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Monday, November 29, 2010

Critique: Me as Object

I used my hand to represent me as the object.
My group chose about five of their favorite photographs. They said that the images that I have with shadows work really well. They said that my images that represent texture, lighting, and depth are good. The photos with the shadows are the most creative. They also said I have a good variety of images.
Juston made a comment regarding my image with the thumbs up; he said that he wanted to put an "o" in between my thumb and it's shadow to spell "lol."

Overall I believe I could have used more of a variety of backgrounds. It seems like my garlic images came out better because I used a lot of different backgrounds. I did, however, use different angles and positive and negative space. I took pictures of my hand as a whole object and zoomed in to make some of the images stand on their own.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Susan Sontag Writing Assignment


A. This photo was taken because of the scenery in the background of the photograph. The person who took this picture took it for documentation so that every time I look at it I will remember being there.
B. The photographer of this image was my mom. We are very close and she loves taking pictures of me, my brothers, and my sisters.
C. The context of this image is to be viewed as a reminder of where I was at the time and what the place looked like. This photograph is intended to be viewed by my family and anyone who is intereseted. It can be viewed for however long one wants to look at it. These kinds of photos are always interesting to see a long while after it was taken.




A. The photo was a really just a snap shot. I walked up some stairs and saw my brother sitting on the bench waiting for me and my family so I took his picture. I really like the way it turned out. He doesn't usually let me or my mom take good pictures of him and this gave me the best opportunity to take it with a nice background.
B.  The person in this photograph is my brother and we are really close.
C. This photo can be viewed in any way. The viewer will most likely not look at it for too long. They will notice the guy sitting in the bench holding a fountain drink, but won't try to analyze why he is there. They will appreciate the background of this photograph more than anything, I think.





A. This photograph was probably taken for a portrait of this girl. The photographer might have wanted to capture her personality and record it for other people to see.

B. From the look on her face, she does not seem to like the photographer very much. Maybe there was a particular thought in her mind that she wasn't too fond of, but my guess is that the photographer said something she didn't like and it made her mad.

C. The context of this photo is to be viewed as a little girl who is really upset about something. The viewer is to look at it long enough to interpret her emotions and take a guess at what she was feeling the moment this photograph was taken of her. Maybe she didn't want to have her picture taken after all?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Susan Sontag- "On Photography"

Almost everything has been photographed since 1839.
Photographs give us the sense that we can hold the world in our hands.
Photographs are objects and provide most of the knowledge people have of the past.
Photographs are pieces of the world instead of statements like paintings and drawings.
Books have been the best way of arranging photographs because they are fragile and photographs are collectible objects.
Photographs are used as evidence because they are accurate relations to reality.
Although cameras capture reality, and does not just interpret it, photographers are an interpretation of the world like paintings and drawings.
Cameras were first used by the clever, wealthy, and obsessed.
-At first there were no professionals or amateurs
Photography has become widely practiced and is mainly used as a tool of power.
It is a part of family life. Most families with children have at least one camera in their home.
It is also used for tourism.
Some people would rather choose a photograph over a life.
-"The person who intervenes cannot record; the person who is recording cannot intervene."
-They are interested in things as they are.
Diane Arbus thought of photography as naughty and perverse.
-The camera presumes, intrudes, distorts, and exploits.
-Sold as a predatory weapon
  -Use is addictive
  -Violates whoever it takes a picture of
To take a photograph is to participate in another person's mortality.
Cameras are able to record what is disappearing.
They are attempts to lay claim to another reality.
Photographs cannot create a moral position, but can reinforce one.
Each still photograph is a privileged moment.
-Valued because it gives information.
Any photograph has multiple meanings and makes us feel that the world is more available than it really is.

"Today everything exists to end in a photograph."

Me as Object

Whole Object:
Lines:

Shapes:


Color:


Surface Texture:


Depth/Space:




Rhythms or Repetition:


Balance:


Dramatic Lights/Darks:



Closure:



Negative Space:


Positive Space:



Exaggerate Scale:



Object as an Abstraction:



Object in Motion:




Saturday, November 20, 2010

Lecture 11/19/10

Contemporary Photo-Based Art

We learned about a group of photographers. 
Edward Weston is known for his photographs that deal with form and lighting, and he has exquisite black and white photographs. 
Walker Evans was a social documentary photographer.
Cartier-Bresson was considered to be the master of the moment.
Sherry Lavine took a picture of Evan's photograph and said it was her own. 
Jeff Wall had huge prints and was considered to be a moment guy as well.
Mapplethorp took photographs that show things that aren't usually shown.

We also learned about Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, Richard Billingham, Bernt and Hillabecker, Hoffer, Oscar Fernando Gomez, Dave Anderson, and Andere Sarano and their contributions to photography.