Recreation #5

Original:

Recreation:

 

The original was by Claude Cahun; Self Portrait, c. 1927

Without trying to read too much in to the original, I saw it as a question of identity. So, for my recreation I wanted to portray how we are not always who we seem on the outside. Simple as that.

Historical Photographer: Gustave Le Gray

Bio: August 30, 1820 - July 30, 1884
Link to Some of His Work: http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/le_gray/

Le Gray is one of the most important French photographers of the nineteenth century because of his technical innovations in the still new medium of photography, his role as the teacher of other noted photographers, and the extraordinary imagination he brought to picture making. He also helped found the first photographic organization in the world.

I really enjoy his work because he was attempting something new. He took a chance and succeeded. Would this be amazing work if it was done today? No. But for the nineteenth century it sure the hell was. His work gave other photographers hope for new ideas and possibilities. I always wonder...what if photographers like Le Gray never came along...?

Simi-Contemporary Photographer: Gregory Crewdson

Born: September 26, 1962
Education: M.F.A.; Yale University

Crewdson's works take place in small American towns and are usually dramatic and cinematic. Most of them have a film-still feel. They aren't always pleasing to look at and are often surreal. In order for these photographs to exist, a large crew is used and the scene is elaborately staged and lighted.

Honestly, I could go on for quite some time describing his work or what I think of his work. It's nothing short of amazing. The links below will give you a better understanding of his work...

Gregory Crewdson Interview

Gregory Crewdson Interview with CBS

Some of Gregory's Work

Assignment 4: Final Images

Composition: I wanted the light to cover most of my face but have shadows in my eyes, underneath my nose and slightly on the cheeks.

Concept, Method & Motivation: I wanted to reveal what someone with no eyes would look like. Those lucky enough to have vision, take it for granted. What if the human race had no vision? In order to get the shadows I used an external flash and bounced it off a white ceiling. I want people who have vision to imagine a world without vision. Could you survive?

Context: I'm sure some artist somewhere has done the same thing, but I wanted to do it myself. It could be a very dark world with no vision or maybe it isn't...

Interpretation: People saw different meanings; sexual, a dark world, a dark world without vision, mysterious, and spooky.

Evaluation: I wish I wouldn't have gave a meaning for this photo. It automatically hindered peoples meaning of it. Other than that, I'm happy with the everything else.

Extension: I would so the exact same thing but with different facial expressions and give NO meaning to the photo; leave it up to the viewer. 

 

Composition: In this particular photo I wanted the lighting to be straight on to cover the whole face.

Concept, Method & Motivation: Honestly, I want the viewer to create their own meaning. Whether the viewer connects it to the photo above is completely up to them. If you want to know the meaning...ask me. Like the photo above, I used an external flash. However, I pointed it straight on my face. The goal is to have the viewer create their own meaning.

Context: I'm not sure if this work related to any other photographers work. However, I am addressing an issues of meaning. If the photographer gives no meaning to the photo, does it have no meaning? What if the viewer comes up with a meaning? Is it still photography?

Interpretation: Again, different interperetations; film still, being questioned, staying up very late to play video games, can take whatever I want from it or take nothing at all, pure and utter shock.

Evaluation: I might crop a little more black off and also even the lighting around the face.

Extension: Just like the first image, I would do the exact same concept with different expressions. 

 

Composition: I wanted very simplistic natural lighting.

Concept, Method & Motivation: I wanted to convey photography can be simple in meaning. Sometimes photographers try to make something sound deep. Well, this can lose meaning. Simplicity can go a long way. I wanted to keep the photo as simple as possible and add relating to simplicity. I wanted to make viewers think about photography and how sometimes we try to make it deeper than we need to.

Context: I suppose this might relate to minimalism photography. But this photo focus more on meanings of photography.

Interpretation: Students, for the most part agreed sometimes photographs don't have as much meaning as the photographer leads to believe. Essentially, their pulling shit out of their ass to sound "deep". Don't get me started.

Evaluation: No one commented on the vignette and I'm not sure if it is working...

Extension: I would like to take a series of simplistic photos to prove in this day and age photography doesn't have to have deep or complex meanings.

Composition: I kept lighting simple and natural to try and create this ad about this pencil.

Concept, Method & Motivation: There is nos special meaning behind this photo. I was simply trying my hand at adding text to photos. I was attempting to create an ad. I knew I wanted very shallow depth of field so I could add text where it was naturally out of focus. I wanted to try and enhance my work with photos and text. Simple as that. 

Context: This photo doesn't relate or have a special meaning. It is simply my attempt at adding text to an image to try to create an ad. Key word: try.

Interpretation: Students saw it as an advertisement...if they didn't...I may have worried.

Evaluation: I'm not a graphic designer and so the text probably isn't working. Plus, I should have included the whole pencil.

Extension: I would like to keep trying my hand at ad's and text.

Blog Prompt #23

1. I construct my identity by doing everyday tasks. I don't go through a day thinking about how to change or build my identity. I just do it. I just make decisions based on weather I believe they are right. I don't perform at all. Performing is fake. Performing is not real.

2. Society tries to tell us what to do. And sometimes, many of us, do it. There may be many reason we do it but it doesn't matter how we do it. Facebook, college party's. sex, church, etc. These are all constructed.

3. Unless we build the walls that surround us we can only work within those walls. So, we construct within those walls. Only when we start from scratch are we able to fully construct. Otherwise, we construct within what we are given.

4. Everything is real. Me typing this sentence is real. Even if one pretends to be something else, it is still real. It is still happening. I feel I could go on forever with this topic...

5. Oh man...there are lots of scenes... It would be interesting to take someone's life and photograph it from when they wake up till when they go to bed. But I can't capture every single second...so the truth isn't all there.

6. I would construct a scene in which one female doll and one male doll are breaking up. I would like to try and create emotion in still life with objects which are not real. So, would it even be real?

Blog Prompt #22

I am all for combining techniques and technology. If we never expand our minds, we will never grow. I may not care for the work, but it has its value.

Recreation 4

Original:

Recreation:

Bottled water is still a waste, no matter how hard water bottle companies try.

Historical Photographer: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

"A Harvest of Death"

Born: 1840; New York
Date of Creation: July 4th, 1863

O'Sullivan is known for his work related to the American Civil War and the western united states. The image above is from the The Battle of Gettysburg. The following text was written by O'Sullivan to accompany the photograph:

Slowly, over the misty fields of Gettysburg--as all reluctant to expose their ghastly horrors to the light--came the sunless morn, after the retreat by [General Robert. E.] Lee's broken army. Through the shadowy vapors, it was, indeed, a "harvest of death" that was presented; hundreds and thousands of torn Union and rebel soldiers--although many of the former were already interred--strewed the now quiet fighting ground, soaked by the rain, which for two days had drenched the country with its fitful showers.

I'm not a history buff, nor do I enjoy learning much about it, but I do appreciate the work O'Sullivan captured. The Battle of Gettysburg was an important day for the United States.

Semi-Contemporary Photographer: Laurie Simmons

Born: 1949, Long Island, New York
Education: BFA Tyler School of Art 1971
Date of Creation: 1979

Laurie is known for staging dolls, ventriloquist dummies and objects on legs in front of the camera with psychological subtexts.

I don't find all of her working to my liking, but I do find the "Cowboy" series to be interesting. I feel I can create my own story and essentially it becomes my own.

"Cowboy" Series

Blog Post #21

A. News related photographs capture and tell a specific moment in time. Their usually told with words. However, the news is well known for taking photos out of context and mis-informing the viewer or not reveling all the information.

B. These photos usually throw out any quality aspects and are merely looking to capture that specific moment in time. Their not looking to have great lighting or tell a story. People want to be able to go back 50 years later and remember that specific moment.

C. Advertisement photographs tend to be very striking. However, with the advancement of technology, anything is possible. Most advertisements aim to catch the eye. That is the goal!

D. Film/television stills aim to tell part of a story. They can give away clues to the viewer which may entice them to watch more.

E. Yearbook/Senior photographs are aimed to show who one is during that time. Their self portraits. The pictures tend to portray who they are.

F. Stock images offer any type of photo possible. They are also of the highest quality. No one wants to pay for a low-quality photo, do they?

G. Fashion photography usually deals with interesting poses. However, it does depends on the audience intended and the clothing being presented. But it will always have good lighting to show all the finest details in the product.

H. Taking photographs of celebrities at awards shows or anywhere that isn't really considered their private life tend to capture how they look or what they are doing at that exact moment. Those kind of photos are fine because this is the way of the celebrity life. However, paparazzi photographs that don't do this...don't even get me started. If you look forward to a photo of a celebrity couple walking hand in hand down the street shopping...you might want to evaluate where your life stands.

Assignment 3: Final Images

Composition: I wanted the emphasis to be in the center with low contrast.

Concept, Method & Motivation: I wanted to take an everyday object and turn it into something unrecognizable. I also wanted to take an everyday object one never truly examines. When I examined this everyday I object I knew most if not all humans never took the time to examine this part of it. Natural lighting was used to not disturbed it's naturalness. This every day object is quite defined and I wanted to capture it.

Context: I know many photographers have taken ordinary everyday objects and photographed them. That is exactly what I was attempting. Nothing more.

Interpretation: Others saw this image as something we don't ever take the time to look at or appreciate.

Evaluation: The color tone is working, as well as the lighting and angle. Students didn't have any changes to suggest. Someone said they would buy it. I'm happy with it.

Extension: I would find everyday objects one takes for granted and photograph them in a way the eye does not see.  

Composition: I wanted a straight on perspective with equal balance and a blurred object in the forefront to emphasize the two main objects.

Concept, Method & Motivation: As with the last photo, I wanted to take an everyday object and turn into its own object. I wanted to bring life to the everyday object. I saw the object and knew they could be photographed to create their own life. I wanted to give life to any everyday object which we take for granted.

Context: Again, many photographers have taken everyday objects and transformed them into something different. I wanted to give life to this object we take for granted. One should never take anything for granted.

Interpretation: Others saw this image very similar to the one above: an everyday object seen at a different perspective.

Evaluation: I didn't have much feedback on this.People just stated it was well done. It's a little off angle and would fix that if shot again.

Extension: Same as the above image.

Composition: I wanted an angle humans never take time to use and wanted dramatic lighting to emphasize something was there.

Concept, Method & Motivation: Honestly, I don't want to share what this photo is about. I want the viewer to come up with their own ideas. I saw the lighting, knew I wanted a low angle and took the picture. Everybody uses the bathroom everyday and people have different feelings when using the bathroom. I wanted to convey one's feelings of the bathroom.

Context: I'm not sure if this image relates to any other photographers but many photographers have taken everyday places and photographed them to convey different feelings in humans. This was my intention.

Interpretation: Students viewed the lighting as the main emphasis and wondered what was actually there.

Evaluation: I believe the lighting is working well. I like the way it is.

Extension: It would be interesting to attempt to photograph everyday places without manipulation and turn them into mysterious places.

Composition: I wanted the camera to be looking through something and wanted dark lighting throughout most of the photo to convey mystery and darkness. 

Concept, Method & Motivation: Again, I think this photo could have many meanings and I don't want to share what I think it is about. I want the viewer to create their own story. I saw this angle and knew a story could be produced from it. A story maybe some could relate to.

Context: This photo doesn't relate to anything specific photographers work. It has a psychological meaning but what the meaning conveys is completely up to the viewer.

Interpretation: Honestly, no one said anything about this photo. Maybe because it was different than the others.

Evaluation: I like how the photographed is composed but I'm not sure if the photograph does anything for me...

Extension: I don't see any jumping off-off point with this photograph.