Year 10 Assessment - Image Analysis
Theme: Collections
Endgame - Olivia Parker
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In this image, you can see a selection of three shells placed on a piece of weathered paper that is creased and stained, there are two regular strips of holes that have been poked through the paper, seperating the paper, and in turn image, into thirds. The image is monochromatic and is lacking colour, however, there are clear shadows within the image that give the photo extra depth, the most obvious is the shadow of the wheel, where the spokes give the image another main subject. However, there are less noticeable shadows that create a grid over the paper, which divide the image. In the top right, there is an arrangement of small strips of wood shaped similarly to matchsticks, seemingly placed in a random composition, however, they are all vertical, following the lines of the shadows and holes. With the sticks and wheel at the top, and the shells in the centre of the image, the bottom of the photo is mainly empty space, however the differences in colour because of the shadows and stains do not make the photo look incomplete. There are also a range of textures within the photo, the paper is creased contrasting the smoothness of the shells. Furthermore the largest shell, in the centre, is covered in barnacles further contrasting the smoother textures. In addition the wood strips in also appear smooth and refined, continuing the division of textures. The shells and shadows make the image appear more 3d as all other elements in the photo are very flat and don't add much depth.
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This picture would fall under the genre of still life, a small composition of inanimate objects arranged in a composition by the artist, however it is not in the traditional layout, which is more similar to the images shown on the right. For example, in traditional still life photos the image would be taken head on, taken from mid-range and at eye level. This image is taken from above and appears to be quite close to the elements in the photo. This makes the image quite unique in terms of other traditional still life photos, however, it still falls under the genre of still life as the genre gives the artist more leeway in terms of composition and image layout.
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As the theme for this image is 'collections' i think that Parker selected certain groups of elements such as the shells, or wood. I don't think that her selection of themes for the photo was random, this is because traditional still life images would have all the elements relate to one theme, eg: manmade objects or natural objects. Both the shells and wood represent the theme of nature, however, because the wood is refined and has been changed from its natural state, her image could be the blur between the two themes. Furthermore, whilst the composition in the image seems random, I think that Parker would have to spend a lot of time arranging the elements into a composition they all compliment each other and follow the other elements, such as the shadows, so that they don't clash and disrupt the image. If I was to be challenged to create images similar to this, I would emphasise heavily the use of shadows, alongside collections of inanimate objects that fit together in themes, however, I would try to incorporate more colour and vibrancy in the image, whilst the collection of elements would be in the form of the shadows, almost reversing the effect that Parker uses.
In general, I feel like this image is not supposed to be easily understood, and Parker may want it to be interpreted differently based on the viewer, at first glance it is quite a confusing photo, but after analysing the image I realised that whilst it has a different style to a regular still life, it still represents the theme of 'collections' and can be seen as a more abstract form of representation. In addition, I feel like the Parker may not intend for her photo to initiate any immediate strong emotions, it uses neutral colours and has quite simplistic elements, even though they create a complex image when put together. So instead of Parker trying to provide strong emotions such as anger, happiness, sadness, etc.., I think her image is there to provide an understanding of simplicity and understanding, furthermore, the neutral colours are very calming, suggesting Parker may not have had intentions to instigate the strong emotions listed earlier. After this conclusion I would have liked to ask "Did you make this image for a sense of clarity or greater understanding, after an event in your life?". Furthermore, I would also like to ask if the shells have any significance to the artist as they are a recurring theme within this image and other images from her selection of photos - 'Weighing the planets', however this may not be relevant as Parker could just be trying to reinforce the theme of nature represented in her photos. My final question would be about the shadows, as whilst most of them are just a grid over the photo, the shadow of the wheel is a much harsher shadow, and is more noticeable, does this have any significance, as the wheel could've been included as a physical element of the image instead?
In conclusion, I think that Parker's image is a good response to the theme of collections, and for my response, I want to follow similar themes such as having shadows present, and taking the photos from above. However, I would like to incorporate my own ideas to create a selection of photos that don't follow the traditional guidelines for a still life.
Personal Response
This is my selection of photos in response to the theme of collections, I used a ring light to project the shadows of inanimate objects onto the white backdrop. The objects were hung using transparent tape so that it is less visible in the shadow projection. After taking these photos I used a red piece of acrylic to cover the light and change the colour/mood of the images and refine my ideas. I like how the images show both the subjects of the photo and the shadow created by the light as it adds more depth to the images. Because of the changed method, the images were now taken head-on instead of from above, so the images were more like a traditional still life, and less similar to Parker's photos. In future attempts I would like to create a better set-up for taking the images, and I would select different colours to vary the final images. This is because the colour is a factor that strongly affects how the images are interpreted, and can greatly change the results. Furthermore, I would use a higher light intensity and move the position of the elements so that the shadows are more detailed and stand out more, similarly to Parker's images. Another reason why I like these images is because of how they are very simple, but don't look like the photos are empty or incomplete, which is why i think the images are a good response to Parker's work and to the theme of 'collections'.
This is a selection of my favourite images and why I think they work well: