Assingment 3 Colour

Images

Commentary

Notes and colour maps
Reflection

Assignment 3 commentary

For assignment 3 we were asked to produce 'about 4 photographs' for each of the following:

Colour harmony through complimentary colours

Colour harmony through similar colours

Colour contrast through contrasting colours

Colour accent using any of the above

In addition to the four objectives listed above we were also instructed to 'vary the subject matter, including both arrangements and found situations'.

"We know the original relation of the theatre and the cult of the Dead:  the first actors separated themselves from the community by playing the role of the Dead: to make oneself up was to designate oneself as a body simutaneously living and dead: the whitened bust of the totemic theatre, the man with the painted face in the Chinese theatre, the rice-paste makeup of the Indian Kathakali, the Japanese No mask... now it is the same relation which I find in the Photograph; however "lifelike" we strive to make it (and this frenzy to be lifelike can only be mythic denial of an apprehension of death), Photography is a kind of primitive theatre, a kind of Tableau Vivant, a figuration of the motionless and made up face beneath which we see the dead."

Roland Barthes, Camera Lucida (1)

Images - please view slideshow on a full screen.  Exif data can be found behind the 'i' under each image after you exit the slide show
Colour maps and specific image notes
Rejected images and early ideas

Working with Colour - Colour has been difficult to get my head round.  However, having spent quite a lot of time doing and redoing shots for this assignment I am now pretty clear about the primary and secondary colours and which ones contrast with which, etc. I am also very aware of how the texture and quality of different cloth works under different light, how some objects and materials change colour entirely depending on light, aperture and speed; and of how some coloured items are more inclined to loose all their structure under certain conditions and just become a blob of colour with little definition.

When I first started to think about "Colour" I wasn't thinking about all the technical aspects but was instead reminded of powerful memories from my childhood, which I discussed in an earlier post.  At that time, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do but I knew colour triggered strong sense memories in the same way smell or sound might.

I also recalled productions I have seen by Robert Wilson and Robert Lepage where colour and other simple theatrical techniques were used in an evocative way to transport their audience into a different realm; one that seems to go beyond the conscious world and explores inner landscapes.

In part the work may also be a response to images of women I have seen specifically in the last few months and which I have discussed in my blog.

To sum up, I think these images explore what it is to be female in our society, about some of the confusion and difficulties that surround us.  I am also very aware, however, they evoke aspects of how my own life has felt over the last several years and perhaps where I am now.   I have taken Barthes’ quote in a very literal way and played with notions of death whilst trying to instil a sense of life, using motion blur and contrasting it with the "motionless" nature of a photograph.
I hope I have conveyed something evocative using colour, and which goes beyond the parameters of producing a number of coloured images which fit neatly under the headings of contrasting, harmonious, similar and accent.

I should say I was (am) quite conflicted about the images I have used and worried about the criteria which states we should vary the subject matter.  I know I haven't done this but instead opted to create a set of images that hold together.  I do believe I have 'found' lots in the images but rather than wandering around to find them I have found them in the confines of my little makeshift studio/bedroom.  (Too much liberty with language?) For many reasons I am somewhat worried about posting these images, I have to say.  I know they won't be everyone's cup of tea!  And I am worried again that I've gone completely off in the wrong direction.

(1) Camera Lucida by Roland Barthes, published by Vantage Books 200, Originally published in French as La Chambre Claire by Editions du Seuil 1980, first published by Vantage in 1993

Assignment 3 colour maps and notes for individual images

1. I am not sure if this actually constitutes an accent.  At any rate the red is on black rather than a colour.  

2. This was taken in the first batch of photos I tried.  I liked the way there was a 'ghost' but the actual main section was more or less in focus.  Not all the images do this but I have spent a lot of time trying to get that effect.  Although red and blue are contrasting colours, the red becomes a much darker in the shadows moving closer to violet which is similar to the blue.

 3. Red and orange are similar and the different variations of the these colours all seem to stay within the same part of the colour circle.  I like the softeness. The yellow is created by the light which was very yellow, however, I have used Lightroom to enhance that.

 4. The red lips work as an accent against the green hair.  The hand is quite yellow which is similar to the green.

5. Red and yellow are contrasting colours.  The hair has orange in it from the way it is lit and orange is similar to both the contrasting colours.

 6. Red accent on green.  The green is similar to the blue fabric.

 7. This one is complicated.  I wanted to have violet and yellow and the blue wig is often purple when not lit.  But I also wanted some lighting so the image is harmonious in that it has yellow and violet but also contrasting between the yellow and blue and harmonious between the blue and violet.

 8. Red and orange are similar colours.  The very clear second exposure from the long shutter speed also shows the hair lit which turns brown hair to red.

 9. This is orange and violet which contrasts.  But the violet is also blue in places and is in reality very blue.  I really questioned this image because it is so undefined but in the end it fitted shape wise and also being totally undefined at times is probably an accurate portrayal.

10. Red and green are harmonious colours and apart from the slight yellow highlights I think this one is pretty straightforward.

 11. This is mostly similar because of the pink and purple but then that wig does it's thing again and the lit up part is blue which contrasts.  I think this may be the most successful image of all of them and perhaps by quite a long way.

 12. Pink and red and orange, similar.  I think the most troubling thing with this one and some others that are very blurry is how they might print.  Blogger doesn't cope with the colours here very well at all so please make sure you view it on the slide show!  (I like the opposing tension in this shapes here which I have to say is thanks to a director called Bill Hopkinson who I worked with 20 years ago  at drama school.  I wouldn't do what he was asking then for some reason, but a variation has worked well here all these years later.)

 13. I like this image.  It's purple with red which are similar but the yellow lighting on the blouse and face is harmonious with the purple scarf, and contrasting with the red wig.  Seeing this image now I feel it needs to be cropped ever so slightly.

14. Red and blue contrasting.  I nearly didn't use this as there is no blur at all so wondered if it didn't fit with the rest.  But the skirt does have an element of translucence.  And the tone of the image sort of fits in with the narrative if there is one at this point in the sequence.

15. I have to say this image is one that I am really uncertain about... it may be that it is just too ridiculous to the point of being hilarious.  Anyway, it's meant to be an example of a red accent especially with the pattern on the blouse.