Prompts 5, 6 & 7

5: “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'm a believer in honesty, even in photography. A photographer should let one know this information. Because once the moment passes and the photographer has captured it...all is gone. Only the photographer has that moment. What happens in that moment is all up to the photographer. He or she can alter it in a way to tell the wrong story or they can keep it the same to tell the truth. The photographer is now the soul possessor of that person and time.

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?

It is only appropriate and ethical when one needs to remove or add something in the photo that isn't part of the human. If one changes the shape, weight, etc. of the human to make it fake and not what the human really represents, then it is wrong. If the portrait isn't real, I don't want it. Isn't the point of a portrait suppose to be capturing what is real?

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've see portraits on facebook, on walls, in restaurants, and the news. The main difference from what one sees on facebook compared to the news is quality. Facebook has no rules for anything. If you have a crappy photo of yourself, no one cares. If you have a crappy photo of yourself on the news, someone will care. There are rules and standards for certain categories. The news has a professional and positive image. The viewpoint of the photographer on facebook has no meaning. In two weeks no one gives a crap what your profile picture was. They weren't going for a certain viewpoint. They had no intent. They just wanted someone to comment on it. The news intent is to show professionalism. To show these people know what they are talking about. It shows they have respect and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. Man...did any of that make sense?

Assignment 1: Final Images

Composition: I wanted to get a different perspective of the sink than what one is used to everyday. I also wanted to keep the lighting toward the focus of the the image to emphasize the details.

Concept, Method & Motivation: This image isn't about anything specifically. However, one could argue it's about preserving water. I knew I wanted to get close to the sink and have a shallow depth of field. I also wanted to use the bathrooms own lighting. In doing this I wanted to capture a view one most certainly never uses while at a sink.

Context: This particular photo isn't drawn from any specific photographer or artists. It's about the simplicity of an everyday object and the view one rarely sees.
Interpretation: Others saw it as an everyday item, but represented in an eerie and dark way.
Evaluation: Students didn't comment on any changes to be made. And honestly, I am happy with the way it is. However, maybe instead of streaming water only have dripping water.
Extension: It would be interesting to take everyday objects and capture them from angles the human eye never does. This would allow one to see the world from a different perspective.

Composition: I wanted to frame the pin the emphasize the stripes and wanted high contrast to further emphasize the stripes.

Concept, Method & Motivation: The image is about the abuse a bowling pin takes for the enjoyment of humans. I wanted to light the pin in a way to show the wear and tear while keeping a darker feel. I've gone bowling numerous times and never have been able to look at a pin closely. I wanted to see one up-close and learn about it.

Context: As with the last photo, this isn't drawn from any specific artists or photographer. However, realizing the abuse a pin takes makes me realize the cycle of a pin. Their created, abused and then eventually destroyed by humans seeking entertainment and enjoyment.
Interpretation: Some students saw the stripes as American symbolism. Other students saw the pin as a prisoner due to the stripes, text and detail of the scratch marks.
Evaluation: I believe the idea of a prisoner is working, which was a little related to my overall goal. However, the idea of American symbolism would have to be done in a much different matter.
Extension: I would love to go to a real bowling alley and capture the life a pin. Every angle. Every moment.

Composition: I wanted to frame the pin as a whole and at an angle to convey it falling down.

Concept, Method & Motivation: This particular image is about seeing a bowling pin up-close and realizing the beauty it possess. I knew bowling pins always take a beating and wanted to light it to convey the darkness of bowling pins. But at the same time, the pin is a beautiful creation and wanted to people to realize that.

Context: This image doesn't relate to any particular artist or photographer but it does shed light on a bowling pin. Who created the bowling pin? Why did they shape it this way? It's a part of the game humans take for granted during their entertainment.
Interpretation: Students saw the pin as a model. They felt it was modeling for the camera.
Evaluation: I do feel the model analogy is working with the angle, but the lighting could possibly be profound from a certain direction. However, this might lose the naturalness and simplicity of the photo.
Extension: Again, I would love to go to a real bowling alley and capture a bowling pin at it's finest.

Blog Prompt 3 & 4

3: “Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.”~Duane Michals

Nothing is what it appears to be because one never truly knows what is real. In today's world, anything can be done to a photograph. If I take a photo and show it to someone, how do they know it is real? They don't. How do they know I didn't manipulate it? They don't. So, I completely agree with Duane. How do we really know what something really is? But it doesn't have to be 100% real. As long as it is telling the truth.

4: “If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.” ~Lewis Hine

What are those old sayings? "A picture is worth a thousand words." Or, "Words can't describe what I am feeling." There are certain times when words can't express a story and only a camera can. A camera can capture a single frame in time that could have many meanings. Most people love to tell their story through pictures. It provides proof and remembrance. For example, natural disasters. You may be able to read a story in the news, but seeing photos of the aftermath provides the words and story for you. Words reveal the story when photo's lie. So, if the photos tell the truth, there are no need for words. And for me, I don't like writing. My pictures do the writing for me.

What is Art?

What is art? I tried finding an answer with the audio production piece below...

Blog Prompt 1 & 2

1. A world without photographs? I don't want to imagine a world without photographs. If I do, the world would quickly become empty. Moments in time would never be captured. Memories would be forgotten. We would never see people we have only heard of. The world would be lost. But if the world never had photographs in the first place, they wouldn't know what they were missing.

2. What does the word "photograph" mean to me? Ever since I have been interested in photography and videoography I have been asking myself that. And honestly, I still don't know. I'm not great at writing my thoughts down. I'm much better at keeping them in my head. I feel if I start to define what photography is or what art is, then I stop growing. If I know what it is, will my work continue to grow? Maybe, maybe not. But I don't want to find out. I want to be open to all possibilities of photography. I want to absorb everything around me. So maybe I do have an answer: Photography is anything which doesn't help me define photography.

Recreation

Eye-Montage by Anton Stankowski:

 Recreation:

Born: June 18, 1906 in Gelsenkirchen, Westphalia and lived in Germany whole life.

Education: Folkwang Schule

Eye-Montage Created: 1927

 

Stankowski's work is is best known for using techniques of fine and applied arts by fusing the two together. This was something unique and creative at the time. He also developed an original Theory of Design and pioneered Constructive Graphic Art.

Being fine and applied art, there was no "rule" Stankowski had to follow. Most of it is either over exposed or under exposed, resulting in complete white or black. The eye is the main emphasis of the image and helps the viewer relate to their own eye. Stankowski didn't seem to follow many rules. Seems as if he let his work happen more freely.

Stankowski was trying to illustrate a certain behavior or process with the image. It's not always clear or easy to see something or understand it. Stankowski attempted this quite well by blocking the path of the eye or by making it tough to see.

I don't exactly care for his work because I found it difficult to understand his EXACT goals. But I can still look at his work and come up with my own conclusion of what it means. But just because I can come up with what I think it means does not mean it is good. But then again, I am only one person.

Recreation:

In recreating the image I wanted to come close to the original, but not exact. I used natural lighting and wanted to frame the eye a little off from the original. I wanted to keep the contrast the same as it was extremely important in the original. I also wanted to have the same sort of outlines.

This is a recreation because I left out the sharp lines which are very important in the original. They add more depth to the meaning of the photo. I also wanted my edges to be a little more strict and not as fluent or free as Stankowski's. By trying to recreate the original in similar form, I was attempting to see (no pun intended) how he was viewing his work.