Development of Final Idea

The idea that I looked at pursuing for the final piece was the chaos and order theory, using a subject to propose a theme of duality as something as simple and abstract as a ball of intertwined string.

It has to be noted that I did want to pursue the coal and diamond idea however due to difficulties getting hold of a synthetic diamond this idea was not possible to do.

The idea of the ball of string piece is all about chaos and order. 

Within chaos exists order, in that order, exists chaos.

There is the duality of the piece, chaos and order merging together.

The order that the ball of string is comprised of just one singular piece, yet the chaos is converyed by the intertwined ball of string. I like the idea and believe it will be more powerful using a singlur subject that will convey duality, not the obvious choice.

It's a very abstract piece, different and at first glance doesn't strike and scream duality.

Here is a little bit of research regarding chaos theory and chaos and order that will add strength to my idea.

Extremely interesting article by Gerald Schueler in which he goes into great detail regarding chaos theory and order.

http://www.schuelers.com/chaos/chaos1.htm

Video regarding chaos theory.

Idea Development

Development of some of my favorite concepts I believe have potential for the final piece.

Really want to stray away from the cliche, more obvious forms of duality, that have been done so many times. Due to the immense thought and freedom this brief caters, it would be an insult really to not challenge and push the creative boundaries.

Here are my ideas for a final piece.

A process

Coal and Diamond. This I believe is a very interesting, intriguing subject choice, especially when you consider the theme of the brief is duality. Coal and diamond are both rocks, however both are perceived and viewed in two entirely different ways. A piece of coal is seen as insignificant,a diamond is lusted by many. A piece of coal is worth pennies, a diamond, millions. Yet both rocks are born from the same thing (carbon) and both are mined and formed by a very similar process yet, the outcome is night and day. This is a concept I see as having limitless potential and in my opinion encapsulates duality. It is a piece that could strike great debate, you could even argue as to which is more valuable coal, the natural resource or a diamond, the epitome of beauty. A simple image, yet has a fascinating, immense, deep undertone.

A few sketches of ideas for the piece.

Chaos Theory

This is a very deep concept that I feel compliments the philosophical element of the brief. The chaos theory is a subject and idea that I feel lends itself well to duality. Within chaos exists order, in that order, exists chaos. Here is the duality. With such a theme and concept the actually image could be very simple and abstract in form and compostion. A scribble on a page, a ripped up essay. If I was to develop and take this concept forward I would have to back up and justify my work with more concrete, theoretical references to chaos theory.

A few sketches of ideas for the piece.

Manchester

I'm drawn to using Manchester or places in the city as the subject for my work. My photography work mainly consists of places in Mancester. I love the city and feel it has immense potential for photographic city. So in this case including the piece in my 'Manchester' portfolio if you will, I see being a very valued addition.

A few sketches of ideas for the piece.

All these concepts ideas are really ideas that can be left to the audiences' perception, simialr to the challenege of the brief in perceiving what duality actually is. I feel all the ideas harbor intense potential and push the creative boundaries of such a strong brief.

I certainly understand such ideas are brave in a way, and at first glance possibly will confuse an audience however backed up with a theory and idea I feel the final outcome will certainly benefit.

However the final idea that I decided to pursue was the chaos and order concept, more so the concept of the ball of string. I feel this represents chaos theory perfectly more so the chaos and the order. The order that the ball of string is comprised of just one singular piece, yet the chaos is converyed by the intertwined ball of string. I like the idea and believe it will be more powerful using a singlur subject that will convey duality, not the obvious choice.

It's a very abstract piece, different and at first glance doesn't strike and scream duality.

Idea Generation

The next step after looking at the theme of duality was to generate a range of ideas and themes that I could take forward  and develop for the final piece.

Here is a brainstorm of my early ideas.

Duality

Before delving into the theme of the brief that is duality, firstly i found it useful to research what duality actually is.

Oxford Dictionaries define duality as,

Pronunciation:/djuːˈalɪti/

noun (plural dualities)

• 1 [mass noun] the quality or condition of being dual:this duality of purpose was discernible in the appointments
• Mathematics the property of two theorems, expressions, etc., of being dual to each other.
• Physics the quantum-mechanical property of being regardable as both a wave and a particle.

• 2an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something; a dualism:his photographs capitalize on the dualities of light and dark, stillness and movement

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/duality

Merriem-Webster define duality as,

plural du·al·i·ties

formal : the quality or state of having two parts [noncount] ▪ the duality of human nature

http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/duality

I began to delve deeper into the subject of duality. More so from a philosphical angle. I found a very insightful journal by Noel Huntley 'The meaning of beyond duality' in which he looks at duality from a philosphical sense. 

" Duality, as the word implies, means two states, two poles, both of which arise from a division of unity."

This extract from the journal really opened my eyes to duality and led me to question although dual implies two, the division of unity I believe could be challenged by a singular subject, with dual meaning and form. the most obvious thing you think of when you think of duality, is two seprate things, which in fairness is in the name however that theory, that perception I believe is there to be challenged. One state, one subject can have dual meaning. I think it will be more powerful using a singlur subject that will convey duality.

This is a brief that is left to your own perception and in this regards there can be no right or wrong, no definition of duality can pigeon hole what it actually is. Duality evokes debate to what it actually means many have their view but the most importat view in regards to this brief is mine my own perception. I myself don't hold the definitive answer more of an opinion, an idea.


http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~noelh/Duality.htm

I then began to look at how photographers/artists have tackled the theme of duality.

Interesting to see the results of a simple Google image search comprised of a mass of cliche, more obvious pieces in my opinion. There wasn't really or I couldn't particularly find a great collection of duality tackled in the arts world.  I certainly feel with this brief it is vastly important to stray away from the obvious, push the creative boundaries if you will.

Here is a collection I found regarding duality.

Research

Firstly I looked at gathering a base of inspiration and a foundation of research regarding visual effect photogeaphy/techniques and photgraphers who have implemented and used some kind of visual effects within their work.

Regarding Techniques I looked at a variety of different photographic styles and effects. These included, Forced Perspective, HDR, Tilt Shift, Light Painting and Surrealism Photography.

It really is crucial I gather a base of knowledge regarding techniques and effect I can use for my imagery.

Forced Perspective

I really find foreced perspective a stunning visual effect. When you think of visual effects the heavily photo manipulated images but I really appreciate techniques and effects such as forced perspective that rather than rely on technique regarding software, rely more creativity and imagination. I can't help but be inspired by some of these beautiful images. It just shows me s visual effect doesn't have to be something that has been edited in photoshop. Forced persepctive done right and with the right amount of creative spark, simplie it may be can produe beautiful imagery.

HDR

HDR for me at times looks very comic and captures a more fantasy vibe and has carries a danger of looking like a cheap filter  however in some images it brings the image alive. Done right HDR can transform an image and at times can make the image look like a painting. I feel that using a HDR technique is more benefited for a detailed scene and setting and just wouldn't really work with imagery with just a simple subject, that would really showcase HDR to its full potential.

Tilt Shift

Tilft Shift is a visual effect i'm very familar with. Again simple but I find a very effective technique when implemeted well. Similar to HDR however I feel only works well when the subject is a large scope, setting, rather that a single centre piece in the image such as a single object. Certainly this is a technique I would be keen to use for my study. Just looking at a selection of tilt shift imagery, generates a vast amount of inspiration as a many of thiese images do.

Light Painting

I adore light painting/grafiti. Similar to tilt shift photography it is a technique i've used many times before. Again it is quite simple in visuals but done right looks a very modern and stylish technique. 

Surrealism Photography 

This is a technique/style of photography i'm not to familar with. This is a visual effect that is more reliant on technically ability than the other effects i've been looking at, combined with a creative mind can produce some really interesting imagery. However personally I just find this kind of photgraphy a bit too much. Technically fantastic but it just doesn't work for me, I much prefer the simplistic effects such as the perspective works that rely more on a keen eye and creative vision. A lot of surrealism photograhy I find very unsettling in a way, that in many respects is what the photographer is aiming for but it just doesn't work for me.

Ben Heine

Ben Heine is a photographer and artist I only came into knowledge of through this module and his work blew me away. He uses a pencil vs camera technique that simple it may be produces stunning imagery with the photgraphy and illustration combination. This effect is such a creative and imaginative way of producing photography. Some of his work I just find breathtaking, the way that the illustrations blend and merge into the photograph is beautiful. A really refreshing visual effect that doesn't really use any means of post production and photo manipulation. Ben Heine really shows how such a simple idea, effect can produce the most breathtaking results.

Jerry Uelsmann

Henri Cartier-Bresson

I also in my research looked at Henri Cartier-Bresson, not really the most obvious photgraher to look at regaerding visual effects, but the unique and obsure angle he would shoot from would deliver and proudce some stunning work. Basically shows photography doesn't have to be heavily tweaked in photoshop for the image to be callisfied as a visual effect piece, by shooting from different perspective, different light settings can produce a visual effect.

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams is a fascinating photographer to look at in this respect. All his work was done in the lighroom, a time before photoshop. The way he could maniuplate the image in the lightroom was amazing and even now with such software and means available it would be so difficult to capture and produce such results Adams did decades ago. When looking at a brief, studinyg a module regarding post production photography it would be a sin not to look at adams' work. I find looking at Ansel Adams work a huge source of inspiration.