Photography |
Title Documenting Climate
Size 9 5x6 in Medium photography Completion Decmber 2019 Exhibition TextIn order to add a new element to the climate change propaganda project, I chose to exhibit photography piece, taken on my iPhone, of nature around my own home in Milwaukee and the suburb South Milwaukee. The original intentions of this collection of photographs were meant to show real life examples of nature, of which this project is focusing on. I took my inspiration from documentary photography, which is an artistic movement that captures the world as teh photographer sees it. I made sure to take photos of little things in order to show the world through the lense that all living things, no matter how small, are affected by climate change.
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Inspiration
Documentary photography is the art movement where photographers aim to convey the world accurately through models such as people and/or the environment. Documentary photography was culturally significant specifically prior to the mid-20th century because it was the main way to bear witness to historic events, such as shootings, war, and working conditions. Soon, however, the power of documentary photography changed to being for social change, and was used in order to raise awareness and to rally troops to fight injustices.
An important aspect of documentary photography is the authenticity of the photos. To the right is a photography by Don McCullin in 1968 of a US Marine. The balance of the photography along with the crisp lack of color (black and white photograph) caught my eye right away. I want my pieces to resemble this intensity that McCullin captured with the Marine's facial expression, however I do not plan on photographing people but rather nature. Because of this, I will be focusing on the lighting and shades of the photograph. In order to show the same intensity as this photo, I will be increasing the contrast on the photographs in order to emphasize the piece more, similar to McCullin's piece. |
I also really like Jennifer Heffner's environmental photography career, such as the image shown to the left. She takes photos of the environment, combining journalism and creative photography to make statements about the environment. I like this image particularly because of the cool hue undertones which conveys a sad or worn out tone, which is something I want to convey in my piece when I discuss the negative impacts of climate change. I also like the composition, where the plants are blown up even though they are quite small. I want to bring attention to all the small things in order to emphasize the idea that every living organism, no matter how small, feels the impacts of climate change.
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Planning
Experimentation
I first needed to experiment with color in order to convey the proper meanings through my piece. As you can see, below there are many photos that I took of which many are highly saturated with blue and other cool hues, which convey a sad tone. I experimented with the warmth of flowers and golden leaves as well to contrast the doom/gloom theme conveyed by the others.
With inspiration from Jennifer Heffen's cool image, I made sure to capture images that hopefully will convey that devastating effects of climate change.
Process
The process to complete this project consisted of my simply going into nature and photographing what I see, like a documentary photographer. I went around city and state parks and photographed small plants and organisms in order to appropriate Jennifer Heffner's piece on the saplings. I kept in mind the message that I meant to convey, with the cool undertones in order to emphasize the destruction and grief that climate change causes.
These are some blue photos that I took, utilizing the sky as the main cold source. The brown leaves contrasts with the blue sky, which helps show the hope despite the destruction. This hope is seen in today's changing technology and the rise of the climate justice movement lead by the youths. I show these hopes through something as simple as a leaf, however the colors are able to convey more that the mere symbols in the photograph. |
I use the contrast in McCullin's photo as inspiration in these photographs, however since I am using color rather than the black and white color scheme, the contrast is not as dramatic as McCullin's piece. Even though the connection between our pieces is not as obvious as I was hoping for, I still used his piece as an inspiration, in addition to the artist movement that his artwork resided in.
In the spirit of hope, I started taking photos with more color in order to emphasize this idea and portray a happy tone in the piece, which will contrast with the dark shades and blue tones of the other images. I am choosing to do this in order to provide both ends of the spectrum when it comes to climate change: the optimists and the realists.
Critique
In the end, I believe that my piece was incredibly successful, because of the 9 images I was able to take around my community to document the environment in the way I see it. Jennifer Heffner is quotes for saying that she documents nature in a new light, and I feel as though I did the same, with the utilization of color in my piece for more meaning and depth. The cold colors helps show my pessimistic opinion on the climate crisis, however the warm tones that the brown leaves and bright flowers bring to the piece helps balance that. This is similar in Jennifer Heffner's piece, where there are a lot of cool undertones in order to convey emotion through a seemingly simple photograph, however with this emotion is how the audience is drawn to the artist.
I used the contrast in McCullin's photo as inspiration in these photographs, however since I am using color rather than the black and white color scheme, the contrast is not as dramatic as McCullin's piece. Even though the connection between our pieces is not as obvious as I was hoping for, I still used his piece as an inspiration, in addition to the artist movement that his artwork resided in.
I used the contrast in McCullin's photo as inspiration in these photographs, however since I am using color rather than the black and white color scheme, the contrast is not as dramatic as McCullin's piece. Even though the connection between our pieces is not as obvious as I was hoping for, I still used his piece as an inspiration, in addition to the artist movement that his artwork resided in.
ACT Questions
Clearly explains how your are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork.
I was inspired by the documentary photography movement in the mid 20th century because of its propaganda appeal. I was able to photograph nature with this approach, using color in order to convey feelings and emotions through the piece on the current climate crisis.
I was inspired by the documentary photography movement in the mid 20th century because of its propaganda appeal. I was able to photograph nature with this approach, using color in order to convey feelings and emotions through the piece on the current climate crisis.
What is the overall approach the author had regarding the topic of your inspiration?
As I was researching documentary photography on its own, I was given a historical background, which really helped with my investigation. I was able to utilize historical meanings of photography in my piece by documenting what I saw and could feel without manipulating and staging the scene.
As I was researching documentary photography on its own, I was given a historical background, which really helped with my investigation. I was able to utilize historical meanings of photography in my piece by documenting what I saw and could feel without manipulating and staging the scene.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I can generalize that as climate change becomes a more pressing issue, the use of climate change propaganda will begin to immerse in popular culture. I believe that this is only the first wave of pop culture recognizing the climate crisis, which is following leader Greta Thunberg and many other influential activists.
I can generalize that as climate change becomes a more pressing issue, the use of climate change propaganda will begin to immerse in popular culture. I believe that this is only the first wave of pop culture recognizing the climate crisis, which is following leader Greta Thunberg and many other influential activists.
What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I focused on photography in my research, because I knew I wanted to incorporate photography in my piece to further its multi-media aspect.
I focused on photography in my research, because I knew I wanted to incorporate photography in my piece to further its multi-media aspect.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I inferred the meaning of color and contrast in both the pieces that I was inspired by in order to be able to drawn my own symbolism in my pieces. It did not seem to matter what the intended use of color was by Jennifer Heffner or the intended use of contrast by McCullin, because it was the way I perceived it as an artist that inspired my own path of photography.
I inferred the meaning of color and contrast in both the pieces that I was inspired by in order to be able to drawn my own symbolism in my pieces. It did not seem to matter what the intended use of color was by Jennifer Heffner or the intended use of contrast by McCullin, because it was the way I perceived it as an artist that inspired my own path of photography.