Blog Prompt #19-20

#19: People that are not aware and that are in a compromising position should not be photographed. For example, if they are changing, they should not be photographed. Candid pictures can sometimes be the best, but if it a situation someone would be uncomfortable having their photograph taken in, they should not be taken advantage of. It wouldn't be fair to the subject and could potentially be damaging. Ideas, thoughts, feelings, and emotions are all things that can't technically be photographed. You can, however, photograph things that represent these. For example, you can't photograph love, but if you photograph two people in love, in a way that is obvious, it is like you are photographing love. Personally, I would not want to photograph anything medical, like surgery, because it isn't something I'm interested in and I would be very uncomfortable doing so.

#20

• synthetic "place": For a synthetic place, I could take a photograph of a page in a Dr. Suess book. He creates magical worlds that do not exist, but have been created in movie sets.
• fantasy/fictitious envirnonment: For this, I would take a photograph of the area between the dirt and the top of plants, as if it was a world for things much smaller than us.
• placeless space - internet: For a placeless space, I would take a picture of multiple people engaged in their computers on the internet. While they could be physically in a cafe, they would mentally be so involved in the internet that it is like they were in a whole other world.
• public space: For a public space, I would take a picture in a public garden or park because that is a public space I personally enjoy, and there is no doubt it is public.
• private space: For a private space, I would take a picture of someone's workspace, that isn't typically shown off. An artist's workspace, for example. The art may be eventually shown, but the space they create it in is usually more private.
• in-between space - movement: For this idea, I think you could take a photograph of a moving train. The train itself is not only moving, but it is also moving people. People's destination isn't usually a train, but rather a train is getting them somewhere, hence it being an in-between space.

Blog Prompt #16-18

Historical Photographer: Wilson Bentley

Blog Prompts #11-15

Contempory Portrait Photographer

Alec Soth

Biography: Born in 1969, Alec Soth is an American photographer, who resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He studied at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. In 2007, Soth created the book Paris/Minnesota.

Significance: Soth is known for creating "large scale American projects," which usually turn into books. He likes to show the space in between the subject and the photographer, not just the image he takes. He truly can tell a story with his photography. He is known for creating a bond with subjects, even if they are strangers and photographing people that might not be expected.

Composition: All of his photos in this piece of work are unique. He used both indoor and outdoor lighting. In some photos it is known that he is there, while in other it is more candid, like he is being ignored.


Concept/Aboutness/Idea: In this work, Soth shows the distant between the two places: Paris and Minnesota. He does it in a way where he is not passing judgment. He is simply trying to represent the places as they are. He is not showing the literal distant, but the differences that separate them so greatly.


Method: I think it is really important that he did candid shots of people doing what they would normally do. He didn't set things up to try to represent the places; he just chose different things that went on the city to try to describe it best.

Motivations: Soth was trying to represent each city to show how different they were from one another. Like I said previously, he tries to capture the space in between the subject and himself; he is trying to show the space that is in between Paris and Minnesota. He is not saying that one place is better, just different.


Opinion: All of Soth's work is good, but it's not the type of photography that appeals to me most. This piece, however, I greatly related to. I'm from the Midwest, but don't have any intention to stay here. I love Paris and what it represents. I can definitely understand the distance between these places. While I do have a preference and think that Paris is a better city, I like that he doesn't try to represent it that way. I don't think it would work if he did because to some people, Minnesota is a more preferable place to live than Paris. This piece is so easy for me to relate to, and that's why I think I really like it so much.


 



















 

Blog Prompt #10

#10 “All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget. In this - as in other ways - they are the opposite of paintings. Paintings record what the painter remembers. Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it.” ~John Berger


I agree with everything this quote is saying. Even if a painter's subject is right in front of them, they still paint only what they see. When a photographer takes a photograph, they may see one thing at first, then realize other things in the photo. At the same time, another person looking at the same photograph may interpret it a completely different way. I think both paintings and photographs have their place, but they are very different.

Blog Prompt #9

#9 “You don't take a photograph, you make it.” ~Ansel Adams



I agree with this quote. When you take a photograph, you choose what to capture. Once it is taken, you choose how to edit it. You can crop it, lighten it, darken it, increase the contrast, and change it whatever way you want. A finished photograph is something you created.

Blog Prompt #8

#8 “My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph.” ~Richard Avedon.

I think that portraits can be more about either the subject or the photographer. If they are more about the subject, then they are the ones who would control more of the shoot. They would make decisions about the photographs and it would reflect what they wanted to say. However, I think it is often more about the photographer because they choose how they want to represent the subject. They choose all the elements of the photograph and the message it will have. Portraits typically do not represent everything about a person; they represent one or a couple of things about a person. The photographer is usually the one who chooses what it is about a person they want to display.

Assignment 1 - Part 2

First Image (girl at piano)
Interpretation: People agreed with my idea of the picture feeling homey. There is something about a piano that I think reminds everyone of being home.
Evaluation: I think the placement and the setting really worked in this image. However, I think the lighting could have been better because the picture is very dark.
Extension: I could see using this image in a series of musical instrument pieces, showing how intimate playing music can be. 

Second Image (Basketball Hoop)
Interpretaion: Most people noticed the age and imperfections in this basketball hoop, which is what I loved about it. It's simple and I think people saw that.
Evaluation: Some people wanted to see more contrast in the image, which I understand. I, however, like the airiness and lightness of it. I think everyone agreed that the framing worked really well, especially because it gives interesting negative space.
Extension: I think I could use this image as inspiration of doing multiple images that all have to do with imperfections in the community, particularly pertaining to youth.

Third Image (Statue and Trees)
Interpretaion: Most people were confused about what this image was at first, but once I explained what it was, they saw the playful nature in it.
Evaluation: I think that I could have selected only a few details from the sculptures to photograph, so it wasn't so busy.
Extension: The only extension that I could really think of doing for this is finding other unique and quirky sculptures to photograph.

In Class Lighting Activity