Photography Lecture : Alexander Rodchenko & Visual Texture

Hi everyone 

I don't know how to make an intro on any blog so I'm just going to get on with what I want to blog about today as a part of my Uni's Photography brief;) Today I would like to write about a little bit of visual context and how its been and is used in Photography. 

So first of all, I have never came across anything like visual context in my life, so I had to ask myself a question, what is visual context ??When I am explaining a context or idea to someone in person, it can be a bit difficult to keep it to the point. Sometimes when I am talking about specific context or subject , I easily trail off, developing on a minor details and trying to illustrate connections between different aspects of the concept. I am always trying to draw a wider image in which I can then simply place my personal ideas, hoping to make it more clear and easy to follow. 

                                         

 Telling the story in the photographs, means it is a visual context. I was thinking of explaining how does the visual context works in Photography and Art.  I finally came to a very simple definition and explanation of it, which is about making photographs that represents something and tell story the author was thinking about. For example, in a black and white photography, the most important aspect is the shades and light you're capturing while taking photographs. The light and also the texture on the photographs gives that interesting visual context you are looking for while taking photos.

 Alexander Rodchenko – Varvara Stepanova

However it is important that when we thinking of taking a great story photo shots, we are taking into consideration audience point of view, why? Because as a artist, you have to make a clear visual context in your photos, so people can understand what you're were trying to explore and trying to say pass on through each image. However you don't have to produce detailed story in your photos. In my Black and white photographs I like to explore my imagination and creative way of being, therefore I also like to leave a bit of enigma codes for my audience, so they can also use their imagination and maybe try to be in my shoes... ? So from what I have just said: 

• Think , what would like explore in your photos, and what they are representing. 

• Your photo story doesn't have to be detailed presented.

• Your audience have to understand the context of your photos.

• Use your imagination and creativity, also use some inspiration from other artists. 

• In black and white photography, light, shadows, and focus is very important, without this photography aspects and making a film on our SLR cameras, would be pointless. 

• You can leave bit of enigma and imagination with your audience. 

Column. 1935. Soviet photographer Alexander Rodchenko

Crazy, 1924. Photo printing from glass plate negatives

All images have been copied from http://soviet-art.ru/soviet-photographer-alexander-rodchenk

In the photography ( especially in black and white film photography) are key important composition of the photograph. Those composition allow you to understand the visual element that combines with photographs and create composition. 

• The angle: the vantage point from which the photograph was taken and generally used when discussing a photograph taken from an unusual or exaggerated vantage point.

• Background: the part of a scene or picture that is or seems to be toward the back.

• Balance: the distribution of visual elements in a photograph. Symmetrical balance distributes visual elements evenly in an image. Asymmetrical balance is found when visual elements are not evenly distributed in an image.

• Central focus: the objects(s) which appears most prominently and/or most clearly focused in a photograph.

• Composition: the arrangement or structure of the formal elements that make up an image.

• Contour: the outline of an object or shape.

• Contrast: strong visual differences between light and dark, varying textures, sizes, etc.

• Framing: what the photographer has placed within the boundaries of the photograph.

• Setting: actual physical surroundings or scenery whether real or artificial.

• Vantage point: the place from which a photographer takes a photograph.

If you would ask me any of those points before I have researched them I would never thought its to do with photography. Therefore it is very important to know them by heart and to follow them every time you're about to take some good shots by your camera. 

What I have realised is the fact that in photography point of capture is exactly the same thing as point of view in our life. In Polish we call it " Punkt widzenia, zalezy od punktu siedzenia" (means: the point of view depends on a point of seat) and that's a very true fact! So next time when I take my camera out for a nice photoshoot I will definitely take into consideration all these points, and that important point of view anyone can suddenly change.