In my opinion this is one of Nadav Kander's most meaningful photos. This is because it shows two different sides to Chernobyl. It seems like the old, abandoned room represents how Chernobyl is completely neglected and uninhabitable. Whereas, the plant in the middle of the room could represent the past life of people living in Chernobyl before the reactor exploded. I feel like Nadav Kander's aim in this photo was to show the contrast between life and death in Chernobyl.
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This is also a powerful picture as is shows what Chernobyl is like today. The old, neglected block of flats and dark grey sky clearly show the viewer that Chernobyl is uninhabited. The dark colours also give the photo a feel of death which links with the Chernobyl disaster as 31 people died when the reactor exploded. As well as representing Chernobyl today this photo also gives the viewer an idea of what life was like before the incident. The symmetrical building shows how organised Chernobyl was before the disaster happened.
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Like the first picture this photo shows contrast between life and death. Also like the first photo it shows two sides of Chernobyl. One that is dead and derelict and the old Chernobyl which was full of life. I like this photo because it shows contrasts in an environment which is what I plan to study further on in the topic. This photo links to the topic as it gives the viewer an idea of what this specific environment was like and is like today.
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What went well:
I feel like I showed a distinctive contrast between the derelict and lifeless background and the brightly coloured objects in the photos which was my target whilst making these images. Even better if: These images would be better if I used living objects like plants because this would link better to Nadav Kander's 'Half Life' series. For example, the picture of the plant in the abandoned room. |
Eugene Richards is an American photographer best known for his documentary work. He is most famous for his work documenting people living with conditions such as cancer and drug addiction and people living in poverty. In his 'The Blue Room' series he documents derelict and unique houses in rural America.
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In these photos me and my photography class went to the old, derelict theatre inside Alexandra Palace. The palace originally opened 142 years ago in 1873. My intention whilst taking these photos was to make the theatre look derelict and show the enormity of the space. In the other photos I tried to show the most impressive features of the palace today. |
Ed Spence is a Vancouver based artist. He is most well known for his vintage photo collage series. In this series he got pictures from an old British Columbia tourism magazine and rearranged part of the image by hand. While editing my photos I tried to link my work to Ed Spences photo collages. Although he doesn't make GIFs his work still links to mine as he is distorting part of an image like I am when I glitch the fire extinguisher and first aid box.
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In this photo I made half the image a GIF rather than just one object. I did this to give the image more order so the viewer can make out what the image is of. Making half the image a GIF also links more to the photo collages that Ed Spence made as he usually changes half an image rather than just one object. I think that this edit turned out well as it brings life and movement to the old, derelict background which as my aim whilst making the image. I decided to go to the abandoned factory in Totteridge for his set of observations as it fits with my project. If I went back to the factory during this project I would go on a darker/cloudier day or take pictures inside the building as the bright blue sky doesn't fit with the idea of dereliction and darkness.
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In this photo I made the shapes in the GIF gradually turn into the original object. One of the reasons I did this was to make the photo more clear as my last set of observation was a bit confusing if you hadn't seen the original images. I also did this to bring some order to the photo as this also contrasts with the messy background. For example, the peeling paint on the walls and the old rotting wooden beams. I went to the abandoned factory in Totteridge to take this photo. This photo did show what I was trying to do by bringing more order to the image but if I was to retake and re-edit these images I would start the image as one colour and it would end up as the original object.
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The gas tower I went to is situated near Bounds Green along the North Circular as seen in the map on the right (it is the grey circle where you turn off of the North Circular). I went there because it is a derelict location which fits with the topic and it works well with the effect of the pattern filling up an object. In the photo on the right I took a photo of a white wall covered in graffiti as this links with the vandalised part of my project. then I erased the gas tower and made a frame each time I moved the wall in the background to create a GIF. In my opinion my final piece went well as it fits with the title neglected and vandalised. If I was to retake these photos I would go to a more neglected location as you can't really tell the gas towers neglected unless you go there. |
Map of where the gas tower is:
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