With this project, I wanted to choose something that would relate to how people feel when seeing old images from the past. I was inspired by some photographs of my grandparents taken back in the 60s-70s. I set the scene with myself facing away from the camera to feed into how some images back then did not entirely focus on a headshot of the person and more of the feeling of the environment. My grandfather helped me set up and include his Edison phonograph which he got from his brother in 1953. I wanted to include the phonograph to show something that my grandfather loves and I also included a book to show something that my grandmother loves as well. Music is timeless and showing the open book shows the ever-changing amount of information that continues to grow and still be found from the past, I felt that it would fit in best with the "Old is New" theme. I shot from a close position because I wanted to convey a more personal feel, as though the person viewing this is getting a glimpse into the environment around me. I discovered very interesting textures and images from the Library of Congress and incorporated them as an overlay to give this piece a more weathered and damaged through time look with the border, while including using brushes and ink splatter textures.
This photograph shot and composited by Sara Aftimos depicts a relaxing natural environment of a girl reading a book and listening to a phonograph simultaneously. This is a strong attempt at recreating the wet-plate collodion process, using various textures, smudges, and cracks to portray damage during the capturing process. There seems to be no clear subject, more so allowing the entire setting to take its place. However, there are signs of a short depth of field because the background is less clear and blurry compared to the foreground.
ReplyDeleteI can interpret from the use of an actual phonograph that you wished to display a likely environment from the past. As well as, having an understanding of how and where these objects may have been used, possibly from a live or past relative. Given the natural environment and relaxed posture of the figure reading, this photograph is meant to portray a time of leisure. Not to mention, the figure is turned away and not the main focus, allowing us as viewers to take in the entire space. You captured this moment in time very successfully using those elements. The marks you made are blended and placed in a convincingly organic way and seem to not symbolize anything metaphorical about the image.
To expand on your technical skills, I appreciate that the marks around the main focus seem intentional. However, they almost seem too intentional and I can make out where you wanted to avoid scratching or marking the center of the image. My advice to you to make your wet plate collodion look even more convincing, is to let these smudges, cracks, scratches, etc. overlap your subject. For instance, it would be interesting to me as a viewer to see this huge crack through the book she is holding or the phonograph and attempting to piece it together. Similar to how the compositing over your trees in the background allows us to make out that they are there, but not super obvious. On the other hand, your other elements such as: depth of field, aspect ratio, and filters are right on par with the wet plate process.
In conclusion, this is a convincing example of a wet plate collodion with all of its imperfections and limitations in terms of photography. In this case, improvements on your compositing as previously mentioned can aid in blending the environment and your subject. You encapsulated a nostalgic and relaxing moment in time of someone in their down time. The subject being ambiguous allows us as viewers to take in the entire scene as if we were the ones who took the photo. Overall great concept and craftsmanship.