Master Photographer - Karl Blossfeldt

Karl Blossfeldt was a botanist and photographer in turn-of-the-century Berlin. His entire photographic output is devoted to plant parts: twig ends, seed pods, tendrils, leaf buds, etc. These he meticulously arranged against stark backgrounds and photographed in magnification, so that unfamiliar shapes from the messy vegetal world are revealed as startling, elegant architectural forms.

Self Portrait, 1895

A master photographer who inspired me to specialize in Close-Up (Macro) Photography...and here is a famous quote from him.

 

"My botanical documents should contribute to restoring the link with nature. They should reawaken a sense of nature, point to its teeming richness of form, and prompt the viewer to observe for himself the surrounding plant world.” – Karl Blossfelt

 

To look at more of his work you can visit his website at:

http://www.karlblossfeldtphotos.com/

Maidenhair Fern, 1928

Monkshood, 1928

Information: http://www.profotos.com/education/referencedesk/masters/masters/karlblossfeldt/karlblossfeldt.shtml

Self Portrait 1895: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Karl_Blossfeldt_1895.jpg
Monkshood 1928: http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/tag/karl-blossfeldt/
Maidenhair Fern 1928: http://standrewsrarebooks.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/photo-eye-new-photobook-acquisitions-in-special-collections/

Master Photographer - Imogen Cunningham

Cunningham turned her attention to both the nude as well as native plant forms in her back garden. The results were staggering; an amazing body of work comprised of bold, contemporary forms. These works are characterized by a visual precision that is not scientific, but which presents the lines and textures of her subjects articulated by natural light and their own gestures. Her refreshing, yet formal and sensitive floral images from the 1920’s ultimately became her most acclaimed images.

Self Portrai 1974

A Quote from the One and Only and who inspired me to specialize in Flora Photography!

"I don't think there's any such thing as teaching people photography, other than influencing them a little. People have to be their own learners. They have to have a certain talent."

If you want to see her art work, you can go to her website...
http://www.imogencunningham.com/

Calla Lilies 1925

Magnolia 1925

Information: http://www.photographywest.com/pages/cunningham_bio.html

Self Portrait 1974: http://www.photoliaison.com/Imogen_Cunningham_Published/index.htm

Magnolia 1925: http://grainsoflight.tumblr.com/post/1305946510

Calla Lily 1925: http://www.artnet.com/artwork/426176717/424105897/imogen-cunningham-two-callas.html

Specialists

Next year (3^rd Year) we had to choose two specialists. I knew what I wanted to specialize in, Flower Photography, but my second specialist was the problem I didn’t have any idea what my second specialist was going to be. Then I started to think what other category I enjoy. I went through all my past photographs and then a light bolt went on, Black & White Photography, perfect!

We had to do a specialist proposal. Where we had to say why we chose the specialist that we did and it wasn’t an easy task. We also had to choose a master photographer for each specialist which was so fun to do research on.

Flower Photography

Imogen Cunningham - She became one of the major photographers of the last century. She established her own studio in 1910. In 1932, Imogen, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and others, founded Group f/64. Imogen soon turned her attention to both the nudes as well as native plant forms in her back garden. These works are characterized by a visual precision that is not scientific, but which presents the lines and textures of her subjects articulated by natural light and their own gestures. Her refreshing, yet formal and sensitive floral images from the 1920’s ultimately became her most acclaimed images.

Imogen Cunningham - Self Portrait

Image - Calla Lilies



http://www.noevalleyvoice.com/2010/July-August/Leo.htm (Self Portrait)

http://sharonsdaughter.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/ (Image)

Black & White Photography

Josef Sudek - He was born on March 17, 1896 in Kollin. He studied bookbinding in Prague and enjoyed photography. During WWI he was on the Italian front where he also was taking photographs. He was hit by a grenade and lost his right arm. Because he could no longer work as a bookbinder, he focused on photography. He was a member of the Prague Amateur Association of Photographers. He studied photography at a graphic school under Professor Karel Novák. He photographed veterans at Invalidovna, still life’s, portraits and landscapes. In 1932, he had his first independent exhibit in Prague. He died on September 15, 1976 in Prague.

Josef Sudek - Self Portrait

Image - Studio

http://www.igalerie.cz/en/graphics-en/portfolios-etc/93-portfolio-josef-sudek (Self Portrait)

http://laurietobyedison.com/discuss/?p=783 (Image)

Portfolio - 3 November 2010

Sorry everyone I haven't posted in a while been so busy but I'm going to try my best to blog more and let you guys know whats happening.
Here is my portfolio:

Advertising Still Life

Architecture Magazine

Child at Play

Documentary

Environmental Portrait

Extrior Architecture

Fashion - Location

Fashion - Studio

Formal Portrait

Glasware

Interior Architecture

Macro Jewellery

Metal

Soccer World Cup 2010 Montage

Nature

Perfume Advert

Self Portrait

Senses

Sunrise

Urban Landscape

Hope you like it and let my know what you think about my portfolio...

CRIT 6 - 28 September 2010

1. Metal/Stainless Steel:
Here I didn't want to do what everybody else is going to do like cutlery. I decided on using my dads coins that he collected on his trips around the world. For my background I decided to use a world map to emphasize the different currencies. 

2. Advertising Still Life:

I not a big fan of advertising but it is one of the popular ways to go in photography. I knew that I wanted to use coffee beans but the hard part is, what to do with the coffee beans, so I did the Google thing and did some research. I found cool ideas and tried to the same but just put a bit of me in it.

3. Macro Jewellery:

This was another favorite assignment of mine because it is macro. The thing was what to photograph? I knew I wanted to use a ring never thought it would be so difficult but it seemed to workout at the end of the day.

4. Glassware:

We did this assignment a lot last year but luckily they said we can be creative which made it more fun. My original plan didn't work out as I wanted it to be, so I did plan be. Here I didn't really have an idea I just payed around using different glassware and background plus what props to use. I think the final photograph came out nicely.

 

 

5. Self Portrait:

This was another online crit that we had. Subject - Me holding 2 heads... The heads has different expressions because us girls can have one of those days that we are moody...  I have the flowers on my eyes because I want to specialize in Fine Art Flower Photography.
Background - I situated myself in a garden because this is were my passion for Fine Art Flower Photography began.