Blog Entry 20

1. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of “news”-related photographs.

 Always in the behind the scene news is the War with Iraq. I always find it interesting to view the photos that photographs capture while in battle. For one, the men are fighting for their lives, and for two it is amazing to know that out there, there is a photographer that can jump in the middle of the action. 
 

2. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of “snapshots”. 

I find so much beauty in snapshots because they are capturing the moment right then. Often I find myself see the perfect photo opportunity, and missing it because my camera is not at the ready, or it is not set up to capture an action that quickly. 
 

3. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of advertisement photographs. Fashion photography? Product photography?

I find advertisement photograph aesthetic, because it is convincing the consumer to buy the product.  I find fashion photography to be one of my favorites because it is also a form of advertisement. It is showing off the designers work in a way that the consumer does not realize they are trying to get them to buy their brand. Fashion photography also does a great job of showing image branding. Lastly, product photography, I also view this as a form of advertisement, if one can make the product look aesthetically pleasing, anyone will buy it. I find it interesting how one photo makes a whole brand image. 

4. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of film or movie stills.

It is amazing to me how much work goes into creating a film. I find it beautiful because it is a series of photographs, one right after they other, trying to narrate itself.  

E. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of yearbook photos and/or senior pictures.


Yearbook photos and senior pictures have many common aesthetic. A yearbook is something one can look back on to reflect their years of high school. To this day, I love going back and looking at freshmen year and comparing it to senior yea. It is aesthetically pleasing to seeing how beautiful people have become, growing into themselves, and maturing throughout the years.

Popular Media

My goal was to create an ad for a department store girls section. They always have pictures of girls playing around at a slumber party. I choose both because I could not decided it I liked the one of her face in focus, or the one that had an unique texture to it.

Assignment Three

Part One

Composition: In order to frame this image I sat on the ground to get the angle looking up. I also used a flash along with the full moon that as above me.

Concept: My image is about being a lone. This shed looks abounded but one can still see the tree branch in the window and it show how life still moves on even after something is forgotten.

Method: I tried many different angles to get this photograph the way I wanted it. I laid in the dirt, sat in it, stood on my car and then I finally captured a nice picture, that was crisp. 

Motivations: My goal was to make this shed look abounded. I saw this shed a while back and I new I wanted to use it for a project. I also wanted to get a nice view on the leaves. 

Context: This photo demonstrates how society let things go and watch them run down. It also shows how society always want everything new, and how one cannot restore something with so much potential.  

Part Two

Interpretation: The classes interpretation of this image was that it is a shed that has been abandoned.

Evaluation: The class really liked the color contrast and the reflection in the window. They said the reflection made the window because it shows that there is something else around it.

Extension: I think it would be nice to see what the inside of this shed looks like, and use it as a jumping off point for a larger project.

Part One

Composition: In order to frame this image I stood about it to try and get a good angel on it. I also used the morning light so it would have a great shadow effect.

Concept: I can see this photo as a map or life. The rings can show how old the tree or object is. The tack is representing a starting point or an ending point to life as we know it. 

Method: I took quit a few shots of this stump. I wanted it to be framed just right and not allow it to show to much of the water behind it. 

Motivations: I having been trying to use more natural lighting rather then my flash. I really wanted to show how one can capture the shading of an object without lighting it their selves.

Context: Sometimes everyone needs to stop and take a look at what they have before it is gone.

Part Two

Interpretation: The class viewed this image as a google map, or a road map, and the tack was the  beginning point.

Evaluation: The class liked the burning and dodging. They also said it looked like a pile of brush, so I guess this image could be viewed in many different ways. They thought I could try and add some more burning and dodging to the image as well.

Extension: It would be neat to create a series and have it relate to old road maps.

 

Part One

Composition: I took this picture with natural light.  I wanted to show the detail of the wire with color contrast.

 Concept:Whenever I look at this image it reminds me of my little sister. I know it sounds odd but family is a huge part of my life, and horses and fields have always been her thing. The compositional elements support this because the fence reminds me of farmland.

Method: I took a lot of shots to get this one the way I wanted it. I really wanted to show the detail in the log as well as in the barb wire. 

Motivations: My intention for the photograph was to  make it look old and warn down. We discussed memories in a previous project, and as I said before this reminded me of my little sis, and the times we spent as kids in the fields with the horses.

Context: This photo brings a new perspective to a fence because it is only showing one piece of it. Also when one may look at it, they may expect to see wood crossings, rather then barbed wire. One could view this picture in a cultural aspect when thinking of poverty. It displays the hardships one may experience though out their lives. 

Part Two

Interpretation: The classes interpretation of this image was an old farm field with a fence.

Evaluation: The class really like the bottom of the composition. They thought it would look better if I would add another post. Also they thought it would look better with less texture above the post, even though I think it does a great job of explaining where the image is standing.

Extension: It would be interesting to do a series of pictures with all different shaped fences. There are so many oddly shaped ones, I think it would look amazing to have them side by side so one could compare them.

 

Part One

Composition: I took this picture with morning light.  I wanted to balance the reflection in the water with the leaves.

 Concept: This image reminds me of fear, fear of being alone. This image supports that because the leaves are drifting away from the tree.

Method: I really wanted to get a good reflection of only the trees. It took a few shots to get a good angle and to have it be only the trees. The first few times I took it, there was a lot of motion in the background. 

Motivations: My intention for the photograph was to make have the tree and the leaves become one. I wanted the leaves in the water to look as though they were on the tree branches, or just falling off.

Context: In this day and age, especially college students create this fear in their mind of being alone. I know a lot of students cannot stand to be by their selves. I know for me, one of my biggest fears is growing old all alone.  

Part Two

Interpretation: The classes interpretation of this image was literal, a reflection of the tree with the leaves floating in the water.

Evaluation: The class really liked the lights and dark's the image had to offer. The also liked the reflection in the water.

Extension: I think it would be interesting to capture different things in a reflection, rather it be in a mirror, a pound, a mud puddle or a bath tub, I think it would make an interesting composition.

Blog Entry for 10/18

*What should not be photographed? Why?
My personal option is that if someone want's to photograph it, then they should be allowed to. A photo is to help someone to remember the past. It is also a form of art, and if a person can look at something and tern it into art, then let them take as my photographs as they want.

*What cannot be photographed? Why?
The only thing I can think of that cannot be photographed would be an impotent historical piece, such as a portrait because it has copy right protection. The reason behind this is to keep amazing pieces of art historical, and it is not polite to steal.

*What do you not want to photograph? Why?
There are two thing that I would not like to photograph. One of which would be dead people. The other thing would be dead animals. I think it is gross and disturbing to take photos of these things, some people may find it creative, which is fine, but I will be staying away from this idea for many years to come.

Photographer; Richard Wentworth

Richard Wentworth was born in Samora in 1947. He works as a creator and a teacher. Currently he is in London teaching. I enjoy some of his work, but other piece do not really seem to have any purpose. On his website there are a few photographs that I really enjoy and overall I believe he has a different taste then I do, but I do not find that to be a bad thing.

http://www.lissongallery.com/#/artists/richard-wentworth/works/

http://www.lissongallery.com/#/artists/richard-wentworth/

Blog Prompts #16, #17, & #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 disagree with the statement that photographs should be provocative because I believe it is important to have images of our past so we can recall memories with better detail. I also believe it takes great power to reproduce somebody's face because it is not always easy to catch personality through they eye of a camera. I believe it is important to show the person in true form not in a "new way."

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

I disagree with this as well. It is important to use your imagination but there comes a time and a place where one will start making someone up in their head and create them as they want them to be.

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

 

I will agree with this statement because I find it difficult to make landscape look interesting or different than what other photographers have done in the past. 

 

 **“Photography, as we all know, is not real at all. It is an illusion of reality with which we create our own private world.” Arnold Newman

This could be true in some cases. Photos that we take are memories that we want to keep. At the same time, when one is capturing an action shot it is hard to create an illusion.  

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

I believe a photo represent the past. Once the photo is taken it does become the past insistently, it happened. But I do believe that one can recreate an image to make it look like the past.  When I say past, I mean years back.

Assignment 3 Part 1

Critique: Part One
Composition: I wanted to frame the tree and get the whole house in the background. I also wanted to show the true lighting on the left of the house as well as the light shinning through the tree.

Concept: I wanted to show an image that reminded me of my childhood. We used to wait for the leaves to fall at my grandma's house so we can play in the piles that my mom and her would make while raking. I would also hide under the beds in her old white house because I would be angry at everyone for giving my sisters all they attention.

Method: I used the first idea that came to me because I figured that was a memory that had a lot of meaning. I did brain storm a bit because I needed to find a place that had some leaves falling off the tree. I think this image will look a lot nicer in a few weeks, once the colors of the leaves have changed dramatically. 

Motivations: My goal was to have the focus on the tree and have the house sharp.

Context: My idea represented in the photo shows an old house with a tree that has been there for many generations. I find the picture interesting because there is not one thing in the photo that will confirm the year it was taken.

Critique: Part Two
Interpretation: The class thought it looked like a passed image of an older house. They could imagine three little kids standing under the tree. It also made them feel small because the tree is so large.
Evaluation: The class thought it had really nice lighting through the trees. The thought the tree allowed them to see the growth over the years. They also thought it looked as though the tree was apart of the house, helping it stand.

Extension: I think it would be interesting to do a series of memories. It is always fun to look back and think of the amazing time I have had with my friends and family.

Blog Entires 11-15

#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.

When I was a little girl I used to go to the park right before sunset and play with my mom on he swings. It was always warmer; we only needed a light jacket. It would just be my mom and I and all of the equipment would be earthy colors. If I were to go back today and photograph it I feel as though it would be run down and not like it used to be or it would be just as happy as I remember it. I would be standing on in front of the swing thinking of where my mom used to push me back and forth. To the left of me would be the merry go round and the slide. All of the items would still be made  out of wood or metal, not plastic like they are now. 

#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?

The first photo that came to my mind was a picture of my sister and I in a crib. I was jumping up and down and my hair was flying everywhere. She was just standing there staring at me wondering what on earth I was doing with my life. Whenever I think of this picture I giggle to myself because we are still the same people. I am crazy and loud and she is chill and just stairs at me wondering why I do the things I do. If I were to recreate this photo I would take my sister to my sorority house. She still does not understand why I joined and every time she comes something crazy happens, she is left standing and I am loud as can be.

#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 that it would be really neat to follow the current construction of the World Trade Centers. This incident had such a huge impact on the world that I think it would be a very meaningful piece to our country.

#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 think it would be interesting to compare the earth to outer space. So many of us are unfamiliar with what is out there. If we picked a plant that we have been studying closely and photographed it so society could see the progress the world is making together. I would start out with a picture of each plant and then “zoom in” on similar traits they may have such as water.

#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.

Now that I am graduating soon, I have come to the realization that I do not want to leave MSU. Back when I was a senior in high school I lived my life to the fullest. I was involved in everything and had a ton of friends. Coming to college was a hard transition for me because I struggled to get involved. Now that I have here at MSU I have the same feelings as I did when I left high school. I think it would be interesting to recreate pictures of high school and combined it with a picture from college. It would show who I was, and who I have grown to be.