Blog Response #20

Describe some common aesthetic aspects of “news”-related photographs. 
 News related images are usually candid, and capture/represent a critical moment pertaining to the article it accompanies.


Describe some common aesthetic aspects of “snapshots”.
snapshots are also usually candid, and captures a quick moment passing by.  compositionally, it can be lacking sometimes due to the fast nature of the shot.  Theyre usually pleasant due to the fact that people don't usually whip out their cameras to take quick snapshots of unpleasant situations...
 
Describe some common aesthetic aspects of advertisement photographs. Fashion photography? Product photography?
These photos are definitely posed and planned.  They accentuate the product that they are selling, as opposed to the mere aesthetic of the shot.  
 
Describe some common aesthetic aspects of film or movie stills.
They capture the characteristic traits of the plot-line or characters.  Accentuating the highs and lows of the story, as well as the mood of the film.
 
Describe some common aesthetic aspects of yearbook photos and/or senior pictures.
Many might describe these photos as cheesy or posey.  They are generally all extremely bright and happy, and often involve props that represent the subject. The dress and style of the person is specific to their personal taste, thus they reperesent the person inside and out. 

Assignment 4-0: recreate

I chose to recreate an image from American Apparel.  Their images are known to be very raw and provocative, sometimes people find them to be too sexy or even humorous.  Most of their merchandise are not patterned, and simple in style.  The way they advertise plays a big role in their image, so i attempted to mimic the provocative style used to sell commonplace and/or odd clothing such as leggings and bandeau tops.

final images 3

This photo was captured in what would be the "downtown" of Okemos.  Of course, being a small town, there isn't much going on "downtown".  Capturing this image at night seems to have heightened the lonely/desolate feel of a small, quiet town.

I finally acquired a tripod from my friend, and was able to reshoot this image so that it would be cleaner.

Others seemed to interpret this as a lonely image. Some suggested a wider range of tones, or perhaps introducing human subjects.  As a jumping off point, some ideas were to photograph lonely places, or lonely people...

This image was shot in the same area of Okemos. It is the backside of the Traveler's club, and i felt compelled to shoot the image kind of randomly. This Image was interpreted as yet another lonely image.  The bright window in the middle of the night enhances this effect.

As a Jumping off point, perhaps I could shoot a series of the back side of buildings.  The view from behind is always a completely different story.

This Image is the front/side of the Traveler's Club in Okemos.  In the 10 years that i've lived in Okemos, I've always enjoyed the rustic feel of this area of town, but i've never looked at it critically in terms of composition.  When this image was shot, i was pleasantly surprised by how the light played into the image.

Though this image was received with the similar lonely feeling, I feel as though it also shows the existence of people and company through the lights/sign left on. As a jumping off point, perhaps I could do a series of places that look recently/temporarily abandoned.

 

This image was taken on my way back from class one night. Consistent with the other images, this image portrays a feeling of loneliness.  I liked the geometric shapes of the light and shadows of the stairs, stacking the two images was intended to create the illusion of a tall building, but also to leave it obvious that it's two separate images. 

Some ideas about this image were to stack more than just two images to create the illusion of an even taller building. To jump off from there, I could stack many photos and use it to create an entire cityscape.

Blog Response #19

Is there anything that....
1) should not be photographed? Why? 
Photography can sometimes be profound and evoke feelings of discomfort.  Some artists choose these subjects hoping for a strong emotional reaction.  However, I feel that there is a line that should not be crossed, though the line may be hazy and unclear at times.  In the past some have criticized and fought against photographers, claiming that they were exploiting their subjects, however some of those very photographers were responsible for sharing new information/issues with the world.  I'm not sure if there is a definite "this" or "that" to what should and should not be shot, but more a question of what sort of approach will one take? and how will that allow the subject to be something that is okay to be photographed?

2) cannot be photographed? Why?
I think that given the inspiration and effort, almost anything can be photographed.  Emotions and thoughts can be conveyed through photography in many different ways.  Perhaps the only limitation may be what cannot be physically reached or achieved.  Abstract thoughts cannot literally be photographed, however those ideas can be conveyed through a photograph. 

3) you do not want to photograph? Why?
I can't think of any subject that i would not be willing to photograph.  Though my opinion may change should i be faced with something absurd, at this point, i feel as though whatever i photograph should be considered art.  I would not feel uncomfortable with profound subjects because i would approach them as art, which i believe, puts any subject on a completely different playing field.  The social and worldly context remains, most likely that is the reason that it is being used for art, however the approach/artist views it as a work in progress.

Walter Niedermayer

Walter Niedermayer is an Italian photographer born and raised in Bolzano.  He is known for his large scale photographs presented as multi-panel works, subjects ranging from mountain landscapes to architecture. 

I find that his works to be interesting because of the way he chooses to display them as separate panels.  Creating multiple separate pieces that create a whole.  Each panel has a visual rhythm and flow, with varying amounts of complexity.

http://www.robertmillergallery.com/artists/all_artists/niedermayr/niedermayr.html#

Entries #16, 17 and 18

“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 think that this is a very important thing for people to realize about photography.  While sometimes photographs serve as a device to remember things, and record the past, it is also an at form.  Photographs can be used to share perspectives and show hidden secrets and ideas. 

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

I too believe in the imagination because what you see is shared by everyone else.  what you perceive or create from what is there, is entirely unique to you. Being able to captured that by photography, or any other art form, is infinitely more important in order to share your unique perspective. 

“Photography can only represent the present. Once photographed, the subject becomes part of the past.” Berenice Abbott

It's interesting, because the act of photography is entirely in the present.  You wait and wait for the perfect moment, try to be quick enough to capture the perfect photo right at the moment it happens, but once the photo has been taken, it is already a thing of the past.  The image that you frantically chased after, moment by moment, is already a memory, captured by the photo.

Entries #11, 12, 13, 14 and 15

#11____Memory of a Place: Try to imagine a place from your past. Do you have pictures of this place? Describe this place as you remember it. What might a photograph look like of this place if you were to go back and photograph it? What would it look like in the past? What would it look like to you today? Where are you standing in this place? What other items are in this place? What colors do you see? Are there other people or are you alone? Make a “written photograph” of this place using words/description. 

A place from my past that pops into mind is the playground at the apartment complex my family used to live at in Korea.  I don't believe we have any pictures of the playground, but my memory of the place is fairly clear, considering it was over 10 years ago.  I remember the door that lead out to the yard/courtyard of the apartments, the playground near my house was pretty typical.  there was a swing set, some monkey bars, and seesaws, all in a big rectangular sand pit.  If i were to go back and photograph the place, I think the product would be nostalgic and peaceful yet abandoned.  In the past it seemed big and fun, but if i looked at it today, I imagine that it would seem very small, and perhaps a bit sad.  If I were at the place, I would probably either be on the swings, or perhaps sitting in the sand.  I recall making little "toad houses" (what we called them in korean) out of the sand.  I also most vividly recall seeing the place covered in a thin layer of snow.  the colors i see are mostly neutrals, muted silver tones, sand, brown, and some green from the foliage.  I imagine seeing my two best friends at the time, perhaps we'd be sitting together on the swings or playing in the sand....

#12____Memory of a Photograph: Which photograph from your past do you remember most? Describe this photograph. Describe how it makes you feel when you remember/think about this photograph. How have you changed? How has the place in this photograph changed? What would a reenactment of this photograph look like? Would you act or look differently if you reenacted this scene today? 

There is a photo of me playing in a pile of leaves at a park when i was about 3 years old, I remember this photo well because of the genuine feel of the moment that was captured.  Despite having been too young to have any recollection of the image, viewing/thinking about it makes me feel nostalgic.  They say that your "real" personality is more evident in early childhood years because you are free of social inhibitions.  I feel as though i have gone through many changes since the time the photo was taken, but have come full circle and returned to the bright character shown in that photo.  I think a reenactment of the photo today would not involve me sitting in a giant pile of leaves, but rather echoing the feel of the image in a more mature way. 

#13____Human-Made Space: In the past, photographers who were interested in how humans impacted the natural landscape grouped together to form the New Topographics. “"New Topographics" signaled the emergence of a new photographic approach to landscape: romanticization gave way to cooler appraisal, focused on the everyday built environment and more attuned to conceptual concerns of the broader art field.” http://www.lacma.org/art/ExhibTopo.aspx

In addition, at the same time in history artists created (and still do create) “land art” in which they use materials found in the landscape to make sculptures that remain in the landscape. Many of these works now only exist as video recordings and photographic documents.

Pay attention to the number of ways in which you encounter humans’ interaction with nature and the physical land. Write these down. Using these as inspiration, describe an idea for a piece of “land art” that you might create that would be documented by a photograph. Describe an idea for a piece of “land art” that you might make in a man-made landscape that would be documented by a photograph. 

 I think it would be interesting to work with flowing water to create a "land art" piece to be documented by a photograph.  I would consider working with rocks, sticks, and the earth itself to manipulate the way that the water would flow.  Perhaps creating interesting ripples as the water flows, or the shape in which the water would split, maybe both.

#14____Unknown vs. Familiar Space: When photography was invented, it became a way to document and reveal the specific aspects of both familiar and faraway places. Imagine a familiar place. Imagine a faraway place. How would you use photographs to convey the difference? Can you imagine any places that have been “touched” very little by humans? How might you photograph them?

 I would attempt to capture the feel of the location.  Regardless of the subject, i would want the way the place makes me feel to be translated into the image.  The deep sea would be an interesting place to photograph. i think it would be amazing to shoot the environment and animals with a bright spotlight, so the oddities of each organism may be observed clearly.

#15____In-Camera Collage: Collage brings together two or more items that were previously separate. The resulting piece usually visually references the fact that they were once separate entities. Imagine an important place in your past. Imagine an important place in your present. Imagine who you were in both of these past and present places. Describe how you might use a slow shutter speed and/or double exposure to capture two moments in one image that tell a new narrative about these important places and how they relate to who you are and were.

 An important place from my past is the school walls of my elementary school in korea.  I specifically recall it during the fall time when the gingko trees that surrounded were bright yellow.  Sometimes my best friend and i would sit on the top of the wall and talk after school while making little bouquets out of the leaves.  The short time that i lived in korea had a great impact on my life, I cherish those days as a strong connection to my culture.  An important place to me today would be Abercrombie at the meridian mall.  I've been working there for 3 years now, and the day i got this job was the day i finally started to open up, stop being shy and learn to be more confident.  I think it would be interesting to use a double exposure to capture me and my friends sitting on the school wall, and me and my co-workers bumming on the back counter at Abercrombie.  The two could blend together and create a continuous flow that would move from past to present, present to past.

Dream/Memory Recreation

One of the most memorable dreams that I have ever had was of witnessing the death/mutilation of my dogs.  Ask anyone i know and they will tell you that I am completely obsessed and in love with my little angels, so this recurring nightmare left me with an intense paranoia.  Perhaps as a result of my fervent adoration, I have a soft spot for all things furry and approximately the size of my two bichi-poos.  As such, the day i nearly ran over a possum in the street also left me scarred and torn.

This photo is the recreation of a combination of both my nightmare as well as my memory of almost-murder :c

final images #2

I chose to crop most of the original photo so that the subject and her shadow were framed by the edges.  The lighting emphasizes the figure and the fact that she is smiling, contrasting with the creepy shadow that is cast by her form.  I think the image depicts a childlike shadow-play feeling, perhaps like a story telling moment.

To shoot this image, i used one lamp, and experimented with moving it all around the subject.  The shadow cast here was an coincidental with the location of the lamp, and her expression.

the image occured while playing with the shadows. Others interpreted it just as such, except perhaps more playful and childlike. Based on my critiques, people seemed to think that the shadows and the light work well together to create a visual harmony with the juxtaposition of the playful figure against the monsterous shadow.

It might be interesting to create a series of shadow-play photos with unexpected shadows that contrast with the figure.

Despite some feedback that is hould crop the image on the right closer to the subject, i chose to leave the open space on the right because i felt that it created a stronger visual balance.  i feel that the plain light space to the right balances the heavy shadows of the figure on the left.

This was another of the single light source images, and i found that this location for the light created interesting shadows within the subject.   The image was captured when she was contemplating what to do, and playing with her hair. I feel that her facial expression and body position expresses her vulnerability.

Others viewed this image as portraying possible self conflict/conflict.  The idea of being in a windowless room with just a chair seemed to create a mystery to the image.  The image could be improved by creating a stronger light gradient in the background, similar to the figure.  the image was also criticized for appearing too "posed". On the contrary, it was praised for interesting use of light and shadow, as well as shapes. An idea to go off of this image would be to use a blank space to emphasize strange/unusual shapes created by human forms.
  

I framed this image around the figure at the 2/3 point.  originally, there were many cars shown in the parking lot on the left, but it was brought to my attention that this was somehwat distracting.  The framing emphasizes the sun rays and smoke, which create a bit of a spotlight/halo around the figure.

This was a snapshot of a stranger that i had seen sitting outside of my dorm building for a long time.  I feel that it emphasizes the feeling of loneliness and stress.

 Many people agreed with me that this photo has a dramatic feel to it. perhaps the smoking figure adds to the drama.  Based on my previous critique, i chose to crop the photo a bit, and it was agreed that this emphasized the figure more.  People found the sun rays to be interesting, and thought that perhaps a little bit more extension to the right side of the figure might accentuate the feeling of loneliness. 

An idea to follow up on this photo might be to capture strangers as they are, without them being aware of the photographer, or that they are even being seen/watched.

 

I left this image as it was shot, because i felt that the image was balanced as is.  The concept behind this photo was a self-portrait, depicting my current state of mind.  It was a simple, clean mindset, oddly stress-free despite many exams and projects.  I feel that the expression on my face convey a peace of mind, yet the cluttered background can be interpreted as the many things on my mind, as well as adding to the depth of field.

This was shot in the late morning, with the light that came through my window.  the camera was placed on the window ledge, which resulted in the limited line of vision.  

This photo gave people the feeling of a high-quality webcam photo, or that it was a very relaxed and almost intimate image.  There were mixed feelings about the background, some thought it was distracting, while others thought that it showed a great depth of field.   An idea to go off of this image might be to try and catch images of people relaxing at home, or perhaps an unexpected moment on a webcam.

Entries #8, 9 and 10

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



When artists create a piece, it is not to express ideas, concepts or feelings that the subject has, it is to express themselves, or their ideas/feelings of a particular subject.  Since photographers are the artist, and the people that are being photographed are the subject, it is the photographer who is expressed in the product.  Though the subjects move and exist in their own free will, it is the photographer who sees and decides what to capture.

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




Taking implies that the composition was already exisiting and created.  photographers do not take and plagiarize reality, but rather by taking a photograph, show their interpretations and expression of the subjects.  Thus you do not "take" a photograph, but you "make it".  Compositions are created and found by photographers just as any other artist working in a studio.


“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
 

Paintings are recordings of memory, so it is the physical manifestation of the artist's interpretation of the memory.  It is an image of something that has already been morphed into what the artist sees/remembers/feels. Whereas photographs, though they are "made" not "taken", are an exact image of that time/event.  This allows the viewer to decide what to make of the image, and interpret it as they wish.