James Grundy

James Grundy is a portrait and street photographer from Australia. All of his photography is black and white. I decided to pick this photographer to write about as I find his work unique and like how he photographs action shots to tell stories. I also like the way the elements of contrast and depth are clearly shown in his photography. 

I like how this image is slightly out of focus and the skaters are in motion as it establishes movement and makes the scene more realistic. The fact we cannot see their faces creates a sense of mystery but allows us to focus on the surroundings. I also like how they only take up a small amount of  the frame, as again we can focus on other parts of the image, for example the clear depth. The road, trees, and lamposts help to clearly show depth. We can see that the road gets thinner the further into the distance it gets, and the white lines on the road get closer together. The trees also get smaller the further into the distance they are and the lights from the lamposts become closer together and more out of focus, establishing depth. The skater that is further ahead looks smaller than the one nearest the camera which again shows depth. The lampost light significantly stands out against the plain black sky, and creates a dark silhouette shadow under one of the skaters with a clear outline. The black and white effect helps to bring out the tones in the road in order to show texture, and in the trees in order to show form.

One of the reasons I like this image is because of the sense of adventure that it creates. The image is very contrasting. The people in the image create silhouettes as they contrast against the white sky, and the outline of them is very clear. The wire fence also contrasts against the white sky, creating a pattern over the image, making it more appealing. The image also shows depth, as the lines separating the wooden floorboards get closer together as they travel into the distance, and the fence looks as if it is getting smaller. My favourite aspect of this image is the sense of journey and adventure created by the reckless silhouettes entering the 'no entry' zone, as we do not know where it leads. As well as a sense of adventure, the picture also creates a sense of mystery as we are unable to see the peoples faces, and the facial features are important for revealing a persons feeling and emotions.

 

This is a very contrasting image as it consists of shadows and highlights. The first thing I noticed about it was the clear silhouette of a person. This creates a sense of mystery as we cannot see any features of this person. The outline of this can be seen very clearly due to the significant contrast between it and the lighter background. I also noticed that the formal element of depth is clearly shown as the train track gets thinner the further into the distance it travels. The way the image is black and white works very effectively in this case as the contrasts between inside the tunnel and out of it.

 

This image is very contrasting. Because of this significant contrast, although they are small, the silhouette of the person and the balloons are very clear. Depth is also clearly shown as the rows of trees look smaller and closer together the further into the distance they are. I like the way this image is very minimalistic as it is very effective. The lack of colour creates a slight eerie feel reinforced by the sense of mystery created as we cannot see the person in detail. The treetops create a rough texture which adds interest to the image.

After looking at the work of James Grundy I feel inspired to explore with minimalistic photography as this is not something I have tried out so far. I think this will emphasise contrasting order to create a clear focal point in an image. I also want to practice with depth photography in more detail in order to create some really effective images. I could do this by photographing rows of trees like in the bottom image, fences or roads. I will experiment more with black and white in my work where I want to emphasise the contrast of my images.

 

Looking in more detail at James' work I noticed that there is quite a variation of images for example portraits and street photography, and though it is all black and white which some people may not enjoy, I still appreciate and enjoy this photographers work. I especially enjoy his action shots as a sense of mystery and adventure are created which I really like in photography. This is a feature I would like to include in my own photography at some point.

Aneta Ivanova

 Aneta is a 23 year old photographer living in Bulgaria. She focusses on multiple exposure photography, and portraits which include the element of nature. I have decided to write about this photographer as I think her work is very unique and abstract, and I like the way she brings together both nature and portraiture. 

Although there is a lot of empty space in the frame of this image, the portrait still significantly stands out as the background is plain white. I like the way the different tones in the face and the highlights and shadows allow form to be shown, so the image does not look like a flat silhouette. I also like the way the birds spread out gradually as if they are making up the girls face, and the fact that they are flying in the opposite direction. Although there is no blurring to suggest movement, the position of the birds imply that they are in motion. The facial features can be seen clearly and the outline of the face is also very clear due to the contrast between it and the background. The same goes for each individual bird. 

I think that this image is clever in the way that the girl looks like she is gasping for air due to the sea line reaching her mouth. I also like the colours and tones in the sea and how it is blue on the top but includes more green tones the deeper it goes. The reflection of light on top of the water is appealing and adds to the image. Highlights and shadows in the girls skin allow us to see form, so that she does not just look like a silhouette. The background is plain white which allows us to focus on the foreground and keeps the image simple. 

This image is very minimilistic. As well has having a plain white background, the picture has been edited black and white. I think the simplicity works well in this case and the black and white effect allows the different tones in the sea to be visible I like the way the sea gets darker the deeper it gets, and how individual waves are visible on the top of the water due to a discrete outlines. Highlights and shadows allow us to see the form of the models skin, so that she does not just look like a flat silhouette. The contrast between the dark sea and the bright white background allows the outline of the woman's body and face to be seen very clearly. I also like the position she is making with her body and the shape it creates. In this case we cannot see her facial features in detail which creates a sense of mystery. 

I like the mixture vivid tones that are used in this portrait, as it really makes it stand out against the plain background. I also like the unusual feature of parts of the portrait being missing, as it allows the portrait to blend well into the background. The way the outline of the portrait is not specific makes the portrait seem more artistic and slightly resembles watercolours. The dramatic position of the model adds interest to the image and makes it more memorable. It also may create enigmas for viewers. The highlights and shadows allow us to still see the form of the woman's face and hands. 

Looking at Aneta's photography, I feel influenced to experiment a bit more with photomontage in my photography. I have not had much experience with photomontage however seeing these images and how well they bring together nature and portraiture makes me want to have a go at it. I already enjoy taking portraits so expanding on this and experimenting with Photoshop may result in some interesting and abstract imagery. 

After exploring Aneta Ivanova's photography in more detail I have realised that a lot of her creations are very similar. Although I find her style and photomontage techniques very interesting and abstract, a lot of them are very similar, using models in similar positions and overlapping them with similar images of nature or locations. I found that after a while I began to loose interest as there was a lack of variety in her work.

Mike Olbinski

Mike Olbinski from Arizona focusses on wedding photography and landscapes, mostly of storms. I decided to pick this photographer  to write about as I really like depth shown in a lot of his photography, and find the colours of the sky in the different landscapes very appealing.

My favourite thing about this image is the colours in the sky. I really like the variety of different tones and how they come together to create the form of the clouds. I also like the way the vivid pink stands out against the blue and grey colours as it attracts the eye and makes the sky look very appealing and unusual. I like how the sky is very contrasting against the ground, as it is very colourful and bright while the ground is very dull and plain. The road shows depth as it gets thinner the further away from the camera it gets. Something I realised about this photograph is that long exposure has captured the headlights of a car travelling down the road. This colour matches the pink tones in the sky and I think it is a nice touch to the image. The outline of the mountains in the distance can be seen clearly as the dark blue silhouette of the mountains contrasts against the lighter blue sky. 

I like this image because it is quite minimalistic. The shape and lines in the bright white lightning can be clearly seen as they contrast significantly against the deep purple sky. I like how the lightening is not central in the frame so that more of the minimalistic landscape is visible. This composition also works because there is not much else in the frame to distract the eye away from the lightening, so it does not need to take up much of the frame to stand out. Different tones can be seen in the top half of the sky so that the form of the clouds can be seen. The outline of the mountains on the horizon can be seen clearly due to the contrast between them and then sky which is slightly lighter. Something I think really adds to this image is the small lights in the bottom right corner. This establishes that there is a town in this location. 

I find that this image is very appealing to the eye. I really like the different tones visible in the sky and how they fade into one another. I also like how the different tones show the form to establish the cloudy area. The point where the ground becomes the sky is very clear as the very dark ground contrasts against orange horizon. The stars really add to the image as they create a pattern and make the scene look more fascinating. The car adds a sense of journey and adventure, and as there is no blur of movement it is implied that the car is stationary. Even though it is black against black, we are still able to see the car due to the light reflecting off the body, and the white contrasting wheels. The inside of the car is also lit up which draws the eye in. Because the horizon consists of light orange tones, we are able to see where the shape of the car more clearly. If the sky was dark at the bottom, it would blend into the car and it would be harder to identify.

This image is different from the others, as it shows a close up vehicle rather than a landscape or storm. The colours in this photograph are quite dull and dark, which I think emphasises how the vehicle is quite worn away. The lines on the side of the vehicle show texture, which the different tones in the ground also do. I like the way the sun is shining through the corner of the windscreen, as it attracts the eye and adds to the image. We can see a clear outline of the front of the vehicle as it contrasts against the bright plain sky. The way the door of the vehicle is open creates a sense of adventure or journey.

Looking at Mike Olbinski's photography, I feel influenced to experiment with sky photography. I really like the different colours visible in a lot of his landscapes, and this is something that I would like in my own photography. I would also like to clearly show the form of clouds in the sky as I think it makes the images a lot more interesting and gives the eye more to look at. This can be achieved by increasing the contrast of sky images, which is something I might try. I would also feel like I want to focus more on depth, as in Mike's photography the clear sense of depth really makes the images more interesting. 

After looking at more of Mike Olbinski's photography and exploring his website in more depth, I noticed that a lot of his photographs are similar, not only his storm photography but also his gallery of 'lost things'. Although he is obviously a very skilled photographer and I do enjoy looking at his work, I find that his images slightly lack variation, which doesnt leave me intrigued to carry on looking at more of his work.

Michael Bosanko

Michael Bosanko has been capturing light since 2004, when he came across light painting by accident. Michael is from South Wales but has taken light painting photography all around the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He makes regular trips to London working on various commissions. I have decided to pick this photographer to write about as I find whole idea of light painting very fascinating and appealing. I have seen a lot of light painting photography taken in a studio, but Michael's is taken in various locations that sometimes work with the light paintings to create a scene, which is one of the reasons it stands out for me. I also  like how this photographer creates words and objects with light, rather than abstracts swirls and shapes like some other photographers do.

This image is a good example of the kind of light painting Michael creates. You can see here how he creates real objects, characters or people rather than just capturing completely random swirls or shapes of light. I find it fascinating how you cannot see any people in the image, which creates a sense of mystery and enigmas as the viewer may wonder how the image was created. The lights are all very colourful and vivid which makes them stand out as they contrasts against the dull building. This allows the shape of the pacman and the ghosts to be seen very clearly. We can see from the roof  and the graffiti that contrasts against the white walls that this location is quite worn down and may be abandoned. This works well with the dark lighting and the emptiness of the area to created a secluded atmosphere. In my opinion I this this is more effective than if this image was taken in a very busy area, as we can focus more on the lights. I like the way different sources of light are used. We can see that the light used to create the shape of the pacman is different to the light used to create the ghosts, as it is more bold and the edges are more precise. To create the pacman a long stick of light may have been used and then moved in a circle form while the picture was being taken, whereas the ghosts look as though individual coloured torches were used in order to create a more floaty look, which suggests they are moving.  

Here is another, slightly different example of Michaels light painting. White lights have been used to create text against a beautiful landscape. The white letters contrast significantly against the dark background so that we are able to read the word very clearly. The size of the text in the frame also makes it very clear for us to see. Something I like about the text in this image is the way it looks as if it is resting on the road. I think that this is more effective than if the text was floating, as it looks as if the letters are standing up, and physically touching the road, interacting with the surroundings. A specific font has been used when writing out these letters, which I think would look a lot more bold and neat than if the word was written quickly and messily in someone's everyday handwriting. The road in the background shows depth as we can see it gets smaller the further into the distance it travels. I really like the orange and purple tones in the sky, as it adds interest to the image while still keeping it simple. we can see a clear outline of the hill in the distance as it contrasts against the sky. Once again, the image has been taken in a empty area, with no people or buildings in sight. I feel this is effective as it creates a secluded feel and a sense of loneliness. I also think that people or buildings in the frame may distract the eye from the light painting. We cannot see the source of light or the person conducting it, which creates enigmas for the viewer, leaving them fascinated. 

I think that this photograph is very clever in the way that the light paintings look as though they are interacting with the surroundings. Something that makes this even more effective is the  reflection of light under the skating stick man, as if he was really there. The surroundings in this image are quite dark and dull which helps to make the light paintings stand out as they contrasts against this. White graffiti contrasts against the dull skate ramp which gives the impression this is an urban area. The skate ramp shows depth as it gets smaller the further away from the camera it is, and the same goes for the row of trees in the background. I like the fact that the two light paintings are different colours as they are clearly established as two different characters. The image is taken in an empty area which again creates a sense of loneliness, and the source of light cannot be seen, creating enigmas for the audience and keeping them interested.  

This image is slightly different to the other 3 I have analysed, as no artificial source of light has been used to create objects or characters. The image shows the movement of the stars in the sky which has been achieved by a slow shutter speed. I really like the way the objects on the ground are still, while the sky shows a clear movement, and the circular formation the stars make is very appealing to the eye while creating a pattern. I really like the orange and purple tones in the sky, and the different shapes we can see due to the colours contrasting against each other. The gate in the foreground and the fencing in the background creates dark silhouettes against the vivid horizon which allows us to see the shape and lines very clearly. The gate also shows depth, as it gets smaller the further away from the camera it gets. 

Looking at Michael Bosanko's work, I feel influenced to experiment light painting myself. I find it very fascinating and appealing and would like to attempt to create something similar. Rather than capturing random movement of a light source, creating unusual shapes and forms which I have already achieved, I would like to attempt drawing real objects, characters or text the way Michael Bosanko does, as I think this is very original and unique. I want to try creating light paintings that interact with their surroundings and work together to create a scene, like Michael does. I would also like to try taking light painting images where the source of light, and the person who is conducting the light is not visible. Looking at images like this made me wonder how they were created and fascinated me, so this is the reaction I would like to create. 

After looking at more of Michael's work, I was surprised at the amount of variation in his photography. When I first discovered him, light painting photographs were the only thing I saw, as this is his speciality, however when exploring his website I realised that he also takes landscapes, street photography, and has a whole album just for photographs of vehicles. I realised that a lot of this photography showed depth very clearly, which is something I like about it. After discovering more of Michael Bosanko's work, I still find his photography very fascinating, unique and appealing. Although his light paintings are relatively similar, they all show a different scene and different characters and objects are created, including characters from iconic films like Star Wars and Harry Potter. The images that aren't light paintings still interest me as depth is shown very well, and I like Michael's use of colour and contrast to create a certain feel.

Nicholas Goodden

Nicholas Goodden is an award winning London based photographer. His work is entirely focused on London through the mediums of London street photography, urban landscape photography and graffiti/ street art photography. I decided to look further at Nicholas' work, one of the reasons being I am a fan of urban and street photography. I also like his use of colour and low shutter speed to capture movement. I also admire his portraits of a large variety of Londoners and how they show individuality.

This image shows movement in a unique way. The long beams of light are the result of long exposure, which I think really adds to the image and makes it more interesting. These bright lights contrast against the dull surroundings which really makes them stand out. I really like the way you can see them far in the distance which creates depth, and they bend as the road bends which works effectively. Another way depth is shown is through the roads, which get smaller the further into the distance they get. Different tones are apparent in these lights, such as reds, pinks and yellows. As well as these lights we can also see the bright coloured traffic lights which also catch the eye due to their vivid colours. The colours of the surroundings are quite dull which helps to bring out the lights even more. Graffiti dotted around, and the way there are not cars of people in sight create an isolated, urban atmosphere. I really like this image and would like to possibly try to take images similar to this. 

This image is from Nicholas' portrait work. I really like the way the background is blurred while the person is in focus to show depth, and also so that we focus on the person rather than the surroundings. As well as creating contrast, the black and white effect allows tone and form to be shown in the man's face. The highlights and shadows on the man's jacket establishes texture. I like the way the man is off centre so that we can see the urban background which relates to the man's style. The way that this image has been taken as a landscape allows us to see these urban surroundings. I also like how in the background almost all of the frame is full of buildings so that there is no empty space. The man's dark neck tattoo contrasts against his pale skin so that it stands out and his individuality is emphasised. The position and expression of the man implies that this is an action shot, and makes the scene feel more natural than if he were to look directly at the camera. There are many shapes and lines apparent in the background in the form of windows, as well as some reflection.

This image creates a sense of mystery. We are unable to see where this graffiti has been done as the surface fills up the whole frame, which is something I like about it. I also like the significant contrast between the black and vivid orange against the dull grey, which allows us to clearly see shape. We can see that selective colour has been used in this image as the grass at the bottom of the image is grey. This technique has been used in order to make the writing on the wall stand out. The different tones visible in the wall establish a rough texture, especially at the top of the image. 

This image clearly shows depth as the path gets thinner the further into the distance it gets. The highlights and shadows on the persons face and jacket allows form to be shown, but also the texture in the jacket is visible. Also the variety of tones in the tree allows form to be seen here. The image has been edited black and white which makes the tone and form in the photo even more significant. Something I had noticed about this image is that is has been split into light and dark, and these two sections are separated by the edge of the stone wall. The left side consists of a lot of shadows, while the right side is very bright. These two sections contrast against each other which comes across very effectively in the image. A lot of lines are visible in the photograph for example the edges of the stone wall, the stone pillars on the left, and in the background the rows of flats we can briefly see. 

Looking at Nicholas Goodden's photography, I feel that it has influenced me to experiment more with depth in my photography. I've noticed that in Nicholas' pictures, the background are significantly blurry in order to make sure that the depth is very obvious, especially in his portraiture. I really like the look of  this effect and how it makes the person in the foreground stand out and shown in more detail. To achieve this effects that this photographer uses I could either change the settings on my camera, or blur the background on Photoshop. Another way I feel influenced by Nicholas' photography is that I want to take more black and white images. looking at Nicholas' work has made me realise how much black and white can effect the lighting in an image, in order to create a certain feel. The image becomes more contrasting and the different tones in the image become more visible, so that elements like texture and form can be seen a lot clearer. 

After looking at more of Nicholas' work, I have realised that his photography is more varied than I thought. I have found that the photographer has created some interesting and abstract collages and has taken a lot of minimalistic photographs. I have also found some of his photography that uses long exposure to show movement. This variation of images keeps me interested and I still very much enjoy Nicholas Goodden's photography.