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amydobneyphotographyl6-blog · 8 years ago

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Artist Analysis 2: Thom Gourley

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work linked to Photoshoot 2 Experimental analysis

In this analysis I am going to e focused on the work of Thom Gourley. Gourley is a fine art and commercial photographer living and working in Utah. In this series of photogrphs he captures still life art of plants and flowers.

2. What is the photographers motivation? Why these images?

This photograph and the series of photographs that this photograph is a part of was motivated by Gourley wanting to explore the idea of turning everyday objects into abstract concepts. In his editorial description of this photograph he states My abstracts are mostly reflective and refractive distortions set up in the studio or are "found" abstracts of everyday object”. Furthermore, Gourley draws inspiration from other photographers that also focus on abstract ideas and concepts of everyday objects such as the work of “Andre Kertesz and Brett Weston”

3. Discuss whether you think / know that the picture has been taken for a commercial, fine art or editorial reason

Gourley states in an interview that he is a “fine art” photographer and that he produces his photography and other various series of work for a fine art purpous. This therefore suggests that this picture too would be a part of the fine art that he has produced. Furthermore, this photograph is in a series of many that explore the idea of death and decay of beauty. He is using this art as an expression of emotion and to express the idea that beautiful aesthetic goes away and decays with age and damage.

4. discuss the content of the photograph. Discuss what you think the artist/ photographer is trying to communicate to the viewer.

In my personal opinion in this specific photograph, Gourley is attempting to communicate the idea of change. It is not very common for photographers to capture flowers when they are in a stage of decay to emphasis their beauty, however I feel that by having no background in the photograph there is emphasis on the makeup pf the flower and the different colors and components such as the dried petals and stem. I do feel that Gourley is trying to communicate and emphasis the subject which is the flower and the decay that it is going through. Furthermore, in his editorial description of this piece of work Gourley states “My abstracts are mostly reflective and refractive distortions set up in the studio or are "found" abstracts of everyday objects shot with emphasis on pattern and texture and little or no emphasis on the object itself. “

5. Is there a personal connection between the object being photographed and the photographer?

after reading some interviews by Thom Gourley about his “dead flowers” series he does not express any personal connection to the flowrs them selves in specific. However, he does express a connection for the general everydy pbjects that he is photographing and says he wants to change the meaning of the objects into abstract forms. Furthermore, he expresses how the meanings behind the photogtphs such as changing the concepts of objects and creating your own ideas is something he has a personal connection to.

6. Discuss the main formal and technical techniques/ factors used in creating the photograph.

One of the main elements used in this photograph is the use of negative space. Around the subject of the photograph (the flower) there is a lot of black space. This effect puts a lot of emphasis of the subject of the photograph. Moreover, another one of the main techniques that has been used when Gourley has used in this photograph is the use of strong colors and strong black shades, In this photographs, The flower which is a very strong yellow color and the stem which is a green that appears to have vibrancy and a lot of life are set on a very contrasting pure black back setting. Tying in with this, the use of strong contrast has also been used in this photograph. This technique puts a lot of exhilaration on the flower, and the eye is immediately drawn to the petals. I feel that this effect has been done to create a false sense of hope. When the person looking at the photograph initially sees the photograph, the colours that are set on black seem to be healthy and alive, however the actual flower is decaying.

7. Do you feel the photographer has created this photograph using digital manipulation. If so why would they have done this?

When i personally look at this photograph, I feel that this there is some elements of the image that look as though they have been edited and manipulated using digital manipulation techniques. Moreover, in an interview Gourly does say he uses light digital manipulations and touch ups but only in order to enhance the photographs and put emphasis on the subjects. He does not however digitally manipulate his work in order to create the abstract forms of the subjects. This effect is created in the modelling of the subject.

8. What is your personal response to this photograph.

Personally when i look at this photograph I get a sense that it is glorifying the idea of aging and dying. In my opinion, the black background that constants the yellow of the dying flower seems to put emphasis on the subject of the photo. The black background also makes me think of a fashion or beauty style photographs which are traditionally known for having a very beautiful and highly perfected subject as the subject with a blank or extremely minimal background. This therefore makes me feel that the photographer is glorifying the decay of the flower.

9. How does it relate to your own work?

In his work Thom gourley is taking photographs of everyday items and making them into abstract ideas with emphasis on conflict between the subjects usual beauty or look and having it looking in a contrasting manor (such as a dead and lifeless flower). Although I am not focusing on making the everyday subjects abstract, It does link to my work in terms of changing the meaning of the object. Instead i am taking inspiration from the work of Gourley and exploring how everyday objects change as they age. Furthermore, i am also focusing on the death of the plant and am putting emphasis on the decay from being alive to getting older and losing its natural beauty as they transition towards being dead.

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