3.3.1: Fine Art Photography

Digital Photography

Mrs. Strite

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3.7

Leonardo da Vinci was a procrastinator?

Portrait Photography & Assignment

Agenda

• Reminders & Review

• Assignment Preview

• Lesson

• Review of Assignment

Gallery

Digital Photo

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Check out these Assignment Examples

11/5

3.6: PORTRAIT Photography Assignment

Unit 3 Assignments

11/21

3.12: PRODUCT Photography Assignment

11/10

3.7: EXTRA CREDIT ACTIVITIES

• Abstract Photography
• Forced Perspective

OPTION to complete extra credit activities instead of 1 or both assignments!

3.6: Assignment

Choose 1 out of the 4 options:

• 👉CHOICE 1: Take photos that capture expression and emotions.
• Focus on natural expressions and authentic emotions to capture in your photo.

• 👉CHOICE 2: Take photos that capture experiences that are important to you by highlighting activities or moments.
• Decide whether you want to focus on an activity you enjoy—like playing a sport or hanging out with friends or family—or an event, such as a parade or celebration.

• 👉CHOICE 3: Take photos that capture a part of a culture or heritage, showcasing traditions, old or new.
• Decide whether you want to focus on a traditional celebration, a meal, a cultural activity, or something else that holds meaning for you.

• 👉CHOICE 4: Take candid photos of your pets or wildlife.
• Decide whether you want to focus on capturing your pet's personality or capturing wildlife in their natural habitat.

• You can choose to take candid (natural, unposed) or posed (planned, expressive) photos.

✅ What You’ll Submit:

• 2 original photos (focused on one theme).
• A short reflection explaining your choices and what your photos say about you.

Fine Art & Abstract Photography

3.7

start

• Fine art photography

• Minimalism
• Abstract photography

Learner's can:

• Identify the moods, emotions, and ideas captured in fine art photographs
• Identify things to consider before capturing fine art photographs
• identify tips and techniques that can be used to capture abstract photographs

Presentation title

"Your most important gear is your eye, heart, and soul"

Marius Vieth 21-time award-winning fine art photographer

The invention of photography is responsible for the rise of Impressionism, however, photography itself wasn't considered fine art 1940's. Before the 1940's, photography was primarily used as a tool to capture portraits and document history.

Earliest known photographs of people smiling!

Fine Art Photography

In the 1850s, the Photographic Society of London and the Societe Francaise de Photographie were established. Exhibitions showcased photographs aiming to shift perceptions of photography as an art form, though realism remained dominant.

Fine Art Photography

In the twentieth century, small galleries helped photography gain a reputation as fine art. Fine art photography has become one of the creative world's most well-known art forms, and photographers have now found their place among creative artists. Today, you can find photographers using different techniques, costumes and makeup, unusual settings, and digital techniques to create artworks that represent their unique styles and vision.

Fine Art Photography

Fine art emphasizes an artist's vision over technical skill, often breaking compositional rules. Historically, only painting and sculpture were deemed fine art, but now architecture, poetry, music, literature, dance, and photography are also included.

May Ray, Glass Tears,1932

Fine Art & Fine Art Photography

Fine art photography transcends realistic depiction, showcasing the photographer's vision and emotions. It prioritizes aesthetics over mere documentation, using the subject to convey ideas. If a photo prompts deeper reflection beyond its subject, it's likely a fine art piece.

Cabbage Leaf, by Edward Weston, 1930.

The Dissolving Landscape by Ella Morton

Her photographs examine climate change in the landscapes of Canada and Nordic Europe.

Tilting Storm (2018), Tilting, Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada Ella Morton

Blomstrandbreen (2016) , Blomstrandhalvøya, Svalbard, Norway,  Ella Morton

Types of Fine Art PHotogrpahy

Fine art photography provides photographers with an opportunity to utilize a variety of subjects to communicate their thoughts and emotions.While every genre of photography can be turned into fine artwork, there are two main, widely appreciated types of fine art photography:

• Portrait fine art photography
• Landscape fine art photography
• Abstract fine art photography

Fine Art Portrait

Every fine art portrait has its own story and meaning. Interpretations of a fine art portrait may vary from viewer to viewer, especially since unreal elements are often introduced. Often, a viewer's interpretation or enjoyment of a fine art photograph relies on a sense of personal connection to the photograph, a factor over which a photographer has little control. Still, a fine art photographer relies on a few common elements to express a distinct and unique vision. These may include:

• Backgrounds & creative lighting
• Unexpected or interesting locations
• Props to complement or contrast with the subject
• Unique editing styles

Fine Art Portraits

The purposes of fine art portraiture include making statements as an artist. This is unlike the purposes of traditional portraits and photojournalism which aim to capture realistic portraits of the subjects.

Every fine art portrait has a story & meaning

Interpretations of a fine art portrait may vary from viewer to viewer because we are all bringing our own views and story to the photograph. Often, a viewer's interpretation or enjoyment of a fine art photograph relies on a sense of personal connection to the photograph.

Untitled Film Stills, Cindy Sherman, 1977

Plain Backgrounds & Creative Lighting

Fine art portrait photography can be minimalistic, focusing on the subject without distractions. It often features plain backgrounds and dramatic lighting to draw attention. This image uses a black background with edge lighting on the face, emphasizing the subject as intended by the photographer.

Props

Sometimes props are additional elements of interest in a fine art portrait. As with location, props can be chosen to complement or contrast with the photograph's subject or story. The image on the left uses simple plastic as a prop, creating a portrait that draws attention to the lines and shapes of the subject's face.

Locations

If the concept needs a location, the photographer may select an interesting architectural spot or a place with great natural light. The photographer might also opt for an unusual location where the subject contrasts with the surroundings.

Editing Style

Editing allows photographers to enhance portraits, expressing emotions not in the original image. Fine art photography offers freedom in using editing tools for desired effects. In the image on the right, the photographer merged tree branches with a person’s portrait, prompting viewers to explore its meanings.

Fine Art Landscape Photography

We will learn more about landscape in Unit 4, but landscape photography attempts to capture the expansiveness and openness of nature, and may include photographs of natural landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, and even skyscapes. Fine art landscape photography moves beyond a realistic representation of landscapes. Photographs of nature and landscapes can convey deep meanings when captured with an artistic eye, forming one of the goals of fine art landscape photography. To create fine art landscape photographs, photographers infuse a sense of fine art into their landscape photographs.

Fine Art Landscape photography

As they compose their work, photographers are careful to ensure that each fine art landscape photograph reflects their goals for the following points:

• It conveys the desired mood, whatever it may be
• It tells the story the photographer intends for viewers to understand
• It uses negative space wisely

Convey Mood

Fine art landscape photography is about understanding your surroundings and expressing your own unique vision. It does not require that you simply capture images of the world as it appears. Instead, you should work to capture distinct moods and to express your own ideas about the world.

Tell Your Story

When shooting landscapes, you have less control over the scene than you would if you were shooting a portrait. To add meaning to a landscape photograph, search for things that can help tell your story. Some examples might include:

• A lone tree in a field to convey feelings of isolation or resilience. There is more negative space used to create the feeling of isolation.
• A sapling in the foreground contrasted with a dead tree in the background to evoke thoughts of death or rebirth.
• A tall streetlight beaming light down on someone to evoke a sense of warmth, comfort, and security.

Use Negative Space Wisely

Negative space is the space surrounding your main subject. In landscape photography, negative space can be used to draw a viewer's attention to the subject. When the subject is placed off-center, negative space is created. Including negative space can help reduce distractions for a photograph's viewer, making the meaning of the photograph more apparent. As you create fine art landscape photographs, experiment with the use of negative space.

Conveying moods & Messages

Which image conveys a sense of freedom?

Which image conveys a sense of loneliness?

Which image conveys a sense of fear?

Which image conveys a sense of tranquility?

Abstract Photography

Abstraction occurs in art when an artist uses a recognizable subject but portrays it unrealistically or so that it is unrecognizable.

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Presentation title

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Presentation title

Abstract Photography

Abstract photography often portrays a recognizable subject unrealistically to express ideas and emotions. Because abstract photographs portray a subject unrealistically, they can be interpreted in various ways. People may interpret a single photograph differently based on their own perceptions and personal experiences. Abstract photography is not a realistic representation of what the photographer is photographing.

Abstract Photography Extra Credit!

Extra Credit

EXTRA CREDIT!!!

You can use what you will learn about abstract photography to compose your own abstract photograph using your mobile phone or digital camera. Take as many shots as you would like, and complete the activity by sharing your favorite one with your teacher. Follow these steps to compose your abstract photograph:

• First, select a subject.
• Next, decide how your subject will be abstracted.
• Finally, select a camera technique that supports your plan for the photograph.

Extra Credit Padlet

Creating Abstract Photographs

As challenging as composing abstract photographs may be, abstract photography provides an excellent platform for amateur photographers to experiment and put their creative impulses to use. Abstract photography allows you to break free of the limits imposed by the need to capture a subject with a specific camera angle or technique. There are no obligations or firm rules about what you might do.

Starting Small

Look at familiar objects in a NEW Perspective

• Start by choosing a familiar subject. This subject may be anything in your surroundings, such as a rug, a desk, a window, a lamp, or a kitchen utensil.

• Practice photographing your subject in unusual ways. Think of it as a way to make the familiar unfamiliar.

• Take images at unusual angles or perspectives

• Get close!

• Use an editing app like SnapSeed

• Focus on the textures and patterns

Thinking Big

• Explore larger subjects like staircases or trees after practicing with everyday objects.

• Visualize your chosen subject in various ways, considering colors, lines, and shapes.

• Determine if techniques like focus adjustment or frame filling will enhance your creativity.
• Finally, think about editing your photos to express your artistic vision by adjusting color, cropping, enlarging, or flipping the image.

Choosing Subjects

for Abstract Photography

As you know, there are very few limits to what you might do to capture and create an abstract photograph. Here are a few tips that you can use as you search for subjects and compose your first abstract works:

• Choose unique subjects or look at everyday object in a unique way
• Look for shapes, patterns, and textures
• Compose using only a section of the subject
• Experiment with different perspectives

Look for Shapes, Patterns, & Textures

Study your surroundings, and look for:

• interesting shapes, patterns, & textures
• recurring shapes or themes

Shapes, patterns, textures, and themes can make compositions lively and eye-catching.

Compose Using Only a Section of the Subject

While composing, keep these points in mind:

• Visualize subjects differently from the way they are typically seen.

• Instead of capturing a picture of your subject as a whole, find parts of it that look interesting.

What is this a photo of?

Choose Unique Subjects

Seemingly uninteresting things can provide you with unique subjects and awesome textures for abstract photographs. Consider subjects that people often overlook or ignore in daily life. They include:

• rusted metal
• decaying wood
• peeling paint

Experiment with Different Perspectives

Everyday objects can be made interesting by capturing them from:

• different perspectives
• different camera angles

For example, in this photograph, a subject going over data displayed on a glass touch screen has been captured through the screen.

Camera Settings & Techniques Suited to Abstract Photography

You have already learned a few tips for identifying suitable subjects for an abstract photograph. Once you have a subject in mind, you can use a variety of camera settings and techniques to help create an abstract work:

• Use a shallow depth of field

• Use soft focus
• Apply panning
• Use a zoom burst or blur

Use a Shallow Depth of Field

Use of a shallow depth of field can take an ordinary photograph and make it extraordinary, sometimes creating an entirely new vision of a common subject. Using a shallow depth of field helps to:

• keep one part of the picture sharp and the rest of it blurry
• provide a sense of intrigue

Use Soft Focus

Using soft focus can take a simple subject and make it new. To create a soft focus in your cell phone:

• Use portrait setting (if you have it)
• Editing change aperture to the lowest setting if you can

To create a soft focus using a digital camera, follow these steps:

• Set your camera to aperture priority mode.
• Set your lens to the widest aperture. (This will be a small number, such as f/2.4 or f/4.)
• Make sure your focus point on what you want in focus

Use Panning

You can use panning to capture running people, bicycles, cars, or just about anything that is moving. To apply panning, follow these steps:

• As your subject approaches, focus and start tracking with your camera until you are confident that you are moving in sync with the subject.

Panning can be applied to strong vibrant colors, as lines in the frame will help keep the colors distinct and separated

Use Zoom Burst or Blur

A zoom burst or zoom blur is another technique that is simple, fun, and easy to achieve. It involves changing the focal length of your lens (zooming in or out) while capturing your photograph. This will cause the shot to blur from the center outward as if the scene is bursting toward you.

Sort the photographs below into on the two categories.

1. Abstract Photography

2. Fine Art Photography

Capturing Abstract Photographs Using a Smartphone

You do not need a high-end DSLR camera in order to capture abstract photographs. In fact, you can get awesome abstract photographs using your mobile phone. Here are few tips to consider the next time you are using the camera on your phone:

• Play with perspective.
• Look for lines.
• Shoot in black and white.

How did they make Hagrid look so big?

Forced PErspective

Example of fun forced perspective!

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Forced Perspective Extra Credit!

🔗Extra Credit

11/5

3.6: PORTRAIT Photography Assignment

Unit 3 Assignments

11/21

3.12: PRODUCT Photography Assignment

11/10

3.7: EXTRA CREDIT ACTIVITIES

• Abstract Photography
• Forced Perspective

OPTION to complete extra credit activities instead of 1 or both assignments!

Summary 3.7

Fine Art Photography :

• Various types of fine art photography
• How to approach fine art photography
• Tips and techniques used for capturing fine art photographs
• The moods and emotions captured in fine art photographs
• How to identify works of abstract photograph
• Tips and techniques for capturing abstract photographs

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Have a great rest of your day! Wednesday will be learning about Fashion Photography.

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Mood...

In contrast to the man underwater, this image of a woman gracefully swimming under water may convey a sense of freedom.

Shoot in Black & White

Shooting in black and white can provide many advantages in abstract photography: It places the focus on the subject; a viewer is not distracted by the surrounding colors. It can make a commonplace scene seem dramatic. It provides a classic look and feel, sometimes evoking a feeling of nostalgia in viewers.

Mood...

This black & white image of ducks swimming on a lake may give some a sense of peacefulness, while others may interupt the feeling as loneliness.

Mood...

In contrast to the image of the ducks this image of one surfer surfing conveys a sense of freedom.

Conveying Mood

For example, the photograph on the left, a misty mountain landscape and dark forest, conveys a certain mood and meaning. Although the landscape is beautiful, the photographer may intend for viewers to become aware of a darker underlying mood.

3.12 Assignment

Product Photography

This assignment focuses you capturing photos of products or services using product photography techniques.

Mood...

This distorted portrait conveys a sense of altered reality or symbolize a distorted self-perception.

Look for Lines

Lines bring order to an image. If your subject looks chaotic, adding lines can structure it. This technique highlights specific aspects of your photo. Compose your shot so lines lead to your focal point.

3.6 Assignment

Capturing Expression, Experience, & Culture

This assignment focuses on portrait photography. You will be able to select from 4 different options.

• Focus on capturing expressions & emotions
• Focus on capturing experiences
• Focus on capturing aspects of culture or heritage
• Focus on capturing candid images of pets or wildlife

Dissolving Landscape

The Dissolving Landscape (2016-21) is a series of experimental photos exploring climate change in Canada and Nordic Europe. It questions what we lose spiritually as the climate changes. In 2018, I continued this project in Finland, Iceland, and Estonia, using mordançage to reflect the land's fragile beauty. The warped images capture nature's spiritual power and mourn its destruction. My travels aimed to showcase the North: Finland's boreal forests, Iceland's beaches, and unique architecture in nature.

Link to Ella Morton's website

Mood...

This image of a man underwater doing work may convey a message that the man is feeling overwhelmed, drowning in work.

Shoot in Black & White

Shooting in black and white can provide many advantages in abstract photography: It places the focus on the subject; a viewer is not distracted by the surrounding colors. It can make a commonplace scene seem dramatic. It provides a classic look and feel, sometimes evoking a feeling of nostalgia in viewers.

Shoot in Black & White

Shooting in black and white can provide many advantages in abstract photography: It places the focus on the subject; a viewer is not distracted by the surrounding colors. It can make a commonplace scene seem dramatic. It provides a classic look and feel, sometimes evoking a feeling of nostalgia in viewers.

Play with Perspective

Get close to your subject for better abstract photos, revealing shapes and patterns often missed. Try different angles too; shooting from above or below offers a fresh perspective.

3.12 Assignment

Product Photography

This assignment focuses you capturing photos of products or services using product photography techniques.

3.6 Assignment

Capturing Expression, Experience, & Culture

This assignment focuses on portrait photography. You will be able to select from 4 different options.

• Focus on capturing expressions & emotions
• Focus on capturing experiences
• Focus on capturing aspects of culture or heritage
• Focus on capturing candid images of pets or wildlife

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman used props to transform herself into different characters for her self-portraits. Each series of self-portraits explored a different topic about society.