Blog Prompts 19 and 20

#19. Can you think of anything that:

1) should not be photographed? Why

I believe that everything should be photographed and documented. There is not one thing is this world that doesn't mean something to someone in this world.

2) cannot be photographed? Why?

I believe that everything can be photographed. There may be things like ideas or other non-physical that may be hard to photograph, but everyone has their own way of expressing things like this. So things may be hard to photograph but possible. 

3) you do not want to photograph? Why?

I find myself to be very open to everything in general. I do not think that there is one thing I would feel uncomfortable photographing. I would be interested in photographing everything possible, to at least have some experience in every subject matter. 

#20 Describe at least one photograph that you could take for each of the following “place” prompts.

• An image of a synthetic “place” such as Disney World, Las Vegas, a Hollywood set, a diorama, etc.

I think a really neat idea for a photograph for a synthetic place would be to set up a diorama or a doll house to get a feeling of a fake setting. After that I would super impose images of real people interacting with with this fake or surreal furniture and setting.

• An image of a fantasy/fictitious environment concocted from your imagination.

For an image involving fantasy I would attempt to do some type of light painting. I would take a picture with a subject matter of stuffed animals with an almost alien light green lighting that would cast near or on them. The light painting would give a greater sense of a fictitious environment.  

• An image of a placeless space such as the Internet, cell phones, e-mail, e-bank, surveillance, etc.

For a spaceless space I would depict an email inbox. In this image the inbox would be full with a large amount of messages that were unread, and also have a lot in the junk folder. It would be a never ending source of frustrations because of the never ending messages.

• An image of a public space.

If I were to take an image of a public space I think I would take a double exposure of a playground. The first exposure would have children playing on the playground, and the second exposure would consist of adults playing on the playground. I would blend these together to create in image to show a passing of time.

• An image of a private space.

An image of a private space in a photograph could consist of the view of looking up someone's shirt or down someone's pants to create an interesting, intimate, and very private space.

• An in-between space that brings to mind one of the following ideas: nomadic lifestyles, displacement, rootlessness, out-of-placeness, boundaries, movement, expansion, etc. 

 I think I would create an image that had to deal with the issue of diversity. I would take a group of people of the same ethnicity and place one person of a different ethnicity within this group, to create an out-of-placeness for that individual.  

Blog Prompts 2.20

“I think photographs should be provocative and not tell you what you already know. It takes no great powers or magic to reproduce somebody's face in a photograph. The magic is in seeing people in new ways.” Duane Michals

I agree with what Duane Michals says here. In my opinion in all things in life, including photography, it is a lot easier to create a copy of something someone else has already made. It takes a true artist, photographer, to create something else in which has not been told before. In this way I do believe photographs should be proactive and not settle for recreations of famous works. I think that through doing recreations one can learn a great deal of how to create their masterpieces. 

“I believe in the imagination. What I cannot see is infinitely more important than what I can see.” Duane Michals

This quote by Michals goes along with his last quote. I also do agree with this one as well. Without individual imaginations we would not have proactive photographs. When I view photographs I do not simply look for aesthetically pleasing images. I try to look deeper into the photograph for some type of meaning or story that is being portrayed by the photographer. In photographs, things that are left out of focus or another type of way to create a mystery to your photograph brings out a higher interest than something that is simply depicted.

“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer—and often the supreme disappointment.” ~Ansel Adams

I would have to disagree with Ansel Adams. I believe that there is not one type of photography that is a true test of the photographer. There are too many genres, techniques, and styles of photographer for one style to be "crowned" the supreme test. As always one can have an amazing photograph that could go down and history, and on the other hand one could have a photograph that disappears with history. It also all depends on the viewer. Everyone has different interests and experiences which leads to different interpretations. These different interpretations tend to stem from what an individual likes or dislikes in general. 

Recreation 03

Composition:  I used this framing of to establish a point of view from myself. The contrast of the white portrays the importance I wanted to emphasis the drawing aspect of my photograph to relate it to my childhood, and to now. I continue to love drawing, and have began to pursue a career in a type of drawing, architectural.

Concept: This image is a recreation of my childhood because I found myself drawing during most of the free time that I had. Still today I find myself drawing when I have any free time. Drawing helps me relax. I incorporated a stuffed animal from my childhood as well to give it more a childhood like feel. I placed the architectural elevation of a house over my drawing to connect my passion from drawing as a child till now. It's been a huge part of my life and I am sure that it will continue to be in the future to come.

Historical Photograph Research: Emile Zola

Biography: Emile Zola was a famous French writer of the late half of the 19th century. He was born in 1840 in Paris, France. Before his career as a writer he worked as a simple clerk for a shipping company. He eventually moved up to the publisher for the department. He would later go on to write reviews for art and newspapers. On the side he would enjoy taking photographs and became a well known amateur photographer.

Significance: Zola was known for a lot more things then just simply photography. I think this is very comforting because I believe it gives an inclination that photography can be for anyone, and not just professionals in particular. He work is well-known because of the other contributions that he gave to the world.

Techniques: He used his keen sense of observations to help him in his photograph career. A lot of his photographs corresponded to the subjects that he depicted in his writings.

Motivations: Emile Zola's motivations were to find another way use his observation skills, because he was coming to an end with his literary works in his mind.

Contemporary Landscape Photographer Presentation: Gabriele Basilico

Biography: Gabriele Basilico was born in Italy in 1944. He is one of the most well known photographers of European cities and industrial landscapes. He was originally an architect, and worked as a photographer of architecture for several different firms. He studied architecture in Milan, Italy during the late 1960's.

Significance:  The following images were from his exhibition titled, "Intercity." These are different images and perspectives of cityscape. Basilico has a fascination with cities appearing as densely collaged environments. What was unique with his cityscape photographs is how he incorporated his technical mastery and obsession of contrast and tonal richness along with the post-industrial subjects he depicts in each image.

Composition: In the image above I really enjoy his use of framing. He incorporates the reflection of the wet street into the photograph that gives another aspect to enjoy. The perspective works well too I believe because it seems to be an actual view some individual could experience just walking down the sidewalk. He focuses a lot on contrast, and I believe he does an excellent job working with the contrast and balance of this photograph as a whole. The contrast brings out the sharp defined edges of the architecture which is quite pleasing.

Concept: Basilico wanted to portray a sense of architectural alienation from humans that strengthens the appearance of the cities he photographed. There is a coldness with no human forms being present which leads the viewer to look deeper into the image and enjoy the richness of contrast that he has to offer.

Method: He was educated as an architect which allows him the understanding of space and how one can use it to express oneself. In many of his photographs he tries to depict the architecture and or structures as unyielding. By doing this he intentionally creates a mystery of the residents and interiors of such subjects.

Motivations: I touched upon this is several of the other categories, but he wants to create an image that refrains giving out much information about what lies within.

I really do enjoy his photograph of architecture. I chose him first off because he has studied in the architectural field and that is what I am studying as well. His work however is different because of the contrast and meaning he has behind each image. He really does make you wonder what lies within each one of these pieces of architecture, because no information is divulged at all. When looking at these photographs I almost feel a sense of coldness to the separation from the human form that he does create.

Assignment 2: Final Images

Blog Prompts 11-15

11)  A good memory from my childhood is the fort that we used to have in my backyard. When I was younger my brother and I would play all kinds of games in this castle or fort. I do have pictures of this place. If I were to go back and photograph this place though it be lit by natural light shining in through the unprotected roof and large windows found in the towers. In this photograph I am climbing up the ladder above my sandbox peaking my head through the floor of the castle looking at my big brother. Other items up there with us would be some random toys and a deck of cards. Obviously my brother would be up there with me. I see mostly brown/tan colors consuming the wood of the fort/castle. My brother and I would be wearing very vibrant colors. It was fall and in this photo you can see the floor of the castle covered in fall leaves. Good memories were born here, and I wish I still had this fort/castle today. 

12)  The photography that I remember the most is probably from a family portrait during the fall. This was the last time my entire immediate family was together. This photograph makes me extremely happy and is quite depressing all at the same time. I have grown up quite a bit, it has been twelve years since then, and have matured. The place where our photograph was taken was just infront of a forest. Sadly this forest has been torn down for commercial use. I really wish that a reenactment of this photograph could take place. If it was possible I do not think I would change a single thing about it.

13)  I think it would be really interesting to make a human-made space of an abandoned old theater. The architecture would have to be of the Art Deco period. If someone added some type of vegetation that was growing throughout the entire theater, and make it possible to walk through this space I believe that it could be a very successful man-made landscape. I do not believe that one photograph could do a place like this justice, so a series of images would have to be taken. Mostly these images would just be of the interior, and exterior in which the viewer would see the vegetation sprouting from within. Human interaction here would be very important through various senses such as sight, touch, and smell. Being able to walk through this space creates another aspect in which is able to be experienced.

14) A familiar place would be depicted in everyday sight. Perspectives that are common for people see. While photographing an unknown space, perspectives would not be as important. Take the perspectives of a grocery store of looking down the isles compared to that of Antarctica. Antarctica is only seen by most people on television or the internet and from an aerial perspective due the uncommonness of Antarctica and human contact. Places that have not been touched much by humans can depict the natural beauty of the landscapes that was created for us. For familiar spaces such as a grocery store we are looking more at an artificial beauty which is much different than natural beauty. 

15) The first place from my past would be of playing catch with my brother when I was younger. In the present it would be that of my sister and I driving around looking for little hole in the wall places to eat. If I could some how merge these two events together I could see a story of the three of us on a journey to a place that we all remember and have great memories of. This place would probably be Lake Michigan where we spent many summers together camping. This relates to who I was back then because it is something that we used to be able to do together. It relates to me now, because I hope one day, when I do have children of my own, help create great memories such as the ones my parents help provide for us.

Contemporary Photographer Presentation: Arnold Newman

Biography: Arnold Abner Newman was born in New York, New York on March 3rd, 1918. He was a photographer from the United States and known for his environmental portraits of other fellow artists and politicians. Newman was also known for his abstract still life photographs. He attended the University of Miami after graduating from a high school in Miami Beach. At the University of Miami he studied both drawing and painting as well as Modernism. He did not have the financial funds to continue his education so he picked up and moved to PA. He worked making forty-nine cent portraits for a studio there. He would return to Florida later in his career to manage a portrait studio in West Palm Beach. He would later continue to open his own business.

Significance: "I didn't just want to make a photograph with some things in the background," he wanted the surroundings to not only add to the composition but relate and understand the person in the portrait. He did not care for doing just a simple portrait of a famous person because to him, that didn't mean a thing. There had to be something interesting about the photograph.

Composition:  Many of his compositions were very interesting and added to the understanding of the person in the portrait. Depending on the person, and their personality, he portrayed them to his understanding of the individual. For instance with his most famous Igor Stravinsky black and white photograph. He was a famous composer so he included a piano. I believe that he used this high contrast black and white image because of how strikingly brilliant this man was with his career. With all of his subjects he took into account the framing of the surroundings and the figure. In Igor's portrait he is depicted small and in the corner, while the piano, his career, is seen as large, or successful. 

Igor Stravinsky Portrait - 1946

 

Concept: Arnold Newman's concept was to create something more than just a portrait. He could not simply do a boring portrait without something interesting in the background. He brought this to viewers attention to help them better understand the subject depicted. 

Motivations: I believe that his creation of portraits such as Igor's is to portray their true identity. He wanted their natural surroundings, and this is what his based his approach to portraiture on. I believe he also enjoyed creating interesting compositions that told a story or informed a viewer more than just the average portrait.

Pablo Picasso 1956

My Opinion: I found his work to very pleasing and informative. When going through his portraits, I felt like I was reading visual interpretations of each of the subjects biographies. His use of the subject and mixing in the background surroundings to tell more about the subject made his photographs very interesting to view.

Blog Prompt 8, 9, and 10

#8 “My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph.” ~Richard Avedon.

I agree with this quote, I share a lot about myself through my portraits even if they are not of myself. When I am taking portraits they are usually of someone that is important in my life. Sometimes I find it hard to share, but I believe that photography lets me share a little bit more about myself through my photography. 

#9 “You don't take a photograph, you make it.” ~Ansel Adams



I also believe that this is true. I don't think the process of photography is simply taking a photography. When you take a picture you take into account all the aspects from the lighting to the subject matter. You are creating your own interpretation of what you want to portray.

#10 “All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget. In this - as in other ways - they are the opposite of paintings. Paintings record what the painter remembers. Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it.” ~John Berger


I think that photographs can capture a moment in time that we may forget. Also I do believe that photographs are interpreted differently by all people because everyone has had unique experiences. They have unique ways of thinking about things, which leads to these different meanings portrayed by a single photograph. 

In Class Potraits

Jisun

Assignment R02: Recreation

 

Biography: David Douglas Duncan was born on January 23rd 1916 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was an American photojournalist was a very influential photographers of the 20th century being best known for his dramatic combat photographs. Duncan is also known for Pablo Picasso. Duncan was always interested in the outdoors and helped him achieved his rank of an Eale Scout in Boy Scouts. He studied archaeology at the University of Arizona briefly. Later he would continue his education at the University of Miami graduating in 1938 while studying zoology and Spanish. His interest in photojournalism began here in Miami and he worked as the picture editor and photographer of the university paper.

Significance: This work is well known because of the subject matter. Pablo Picasso was a well known figure who is known for co-founding the Cubist movement. Duncan was introduced to Picasso through a fellow photographer, Robert Capa. Duncan would produce seven books of photographs of just Picasso.

Composition: The perspective and framing of this piece gives the sense of someone directly infront of you starring into your eyes.

Concept: Duncan became extremely interested in Picasso's himself and his artwork. His concept and goal were very much in the same. He was trying to portray the private life of Pablo Picasso.

Method: There were no special techniques used his this photograph.

Goal: This was a part of his photographic essays: The Private World of Pablo Picasso. To show the private life of Pablo Picasso.

Opinion: I really enjoyed this work because of the intensity that it creates through a simple gesture Picasso is making. Simply starring at the viewer. 

My recreation I wanted to create the opposite of a older male figure, and went for a more youthful approach.

I tried to bring out the white of the eyes of the figure in this image to match the ones of Pablo Picasso. Also I attempted to keep the reflections of light in the eyes to have comparable aspects. The dark features in the original are seen as the wrinkles which resemble the age of Picasso. In the my recreation I wanted the dark features to represent what resembles the youth of people, which I chose as the figures hair in the image. Also the smoothness of the figures face adds to the youthfulness of this image.

Blog prompts

#5 Give your thoughts on one or both of the following quotes.

“I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul.” ~Mary Ellen Mark




 

I believe that this holds some truth. I believe when you photograph someone you are taking away part of the personality to share with the world. You can capture their emotion. When you are photographing people I think that it is important for you to be honest with them so that they are comfortable. Being comfortable allows the subject to be themselves, and is what you are usually trying to capture.

#6 In your opinion, when is it beneficial, ethical, or appropriate to digitally alter photographic portraits? When do you think it is inappropriate or ethically wrong? 

I think that it is appropriate to do such a thing when it comes to advertisements that are trying to get a point across such as weight loss, anti smoking, and or other health related issues. I don't think it's right to do in advertisements that are about the consumption of harmful substances such as alcohol. Many alcohol advertisements always show women who by our current society's standards attractive with men who are drinking these alcoholic beverages. Advertisements that are misleading I believe are inappropriate uses.

#7 Pay close attention to the types and number of photographic portraits you see in one day. Where did you see them? How do you think that the content of the portrait changes based on the context in which you see the image (news, facebook, magazine, advertisement, television, youtube, etc)? In other words, what is the difference between the portraits you see on facebook vs. those on the news? What is the difference between the “viewpoint” of the photographer in each situation? What is the difference between their “intents”?

 

I did not see many, but most I saw were on television. Mainly on news stations, some were mug shots which is totally different in context then lets say pictures of celebrities caught doing something shocking in the tabloids walking through the checkout line at Meijer. Viewpoints change in each situation and it all depends on where the context lays. The context is what influences the viewers outlook on each subject. Intention in these different contexts leads to what the organization was trying to get across to their viewer.