Final project proposal—-How signage tell story

Description:

This idea came up to me when I rewatch Better Call Saul recently. When I watch film or TV series, I’m always attracted to the visual language and cinematography. Like how they use visual elements to tell a story. That’s the reason I choose signage as my main focus point for the Final. I will use signage as main object to create a series of photo, most likely 7 to 10 photos from the street.

Outcome: 7-10 photos

 

Reference: Better Call Saul

Sorry I can’t remove the control panel of Netflix 🙁

Project 1 Apparatus / APPARATUS

Reference：

Frederic Edwin Church – Ship at Sunset

John Constable – Harwich Lighthouse

My Photo:

 

 

 

 

Project 2 The Subject of Light

 

 

 

 

 

Project 3 The Subject of Color

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucien Hervé，“poet of light and shadow” ，French photographer, born in 1910 in Hungary, known as architectural photographer after WWII. Hervé used strong black-and-white contrast, minimalist compositions, and precise geometric framing to turn architecture into both an abstract and emotional subject.

 

 

Eiji Ohashi Born in  Hokkaido in 1955. Driven by the question of what happiness means to us humans, Ohashi began visiting the Himalayas, Tibet, Pakistan, and China’s Western Regions in 1984, and documented landscapes local ethnic minorities over a period of twenty years.

“One night 14 years ago, I drove through a snowstorm at night. Caught in a whiteout I lost track of where I was, but the familiar light from the vending machines guided me the way. Ever since then, vending machines have become something special to me. They are a window through which to view the world.
Standing isolated alongside the road, vending machines lead a lonely existence. They are so commonplace in Japan that no one pays particular attention to them, but I see in them an image of the modern human. Whether it rains or snows, the vending machines continue their service and diligently wait for the next customer to arrive. They strike me to the core and help me visualize fragments of memories that I had thought lost.
The glowing figure of the vending machine shows us not only an image of our past selves but also optimism for things to come. Where their light shines, we can sense hope for the future. In these moments, the vending machines become ultimate modern artworks, similar to the vacuum cleaners of Jeff Koons.”

 

Roger Deakins is an English cinematographer. Deakins is often cited as one of the greatest and most influential cinematographers of all time. He wins the Oscar twice for Blade Runner 2049 and 1917.

In his films, you will often notice his use of a frame, such as doorways and windows, and other scenic elements, to break up the wide frame. The camera will often move through these frames as it approaches the character or the main action in the scene.

Deakins has always preferred to operate the camera himself so that he can naturally respond to what’s happening in the scene, having complete control of the final result. This is also why he prefers to use a single camera set-up and avoid using multiple cameras unless he absolutely has to.

https://www.adamhfinal.com/

“NYC Puzzle”

New York City, often referred to the “melting pot” of the world, is a mosaic of cultures, backgrounds, and tales waiting to be told. At every corner, in every glance, there’s a story. This project dive deep into the essence of NYC by capturing moments of its emotions, dreams, and the sheer rawness of life in the City.

The heart of this project lies in its innovative approach—taking these individual street photographs and assembling them to recreate a night view of the iconic NYC skyline. This approach provides a perspective on the city’s architectural grandeur but also emphasizes that the city’s true brilliance is from its people. Every window in a skyscraper, every glint from a streetlamp, is represented by a face, a gesture, a fleeting moment. The final outcome is a symbiotic blend where the vibrancy of NYC’s nightlife is mirrored by the lives of its inhabitants.

 

1. Weeks 1-4: Street photography sessions and initial selection of photographs.
2. Weeks 5-6: Digital manipulation and creation of the mosaic.
3. Weeks 7-8: Feedback sessions, iterations, and finalizing the design.

Reference:

Lawrence Block, “Eight million ways to die”

Philip-Lorca diCorcia’s “Heads”

Example final outcome:

“There is no story. It’s just a question of shapes and light”

Harry Gruyaert (born 1941) is a Belgian photographer known for his use of color. He is a member of Magnum Photos.

As one of the earliest European photographers to explore and develop the possibilities of color film, Gruyaert didn’t follow the tradition of photography. When American photographers like William Eggleston and Stephen Shore began experimenting with color film, the use of it in Europe was still predominantly accepted in advertising and printing. At that time, color film was considered a technical novelty, but was not highly valued aesthetically.

Unlike the trend of photography at that time, Harry focus more on the enviroment, light and color. His unique vision helpd him created lots of fantastic photos and made him elected in the Magnum Photos, along with Alex Webb.