In experimenting for this project I was particularly interested in creating shadows of different sizes using height of objects as well as distance between the objects and the light source. I found the the arrangement of objects also served to compliment or contrast with the shadow they cast as a body. The choice of color in the objects was also a crucial element for me. I liked the simplicity of using primary colors as to not fully distract from the main concept yet still add another layer of meaning. Experimenting with the light source was probably the most interesting challenge I faced during this project. I cut out different sized holes in black cardboard and mounted them infront of the light so create a sort of spotlight effect. This led to sharper shadows when the light was a significant distance from the set. This also meant that our main light source was very dim, but I think this worked well with the aspect of bed time stories. Overall I think we were successful at creating the atmosphere that we intended. The background of books served as an appropriate “canvas” for our shadows that in themselves created a narrative, although we had no specific story in mind when creating the set.
I find it interesting to view these photos just as they appear on the post, because there is a very natural fluidity to the books’ movement.
After browsing through all of your images, I was left wondering which image (or images) was your favorite choice if you had to choose a “final image”. I particularly enjoy the images that are close-up on the books with the shadows of the men lined up to fight and the elephant with its trunk up in the air. Immediately when I see these two or three images I am taken to a fantastical place that one can only feel connected to when reading a fairy-tale. However, these are not images from a happy story where people are skipping happily through flowers and colorful gusts of wind, rather images of dreadful moments where there is an element of danger. I feel that the antagonist of the story is about to enter the scene, and I am shivering in my boots! I think the fact that you do not have the actual objects in the image, only their shadows, leaves the viewer to use their imagination (much like a story-book!). Overall, very well-done!
A – 3
B – 2
C – 3
D – 2
E – 1
F – 2
I agree with Danielle. The way the photos are arranged on your blog are really compelling and actually quiet beautiful.
It’s hard to tell which images are your final photographs, if they are in there. But, I really like the way you used objects and shadows upon the books as backdrop. You communicated this idea of story telling within the still life, making it seem as if the characters from within the books themselves came alive upon the covers. I really like selection of colorful books–I think it creates a playful atmosphere that matches this story telling idea.
I can see why you’d initially be interested in exploring foil as a reflective material, but I think it was the better choice to leave them out in the end. They are not cohesive with the other elements and are a rather disruptive force in something that comes off more as playful and soft.
It would’ve been nice to see perhaps an array of books that made a longer and larger background and see how story-telling would’ve been portrayed. Maybe playing around a bit more with different camera angles would’ve been interesting to see instead of shots that mostly come from a downward looking angle.
A- 2
B- 2
C- 3
D- 2
E- 1
F- 1
A:3
B:3
C:3
D:2
E:2
F:2