assignment 2, part 1

#8, #9, #10

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

This statement can be true in that, as photographers, we try to see subjects as we want them. By posing models and directing which way to look or dress expresses the vision of the photographer, not the model. It is true that photography captures emotions, but most of the time the photographer brought on the emotion the model is portraying, without letting the viewer know.

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

This statement is true for any art. Art does not make itself, it has to be created. This is especially true when setting up scenes and posing models how the photographer wants. This is the artistic part of photography in that the photographer has an “artistic vision” when staging an image. Furthermore, with editing tools, it is easy to take a picture and transform it into a true work of art.

“All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget. In this - as in other ways - they are the opposite of paintings. Paintings record what the painter remembers. Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it.” ~John Berger

I agree with this statement in that photography is a reminder of what we forget. Paintings record what painters remember, but photography does, too. Both mediums are a way to remember scenes and people. I don’t agree with this statement, however, in that a photo can change more than a painting by who is looking at it. In both art forms, meanings can be misinterpreted and cause different reactions in viewers. I don’t think either medium can change more than the other since all forms of art changes through each set of eyes.

Hellen van Meene

This photograph, by Hellen van Meene is a portrait of a young girl, the main focus of Meene's work. By making pictures of children, Meene's goal is to unlock each model's adolescent identity. She wants her images to look at natural as possible, yet she composes each scene and specifically places each model in a desired position. Each photograph is exceptionally well lit by natural sunlight and highlights skin tones flawlessly. The portrait that I selected is a good example of Meene's work. She captures intimate moments to tell the viewer something about the model. Here, a young girl is sitting on a bed in what could be her room. The overall meaning of this picture is ambiguous, but the scene Meene has places her model in is unique and lets the viewer's mind wander. What I like most about this portrait is the way the light plays off of the girl's skin, a theme among all of Meene's images. 

recreate (2)

The first photo is by Valerie Belin, a French photographer. In her work, she likes to take her subjects and turn them into statue-like figures. Her subjects are dehumanized and are made into superficial beings. In my recreation, I tried to achieve the same aesthetic as Belin through overexposing my model and turning her into a stoic figure.

#5, #6, #7

#5 Give your thoughts on one or both of the following quotes.

“Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to man.” ~Edward Steichen

I agree with this statement in that photography is an excellent educational tool. Pictures capture emotion, situations, events, and nature in an unimaginable way. By viewing photos from around the world, every individual is able to learn about other cultures and ways of life. Photography truly is the best way to “explain man to man.”

#6 In your opinion, when is it beneficial, ethical, or appropriate to digitally alter photographic portraits? When do you think it is inappropriate or ethically wrong?

I think it is always acceptable to alter portraits. It depends, however, on how much portraits are altered. For example, simple changes, such as adding more contrast or changing the picture to gray scale, are beneficial to many photographs. Airbrushing, slimming body sizes, and changing facial features are not okay. Magazines and other advertising publications rely on portraits that have been altered beyond belief. It would be appropriate to make simple changes to the portraits in advertising, rather than drastic alterations. By transforming subjects, publications seem unreal. True looks and emotions are not conveyed properly with dramatic changes. Altering photographs is acceptable in small doses and should be used in moderation.

#7 Pay close attention to the types and number of photographic portraits you see in one day. Where did you see them? How do you think that the content of the portrait changes based on the context in which you see the image (news, facebook, magazine, advertisement, television, youtube, etc)? In other words, what is the difference between the portraits you see on facebook vs. those on the news? What is the difference between the “viewpoint” of the photographer in each situation? What is the difference between their “intents”?

The most portraits I see in a day are on facebook and in the media. Portraits in the news are meant to convey emotion, while pictures on facebook are meant to convey actions. For example, it is more acceptable to see a picture one took of her or himself on facebook than it is in the news. Images of groups of friends at local bars clutter my facebook feed while images of reactions to traumatic events take over newspapers. The intent of pictures on facebook is to let viewers know how many friends one has and what he or she did on the weekend. Images in the news are meant to be educational and capture the true essence of a situation.

assignment 1

 

 

In this image, I used the lowest shutter speed possible as my roommate moved a gathered strand of Christmas lights around. I wanted the lights to make unique patterns and shapes in the photo, so I chose to use a really slow shutter speed. I also wanted the focus only on the lights, not on my roommate. I like that the only source of light is the subject, emphasizing the interesting shape and dimension the lights created. Since there is a harsh contrast between the subject and the background, the photo is very mysterious. Without explanation, it is unclear as to how the light was created. The photographs that I am most intrigued by are vague and require extra thought. I like contemplating each subject and the purpose of the image. I achieved this in my photograph in that the creation of the light is unknown to each viewer. To form this image, I handed a strand of white lights to my roommate and told her to move them around in any way she wanted. She ended up making continuous circles with the lights, causing the streaks to stay in one area of the composition. I decided to use the strand of lights after I gathered every light source in my apartment. I figured the strand of white lights would make interesting patterns different than most “painting with light” compositions. The slower shutter speed worked the best because my roommate and objects in the background were unidentifiable. Although this photograph was not created to have a deeper, intellectual meaning, it can be interpreted in numerous ways. The context of the picture does not hit the viewer over his or her head with its meaning. The way the photo turned out is similar to many famous artists who “painted with light,” including Pablo Picasso.

 

By using my roommates as subjects in this photo, I created an emphasis on each of their expressions. The prompt for this picture was responding to the word “doppelganger,” which is why Jane and Emma were wearing the same shirt and sunglasses. They were also wearing Bumpits for comedic relief. I wanted the background and lighting to be as simple as possible to make sure the focus was on my subjects, not their surroundings. When I look at this image, I am reminded of the fun I have with my roommates and how we can never stop laughing. I chose this photo as a final image because their expressions are not forced; their laughter was simply a moment in time I captured. Although Jane and Emma do not look exactly alike, I found humor in the “doppelganger” idea and paired them in matching accessories, showing that matching facial features is not the only requirement for twins. When first shooting this image, I constructed a scene in our living room with a white sheet behind my subjects. After many shots of the sheet falling and overexposed skin tones, I decided a plain colored wall would be my best option. When creating this image, I didn’t want my subjects to be posed. I let Jane and Emma dance around, go crazy, and enjoy being in a photo shoot. I wanted them to be doing the same thing in the picture; luckily they both couldn’t stop laughing. I feel as though this image had a photojournalistic flare to it. I didn’t tell my roommates what to do; I captured what they were already doing to explain a situation to the viewer. I like to find humor in everything, which was portrayed in this picture. What I like most about the meaning of this image is the imagination is casts. It is interesting to see two people who do not look alike or are the same height dressed identically and making similar expressions. This photograph is an example of how similar all of us are to each other, whether we look alike or not.

Finally, this was the last photo shoot I set up. I was responding to the word “historic.” I, once again, wanted a plain background to ensure the entire focus was on my subject. I used an overhead light so the most exposed part of the photo would draw the eye to her face and arms. When I thought of the word “historic,” I wanted to depict an image dealing with feminism. Since Rosie the Riveter is a cultural icon, I thought it would be an excellent image to recreate. In this representation, I had to direct Rosie in a few areas, such as standing straight and positioning her arms correctly. What worked well in this image was the effortless expression on her face. While the meaning of this photo is obvious, Hailey portrayed Rosie flawlessly. In this picture, I wanted to make a statement about strong, independent women. What I like most about Rosie the Riveter is how the focus is on her face and arms, not body. Throughout history, and in today’s society, women are depicted as sex symbols and are generally not appreciated for their intellect. Rosie is a symbol of women who can be as successful and hardworking as men, an icon breaking stereotypes during World War II. I wanted to capture Rosie’s purpose in my photograph, hitting viewers over the head with my message. Women’s rights are immensely important to me. I want to break down stereotypes of women raising children, cooking, and cleaning for their husbands. I believe gender is socially constructed and women and men should not have “roles” in society. Rosie the Riveter stands for everything I believe in, making her and icon I was more than happy to recreate.

questions 3 and 4

3) “Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.”~Duane Michals. Do you agree or disagree with this quote? Why?

In the case of photography, I agree with this quote. With programs such as photoshop, it is hard to distinguish which photographs have been edited and which have not. Furthermore, pictures can turn out to have redeye, which is not visible in reality, an example of things not appearing as they truly are. Photography is based on appearances, hence the act of photo editing in magazines and publications. Nothing is what it appears to be in photography because the majority of the time, pictures are altered.

4) “If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.” ~Lewis Hine

Do you agree or disagree with this quote? Why? Describe situations when photographic images reveal “the story” (as compared to words). Describe situations when words reveal “the story” (as compared to images).

I do not wholly agree with this quote due to the fact that not every story needs images. Not every book needs pictures to go along with text. I do agree, however, that pictures are needed for explanations in some circumstances. For example, when returning from a trip, it is more informational to show someone pictures, rather than random, unorganized stories. On the other hand, pictures aren’t needed in literary situations. Poems, shorts stories, and novels are written to elucidate stories by creating images in one’s mind, without photographs. Overall, I believe words are pictures are equally as important when creating a story. 

assignment 0: recreate

left: original by Bruce Davidson
right: my recreation

prompt #2

The word “photograph” means a moment in time to me. When I take a picture, I want to remember that image for life. Looking back at old pictures can trigger certain feelings and actions at that specific moment in time. For example, when I look at one of my favorite pictures, I can only think of the time my friends and I couldn’t stop laughing. I am overwhelmed with happiness and remember how I felt when the picture was taken. To me, a photograph is more than a lens capturing images and light, it’s a moment worth remembering.

prompt #1

A world without photographs would be isolated. Without the knowledge of what other people and places look like, complete ignorance would ensue. Photography is an extraordinary educational tool we all take for granted. I cannot imagine looking through a textbook without seeing some sort of photographic image. Not only is photography and educational instrument, it is an entire industry. Publications such as fashion magazines, yearbooks, National Geographic, and Flickr would not exist without photography. Photographs are for remembrance. Without them, moments in time would only be captured through human eyes, not the eye of a lens.