Shape | Photography

Formal Elements: Shape

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Definition and Theory:

The definition of shape is an area enclosed by a line. It could be just an outline or it could be shaded in.
Shapes can be either geometric, like a circle, square or triangle, or irregular.
When drawing/photographing shapes, you must consider the size and position as well as the shape of the area around it. The shapes created in the spaces between shapes are referred to as negative space.

My Image Bank:

These photographs I have collected within my image bank all represent a type or form of shape. Some are geometric, whilst others have created a silhouette shape of different objects and people.

My Mind Map on Shape:

Photographer: Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy is a British Sculptor, photographer and environmentalist who produces site-specific sculptures and land art situated in natural and urban settings. He lived and works in Scotland. The materials used in Andy Goldsworthy's art often include brightly coloured flowers, icicles, leaves, mud, pinecones, snow, stone, twigs, and thorns. Photography plays a crucial role in his art due to its often ephemeral and transient state. I enjoy his work due to the natural elements and unique ideas that he uses within his artwork and photography.

Throughout his work there are very bright colours that have been highlighted through pure photos of nature. In my following photographs I am going to use Andy Goldworthy and his work as inspiration to capture different shapes within nature and the natural elements.

Photographer: Angie McMonigal

Angie McMonigal is currently living in Chicago and she has done for the last 15 years of her life. She grew up in in the centre of the small town Wisconsin, but claims she has always been drawn to big cities. In Angie McMonigal's style of photography she focuses on producing photos of different buildings and the theme of architecture. When asked 'What drew you to architecture as a subject of your work?' she says that 'growing up in such a small town, the stark contrast has been intriguing' Some elements of her work are seen as abstract and can create questions to what the photograph is presenting.

Throughout her work it is clear that she is cultivated a sense of composition. She claims to just follow 'what feels right when framing a shot'. This being how she captures this level of composition.

AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

My Contact Sheets:

Within my contact sheets I have highlighted my chosen best images in green to make them more visible. As well as highlighting my images needing improvements in red.

My Best Images (Non-Edits):

After creating contact sheets with my photographs I chose a number of images that I felt was presenting my best work and which focused well on the different types of shapes found within the images.

Images that need Improvements:

My Editing Process:

In these photographs I captured the focus of different shapes. However, I do not think they are very clear in some images of what shapes are being presented. Whereas in another photo, of the buttons and other objects, the focus isn't very clear as an overall image.

AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.

AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.

During my editing process I edited only a few images to be produced in black and white. Although, I also produced photographs in relatively high saturation when it was highlighting the shape correctly.

My Edited Images:

At the end of this topic formal elements, shape I feel as though I captured different a wide variety of shapes within everyday items/objects. I used the subjects of buildings located in Harlow and pieces of nature or objects found in my own garden to create my photographs. These were initially inspired by the photographers I researched before carrying out the production of my photographs.

AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.