During lockdown last year I started reading and creating new photographic techniques. One of them was the ‘Droste’ effect. I hope you like the few that I have created here.
What’s Droste I hear you say; well The Droste effect describes a specific type of recursive picture in which a smaller version of the larger image is featured within the larger image. Another term for this surreal photography effect is mise en abyme, which refers to the practice of inserting a replica of an image within itself. This creates a repetition that could continue forever, as the smaller version of the picture would contain an even smaller replica and so on.
During lockdown last year I started reading and creating new photographic techniques. One of them was the ‘Droste’ effect. I hope you like the few that I have created here.
What’s Droste I hear you say; well The Droste effect describes a specific type of recursive picture in which a smaller version of the larger image is featured within the larger image. Another term for this surreal photography effect is mise en abyme, which refers to the practice of inserting a replica of an image within itself. This creates a repetition that could continue forever, as the smaller version of the picture would contain an even smaller replica and so on.
During lockdown last year I started reading and creating new photographic techniques. One of them was the ‘Droste’ effect. I hope you like the few that I have created here.
What is the Droste effect?
The Droste effect describes a specific type of recursive picture in which a smaller version of the larger image is featured within the larger image. Another term for this surreal photography effect is mise en abyme, which refers to the practice of inserting a replica of an image within itself. This creates a repetition that could continue forever, as the smaller version of the picture would contain an even smaller replica and so on.
Hydrangea – SJ Butler Photography
Artist & photographer Josh Sommers is an expert on the Droste effect. “A real-world example would be if you held two mirrors up to each other,” he explains. “You’d look into the mirror and see an infinite tunnel of reflections of the two mirrors going back and forth. That’s somewhat of a Droste effect.”
A few of you have been asking how to create these, I have added the link here (just for your info) I do not accept liability for this website and it is downloaded at you own risk.
Wow! How did we get get to September (nearly) so quickly? This year has flown by so fast. Maybe because it has been such a lovely Summer with lots of lovely sunshine and (too) hot weather.This year I have not travelled very much with my camera, hopefully will get out and about in the Autumn…
The weather over the weekend was glorious, so instead of visiting the Open Studios I decided to create some new Cyanotypes. This time I used Grape Hyacinths (Muscari), I will pop a picture of the finish images later on this week.
It was such a lovely sunny day that I created by first Cyanotype of 2022. Using ivy, ferns and dried seed heads I created one fern image (which is drying at the moment) and a few (experimental) circular ones as well. Using my camera I created a time lapse video of the process. The whole…
How come worries are multiplied many times when you are trying to get to sleep? I couldn’t sleep last night as I was worrying about work which had to close due to rising number of Covid cases. I had to be in to support vulnerable & key worker students, like in January 2021.
Just as I was nodding off eventually the smoke alarm chose it’s moment to tell me it needs a new battery! Sorted that out at stupid o’clock then the cat woke me up meowing none stop. He was soaked to the skin and proceeding to jump on the bed – cat dried off tried to go back to sleep and…
R-r-r-r-r-i-i-i-i-n-n-n-n-n-g-g-g-g-g! The 06:30 alarm.
There are many articles that link photography to relieve stress, depression, anxiety etc. An article by M. Kennedy (Digital Photography School), looks at 3 Ways Photography Can Ease Anxiety is through Perspective, Getting Out & Expression.
Perspective or the camera’s point of view, the relationship between objects in an image.
However, perspective in everyday language also refers to “a particular way of considering something“. An individual’s perspective is guided by their own experience. So, a person suffering from anxiety may view the world through a prism of distress.
The beauty of photography is that it can change visual experience – which in turn alters personal perspective.
SJ Butler Photography – Mother’s Day Roses 2020
Therefore if you are concentrating on photography (or editing) your energies are funneled into discovering and negotiating subject matter. A focus on composition and exposure stimulates a perceptible reach beyond mental distress and sustained visual-analysis distracts the mind which can loosen the grip of anxiety, improving perspective.
Getting out
If you are feeling stressed or anxious you are often advised to get out of the house, exercise or go out for a walk something that gets endorphins pumping which promotes good mental health.
For me the potential for a great photographic opportunity is a powerful motivator which is why, during lockdown I was constantly out on my bike with my camera.
SJ Butler Photography – On the boardwalk 2020
Expression
When Nicéphore Nièpce succeeded in making the earliest surviving camera-made photograph in 1826, he probably didn’t envisage the far-reaching impact his endeavor would have on the human transferal of information.
Because no two experiences are the same, anxiety can be hard to endure and even harder to explain. Many photographers, however, have found ways to channel their experiences within photography, editing or photo manipulation.
SJ Butler Photography – Droste effects of flowers 2020 SJ Butler Photography – Sunny days composition 2020
There are many interesting articles on the internet, however this photographer has some good images to depict anxiety and depression.
sjbutler.photography 