Surrealism :: Part 2

As promised in my last entry, I have uncovered a few past surrealistic images that I created back in 2001-2003.  I used my own images, as well as clip art images, and using old photo editing software, I created some pretty interesting pictures. Most images had meaning to me at the time I created them.  Some images were just simply created for visual impact.  As you can tell, these images are very different to the images I have created in the last 3 years.  Enjoy!

Surrealism > noun: an avant-garde 20th-century movement in art and literature which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images

When I took art history back in the golden days of college, I was given a chance to see art change in so many different ways from the very beginning of our existence.  Artists always seemed to go through a new period and style of art, evolving from the last artistic movement or coming up with a completely new and dramatic art style.

Surrealism grew out of the first World War our of Paris.  It was used as for expression of revolutionary movements at that time and used elements of shock, surprise and various juxtapositions of images. The use of surrealism in many different art forms affected not only the art world its self, but political and philosophical ways of thinking.  For further boring art history reading, google surrealism.  I dare you!

When I worked on my 365 project 3 years ago, about a 1/3 of the way through, I realized I was incorporating a good deal of surrealistic-type images into my photography.  As I have said before, I hate to use heavily photoshopped images and when I would create any manipulation type images, I would keep it simple and plan the photography, so that very little needed to be done in post production.

As for the meaning behind the images?  Not everything an artist creates has to have meaning.  Sometimes it is a meaning only the artist understands.  Perhaps the artist wants the viewer to find their own meaning.  Personally, when I create certain surrealistic-type images, I go for the "wow" factor.  The more crazy, creepy or just plain weird, the better for me.

In most cases, the point of creating fantastic images is to test the limits of skill and creativity.  The mantra is usually, "What crazy crap can I come up with today?"  Back in high school, I created what I thought were real true pieces of surrealistic craziness.  A mesh of juxtapositioned images that had no business being together in the same image, some pieces did tell a story or have some sort of meaning and some were just plain weird. (I will have to do a follow up to this blog and post examples of my old work when I dig it up from a CD.)

It is most definitely true when you hear about artists going through phases in their artwork.  At this moment when I look back through my 365 project, as well as my current 52 weeks project, I notice how my pictures go through various styles and emotions.  Right now, my style is out in nature and capturing the reality of my world in the world.  Maybe I need to jump back into the weird reality of surrealism.  I will make it my goal in the second half of my 52 weeks.

~Rachel



Artistic Spark to photographing the everyday, ordinary world

The world is full of interesting subjects and amazing photo opportunities.  Photographing moving subjects and certain events that you have no control over, prove to be a fun challenge with a hint of the old "right place, at the right time" luck.  Understanding your camera settings and having them ready for the particular situation which you intend to snap pictures in, will give you an advantage in capturing the awesome moments in life.



The Artistic Angle

I love taking more of the candid type of images, with an element of artistic thrown in.  For me this means a different perspective, making the subject pop with shallow depth of field (DOF), or later in editing by making the image black and white or altering the color a bit.

Usually if time is on my side, I search for these artistic images.  Sometimes I have to be patient and trust me, I have missed out on countless amazing photos because I was not fast enough.  Sometimes it is necessary to have the camera glued to your face, because 9 times out of 10 the moment you lower the camera, the moment happened and is gone.

Not ALL images will be artistic, but they will at least tell a story

Creating an element of storytelling is sometimes hard for me to do, as well as capturing the photojournalistic images at the moment it happens.  This usually happens because I am there myself in that point in time and since I am experiencing that moment, why bother to snap a picture? 

I have learned that: A: memory fades and you never remember a moment the way it happened in the same way that a picture represents the past. B: other than the people around you at the time, no one else was there to experience the moment. Pictures are a way to share knowledge and experiences. 

In my ever-growing photography adventures, I have learned to snap away, regardless of how lacking they are in eye-catching wonder.  When I look back at some of the images I have taken, not seeing any real artistic merit, I am glad I did for the storytelling aspect.



The Art of Resisting Gravity

Other than possessing the actual ability to physically fly or float, it is no secret on how to create zero-gravity images. The two techniques that I am aware of and have used in my photography to create interesting or appealing images are either: the levitating trick or just plain jumping! 

The Magic of Levitating

I am not special or physically fit to be able to jump into nifty positions in order to appear like I am floating.  I also hate to heavily photoshop an image because: 

A:  it looks tacky

B: I don't believe in hard core editing being called a work of photography...they are just plain image manipulations.

In order to achieve the image I see in my mind and to not spend hours upon hours "manipulating" a photograph, I use the levitating trick.  Simply put, I lay or position myself on a small, stable, easy to edit object (chair, ottoman, table, box, ect.) and take a self portrait.  The key to making this trick work flawlessly (and with as little editing as possible) is to not move the camera, to shoot in a manual mode as to not change the camera settings and to work quickly if you have changing natural light.

After I shoot the SP, I then take a picture of the background behind me, sans myself and the object.  When I edit, I simply combine the two images into one window in PS with separate layers.  I keep the image of myself on the top layer and add a mask. Then I use my paintbrush to "erase" the object supporting me...and suddenly, I look as if I'm floating!

Depending on the complexity of the background or lighting, I may have to add on to a shadow, as pictured above. Or I may have to make sure the edges on a body part are clean and realistic...no fuzzy edges or it will look fake, as pictured in the two images below.

The Art of Jumping (and not looking stupid)

Jumping may seem like an easy way to get the "Look Ma! I can fly!" apperance, however when it comes to self portrait shooting, do not be fooled by the power of a fast camera (10 seconds can fly by!), way-off timing and out of shape leg muscles. If you do not have every thing timed and are ready for the camera, a mid air jump will be 2 inches from the ground with a disgruntled look on your face from forcing your body to jump into the air. 

The key is a fast shutter speed to freeze you in mid-jump, a remote is really helpful in order to have time to be in place for the jump, and takes lots and lots of shots! Once you get the timing down on a self timer or you can use the remote to take the picture once you are in the air, you may review your images and think, "I look goofy!".  It will happen, trust me.  You do not realize the facial expressions you get when you concentrate on jumping at the right time and trying to jump high!

It took me dozens and dozens of captures to get this image to come out the way I wanted, and yet I think my face still looks awkward. Needless to say, my legs were sore after catapulting myself off of a park bench for this shot.

Although the images may look like jumping shots (well, duh...they are!), I think they still add an interesting element in photos and create movement in an obvious still image.

Anytime that I get to clone and make one image turn into a better image, I go for it!

 

The Perfect Jump Shot? A real person!

As much as I like to keep my self portraits...well you know, a "true" self portrait....sometimes a little help on the other side of the camera taking the image at the right time, is always a good thing!

Photo taken by my awesome sister, Susan Austgen 

Photo taken by my amazing boyfriend and talented fellow photographer, Eric Hurst

~Rachel

Telling a story with pictures

When I was young, pictures had a big impact on my little imagination.  Even when I could read, I would rather look at the pictures to form the story, as opposed to reading the content.  I am a very visual person, so it comes naturally for my eyes to process pictures like it is a second language.  This skill has developed into a positive aspect when it comes to creating my own picture "stories".  It is no lie when they say a picture is worth a thousand words, as cliche as it may sound.  Think about it....flip open any magazine or book and locate a picture.  Without looking at text or captions, focus on the picture and start to ask questions: what is happening in the picture? What happened before the picture was taken? If people are involved, who are they and what are they doing?  A  photojournalistic approach to taking images will capture more than just a picture.  It will capture emotion, information, excitement, and of course, a story.

 Sometimes, the most simple image can tell a more complex story, depending on how you look at it and the subject involved.

  

Photojournalistic images capture news or events, but they also capture mood and emotion.

Although it is hard for a camera to capture the actual size and vastness of a storm or the feeling of weather, a good image will paint a decent story for the viewer.

Conceptual story telling images are my favorite kind of pictures to create. 

~Rachel