole, rather than the smaller details in the surface. Specifically in the photo of rocks, the photographer has used what looks like a Venetian blind placed in front of the light source. This creates alternating lines of light and shadows, which show the contours of the rocks through the way the lines of light bend with the curves.
AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations
informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical
understanding.
Artist Research
For my artist research i chose Edward Weston. I chose this artist because he focuses on form and uses black and white photos to show the different tones in an object. This accentuates the shape and structure of the subject of the photo which is something i would like to attempt to recreate. Weston was popular during the 40's and 50's, for his photos focusing on natural forms and landscapes, and still is to this day. He originally comes from America but his work has been viewed around the world.
The photo above shows a shell that looks as though it has been cut in half. Weston shows form by photographing the shell from above where you can see the structure of the inside. it appears to have many different segments that perfectly fit together and curl round in a spiral shape until the gradually disappear into the centre. This is effective as you can really see the highlights and shadows that make up the shell. He may have used a macro lens and a direct light source to get increase the amount of detail in the photo. Alternatively, he could've used a more diffuse light source such as a torch with a piece of paper in front of it or a light box.
The image below also shows a shell with the centre on show. This one however has been shot a lot closer and at a slightly different angle. This makes the shadows appear more defined which further emphasises the shells structure. At first glance, some viewers may struggle to see what the object is which makes this photo appear more abstract and unique.
contact sheet
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
My idea for photographing form was to look into the structure and form of different shells. For this, I looked at the work of Edward Weston and his photographs of shells. In his photos of shells really show the form and structure of the objects, which is what i want to try and re create.
AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
I chose shells that had unique textures and shapes for my photo shoot. I also used a macro lens, tripod and two sources of light to make sure I included the form of the shells and the surface texture. The tripod allowed me to adjust the frame of the photo and keep the camera steady. Out of the light sources i used, the torch gave me the most depth of detail in the shell. The light was quite harsh which made the highlights stand out. However, the lamp gave off a more diffuse light which created softer shadows in the shells and kept some of the surface pattern on the smoother parts of the shell that would've been lost using the torch.
photos that require improvement
The images above could be improved by increasing the aperture and the amount of light on the shells. To do this I would place the light source closer to the shells and adjust the aperture to around F11 or possibly F16. I would also use a slower shutter speed for a longer exposure on the shell. I would use around 1/125 to 1/200 as it would still be in focus with the use of a tripod. Additionally, I could use a remote release to avoid motion blur when taking the photo.
AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Overall, i am pleased with my response to form, inspired by Edward Weston. I have produced a series of images with a similar composition and technique as my chosen artist. the final images were processed in Photoshop and converted to black and white, after increasing the contrast in each of them to reflect the style of Edward Weston.
