Week 6 and 7- Paris Photo, Photoquai and Image Process lab

This week we went to Paris to attend exhibitions, Paris Photo and to get inspiration for our next workshop on image processes.


For image process, we were looking at the way printed images are created, focusing on the finer details of the printed work such as the method of production, what paper was used, etc. which I found to be very interesting as I researched photographers I had seen throughout my week in Paris.


Photos from Photoquai

Ka Xiong
Spirit Wild

Sergey Loier

I had bought the catalogue from Paris Photo, and with my pictures of the Photoquai exhibition, I had plenty of images and processes to research.

In Paris Photo, I saw a huge range of images, including work by Bernd and Hilla Becher, Diane Arbus, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, and Life Magazine.  I was also very interested in the way the works were displayed, and in the books/ catalogues that were on show.

Bernd and Hilla Becher

 

Diane Arbus

What I enjoyed most about Paris Photo was how much there was to see; there was an incredible amount of work in the gallery booths, almost too much to look at in one day, as well as the book shops to visit.
It was really interesting to see how the galleries has presented the work in different ways, depending on each individual photographer, and I enjoyed looking at the mix of work on offer- including digital, film, moving image and magazine, and the wide variety of work helped to add to the buzz and excitement of being part of an incredible exhibition.


On returning home, I decided to use a photograph I had seen during my week in Paris.  I found the Paris Photo catalogue to be very helpful at first so I chose to research an image by Guido Mocafico titled Serpens, and to have a look at the image process.

Guido Mocafico
Serpens 1, Dendroaspis angusticeps, 2003
Chromogenic Print, 199,4 x 152,4
Out of 4

I found that a Chromogenic print is a full colour photograph that was made with chromogenic materials, such as silver.  A coloured dye image is created after a traditional silver image is formed on the paper which is then bleached out, leaving the dye image behind it.  This process is also known as 'dye coupler prints'. There are two types of chromogenic prints; Type R Prints that are made from a transparency (a positive to positive print on ), and Type C Prints that are made from a negative..

I thought using this process gave the image a greater depth of colour, and a much deeper effect to the body of the snakes, enhancing the way the image looked.  The triple layering allowed for a huge variety of shades and tones, capturing the snake in full colour, and highlighting all the details.


Although I had researched one process, I also decided to research the work of Marian Drew, as I found her images to be visually interesting and I wanted to know more of the meaning behind them.

Further research and inspiration

Paris Photo catalogue, 2011
Diane Arbus- An Aperture Monograph, originally published in 1972
Bernd and Hilla Becher- Industrial Landscapes, 2002
Chromogenic printing- http://www.metergallery.com/viewaboutglossary.asp
Glossary of printing types- http://www.eyestorm.com/glossary

Guido Mocafico- http://www.guidomocafico.com/

Marian Drew- http://mariandrew.com.au/