I have created another Water and Olive Oil collection of photographs. These are based on the techniques described by Sharon Johnstone in her interview.
I’ve experimented with different apertures, shutter speeds and light settings, and I would really appreciate it, if you could support my study by answering some questions about my work. There is a section on formal elements. These are the details/characteristics which are the dominant feature of a photograph. It would be helpful if you refer to some of these in your comments.
Many thanks Dawn
Olive Oil and Water
Image 1
What do you consider to be the main formal element (s) in this composition?
Image 2
What does this photograph make you think of?
Image 3
What do you consider as the main formal element in this composition? Also what does this photograph make you think of?
Image 4
Image 5
Images 4 and 5. These two images come from the same initial photograph. I centred and cropped them around different areas of the original. Which do you like best, and why?
General Questions
How do you think I achieved these images?
What materials and processes did I use?
How would you describe this type of photography?
Do these images remind you of any other photographers’ or artists’
work?
What did you like about these images?
Is there anything you didn’t like about these images?
Glossary of photographic terms
Formal elements: these are “characteristics” or features of a photograph, which are used to describe the composition. I have included here the formal elements which I think will be useful to you when commenting upon my work.
Colour: this differentiates and defines lines, shapes, forms and space.
Line: is used to create more complex shapes to lead your eye from one area in the composition into another.
Shape: As well as being basic geometric shapes such as circles etc. they can be organic shapes which are irregular and found in nature.
Form: these are three dimensional shapes with lengths, width and depth. E.g. spheres, pyramids etc.
Texture: This is the surface quality that can be seen and felt.
Pattern: is the repetition of shape, form or texture across a painting or photograph.
Movement: is the way the viewer’s eye is directed through a composition. This can be directed by lines, contrasting shapes or colours within the image.
Closer 
Great photos Dawn, lovely to see how your work is progressing. I think these images are really strong. I like how bold your use of colour is now. I think there’s more depth in tone and contrast and in the composition. I like the fluidity of the images. They’re all aquatic in feel and look like they;re starting to take on characteristics of cellular/molecular structures and other organic forms (image 2 looks quite insect like, I also see a honeycomb type structure, in image 3 I see a fish eye and image 4 and 5 remind me of pods. I find image 4 and 5 interesting where you’re starting to experiment with frame and composition. I like the depth of image 5 and use of negative space which begins to create movement. The detail/ texture captured in the two larger bubbles is beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your work. Would it be possible to comment directly under each question / image or at the side? Here are my thoughts:
Image One: What do you consider to be the main formal element (s) in this composition?
The colour red and roundness of shapes.
Image Two: What does this photograph make you think of?
It makes me think of flies eyes and beetle backs.
Image Three: What do you consider as the main formal element in this composition? Also what does this photograph make you think of?
It makes me think of a red frog but the texture is different to the first two photos and the foreground appears more solid and reminds me of ice.
Images 4 and 5: These two images come from the same initial photograph. I centred and cropped them around different areas of the original. Which do you like best, and why?
I prefer image 4 as it reminds me of butterfly wings.
General Questions
How do you think I achieved these images?
With oil and water.
What materials and processes did I use?
Oil and water, coloured paper and lights.
How would you describe this type of photography?
Macro.
Do these images remind you of any other photographers’ or artists’ work?
Sharon Johnstone.
What did you like about these images?
The were uplifting and striking. The colours were vivid and fresh but the oil shapes gave focus and the eye is drawn to them even if the initial impression was the colour.
Is there anything you didn’t like about these images?
No, I like them.
With best wishes and look forward to new posts,
Melanie
How do you think I achieved these images?
placed items under a glass of water and oil?
How would you describe this type of photography?
interesting as you get to see details that you wouldn’t necessarily see normally.
Do these images remind you of any other photographers’ or artists’ work?
i have seen macrophotos before but mainly of nature so these are completely new to me.
What did you like about these images?
i love the colours and how they change dependng on the bubbles.
Is there anything you didn’t like about these images?
no
image 2 and 3 are my favourite. 2 is because of the smudge of colour and 3 because of the perfectly round bubble which looks like it has been purposefully placed there to show of the shape of what is holding the liquid.
1) I think you achieved these images with Oil and Water
2) Materials Coloured paper oil and water
3) Vibrant and interesting
My favouiite photos were 2,3 & 4.
2 Reminded me of a beautiful coloured waterfall flowing over small rocks
3 To me it just looks like an eyeglass in a metal frame
4 Lots of frog spawn
I just love all the vibrant colours and interesting shapes. They make me feel happy and warm, I am looking forward to the next photo shoot.
Jackie
1 Image 1 colour and shape get equal billing.
2 Image 2 makes me think of tongue, saliva aand sticky boiled sweets. I love the sense of movement in this image. I feel more like I’m a part of the image, rather than just looking at it. I think it would make a great contemporary art painting. My favourite of this second shoot.
3 Colour and shape compete strongly with each other. for top ranking in formal elements, though I choose shape. It makes me think of interlocking shapes such as a jigsaw. I also feel a sense of gravity in the way the bubble shape is held by the surrounding form – otherwise it would fall. I am seeing this on a vertical screen I might feel differently if it was on a horizontal surface. Of course, it is really a feature of surface tension rather than gravity.
4 &5 I prefer the second of the 2 images. I find the first more static and the second has a sense of rhythm and movement – the balls looks like they might bounce or roll away – almost musical.
General questions.
1 I think you made these images by putting brightly coloured items underneath a glass bowl of olive oil and water.
macro photography
They are similar to Sharon Johnstones work, but they also remind me strongly of laboratory slides of cells etc. A very loose link to Matisses’ cut out coloured shapes.
I prefer the subtler colours in your first shoot. For me, the strong colour in the second shoot competes with rather than complements the shapes.
I think this is an exciting and original photography project, what a great idea!