Mason Owen Digital Portfolio
I have used photography as a medium for my art. In developing a less literal and abstract style I have been influenced by a wide variety of artists. I have explored alternative mediums such as collage, pencil sketching and the use of graphics packages such as Photoshop, iPhoto and iSplash. My work is arranged in chronological order starting with my GCSE work and concluding with my current A level work.
GCSE Set task - Public Transport
Above are some extracts from my sketch book and some of the images I created and used in the development of my ideas. I considered a variety of modes of transport ranging from yellow cabs in New York to Gondolas in Venice. I ultimately decided on the train station in Sheffield as the location for my final piece. The sculpture in front of the station provided a silver reflective back drop which on the wet night reflected on the floor creating an atmospheric feel.
Above are some of the images which contributed to my final piece. I used a variety of techniques to create these images including slow shutter speeds to create the feeling of motion of the trains and trams passing by. For the interior of the station I moved the camera during the shot to create a blurred effect. In most cases I used iPhoto for Mac and Photoshop to enhance the colours and clarity.
GCSE COURSE WORK
Below are extracts from my general GCSE sketch book where I covered the topics of New York, Textures and Still Life, The Car Show, The Bike Race, Urban Sheffield and Silhouettes. I was particularly interested in exploring abstract work, I researched and was influenced by artists such as Picasso, Braques and Pollock. I also explored a pop art style influenced by Warhol. I experimented with painting areas of colour into otherwise black and white images using a package called iSplash.
Below are some of my completed images from my GCSE Portfolio. The abstract images were created by using a retouching tool to copy and merge elements of the photograph.
AS Set Task topic - Spinning
I initially explored the topic by considering words which related to the subject ; Pirouetting, winding, coiling, curling, twisting, rotating, revolving and turning. Below are extracts from my sketch book which illustrates how I approached the task. I distilled my ideas down to wind, light and mechanical motion as a way of demonstrating spinning.
The images below show the development of wind and mechanical motion demonstrating spinning. I experimented with capturing wind motion by utilising a slow shutter speed which showed the blurring of the turbines and windmills. I appreciated the sculptural quality of the turbines which I compared with Anthony Gormley's Angel of the North. I felt that black and white images created a more dramatic feel particularly when I changed the bright blue sky to black using iPhoto for Mac.
The development of my ideas ultimately led to my final work below which demonstrates spinning through light. I created these imaging with a spinning and illuminating child's toy which I photographed in a dark room at a slow shutter speed. I operated the zoom lens during the process which created the funnel shapes. I enhanced each of these images in iPhoto to intensify the colour and enhance the black of the background.
A Level Course Work
My recent work has included the topics of Faces and People and Painting with Light.
I explored the human face and then considered it in a less literal way. I experimented with collage by combining photographs of different sized and of colour and black and white. I then moved on to consider people in settings including within buildings. Most of my work considers my view of subjects in a non literal way.
I developed the Painting with Light concept from my work on spinning. I was influenced by the work of Picasso and Mili who pioneered the concept. I found some buildings which glowed at night and used these as both a setting and a subject. I also went on to photograph elements of Anthony McCall's installation at the Hepworth. For the images at night I used a tripod and a very slow shutter speed. I was able to move a torch in front of the camera and by continually moving I disappeared and only the movement of light was captured.
Above and below are some of my final images from my A level course work. I found that the entrances to buildings was an interesting location to consider the movement of people but largely in silhouette. The central upper image below is of the Chrysler Building at night where I have used a slow shutter speed and operated the zoom lens which created this exploding image.
Below are some quick pencil and ink sketches which I have recently completed when visiting some iconic buildings. I photographed but also sketched the interior of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim museum in New York where I wanted to capture the winding form of the ramped interior. The central sketches are of Mario Botta's MOMA in San Fransisco. I was particularly impressed with the sculptural form of the entrance with the glass and steel bridge above. My final sketch is of elements of Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall where I concentrated on some of the forms of parts of the building.
