Kaleidoscopography

Kaleidoscopography: Photography through a Kaleidoscope.

Compostition: For this set of images the framing is pretty loose, as I was more concerned with the design within the frame. I was not too worried about the inevitable flatness of the images, as I wanted the image to be more about color and design than depth and focus. The colors within the frame give the image its sense of depth. I pattern-like aesthetic of all these images give a sense of flatness, as if something should be placed on top of them (maybe these images could work as a background to a different foreground).

Concept: These images reflect seeing through the eye of a kaleidoscope. We are so used to putting our eye up to the view box and looking at an image and clicking the shutter, that we sometimes forget how fun it can be to alter the eye of the camera. These images are mainly about color, pattern and repetition of image. Some are portraits of friends (bottom two) and some are mere abstractions of colors and shapes portrayed through the kaleidoscope. The use of the kaleidoscope relates to my idea of an altered vision in that it stands between the subject and the camera in a way that changes the outside world.

Method:  For these images, I taped a kaleidoscope to the outside of my macro lens. I then walked around while continuously looking through the kaleidoscope until an appealing image presented itself to me. I then focused the image in the way I felt was most successful (a lot of times it was out of focus) and then I took the photograph. Once I found an image that I admired, I would also turn the kaleidoscope around so that I could see different shapes, patterns, and colors.

Motivations: In creating these images, I hope to create a more abstract approach to photography. I wanted to do something that appealed more to color and design than depth and focus, and I also wanted to try something that I had never done before this class.

Interpretation: So far, my friends that have seen these images see them as somewhat psychedelic and unusual. I admire these comments, as I like to do things that are out of the ordinary and more abstract.

Evaluation: ...

Extension: In the near future I plan on making more of this type of photograph. I will plan more accordingly by arranging color in a certain way so as to create a sense of depth. Before I was not concerned with depth and focus, however for future photos I would like to see what the outcome would be if I paid more attention to color combination (to create depth) and the plane of focus within the kaleidoscopic image.