Photo Challenge #6: Near | Far — Photo Diptych

Ends: Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Brief: Create a pairing of two images. The images together should suggest the theme of "Near | Far". It could be that the diptych reflects literally that which is in close proximity and then a more distant version of the same scene. We are, as always, also looking for some interpretation of these instructions!

Instructions: Tag your photo with “glocalproject” and “photochallenge6″ and add it to our flickr pool. Need help? Email us.

Most of us, as photographers, have experimented with both macro (close-up) and long-distance perspectives. Brought together, these different points-of-view reveal a sense of movement and a shift in perspective that suggests a cinematic (film-like) view. Traditionally, scenes in documentaries and feature films have been revealed through the re-sequenceing of several angles: an established or ‘master’ shot, a mid- range shot and a close up. In this photo challenge, we’d like you to use these shifts in focal distance to create a sense of tension between two images.

Eve Sonneman: Cannon Balls By the Dozen

Eve Sonneman: The Docking of Marietta Cannes

Contemporary photographers like Eve Sonneman have been working with diptychs for years. Sometimes the pairing suggests a drastic change in perspective. Other times, like in time the diptych below, the shift between near & far becomes more subtle.

Eve Sonneman: Coney Island Couple

Of course the structural pairing of two images or panels has been going on for a long time. Diptychs played a significant role in early religious iconography – take for example this 17th century Deesis where the combination of two images helps the narrative of a sacred moment in history. These early diptychs were hinged, and often depicted living figures on one side and the departed on the other. When contemporary artists choose to work in this way they are often referencing these early artifacts – think of how Andy Warhol plays with another "sacred icon" in this Near | Far pairing.

In Marilyn Diptych, 1962, Warhol was in some ways playing with this religious connotation, but also bringing together his fascination with death and celebrity status. We perceive the left side advancing towards us because of its vibrant colours and the right recedes due to its muted greys. This explores the fading memory of this star and perhaps the artist himself.

As well as side-by-side, diptychs can also be presented on top of each other like this Andreas Gursky photograph of the aisles of a supermarket that has just been noted for being the highest sellling photograph ever. Feel free to experiment with different ways to present your diptych.

Andreas Gursky: 99 Cent II, Diptych

We’re look forward to seeing what you all come up with. The challenge is on!

They’re back – better, faster, stronger. Brand New versions of all our glocal apps are now up on the site and available for download. The apps have been completely rewritten and performance is greatly improved. Key changes in these versions include much improved useability and performance in Windows, and the ability to use pre-recorded / imported video. The new glocal toolkits have been written in Open Frameworks, a  C++ based software platform for creative coding and art experimentation.

Download: Motion Sequence App v2.  7.2mb

Download: Multiple Exposure App v2  7.2mb

Download: Long Exposure App v2  7.1mb

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Photo Challenge #5: Photo within a Photo

Ends: Monday, September 15th, 2008

Brief: Pick a photo in the Glocal flickr pool, print it out and create a new image by superimposing your chosen image on top of a backdrop that you have created. You can decide how to manipulate or interpret that backdrop, but please provide a link to the original image in your images’ description. 

Instructions: Tag your photo with “glocalproject” and “photochallenge5″ and add it to our flickr pool. Need help? Email us.

Our photo challenge topic this week was borne out of comparing historical references from the modernist photo movement with cool web art references. We’ve been inspired by the work of Kenneth Josephson  and the always entertaining web art of sleeveface.com. The contrast between the historical art reference and the web art reference seems to be a relevant challenge for Glocal, given that the project examines the history of photography while experimenting with the potential for mass collaboration on the web. We also like the concept of superimposition as a means to think critically about the uses to which photography is applied, both artistically and in popular culture.

Kenneth Josephson’s photos-within-photos create visual statements that prompt the viewer to think critically of photography, both as an art form and as a representation of reality.

This simple photo of a boat, held against the backdrop of the ocean, reminds us that an image is little more than a representation of reality and never reality itself.

On sleeveface.com, the concept is similar and repeatable. Contributing photographers select an album sleeve of their choice and re-create the scene outside of the borders of the album sleeve:

This beautifully positioned album sleeve lines up nicely with the newly created backdrop. It creates a new image that alters the original context of the album art. Like the Josephson image, the arm holding up the album both adds humour, and suggests that we are supposed to be aware of the layers between the images.

Unlike photographic re-creation (Photo challenge # 3 (re) Create), where the new image is a single layer and a re-interpretation of an earlier image, superimposing an image creates a new narrative that reminds us of the distance from reality that we experience as viewers.

Have fun!

For our last photo challenge, we asked you to experiment with vignetting – using toilet paper tubes! The response to this challenge was excellent. So excellent, in fact, that we have decided to send off Prize Packs to six of our entrants:

helen.2006, who used an empty plastic bottle as a vignetting tube to create this many-layered composition:

raysto, who used a keychain scene-splitter for a kaleidoscopic effect:

SoCalRacePics, who chose a ball endmill as his photo subject:

tamaraandalex, who created a set of floral images with a definite botany textbook feel:

JudyGr, who shot a reflective self-portrait through a tube wrapped in shiny wrapping paper:

And finally, hyper0nimous, who assembled a star-shaped montage of toilet-paper shots!:

Congratulations to all of this week’s winners. We’ll be sending you a Glocal Digital Camera Hack kit and other goodies – get in touch!