Dariusz Stelmaszuk

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New Topographic Movement Research

The new topographic movement was a term first used by William Jenkins in 1975, which described a group of photographers who all shared a similar banal aesthetic – In the way that they were organised, prints of an urban landscape that had a clinical almost empty feel to them.

The “New Topographic movement” was born in the mid 70s with an exhibition which was curated by William Jenkins at the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House. This characterised a key moment in American landscape photography and would further go on to influence other photographer around the globe for years to come.

However it had a sort of bad reaction from viewers when looking at the work as they remarked words such as :

“I don’t like them—they’re dull and flat. There’s no people, no involvement, nothing.”

“I don’t like to think there are ugly streets in America, but when it’s shown to you—without beautification—maybe it tells you how much more we need here.”

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/post-war-american-art/postwar-photography/a/new-topographics

Some new photographers who were linked to the new topographic movement, were inspired by the man made, urban and almost dystopian in subject matter. This would include, but not limited to Parking lots, suburban housing and warehouses. These subject matters where photographed with an almost beautiful aura and depiction of the urban landscape, almost like early photographers photographed the very first natural landscapes.

Since 1975 "New Topographics" photographers such as Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Hilla Becher, Frank Gohlke, Nicholas Nixon, and Stephen Shore - have influenced photographic practices regarding the landscape around the world with their images.

Although it received unenthusiastic reception in 75, the new topographic movement has been enormously influential in contemporary photography, in terms of it’s a attention to detail and architecture and its cool empty subject matter. So much so, to a testament to its importance to the photographic world, the original exhibition was reinstated in 2009 which is a demonstration of its historical importance.

Below are some modern interpretations of the early work of the new topographic movement :

Sources :

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/post-war-american-art/postwar-photography/a/new-topographics

https://www.featureshoot.com/2017/06/18-new-topographics-photos-made-1970s/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Topographics

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Troy Paiva - Painting with light research

Troy Paiva

One of the photographers I have chosen to research is Troy Paiva as I find his work on light paint truly eye captivating. Troy Paiva has done light painting photography since the late 1980s and has since become an influential figure in the world of light painting photography, publishing a number of books on the subject. He discussed that what draws him to locations is the sense of isolation and loneliness,

“I love the surreal feeling of wandering through an abandoned subdivision, alone, in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night. Your senses become heightened and you feel the weight of time.”

Around 2005, Paiva shot on 35mm chrome film with a Kodak 160T but has since switched to the Canon 20D & 60D with a wide angle lens, typically shooting with an ISO of 100 or 200 at f/5.6 or f/8 and shutter speeds between 2 - 8 minutes. He also doesn’t use any bigger lights with stands, umbrellas or sync cables, preferring to use one hand-held source, such as a torch or LED light.

Some of Paiva’s images shown below show objects he has found in the desert, and the intensely creative way he lights them. I find the way he uses strong coloured light inside or reflecting of the objects in the frame, work really well with the cold tones of the desert at night. This is something I may want to try for my own lighting the dark task.

https://lostamerica.com

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Lockdown City Images

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Sense Of Place Finals !

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Photojournalism

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Lockdown City Research

When Covid 19 broke out across the globe news owlets started to pickup on the increases cases and started to report on the news. From the very begging of the outbreak the different news outlets in different countries started to portray different views about the virus mainly due to political views or radical idealists. For instance in China the news of this new virus was only broadcast to other nations in late January, however it was discovered that they knew about the virus earlier in 2019, as early as November 2019. 

In Scotland there had been support from the majority of the public and newspapers that Nicola Sturgeon (First Minister) has made the right decisions to make the country as safe as possible for everyone, including social distancing, mandatory masks and other proven techniques. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54615683

The overall opinion of her decisions on the virus have been positive and she has the support of the public and news outlets. However, in the USA the public opinion of Donald trumps Covid decisions has been split, as at first he said it was “Fake News” and continued to ignore the problem as Europe shut down. He even suggested injecting bleach or disinfectant to get rid of the virus.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52407177

  So much to say that his overall support for him and his decisions have hit record lows and some news outlets ripped him apart. 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-coronavirus-idUSKBN26T3OF

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Lockdown Contact Sheets

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People Make Glasgow Worksheet

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Say What You See !

Kelvingrove Task 

In this brief we have been asked to take a closer look at an image or painting at the Kelvingrove art museum as say what you see, not your opinions or feelings on the piece. It is an exercise in observation and not analysis. 

In this painting we see a lot of people offering gifts to a godlike figure in the centre of the image. There is also a lot of flowers and food and bushes surrounding the edges of the image. We also see babies or “angles” putting a crown on the goddess and other angles flying around this image. We see people half dressed in robes which is typical for the time of the painting (1630 / 32) The colour of the trees and shrubs is of a dark green colour which could suggest this is a painting of summer/autumn time. The painting depicts,  behind the trees, a wide open space almost In the middle of nowhere. 

The painting is made from oil on canvas and has a lot of texture on the painting which can be seen better in person, and in a addition the frame is made from wood and is painted gold with lots of small detailed carvings in it. 

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Street Level Photo Review : Oscar Marzaroil

CastlemilkBoys

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People Make Glasgow Canvas

This is my final for the people make Glasgow brief, placed on the canvas, however I want to reshoot this brief and try different focal lengths and different perspectives. However I think this is a good start. 

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People Make Glasgow Research

See the story

People Make Glasgow Research

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Evaluation Personal Project

Evaluation Personal Project

Dariusz Stelmaszuk – HND1A

Coronavirus:

Due to the events of the 2020 Coronavirus I was not able to complete my original idea, I then came up with a plan and idea which I could carry out under the new laws and restrictions in place. I made a new plan on Tumblr where I fully detailed my new plan to capture the events of the coronavirus on my local area.

Action Plan:

For my personal project, after having to change my idea I decided I wanted to shoot the effects of the coronavirus and the impact it was having on my local area. My aim was to explore the economic and social aspects that had changed and what has changed around me, through family, local shops etc. I felt a little rushed into coming up with a new idea and plan after having already made one from before the virus, so I feel now looking back my aim isn’t as clear as I first thought. For this project I looked at some photographers that had detailed there experiences first hand of the coronavirus, I then made a Tumblr post about there images and what I had taken from them.

Preparation and Early Research:

In my initial ideas for the updated plan, I had decided that I wanted to create a documentary like feel to my final ten images. After the first shoot, to have the desired effect that I wanted I decided to edit the finals from the first shoot in black and white. However, upon further research I decided to change my editing style and go for a more desaturated look, with a lot of texture to give that gritty urban feel to them. After the second shoot I decided this was the way I was going to edit my images and went back to re-edit the final images from shoot one. Furthermore, after researching how to make my images have more of a mood to them with the desaturated colours that I wanted, I came across a website that detailed how to do this, so I then used some of the techniques I had learned from this to make my images the best they could be. Overall, I am happy with the way I edited them and I am happy that I made the change from black and white to desaturated colours.

As for locations at first it was quite difficult as I couldn’t travel far under the restrictions of lockdown so had to come up with locations near my home that I could walk to, however as travel by car became relaxed towards the latter half of my project I decided to go into Glasgow City Centre which is only a 5 minuet drive from my home, to capture the effects of the coronavirus. I feel that I made a good decision to do this as I feel that I got some good shoots from doing this, however I feel that I could have went more that one time to get more shoots – Into the city centre. I felt that I should have done a recce as sometime was taken up exploring and taking shots. As for the other locations it was easy to shoot as it wasn’t busy due to the current circumstances.

Shoots and Development Throughout:

Throughout shooting this project I feel that my confidence in shooting and editing has grown a lot, I now feel confident in my editing abilities – As before I used to use pre-sets or do basic editing on photoshop, however now I am able to edit my images to the fullest own my own. As for the techniques that I used, as I stated before I wanted a documentary type feel to my images and through my research I feel that a lot of the shots are close/tight in so I used a 18-55mm lens and for some shots I used a 24-70mm lens so I could have the range in shots but have a mostly close in shots. However, I wish that I had a long telephoto lens for some of my shots to give a flatter perspective however I did not have accesses to one. I feel that this hampered the quality of my images as some of them more wide angled than I had hoped and I feel it impacts on the quality of my work.

As for shooting some of the portraits, I wish that I could have had a 50mm f/1.2 as I could have had more of the backgrounds out of focus. In addition I had to have a higher f/stop that originally intended as it was sunny on the shoots where I did my portraits, as if I had not did this some of my shots would have been very over exposed.

Reflect:

In this project I managed to overcome some massive hurdles that came my way however I do feel they impacted the result of my project.

-       Firstly, the coronavirus itself was a big issue as I had to change my entire plan, and I could not travel to all the locations I had indented to visit. I also think it hampered my performance when shooting my portraits as I could not get as close as I wanted to, and in addition to this I found it difficult to find people to model as they didn’t want to break social distancing rule, so I resorted to using family members. Lastly, I could not get the equipment that I wanted to use, meaning I had to use the limited recourses that I have on my own.

-       Secondly a few weeks into the project a close family member past away which affected me and so a week or two was lost, this put my back in my timeline. This meant that I didn’t get to shoot as many photoshoots as I had first hoped to.

-       Thirdly, my next-door neighbour’s house caught on fire on a day that I had planned to do some shooting, and so meant that again I was pushed back again in my timeline. Overall I am not happy with the amount of shoots that I manged to get completed and hoped to do a lot more however I did try my best to get as many done as possible.

Presentation:

For this project we had to finalise 10 final prints however due to the effects of the corona virus had been asked to submit the final images to my city instead, forgoing the final prints. However, I had planned what I would have done if I had been able to print my ten final images and how they would have been presented.

For my final submission prints I would have gone to Loxley Colour as they are a trusted and well-known brand and have a high-quality output. We have also visited Loxley Colour in Cumbernauld to see the printing process which gives me confidence in the final prints, if I had to print them.

For the prints I would have chosen A3 Sized Giclée Fine Art Prints as I feel that they have a high detail, good colour reproduction and tonality. In addition, Giclée Fine Art Prints have a long life which insures that the prints them self don’t degrade over time.  For the finish I would have picked Hahnemühle Fine Art Pearl 285gsm, as this gives a bright white pearl effect to my images which is like a glossy finish but doesn’t cause as much glare.

Conclusion:

In conclusion I am happy with my project, I put in a lot of effort and work into the final product even through a global pandemic. However, I feel forgoing some of the struggles I had throughout the project I could have walked away with a better outcome of ten final images. Personally I think my images show the main effects of the coronavirus, and have captured a moment in history that we hope wont happen again, however I wish I was able to invoke ten thought provoking images with deep impact, as I feel I have not done this. However, I have learned a lot throughout this project when it comes to editing and framing, and urban shooting and skills that I will take with me throughout my photographic journey. I think next time I want to stick to my timetable more, which will keep me more on track so hopefully I can get more shoots done.  

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Final Ten Shots & Evaluation For Each !

This image is of my grandparents wearing masks outside their home. Out of the ten final images, this one is my favourite as it is both personal to me but shows the effects that everyone else has to deal with also - i.e social distancing. I feel that it shows that during this time we need to stick together. I feel that it conveys a sense of love and family in a time of loneliness and social distancing. I like the way I have edited this image as it has the gritty urban look that I wanted from the start of this project, and I feel is the type of image that be used in a gallery etc. Overall I am very happy with this image, however if I was to reshoot this image I would have used a 50mm f/1.2 lens to have more of the background out of focus to have more of a focal point on my grandparents. 

This image is of one of my local charity shops that has had to close due to the coronavirus. I like the edit I have done in this image as the colours are desaturated yet aren't flat, which I think is a important point when desaturating images. I feel this image highlights the fact that every business is effected, and is even worse for this type of business as they cannot create donations for children in need during this time. I also like the texture and detail in this image as again it conveys how tired and worn down we all are by the virus. When shooting this image I wanted to create some sort of ambiguity by cutting off the store name, and having a closer in shot. Although I like that I have cut off the stores name I would have maybe liked to have it in the image if I was to do it again. I also would have liked to reshoot this image had have the camera higher up so less of the pavement is in the image as I feel it is a little distracting.   

Another image that I like out of my final images is the one of my niece sitting on her door step holding a sign showing the important message to stay at home/supporting the NHS. I like this image as it shows its important to get the message to everyone no matter their age, and get children involved. However with this image I feel that I would have liked to use a reflector however I do not have access to one, as I feel her face is a little dark. I tried to fix this in photoshop however it doesn't give the desired effect that I would have hoped for without the real thing. If I was to reshoot this image again I would have liked to have a reflector and also experiment more with different poses and more signs. 

in this image I feel that it has a closing in feel to it that links to the overall theme of my project of the coronavirus suffocating society. I cropped this image in to focus the viewers eye more on the shutters being closed on the shops and focus on the real tragedy of the situation. I also like the Chinese sign in the image and the colours as it adds a small pop of colour into the scene which I think was needed. However I think that I would have liked to use a telephoto lens as I have stated before to get a better perspective on the shutters, as I feel this is a little too close in. 

This image is of the man walking past the closed store with a mask. This image shows the economical effect of store closures of big brands, and as well as the social effect of face masks becoming a social norm to wear in public. I like this image a lot as it has a really gritty urban feeling to it and I think links really well with my project. However I think I could have done a lot more of images like this one however it was difficult not to get caught shooting as we were only allowed out for exercise. I think next time I would have to liked to shoot on a smaller f/stop to get more light into the lens as I feel it is a little dark, and the subject could have been more out of focus. 

This is another image that I like but isn my favourite of my ten images.  I like this shot of the empty street with no people around and no one driving cars down the street.  I like the lighting in this image and how it brings out the texture in the building and road. Also the cars at either side parked show people who stay in that area are staying home and no one is leaving, however there are no cars on the road show no one is travelling. This is an image you would not normally capture as this street is normally very busy with cars, busses and trucks buzzing past. But as I have stated above, I wish I had a telephoto lens which would give a better perspective and I could show the whole street from top to bottom, however I don’t have access to one. 

I like this shot as it is of my dad as he was a key worker before being furloughed, working for Glasgow City Council. I wanted to develop the personal aspect to my project as I had already shot my grandparents/niece and wanted to develop the idea of family members who are stuck at home or who still need to work.

For this shot again I wanted a gritty, desaturated look so I used the same techniques that I detailed in a earlier post to make to fit with the rest of my work for the project. I like that the vignette I added puts the focus of my dad in this image instead of the door behind him or any other aspect of the image. I also like the small splash of colour of his high visibility jacket I this image and which contrasts to the black, but also suggests that he's a key worker. I think next time I would have liked to use a variety of different backgrounds that would help put emphasis on my main theme of the coronavirus. 

This is an image that I like, however I don’t think its as strong as the rest of the images in my project due to the hidden meaning. This image as it shows an old, worn out car dumped on this street. Again I don't think it is very clear as to my project, however what the viewer cant see is that this was the only car in the street and it looks like it had been dumped there, as no one is using transport as much. I like the idea of the worn out car linking to how everyone is feeling during this crisis, as I feel everyone is worn out and tried, ready to get back to their normal lifes. Overall I like this image, but I think If I were to do my project again I would have picked a different image to take this image place as I don’t think it links as well as my other images. 

This is my second favourite image out of my project again due to the personal aspect of the subject being my grandparent. However I like the idea of her being stuck behind glass and trapped by the quarantine rules, unable to see her friends and family. I also again like the edit and textures I have added to this image as it makes it gritty and documentary looking which Is what I wanted when starting this project. However in this image I do not like the background as I feel its boring and distracting to the viewer and is something which I would have liked to change if I were to shoot this image again. 

This is my last image of the ten project images. I like this image as it has the focus on the building at the end of the deserted street, with no cars or people in the image. I also like that the traffic lights are at red and convey a sense of the world being at a stand still, and the fact that we cannot move from our homes or country right now and for the foreseeable future. I also like the edit that I have done in this image as again it brings out the textures in the road and buildings. However I do not like the roadworks in this image and I find it a little distracting, I also next time would have liked to use a tripod and shot this image from a high angle so to give a better perspective. 

Full Evaluation In Next Post

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Further Photographer Research

Throughout this project I have been looking at other photographers and furthering my research into this project, in particular I've been looking at photographers that have been documentarying there experiences with the coronavirus at first hand. Ive been studying them closely and some of there work has been influencing my final project.

The first photographer I looked at was Kasia Strek, she has been documenting her first hand experiences through the lens. 

https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2020/04/17/834245538/isolation-diary-photographers-document-their-experience-with-covid-19?t=1589809697757

Her images have a real sadness and despair feel to them, which I feel is conveyed through the imagery and editing style. In the first image a close relation to hers is pictured though glass wearing a mask, and has been confirmed to have the coronavirus. I get a real feel of sadness and fear in his eyes behind the glass, as he does not know what to expect. In her other two images it shows her vulnerability as she is seen visibly upset at the fact she is stuck inside and unable to her her partner during this time. I like these images for the simple, yet impactful imagery in them which is something I definitely took on board when shooting my project as I also captured the personal aspect. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-52486753

The next photographer I looked at was Colin Gray who documented NHS frontline workers and the stress they are under throughout lockdown and the corona crisis. I like these images as again they show the more personal side to the coronavirus showing the faces of the people saving the nations lifes. I like these images as the black and white edit makes the very punchy and gritty and is something I want to do to my images however I am not going down the black and white route. 

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Editing Techniques - Research

For my final ten images I have been editing them to have a slightly desaturated look and feel to them, however I would like to refine them, and make them have a mood to convey my themes that I have outlined. I decided to research into how to make them have more of a mood, however without making them look too edited. I came across a web page about desaturation and why you would add it to your images, and how to add other components to make gritty urban images. 

https://digital-photography-school.com/step-by-step-how-to-make-a-moody-desaturated-image-in-lightroom/

The webpage details step by steps for Lightroom, however you do the same effects in Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop, which is what I have been editing my images on for this project. 

Below is a before and after of ending one of images following some of the techniques discussed in the web page above. 

Before : 

After :

I am going to use of the techniques detailed in the webpage to make readjustments to my final images as I feel it gives them a real mood and a high quality finish.