Extra Credit

I was really happy with how these images turned out. Something so simple as a set of silverware became art when captured at different angles.

Final Project

I started this project with the intent of creating images that emphasized the color red, while I did achieve that goal, I also found that the images had a sense of rhythm and a deeper meaning behind the photos. I repeated the image of the boy in red throughout my final collection keeping a sense of childhood present. The egg symbolizes innocence, which is gained by the the boy at the beginning of the series but becomes cracked and broken towards the end. The last image with the children looking directly at us makes us wonder what is to become of children as they grow into adults.

Blog Post 26

Brainstorms! (In an effort to expand, improve, add complexity, and push your final projects further, please pick 10 of the following to discuss.)

1. What is the “opposite” of your final project? How can you rework your project to include the “opposite”?
1. If I were to create something opposite of my project I would create a colorless image. Maybe one with neutral tones with no real focal point.
2. What is a consistent theme/visual element in your project? What would be the opposite of this? How can you implement that into your project? 
• A constant theme in my project is the emphasis on the color red. while the photos are all in color the brightest of all remains the object that is red. I tried to keep that the focal point of all the images. If I was to take the opposite I might change the color in the focal point of change all the photos to gray scale.  
3. At the deepest core, describe why you like this project. Dig deep!
• I think I just really enjoy working with color. I think color really effects the way you view a photo or peice of art. It can inflict emotion as well as interest in a piece or art.
4. Expand your project. If time, money, materials, etc would not affect you, how would you expand your project?
• It would be interesting to tour the country or the world. If money was no option as well as time it would be really interesting to create pictures in different scenes worldwide.
5. Contract your project. What would it boil down to if squeezed and contracted to its simplest form?
• It could be a simple project of photographing items that are red keeping the background blank. But I like the concept of feeling the need to focus in on that bright color with other minor colors surrounding it.
6. Look at one of your images. Redesign it entirely.
• If i were to redesign one of my images I may take pictures of the toothbrush in action. It could be interesting to see the color red attatched to someones mouth.
7. What would your project look like 100 years ago? What would your project look like 100 years in the future?My project would have been non existant a 100 years ago, color photography was not yet created. I could have painted the red color in however it wouldnt be the same effect overall. It's hard to say where photography will take us in the future. But I image that the color that I emphasized could be created in a 3d way or have the technology to pop better.

1. Remove something from your project. How does it change?
• If I were to make this project black and white it would completely change the concept and overall success of the project. I think a lot of what makes this project unique is the emotion that color inflicts on you. I think it would lose a lot if it were a softer toned image.
2. Persuade the reader that your project works well and is the most amazing project you have ever completed.
• I liked the freedom of this project. I thought it would be hard to find red objects amidt neutral tones, but I found in comparison to most colors and tones red tends to stick out without me trying. I was also lucky enought to come into contact situations that were worth photographing (easter egg hunt with my family) I am pleased as to how well these photos are turning out.
3. How would you convert your project into a narrative? How would you remove any narrative from your project? 
• I took a lot of photos of my cousin in his Easter egg hunt. Those photos could be arranged to tell a story of the chase and the adventure in searching for those eggs. though it would be a simple non complex story i think it could relate to many people who have experienced something similar during childhood.
4. Name an artist/photographer/designer/videographer who would love your project. Why?
• My project plays a lot with the value of color in art. I think the director of the film "Sin City" would appreciate this type of photography. This film is shot completely in black and white beside red objects. In this same way my project brings out a certain color (red) to the eye of the viewer and emphasizes that object.

Assignment 5

 

Smokey the Bear

Like I said in critique, I wish this cigarette was lite or at least slightly burnt. I was happy with how the coloring turned out. In the original it was a more neutral colored bear, but I upped the contrast and darkened some areas to bring out the  bear on the neutral background

Sequin Ocean

I really played with the colors in this image. Originally this photo was much bigger and was focused on a bright red sequin fabric. After cropping and editing the colors it began to look less like fabric and more like a wave. The blue undertones also added to the ocean feeling.

 

Subtle Cat

I titled the image Subtle Cat because  ironically my cat was obviously waiting to jump on the counter. We were cooking and she waited at eye level to see what we were making and hoped she would get a taste. However she is very subtle in the reflection on the counter. I think it created a nice sense of space and an interesting illusion.

 

Awkward Angles

I really like the angle each object has in relation to one another. The counter breaks in at an awkward angle while my dog and my mom are at a diagonal from each other. I think I want to play more with the color to make the yellow fade out a little more and the blue be a little less glossy.

Red Primary theme for final

 

Inspiration Photo

In Class Assignment

Works in Progress Critique

You as Curator

Look through the list of recent entrants to this call for photography. 
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml
Pretend you are curating a show and choose 7 photographers to include in your show. Describe why you would pick those particular artists and what about their work stands out to you.

Luke Nilsson

I picked this image because of its beautiful simplistic nature. I also liked the asymmetrical framing in this photo.

Mitchell 

I really like the neutral tones in this image. The simplicity of the colors really makes you look at the details in the architecture.

Christian Mushenko

I laughed out loud when I saw these photos. I love how he made super heros appear to have a normal relationship. From walking the dog to getting coffee these two are experiencing a typical day of a couple.... while wearing spandex

Samon Michael Far

I love the framing of Far's images. They are all landscape images with unposed subjects. I love the natural feeling of his photos and the black and white coloring

Steven Colin

I really liked the painting aspect of this image. Its almost surreal how this photo was taken. Was this a picture chipped away? Is it supposed to mimc a painting? Or was it photoshoped in? This is just an interesting photo to look at. 

Ali Richards

I looked at six of Richard's images and most of them were very desolate and lonely feeling, however this image looked more cosy and intimate rather then lonely. The lights make the house feel cosy

Janie Ross Coulter

Coulter's collection of photographs focuses on the beauty of nature. They all have a very natural rustic feeling to them. I picked this photo because of the autumn coloring reflecting off the water. I think there was a lot of subtle beauty in this image

Digital Exercise

Blog Post # 24

A. Pick two images from any of the “constructed reality” photographers presented in class or linked on the assignment sheet. Describe how you could recreate these two images on a “smaller scale”.

B. Describe your plans for your self-proposed final project (if the plan is the same as before, paste it here again and give a bit more detail). During the final critique for Assignment #5, you will discuss/present these ideas to the class.

A.

These photos are taken by Valerie Belin

I love this picture. The color palette is gorgeous along with the calm expression on her face. If I were to recreate this image I would also replicate the red lip stick with an overlay of floral. I may play with a different color palette and bold jewelry and earrings.

I would like to play with the idea of lines presented in this image. I like the three piles and the slightly awkward tension created by the stacking of the machinery. I would like to try something like this maybe with makeup or nail polish. I may play with color in my recreation of this image

B. I would like to play with texture for my self proposed project. Similar to the overlay of floral on the face I may like to create a face out of flowers. with different items recreating and making up the face. I'm not sure how the whole thing will work out at this point, but I want texturized items to create something new and innovative

Recreation Photo

My brother yarning became a perfect opportunity to create an image similar to those of Christian Thompson. I tried to mimic Thompson's plain background with a person wearing a natural wreath of some sort on his head. I also tried to make it a bit more comical, similar to thompson's work by catching my brother during a yawn. 

Historical Photographer

Henry Peach Robinson

• oil painting at Royal academy of art
• Worked at a studio in Leamington Spa, selling portraits. 
• Created another studio in Kent
• limitations in photography lead Robinson to combine painting and photography, which gained fame in his work
• Most famous work was "Fading Away"
• Fading away was a photo of a girl dying of tusrburculousis at age five and the families sadness, controversial to many
• 1862 Robinson was elected to serve on the Council of the Photographic Society
•  particularly known for his combination printing, he also produced a number of pictorial photographs of woodland and other scenes.

Contemporary Artist

Christian Thompson

• Born 1978, Gawler, South Australia.
• Father in Military, lived in various places around South Austrailia
• Lives / works in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Bachelor of Fine Art at the University of Southern Queensland 
• Honors in Fine Art at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
• He has presented his work in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally

Blog Prompt #23

1. In what ways do you “construct” your identity? In what ways do you “perform” in your daily life?

      In many ways we are born with traits that form our identity. Our appearances, talents, and health are determined by our genetics which for many form their identity. However, the choices we make in life also "construct" who we are. Examples of this would include who we surround ourselves with, what schools we attend, and where we choose to live. 

2. Describe some ways in which your personal culture and social environments are “constructed”.

      Our culture and social environments are constructed by choosing the people you surround yourself with as well as the places you decide to live.

3. Describe some ways in which your physical environment/space is “constructed”.

     As previously stated, your physical environment is constructed by choosing the place in which you live. Although your environment is also created by how you decorate your space. Much can be said about the person by looking at the place they live in. For example, my house is decorated very eclectically. My dad has traveled a lot and brings back a lot of interesting items. How we have decorated our house reveals that my dad and family values interesting items over having a cohesively decorated home.

4. In your daily life, what would you consider to be “real” and what would you consider to be “constructed/fabricated”?

       I think what is constructed/fabricated is real. Though we have created a life for ourselves it 

       is very much real. Life is what we make of it and it is real.

5. Describe a narrative tableaux that you might create to be captured by a photograph. A narrative tableaux can be defined as “Several human actors play out scenes from everyday life, history, myth or the fantasy of the direction artist” ( Constructed Realities: The Art of Staged Photography Edited by Michael Kohler , 34).

      A narrative to be created that would be interesting is people hanging out in the kitchen. I would use this because in our family we spend most of our time in that room. I'm not sure if it is the food that makes us gather or the counter where we can do homework, but it seems to be the place where everyone spends the most time.  Photos taken of our family hanging out in a casual setting in our house would be a cool photo to be documented. One day when were all a lot older it will bring back some good memories of a casual day in the Yee home.

6. Describe an idea for a photograph that includes a miniature stage or still life. A description of such an image is “The tableaux reconstructs events as in the narrative tableaux, but in miniaturized format, using dolls and other toy objects” (Kohler, 34).

      If I were to do this I may take a more symbolic approach and use still objects such as chairs or other objects to represent people. Many artists use objects to represent a bigger picture. I'm not sure exactly what I would do, but I like the use of symbolism in photos.

Assignment 4

I really liked the lighting in this image. The orange glow in the corner created a dynamic effect on the green wall. I also didn't see the potential in this image until after I cropped it.                                                    

 

This is a picture of a knitting machine found in one of the Apparel classrooms at Michigan State. I liked how the center of the image is focused while the rest of the image is blurred. I didn't edit this image at all, the colors were already how I wanted them to be. 

I liked the lines in this image. The wall has  subtle lines running down it. The corner also provides movement down the wall. The contrasting colors of the wall and the dress created a nice color palette. I was especially proud of this time because I made the dress. 

 

Once again, my obsession with shoes comes into play with this image. I placed the shoes on a mirror to create a reflection. I was happy with how the lighting turned out. 

If I were to take these images to the next level I would change the third image with the portrait shot of my dress. I would play with the lighting and maybe make it in black and white. I would also like to find a more interesting location to take fashionable images. 

The other change I would have made would be more careful printing. Most of my issues with this assignment was carelessness in printing. I chopped off the images unevenly and noticed flaws once they were printed. Next time Ill be much more prepared.

Blog Prompt #22

It was interesting to see the abilities of the new CGI technology. It gives a new perspective to people about what is real and what isn't. Things are never what they seem

It was also cool to see the amount of work put into creating something completely new. Though the new technology gives people the ability to create anything and everything digitally there is a lot of work that goes into that process

Recreation

 

I recreated an advertisement for the new coach shoes.

I liked the bright color combination in this add

I also like an excuse to shop for shoes

Contemporary Artist

Ryan McGinley

Born October 1977

American Living in New York City

Started photography career in 1998

2003 youngest artist to have solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art

Photographer of the year in 2003 (Deemed by American Photo Magazine)

Much of his work is of nude young individuals.

This collection he has I found on Sweet Station with the link provided with the assignment I liked the youthfulness along with style shown in these images

Historical Photographer

http://www.modernisminc.com/artists/Erwin_BLUMENFELD/

Erwin Blumenfeld

Born in Berlin on Jan 26, 1897

Moved to Paris in 1936 where he gained fame for his nude photography

His work has been published in many magazines including Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Look and Life.


In WW2 he interned as a photographer for France but was allowed to go to New York in 1941

He also wrote a biography entitled in English as "Eye to I"

Blog Prompt #16-18

I thought I posted this but I accidently left it as a draft..... better late then never?

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

  

I like this quote because it emphasizes the importance of creativity. So much of the world is consumed on what they can see feel and touch, which can sometimes restrict us creatively. Michals appeals and challenges artists to focus on the unknown rather than relying on sight.

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

Abbott has an interesting opinion on the permanency of photographs. She states that once the photo has been taken it immediately becomes part of the past. I agree with Abbott, though photos can attempt to be recreated it is difficult/near impossible to take the same photo twice. In class, we have been asked to make a recreation of a memory. Though images are similar to the time period they are referring to, they tend to not emulate the memory to the fullest. Photos are past after they have been captured, that's what makes photography so unique - it can capture time.

 “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

Michals has direct view of what art and photography should be. He wants the photo to have a purpose to it. He wants the artwork to affect the person who views it by enlightening them in some way.

I disagree with Michals. I think that art always has an effect on someone. I don’t think that art can necessarily be something everyone already knows. To each his own when it comes to art. What one person gets out of an image another may get something completely different. So the art he complains about is nonexistent.

Blog Prompt #21

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

I looked up the Detroit News Website as a referance to this question and found that most of the pictures had a variety of people in them. In each photo there were people that demonstrated a certain emotion. All of the photos I saw were candid, none seemed posed. The photos illustrated the stories presented with each article

B. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of “snapshots”, including family photographs, cell-phone shots, photos posted to facebook,

Most photos on facebook seem posed. The photos seem to be taken in times of leisure, such as going to the bar, on vacation, or group settings. The snapshots are taken when people are having a good time. Not so much everyday life but when exciting fun things are happening.

C. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of advertisement photographs, including fashion photography, product photography, etc

Advertisement photographs focus on selling a product. The people posed in the photos tend to be beautiful, healthy and happy people. The product is ussually the center of attention and vibrant colors and poses help to sell the product.

D. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of film/movie and television stills.

Again, like adversements films and movies tend to highlight aspects of people that are exciting and entertaining. Ussually beautiful and fit people are the focus of the film. However, the story influences many how the characters may dress and look in films. Though generally actressess and actors are presented as beautiful people there are exceptions to benefit the quality of the film.

E. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of yearbook photos, senior pictures, and team/club/sports group shots.
In these photographs everything seems staged. I have had many yearbook pictures taken of me over the years and I know that the experience is usually quick, staged and on to the next person. This type of photography doesnt always catch my best side and the photo looks very posed.

F. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of stock images. http://www.corbisimages.com/ http://www.gettyimages.com/
I wasn't sure what stock images were. After looking at both these websites I was more confused. I found various shots of celebrities and then some cartoonish images. Seeing no similarities I looked up the definition and learned that stock images are images that can be used by artists to create something new.

G. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of fashion photography.
Fashion photography usually focuses on the innovation of clothing. The people in the photos are usually beautiful and well put together however the unique thing about fashion is the ability to change someone's view of beauty. For example I was looking at some advertisements in vogue and many featured a young woman with long gray hair. Though the image was different and most young girls strive to avoid gray hair the images were beautiful in there own way.

H. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of paparazzi shots or celebrity photographs.
Paparazzi shots capture a celebrity in their day to day life. Some photographers find them at their worst while others find celebs looking glamourous. Either way paparazzi shoot to take photos that are candid.

Assignment 3

 

To Grandmothers house we go

I love my grandma's living room. All the furniture has a very angular look to it. The coach and table make long lines which parallels the rectangular rug. This living room serves as more of a showpiece in my grandma's house. I don't have a single memory of my family every sitting or having a conversation while in this room. Just down the hall is the real living room, where the cushy coach and stained coffee reside.

 

Framework

I found this photo interesting mainly because of the picture on the wall. In most of the images on my contact sheet I cut out that picture as well as any other misalliances objects, but in this photo the framework of the shot provides an interesting dynamic. It is almost like a picture looking into another picture, it creates an almost surreal effect that I liked.

 

Peacock Fantasy

  I didn't print this image out, but Sarah reveled to me how interesting this photo was. The balloon on the left hand side of the photo, which I had originally cropped out creates an interesting dynamic in the scene. 

I viewed the balloon as a flaw in the photo. I attended a fashion show and the girl previous to the girl in the shot wore a giant balloon dress. During her walk down the runway she lost one of her balloons leaving it stranded in the center of the floor. The balloon was distracting during the show and when one of the models kicked the balloon off the floor the crowd cheered.

My point is I know the story behind the balloon. So the balloon was not interesting to me, in fact, it bothered me more than anything. I didn't see the photo as a single shot, not knowing the purpose of the balloon or how it got there makes the photo more dynamic.

 

Posed 

Here is the photo that I printed. It is the cropped version of the previous shot and was my original intent when photographing the model. The balloon turned out to be a happy accident.

 

the Grand Entrance  

In this image I changed the clarity to create the look of an 'old photo'. The expression on the girls face along with the big curtains reminded me of old plays. The contrasting element to this shot is the fashion forward dress she is wearing. The spikes piercing out of the gown create interest within the frame.

#19. Can you think of anything that:

1) should not be photographed? Why?
2) cannot be photographed? Why?
3) you do not want to photograph? Why?

1. I think it's important to be conscious of the feelings of the people being photographed and those viewing the images. For example Felice Beato photographed many dead Chinese people during the Opium war. Those photos were well received by the British however were insensitive to those effected by those deaths. In these types of circumstances I think photography is an unnecessary truth.  

2. Though some ideals and spiritual ideologies cannot physically be photographed many photographers have found ways to represent the unseen. For example it is impossible to photograph thoughts however by staging facial expressions and different scenes many can interpret the thoughts of those being photographed. Photography has advanced to the point that almost anything can be photographed or represented.



3. Again, I would not want to photograph anything that would hurt someone emotionally. Many photographers have gone above and beyond to demonstrate ideals or photograph truthful images. However, I would not want to upset someone by the images I take.

 #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 plan to take photos of my Uncles theater. It's a very recognizable place with the big screen and the staggered seating. Though I'm excited about the kind of angles I can create with this typical place.
• An image of a fantasy/fictitious environment concocted from your imagination.
• It would be fun to create an image with a cookie house. I know there are boxed kits that allow you to create houses out of candy and cookies. It would be interesting to photograph the image as a real house. It would play with the imagination and make one think about if houses were made of candy.
• An image of a placeless space such as the Internet, cell phones, e-mail, e-bank, surveillance, etc.
• the simple way to create this image would be to take a photo of a cell phone an image of an email or the physical computer. It would be interesting to edit the photo in such a way to create the idea of motion in that object. This motion could indicate the power and principle each of these objects have
• An image of a public space.
• The public space I would like to take a photo of is a coffee shop. The lighting is always somewhat diffused and its usually a calming space.
• An image of a private space.
• A private space to photograph could be my shower. After seeing many of the images of faucets displayed in this class it could be interesting to see the type of photos I could take of a shower head faucet. The fall of the water and the spacial differences could create unique photos
• 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 may photograph a man alone on a bench. This gives the impression of out of placeness or that he is lost. I think his expression would have to be one of looking out and he may be facing the opposite direction of the camera. This may even give an impression of movement, like he is looking for somewhere to go.

Blog Prompt #16-18

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

I like this quote because it emphasizes the importance of creativity. So much of the world is consumed on what they can see feel and touch, which can sometimes restrict us creatively. Michals appeals and challenges artists to focus on the unknown rather than relying on sight. 

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

Abbott has an interesting opinion on the permanency of photographs. She states that once the photo has been taken it immediately becomes part of the past. I agree with Abbott, though photos can attempt to be recreated it is difficult/near impossible to take the same photo twice. In class, we have been asked to make a recreation of a memory. Though images are similar to the time period they are referring to, they tend to not emulate the memory to the fullest. Photos are past after they have been captured, that's what makes photography so unique - it can capture time.

 “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

Michals has direct view of what art and photography should be. He wants the photo to have a purpose to it. He wants the artwork to affect the person who views it by enlightening them in some way.

I disagree with Michals. I think that art always has an effect on someone. I don’t think that art can necessarily be something everyone already knows. To each his own when it comes to art. What one person gets out of an image another may get something completely different. So the art he complains about is nonexistent.