creating your own world

tracings

visible and invisible light

©liza 2011

"The picture… is but a succession or variety of stronger lights thrown upon one part of the paper, and of deeper shadows on another. Now Light, where it exists, can exert an action". 

  William Henry Fox Talbot, 1000 Photo Icons by Anthony Bannon, George Eastman House , ISBN: 3822820970 , Page: 96

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Drawing and Light

NS's blurb: "I drafted my visual thoughts on paper then scanned it and then I drew it in Photoshop. I always illustrate... that's just how I like to express my thoughts and ideas. It's like when you visualize what a camera could do for you. A  camera shapes up any environment and brings value to it whether in a form of a document, advert, portrait, fashion shoot, etc." 
  

I asked Nhlanthla Shezi [NS], who is currently in 3rd year to share these images of his. I am excited by the way his digitally constructed image is built and based on his drawing framework. I think that this is such an inspiring example of the close connections one CAN make with photography and drawing (using a one Reflective Journal) and how Photoshop can merge the two. These images (the drawn and photographic composite image) also reveal how important it is to have a strong concept, where one draws from ones own surroundings (see NS's T-shirt: made in Ntuzuma) , and articulates these in an individualistic manner...* (scream's 3A's).   

 NS's blurb: "The image was for a crit submission of one of my two specialist which is Digital Manipulation. My inspiration came by looking at the life style of the people living in shacks, and in spite of their living conditions they do not give up ... they strive for success.  Before DUT I studied at Vega doing graphic design for two years and have one year of working experience at an ad. agency (African Mediums).  What I love with Photoshop is that I am able to create the world of my own.

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Drawing with Light

When I started to do this post I kept thinking about how closely connected Photography and drawing are. I was reminded about the how the word Photography means "painting with Light" and about  William Fox Talbot's  [WFT] photographic publication, the "Pencil of Nature", the first book to contain  images.

 WFT makes photograms_ traces of nature / camera-less photographs. He placed objects directly on light sensitive material. Where the light hit the paper it was exposed and where the object stopped the light it wasn't exposed. The exposed areas turned black once they were developed and the unexposed areas remained white - and the areas in the middle came out various shades of grey. WFT's artistic experimentation and inventiveness pioneered the "concept of the negetive" present in Photography today and made major contributions to the development of photography as an artistic medium... see his quote below.

"I then thought of trying again a method which I had tried many years before. This method was to take a camera obscura and to throw the image of the objects on a piece of paper in its focus – fairy pictures, creations of a moment, and destined as rapidly to fade away. It was during these thoughts that the idea occurred to me – how charming it would be if it were possible to cause these natural images to imprint themselves durably, and remain fixed upon the paper" William Henry Fox Talbot, Fox Talbot, photographer by Robert Lassam , Page: 10

 

© William Fox Talbot

  " One advantage of the discovery of the Photographic Art will be, that it will enable us to introduce into our pictures a multitude of minute details which add to the truth and reality of the representation, but which no artist would take the trouble to faithfully copy from nature." - William Henry Fox Talbot, Fox Talbot, photographer by Robert Lassam , Page: 18

© Nda 2009

oO~

(a mouse)

Fashion on Location with Paul

Parys in Dirtbin
the subject in Paul's email

Alumni (or past 2009 student) Paul Reichle [PR] shared his experience of a Fashion Shoot with me via gmail so that I could blog it.  PR's blurb: "The shoot was for a local designer Bianca Kim _ who sells her stuff 'Miss Religious' at the I-heart market and a couple boutiques too. Bianca wanted a Grunge feel and sent me a pic of the location she had in mind which blew me away. I had no idea there even was a mini eiffel tower living in Dirtbin.

Upon arrival at the location we realized that the ladder we bought to the shoot was too short so I borrowed one from the Church next door. We got to the roof and had about 12 looks to get through - The wind was pumping which made working conditions difficult_ constantly blowing hair into the models face and my lighting equipment. My assistant 
 (I advise that everyone has an assistant especially when working on location) had to hold all the equipment.

I was aiming for a mix of styles with this shoot as Bianca's Target market is girls aged 16 to about 30, i mixed a combination of lifestyle in with editorial fashion- l strongly believe that lifestyle shots are great to sell a product such as clothing as prospective clients can picture themselves in the clothing, if the clothing is too fashion orientated it could be too intimidating for a young girl. 

I used a very harsh light source - no softbox or diffusers so as to stick with the very moody feel we were going for and then shooting on manual mode - I underexposed the scene by about 2-3 stops to make the background very dark and eliminate or put less emphasis on any unwanted elements - such as the buildings cars and shops in the background. I then pumped a very powerful flash at high power onto the subject making the model pop out into the picture. I asked the assistant to keep the light quite high and close to subject in order to make harsh shadows under the models chin - making the pics look quite raw and giving dimension and shape.

Problems we encountered while shooting: Models found it difficult to balance on the beam and walk on the corrugated roof which made posing tough, I also ran out of battery on my lights toward the end of the shoot and had to tone down the power of the flash as we finished up."

Paul attached some images and they were specifically chosen by him to show:

(below)  ---> "how crazy the wind was"

(top)  ---> "how dark the background is when the flash goes off and other shows the sh*!!y (Paul's words not mine) the background looks without the flash".

(top) ---> shot with toned down flash.

(top) ---> the lifestyle element 

(top) ---> shows fashion editorial element

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I also asked him about his website and in typical Paul fashion he replied: "Oh and my website is currently bubbalaas -  in the process of constructing a new one but I'm building numbers with my Facebook page if you can get the peeps to go join. PR also asks "if any one is keen to assist on weekdays for a personal project called rainbow nation, just an hour or so here and there when I'm in the area".

Contact Paul on--->  paul.reichle@gmail.com  or "be-friend" him on his facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Reichle-Photography/236837686843

 

Bianca Kim's facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bianca-Kim-Clothing/118744504852516

Thanks Paul.

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influence

Imogen Cunningham

IC says: 
" Anybody is influenced by where and how he (or she) lives"...

www.brainyquotes.com 

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How do you as a Photographer reveal this?

Imogen 1973 • analogue • large format

more images: buka lapha

liza 2011 • digital • blackberry camera • photoshop

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time

The only reason for time...

is so that everything doesn't happen at once

Albert Einstein

http://thinkexist.com/quotations/time/

imogen cunningham

buka lapha 1: TIME

buka lapha 2: nicole & imogen

buka lapha 3: jacki's 2011

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4am

"At 4 in the morning Photography takes on
a new meaning"

Paulo Menezes (year1)

Sent via OUR BlackBerry's from Cyberspace- let our emails find you!

  I checked 'recent updates' on my bbm @ about 6am this morning. The quote above was Paulo Menezes's status. It caught my attention _ especially the 'new meaning' part, so I asked Paulo to share his experience with me via email/bb so that I could share it with you.

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 This is what Paulo wrote about 'new meaning': 

building 1

building 2

"Well, every time I shoot at sunrise (which should be more frequent) its a surreal experience. The rate at which light changes and the changes it brings about on the subjects is amazing. I think I was also grabbed by the nature of the building -how IT, as well as the light had the power to span/transport one back to previous architectural era's (see above).  I would say that my bbm status was mainly based on me witnessing the transition between 3am and 6am, between which a series of images were captured, and how this change is not merely a time lapse but potentially a laps through time itself.

Here is PM's Blurb about his 'experience' and 'thinking': 

"Yesterday I tagged along with my mom to Umhlanga in search of a 'photograph-able' building for the 'Architecture' part of my portfolio. Prior to this, I had had no luck in the Durban area - I found it very cramped and couldn't seem to find a suitable vantage point to correctly photograph a building, which is a pity 'cuz Durban has really beautiful structures (I think I need to further develop my skill in this department). So, I headed to Umhlanga with a modern building in mind (either Coastlands Hotel or one of the many office buildings in the area). 

building 3

 As I did not plan this trip (my mom had to drop off a document to clients in the area), I found myself setting up my tripod at 12 o' clock, not ideal as the sun had just come out of it's week-long hiding and was very harsh. This made exposure very difficult, with either silhouetted buildings or over-exposed skies. On the way back, we passed the Moses Mabhida stadium. I saw a small building on the outer fields surrounding the stadium which caught my eye... Which brings me to this morning (excuse the extensive intro). SO, I had planned to get up at about 5/5:30am - forgetting that summer is here and the sun rises much earlier. Luckily I had visited WeatherSA last night, after which I found myself setting my alarm clock to 3:45am (uncharted territory for both me and my bedside clock). I headed down to the stadium and got there at about 4:30am this morning. The sun hadn't risen yet but it was still fairly bright. I got to the building that I had seen and set up. It was a short wait for the first light to fall on the glass front at about 4:45/50'ish. And...well, the rest of the story lies in the images..


Attached:
1 - The building, just below the south end of the stadium.
2 - I altered the colours slightly to enhance a feeling of 'The Great Gatsby' or '1970's New York' that I immediately felt as I framed the shot through the viewfinder (I hope I have the right era).
3 - I couldn't help swivelling my tripod head toward the stadium as it takes on a pink tint for a few minutes of the day.

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see more of PM's images on his blog_ click below

buka lapha

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words make images

ying and yang tagged over with a smiley

(DIKSON)

Slam Poet, DIKSON is one of the poets performing at the Poetry Africa, organized by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of Natal). I had a chance to watch him perform today and was inspired by how his poetry formed clear visual images in my head... I was intrigued... Thoughts and questions ran through my head... about the relationship between text and image... like...Do pictures speak louder than words? Can one listen to words without forming pictures? Photography as text... Text as Photography... Text and Photography... possibilities of being poetry inspired.

----> watch Dikson's YouTube Video above

I formed some incredible images from Dikson's words.  I made photographs in my head with the help of Photoshop with no camera! Here are some of my favorite words from the poem in the video above.

• "turns people into salt and runs blood through drainpipes?  
• "tears forming blue pearls where the eyelids would touch", 
• " his breast pocket was where he kept his rainbows and confetti" 
• "add a slash of colour to dimly lit rooms" 
• "slouched back in his chair, leaning on the weakest leg hoping that maybe he might fall and lighten the mood" 

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 Get more familiar with "slam" by clicking on the "buka lapha's" below.

• What is poetry slam? 
• What is a poetry slam?
•  Who gets to participate?
•  What are the rules? 
• Are the rules the same from slam to slam?
•  Who organizes slams?

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 lingering words by Dikson

" somethings are too big to describe so trust your eyes and what ever it is that makes you smile" 

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The essence of storyboards and brainstorming.

process Process process

Passing on inspiration from one of my favorite sites...

 

 

buka lapha

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..the Power of Inspiration

Jerome Kemraj asks:

Inspiration is POWERFUL! Can you handle it?

On a lazy Saturday morning (yesterday), I had a long bbm chat with Jerome Kemraj [JK] from 2nd year. He asked me to check out his new blog entry. Here are parts of our chat (edited):

JK: Check out my blog...posted 2 pics from Fridays (yesterday) studio shoot...

Me: Morning_ I am awake? Ru? Pls send me blog link_ can't find it! Dying to looky see

JK: Hehehe

JK: I am awake...woke up just 2 mins ago

JK: http://image-core.blogspot.com

JK: Enjoy

JK: Comment

JK: Follow

JK: Share

Me: Yipx5

Me: "symbols:(see screen munch RIGHT) = inspired

JK: I'm really glad you're inspired by it!
JK: I didn't know my work would inspire my own lecturers :O
Me: Why not we PEOPLE 2 u know_ we are learners like u and need creative input from interactions...

 WELL Jerome YOU inspired me and yesterday afternoon I started my 3rd BLOG (which I have been wanting to for a long time), the trilogy to osmosis webloging: osmosisLIZA ---> making sense of the movement between...

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(HIS story)

 Below is a wonderful personal account

of JK's photoshoot. 

--------> keep reading

aquatic apparition

So yesterday, I got in the studio and gave my friend Elche` a buzz. I was not really planning to do much, just a close up picture of her makeup for a beauty shot.  I got started by shooting some randoms, just to get her comfortable and to secretly setup my lighting ratios correctly. I don't want to look like a complete rookie in front of her. When I got the shots I wanted... it was time to say our goodbyes, but my creative juices started flowing again so I decided a second round of shooting was in order! I tried as many poses as possible with slight changes to my lighting. 380 pics and 4 hours later, and the shoot was over.  I rushed home and imported the pics onto my hard drive and probed the folder looking for something interesting to spend the next 4 hours working on. When I saw the base image that formed the 'Aquatic Apparition' I knew then and there that this was going to be it. I guess I was inspired by some of my wedding pictures that I shot some time back with brides immersed in water.

Being surrounded by an element that has no colour or taste, taking that and bringing life and mystery within it, gave me a strong platform to work on. I wanted to capture an 'AWAKENING' of beauty within a tasteless and colorless environment and take it further by introducing cold tones to contrast the mood a bit. I was really amazed with my outcome and I came to realize that sometimes 'Planning' a shoot isn't the best idea. By planning your shoot in detail, you immediately limit yourself to what you are going to do on the day of the shoot. Rather think of an idea > execute that idea > work from that idea and sprout new creativity that is totally unrelated to your initial idea. Be inspired by your creativity. It's amazing.

JK's links:
My blog: image-core.blogspot.com
My Facebook Fan Page : http://www.facebook.com/pages/ImageCORE/119281938139497
My Twitter Page: http://twitter.com/JeRRy_TotZ

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shadows and reflections

A photograph is always invisible, 

it is not it that we see. 

Roland Barthes

Liza_ reflection on car bonnet

What do we see? In my Viscom1 lecture this week I spoke about lighting.  I mentioned to the first years that how even though light is the essence of photography (writing with light) one should also make a visual note of what happens with the 'after effects' of how and where light falls iow look at shadows and reflections|snoitcelfer.

Mbuso

I wanted to share an image sent by first year Mbuso_his image and email has inspired this blog post. This is what M wrote: "Your reflection pic really inspired me, so i work up this morning and shot mine, then went to photoshop and worked on it a lil..."

buka lapha_1

[Mbuso's Blog] 

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some thoughts on what 
shadows and reflections 
 may suggest --->

(MAC DICTIONARY)

shadow

• a dark area or shape produced by a body/object coming between rays of light and a surface 
• silhouette, outline, shape, contour, profile
• reference to proximity (nearness in space time or relationships)
• ominous (foreboding/something bad might happen) oppressiveness_threat
• can suggest sadness and gloom_ twilight, shade, murkiness
• reference to something insubstantial or fleeting 
• reference to a position of inferiority or obscurity 
• the slightest trace of something _crumb, scrap
• a weak or inferior remnant (left over) version of something 
• an inseparable attendant or companion (faithful shadow) _ alter ego, second self, close friend OR enemy
• a person secretly following and observing another
•  a person who accompanies someone in their daily activities at work in order to gain experience at or insight into a job.  

liza 2008

liza 2008

lauren 2010

chillies 2010

 reflections

• the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it_ casting 
  
• a thing that is a consequence of or arises from something else_ mirror, likeness 
  
• serious thought_ belief, feeling,
• consideration_ comment, observation
• an idea about something_ impression, conclusion

dena 2009

nicola 2008

yandisa 2007

gcobisa 2010

martin 2008

martin 2008

Please email me some of your images that show reflections and have a strong emphasis on shadows so I can add them to this collection.

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4 an EGGperience  

click links below

buka lapha_2    [Remember the Egg]

buka lapha_3    [Screaming Eggs if you're going to make breakfast]

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Get It Magazine: Jacki Bruniquel

article on me and my work (blush)

 ex DUT student • part time lecturer  • inspiration

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KZNSA: Angela Buckland

TURN (our) GAZE INWARDS

On www.dut.ac.za,  Vice Chancellor Bawa states: "My decision to suspend the academic programme on Monday 25 July is underpinned by the need to put in place measures that will ensure that the University returns to a state of sustainable peace and stability – without which the pursuit of knowledge is impossible. "  

---> background to the student protests and suspension of the academic programme.

buka lapha 1

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... and YES the 

academic programme has been suspended indefinately till further notice

however 

that doesn't mean one should not take the opportunity to "pursuit knowledge" independently_ get to the Galleries... gather your peers, friend and camera... go explore all things Photographic.

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Angela Buckland [AB]

www.artthrob.co.za

One of the recent exhibitions @ the KZNSA features the photographic works of Durban Photographer, Angela Buckland.  Over the years, AB focus has shifted. In her earlier work she observed, responded and commented on the outer world; but the realities of being a mother has turned her gaze inwards...

---> to view AB's other exhibitions 

buka lapha 2

AB's recent exhibition entitled: LOCATION - Block A, Thokoza Women’s Hostel is an installation comprised of 700 small  photographs and is on show from 26 July - 20 August 2011.

www.nsagallery.co.za

www.nsagallery.co.za

---> to view more thumbnails of recent exhibition

buka lapha 3

BLURB from AB (sourced from www.nsagallery.co.za): 

"Thokoza Women's hostel was the first African women's hostel built in 1925 in South Africa.This new work is the sister version of a previous work completed in 2002, the oldest men's hostel in Durban, Block A, Jacobs Men's Hostel. I have been drawn to these environments because of their unnatural and complex histories. I am interested by detail, emblematic of a universal need to humanize space. I have photographed each and every resident's bed or some artefact in their bed space. The photographic strategy adopted for both artworks was to take one frame within a couple of seconds and record a trace that marks some form of humanity..." 

---> to continue reading...

buka lapha 4

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GLOSSARY

What does humanity and 'to' humanize mean?

...these words refer to the human race • human beings collectively • the fact or condition of being human • human nature • care • dignity • kindness • brotherly love • charity • understanding • sympathy •  

human culture (literature, history, art, music, and philosophy)

trace:

to find or discover by investigation
• find or describe the origin/development of • follow or mark the course or position of (something) with one's eye, mind, or finger

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?'s 2u

How do these photographic works record a trace that marks some form of humanity? 

What elements in these photographs would consider to be a trace? 

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