Friendship

Composition: Again there was no set composition for these shots as well. I tried using a high contrast, and make the two of us the focus.

Concept: These images are supposed to be about the relationship between me and these special people. It is supposed to give the viewer a sense of how we are with each other, what we do, or how we met.

Method: This took quite a bit of brainstorming actually. I wanted each picture to describe our friendship, sometimes there were a lot of options, and other times it was clear what we should be doing in the photograph. I got some help brainstorming as well from the people in the shots with me.

Motivations: I wanted to capture my friendships with these people, whether it be what we do, how we treat each other, how we met, or what we are known for.

Context: Again this could relate to photographers who are trying to tell a story, but as a whole this project is pretty personal.

A Sense Of Who The Faces Are.

Composition: There wasn't a set composition for all of these shots. I tried to use a high contrast in all of them and make the picture focus on who it was supposed to be about. Other than that these photographs were mainly constructed by the people I took pictures of. I asked them to think of something that helped the viewers get a sense of who they are. 

Concept: After showing their outer appearance the next step I wanted to take was give the viewers a sense of who these special people are. So these photographs are supposed to have personality in them.

Method: I didn't brainstorm much when it came to these photographs because I wanted them to decide how to present themselves. When it came to lighting and angles I experimented a lot, but as for the actual composition, that was them.

Motivations: I wanted to show my viewers who these special people are. Again they are my motivation. My friends mean the world to me.

Context: These pictures could relate to photographers who try to tell a story in their compositions. The project as a whole is completely personal though.

Faces

Composition: I used a straight on angle for all of these photographs. I took out the distracting background and left you with only serious faces and unavoidable eyes. I centered the framing around the person as well in all of the shots, and used a high contrast.

Concept: These images serve as an introduction. The point of them is to show the viewer only the outer appearance of these selected individuals, and give no sense of the personality what so ever. 

Method: I had each person sit in a chair, held a light in front of them, and told them to look serious.

Motivations: These are the motivating and inspiring people in my life. I believe I have a strong friendship with all of them, and to show my appreciation for having them in my life I am presenting you this project of mine. 

Context: These shots in particular would relate to photographers who take profile pictures. But this project as a whole is completely personal.

Even More Photos!

More Photos!

More Pictures

#25: Final Project Motivations

My motivation for this final project comes from the people that have been there for me, at some point or another, in my lifetime. These are the ones that stick around through the good and the bad. They are the special people that help me back up when I fall down.

I'm very interested in this subject of friendship because its personal and I hold these people close to my heart. I want to convey three things. What they look like, a part of who they are as an individual, and our relationship/friendship. I want my viewers to take these photographs in and then begin thinking about the special people in their own life. I want the viewers to feel thankful for the friends they have. I want to make them think and appreciate. 

My project also reveals a part of my own world, and the people that take place, and importance in my life. 

These are the people that I love.

Presentation

My idea is to take a selection of important people in my life and take three different shots of them. The first one is just a face shot, showing only their physical appearance. The second shot shows a part of them, who they are, and captures a sense of their personality. The third shot shows myself along with them in the shot displaying a part of our friendship/relationship, maybe how we met or something goofy we always do together.

Final Pieces

Composition: I arranged the dolls so they would be in a line, showing the growing size. I used a high contrast as well.
Concept: When I was little my grandmother owned some of these Russian dolls and I loved playing with them and setting them up in different ways. It was a photograph that just helped me reminisce on childhood.
Method: At first I tried photographing them in a straight across line, but then after some critique I tried setting them up this way. I also put a black sheet around them to take out any distracting background.
Motivations: My goal for this image was to bring back a piece of my past.
Context: This could relate to other photographers work when they show depth of field or when they photograph toys.

Interpretation: There wasn't really a strong interpretation behind my image.
Evaluation: The contrast and lighting is working. The blacks could be more dark however, and the sharpness of the first doll could be better.
Extension: I could set the dolls up in different ways, or get different kinds of dolls and arrange them as well.

Composition: My goal was to use the same framing as Klimt's famous piece "The Kiss." I used a high contrast as well.
Concept: The concept behind this photograph is to re-create "The Kiss" but with a new twist on it, by using different races.
Method: This summer I went to Europe and saw "The Kiss" so I was inspired to recreate this amazing piece.
Motivations: Klimt's masterpiece, "The Kiss."
Context: This could relate to the photographers who try to make their pieces look like paintings or other medias of art.

Interpretation: People didn't know that this was a recreation, once informed they enjoyed the differences I put into the piece.
Evaluation: The lighting and sharpness was good. The subtle placing of a picture of Kimt's piece in my shot was enjoyed as well.
Extension: I could do more recreations of famous paintings, with twists on each of them.


Composition: I put both heads close together to make them seem like they belonged to one body, and surrounded them with darkness to create a floating look.
Concept: The concept behind this was to create a picture that caught peoples attention and made them take a second look.
Method: After some researching, I came up with the floating head idea. So I wrapped a black sheet around my two friends and started shooting.
Motivations: My goal was to make the two heads look like they were floating and put them so close together that they seemed to be on one body.
Context: My piece is related to other artists who use constructed realities, and make their photographs challenge reality.

Interpretation: Others see this image to be two heads sitting on one body, like the saying "two heads is better than one."
 Evaluation: The faces could be sharper and the cropping around the female models hair could look more realistic.
Extension: I could do more floating head pieces with different models, and maybe even add more heads to the photographs.

Composition: I completely took out the background, and used a semi high contrast. With lighting from above the model.
Concept: The concept behind my image is to address how busy the average individuals life is today. How we need more arms to just keep up with the technology that is taking over our lives. We need to step back, breath and take in the natural joys of life every once and a while.
Method: I had three models stand in a line creating this illusion, then used Photoshop to make it look more realistic.
Motivations: My goal was to show how life is so busy these days.
Context: My piece could relate to other photographers who try to make illusions with their pictures.

Interpretation: This piece was interpreted the same as I meant it to be, it was seen as a statement about busy schedules.
Evaluation: The lights could be brighter and the darks could be darker. A couple of the phones that were photoshopped in could be done better, in order to make them look more realistic.
Extension: I could add in other technology pieces that make our lives busier, add more arms, or do the same type of idea but with different models.

Project 5: Works in Progress

#24

I really enjoyed the two pieces that Lauren presented.

St. George and the Dragon- Lewis Carroll.
and
Throne of Aphrodite- Arthur Tress

I love the idea of little kids playing dress-up and if I were to re-shoot this on a smaller scale I would probably have some of the kids I babysit just play dress-up. I would let them use some of my sisters and I old dress-up clothes and tell them to have fun, create a storyline, or even pose. This piece just hits home cause my little sisters and I used to play like this all the time.
The "Throne of Aphrodite" is just pretty to me. I love all the color and its just like splattered on there. It makes me want to take an object, not necessarily a chair, and do the same kind of thing. Maybe pin balloons full of paint on it and then pop the balloons. Kind of recreating a Jackson Pollock piece as well as a Arthur Tress.

My plan for my final project as of now is to create a collage of some kind. I'm still not sure what I want the subject to be. Something that will hit home for people all over the world. It's definitely a work in progress.

Anne Zahalka

Marriage of Convenience

Anne Zahalka

Zahalka is a contemporary photographer. She is Australian and her work tends to form around the Australian culture, with themes such as "gender roles, leisure activities, and the conventions of art." This piece of hers was displayed in the Resemblance exhibition of 1987. The definition of the title explains a lot about the photograph. Marriage of convenience usually describes a couple that gets married for personal gain rather than love. This picture displays two wealthy individuals, so perhaps one of them married the other for wealth. 

http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2007/jeffwall/

From this website, my two favorite photographs were "A Sudden Gust of Wind" and "Storyteller." I liked the feeling that was captured in "A Sudden Gust of Wind," like the wind represents life and how it gets out of control sometimes. I enjoyed how I could relate to "Storyteller." I have been in all three stages. The group of three friends sitting together sharing stories, the couple sitting by themselves just enjoying each others company, and the individual sitting alone pondering to themselves. I would love to recreate both of these shots.

http://www.paranaiv.no/archive/photographers/gregory-crewdson

My favorite shot from this website was the one of the woman lying in the living room almost covered in water. I'm not sure how I could do a recreation of this piece. Maybe if it was warmer I could use a pool and have a couple of people floating in it. Maybe add some floating furniture with them to give an indoor feel. 

#23

1. My identity is determined by my level of creativity. I put it together by following that inner voice really. When I see something I like or think of something I want to do, I try to follow through with it, and that just makes me...me. Same attitude goes with how I take on each day. Those random thoughts or ideas are what I live for.

2. "Your own personal culture is how you operate and interact in everyday life. It is the words you leave with people after they meet you. It is the choices you make each day and the way you purposely live." I always try to be the best person I can be. One of the main things that my every day life revolves around however is art. Another would be my friends, I spend a lot of time with them and I care so much for them. Their personalities rub off on me somewhat, making each of my days even more unpredictable.

3. My room is covered in color. There is not a drop of exaggeration in that sentence. My desk is always a mess, covered with books, tools, notes, and any random thing you could think of. My bed is never made. I never go a day without doodling in my notes. There is always a giant list of things to do lying around somewhere. That is my life, hectic, busy, sometimes stressful, and a tad on the crazy side...just the way I like it.

4. I consider everything in my life to be real, because my belief is everything happens for a reason. I can't really think of anything that I may "construct" during my day.

5. If I was going to create a narrative, I would love to do one on a day through the eyes of a child. Everything that they see. To them the world holds so many waiting adventures, even if its just in their backyard.

6. I would like to re-create a still life of my grandma and I cooking in her kitchen, the night we made my first pie. It would be neat to capture a little girl standing on a stool over the counter helping her grandma lay the pieces of criss-crossing dough in just the right spaces. Then even taking a shot of them enjoying the finished pie together.

Works In Progress to Final Pieces

Composition: I used a high contrast and cropped the picture so that the individual would be close to the left edge.
Concept: My image is supposed to be about finding your inner-self, in ways like meditation. It is supposed to express the fact that he is alone and it is all up to him from here.
Method: I knew I wanted a meditation pose from the beginning, but my model, Drew, found the rock on the water.
Motivations: My goal was to show a peaceful shot that would work with the quote I had found.
Context: My work relates to the photographers that try to find inspirational shots. Sometimes they can be found on billboards on highways or other various places.

Interpretation: Others interpreted this piece mainly by the quote. As a way of looking into ones self.
Evaluation: People really seemed to enjoy the contrast of this shot, and the fact that the water looks like glass.
Extension: I could do a bunch of inspirational pieces or have many different places where one can meditate using the same model.

 

Composition: Another picture of mine with high contrast and a wide frame. Again the person is close to the edge, but this time he is placed on the right. 

Concept: This picture is supposed to show someone rising above the influence, making a personal decision.

Method: I wanted a graffiti area, and my model to have more of a rough look to him. The "sober for once ha" just happened to be there and work perfectly.

Motivations: My goal was to create an inspiration for teens, to be strong and stand up for what they believe in.

Context: My work would relate to the other ads that promote healthy choices, such as anti-drug or alcohol abuse.

Interpretation: People saw this as a display against drug abuse, especially with the unintended words "sober for once ha" displayed next to the model.

Evaluation: People enjoyed the contrast and the lighting on his face. I wondered about the bright spot in the top left corner, but no one saw it as a problem.

Extension: It was said I could use this as an "Above the Influence" ad. So I could take several different shots that applied to this sort of thing.

Composition: A close up shot angled from the front with the subject slightly to the right. I used a medium contrast and a lot of detail.
Concept: My image is supposed to express living each day to its fullest, it is made more clear through the text.
Method: After I read the quote this image immediately created itself in my mind, so I just went out and found it.
Motivations: My goal was to capture the perfect image for this quote and inspire people to live out their lives.
Context: Again this photograph would relate to some of the inspirational ads or billboards we see.

Interpretation: Again people perceive this photograph as the text explains it.
Evaluation: The clarity and sharpness of the photo was said to be good but one suggestion was to crop the photo a little wider to make the models crotch not the center of attention. Without the quote the picture could be very suggestive.
Extension: I could use this with the Ghandi quote photograph and make more inspirational pictures that follow certain quotes.

 

 Composition: I chose to use the tree to help frame the subject. I used a high contrast as well and centered the model in the shot.

Concept: My image is an advertisement for the boots. But taking a second look at it I could also see it playing towards expressing the models character, like playfulness.

Method: I wanted to have most of the emphasis on the boots, I had them in puddles, hanging off of walls and in trees. I liked having the model with them, it gave the photograph something extra.

Motivations: The boots in the shot are actually my own and I love them so much. If you could see them closer you would see the wear and tear on them from wearing them so often. I wanted to advertise something that is important to me.

Context: My photograph would relate to other advertisements trying to sell shoe wear.

Interpretation: The interpretation of this image wasn't really said, but I believe it was seen as a simple shoe ad.

Evaluation: People really liked the way I cropped this photo with the tree close up in front, and the high contrast.

Extension: Either I could make more boot or shoe sales, or use similar angles in different candid shots of people.

This photo I did not choose as one of my finals.

#22

A. There are many ways you could start a series of photographs. You could use the same subject matter over and over again in a different environment. Another would be to find a similar theme in each of your shots. Maybe try something more subtle like high contrast photos, or use the same kind of lighting. You could shoot a bunch of different objects all from the same angle. Or use something to show changes through time. The possibilities are endless.

B. Trees are a really big inspiration for me. If I have the time, for my final project I would love to incorporate my sculpture class. I would like to make a big tree out of some kind of material, with pretty fall leaves collected from outside. And then from the branches I would hang many pictures. The theme of the pictures could be one of two different things. I could use all my old photos from this class to show my progress and how I grew (ha a little tree pun there). Or I could take new photographs of things that have help shaped me throughout my life. Like my family, my friends, my high school, Michigan State University, my hometown, etc.

Yearbook Worthy?

The average yearbook picture always ends up bland and perfect. When in reality the world and the people in it are not perfect. We need to let our personalities, our flaws, and our "weirdness" shine. Diversity is what makes this world so beautiful.

#20 Stereotypical Photographs

A. I think that a common theme in news related photographs is natural disasters and how they affect the human race. I find the news so depressing. You always see videos or pictures of victims throughout the world due to war, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc. They are always trying to catch people's attention with pain. I never see the good things that are going on in the world, it makes me wonder why we always concentrate on the negative.
B. I think that a common theme in snapshots are of familiar faces and places depending on the person taking them. You always see the shot of two or more smiling faces looking right into the camera. Capturing a moment, a memory, a piece of time.
C. Product/Fashion photography always have models in the shots. An individual serves as a canvas for whatever is being sold.
D. Movie stills tend to follow the storyline of what the movie is about. If its action there is usually someone holding a gun. If its a romantic usually there is a couple holding each other smiling. If it's a comedy there are usually the actors known for their goofiness on the front.
E. Senior photos is either a full body shot or face shot. They tend to be airbrushed to hide any flaws. Usually a smile to boot. Yearbook photos show a piece of high school, like sports, clubs, plays, spirit week, or groups of friends.

Final Choices

Reflection

Composition: I used a really high contrast and a long cropping to make a wider photograph. I cut off most of the tree and focused more on the reflection. 

Concept: To show that everything has at least two point of views. Sometimes one tends to be more beautiful than the other, but both interesting in their own way. 

Method: I walked around campus looking for different natural beauties when I stumbled across a weeping willow, my favorite tree. I loved the reflection it gave into the water, giving the Red Cedar a sparkle.

Motivations: I wanted to use water reflection to capture something from a different point of view.

Context: I think my picture could relate to wildlife and how we need to preserve its beauty before it all disappears.

Interpretation: Others liked this composition but there really wasn't any decision on what it could mean. It was just considered "pretty."

Evaluation: People liked how I cropped the photo, and the contrast. They said that I should find a way to make the tree stand out more, or the water less, in order to see the two separate objects better.

Extension: I could do a series of water reflection photographs.

Tree Fall 

Composition: I once again used a wide angling. I used the tree and the line of the river and the one dark branch to create a triangle of focus.
Concept: To show a man made scenery with a natural scene, and how we need to learn to live as one.
Method: I went walking through the woods behind McDonel with a friend and noticed this cool point of view. I really loved all the leaves lying across the water too.
Motivations: My goal was to capture two different kinds of scenery.
Context: This photograph could be how mankind is spreading all over the world, and slowly nature is disappearing under all our buildings.

Interpretation: Again no one really interpreted this picture to mean anything. Just another "pretty" shot.
Evaluation: Everyone seemed to like the composition and contrast of this photo. Someone said to dodge the left side of the tree to brighten it up a bit.
Extension: Maybe get more shots of man-made and natural environments living together.

Two Different Worlds

Composition: I compared two different point of views. A high contrast black and white photo compared to a high saturated color photo. 

Concept: To show the different effects that color can have on a photograph. To find what makes one or the other more pleasing to the human eye.

Method: This one came by accident. I was walking around some graffiti with a friend when I happened to look down and see all the bright colors. I couldn't decide which version I liked better. 

Motivations: My goal was to reopen my mind to color in photographs because after using so much black and white I was wondering why I ever like photos in color.

Context: This photograph could show the 'fork in the road.' It could represent two different paths that everyone gets a chance in life to take.

Interpretation: A comparison of two different worlds.
Evaluation: More people tended to lean towards the black and white photo. They enjoyed the contrast more and thought is was more powerful.
Extension: Do more color comparison shots, and see if I can get people to enjoy color more than the black and white shots.

 

Secret Agent

Composition: I took a sneaky shot from a below point of view, with a very high contrast. 

Concept: The point of this photograph is to show what goes on behind hidden doors. To show that it takes work to get where you want to be in life. It's not all easy. 

Method: I was walking by the practice football field when I heard a whistle. I then noticed a pile of footballs lying right by the fence. I put my camera down on the ground and just took a snapshot to see what I could find. This is the result.

Motivations: I couldn't see over the fence and I was bound determined to see what was on the other side. 

Context: I find this photograph to be kind of like the ones paparazzi photographers take. 

Interpretation: Shows the power of team.

Evaluation: This was by far people's favorite shot. There was some talk of trying to add in a sky.

Extension: Get other teams practicing on film.

 

Becoming One

Composition: I used a wide angle and put the focal point on the left. I brightened the photograph a lot and added a bit of contrast. I was trying to give the persons face more light so you could see him better. 

Concept: The meaning of this photograph is to show nature and humans coming together peacefully. The branches seem to be wrapping him up in a hug.

Method: I wanted to put a human in with the landscape assignment to make it more interesting. 

Motivations: To use a person and nature together creating a landscape view.

Context: To show how nature and human beings can live as one.

Interpretation: Found it to be like a hide-n-seek shot, some didn't even realize there was someone in the shot right away.

Evaluation: People seemed to enjoy the contrast and cropping of the photograph. They suggested playing with some burning and dodging in certain areas.

Extension: Find other shots like this one where people and nature are becoming one, or working together.