Design Workflow: ePortfolio Assessment Task 1A Photography and Frame
By Milly Chen
Teacher: Leisa Tough
Student Number: 3462443
Chosen Artist: Luigi Ghirri
Figure 1.
Note: This is a photograph of Luigi Ghirri
Source: https://www.famousphotographers.net/luigi-ghirri
Research and Notes of Luigi Ghirri
- a Italian photographer and artist
- "a master and pioneer of contemporary photography" (Famous Photographers, n.d.).
- 1943~1922
- "produced color photos of architecture and landscapes within conceptual art’s scope" (Famous Photographers, n.d.)
- "the questionable balance between surroundings and people" (Famous Photographers, n.d.)
- "a serious parks, landscapes and beach photo" (Famous Photographers, n.d.)
- medium size
- "utilization of color was hailed for its competence to express nostalgia and prescience" (Famous Photographers, n.d.)
Quotes by Luigi Ghirri
- "I have always felt that photography is a language for seeing and not for transforming, hiding, or modifying reality."
- "Instead of accepting the challenge of complexity, photography shunted itself into a tight corner—the reproduction of itself."
- "..a man photographed is always no more than a photograph."
Observation of Chosen Photography of Luigi Ghirri:
Figure 2.
Note: This photography was taken by Luigi Ghirric
Source: Luigi Ghirri: Project Prints (Zurich: JRP/Ringier; Manchester: Cornerhouse [distributor], 2012.)
Overall Impression:
This photo shows the sky, the sea and the beach.
Low hue saturation.
The first thing I noticed was three vertical blocks of color, fish belly white, azure and light orange.
Examing Features Closely:
The photographer's careful composition arranged the sky, sea and beach neatly together, with a few sunshade umbrellas to make the picture both simple and not monotonous.
A white boat floats in the middle of the sea, brightening the tone.
Purposes:
I think the photographer wants to share with the audience the joys and comforts of the holiday beach.
It also reveals the geometric beauty of nature.
Under the sunshade are people relaxing, which also expresses the picture of harmony between man and nature.
Figure 3.
Note: This photography was taken by Luigi Ghirric
Source: Luigi Ghirri: Project Prints (Zurich: JRP/Ringier; Manchester: Cornerhouse [distributor], 2012.)
Overall Impression:
A bouquet of flowers blocked by a fence.
Refreshing
Neat
Examining Features Closely:
In this shot, the first thing I notice is the plant and its pink flowers, and then I observe that it is divided horizontally by the fence, which is a bit like a comic strip. Behind the plants is a grey wall with a strong contrast of light and shade. The shadow on the left side of the wall divides the picture into two parts, which are also vertically divided like the fence.
Purposes:
Why did the photographer arrange the plants behind the railing in this way? I think this may be to create a sense of distance, beautiful but that kind of inapproachable feeling.
It also aims to show the combination of nature and artifact.
Figure 4.
Note: This photography was taken by Luigi Ghirric
Source: Luigi Ghirri: Project Prints (Zurich: JRP/Ringier; Manchester: Cornerhouse [distributor], 2012.)
Overall Impression:
A brightly colored "abstract painting".
In this shot, the first thing I notice is the plant and its pink flowers, and then I observe that it is divided horizontally by the fence, which is a bit like a comic strip.
Examing Features Closely:
There is a strong contrast between pink and black, which makes people's eyes focus on this wall at once. In order to balance the centre of gravity of the image, the photographer added three potted plants on the road and a lawn in the lower-left corner. The style of this photo is very similar to that of a digital abstract decorative painting. The balance of cool (black, grey, green) and warm (pink, white) colors makes the photo look soft and refreshing.
Purposes:
The combination of plants and buildings in coordination gives people a sense of tranquility and harmony.
The purpose of this photo is to give people a visual experience of the integration of nature and architecture.
Ideas For My Mine Own Photography
I took several pictures inspired by Ghirri's photographs. Ghirri likes to naturally add vertical or horizontal lines in the picture to achieve the effect of dividing the picture (see Figure 2 & 3). He also like to use hailed colour in his photography (see Figure 2). In Figure 4, Ghirri presents the landscape and architecture in perfect harmony to the audience. My several works beneath have also used a similar method.
On the other hand, the images of Ghirri's photographs are clean and neat, and the tone is hazy and elegant, which creates an unreal and beautiful feeling as if in a dream. In this way, it is supposed to be the so-called Surreal Realities.
Photography 1.
- I took this picture on a boat.
- I tried to use natural horizontal lines that divide photographs up (see Figure 2 & 3).
- The round clouds in the sky, like the boat in Figure 2, brighten the image.
- I tried to use natural horizontal lines that divide photographs up (see Figure 2 & 3).
- The round clouds in the sky, like the boat in Figure 2, brighten the image.
Photograph 2.
- I took this photo on beach when sun set.
- The overall tone is soft and hazy. The sky closest to sea level is tinted with pink, thus increasing a dreamy hue affect.
- The waves, the sea, the sky and the beach play a role in dividing the image (see Figure 4).
Photograph 3.
- It was taken in the same scene as the previous image.
- I used white and orange as warm colors, blue, dark green, and purple as cool colors to balance each other and achieve a dreamy and soft effect (see Figure 4).
- The hillside and the sea in the photo form a nearly triangular composition, which makes the photo interesting without losing its softness.
Photograph 4.
- I took this picture during an evening walk by the lake.
- Low hue saturation (see Figure 2).
- A whole row of white boats brighten the picture, just as the white boats in Figure 2.
Photograph 5.
- I used medium shots which was Ghirri's favourite camera angle.
- I used a low saturation color.
- I used the composition of Figure 3, placing the subject (the buildings) in the center.
- In Figure 4, Ghirri skillfully combines architecture with the natural landscape; In this picture, I tried to put the architecture into the landscape to bring a harmonious aesthetic feeling.
Feedback
I received feedback that was quite helpful. First of all, according to Miss Tough's suggestion, I added annotation into the chosen photography analysis, and then I listed the key points of the analysis into subtitles to make the expression clearer. In the feedback, Leisa strongly suggested that I change my photographic works. She hoped that I could carefully observe the atmosphere of Ghirri's works and then shoot works with similar styles. Through careful observation of Ghirri's works, I found that his overall colour tone is hazy and light, likes to insert straight lines in the composition, which has a dreamy and indistinct feeling. Then I replaced it with something more in line with Ghirri's photography style, but still kept Photograph 5.
References
Famous Photographers. (n.d.). Luigi Ghirri | Photography and Biography. Retrieved July 12, 2021, from https://www.famousphotographers.net/luigi-ghirri
Luigi Ghirri: Project Prints (Zurich: JRP/Ringier; Manchester: Cornerhouse [distributor], 2012.)
