Imogen Cunningham

Imogen Cunningham 

Imogen Cunnigham born April 12th, 1883 in Portland, Oregon, US was an American photographer well known for her botanical, nude and industrial landscape photography. She was a well-known member of the F64 club which celebrated the sharp-focus of simple subjects. In 1907, after graduation Cunningham worked for Edward S. Curtis where she learned about portrait and practical photography. She later helped Curtis is documenting American Indian Tribes for the book 'The North American Indian'. In 1915, Imogen got married to Roi Partridge, who posed for a nude shoot for her which was shown by the Seattle Fine Arts Society, however, were criticised. In 1920, Cunningham and her family moved to San Francisco where she started to refine her style of work, discovering her love of botanical photography. Later in the decade, she decided to produce a series of images based on industrial landscapes in Los Angeles and Oakland. 

In 1934, Imogen was invited to work in New York for Vanity Fair where she worked for two years until the publication closed down. LAter on in her career, she turned to documenting street photography. She used this as a side project to support her commercial and studio photography.  Towards the end of Imogen Cunningham's life she mentored, she met a photographer called Judy Dater who was greatly inspired by her work and continued to work with her until she passed away in 1976. 

Imogen had a great memory of the Latin names of plants, and was often in her own garden, tending her plants. When photographing plants, she sometimes placed a simple white or black background behind the plant, even outside in the garden, working with natural light.

Image 1 

The image above is of a Datura flower taken in the 1930's. On first appearance this flower looks almost dark and cynical. Where there is a lack of colour and very direct light on the subject it appears very harsh and doesn't have the usual connotations of love and fragility. Instead it appears to hold the feeling of death. I believe this is partly down to the shadows which are extremely evident due to the direct light coming from the right side of the image. These harsh shadows show the lines and curves of the petals much more than soft lighting would therefore taking away the soft and flowing appearance most flower petals have. I like how this images has been taken as the bottom of the flower is also in frame showing a leading line up to the 'main' focus of the flower. This is useful as it adds substance to the image by focusing on the flower as a whole, not just the usual part. 

Image 2 

The images above is titled Agave Design 2 taken in the 1920's. It is part of a series of images that show different perspectives of the Agave plant, however this one stood out to me the most. The main aspect of this photograph that stands out to me is the abstract nature of it. It does not appear to be of a plant, instead it just looks like a pattern as we don't tend to focus this closely on a plant therefore don't see  it this way with the human eye. I think this is powerful in botanic photography as it changes our usual view of nature by showing an intricate detailed pattern. The technical aspects of the photograph such as the texture, detail and shadow that has been photographed within this small section of the plant really makes the image go up a level. Within this simple design we can see the detailed curved edges of the leaves and how the light hits it and casts shadows within the gaps of the leaves. Without this detail the photograph would be just ordinary and shows a pattern rather than a 3D object. 

Image 3 

 

This image is of an Amaryllis Flower taken in 1933. I chose this image as one of my favourite pieces from Imogen Cunningham as it stands out amongst the rest of the body of work. It does this because it has a bright white background instead of the usual dark one that majority of the time she shoots against. This image is very simple, there isn't an extraordinary amount of detail or intricacy but I think that it what makes the photograph so interesting. If is had too many leaves or buds it would over complicate the contrast that has been achieved between the black and white photo. I like the composition of the image as the bottom third holds most of the detail with it hang the leaves on the flower. The top however has a leading line in the form of a budding stalk occupying it. This difference in simplicity and shape between the two halves is what makes the image interesting. To me the photograph signifies growth, the bud is ready to sprout, it appears to be standing strong and reaching as high as it can go. It is ready to flower and become something beautiful, giving this photograph a story even after it is taken. 

Image 4 

This photograph is of a Calla Lilly taken around 1929. When first looking at this photograph I thought it had a gentle appearance. The light colour of it, the shape it forms all seems very feminine and fragile. I believe it connotes love and care, this flower signifies something you would give to someone you love due to its beautiful appearance. It shows care through the gentle nature it holds from its delicate shape with soft shadows and no harsh lines. The curved line that runs through the flower makes your eyes follow it into the centre in one smooth motion, this can represent a calm feeling. The flow of the line means there are no breaks in the main subject that cause your eyes to jar, instead it is taken in continuously through one motion. I believe this photograph shows the more aesthetically pleasing side to botanical photography whilst also keeping the realistic side too as it has been taken in exactly the same manner as the others have. 

Image 5 

The photograph above is titled 'Hens and Chickens' and was taken in 1930. I can see how the title of this image links to the appearance of it very well as it looks like there are bigger flowers being the 'hens' and smaller flowers being the 'chickens'. The way the bigger flowers have grown is so that they consume the smaller ones almost like that are protecting them showing the 'hen and chicken' relationship. This photograph is different to the other ones that I have selected from Imogen Cunningham's work as it appears to be the only one that wasn't taken in the studio in directed light. Instead it looks like it has been taken in a naturals environment, indicated by the rock and user natural light due to the diffused light that covers the flowers with no harsh shadows. Rather that the dark shadows that the directed studio light produces. This photograph has more detail than most as there are small parts of the wider environment peeping into the outside edges. I prefer this style in my own work as it is more realistic for me to go out and look for plants in their natural environment and photograph the rather than taking them to a studio. 

Influence 

Above is my image compared to Imogen Cunningham's. I researched Imogen early on in my project when I was trying to photograph different aspects of nature, her work being quite close-up and looked at the texture and form of plants. This intrigued me so I tried her style for myself as shown above. I tried to achieve the shadows and detail that Cunningham had in her work which I think I done however not in the effortless and smooth nature that she did. I liked the closeness of the image which really mirrored all of her work, with concentration on the shape of the plant which makes the image look tranquil, especially with the curves in the centre. This is similar to what Imogen Cunningham demonstrated. 

Summary 

In conclusion, I was intrigued by the work of Imogen Cunningham and how simple it appeared. All of her work was aesthetically pleasing, with beautiful and soft shapes and textures running throughout. Therefore I tried her work but I realised that I couldn't achieve what she has due to my lack of access to the plants and the settings that she took them in. I tried her style for this shoot and although I liked the outcome I wasn't sure where else to go with it. Consequently, I didn't carry on this style on it's own, instead I tried to include close-up's of nature within other shoots to bring concentration a little closer, giving an original feeling to my work. 

In Red - 30-09-17 (Shoot 3)

In Red - 30-09-17

Photographer Research - Svetlana Belyaeva 

       For this shoot I have decided to take inspiration from Svetlana Belyaeva who photographs women in beautiful areas of nature. I really liked the idea of dressing someone up really glamorous to reflect the beauty of the flowers or leaves surrounding them. The first image I like the lady isn't looking at the camera, she appears to pose for the camera without acknowledging the camera is there. I like the fact that she is wearing green but has red lipstick which is a complementary colour. I would like to bring this kind of posing approach to my work so that it looks professional and has a slight 'fashion photography' approach. My favourite aspect of the second image is the the extreme contrast between the complementary colours, the red and the green really p-lay off of each other therefore having the lady in red makes the images even more bold. This is what I plan on doing in my own shoot. 

Image Bank 

The images above are photographs I found online when typing in 'People in Nature', I really enjoy these photographs as they are beautifully composed and have a calming tone to them. They are less 'fashion' orientated, instead they are more natural, they reflect how people act in these surroundings, the people look like they belong and and comfortable in their environment. I really enjoy these photographs and want to bring this calming feeling to my own work. 

Contact Sheet 

Best Images (Edited) 

This image was edited using dodging and burning due to the bright background when adjusting the exposure using curves. I dodged the sky in order to gain some of the detail back and make it looks less white. I also burned my subjects face in order to brighten it due to it appearing to be covered by a shadow. 

Images requiring improvement 

      I believe this photograph requires improvement due to the underexposure of it. As you can see, the colours aren't as saturated as the rest of my shoot, the red top that my subject is wearing looks burgundy or almost black which then doesn't stand out against the green tree behind. Even some of the leaves on the tree look dark and dull again not going the complementary colour effect I wanted to achieve. If I was to take these images again I would change my camera settings, perhaps to a larger aperture or a higher ISO to capture the vibrant red and green. 

        I feel that although technically speaking this image is good I think from an aesthetic, artistry perspective it isn't very good. The image isn't interesting it doesn't catch your eye, there's nothing very interesting about it, it's not got a narrative or a good composition. I feel that my subject was too far away from the tree's behind, she looks separate from nature when my aim was for people to appear close to it and look like the belong in their settings, whereas this hasn't happened here. I wouldn't try this particular setting again as there is no way of standing close to the bush, instead you have to stand on a bridge. 

AO1 - Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding. 

      When researching 'People in Nature' photography I came across the photographer Svetlana Belyaeva who inspired me in this shoot which I have titled 'In Red'. The main aspect I adopted from her work was the complementary colours she uses in some of her work. I feel the colour contrast set the photograph off, it gave it an artistic edge that showed planning in advance to get the perfect photo. I thought the most achievable colours for me were red and green as I could dress my subject in red and go to the field and forest area near my house. Another way I felt influenced by Svetlana was through the fact that her work is quite glamorous, beautiful clothing and makeup. I tried this in my shoot by dressing my subject in a beautiful way to reflect the 'fashion beauty' aspect against the 'nature beauty' aspect. 

AO2 - Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops. 

      When taking the photographs I didn't use a tripod, instead I held my camera and used a fast shutter speed of around 1/500secs in most of my images, in order to avoid unwanted blur. In this shoot I really concentrated on the desired outcome of each photograph that I took, therefore I changed my aperture nearly every time. I done this due to the fact that in some images I wanted berries in front of my subjects face therefore I needed an aperture of F22 to ensure that the berries and the face were in focus. However some images I needed a low aperture to counteract the exposure of the image. All the way through the shoot I used a relatively low ISO of around ISO400 due to it being a bright day, therefore I kept the correct exposure without the photographs being overexposed. I believe one improvement I would make on my technique is to use a reflector in some photographs in order to utilise the natural light, without the shadows appearing too harsh. To do this I would use a reflector on the darker side of my subjects face to reflect some light onto them. 

      Another way I am refining my work is through Photoshop. This particular photo originally looked slight washed out, where it was such a bright day. I wanted to get rid of this effect by using curves to darken the leaves and clothes within the photo. I think this worked well as it has made the comparison between the red and green much more obvious, overall it gives a richer colour and a much more aesthetically pleasing appearance.  

AO3 - Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.  

      I believe my work does reflect Svetlana Belyaeva's photography especially in the complementary colours aspect. The second image in the photographer research section on this post is mainly what my  shoot is based around. The red and green contrast is evident in all of my images, just in a slightly more reserved way then Svetlana's work. I also think my work links to the photographs in the image bank. I liked the fact that those photographs were slightly duller tone rather than over saturated and the people looked relaxed and comfortable in their environment. I believe this has been achieved in my work due to the more tranquil and natural appearance of my photographs compared to the extremely staged, exaggerated ones that Svetlana takes. 

AO4 - Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements. 

      I really enjoy how this shoot turned out, I believe it is my best shoot so far as it was focused and had a refined idea behind it or focusing on complementary colours between people and nature. This aim has been correctly displayed in my work. I feel that this shoot has given my whole project a good direction, 'People in Nature' is an idea that I can work on and build on. During my research for this shoot I have found other photographers that do similar work such Amelia Fletcher and Carlotta Manaigo who will be my inspiration for upcoming shoots. 

Plant Form - 16-09-17 (Shoot 2)

Plant Form - 16-09-17 

Imogen Cunningham 

      The two images above inspired me in my 'Plant Form' shoot. I wanted to concentrate on the detail and shape that nature forms while and when it is growing. Imogen Cunningham does this perfectly, she photographs flowers and plants in such close proximity, isolated against a dark background so that their shape, depth and detail shines through. The images are striking as we see the plant in a way that we wouldn't usually, large and in detail that the human eye overlooks. The first photograph shows the leafs of a plant all intertwined, growing in symmetry. This photograph shows the creases of the leafs but also their curved outline that leads them up to the top of the plant. This inspired me in my work as it really focuses on the growth of the plant. The second photo is an isolated flower, a beautiful, delicate and light flower against a dark screen. This contrast allows us to see the shape of the petals and the way they form around each other better than if it was against white. I really enjoy the black and white effect of these images as it furthers the contrast that Imogen displays so well, this is something I want to concentrate on when photographing and editing my images. 

Image Bank 

      The three images above are ones that I have found on the internet by other photographers that inspire me in my own work. As this shoot is going to be taken using the plants in my garden, I need something achievable and realistic, photographs that I could replicate. The above photo's show the isolation that I want to achieve and the detail I would like to capture in my work. 

Contact Sheets 

Best Images (Edited) 

Images that require improvement 

      I believe this image requires improvement due to the shadow that consumes the lower half of the photograph. As I was working in the garden with sunlight it meant that I had to be aware of the shadows this would cause. By me standing in the way of the light it produced this shadow which makes the two halves of the image appear very different. The half in the sun looks overexposed whereas the half in the shade is a good exposure. When viewing this photo during the shoot I realised I had to be aware of where my shadow would be produced not just shadows of the plants. 

      This image is similar to the one above, again there is a shadow on the lower part of the photo creating an undesired contrast within the image. This was due to me changing my location to a different plant and becoming aware of where I was standing. The other aspect of this photo that I don;t like is the composition of it, I do not think I was close enough to the plant therefore didn't achieve the desired effect. Where I was too distant no detail of the leafs was picked up pour you can see the pot that the planter was in. To correct this I took other images of the same plant but much closer, I believe this worked well as evident in my best images. 

AO1 - Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigation informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding. 

      This shoot that I produced was influenced by the photographer Imogen Cunningham who I done research on before setting off. I feel that viewing Cunningham's work steered me in the right direction in order to produce a piece of work that shows the form and detail of plants. Her work is very focused on the shape that leafs and flowers have from various different perspectives, showing a close and in depth account of plant form. I really enjoy this work therefore took this style into my own shoot by taking the images at a close proximity and from original perspectives to give the photo's an abstract feel. Another way Imogen influenced my work was when it came to the editing process. Majority of Cunningham's work was taken in black and white due to the time it was taken, however I think this works better than the photographs being in colour. Therefore when editing I decided to change my best photographs to black and white to show the Imogen Cunningham style. 

AO2 - Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops. 

      When taking these photographs I didn't use a tripod because I needed to get close to the ground in order to be close to the plants therefore using a tripod in this case wouldn't have worked. As I didn't use a tripod I had to ensure that my camera was set to a high shutter speed of around 1/125 - 1/500 in order to counteract any blur that it may have caused. As I was in a sunny outdoor setting I had to keep the ISO to a minimum so that my exposure would be kept at the right level. 

       When editing images, as mentioned before, I wanted to change them to black and white in order to reflect Imogen Cunningham's style. Below is an example of an image I improved - 

      This is one of the best images I produced during this shoot, originally it was a bright image with a predominantly pink flower. However I prefer this edit as it takes away the colour and makes you concentrate on the form and detail more. This was inspired by Imogen Cunningham's work, majority of which is black and white with a dark look to it. I think this works week as it isn't a typical image of a flower, instead it has a dull colourless effect to it. 

AO3 - Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress. 

      This shoot was focused around  the work of Imogen Cunningham. I mainly wanted to recreate the way Imogen takes photographs of the plants extremely close up in order to gather the detail of them however still includes enough in order to see the form of the plants. I wanted to recreate this on a local scale by using the trees and flowers I have in my own garden therefore adapting her work to the resources I have available. 

      The first image in my best images links to Imogen's image of the leafs which appear to be intertwining themselves. Cunningham's image show large leafs all growing together and the intricate shape they are forming. I tried to recreate this in my photo by showing the shape the plant has formed and the progression of growth from the middle to the outside. Similar to how Imogen's photo can be seen as leaves growing upwards. 

      The second photograph shows the isolated flower that I tried to recreate from her work. I think this worked as my main aim was to ensure the flower was isolated enough to see the individual petals and their delicate nature. This is what Cunningham achieved when she took images of flowers, the appearance that the flower photographed has grown on its own and stands out which I believe is really effective. 

AO4 - Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements. 

      I believe I have produced a meaningful response to my initial objective which was to photograph plant form in the style of Imogen Cunningham. As evident from my best images I have managed to produce three strong images that show the delicate and intricate form of plants in black and white. I wouldn't change the photographs I have taken however I would like to have one or two more strong images that illustrate the same thing. That being said the three I have are strong enough to stand on their own in showing the style I had in this shoot.