Blog Prompt #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. Ideas sometimes grow out of irritation. What is a negative thought you are having about your project? What is the opposite of this negative thought? How could you implement a change in your project so that this negative thought will subside? A lot of times I find that it is annoying or distracting to reach into place and find things. This project comes directly out of that kind of bewilderment or difficulty of reaching into dark places and feeling frustrated. I've never considered the fact that the thing for which I am reaching, is probably just as frustrated! :)
   
2. What is the “opposite” of your final project? How can you rework your project to include the “opposite”?
   I could take pictures of the actual subjects... So instead of taking it from the milk's perspective, I could take a picture of the milk. I'm not sure that this would convey any personification of the items, or provide that much creativity?!
   
3. 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?
   The visual theme that I am attempting to create is made by the framing of the project. The frame of photograph is supposed to provide context around what the scene is. For example from the perspective of a purse, the framing is the cloth that is inside the purse. This is almost the entirety of the project, because in a way it is showing what the object is, based on the frame.
   
4. Type twenty words or phrases that relate to your project.
   Tough, dark, light, square, interesting, dirty, expressionless, happy!, silent, cold, bright, ceiling, desk, library, HELP!, find me - pick me!, electronics, books, mailbox, beer, bottle, mice.
   
5. At the deepest core, describe why you like this project. Dig deep!
   For me, this is a huge stretch! I love trying new perspectives and things that make me feel a little "off" or weird. I think it pushes me to consider the perspective of nonhuman things, and put some expression or approach around them.
   
6. Expand your project. If time, money, materials, etc would not affect you, how would you expand your project?
   I think I would work a lot more with the objects I am interacting with... Id like to use different lenses to capture things like the inside of a cup or coming out of a sewer.... There are tons of options I'd like to use, but would be difficult to pull off without "special access".
   
7. Contract your project. What would it boil down to if squeezed and contracted to its simplest form?
   One guy with a wonderment for whats beyond 'normal'.
   
8. Look at one of your images. Redesign it entirely.
   I would like to zoom in on the face of the person more and lighten only the face. I'd like to push everything else into the back, but keep the framing provided by the object. For the refrigerator scene, this would mean darkening the fridge and putting more light on my face.
   
9. Divide your project into three components. Rearrange and reassemble them in your mind.
   1. Personification- Making objects have a human element
   2. Whats beyond? - Having a gaze into normal objects, but with an expression that something else is out there
   3. Frame- What provides context for each scene.
   
10. List your assumptions about your project. Reverse these.
    - I assume that the object has some personality... Make the object just that... without any personality or wonder.
    - I assume the person looking, is looking for something... Blank stare?
    - I assume that the scene is relatively normal (like a fridge).. SEWER! Find weird spots to take the new perspective.
    
11. What would your project look like 100 years ago? What would your project look like 100 years in the future?
    WOW... Different scenes... Different people... Different dress. I think that what makes this different in the past or the future is not the expression, but rather the things that give each photo context.
    
12. Remove something from your project. How does it change?
    Background - It makes the focus point between the subject and the perspective much more intense. This could be done by putting black in the back of the scene.
    
13. Persuade the reader that your project works well and is the most amazing project you have ever completed.
    By viewing this project, you will be transformed to a place that you dont recognize... a place where the normal is turned on its side. View the world from a different perspective... from the victim of your consumption.
    
14. Persuade the reader that your project stinks. Then, persuade the reader that you will make changes so that it no longer stinks. Boring... dont see this thing... Weird shots from normal spaces... Why waste your time? SEE ABOVE FOR EXCITMENT!!!
    

In Class Project

Composition: I framed this shot from the doorway of a small office at the business complex. The three desks help to provide different surfaces from which I could take different angles. The ceiling is just barely appearing in order to show the overall size of the space.

Concept: I wanted to show different sides of myself and different phases of my feelings - sometimes throughout the day, sometimes over the period of a week. The girl represents the friends that help me get throughout the day.

Method: I used a tripod to shoot a bunch of shots with me in different poses... afterward, I combined all of the images into a single image using photoshop. The shots required negative exposure composition because the fluorescent lights over exposed the shots.

Motivations: All in all, I think its important for all of us to realize and embrace different sides of ourselves... This image was a way for me to communicate the different sides I have.

Reactions

There was some wonderment of how the image came together... Overall, I think there was less interpretation of the different sides I was trying to portray and more interest in the technical details.

Evaluation: Overall, I'm really happy with how the image came out. Based on the composition and my expressions, along with new photoshop skills, I wouldn't change very much. The only thing I would change would be that I would take the girl out and have a large picture of my face in that spot of the picture.

Extension: I think this could be done in many different scenes which are context specific. If it were in a factory, you could see the many moods and faces that people feel during their day on the factory line.
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Composition: The branch is really important in this image... It really frames the entire shot and helps to kind of guide the eye into the rest of the shot. I used the curvature in the branch to keep the viewer's eye in the right spot.

Concept: Here, I wanted to show something that is a little bit off. In the image, the viewer can notice in the distance, a trashcan in the tree... There is also a sculpture hanging from the branch. Both of these things are strange and out of place, but could easily be missed if you are in a hurry.

Method: I used a tripod for this image and shutter priority. The speed of the shutter was fast because of the daylight. Later, I enhanced the image with a red tint to draw out the sculpture hanging.

Motivations: I think we all need to slow down sometimes! This image is one communication of the pace we sometimes hold that keeps us so distracted from the strange and interesting things that are out there everyday.

Reactions

Generally, I think people may have found this image a little bit boring... I think that tree was interesting, but perhaps wasn't able to truly convey the original concept and intention of the photograph.

Evaluation: I'm pleased with the composition of the image and how it eventually came out. Overall, I am disappointed with the lighting, as it seems so drab... It could be enhanced by retaking the shot, but with different lighting and weather.

Extension: I could extend this my taking strange things and placing them in everyday spots. It could be as simple as toys appearing in an office space.
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Composition: I am centered in the photograph with the road guiding the eye down towards the background. The photo was cropped to take out the extra road and trees in the foreground and background.

Concept: WEIRD! I wanted to take two things are are totally unrelated... Here there are the arms of a toy added as an appendage to my body.

Method: I used a tripod to shoot this.. I basically embraced the same body position of a small toy figurine.... I took a picture of the figurine in the same lighting and took the arms off it later and enlarged them.

Motivations: Nothing more, nothing less - this was fun! I wanted to try something completely out of my comfort zone and a bit strange. I like it because my face is so serious, but the image is really kind of funny and different.

Reactions

Laughter all around - Most people thought the image was strange and out of sorts. Lots of questions around how I did it came up. Overall, I think people it found it funny.

Evaluation: I like the framing of the shot and final result of the photoshopping. I would prefer if the light of the day were different and I think it would have added a lot to put on a different set of clothes...

Extension: This could be done with lots of different things. The other concept that I think would be fun would be to reverse some of my body parts and put them on the body of the toy.

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Composition: This time series was done at a restaurant. I framed the edge of the table in the upper right hand corner and the subjects entering from the left. The daylight provided enough for some interesting, but subtle shadows to appear.

Concept: For this series of images, I wanted to take everyday objects, like a salt and pepper set, and give them more human characteristics.

Method: I took about 50 images of the salt and pepper set. Each picture, I move the position of each just a little. I had to use a tripod in order to make sure the "scene" stayed the same.

Motivations: I think its interesting to take something that is so INhuman and give it human qualities. There are relationships between things all over the place - these things are not human. This is a literal demonstration of that.

Reactions

Overall, there was some entertainment value to the series, but not too much discussion around the actual "narrative" that was painted. I think more than anything, there was some fascination around the interaction between the two objects.

Evaluation: The lighting in the scene could have been improved. Further I think if I were to do it again, I would choose a better surface upon which to do the shots. This would help to remove some of the distractions introduced by seeing the ground, chairs, etc. in the background.

Extension: I'd like to do this with other objects... Which dont have faces or expressions. It would be cool to take things like knives, forks and spoons and make them all interact and "talk".

Blog Response #25

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.

1. Angel Cumerbirch- I love the color filter she used on all her pictures... It gives them this really orange and unusual feeling. Most of the photographs are slightly off in terms of composition, which makes them interesting. Lastly, I like the blurring effect she uses to almost distort each image.

2. Mark Brown- He has a variety of different styles ranging from portraits to landscapes. I think the variety would bring a lot to the show. All of his pictures of black and white. In the pictures of the people, he seems to frame them up to capture personalities or awkwardness... Really interesting and fun.

3. Paul Nathan- He has a series of photographs in which people are either naked or half naked.. They are all covered in tattoos. I think the great element that he would bring to the show would be the awesome expressions hes been able to capture with each picture - they are all smiling and seem so happy!

4. Matt Cowen- He has a series of pictures that are pretty distorted. They all seem to portray fireworks with limited colors coming through. I think this would be a good addition to the show because it is showing something beautiful and nonhuman. The contrasts are also something that isn't captured in any of the other pictures.

5. Cynthia Perez- She has a series of a little girl playing in different places. All of the pictures are in black and white. The contrast in these photos is really unique. The white dress draws out the person in each of the photos. I think this would be a good addition to the show because of the very normal composition, but unique way of framing up the girl... I think its different and could be interpreted in many different ways.

6. Cybelle Codish- These photos are sooo vivid and well composed. I like the style and colors that come through in these pictures. There is a tinge of elegant that seems to be conveyed in a way that none of the others do. It seems like this photographer is using a wide angle lens or something to capture some distortion.

7. Kwaku Alston- This is a series of pictures of old school vans and their owners... It seems to be that the pictures are taken all over the place and shows a diversity in the type of people as well. I think this would be good in the show because it is very clearly a series of things, which share a common thread, but are still different.

The Long Road Home....

Assign 5 Images For Commentary

In class Activity

Recreation 5 - Arthur Tress

Historical Photographer - Joel-Peter Witkin

General Background

Witkin was born in New York city in the late 1930's. His father was Jewish and mother Roman Catholic, Witkin was raised in a diverse environment. He studied at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Columbia University and finally graduated from Cooper Union in 1974. Following graduation his work appeared at exhibits in Paris, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and many other places. He now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

What is he known for?

He is known for grim topics and unusual people (some consider). A lot of his work revolves around death and corpses... this includes dismembered parts as well! He has also done photographs of dwarfs, transsexuals and physically deformed people. It has been said that his influences come from a car accident he witnessed as a small child in which a girl was decapitated. Further, there were some challenges in his family which influences his work today. His techniques come from daguerreotypes.

http://www.zonezero.com/exposiciones/fotografos/witkin2/

Contemporary Photographer: Tim Head

Background

Tim Head is originally from the United Kingdom and did a lot of of his early work there. His education came from a school called Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he studied art for four years. As time passed, Tim began working for some well-known artists and eventually started teaching. He has a long list of awards and exhibits that come from across the world.

Known For

From a commissions perspective, Tim has done work for Queen Elizabeth Hall, the National Museum of Photography and the Corporation of London (among many others). Regarding his work, he has some really unique and creative ideas that have come to life. One is that of digital projection of real-time computer animation, onto the exterior of a building. His interest is in bringing everyday structures and putting them against socio-economic issues. Tim's work is really in installations in which he creates a scene or structure and photographs it.

Issues he is known to Discuss

- Domestic interior and the world of commerce: Roles of technology and corporate power

- Assumptions of advertising

- Trivial and Trash

Basically, he is slightly cynical in his approach to his installations: The world can only be perceived in its untypical form.

Assignment 4

Composition: The picture is framed by the salsa jar on the left and the refrigerator on all other sides. The effect of the blurred salsa jar gives some depth to the photograph.

Concept: This image was originally just taken as a "crazy idea" with a timer. Once the photo was processed, it seemed to give a perspective of what the food is feeling like... a different viewpoint of almost putting ones self in the place of the food.

Method: I used a timed shutter on this photograph and the subject waited for the picture to take. The settings on the camera were in Aperture priority to blur out the background of the kitchen. There was no flash used in this photograph. In order to get the angle I wanted I used some food (I think it was string cheese) to prop up the lens of the camera.

Motivations: To give a different perspective of an everyday activity.

Context: It seems like we are always in such a hurry to do everything... Do we actually consider the different perspectives from which the world can be taken? Here is just one example of how we can really take the world in from a new and creative perspective, everyday.

Reactions

This was the most popular of all of the photographs I took. Interestingly, the colors were distorted in the photograph - The cabinets are not actually green... but this was a point that many people brought up and discussed.

Evaluation: I am really pleased with how this photograph turned out. The only thing that was mentioned on a consistent basis was the blurring of the subject's face - To which I agree. I have ordered a remote in order to improve this problem.

Extension: I am going to be using this photograph as a jumping off point to do things from different perspectives everywhere. For example, from the perspective of the laundry machine, dryer, etc.

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Composition: In this photograph, the framing of the picture puts the subject at the front and center. The darkness of the scene or of his clothes help to frame the edges. In the background, the other members of the band stand by.

Concept: This image is communicating the joy and hard work of playing music. In order to capture this, I took many different photographs of the faces of each of the musicians and finally settled on this one. Here you can see that he is happy, but definitely concentrating hard on what he is doing.

Method: I took this picture at the Green Door bar one night... Very empty! I used a very high ISO setting because the scene was so dark. This photograph was taken in Aperture priority mode in order to blur the background.

Motivation: To show both hard work and passion when people are actively creating (and doing) something they love.

Context: Again, I feel that the 'finer' things in life often go unnoticed. As much as I'd like to say I really enjoyed this music, I didn't! What was fun about this night, was that I forced me to take a moment to view how others have fun and enjoy themselves. Not only does this help us to see what makes others happy, but the effect can be contagious.

Reactions

Many people commented on the black and white format insomuch that it seemed appropriate to the scene. I think the photo did was it was set out to accomplish - getting across art and work in the same scene.

Evaluation: In some ways, I wish the ISO setting weren't so high... when I got into the lab, I realized just how noisy the picture turned out. I worked hard in photoshop to erase the noise, but I think it distorts the photo. From a composition standpoint, I think this photo is relatively good. Lighting was the biggest challenge. Next time, I'll need to use a diffused flash.

Extension: This could go in many directions. I think the most logical would be to take pictures of people who are both working really hard, and loving it. The first thing that comes to mind is that of a runner at the end of a long race.

Composition: This picture places the focal point at the tongue of the shoe and blurs out the foreground and background. The shoes are centered in the frame and take up nearly the entire frame.

Concept: This is a commercial photograph with the intention of showing shoes from a different perspective. My goal was to get the viewer to consider how LONG the shoes are and that application to long races. Although worn and tattered, the shoes should be able to be used in any condition.

Method: I used a long shutter speed on this photograph and place the staged lighting at a distance. I placed a dark sheet behind the shoes when taking the picture. The camera was in Shutter priority and had a low ISO to ensure there was little to no noisiness. I placed the camera almost right up against the tip of the shoes and focused up toward the top. Because I needed the camera still, I propped it up with some books.

Motivation: To show how shoes, like runners, are in it for the long haul.

Context: A lot of the advertising out there seems to be run of the mill and not creative... I was hoping this picture would bring in a different perspective for the viewer.

Reactions

Many people commented on the lighting of this picture. I think that came about because I burned the background to make the shoes really pop. Overall, I think people commented that the picture seemed somewhat average and standard for a commercial picture.

Evaluation: As much as I would have liked to give a different perspective or something different... I dont think I pulled it off with this photograph. Editing definitely helped, but I think I could have put the shoes in a different scene to make it more interesting.

Extension: The shoes could be in different places in my life... At a church, at school, at work... Always placed next to me... Showing that my commitment to the shoes is equal to the shoes commitment to me. This would get the message across, but in a slightly more subtle way.

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Composition: This picture places the bike diagonally across the photograph with several large dark areas in the corners. The bike is placed at the center of the frame to show that it is the "star".

Concept: This is a commercial photograph in which the bike was intended to be the center of attention... This could be likened to the red carpet treatment. As many actors deal with the bright lights of the papparizi, this bike must deal with the bright lights too... Its tough be famous!

Method: In order to set the scene, I propped the bike up against the wall and turned off all the lights in my apartment, except the light in the background. The light in the background is not visibile, just its rays. Although shot in aperture priority mode, the background was darkened anyway after the fact. I was at a low angle when taking the picture as if putting the bike on a pedestal.

Motivations: To make the bike the star of the "show".

Context: In this photograph, I am hoping to communicate the strangeness associated with taking pictures of famous people! I'm not clear as to why this happens or how the subjects can put up with it. Here the bike has no choice, just as famous actors and actresses have no choice... They are subjected to a strange addiction we have with famous people.

Reactions

Perhaps spurred on by my own commentary, I get the feeling that this photo is relatively boring... Many people were pretty quiet in their comments regarding this picture... Lighting definitely came up as an issue.

Evaluation: Given the goal, I think I may have missed the mark... I think it would have been cool to bring the bike out into the woods and tie it up into a tree...to suspend it... then using flash, could have "caught" the bike, just like famous people are caught by paparazzi.

Extension: It might be fun and interesting to have a photograph that pokes fun at the fashion runway... it could be done with a series of items (one of which could be a bike), traveling down a runway with flashes going off all the way down.

Blog Response #24

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”.
Nick Nicosia- This image is awesome! I love the composition and I feel like it is communicating a gap between oneself. Anyway, I would reconstruct this using two small dolls. Ideally, I'd like the dolls to be dressed in black. Then I would get a shoe box and a desk lamp. I would experiment with ways to get the similar lighting. Also, I would paint the background of the shoebox white and the sides would be black.



Jeff Koons- This guy is really creative... Amazing what he has come up with. The image I chose below seems to be a super large balloon animal. I would recreate this by somehow (?!) making a balloon animal and putting him on a box (box would be upside down). Then I would shoot the animal close up with a high aperture setting. Lighting would have to be in front and behind.
**Note: I wasn't able to find this image, except on the front page of his website... hence the writing**

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.

I am planning on creating a series out of one picture that I took... The picture was from the perspective of a piece of food in the refrigerator... I am going to recreate that from many different perspectives... one might be from the inside of a trash bin, and another might be coming from an empty coffee cup. I'd like to collect as many of these perspectives as possible and then put them into a compilation.

Blog Response #23

In what ways do you “construct” your identity? In what ways do you “perform” in your daily life?
I think everyday we are performers in some sense. Each of us have a "professional" identity, a "school" identity and a "personal" identity. Each of these roles comes with different slices of who we are and we must construct them to become one person. As we go through our day, we use different constructs of this framework as we interact with the people and things around us.

Describe some ways in which your personal culture and social environments are “constructed”.
My personal culture is constructed with many different people and interests. For me, some of my culture is made up of things that I do on my own. An example of this is photography - this activity forces me to approach the world and consider things in new ways. This same mentality flows over to my professional life - How can I can what some consider a hobby, such as photography and apply that same type of thinking to my work life. When it comes to social constructs, I find that I am really good spending a lot of time on my own... I have a few great friends and people I trust and then many people who I enjoy, but wouldn't necessarily depend on. To take a different perspective, this social environment is one that is such a mixture of people and places - it is almost a canvass.

Describe some ways in which your physical environment/space is “constructed”.
At its most basic level, I live within the confines of an apartment... I have to have everything in its place! I organize and reorganize to make sure I know where everything is. But from a different perspective, I float between spaces really... There is school... and then there is home... Each of these environments bring my mind to different places. When I think school, I think fast paced, hard surfaces... it has a 'sharpness' to it. When I think home, I consider the softer side of my life... where Im comfortable and at ease.

In your daily life, what would you consider to be “real” and what would you consider to be “constructed/fabricated”?
As a cynic, I think almost everything in life has some construct... at least in our modern world. As we approach life, we are surrounded by things that are always telling us where to go, or what to do. However, we have great opportunities to forego the pression that is implied by these things...I find that it is really important to go camping and leave the "constructs" that we have in our life. It always give me a chance to realize that there is so much more meaning to the world out there than some of the insignificant things we place so much value on.

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).
I see several small characters in my tableaux... They are miniature.. and they travel about using small scooters. Their world is one that we all take for granted, but they see it from a much different perspective... They are looking at the world as if it were huge! A living room for them is like the globe for a human. Regardless, there are hundreds of them and the scene they live in is under the kitchen sink. Each of them has a "home"... many times it is in a small crack or underneath a pipe. The society they embrace has humans as an annoying but survivable enemy. They realize that humans dont want to hurt them, they just dont know better. At one point, there was a huge massacre caused by a human... When a pipe burst underneath the sink, water began flowing into every home they ever made. Many where able to survive because of their ability to grab on to the sides of cabinets... But many other drown.

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).
I think a great set of photographs takes a small small character, alone, and puts him in many different strange locations... One might be in the bathroom, another might be on a dumpster, etc. Each of the locations creates a unique and strange relationship between the seemingly unfitting character in the scene.