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.