em's photos

What's more important?

2010-05-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

When working with self portraits, I feel that it is more important to envision your true self. I feel that although it is fun to aspire to look like celebrities and bettering yourself, I feel it is far more important to be at terms with who you truly are. Your best self may be great, but your true self is who you are most of the time. When people view self-portraits, I feel that they are trying to see what character you are. The audience is trying to get to know you. So that is why I feel it is imperative to have a "true" self photo because you open yourself up and allow people to see who you are with out being fake. I feel that people will appreciate someone more for staying true to who they are rather than trying to compete to be their "best" self. It makes them more real.

Smile and say "No Photoshop"

2010-04-26T04:52:00.000-07:00

What are the main points of the article?

The main points of the article are reviewing the use of Photoshop as a good or bad way. It also brings the idea of what is real and what isn’t . The article stresses the fact that with our digital technology we can manipulate photos easily. Photoshop is used so often past the boundaries of what is ethically right, people question, when is to much? And when will it come to an end? If it ever does.

Do you agree you agree with the general push and overall ideas of the article?

I do agree that there should be some limitations. With new digital techniques bodies that outstretch the limits of what is humanly normal are created. This is prominent in magazines and adds. I feel that these acts create a negative self image for the viewers. I agree with those who say that it adds to the way women are being visually defined. In our society, we are pressured to fit into a certain norm. The fact of the matter is that those who are photographed or in movies. Don’t even look like that. It is important that we, the viewers of the media, develop a strong resistance against being pressured into thinking we have to look perfect. We have to make sure that Photoshop and these adds and media don’t create a false reality in our minds.

When should Photoshop be/not be used to alter a photograph?

I think that Photoshop should be used to enhance a picture, not completely alter it. I see no problem in using the technology to clear up blemishes to make a photo look more profession. What I do think is wrong is taking of inches from the waist, making muscles look better and real. This use of alteration, not only creates a false self image, but it is ethically wrong and effects the society on a higher level. Photoshop is okay to fix technical errors such as blur or unwanted objects, but there is a fine line that is crossed to often.

Point of view, Macro Minutiae and Motion

2010-04-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

What is your interpretation of the purpose of each of these assignments?
I feel that the point of these projects was to look at normal objects that we see from different angles and aspects much like people may have different views. The point of view assignment, really captures the idea that you can disover new things about a subject from looking at it from a different set of eyes or view. The macro minutiae project shows that importance of detail. The motion project for me, showed how to caputure the essence of the subject in a moment in time.

What do you think is the most important you learned from each project?
I learned that that for point of view you have to not be afraid of taking risks in the way you view things. There are so many ways to interpt different photos and by taking risks in your angles and set ups you allow for more options. The macro project really made me focus more on the quality of my pictures and the time I took into setting them up. For me, motion was about getting snap shots of life. I learned that motion can be views in different ways. It could be abstract and it could be very obvious by the blur of an object.

Why do you suppose the three projects were in this order?
I feel that each project set you up for the next. After the point of view project i had a better understanding of the risks to take and the angles that work best, so going into the macro project, I had a better background to work with. Combining these techniques you could enhance your motion pictures.

How do you feel you did on each project?
I feel that I did well on all of the projects. I struggled some with being creative enough to find many different angles and positions for the point of view project. I feel I did the best in the macro minutiae project because I really wasn't afriad to get close or focus on random objects. I felt that I could pay attention to detail best. In the motion project, I feel that my pictures were slightly rough and to me not artistic enough. I had more of an abstract though of motion such as a merry-go-round. Overall, I feel that I achieved the goals of each assignment successfully.

What is something that you wish you would have done?
I wish that I would have experiemented a little more with my subjects for the point of view project and the motion project. I would have maybe changed the objects I choose to photograph.

What was your favorite project and why?
I loved the macro minutiae project. I got to take weird pictures that I feel enticed the audience to want to know more and really appreciate the beauty of the objects with out the distractions of the surroundings. I was also the one lagging behind in the group on the trip I was on because I always found something that I wanted to photograph for this project.

Has one or more of these projects impacted your photography?
I would say that the macro project has because it has taught me how to really pay close attention to details and take more time and effort with my pictures.

"God is in the details."

2010-03-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

What is your interpretation of this quote?

To me, I feel that this quote means that you can find beauty in the smallest things or things that ordinarily would not be considered beautiful. Opening your eyes to find the details the God put there allows you to welcome the beauty and the potential for beauty in unlikely situations. Most, like myself, view God has a powerful and inspiring thing, details can be powerful too.

How can we see God in the details every day?

God can appear to us in unusual ways. That is why I feel to see God, we must be open to seeing God. That may seem a tad redunt when I say it, but I really feel it is true. We have to be able to look in places and objects in nature and seek out the beauty and inspiration that lies behind them. The story that they want to tell us. It is all about taking that extra step than we normally would, putting forth that extra effort to get a better understanding and meaning from things in our lives and possibly find God in them.

How might we use our cameras in order to discover and preserve these details?

By using our cameras, we can capture a moment in time, or a memory. By doing this we can preserve the details from the scene and get a closer look at how special and unique they are. When we have a picture we can focus on areas that we might have not been able to before, and truly seek out what its specific detail has to say about it.

Gary Winogrand Quote

2010-03-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

"Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts." -- Gary Winogrand.

To me, I really feel that this quote reflects what we studied and learned about point of view. I feel that we decided it is better as photgraphers to work with the camera and our positioning first to make the best picture before cropping or addtional work. I feel that this quote defines this idea. By using the frame, you can create a story and a message. I agree with Winogrand when he states that ,"you change those facts," when you capture a picture by puting edges around it. This means that you can see an image but your point of view can change the way ohters precieve it. Meanings and connotations can be tagged to items and figures in the picture that normally wouldn't have been there before. Point of view, framing and composition are so important. Doing extra work in programs such as photoshop can help and be useful, but what is better is to use good framing techniques before the create the store and facts in the picture.

Lighting

2010-03-01T17:39:00.000-08:00

I think that overall I did well on the lighting project. The feedback I recieved from the class seemed to agree with the idea I had set out for my picture. Most of it seemed positive. I tried to think outside of the box and find light that I could work with, such as streetlights or the sun. What I feel I gained most from those elements in my photos. I had shadows that really helped define that direct lighting, I was trying to capture. The feedback is a better idea of what is a better idea of what the different type of lighting is. When others commnet on the pictures, they pointed out things that I didn't even realize on my own. I was pleased to see that I achieved that.
I feel that the outcome of my photos where successful, but the process was difficult for me. The concepts behind the pictures and the lighting were difficult for me to understand, especially the diffused lighting. Maybe a suggestion to improve the understanding would be more examples of how to achieve this type of quality of picture. I feel that I would have had more of a wider variety of picture to picture to choose from, if I had a better understanding.
I really liked when we made a controlled lighting setting in class. I felt that, that activity really helped me with my understanding, but I had trouble keeping those ideas outside of the classroom.
Because I had so much trouble, I found that it was really beneficial that we had that in class discussion and feedback from others. I feel that I had it set in my only a few ideas of ways that the pictures could take form and my seeing the others it really opened my horizons, especially in silhouette.
I feel that I have learned a lot through this process and project. i feel that my pictures overall were successful.

Technical or Emotive?

2010-02-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

When you first look at a photographand make an intial judgement of it as being 'great', is it because it is techincally great or becasue it makes you feel something? In other words, are you reacting to its techinal quality or its emotive quality? Explain it in detail.

When I look at a photo I initially judge it by the emotion that it evokes in me. That is how I personally judge whether it is a good picture. If I am guessing the story, if I am taken aback, if I am wanting more, or if I am sweept away that is how I judge a picture right off the bat. I like to think what message the artist was trying to convey, or what they are trying to make me feel when I first glance at a picture.
It is then after that, I focus on the technical stuff. I look for whether the picture is clear. I then look for the creativity and uniqueness to the picture. After learning more about lines and shapes that play parts into the pictures and I now pay mote attention to them. Lighting also catches my eye. These type of technical things play a role in how I view the quality of a great picture, but emotion is what I focus on most.

Andy Goldsworthy

2010-02-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

After reviewing my peers blog entries, I believe that i would have agreed with most in the sense that I would have liked Andy Goldsworthy's view on nature as art. I feel that I would connect with his work and see that he was dedicated. Some of the entries talked of how he appreciated the naturally beauty or sometimes enhanced it by putting his own twist on his own images and ideas. I find that overall, like most artists, he took pride in his work and was a hard worker from the descriptions that the other classmates gave. I feel I would really appreciate and connect with his work.

In response to the question: "What inspires me to be creative?" I would have to say the WORLD! Everything around me can spark and interest. As cliche as it may be, I find that most of my inspiration comes from nature, from the way the sun hits the clouds or the way the sound of the rain hitting your roof top. Driving home, I also find it inspiring and a good song will pop on the radio and the entire mood will change. Overall, the changing world around me, is what inspires me. I want to leave a mark that will help mold it!

I think I am motivated when I see other people's work. I want to go out and translate what they do, in a way that i see it. Sometimes, when I feel that i need change in my life I also feel inspired and motivated to do artistic things to enhance and bring new things to my life.

When I truly feel motivated, my creativity escapes me in so many ways! I love to go to my favorite photography spots. Cleveland has great places that downtown that I love to go to particularly in Ohio City, Little Italy and by the Rock Hall. Sometimes, I will driving and some light will hit the sky a certain way and I will be motivated to pull over and take the picture. I also find writing to be a form of art. When verses pop in my head, i just write them down. I go for walks and like being with people who make me happy. Immersing myself in different types of experiences works best for making my creativity flow!