A Discussion of Tim Walkers Work Essay Example for Free

A Discussion of Tim Walkers Work Essay Walkers’ upbringing in Guildford, surrounded by country has left in him with a feeling of love when it comes to Britain’s landscapes that he wants to show it off in his images, in any which way he can. This essay compares and contrast two works by Tim Walker that are identifiable as his signature style, however individually differ in diverse ways to each other. Taking into consideration the ideas behind the image and how and where he draws his inspiration from to create images that inspire others. His style so unique and recognisable, this essay will take into consideration the historical and social contexts to his works and if his style is a reflection of his inner self, childhood and naturally occurring ideas, or if this style is something he created and now lives within. After graduating from Exeter College of Art, where he studied photography for 3 years, Walker worked as a freelance photography assistant in London. However, it was his move to New York and assisting the photographer Richard Avedon that may have forwarded his career so that at the very early age of 25 he had shot his first fashion story for Vogue. Today a London based photographer, Tim Walker is at the top of his profession and internationally known for his cutting- edge fashion photography; taking fashion further so that fashion becomes seconded to fantasy and surrealism. Walkers innovative photography places him in the midst of the most creative and imaginative photographers out there today. ‘Tim sees pictures in front of him which are not yet there’ (DERRICK, 2008, p124. It is the detailed planning of every image and the ideas that starts the process of the final images he is famous for; for each project of Tim’s, you’ll be able to find a scrapbook full of clippings and ideas found from anywhere. ‘My ideas for all my photographs come from any number of places; a film, or a book I’m reading, a story someone tells me. I take loads of visual references and put them into scrapbooks. I’ve got hundreds of them. ’ (WALKER, 2009, [WWW]) It is these scrapbooks that have provided inspiration for a number of Tim’s shoots. But it’s to be remembered that the inspiration has come from things that have already been, but that he took interest in. ‘I don’t believe in originality. You take inspiration from whatever moves you and you find your own voice in those things’ (WALKER, 2008, p242) Tim Walker saying this, is almost find ironic because his pictures are often named original. However, if it is replicated from/inspired by something/anything he may have seen before- as like most pictures- it can only be your take with your voice on it. However Walker’s inspiration doesn’t stop at that, he also looks to photographers before him for inspiration. Cecil Beaton took so many photographs that purely to me represent the joy one gets from creating fantasy† (WALKER TIM, 2009, [WWW]) The opening to Tim Walkers book Pictures, like all others, start with a foreword. However, unlike all others Tim has handwritten his as if it was just another page in his scrapbook. Located only six pages in after only the credits and title, this is really the very first thing you see in the book and it gives great indication to the style of the book and if you did not know much about Tim beforehand; a great introduction to him, his style and how he thinks. Not only is it the actually content of the foreword: ‘as you tour your imagination you want to photograph what you are seeing†¦you are SO very keen to be able to show what you’ve seen that it somehow becomes true, and the picture you end up taking becomes a souvenir, a piece of proof brought back [all the way] from the daydream. ’ (WALKER, 2008, P6) But the design and the layout of the page also: He cleverly drops the control of the layout, slanting the writing just as he talks about his mind drifting. It’s a clever play on the typography that as we read, we too feel as if we’ve sunken into this relaxed state of daydreaming. The way Tim describes in depth the path he often goes on that lands him at the conclusion of an image shows deeply how creative it often is, usually because it begins with something as simple as walking round a clothes store. The pictures he takes then become a snapshot almost, and a gift he shares with us from his imagination†¦from his daydream. Tim’s childhood plays a big part in the ‘fun’ many of his images are filled with. ‘He draws upon his childhood to construct sets for his images that are witty and playful yet sufficiently sophisticated enough to perform for his fashion clients. (THOMAS, 2008, [WWW]) Bringing such essences of an adolescent age into something quite professional could be risky, but it is this that give’s Tim’s pictures that exciting, magical vibe. Tim Walker says in an ICP awards interview, ‘fashion is the dream department for photography and I’ve always been a daydreamer. Tim’s pictures relate to and reflect a time in the 1940’s era and the time of the Neo-Romantic artists, that happened at a time of Britain’s ‘dark hours’. Today, although we might not be in the middle of Second World War, the world is in a state of uncertainty. For Walker, it may just be that creativity in fashion photography and the understanding of make believe places in his imaginations may just be the sort of images that the world need to see, to remember themselves, how magical and escapist day-dreaming can be. The first image of Tim Walkers I have chosen is this one titled ‘Lily Cole on fish hook. ’ Surrealism is a big factor in the creation of a Tim Walker shoot and it is the surrealism in this image that makes it so striking. It grabs your attention straight away and with little effort in the actual design of the image. Although the content is completely random, the image works in so many different ways that you almost don’t recognise it until a few moments after looking. The whole image looks calm; the stillness of the water, the sunlight reflected off of it, the grip of her hands on the hook, her expression. This image is magical, because it looks right, for something that shouldn’t ever be. The shoot was located in Northumberland, England and the location only helps set this calm relaxed scene as well as adding to that ‘very English’ feeling he often brings forth to many of his images. Recreational fishing is fishing for pleasure, with the fisher not really too interested in catching fish, but for the tranquillity and relaxation of it. This shoot, is extremely reflective of this, oozing tranquillity with the colours and calmness. Lily allowing her tip toes to play with the surface of the water, creating disturbance in it, works well within the image; it doesn’t have a negative effect on it, but almost brings her as a model to life. This was not Lily’s first shoot with Tim, and posing as bait on a giant fish hook was nothing out of the ordinary madness. He loved working with the English model, who first posed for him at the age of 15. ‘Some Models know how to stitch and weave themselves into a picture. Lily instinctively knows how to become part of it. ’ (WALKER, 2008, p124) In this image of Lily on the hook, she really does own it; she pulls of her ‘act’ as bait, attracting the fish just with her stance and beauty, and looking calm and really engaged with the photographer. She’s wearing a random collaboration of 3 tutus and her hair fizzed up to mirror them. Although quite dainty and delicate in body, she looks strong and very in control ironic to her state as bait. But this works nicely as the setting of the lake and the fields in the background add to that gentle voice the image has, balancing it nicely. The second image is one that Walker had designed for Italian Vogue. The image named ‘Eglingham Stream’ was shot in Northumberland, England, 2004. The image shows a bedroom with a stream running through it from the fireplace. The room is cluttered, and filled with clear personal belongings of somebody. The contents of the coat stand and the drinks trolley-in which the whiskey is the most noticeable bottle-all refer to the occupant being a man. The fishes on the stone and those in the basket on the table suggest that the person that lives her is a man that has a fond passion for fishing. These objects that the viewer initially notices, cleverly lead them to be mysterious as to what the image is showing us. When looking further into the image, we notice smaller details such as the images framed on the wall that are not of any family members or portraits of him, but of horses and landscapes. This could suggest that he has no family members and is possibly quite a reserved man and this is strengthened by the big matter of his room being right by the lake. It raises questions as to how obsessed this man actually is with fishing, that he has moved his bedroom to live within meters of the lake. Although, there are some signifiers that suggest that a woman is present: the pink bedding and net chiffon, the frill trimmed lamps and the two tooth brushes on the chest of drawers. There is also a small portrait of a young boy in the frame above the fireplace. Because of how out of place this looks as the only one, it seems to be a ‘woman’s touch’, as do the shells on top of the fireplace. The image as a whole has a romantic, feminine and fantastical feel-created by the lighting and whispery stream-that is signature to Walkers style. The shoot seems to be set in the twilight hour, or in the early evening, indicated by the bluely tint to the night and the 3 lamps in the room being on. The absence in the room could well just mean that the man is off fishing with his dog shown by the empty dog basket. There are many things about both the images that make them similar when talking about them in context of Walkers style. Both images were shot in Northumberland in the same year and although it isn’t stated, the lake that we see Lily suspended above is likely to be part of the stream that is present in the second image. The images both have strong fishing references to them: Lily is suspended on a giant fishing hook, and the setting of the second is the home of someone completely obsessed with fishing. The images are not part of the same set or story, and do not look it either. However, contextually, they seem to work hand in hand. Having the countryside and fields in the background that run our eyes to the edge of the Fish Hook image just above the halfway line is similar in comparison to the way the Eglingham Stream image is cut off. This image is split by the striking pink/reddish colour of the walls meeting the grey wet slate form the stream that make the bedroom floor. Both splitting factors are of natural earthly objects; possibly representing that county, earthly, English vibe Walker has been known to create in many of his images. There is a terrible truthfulness about photography that the ideas which might work in a painting or a sketch won’t necessarily work in a photograph’ (UNKNOWN, 2008, p254. ) This statement is from Tim Walkers book Pictures and although this was not said in reference to Walkers work, it almost seems as if this is something he fights hard to overcome in his own pictures. He doesn’t let the normal be a limi t, he combines familiarity with fantasy and imagination to create what has never been seen before. This is what gives them that edge over many other fantastic editorials, and sketching ideas to visualise them is a big thing with Tim Walker; something he prides his work upon. Despite all their similarities, the images are in fact very different and not only of location and setting, but of story and design. In the first image of Lily on the hook, that is the surrealism; this beautiful girl dressed in a random combination of tutus with huge frizzy ginger hair hanging on a fishing hook. This is what we are supposed to look at and see the dreamlike, far from ordinary image in front of us. In the second image, the stream running out of the fire place through the middle of the room is also surreal, but that’s not only what the image is about. It’s about the story the scene creates. Yes you look at the stream and think ‘wow’ and begin to question it, but it doesn’t stop there, your questioning goes on to the room and what the contents of it mean. The images also differ in terms of layout. The first is portrait and works better in this format as it allows the full size of the hook to be appreciated. If this was on a landscape layout, the surrealism of the hook may not be fully valued due to it physically having to be shrunk on the page. However, the double page landscape layout for the second image allows a full viewing of the room and many details and objects to be noticed. This image in a portrait layout would not be successful as the image would have to be shrunken or cropped- both having negative effects on the way the image is viewed. The subject matter and the use of a model being used in the first image but not in the second is another differing factor between them both. Lily as a model is the subject in Figure 2 that the viewer connects with; she gives the image that presence so that when we look at it, it’s not just a picture, it’s a situation that we feel as if we are now part of. In Figure 3, Tim Walker is successful in including the viewer, but in a very different way and without using any models; we are invited to look into somebody’s bedroom while they are not there and just by looking at the photograph, the viewer becomes an intruder. But this intrusion plays as a foundation for the story behind the image, the one we seek out and uncover more of the more we look at it. Although the lamps warm up the image, it still has this cold feel created by the grey stones, real flowing stream and lack of natural light. The absence of anybody in the room assists in creating this ‘chill-in- the-air’ feeling. Figure 2, where Lily is standing on a large fishing hook, has a surprisingly warm tone to it and this may be due to her relaxed pose and the warming colours present in the image: The ginger of her hair, the red of her tutu and the fishing tackle and the brown/copper of the lake. The colours are softened by the sunlight adding to that warm tone. ‘Photography is a bit like cooking: you take the ingredients out of the cupboard and mix them up- old pictures, characters, colours, landscapes, to create something that is in your imagination that surprises you. ’ (WALKER, 2009, P208) It is clear to see that Walker uses certain ingredients in both of these images; fantasy and surrealism become like the salt and pepper; the underlying flavour and present always. After looking at Lily On The Hook and Eglingham Stream in comparison to each other, many similarities are because of Walkers ‘style’ that are consistent throughout. Even though both are editorials, contently, technically and visually, there is a big difference between them. Creatively, they are alike. These are just two out of hundreds of Tim Walkers photographs, but as like all of his images, there will always be something magical, fantastical or romantic to hint that the image was photographed by Walker. The images are real in their own terms; that is what they are. As a fashion photographer you are a documentary photographer within a fantasy land. ’ (WALKER, 2009, p210) By Walker referring to himself as a documentary photographer within a fantasy land gives us a clear insight to how he sees fashion photography; in a childlike day-dream way. He escapes to this place in which his imagination can be real and he sees his job as a photographer to document this.

Revolution in France, Latin America, and British North America :: Peasuasive Argumentative History Essays

Revolution in France, Latin America, and British North America One possible definition of a revolution is "an act of organized violence to bring about radical changes in the economic, social and political relations within a given system. It uses force to destroy (sometimes physically) and replace those who hold power." Using this definition, can the events on France, Latin America and British North America in the period 1776-1820 be considered revolutions? Are some more revolutionary than others? Many changes occurred during the 19th century with the industrial revolution. The revolution, if we can call it that, started in Britain with the introduction of new machinery that substituted man power. These new machineries, first in the textile industry and then in others, were used in factories to create mass productions, of textiles in the case of the textile industry. This new ability to create mass production of textiles very quickly and with the quality of the most expensive textile in the market, created great changes, not only in Britain, but also in other countries. The prices of textiles drop drastically, which made is possible for poor people to afford it. This was a very good change, since people had the chance to live life with a little more comfort. Another positive effect of the industrial revolution in Britain, is that the newly created factories created a lot of jobs. This jobs gave a new opportunity for farmer; they began to think of themselves differently, and many of them did move to the city, to take a job in a factory. Like any change in life, the industrial revolution also had negative effects. A shortage of food was one of these negative effects. The people that moved to the city lost the ability to feed themselves, and the few farmers who stayed barely produced enough to feed their families, so there was place to get enough food to feed all those workers. Housing was another growing problem in Britain. The cities in Britain developed fast, specially the working class neighborhood which were constructed for factory workers to live in because they could not afford anything else. However, this development could not keep up with the increase in population, so very quickly the working neighborhoods became overcrowded, and then extremely overcrowded. The living conditions of the working class in the cities decayed as fast, or even faster as the population increased.

Paradise Lost by John Milton Essay

1 – ‘Language has the ability to make sin look attractive’ Tis Pity was published by John Ford in 1633 and is set in Italy, the heart of the Renassiance. John Milton published Paradise Lost in 1667, relatively soon after John Ford, and was the first epic poem to be written in blank verse. Both writers push the boundaries of literature by exploring untouched, taboo subjects: incest and The Fall of Man. During this period of time, soon after the Renassiance period, many artists and writers were challenging society by introducing a range of different styles and genres. This meant that Ford and Milton both intended to tempt controversy through their pieces of literature; yet, the seductive choice of language has instead caused an attractiveness to both texts. It is this attraction to the language, and utter skill behind these writer’s intentions, that has enabled both texts to withstand the test of time. In Book Nine of Paradise Lost, Milton begins to introduce Satan as the Serpent; however, he manages to draw the audience away from Satan’s intentions by presenting his physical beauty. As the Serpent ‘Addressed his way’ towards Eve, with the desire to cause corruption, he moves ‘not with intended wave’. Instead, he towers ‘fould above fould a surging Maze’, with the colours of ‘Verdant Gold’. By giving the Serpent distinct characteristics, he is separating him from the other creatures in the Garden of Eden, therefore drawing Eve’s attention to his uniqueness. The repetition of ‘fould above fould’ gives the sense of an illusion, something which Eve’s eyesight is unable to comprehend; which is then reinforced by ‘surging Maze’, giving this illusion speed and power, causing a greater confusion on Eve’s behalf. The vivid description of ‘verdant Gold’ gives the Serpent a very rich colouring, thus reiterating his importance in the Garden. When Satan finally decides to confront Eve, he becomes ‘erect’, giving himself a sense of empowerment. This is when Milton’s narration confirms the beauty of his language, as he mentions how ‘pleasing was his shape / and lovely’. For an audience, this outside interpretation almost gives a sense of comfort, as they too are lost in his physical beauty. Finally, as the Serpent begins to speak, his ability to compliment and seduce enables him to make his way ‘into the heart of Eve’. There are clear similarites between Satan in Paradise Lost and Vasques in Tis Pity: both have a masterful use of rhetoric. As Vasque attempts to gather information from Putana, he mentions how her – by proving themselves  to be devoted to these women, they are appealing to their naivity and giving a false sense of trust. Their seductive use of language causes them to become ‘impassioned’, as they begin to realise their ability to attract these women. The absence and withdrawal of language in both texts is equally as attractive to an audience. In Paradise Lost Book Nine, the pivotal point when Eve eats the Forbidden Fruit is simply expressed in four words, ‘she plucked, she eat’. The use of these monosyllables reinforces how emphasis can be achieved through simplicity. Extending on this further, Milton’s constant elaboration and care to detail is deliberately dismissed here to send an even greater message to his audience: mankind cannot blame Eve for causing the Fall as she simply ‘ate’ the fruit. By refusing to focus on Eve’s decision to eat the Fruit, he is daringly challenging conventional views that women are the only cause of sin. John Ford in Tis Pity has a similar intention through his portrayal of Hippolyta; her refusal to be silenced goes against the view of women’s inferiority. This is achieved in Act Two Scene two, as she powerfully enters with ‘Tis I;’. These two words are separate from the rest of her speech in order to hold suspense and give her a greater presence on stage. Ford’s intention is for the audience to immediately be drawn to her in preparation for her criticism towards Soranzo. As both Ford and Milton are so skilled in writing ‘attractively’ and deliberately trying to engage an audience, it is even more effective when they suddenly withdraw; the audience become responsible in using their own imagination, in attempt to understand the message these writers intend to express. In Tis Pity, the most effective use of language is through convincing an audience that Giovanni and Annabella have a natural, loving relationship. In Act One Scene Two, when Giovanni admits his love for Annabella and she responds evenly, he ends the scene with ‘After so many tears as we have wept, let’s learn to court in smiles , to kiss and sleep’. Finally Giovanni is no longer impassioned, ‘I have too long suppressed the hidden flames’, and is instead able to appreciate the natural rawness of their love. Not only that, but by referring to their ability to ‘weep, smile, kiss and sleep’, he is expressing emotions which audiences are able to relate to; proving that their relationship isn’t as unnatural as first assumed. During this particular moment, the audience become so engaged in the text that they forget about the theme of incest and instead support the  purity of their relationship. John Milton’s depiction of Satan creates a similar sense of curiosity into the ability to sympathise with him. This is highlighted when he observes Eve for the first time and becomes ‘of enmitie disarm’d/ of guile, of hate, of envie, of revenge’. The repetition of ‘guile, hate, envie, revenge’ proves how Satan is gradually striped of his emotions associated with evil, and is instead left vulnerable through his admiration. The power of Eve’s beauty forces him to become ‘abstracted’ from his own evil, thus demonstrating the ability to respond humanely. During this moment, Milton is allowing the audience the opportunity to make their own viewpoint of Satan; isolated from the conventional, one-dimensial presentation of him. The beauty of both texts is not caused by convincing the audience that sin is ‘attractive’, but instead pushing them into sympathising, admiring and simply enjoying pieces of literature beyond expectation.

Rhetorical Strategies Essay - 662 Words

AP English per.2 2/23/13 The Crisis No. 1 As we read this passage it is full of different rhetorical strategies and the reason they were put in there. The writer’s style is the way he uses his language and the rhetorical strategies that he might use to enhance his writing. As I read the passage I came across syntax which is the war he puts his words to send the reader a message, and ad hominem arguing his point against the person instead of the argument. The rhetorical used in the reading is used cleverly enough to prove a point. One of the first rhetorical strategies he uses is syntax and the definition is the way an author chooses to join words into phrases and sentences. The words he uses for his syntax are†¦show more content†¦It matters not where you live†¦the evil or the blessing will reach you.† The reason why he uses you repeatedly and often is to address them or you so you can feel personally committed to the words he is saying. When he uses you instead of the colonist or people it is much stronger to use you there is a personal connection with the speaker and the listener. The use of you is to feel personally committed because in times like this people only worry about themselves and that’s the nature of humans. The nature of humans is always to care for themselves especially in hard situations when you are being addressed personally you have that sensation that you must help yourself. The person speaking knew that and addressed them personally as you in order to get his message through the people. It helped get the message through the people and soon got what he wanted. In conclusion the passage is full of rhetorical strategies like the ones I have used to describe the feelings of the man trying to send out his message to the colonist and the syntax used as well as the pathos to show how he feels about the king and the wrong choices he has been doing he is trying to get the colonist to go against him and things would improve without his rul ing. He used them well to prove a point and send his message; those are good uses of rhetoricalShow MoreRelated Iago’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies to Manipulate Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello480 Words   |  2 PagesIago’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies to Manipulate Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello Rhetorical strategies are continually used to get a point across or to manipulate another. Iago uses many devices to put false accusations into Othello’s head. In lines 330-447 in Act 3 scene 3, Iago uses rhetorical question, imagery, and sarcasm. 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