artist statement?

In the past three years that I have been photographing, the great majority of my photos have involved women models. This assignment "You can do anything, but there can only be one photo", was probably the hardest for me to come up with. When i take photographs, I like to take as many as i possibly can, so they all tell a story. I finally came up with an idea, I wanted to photograph women and fruit. Women have been related to fruit throughout art for a very long time, and I wanted to see if i could replicate an image. When i presented my idea in class, Ms. MacWright liked it, but said "Why don't you challenge yourself, and use men for models". At first I wasn't too sure how i would be able to link men with fruit, but i finally decided i would give it a go. This tryptich is called "Give a boy fruit". All i did for these photos was give each boy a piece of fruit, then they "played with it". I wanted to see what they would do when given a piece of fruit, if they would squeeze it, eat it, juggle it, or just hold it. The only "staged" part of these photographs were the shirts. I did tell each boy to wear a plain colored shirt, with the same color as the fruit. I will be attending school for photography in the fall, and I will always take Ms. MacWrights' advice to become a better photographer and challenge myself.

More of the photos from the tat project..

Blogger was being extremely slow the other day, so I didn't get a chance to finish uploading the rest of the photos... here they are:

UPDATE!

Actually, Instead.

I am going to still do a triptych of fruit- Watermelon, Lemon, and Kiwi. But instead of using girls, i am going to go out of my range, and do all three guys.

I am still not 100% sure how i am going to relate it, since in my last idea I was going to correspond the models makeup...

But i will figure it out! Whether it's same color shirts, or hats, or even sneakers.

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Two Reference photographs

Week Twenty-Eight

With Summer time shortly coming, i have constantly been eating watermelon! Watermelon is my favorite snack to eat, and it is also fun. For my final photo, I am going to use a girl model. I will have her hair tied back, with a light tone of face-makeup, unless her skin is natually that "porcelain,white-tone". I want this photo to be "pure, and fun". The photo will be from the collar bone up. I will draw on little black freckles/seeds on her cheeks, and put LIGHT green eye shadow, with LIGHT red lipstick (not to look "drag queen", but to match the watermelon). In the models hands will be a very big slice of watermelon. I'm not sure if I want the watermelon to be dripping, or not.
For this photograph, I am going to use the "David Hill" style of sharpening the photograph. I only used that technique once, but it didn't work out with the photograph, but I think with this photograph it will. I want this photo to be sharp and as clear as possible. I want this to be uplifting, and summer-y. Behind the model will just be a bright white background, so all of the focus is on her, showing off this big piece of watermelon.
I'm not sure when I will shoot exactly, but if i find a model at school, I could do it any day this week. If this week is very busy, I can do it saturday morning with my friend Emma who I am seeing that day. No matter what, this photograph will be edited and finished by Sunday night.

Tats

tat document project

04/19/10

"Trusting the photograph was probably a huge mistake from the beginning".

A photograph may tell the truth of a scene, and the physical objects...but it does not tell the truth of what is going on inside people's heads (if they are in the photograph). Photographs capture a moment in time, but you don't always know what the truth behind the photograph is. When talking about technical issues, people can always dodge and change film. And as far as photoshop goes, the entire photograph can be changed around 100%. Photographs have mystery to them that most people don't even realize.

PETA has photographers take photographs of horrific situations with animals. A lot of people think PETA is crazy with there photographs, everything from the photo labeled "flesh", to photos with real people being around dead animals. PETA tries to get the truth out about animal cruelty. These photographs are true, but can be taken to the extreme sometimes. What PETA photographs show is immoral, but taking the photographs, are moral; PETA is trying to get a point across.

A photograph can be both, a piece of artwork, and document. As disturbing as some photographs may be, there is truth to them, which makes it documentary. A lot of people disagree over what is, and what isn't artwork. I would call these two photos that I posted artwork and document.

Other ideas for photo documentary

Since I am going down to NYC this weekend, there are a few things I could document; such as the subway system, all the different people who ride the subway.

Or

I could document a specific neighborhood in NYC, at different times of the day with different lighting, and different people.

Ideas for photo documentary

My first idea is to follow around a tattoo artist. I would document everything from drawing out the design, to cleaning the area on a body, to drawing the design on the body, and finally creating the artwork with a steady hand with needle and ink.

My second idea is to document people who have tattoos, and how there tattoos reflect there personalities. One of my friends has a full arm tattoo of bright colored peacock. She is very fun and outgoing to be with, I could photograph her wearing a fun bright colored summer outfit that shows off her tat, as well as having fun. I have another friend who has a tattoo of a tornado, which reflects his personality, he can be all over the place, and sometimes harsh. I could take a picture of him on a bunch of rocks, with darkish lighting. My "second mom" has a tattoo of a moon with stars, she is sort of a hippy. I could take a picture of her laying out in the sun with her hat, reading an "Obama" book. I have many other friends with tattoos that reflect there personalities, such as long, branchy trees, little bright flowers, birds, designs, camera, quotes, and many other things.

I can photograph them this and next weekend.

Images from the last post

April Fools Day homework

I love Philip-Lorca diCorcia's photographs. I think he has a real "eye" for interesting images. As i was flipping through his book, i stopped at this photograph. It is titled "Mario"; in 1978. The title is short, but is enough to satisfy the im

age. I like the lighting a lot that is coming from the refrigerator, hitting "Mario", and the green lighting in the background. One odd thing i have come to like when I photoshop my images, is that I like to add a green photo filter to it.

This photograph also made me think of times at my house when we have a refrigerator full of food, and no one can find anything they like. I, myself, am a vegetarian, and a very picky eater, so it is often hard for me to find food i enjoy. My brother eats only junk-food, and basically refuses to eat anything else. Hayley, is an extremely picky eater, and only eats chicken and cheese sandwiches. My parents, try to diet, but then can't and end up getting upset. When it is "meal" time at my house, it is very stressful, and not enjoyable.

I did not tell my brother or father to stand at the refrigerator and model for me. I saw them both looking at different times of day (my brother, when he got home from school; and my father looking for a late night snack), and decided to take pictures of them aimlessly looking for something to eat. The only "staged" actions involved, was me telling them to stand still; everything else, was natural.

Photo Homework due March 29

This photo was taken by Fashion Photographer: Jason Christopher.

Since he is a fashion photographer, and their are so many photos involving women and men modeling c

lothes, there is no name for this photograph. I could not find a specific date, but it said this photograph was taken in 2009. If this photo had been in a bit more of a sepia tone, and if the models dress was a little longer, and covering her right shoulder, i would have thought this photo was from the 1940's. The seating on the subway looks as if if the subway is from years ago. The subways today are much more modern looking, with black or grey seating. Also, the chairs in this photo look like old couch cushions. The model has a very nice porcelain complexion. Beyond her beauty, she is quite mysterious looking. She is the only one on this subway, and she is laying down in a position that does not look comfortable at all. While laying down, she is looking either down the aisle, or out the window at something that the viewer of this photograph can not see.

If i was to stumble across this photograph in a gallery, it would probably be a small gallery with low lights, and other photographs including fashion. Because of the models bright white skin, and dress, as well as the brightness of the subway next to her, this photograph would look best with low lights around it. If I saw this photograph in a newspaper, it would either be in the Travel section (since technically she is going somewhere), or the high fashion section every Sunday. If i saw this in a history textbook, i might believe it was from earlier in the 1900's...but i would need more convincing. If i saw this ad on the side of a bus, i would want to know what store the woman is modeling for be

cause i would want her dress and cardigan.

This Second photograph i have chosen is called "Teenager with a baseball bat, NYC" by Diane Arbus in 1962. I have a gigantic photography book with all of Diane Arbus' photos in it. I came across this photograph after seeing a photo Arbus took of two transvestites. At first when i saw this photo, i assumed the "teenager" was a boy. But then i looked closer, and noticing the hips, and breasts, the teenager is clearly a girl. I am not saying the picture of the transvestites on the page before this picture made me think this girl is a transvestite, but it did give me a different look at it. I like this picture a lot; it says that girls can be tough too. I like her style, she's not in every day-girl attire, she dresses how she wants. Seeing as there is no one around her if she was playing baseball, no catcher behind her, or marks for where the home-plate is, she could be using the bat as a weapon; i hope not! Instead of a weapon, it could be a very unorganized game of baseball.

If i saw this photograph in a gallery, i doubt it would be around other "sports" photographs, but maybe "living in NYC" photos, or "City Life." If i saw this photograph in a newspaper, it would be very outdated, but if i was in the 1960's and i saw this photograph, it might have a story behind it about teenagers getting in trouble. If i saw this photograph in a history textbook, i would think it was a accurate photo for lower income families in the 1960's. If i saw this photograph on some ones facebook, i would think they are very artsy, and have good taste in photographs.

Two montages

Dos Montages

Logan Quinns Photo Book

Before I even picked up Logans book, the vibrant, yet musty red color made me feel warm and cozy. The blue stitching was perfect, it as well gave me a warm feeling. As soon as i could, I flipped the cover over to see what the book could be called. "The Odyssey." That title made me think of so many things all at once.

I flipped the next page over, and the first thing I thought was, "I'm glad this is in color, and not black and white." If it had been in black and white, it would have made the pictures look dull; and with a title called "The Odyssey", the pictures need to stand out, and show their full colors.

The first picture makes me think that whomever was outside, literally just came inside. The snow still looks fresh on the wet clothing, while it lays, dripping on the towel. The next picture makes me think that a mother came and yelled at her child for leaving the wet clothing on the floor (I know my mom would do that!). I like the way in this photo, the strings on the top of the boot entangle with the lines on the heater.

I love the colors in the third photo. The way the bright green sled is perched up against the brown wooden wall, and the toasty brown chair with the fuzzy blue blanket on it. This picture makes me like snow, which is amazing, because i hate snow!

The next few pictures show warm things inside a warm house, that is surrounded by the cold. Hot cocoa mix, warm socks on a heater, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, fuzzy blankets, and finally a fireplace. Logan captured what it is like to come in from playing in the snow perfectly. The blankets could represent being warm, and tired at the same time. The cookies could represent hunger.

Last year, i did the project similarly on "A winter day"; but it was quite jumbled. I feel that Logans project is much easier to understand. The pictures make me feel like i was just outside playing in the snow, and now am in a cozy house trying to warm up.

There is a little bit of bluriness in some of the photos, but i like that. It makes me think of when my eyes are blurry with snow and wind.

Good job Logan! [-=

Photo Montage

So this is just practice...And i'm not going to do it in black and white.

When i put each photo on, it turned it black and white... My photoshop is really weird.

I was watching my brother snowboard the other day, and i noticed how much was going on. Between his clothing options (plaid), his rigged stringy hat, the designs on the snowboard, the chunks in the snow, the broken fence and wheel, and the woods with the trees reaching up to the sky, there is a lot going on, and i wanted to connect it together.

I have quite a bit more photos to go along with this... I am expecting that my final piece will be very different from this-this is just practice.

For starters, My final image will be in color, and Zach (my brother) will stand out more. And i will have more pictures of the woods, with the sun creeping through.

Last photo.. Fear of losing a child

3 more photos (fear project)

Photo-book project

I have eight photos that fall under the topic of people's fears.

1) Fear of Drowning

2) Fear of Monsters

3) Fear of Abandonment

4) Fear of Claustrophobia

5) Fear of Heights

6) Fear of being lost

7) Fear of Growing Up

8) Fear of Un-Perfection (is that a word?)

I wanted to make this series of photos serious, and not funny. I converted all of the photos into black and white to have a similar monotone tone, as well as being darker and fearful.

When i started this project, i asked many people what there fears were... the most common one was either drowning or heights.

I used my friends and myself as models for this project. All of these photos were my ideas.

***Not all of the photos are up yet--some are at school, which i will upload tomorrow (Monday)

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4th photo.. fear of being lost.

Week 18, photo homework!

Scott Schuman opens up his interview by talking about sports. Sports and fashion are complete opposites. For me as a photographer, taking pictures of opposite things, and telling a story of how they relate to one another is very important. Schuman is not a fashion designer, but through his photography, he has been able to get a real grasp on one the fashion world is like on a 24/7 basis. I feel that learning about a specific area that a person is shooting is very important, and it will help them to become an even better photographer. Schuman has a more intimate experience with fashion also, because he was in the business for 15 years before becoming a fashion photographer.

I 100% agree with Schuman when it comes to being stylish without being wealthy. Everyone looks through magazines, and sees on tv the hottest trends of today; which forces us to buy new clothes all the time. If everyone was able to step back and go through there closet, there would be so many options of clothing for people to put together that would be stylish. There are of course some exceptions for lower-income people. But even still, if it is not clothes, there are free, stylish things to do to your hair. One of the main differences tho, is that the rich famous people do always look the best because they have there own personal fashion assistant who tells them what to and not to wear.

With the exception of the three black and white fashion shots in the magazine, all of Schuman's other photographs made me feel up-close and personal with all of the people; like i was in the photograph, standing a few feet away from the people. All of his photos had the same kind of mid-day lighting, and crispness; which i love. My favorite photograph of his is "On the Street....Via Pontaccio, Milano". The woman in this photograph has such a distinct look to her. She is very petite, and it makes her pointy ears stick out quite a bit. The red light in the background matches her bright red bag. The womans hair and lip color are also different shades of red. The shininess of her bag and shoes go very well together. I feel like Schuman is doing the work by finding people who wear unordinary clothing, and have a distinct look to him. The people are not fake models wearing designers clothing that they would never wear; it's there every-day wear.

First three images.