Light as a concept is filled with a multitude of interpretations, ideas and possibilities and
no matter how technologically progressive we think we are, nature consistently controls
our human way of life. We are surrounded by nature and often gain inspiration by the
simple things around us. My interest in the phenomena of light and refraction was
sparked years ago by Claude Monet?s painting Bathers at La Grenouillere, 1869. It
showed simplicity of form and shape, yet emitted a luminosity and radiance of light
reflecting off water.
This thesis examines the subject of light as an optical phenomenon. My specific aim was
to create distorted, ambiguous and conflicting images in my photographs by using the
"optical phenomena" of light such as, refraction, diffraction and reflection as a basis for
abstracting reality. I wanted to capture the changes that occur when light changes
direction due to refractive qualities within a material such as glass, water or plastic, or
due to the reflective qualities of a surface.
The camera was exploited for its capacity to capture realism, but also to capture and
abstract natural phenomenon. The images were enlarged to magnify details and the
reality of the physical world was heightened as objects became ambiguous. Design
compositional techniques were used to decontextualise objects.
I approached this study with the idea that observation and awareness has importance to
image making within my design and teaching practice. This thesis presents my project
explorations showing the play of light on and through surfaces under different conditions.
I have documented this by producing a series of photographic images and a glossary as
an aid in the practice of design education.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/201571 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Porritt, Dawn, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Design and Architecture |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Dawn Porritt |
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