One Four Challenge – Week Four

Disunity IV(b). Digitally manipulated. Week Four of One Four Challenge. Copyright Joanne Mason 2014.

This is week four of the One Four Challenge. Originated by Robyn G., the One Four Challenge consists of taking one image and post-processing it in four distinct ways on four successive weeks. (The original and all four subsequent images are collected below.)

For One Four Challenge participants who are not regular followers of my recent work, this image will look very strange. Although distinctive and different in some ways, this image is in the style of a series I have been working on, “Natural Impressions,” which bring extensive digital manipulation to images shot in nature. A collection of some images in this series is here. All images begin as conventional photographs, and most images contain recognizable elements. But the images are intended to convey the photographer’s digitally created impressions inspired by the original scene, thereby generating a fresh and different appreciation of the colors and textures of nature. Some more background information on the philosophy behind these images is in my post, “Defamiliarization (Ostranenie) in Photography.” Techniques employed in this week’s image, similar to those in the rest of the “Natural Impressions” series, include: HDR; solarization (Sabattier effect); polaroid transfer (digital); and extensive toning and color manipulation.

There is an alternate version of this week’s image, here.

Disunity IV(a). Digitally manipulated. Week Four of One Four Challenge. Copyright Joanne Mason 2014.

Both of these images, I think, reduce the disjointed tree to its essence. The tree is almost disembodied from the background landscape, emphasizing the disunion notion that is at the heart of each image.

The following slideshow includes the original image and the subsequent images of the One Four Challenge (including both versions of this week’s).

I hope you have enjoyed these images in the One Four Challenge. Comments are most welcome!