Assignment 5 Critique Part 2

Images 1, 2, and 3:

Interpretation:  The class really seemed to like the images.  They understood that the subject was blending into the background.  They said that the images worked nice together, some liked one more than others, and some liked them all together.

Evaluation:  They thought I could have cropped out the hair in the second image because the ponytail is distracting and it did not really contribute towards the meaning I was going for.  The third image seemed to be the most popular because of the expression and the cropping, which was what I initially thought.  Some people also thought I didn't need the three images all together but I liked how they looked.

Extension:  I could so a lot more with this!  I really enjoyed taking these pictures.  I like the concept of blending ones face (what one is known for) into an environment.  Maybe I could make the environment more meaningful to the subject thought.


Images 4, 5, and 6:

Interpretation:  At first, a lot of people did not understand what was going on, which I understand.  It was very difficult to photoshop the images together exactly right.  The color in the rectangle and the color of the background seems to be off. I also had issues with how much of the background to include and how much to leave out in order for the viewer to understand what I was trying to achieve.  They thought the three worked well together.

Evaluation:  I could do even more, like 20 or so.  In that case I could make the images smaller.  But with just three, I think it would have been more beneficial and people might have understood better if I had made the images larger.

Extension:  I could just include a lot more of these picture.  I liked the idea a lot, although it is not something I would usually enjoy doing, it was fun to do.  I prefer posed pictures honestly, with interesting lighting and posed expressions.

Assignment 5 Critique

Concept/aboutness/idea/context: The top three images could work as a series or individually I thought.  I couldn't pick one image by itself though so I chose these three.  I like how the eyes are so different in all of them.  The first one looks innocent, the second she is not looking at the camera but you get a strong feel from the squinty sense, and the last is a very powerful look.  I think that is what makes them go along so well together.  The main idea of all of my images was people blending into their surroundings. I also think the three go together well because they are all placed on the right of the frame.

 The top three are more of an optical allusion, whereas the bottom three are more about how people blend into their comfort.  I took the bottom three pictures candid with people just in their natural environment and I said they could pose as they chose, that is why I think it works well.

Image 1:

Cropping: For this image, I chose to zoom in on the crop a bit.  Now that I look at the image I wish I had cropped even more of the top off so the hair was not as visible. However, the hair is dark like the images behind her so I think it works.  

Sharpness and blur: I really wanted to have the entire image in focus.  If the subject was in focus and the background was blurry it would take away from the meaning entirely.  I wanted the subject to blend into her environment so I used a fast shutter speed.  The image was dark but I was able to lighten it in photoshop.

Lighting:  The lighting was also important for this image.  I wanted to have the least amount of shadows possible but I only had one lamp to use so this was difficult.  I placed the lamp right in front of the subject's face. There are a few shadows but I do not think this is too distracting, though it makes the subject stand out more than her surroundings.

Image 2:

Placement of subject in frame:  I chose to include a lot of the subject.  I even included the hair but mostly only people I liked how this image worked in the series of three.  Individually, I think this image is weakest when it come to what I wanted my meaning to be.  I also chose to include the hand because I felt it helped with the powerful expression.

Contrast:  I really increased the contrast for this image, and for all of them.  Increasing the contrast was very important for this image because without increasing the contrast, the subject looked a lot more gray than the background.  This made the subject pop out too much, and this was not my intent.  The subject is still more gray than the background in all the pictures, but I don't find it too distracting.

Background elements: The background elements are what makes this picture, and all of the pictures.  The attention is supposed to be divided evenly between the background and subject, though this was difficult to do.  I really tried to use a slow shutter speed and high aperture so that all of the image was in focus but it was difficult because of the lighting I used.

Image 3:

Orientation:  I chose to portray this image horizontally, as well as all of the other images.  I think this works in this situation because you are able to see a lot of the background, and the background is the most important aspect overall.  

Focus/shadows:  Just about everything is in focus in this picture which really works.  Individually, I think this is the most successful image by itself.  Though the shadows make the subject pop out more than I would like, the placement of the subject, the amount I chose to crop, and the contrast, all work pretty well.

Images 4, 5, and 6:

Shape/pattern:  The shapes in all of these images are very significant.  the rectangle itself is important.  I chose to make it a rectangle because I thought it would cut out a good portion of the stomach so that you would be able to see what is going on.  In retrospect, I would have had a larger rectangle because it kind of just looks like the subjects are holding up a picture.  All of the shapes are significant because it helps in showing that the people are blending into their natural environments.  

Background: In the second image, shapes are important because of the door shapes.  Also, I think this image, of the three, is the most successful because of the background image.  It has very definite lines and shapes, and therefore you can tell that the picture is of the background.  The other two you can, but you have to look hard and naturally you don't think that the picture is the background.

Distracting elements:  This is one of the only times, I have found, that I was not afraid to just take a picture regardless of lighting and distracting elements.  Although some of this image could have said to be distracting, I really don't think they are because they add the meaning.  If I had staged everything, everyone would have looked more posed, and this would not have been what I wanted.  

Blog Entry #24

A. Pick two images from any of the “constructed reality” photographers presented in class or linked on the assignment sheet. Describe how you could recreate these two images on a “smaller scale”.

I really liked the images by Steph Goralnick.  I thought that his idea of having the subjects laying on the ground and then spinning the image was very creative!  At first, I did not realize what was going on because it looks as if the subjects were hanging on a pole from a building.  Their expressions are what makes the pictures believable.  I do not think that something like this would be too hard to create.  You would just have to find a pole, have the subject lay on the ground and then later flip the image.  I would love to try something like this!

The second image I liked was by Jan Kriwol.  I liked the image of the man ripping through the parking garage the best.  I know it was done using photoshop but the result is so interesting.  I like how near the tear you are able to see a bit of shine so it looks like a magazine advertisement, but yet the rest of the background looks very realistic.  The only way I can think of doing this is tearing an actual page of a magazine and then photoshopping a person into it.

B. Describe your plans for your self-proposed final project (if the plan is the same as before, paste it here again and give a bit more detail). During the final critique for Assignment #5, you will discuss/present these ideas to the class.

I was thinking of doing a shoot with black lights and neon colors.  But I have realized that I do not know much about color yet and my result might not turn out as I want it.  Instead I would like to do something black and white.  I liked the advertising assignment most, but I am not sure exactly what I want to do yet.  I usually end up taking pictures and then deciding later anyways.  I need to put more thought into exactly what I want to do.

Work in Progress Project 6

Blog Entry #23

1. In what ways do you “construct” your identity? In what ways do you “perform” in your daily life?


I think every day you construct your identity by what you wear, and who you are or who you choose to be whether is it subconscious or not.  You perform everything whether you mean to or not and as soon as you know you are being watched or in public, mannerisms change.

2. Describe some ways in which your personal culture and social environments are “constructed”.


I think a lot of environments today are constructed.  We do not even realize what is constructed and what isn't because sometimes it is hard to tell.  You can also argue that everything is in some way constructed because everything requires some sort of though before it happens and therefore could be arguably constructed. Personal culture based on history and history and history is somewhat constructed. Social environments are usually always constructed because everyone is trying to be someone else. 

3. Describe some ways in which your physical environment/space is “constructed”.


Physical spaces are constructed in order to appeal to people.  For example, I am in the library right now, and the library is constructed in such a way to allow for peace but also for organization and in a systematic way.  Even nature these days has become constructed because trees are taken down in areas of construction, and also trees are planted in certain ways to look "nice" and organized.

4. In your daily life, what would you consider to be “real” and what would you consider to be “constructed/fabricated”?


In general, untouched nature is real.  How I spend my time alone is as real as it gets because no one is watching and I do not have the pressure from others around me.  Social settings are constructed and any building I go to is constructed.  Classes are very constructed, and so is my schedule.

5. Describe a narrative tableaux that you might create to be captured by a photograph. A narrative tableaux can be defined as “Several human actors play out scenes from everyday life, history, myth or the fantasy of the direction artist” ( Constructed Realities: The Art of Staged Photography Edited by Michael Kohler , 34).


A narrative tableaux that can be captured by a photograph is something that was constructed.  It can be an image that tells a story straightforward, or one that you have to think about and that each person can interpret differently (although every photo can tell a story).  It is easiest to tell a story over a series of images, and more difficult within just one image alone.

6. Describe an idea for a photograph that includes a miniature stage or still life. A description of such an image is “The tableaux reconstructs events as in the narrative tableaux, but in miniaturized format, using dolls and other toy objects” (Kohler, 34).


It would be cool to construct something out of cardboard just like the artist I researched did.  He was interested in the difference between reality and constructed reality, and was trying to show that the gap between the two is very small and even non existent.  Although it would take far too long to construct life-sized cardboard images, smaller ones would be very interesting if I could make the object look real or as if they were trying to be real.

Assignment 4 Critique Part 2

Image 1:

Interpretation: Others thought that this could be a moosejaw add succesfully, they thought the viewers eyes were intense because of the contrast, just as I wanted.

Evaluation: They didn't really have anything to change, but I wonder still if the white snow in the background is distracting or not.  Also, more of the clothing could be shown.

Extension: I would like to create more sports adds.  I really liked setting this shot up and the lighting was perfect at the time.

Image 2:

Interpretation: The class liked this image but they found the neck to be distracting and the image to have more of a creepy feel than an advertisement which I agree with.  

Evaluation: The hands are a little too bright and there is too much jewelry so it is tough to know what to focus on which distracts from the original intent.

Extension: I could do more images with jewelry although I did not particularly enjoy taking this image.  I found it difficult to know what an add for jewelry should look like and how much of the subject to have in the image.

Image 3:

Interpretation: The class liked this image, and they said that the foam took on its own form though it did not really look like foam or an advertisement.

Evaluation: They said everything about it was interesting, but that it did not look like an add which I agree with.  They suggested it be in color or maybe a smaller explosion to show more of the bottle.

Extension: I could do this in a bathtub or something else with a background not as distracting so then the form that the explosion would take would be entirely real.

Image 4:

Interpretation: Others liked this image, especially the lighting, but they were unsure of what to focus on in the image.  They thought the shapes created and the contrast was interesting.

Evaluation: I could have darkened the shirt and scarf and face and kept the hat, legs and shoes light which would have showed a really cool shape. 

Extension: More fashion photography and more experimentation with light and how light is able to make something better or worse in some cases.

Assignment 4 Critique

Image 1

Cropping: I tried several crops for this photo.  I wanted the image to be mostly focused on the subject's eyes and intensity.  I tried cropping it smaller and leaving it bigger and this was the final result.  I like how much of the background you see in comparison to the foreground and I think the cropping was successful.

Background Elements: I chose to include some of the background.  I feel that this was necessary because I wanted the image to be about the person and their surroundings in order to get a better feel for the picture.  I darkened the background and I like the effect because it brings the subject closer and the background further away.

Sharpness/blur:  The subject is in focus whereas the background is a bit blurry.  I like the aperture I chose because you can still make out where the subject is and that the background is of trees, but the subject is focused so your eye is drawn to her.

Aboutness/motivation/methods:  I wanted to recreate some sort of a sports add (moosejaw in particular) so I wanted to advertise the water bottle, but mostly I just wanted to give a feeling of motivation so if this particular add were put in a store people would feel that they could look like that.  I shot it in afternoon light and I like how the lighting hits the figure

Context:  This image is mostly focused on advertising to get the buyer to want to be like the subject.

Image 2:

Lighting: Lighting is a very important aspect of this picture.  There was a lamp placed right in front of the subjects hands which is why they are illuminated so much.  The lighting is meant to make the eyes focus on the hands and in particular on the jewelry.

Contrast: The contrast in this image is very high and although I tend to make all of my images high contrast, I think this photo needed it.  There was a bit in the background that was distracting and increasing the contrast took the background out and illuminated the hands further.

Amount of subject to show in frame:  I chose to only include the portion I did in order to get a good feel for the jewelry and for the main emphasis, which is the hands.  I am not sure if I really like the bit of the neck I included, or if I hate it, but without it the image looked incomplete and not enough about the jewelry.

Aboutness/motivation/methods:  Originally, this image was supposed to be an advertisement for jewelry. I think I included way too much jewelry and because of it, the viewer focuses on the hands and not on the large amount of jewelry.  Also, the lighting is not what one would typically see on an advertisement and the face would probably have been shown.

Context: This image was meant to advertise, but I think the image has too much happening to call it an advertisement.

Image 3:

Background elements:  Although in the image, you can't see the background elements anymore, they were VERY distracting.  I chose to take this image outside with trees behind.  I did not realize the coke would explode so quickly and I did not know what to expect which is why I did it outside.  Also, in the foam are particles of grass that I tried to erase but instead I think the foam took on a life of its own whether that is good or bad.

Orientation: I chose to take this image portrait because if it had been landscape, it would take away from the exaggeration of the explosion.  I really like the form that the coke took on top, and I am still deciding if I like the bottom.

Placement of subject in frame:  I chose to crop the image so that the coke bottle was a little off center.  I did this because I wanted the foam to look more lifelike, and I think it somewhat worked, but the foam does not look real so I do not know how I feel about how it turned out.  I am happy with the cropping however.

Aboutness/motivation/methods:  Everything happened so fast, I really only got one shot of the explosion.  I used a high shutter speed but not too high because then the image would have turned out too dark.  I used just the lighting from the sun.  

Context:  The prompt for this image was poster, but I do not know if I can really see it being on a poster or not.  However, it does have an interesting shape and overall is interesting.

Image 4:

Cropping: Originally, there was a lot more in this image.  However, I found it very distracting and so I decided to crop out a lot of the background and also the back arm because I wanted the focus mostly to be on the leg and the shoe.  I think the cropping is effective but that I could have done something differently to make the viewer focus more on the shoe.

Lighting: For this image, I used just one lamp placed by the subject's feet.  This illuminated the pant leg and not the shoe, but I do like the effect.  I think the lighting on the shirt is nice as well, but maybe a little distracting if trying to focus on just the shoe.

Contrast:  I chose high contrast for this photo in order to emphasize the creases in the shirt and pants, and also the shadow created by the shoe.  I chose to black out the background and I think this was a good choice because the background was distracting.  The high contrast makes the light look more intense.

Aboutness/motivation/method: I used just one lamp by the subject's foot.  I wanted this to be an advertisement for the shoe but I think the lighting on the subject and hat is a little distracting, but I like the lighting so I chose not to darken it. 

Context: Meant to be an advertisement, and the viewer is meant to want to be the girl in the shoes. 

Artists for Assignment 5

http://www.robertdoisneau.com/robert_doisneau_hotelkiss.htm

http://www.thomasdemand.de/


Thomas Demand (German) is a very interesting photographer.  At first glance you think that he is just taking a picture of a room, but it turns out he actually constructs the set and then takes images.  Usually the images have a cultural or political meaning. He aims at identifying the difference between what is true and what is constructed.  It is nearly impossible to tell the difference between the two in his photos.  He starts off by using a photo, then recreates it out of cardboard, then takes the images. The models he makes are life sized.

Robert Doisneau was a french photographer who took pictures mainly during world war 2.  His photographs are very interesting and he caught very candid-seeming great moments.  It was probably difficult using the camera available at the time period.  I really like the image of the fallen horse and the cyclo cross.  A lot of his images are of daily life, and Doisneau as a photographer was very interested in the simple marvels of daily life.  He is renouned for his image Kiss by the hotel de ville.

Blog #22

A. Series: Brainstorm various ways to make a “series” of photographic images. 

I really like series of images.  Ways to do this would be to: use the same lighting, use the same person, use a similar subject, or use the same theme.

B. Final Project: Your final project in this class will be designed by you. If you could tackle any photography project, what would it be? You could combine other media with photography (video, sculpture, drawing) or you could take one of your earlier assignments and expand it to create a larger project. If you are expanding an earlier project or creating an entirely new series of images, shoot for a series of at least 5 images. Describe an idea you have for your final project.

I would LOVE to do a photoshoot with blacklight.  I really want to spray paint or paint a model using neon colors and then use the black light to illuminate the subject.  I really have no idea how to do this and how to make the colors work but I really want to try.  It would be all different angles of the body or the face.  So everything would be using the same subject (they might even be holding things or using things) and different angles of this subject.