Module 06 – Landscape & Architecture

Content

Abstract

This is a selection of the results generated during “Module 06 – Landscape & Architecture”.

Module Content: Landscape & Architecture.
Module Teacher: Ruben Schumacher.

Assignment 01 – Landscape

Description

Make a series (5–6) of landscape images depicting what, in your eyes, determines the quality of the landscape.

Plan

Perhaps as a slight deviation from the original assignment, I intend to photograph the contrast as well as the combination of village/city/industry skyline with the natural environment. Both as a positive and negative message: yes, we can well live within as well as preserve the natural environment, and no, we should not go further in claiming nature for roads, buildings, industry, etc.

Results

Update:
The panoramas are being exhibited at the building of the Fotovakschool at the Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 10, Amsterdam. They are accompanied with a short text, explaining the reasoning behind the images (Dutch only).

Docks of the Port of Rotterdam as seen from Natural Landscape “Landtong Rozenburg”
Docks of the Port of Rotterdam as seen from Natural Landscape “Landtong Rozenburg”
Print Size: ±291x34cm
Maassluis as seen from Natural Landscape “Landtong Rozenburg”
Maassluis as seen from Natural Landscape “Landtong Rozenburg”
Print Size: ±284x35cm
Docks of the Port of Amsterdam as seen from the “Noorder IJ-Polder”
Docks of the Port of Amsterdam as seen from the “Noorder IJ-Polder”
Print Size: ±278x34cm
Corus Steel plant as seen from the Locks
Corus Steel plant as seen from the Locks
Print Size: ±274x34cm
Zwijndrecht and Dordrecht harbour areas as seen from Natural Landscape “Groot Koninkrijk”
Zwijndrecht and Dordrecht harbour areas as seen from Natural Landscape “Groot Koninkrijk”
Print Size: ±280x34cm
Noordkanaalhaven as seen from Natural Landscape “Beuningse Uiterwaarden”
Noordkanaalhaven as seen from Natural Landscape “Beuningse Uiterwaarden”
Print Size: ±199x35cm

Assignment 02 – Architecture

Description

Use a series of photos to show your vision on what has been built in the Netherlands in the last centuries.

Plan

The human desire to conform to what “others” do and think can sometimes become overwhelming. At the Dutch “Vinex” locations, it becomes choking. Every attempt at originality is quickly suppressed by rows and blocks of the same single house, repeated over and over again, without a single trace of individuality added.

What makes these locations even more depressingly dull is the deadness. During the day, most houses are deserted as both husband and wife are at work, and their children are at the day-care centre. When they come home at night, people hurry from their cars to their living rooms. There are no parks, no trees, and the tiny gardens (if the houses even have one) are quickly paved over to make sure no green will ever sprout there.

Even brilliant architectural ideas cannot survive this drearyness, and soon dwindle to become another drab line of houses…

Results

Parkzichtlaan
Parkzichtlaan
Kandinskystraat
Kandinskystraat
Marc Chagallstraat
Marc Chagallstraat
Musicalkade
Musicalkade
Boccacciopad
Boccacciopad
Paul Linckehof
Paul Linckehof
Edmund Eyslerstraat
Edmund Eyslerstraat
Hervéstraat
Hervéstraat
Richard Geneestraat
Richard Geneestraat
Joan Mirostraat
Joan Mirostraat
Paul Kleestraat
Paul Kleestraat
Renoirhof
Renoirhof
Georges Braquehof
Georges Braquehof
Jule Stynestraat
Jule Stynestraat
Frederik Loewestraat
Frederik Loewestraat
Paul Citroenstraat
Paul Citroenstraat
Edmond Audranstraat
Edmond Audranstraat
Musicallaan
Musicallaan

The result of the research into the history of (in my case Dutch) architecture photography can be found in this document (Dutch text).

School Day 01 – Time and Space

Description

Create a triptych of architectural photos depicting “Time and Space”.

Plan

On location (IJburg), I saw the concrete of an outside wall made look like it was a natural stone. This inspired me to look for building materials and compositions that could depict Time and Space, In the end I opted for:

Results

Triptych Time & Space
Triptych Time & Space

School Day 02 – View Camera

Description

Take a Technical Camera and use that to take an architecture shot without any prespective distortion.

Plan

We decided to be a bit more creative and opted to create a Frank van der Salm-like photo where we used the ability of the TC to play with the focal plane to give the impression of a photo taken of a miniature instead of a real situation.

Results

Piet Heijnkade from Oosterdok – Frank van der Salm-like
Piet Heijnkade from Oosterdok – Frank van der Salm-like
Note: due to a processing error at the lab, the slides were destroyed. This is therefore a scan of the test polaroid.

School Day 03 – IJmuiden

Description

Today we went to IJmuiden to shoot a series of landscape images using the water, dunes, and heavy industry as subject matter in a series (6–8 photos) on “the edge of the land”. All to be shot in mind with the fact that the final result is to be presented in B&W.

Plan

First get inspired by the environment, then think of a subject for a series and start shooting.

After looking at a number of huge concrete blocks, I just had to use those in my series. My first idea was to make a series of the different stages of the concrete making process (form sand and stone to concrete building blocks). A second idea was to make a series of pictures of concrete walls together with a detail-shot of the (concrete) building blocks used in that wall.

While I made shots for both ideas, the wall idea is what made it as the “selected” series.

Results

Wall
Wall
Concrete pavement
Concrete pavement
Wall
Wall
Concrete plates
Concrete plates
Wall
Wall
Concrete blocks
Concrete blocks

School Day 04 – Photoshop

Description

Discussion on everyones progress on the module assignments as well as some advanced Photoshop B&W techniques. These techniques were used to finish the results of the IJmuiden series.

School Day 05 – Four views on Architecture

Description

Take four shots of a building, using a different view for each:

After researching each, choose one of the following buildings:

Plan

While each building/site had its pros and cons, I eventually decided on “Het Schip” based on, amongst others:

Results

Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For the Government
For the Government
Simple picture showing one of the functions of the building: a museum.
Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For the Architect
Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For the Architect
There are so many pieces of archtitecture (detail), I decided on en image not seen often of “Het Schip”; the back side with lots of different architectural ascpects.
Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For the Project Developer
Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For the Project Developer
For the Project Developer I chose to show the cosiness of (living in) the building.
Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For Me
Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For Me
Even though this building is not of modern architecture, there are still lots of things I like about it. This detail of a window is but one of them.
Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For Me
Amsterdamse School, “Het Schip” – For Me
Alternative.

School Day 06 – Abstracts

Description

Based on the discussion in-class on abstracts, go outside and take an abstract image.

Plan

I decided to try something I normaly try to prevent at all cost: to take unfocussed images. As it turns out, I quite like the results!

Results

Water Wheel
Water Wheel
Stairs
Stairs
At the Beach
At the Beach
Cityscape
Cityscape
Scooter
Scooter

School Day 07 – View Camera II

Description

As the slides of the first View Camera excercise where lost, we took another shot at creating a Frank van der Salm-like photograph (which, this time, was the official assignment as well).

Plan

Go to the top of the Nemo building and shoot as downwards as possible, to strengthen the “van der Salm effect”.

Results

Sad but true: again the results were ruined, this time by light spilled on the slide, either when it was loaded, or when it was unloaded. Luckily we still have the polaroid created the second day.

School Day 08 – Interiors

Description

Try capturing the new Fotovakschool building in a triptych.

Plan

Be inspired by the new (still largely empty) building.

Results

Emptyness
Emptyness

School Day 09 – Project Day

Description

Day available for the final touches to the results for the assessment.

School Day 10 – Assessment

My Own Learnings this Module

Input

The following material was used as the basis of the Assessment:

Results

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