Norm Magnusson Analysis

Fig. 1 | http://cdn2.jazjaz.net/wp-
content/uploads/2010/02/Norm
Magnussonleaf_thumb.jpg

Magnusson is a photographer who specializes in political art but is well known for is "Decorating Nature" project which is easier to find and analyse!

Norm's nature decorating project was to add colour to the most common colours of nature which differentiate itself from the overall landscape. Thus, capturing the attention and interest of the viewer to take more time and consideration in what the artist has photographed. For example, we all take what is around us for granted. Such as the leaves of a tree which are all virtually the same colour as the next tree.

Fig. 2 | http://sustainableartistsanddesig
ners.wikispaces.com/file/view/zebra1
.jpg/124412581/zebra1.jpg

For these reason, Norm has painted natural objects in their respective landscape in order to bring notice of what is taken for granted. And so, appreciate what we have. Another example can be seen in figure two. 

This is intact a picture of a tree which has been painted the colour of a zebra. This is to symbolize how tree's can blend into their surroundings and be easily hidden/forgotten (just how a zebra is hidden from its predator).

Looking at his decorating nature project, It becomes more and more apparent why Norm does this. Stating; "...If a photo is pretty, the viewer will spend more time with it...". This is faintly implying that nature isn't pretty as it is too common. By decorating it in various colours, He adds a layer of beauty on top of nature and thus, the viewer will spend more time analyzing and taking the image into mind.

Another quote also being; “Chaos is the order of nature and order is the nature of man.” Which refers to the way which Magnusson is creating chaos with the order of nature which in turn, causes chaos with man!

Geraldine Georges Analysis

Fig. 1 | http://www.geraldinegeorges.be/
img_perso/perso20090629214434.jpg

Georges is an artist who brings illustrative sketches & fashion photography together to produce surreal, imaginative pieces of work which aim to capture the imagination and eyes of the viewer.

For example, the use of various lines (thickness, shades and curves) in figure one, aim to set the model in a serial world of fashion. It is possible that the artist is expressing the emotions of the subject/scene. Using illustration to describe the movement and feelings that the subject wanted to express.

Alternatively, figure one could be communicating the pain, discomfort and manipulation which is hidden in the fashion world. Why have I come to such a conclusion? In figure one, the model has virtually been decapitated drawn with a mutant like body. Showing what could also be the discomfort felt deep in the fashion world.

To me, the artist wanted to show various perspectives of the model, at different phases of a modelling career, OR the features which fashion photographers focus on. However, I feel that Geraldine Georges work is focuses on building an extension on the model

Fig. 2 | http://www.geraldinegeorges.be/
img_perso/perso20110108143220.jpg

Geraldine attempts to create abstract art-pieces by using various shapes and carefully drawn lines of varying levels of thickness and fading. This artistic technique is applied to all figures but the abstract-side is prominent in figure two which implies that its related to music.

Georges probably decided to take such an abstract, unrealistic approach to figure two as this might represent the style of music which the model listens to OR the music which is so prominent in the generation of the object in subject; Vinyl!

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However, this might actually be left to the viewer to decide! How come? You see, vinyl is still used to this day as a recording medium for any genre of music.

Towards the left of the image, you see a model, eating her hand as bubble-circular shapes have been drawn with oozing black vine-like lines drawn on her hands. This representation seems to remind of Jazz music but also a representation of the corrupted sounds of dub-step music which also seem prominent towards the right subject. Her face is obscured by something which can be related to the twisted vocals used in some dub-step tracks as well as the way the lines flow across her body (as if she has been cracked due to deep, earth-shaking bass tones. This can also be applied to the head of the left subject which looks as if the subjects head is exploding...).

Fig. 3 | http://www.geraldinegeorges.be/
img_perso/perso20110405200922.jpg

Figure three gives a different perspective to the subject. Instead of mutating body parts, the artist has built on the models body. This is seen where the artist have drawn extra features onto the model to give the effect of an accessory/ornament, growing from the models body!

Henrik Bonnevier Analysis

Henrik Bonnevier is a still life photographer which his work is primarily based around the involvement of fashion, interior architecture, various shapes and so on.

Fig. 1 | http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k3bof__WhSc/UPgJHSwTqPI/
AAAAAAAAArI/R3XgfdsIxck/s1600/
2013_2_Interior_Folkhem_Bonnevier.jpg

Figure 1 is an example of Bonnevier's interior architectural still life. Despite the large array of objects in the scene, the photographer has carefully organised the cluttered confusion of items to shape the path of which the viewers eyes look at the scene.

The use of simple, consistent colours with various shades and contrasted regions, aids in defining the outline of items which gives each item the perception of being separate to each object.

Most likely, the composition of the image is to advertise the objects used in the scene. For example, the boxes stand out due to the extreme shade of black, while at the same time, the shelving unit is separated from the objects & background which is further defined through the use of other objects such as the books to fill space, shadows & shades. This ultimately brings selected objects out while pushing the common object in the scene, further into the background.

Fig. 2 | http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CsjMS0Mvi8/UJ0Cq8h7UbI/
AAAAAAAAApY/aIAGLVPGywI/s1600/Christmas_luxuries
_still%2B_life_Black_NK_Still_Bonnevier_5.jpg

Bonnevier also specializes in fashion photography. Applying his concepts of still life to enhance his fashion photography! An example of this can be seen

in figure two where the scene is illustrating fashion-related objects for a fashion-centric magazine: NK Stil.

Henric has created the shapes in the background with the cloth to enhance the contour of the shapes as well as the way the light is reflected by the jewellery (giving a perceived, added sparkle to it). Thus, defining detail of the jewel's and adding a touch of sophistication to the overall scene.
Automatically, the choices of colors used bring out the details of the diamonds in the right image, as well as the intrinsic detail/textures of the half-moon pattern and rose-gold chain of the left image. The placement of the objects in the left image glides the eyes over the watch while following the rose-gold chain past the earrings to the bottom of the image just after peeking at the necklaces emblem. Further use of the color black is to give the perception the the objects are unique to what everyone else has. A given idea of something special.

Fig. 3 | http://1.bp.blogspot.com/vlalT_UyPVo/
UHVS6y_CUAI/AAAAAAAAAmI/ZgmPh0GfDbE/
1600/3_Therese_Sennerholt_interior_
Still-life_Bonnevier.jpg

Figure three is a good example of the use of the surrounding architecture to guide the viewers eyes round the objects in focus. This is similar to the techniques used in figure one.
For example, the contrast is used to define the lines of the brick work as well as the typography of the artwork in the background. Further more, the highlight vignetting on the edges of the photograph keep the eyes of the viewer towards the center of the image.

The artwork in the background stands out due to the strong, bold typography, set on a white background. With the image closely in the center of the image as well as just above the chair, this would indicate that the chair is the subject in focus.


Despite the lack of colour being used in the previous images, Bonnevier makes exceptional use of colour in some of his other, more commercial photography as seen in Figure 4. The select use of colour enables specific images to stand out while keeping other, unimportant objects. phased into the background.

Fig. 4 | http://www.etoday.ru/uploads/2010/
06/15/henrik-bonnevier-still-life-photography-.jpg

In figure 4, Henrik most probably used light boxes to create the box as well as use coloured filters on the light boxes as well. Further more, the use yellow helps to bring out the deep, luscious red colour of the objects in focus (further, to distinguish the objects from everything else).

However, this does give a sense of commercialisation with the images used.

Julie Cockburn Analysis

Fig. 1 | http://www.re-title.com/
public/artists/5161/1/Julie-Cockburn-4.jpg

Julie Cockburn is an artist who specializes in blending portrait photography and collage artwork to give a twisted perspective to the subject in question. This results in an image with a rather limited/unknown reason to why the subject has been manipulated in such a fashion. However, I feel that Cockburn has done this to leave the viewer to decide for themselves; the meaning, purpose and identity of the scene and subject.

Fig. 2 |http://www.re-title.com/public/artists/
5161/1/Julie-Cockburn-1.jp

Figure one, both subjects have been completely obscured by the subjects; themselves. This was probably achieved by the artist cutting the areas of the image into specific shapes to then. re-arranging the order in a set pattern which would place back together neatly.

Julie may have decided to take this approach to represent how the childhood of someone is soon forgotten/lost as the subject matures with age. Thus obscuring the memories of an individual. 

Alternatively, this could've been done to express a particular quality of the subject at the time of the photograph.For example, lets assume the image was of the 1960/70's, the collage of the subjects face is of a crystal-like formation which could represent the subjects love of diamonds/jewellery. The collages have a similar relationship to the classic kids thing; Spirographs.

However, this doesn't exactly apply to figure 2. Cockburn has taken a slightly different approach to the photograph by re-arranging the face of the subject in a specific, distorted pattern to twist the perspective of the subjects face. 

Thus not only blurring the subject but also distorting who the person behind the picture is, as well as the original message the photographer was trying to put across. This would make sense as such faces would be forgotten (judging by the age of the photograph, I would assume this was taken a very long time ago).

Jan Von Holleben Analysis

Fig. 1 | http://www.creativetempest.com/wp-content
/uploads/2009/01/jan-von-holleben-11.jpg

Jan Von Holleben Is a photographer who takes a different perspective to photography. Instead of a mature, sensible scene, Jan flips this over by adding a childish, playful twist which results in a portrait, hiding a story behind the subject and scene. As quoted by Holleben himself; "Direct, natural, playful, considered, honest, improvised, educational, fun, childish yet totally serious by approach!"


However, a painting is just the expression of the artists emotions. To keep true to this, Jan does not rely on Adobe Photoshop to achieve turn his vision into a reality but focuses on the scene itself.

Jan's photography expresses his creativity in a childish setting. Visually telling the happenings of a child's imagination. For example, Fig. 1 is an iconic scene from the original film; King Kong. Holleben probably chose to use this scene as it show how children can be out-of-control & reckless. This is due the way how the subject is holding the doll in his left hand (the doll could represent the object of the child's desires) while the helicopter is an expression of control (Representation of parental intervention). The overall composition could be put down to Jan Von Holleben viewed children or how he was viewed when he was a young child.

Fig. 2 | http://24.media.tumblr.com
/tumblr_lycvnyuoib1qjia25o1_500.jpg

But not every image is the same. Figure 2. Holleben may not be recreating a scene of a tantrum child but is in-fact, showing the freedom & unrestricted imagination of children by closely relating the scene to a children's, Disney film; Tarzan.

Alternatively, Jan has said that his images not posses and particular meaning but maybe how his work makes people happy by expressing the freedom of his artwork (as quoted); "The best feedback I get from people on a regular basis is, that I make them very happy. Maybe that is a hidden meaning? Maybe that I truly enjoy what I do as a job and see no boundaries."

Fig. 3 | http://img.ffffound.com/static-data/assets/6
/7353b4db6923b891e53a759277993f0aabfde81c_m.jpg

The way the two kids are swinging on the vine-like branch, symbolize the freedom which children have and the lack of responsibility can also be seen in the lack of greenery (thus, not obscuring the majority features of the image). The way the two subjects also express the feeling of motion, also symbolize the lack of boundaries children set themselves...

The third image gives an insight into the emotional/psychological well being of a child's mind through distressing times... (e.g. parental relationship issues, family losses, personal troubles...). This is expressed in the dramatization of the scene, expression of the subjects and scene of which it is set in. (Very typical in a classic, dramatic children's icon such a TinTin)


Inspiration of Jan's work comes from music. This can't be clearly seen in his work but some of the his images does give an insight to the theme of music which might have inspired Jan. As well as this, his work does show a subject being courages in one form or another. Attempting to change the "smallest world" (this being the scene itself).

Lin Osborn Inspired Collage Experiment

This is my inspired, Lin Osborn work which even though it may seem unlike her work, there is a resemblance.

Her work follow's a particular theme. sometimes based around colour or the setting of the subject. I have taken this core concept and applied this to my work. This can be seen in the consistent use of black & white as well as basing the collage off people & animals in various surroundings. 

Despite Osborn's use of landscape orientation, I incidentally used portrait. Despite this slight error, it does seem to make more sense to use such an orientation as most photographs of people are in a portrait orientation. This adds to the theme of using people.

Documentary Photography: Lin Osborn analysis

http://www.linosbornart.co.uk/graphics/A3%20Rainbow.jpg

Lin Osborn's artwork comprises of taking items which are common in everyday circumstances... For example, the following image to the left is made up of small, colored, supermarket objects with the branding of each object, clearly visible in the frame. This could also be used as the subject of the image!

In this case, the specific pattern of colours and symmetrical layout gives the impression that each object; despite having the same color, each object possesses its own, unique characteristic's, shape and brand-identity which when looked in detail, sets itself apart from each other subject/product.

However, some of the colours used by Lin Osborn do not look natural. For example, the yellows, blues and reds are of a stronger saturation than what the colours are realisitically. Lin could've adjusted the hue/saturation of some of the colors in the images in order to bring out the main color in subject and repress distracting colors to avoid distracting the viewer.


Lin specialised in documentary photography. This being the way the photographer tells a story though the image they've captured and how they convey the current moment in time across to the viewer. Lin doesn't exactly do this with her work. Such simple compositions can be created by any talented individuals. The image above conveys the way objects and colors have been heavily commercialized and how colour is taken for granted.

The objects used above are all very common. Some being every-day objects such as shampoo & butter. This may have been involved in the collage this could be used to symbolise how common supermarket objects are taken for granted and how people are generally concentrate on what brand they are looking for. 

By placing each image in a color-pallet like format and only representing the 7 main common colours, Lin tries to show each object as an individual identity, Expressing how simple, every-day objects can be seen in more than one way.