Katie Brown

A2 Photography Exam: Statement of Intent.

In this photography exam, I intend on creatively incorporating the nature of

surrealism, by experimenting with a variety of photographers such as Sian Bonnell
and Chema Madoz. I will use a variety of household items to capture surrealistic
photographs. I will explore this form of photography in multiple locations (beaches,
gardens, kitchen, bathroom, etc.) The technique of surrealism will also help widen my
Photoshopping skills as this programme is especially used throughout the process of
creating the most surrealistic photographs.

Surrealism was first introduced in the early 20th century and was used in a way of
expressing normal life in a more unique and intriguing sense. Surrealistic
photographers such as Man Ray and Maurice capture this through a variety of forms
such as double exposure, montage and distortion.

One of the photographers that I am inspired by is Chema Madoz, a Spanish

photographer. Chema specialises in optical illusions and surrealism by capturing a
selection of unrelated objects that present a similar feature to that of something else.

In this image, Chema Madoz has presented a

matchstick above a pattern in the wooden flooring.
This creates the surrealistic image of a flame. Chema
Madoz has used a high ISO of 800 to brighten the
entire image as this helps to accentuate the structure
and shape of the flame-like wooden pattern. Chema
has used a close-up shot of the match stick to focus
on the main subject presented. This technique helps
to emphasise the surrealistic form in the photograph.

In this image, Chema Madoz has captured a cloud

in front of a tree to give the illusion of leaves.
Chema Madoz has used a low ISO of 400 to
decrease the brightness of the entire image. This,
alongside the black and white effect, helps to create
a sense of mystery which adds to the presentation
of surrealism. Chema has possibly used a low
aperture of f.20 to help capture both the foreground
and background within the photograph. To get the
illusion of leaves on the tree, Chema Madoz has
used Adobe Photoshop to layer the image of the
cloud on top of the tree. Chema has also decreased
the opacity of the layered image to help blend the
cloud into the branches of the trees. This gives a
more realistic effect to the final photograph.
Sian Bonnell, a British photographer, includes surrealism to her photography by using
household objects and placing them out of context in unnatural locations. She
captures her photos in high contrasts to accentuate the structure and colour of each
object portrayed in the images. This helps to create a brighter and effective final
photograph.

In this image, Sian Bonnell has captured a

cookie next to a cup in a dishwasher. This
presents the cookie in the sense of a plate or
coaster. Sian uses a high aperture to closely
focus on the objects in the foreground. She
also captures these extreme close-up shots to
help accentuate the structure of each object
presented in the foreground. Unlike Chema
Madoz, Sian Bonnell uses a high contrast to
emphasise the blue and orange colours in this
photograph. This creates a more positive and
less-mysterious aspect of surrealism.

This image is another example of Sian

Bonnells photographic style as it shows how
she presents an aspect of surrealism to her
photographs. This close-up shot is used to
capture several slices of toast amongst grass,
creating the illusion of stonehenge. Sian
Bonnell has possibly used a high aperture of
f4.5 to closely focus on the main subjects, the
toast, in the centre of the photograph. Sian has
increased the contrast to help emphasise the
green and brown colours within this
photograph.

Man Ray is a painter, filmmaker and photographer, based in North America, who
specifically captures photographs incorporating both futurism and surrealism. Man
Ray includes these photographic forms by documenting sculptures that represent
having no independent life outside the photograph. Similar to Chema Madoz and
Sian Bonnell, Man Ray captures peoples bodies and facial features in a way of
presenting and objectifying them as something else.

In this image, Man Ray has captured a naked woman and

transformed her into a musical instrument by painting sound-
holes, often seen on violins or cellos, onto her lower back.
Man Ray has possibly used natural lighting to help
accentuate the curves of the womans body. This helps
emphasise the shape of a string instrument. Man Ray has
used a high aperture to focus specifically on the subject in the
foreground. Man Ray presents his final images in black and
white which, similar to Chema Madoz, creates a sense of
mystery to help emphasise the impact of surrealism.
 This is another example of how Man Ray has used
forms of a humans body to present surrealism. In
this photograph, Man Ray has incorporated a
mouth placed across the sky and the back of a
womans naked body lying across the floor. Man
Ray has used a low aperture of around f.20 to
focus on both the foreground and the background.
Man Ray has also presented this photograph in
black and white to emphasise the sense of mystery
in surrealism.

In all of his photographs, Man Ray refuses to

present the identity of the subject. This adds to the objectification of the people being
photographed which helps to emphasise the photographers style to present surrealism.

In this photography exam, I intend on producing a selection of images as my final

piece. I hope that these photographs will help to present unique and creative ideas,
inspired by a variety of surrealistic photographers, such as Chema Madoz and Sian
Bonnell.

Bibliography:

Bonnell,Sian.N.p., 2017. Web. 16 June 2017.

Man Ray Biography Art, And Analysis Of Works. The Art Story. N.p., 2017. Web.
16 June 2017.

Photographer, Suggest. Chema Madoz | Photography And Biography.

Famousphotographers.net. N.p., 2017. Web. 16 June 2017.

Photographs, Author. Photography And Surrealism | Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline Of

Art History | The Metropolitan Museum Of Art. The Mets Heilbrunn Timeline of
Art History. N.p., 2017. Web. 16 June 2017.