Exhibition

For our class exhibition, I will show my final piece along with a stained glass grid backdrop: this will be shown by one of the images below. There are a few ideas that I could choose from; to help reflect and show my idea the most effectively. Through this final task I hope to be able to show and interest anyone with this idea of the mystery of God and his aspects. I hope they will understand and be intrigued by what I have done. This was my initial 'grid' but the white gaps in between leaves it too open. But compared to below, the bold black borders help separate each image and gives it more of the stained glass grid style.

Here I highlighted the 6 centre images in red to show the shape of the cross. I chose the colour red as it symbolises blood (death of Christ)

Here I desaturated those images in the centre to show the cross shape.

Behind the centre images I placed my own cross, and faded through to show the shape of my own 3D cross.

Here I left the cross shape in colour and the other images around it black and white.

I put together a cross shape then placed it behind the grid and faded through simply to show the cross outline.

All of these images above are different ideas of which reflect my overall idea of the cross. I will then for my exhibition task, put together finally what I had planned.

Evaluation

For my exam overall I completed the task of photographing the essence/aspects of God, and to finish it off my final piece was a 3D clear cross which held the aspects of which I thought were relevant and true. I am very pleased with all the work that I have completed for my exam, and I feel they all link well to each other and show perfectly what my overall idea was.

There could have been many changes which I could have pursued with, at any point of my exam. For a start I could have not created the cross, I could have completed a film or slideshow of images, but I feel the cross showed my idea the most effectively. The many ideas I had thought about to do with my cross, I could have completed any one of those, or when choosing words for my sides of the cross; I could have had one side of words from the bible and others words against God completely (evil, death, disease etc) but then that would go against the fact of my task 'photographing aspects or essence of God' so wouldn't fit in very well. Small choices like what colour cord/string to use, or the size of the cross could all have been different. Tasks from previous posts, I could have done differently, explored more, went out of my comfort zone that extra bit further. Or simply just taking more photos, taking the time and getting the photos I wanted to take rather than needed.

I am sure there are plenty of things that I could have explored with like visiting different places of worship and exploring different God’s and religions and not just the Christian one, or exploring different acts and people from different religions or from Christianity of which I haven’t already covered. If I had more time, I would have enjoyed learning about other cultures and capturing it through photography. But with the time frame I had and the task; I kept Christianity as it was the first thing I had to mind so learning from this exam, I should explore more with other ideas and get out my comfort zone more.

Overall though I am pleased about how everything turned out. I liked looking into different artists and photographers work and taking time to figure out how I could link my task to that specific photographer for example Uta Barth; I thoroughly enjoyed looking at her images and once taken some of my own, having fun manipulating them on Photoshop.

Through this exam I feel I have improved in many ways with ideas, techniques, use of my camera and even Photoshop. I now feel over these last few weeks that I can finally use my improvements and knowledge more fluently with tasks/ideas/experiences to come.

Animation

With images that I have taken out and about have been used to create a small animation. I did this in order to create more variety to my exam work. The images that I have chosen link to nature and creation. The images that I used were a set from a sunrise following a bird, a set from a sunset following a dog and another set from a sunrise but with the waves moving back and forth. I chose these ones especially as they show a different aspect of Nature mainly sun, compared to a still image. It shows the cycle of nature: Sun rising and setting, which link with God as he created the world and everything in it. I thought these specific images really show what it's like at that time of it happening; especially the sunrise at 6.30, the world was waking up, the birds were flying about, the waves were moving faster and people were out and about running and walking their dogs.
I also completed a second animation: but this one is all about life. From a small baby to an older happy teenager. I chose these specific images as they show life, which is precious and unique gift from God. These images show emotion; which show how important life is and to enjoy it regardless of your feelings, from the baby crying to the girl laughing.

Cross went on a trip...

Once I had completed my cross fully, and blogged everything I could, I decided to take my cross on a trip to the beach. I took photos when and where I thought was best. Unfortunately when I went out it was rather windy so couldn't really let go of it or it would fall over. So I did what I could with what I could when walking around. Mostly I lent it on to something so it wouldn't go anywhere, or I held onto it and magically was able to take photos. So below are images at certain places on my way to the beach. The cross' first stop: On top of a hill Second stop: On top on a hill near the beach 3rd stop: By a bench, on the slope to the beach Final stop: The beach I completed this task, to show the cross in natural light, through different perspectives and also in nature itself. Considering my idea was about creation and nature, I took the cross to it itself. If I was to do it again, I would definitely go on a non windy day as this was difficult to compete with, with no wind can help me experiment more with the light and place with out holding on to it.

Final Outcome and Why I did what I did

Top View

Front view (1)

Side view (1)

Front View (2)

Side view (2)

When deciding what to do, it took a lot of thinking and deciding to what to put into the cross as well how to link well enough.

I decided to do the cross in the first place as it was one of my first tasks to photograph crosses; so I thought creating a 3D cross what quite relevant. Also as it is a well known religious symbol linking to God and especially Jesus. The fact that is had a tint blue on two of the sides is simply there for more effect and adding interest.

Once decided on the cross; I debated many times at what to put in it, but I 100% knew that using my images from previous tasks was a must. In deciding my images, I just chose the ones that first I likes the most, the ones that I knew other people liked, as well as picking appropriate ones linking to some of my tasks: sun, land, animals, church, worship etc.


I have four cords/strings of which are 4 different colours and represent four different aspects; these cords would hold the images I picked out.

• The green cord is flowers and nature, which link to the colour green as well as the image all being of similar subject, blue cord is animals and water,
• The colour blue is obviously linked to water as well as the animals either photographed in water or link to it somehow and again all the images link together with similar subjects,
• The brown cord is for church/ crosses/ and landscape, this links to earth as the earth's soil is brown and church, crosses, and landscape are all on earth,
• And there's the yellow cord which links to sun and all my images are of sun rises or sets.

These images were all hole punched and attached through the cords in order to make a 'washing line' of images. I chose to do this as it was different to some of the other ideas I has already thought of as well as it being quite creative and linking well with the colours and images. The cord slotted through the hole in the lid and knotted at the top. This then led me to sliding on the images.

On the sides of the crosses I have small white strings again attached and knotted through the small holes from the side lids. I chose white string as it was very simple and didn't take any attention away from the four long cords in the centre, as they are the main focus and I didn't want to make it too overwhelming with the different colours and patterns. So choosing white was for simpleness but also white is very pure and holy; which again links to God.

On the white string are words; God, Jesus, Creation,Nature, Image, Likeness, Everlasting Life, Perfect, Goodness, Kingdom, Omnipotence, Benevolent, Heaven, Earth, Creature.

There are 16 words of which I split up in to 2 groups: 8 on each side. When deciding what words were to go on each side, I didn't just want it to be random, I wanted there to be more meaning to each detail. I separated the words in one group linking to God and the other Jesus.

First side:

God (Creator), Creation (God created the universe), Everlasting life (God gives this to who believe and put into practise), omnipotence- all powerful (God is powerful), benevolent-all loving(God is loving), world (he created the world and everything in it), heaven (where God is), and kingdom (God's never ending throne).

Second side:

Jesus (God's son- sent to earth), image (Jesus is the image of God and we were created in his image too), likeness (created in likeness), goodness (God is good, and Jesus was sent to spread his goodness), perfect (God and Jesus are perfect- we and the world are too), earth (God created and Jesus was sent to earth), nature (God created nature and every living creature on earth), and creature (part of God's creation).

The words all link either to God and what he did or to Jesus and the earth.
The words I used has more meaning too them, as I researched more by looking through Bible verses: linking to God, Creation, Nature and so on. Ones from all over the Bible and not just in Genesis, as that is the beginning of all stories.

Genesis 1: 26
Then God said "let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over he fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals and over all the creatures that move along the ground"

Genesis 1:12
And that earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yielding fruit whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good (goodness)

Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power (omnipotence) and god head; so that they are without excuse.

John 3:16
For god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son (Jesus), that whosoever believe in him should no perish, but have everlasting life

1 john 4:17
Here in is our love (benevolent) made perfect , that we may have boldness in the day of judgement because as he is, so are we in this world.

Matthew 13:38
the field is the world: the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one

Genesis 1:1
in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (nature)

Each word above highlighted in red and in italics are the words I used, they were taken from Bible verses.

The process of the Cross

Creating the cross took about 45 minutes to an hour, and below are two contact sheets of images from the process as well as some that I particularly picked out.





Obviously to begin with measuring and drawing a template is a must in order for the pieces to be accurate together- of which the images show.



The next task was to cut the sheet of plastic into two as there is a front and back to my cross, once cut into two piece, they were sellotaped together so when cutting the cross into shape the pieces would not fall apart- it ensures that both pieces are exactly the same size.




Here the two pieces were cut into shape with the main saw and tiny jigsaw for the smaller edges.



Here the two pieces were sanded down so ensure the edges and corners etc are straight and smooth.



Next step was to create the sides for the cross to create it 3D. The second image shows sellotaping the cut to shape sides to ensure shape of the cross.

And the same process continues of cutting the next side to shape and sellotaping it to the previous side in order to start creating the shape to the cross.



Once all the sides (apart from the lids) were cut, and sellotaped on, the next step was to glue it. This was only done on one side to begin with as you can see in the images, and once that was dry the next task was to glue the other side on.


The first image shows the cross before the second side was sellotaped on, second image shows the second side on and the third image shows it all glued on except the lids and also with the protective layers removed.
The front and back sides of the cross are a tint blue clear plastic and the sides are just clear, this was to add more interest to the cross itself rather than just the images etc that are going to be placed inside.

The next steps are the lids being attached and drilled for the top of the cross, as well as the sides of the plastic being polished for final touches.

Here shows the 3 new lids on the cross; the top one has two blocks on the lid to keep it secure, and the two side lids rest on blocks in the cross, to reduce any sliding around. This helps getting my objects in and out of the cross.


Once the lids were completed; the next step was to drill holes in them for the string and cords that I would be hanging through them. The top one only needed four and in a diamond shape where as the sides had 8 on each and were random. This was because I had different layout and ways of facing.


Here shows the holes being drilled once marked out on the plastic with masking tape. The top lids holes were a lot thicker compared to the sides as the cord and string are different sizes.

The first thing I completed once the cross was finally completed, was a quick clean over to get rid of any dirt, but I did come across a problem when I couldn't reach the bottom of the cross.

I knotted the 4 cords at the top then threaded through the cord through the hole in the top lid. This meant that the cord could hang freely.

Here I cut the white string into a variety of lengths, ready to thread through the tiny holes, here I did the same as before and knotted the white string before threading through so it again could hang.

I then had the task of deciding which cord was to have which photos. I made four groups of which suit the images that I chose for each one which suited the colour of the cord as well. I took a while deciding which photos to use and there are some images that seem to be the odd ones out but still manage to fit in that group I created. The four groups are: Church/cross/landscape (brown cord), Flowers and nature (green cord), Sun (yellow cord), and animals/water (blue cord).

Here shows my beginning process of attaching my images to the cord, I hole punched top and bottom of the image accurately as possible, then threaded the cord through the top hole and slid the photo to the top of the cord, then threaded through the end of the cord again through the second hole so the image was attached the cord at both ends. This was repeated for each image, until the first cord was finished. The 3rd image shows the yellow cord in the cross with the first set of images.

These are self-explanatory once read the previous step, as it is exactly the same, hole punched and threaded through the images then placed it into the cross to make sure it all fits in and looks good. Once placed the lid on I realised my images were too close together which led me to take it out again and pull down each image slight in order for it to fit in.


I did the same for the brown cord, I did find out though, that it was more difficult to place the images into the centre of the cross when there are a lot more images attached to the cord which would seem obvious. So when looking at the second photo, its shows that all the images got tangled, so this led me to try and sort it all out.

Once I had sorted it out, I still had another cord to do. I completed my last set of images on my last cord and placed it carefully in the centre of the cross and spent time with my arm down the centre moving all them around so they could all fit in the right place and be seen.



My last step was to write out the words which I chose from specific bible verses on glossy paper, cutting them out, and hole punching them so I could attach each word or phrase to the white string hanging from both lids of the cross.