Man Ray (1890-1976) was an artist that worked in various mediums, most significantly, photography and painting were where he is best known. His practice spanned many of the well-known movements including an informal connection to both Dada and the ensuing Surrealism.
Both Dada and Surrealism are considered the for-runners to abstract. I feel that it is important to understand these workings to contextualise my own work.
Fig 1 Man Ray Solarised Nude 1930
From 1923 onwards Man Ray produced what he called solarized images. Originally they came about through darkroom accident by Man Ray and Lee Miller although Man Ray is noted for perfecting the process.1 This work was not a one-off event as he continued to use the process through the years on many images, especially nudes. The process changes the image creating highlights around the figure, whilst changing the contrast. In many of the images, radiance glows from the figure.
The effect Man Ray utilised is now a well-documented darkroom process so I started out with the idea to explore if it was possible to create the effect in a “digital darkroom” or more commonly known as Photoshop.
As yet I have not created the desired effect with my images. I have evolved a process that with the right image delivers diverse abstract images that are well received. This has lead to my creation of Photoshop Presets that deliver consistent results.
Fig 2 – 4 Roydon Woodford
This work developed further with the understanding of what image I needed to create to get the desired results. The following images are selected for presentation and feel that they will become part of the final work in progress.
Fig 5 – 6
I have more investigation to develop the look that replicates the Man Ray process in a digital way however I feel that I have now another tool in the toolbox to use to narrate image.
Figures
Fig 1 Man Ray Solarised Nude 1930 https://www.manraytrust.com
Fig 2 – 6 Roydon Woodford
Bibliography
1 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/s/solarisation
