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.