Chris Friel was a british colour-blinded painter. In 2006 Friel bought a camera and started taking photos, he has not hand-painted ever since. He instead 'painted' with his camera. He is best renowned for long exposure landscape photos. Friel’s images look almost like abstract paintings. Each photo is difficult to define yet there is a definite connection between the subjects and groups of images. Friel works both with colour and black and white.
Series: Seascape
Title: Untitled
Year:2011
Genre/Approach
Painting, Abstract expressionism, landscape, long exposure, colour balance
Method/ Techniques
Friel takes photos with long exposures but unlike other artist that I have studied he does not use a tripod when shooting. This creates motion blur on the whole image which makes his photos almost like an abstract painting. This technique is called to be Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). Friel also experiments with colour balance setting when shooting, he tries to make them unique and different by shooting with a “wrong” colour balance. He usually takes photos at night time or dawn, mostly of landscapes.
Description
The photo is visually very powerful. The colour and composition are especially strong, they are basic but effective. However the most prominent feature has to be the blur and movement within the image. Most elements in the frame are simplified by a motion blur and this makes the image very abstract. The blur also emphasizes the shadow and brings out the contrast in the image, hence it becomes emotionally significant. Unlike other long exposure landscape photographers, Friel doesn’t use a tripod, therefore motion is created from the movement of his natural body shake. Friel puts aside the rule that everything must look sharp. Another important feature of his photos that is equally interesting is the use of vairous colours. He is colour blinded photographer who is not scared of using vibrant colours, therefore most colours in his images happen to be highly imaginative and unique.
Context/Ideas
I think Chris has successfully incorporate ICM technique into his photos. His background as painter would have helped him to suitably use this technique. The image studied would come under his seascape series. It is taken during the sunrise with long exposure. The camera is moved vertically while shooting. The colour and the blurriness of the image allow the photo to be like painting. This builds stronger expression delivered through the image.
I personally feel that the image is significantly appealing. The colour, movement and contrast is all very well managed to deliver this dark but warm feeling. We as viewer are able to guess the rough shape of the seascape but we are intently obstructed to figure out the exact look of the site. I think this is one of the most fascinating things about his images. Friel intently make the images to be interpreted differently to each person. However with this image I think it could have been better if it has a focus. For example if there was a boat floating on the sea, it could create a narration in the image and give more depth to it.
Response
I came across Chris Friel when i started doing more research on long exposure photographers. His unique style of photography really fascinated me. I especiallly liked the unpredictability in the process. The outcome seems abstract and unexpectable.
Personally i enjoy his natural landscape serieses. I think they are more dramatic and emotional. However they could be too abstract sometimes that it wouldn't have any potential idea behind. So i have to be cautious of taking meaningless photos that does not show the idea of time.
I am planning to apply his techniques very directly for this project. Primarily ICM technique will be considered when taking each image. Unlike Friel I have decided not to play around with a colour balance setting of slr because my slr model has set k values which means it can be quite limiting. Colour balance is to be adjusted after in order to gain more controls and oppotunities.
Other photos from Friel
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