1. Ideas sometimes grow out of irritation. What is a negative thought you are having about your project? What is the opposite of this negative thought? How could you implement a change in your project so that this negative thought will subside?
There is a negative thing here. I like art that shows transgression, that goes beyond and questions, which is why there is "irritation" to my project. I am angry with the current social situation of my country and this is why I am taking this project as a transgressive way to say "STOP!"
3. What is a consistent theme/visual element in your project? What would be the opposite of this? How can you implement that into your project?
The consistency would be the usage of paper props. In the past I've used paper props to create laughter, now I want to use them to create a serious dramatic issue. I've done the opposite in the past by exaggerating the props, causing ridicule, now perhaps the best way to approach this issue would be to use the props in a natural way.
4. Type twenty words or phrases that relate to your project.
Blood. Politics. Gross. Disgusting. Hunger. Gluttony. Needs. Social Class. Power. Dramatic. Struggles. Challenges. Media. Newspaper. Red. Death. Reality. Selfishness. Desire.
Contract your project. What would it boil down to if squeezed and contracted to its simplest form?
I am not exactly sure how it would look squeezed. I guess It'll be everything done with cutouts and in-camera collages or stock photos by other photographers compiled and constructed on photoshop. It's not that I don't like these ideas, as they present the main action (constructing a reality) but they lack the spirit (the emotion and the personal attachment) that I seek for.
5. At the deepest core, describe why you like this project. Dig deep!
I cannot address how important is my country to me. I got here thanks to a scholarship and it was not because of my amazing grades (which helped a lot) or my experience (after all, it's only been a couple of years since I graduated from college). It was because I care for others and it's all about how I can improve what is already there. They trusted me with this and I think that the deepest issue I have to deal with is exactly that, "How can I improve my country through art?"
6. Expand your project. If time, money, materials, etc would not affect you, how would you expand your project?
I'd hire a couturier or a fashion designer to make the clothing and props out of paper. Or maybe, out of fabric with paper pasted over it. I'd get some studio lightining and possibly, a studio to work on the picture. If possible, I'd take some acting classes and I'd hire a make up consultant to make me look good. :)
11. What would your project look like 100 years ago? What would your project look like 100 years in the future?
I am thinking on doing "moving photographs", a field of photography that is still not entirely mainstream or used, but I guess that in a couple of year we will see it. However, at the end of the day I am not exactly sure how this will look in 100 years with technology ever evolving.
12. Remove something from your project. How does it change?
If I were to remove myself from the equation I think it'll change a lot. This is a personal project, speaking about a personal thing that is happening in the country of origin. Sure, a better model would make the photos look better, but that layer of emotional attachment would be lost. At the end of the day, I believe that this layer is what is the most important thing on the project.
16. How would you convert your project into a narrative? How would you remove any narrative from your project?
Presenting it as a motion video instead of moving images. I think that would be better suited and If I have time, I might as well try it out.
19. Name an artist/photographer/designer/videographer who would love your project. Why?
Frida Kahlo would love it. it has all of the elements she is famous for: a personal idea evolved from emotional attachment, a surrealist set and the authenticity of our country. I would like to show it to Cindy Sherman who I admire and consider myself a fan from hers. I think also Yasumasa Morimura would find it interesting, because I am taking a step forward from them: I am doing a constructed identity and self portraits BUT I am doing the props and the world I am interacting with.
Showing posts with label Blog Prompts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog Prompts. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
BLOG PROMPT #25
My picks as a curator for great designers would be:
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Justin_Walker
I think his work is interesting, creative and original. I think there's a lot of conceptual ideas that are working here in some sort of transgressive art, which is what art should be.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Manuela_Stefan_Photography
I find her work tremendously versatile: from editorial shots about drag queen life to natural casual still shots, her work is amazing and well thought. I do think however she needs to push the envelop further, as I find a lack of originality.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Julia_Hrivnak
Talk about creativity. I'd definitvely pick her because I think she has tremendous visual potential. From the start to the end, you can see her work being really cool on composition, lighting, format and color aesthetic.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Sean_Kernan
I think that the images that he has are powerful and impacting by the clever use of camera position and lighting. Deifnitively dramatic, it has a lot of potential to attract people to my gallery.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Theo_Ries_Springston
Another abstract photographer that I think has tremendous potential. I like the colors and the composition and I think that his work, while somewhat whimsical, might attract a lot of people to the galley.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=he_is_28_and_he_is_49
I do not understand his user name, but I do understand and find his (theirs?) pictures amazing and well thought. Clever in the usage of lighting, the important thing here is the comical idea of the photograph. I think it's amazing.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Michel_Tcherevkoff
Amazing and incredible. Definitively his work using flowers to depict different animals (that are somewhat hideous) is amazing. I find this amazing and definitively clever.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Justin_Walker
I think his work is interesting, creative and original. I think there's a lot of conceptual ideas that are working here in some sort of transgressive art, which is what art should be.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Manuela_Stefan_Photography
I find her work tremendously versatile: from editorial shots about drag queen life to natural casual still shots, her work is amazing and well thought. I do think however she needs to push the envelop further, as I find a lack of originality.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Julia_Hrivnak
Talk about creativity. I'd definitvely pick her because I think she has tremendous visual potential. From the start to the end, you can see her work being really cool on composition, lighting, format and color aesthetic.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Sean_Kernan
I think that the images that he has are powerful and impacting by the clever use of camera position and lighting. Deifnitively dramatic, it has a lot of potential to attract people to my gallery.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Theo_Ries_Springston
Another abstract photographer that I think has tremendous potential. I like the colors and the composition and I think that his work, while somewhat whimsical, might attract a lot of people to the galley.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=he_is_28_and_he_is_49
I do not understand his user name, but I do understand and find his (theirs?) pictures amazing and well thought. Clever in the usage of lighting, the important thing here is the comical idea of the photograph. I think it's amazing.
http://pdncuratorawards.com/entries.shtml#whichentrant=Michel_Tcherevkoff
Amazing and incredible. Definitively his work using flowers to depict different animals (that are somewhat hideous) is amazing. I find this amazing and definitively clever.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Blog Prompt 24
A. I would definitively take on Cindy Sherman's work. I find her really interesting, compelling and definitively a great inspiring artist. I would love to make something such as the "bus riders" art show that she presented as I think it's really interesting and compelling. To do so I would definitively hit a thrift store to buy on clothes and props and try to create different characters that are riding the bus again.
Then I would take on Yasumasa Morimura. I find his work really interesting and I would definitively like to try emulate pop stars CD covers (like BackStreet Boys or Britney Spears) just as he would do. I think It's possible to do since the shots are fairly easy to reconstruct using myself as a model.
B. I am still undecided on my final project. I would love to try on stop motion animation and constructed personalities. I'd love to do some sort of stop motion animated comic strip, using different personas that I can create on.
Other idea that I had also was about doing a stop motion animation with collage photography such as this one. I think that this is possible and would be also really interesting to present on class.
I also have been thinking on creating a video game and have all of the assets photographed or scanned, so it would all look like you are playing inside a in-camera collage. I have already created the game mechanics, yet I do not know how much time consuming this would be. I think it would be fun, as I would be "pushing the envelop" further
Then I would take on Yasumasa Morimura. I find his work really interesting and I would definitively like to try emulate pop stars CD covers (like BackStreet Boys or Britney Spears) just as he would do. I think It's possible to do since the shots are fairly easy to reconstruct using myself as a model.
B. I am still undecided on my final project. I would love to try on stop motion animation and constructed personalities. I'd love to do some sort of stop motion animated comic strip, using different personas that I can create on.
Other idea that I had also was about doing a stop motion animation with collage photography such as this one. I think that this is possible and would be also really interesting to present on class.
JOY OF DESTRUCTION from Xaver Xylophon on Vimeo.
I also have been thinking on creating a video game and have all of the assets photographed or scanned, so it would all look like you are playing inside a in-camera collage. I have already created the game mechanics, yet I do not know how much time consuming this would be. I think it would be fun, as I would be "pushing the envelop" further
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Blog Prompt 23
1. In what ways do you “construct” your identity? In what ways do you “perform” in your daily life?
I think that we construct and deconstruct our identities every day. Everyday we learn something different about us and in this learning we understand what we are and what we are not: sometimes due the reflections of others and sometimes due our own inner reflection.
2. Describe some ways in which your personal culture and social environments are “constructed”.
I got to say that comming from a different country has made me understand where most of my traditions, customs and socio-cultural environment comes from and where do I go with it. I really have understand the differences between this country and my own and with that I have also understood how things work socially speaking.
Even when you are trying to avoid all of the prejudices that exist, there's this social image that we have created about the social environment of each country and it's impossible to not come here and realize of this. Luckily my experience has destroyed that prejudice and now I realize of the full range of things that are happening socially speaking.
3. Describe some ways in which your physical environment/space is “constructed”.
I often believe that your room or your apartment is an actual representation of your mind. I remember also watching a video about creative people's desk: some of them liked the fact that it was messy but functional and others said that they preferred their desk to be neat and overly clean. Also this remembers me of the snapshot of two famous manga-ka (japanese comic artists) desk space: one of them was overly messy and the other one was overly clean which lead me to believe that as long as you feel comfortable, what you see is only a representation of your life.
4. In your daily life, what would you consider to be “real” and what would you consider to be “constructed/fabricated”?
When did this class got so Nietzchean/Kafka-esque or plain just Hesse-ian? And that's just what I answer, as I particularly wonder what is real and what is not. Right now, I have come to believe that the constructions are as real, that there's no real me but nothing than just a meta-construction that we've been having over the years. So, why to worry or bother about honesty if we are nothing but a construction? (Note to self: There are moments and events where honesty seems like a rule even between two constructed human beings)
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).
I have been thinking on this story/game about a boy (me) going inside the Tanzpalanz (The Magic Theatre from "The steepen wolf" novel) and fights off his inner demons, all of them representations of his (or my) love life, making a point across how sometimes we go around saving others without even caring about our own needs. I have been thinking on turning that idea into an Art Game for my serious game design class as I believe it has potential.
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).
I really really want to try out and do origami sets. I think they are cute, powerful and I want to try making a whole set with one color and one or two elements from another color. I really want to try that out, BUT my origami skills are zero to non-existant. So I need to think that carefully.
I think that we construct and deconstruct our identities every day. Everyday we learn something different about us and in this learning we understand what we are and what we are not: sometimes due the reflections of others and sometimes due our own inner reflection.
2. Describe some ways in which your personal culture and social environments are “constructed”.
I got to say that comming from a different country has made me understand where most of my traditions, customs and socio-cultural environment comes from and where do I go with it. I really have understand the differences between this country and my own and with that I have also understood how things work socially speaking.
Even when you are trying to avoid all of the prejudices that exist, there's this social image that we have created about the social environment of each country and it's impossible to not come here and realize of this. Luckily my experience has destroyed that prejudice and now I realize of the full range of things that are happening socially speaking.
3. Describe some ways in which your physical environment/space is “constructed”.
I often believe that your room or your apartment is an actual representation of your mind. I remember also watching a video about creative people's desk: some of them liked the fact that it was messy but functional and others said that they preferred their desk to be neat and overly clean. Also this remembers me of the snapshot of two famous manga-ka (japanese comic artists) desk space: one of them was overly messy and the other one was overly clean which lead me to believe that as long as you feel comfortable, what you see is only a representation of your life.
4. In your daily life, what would you consider to be “real” and what would you consider to be “constructed/fabricated”?
When did this class got so Nietzchean/Kafka-esque or plain just Hesse-ian? And that's just what I answer, as I particularly wonder what is real and what is not. Right now, I have come to believe that the constructions are as real, that there's no real me but nothing than just a meta-construction that we've been having over the years. So, why to worry or bother about honesty if we are nothing but a construction? (Note to self: There are moments and events where honesty seems like a rule even between two constructed human beings)
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).
I have been thinking on this story/game about a boy (me) going inside the Tanzpalanz (The Magic Theatre from "The steepen wolf" novel) and fights off his inner demons, all of them representations of his (or my) love life, making a point across how sometimes we go around saving others without even caring about our own needs. I have been thinking on turning that idea into an Art Game for my serious game design class as I believe it has potential.
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).
I really really want to try out and do origami sets. I think they are cute, powerful and I want to try making a whole set with one color and one or two elements from another color. I really want to try that out, BUT my origami skills are zero to non-existant. So I need to think that carefully.
Blog Prompt 22
I really liked the video because that's the way I would like to work. If I ever find a job as compelling as what the video shows, I'm sold.
I find amazing how they used all the concepts of photography to create this virtual world and bring it to life. I find it amazing how they used all of the concepts to recreate a world inside the camera and inside the computer.
Do photographers should feel threatened by cgi?
I don't think so. There's something called "the uncanny valley", this theory represents why we as humans reject computer animated humanoid figures or robots that are too similar to human facial features and this is due the fact that our brain cannot comprehend them as "artificial", thus our brain only identifies as "humans", but humans who are not acting correctly, thus "sick humans" is the cognitive response to it. The first and most important cognitive stimuli is the survival instinct that ls imprinted on all of us humans, because of this instinct, we "avoid" (or sometimes fight) things that are going to harm us or make us sick. This is the main reason why we reject these images.
In photography there's something that even digitally enhanced pictures cannot cheat and it's a honesty beyond words. This need of honesty and capturing that nature is what originally drove photographers and keep them pushing the boundaries artiscally and technically and that's why I think photography will not be replaced by computer generated imagery. It may on the other hand, enhanced just like in the video shown.
I find amazing how they used all the concepts of photography to create this virtual world and bring it to life. I find it amazing how they used all of the concepts to recreate a world inside the camera and inside the computer.
Do photographers should feel threatened by cgi?
I don't think so. There's something called "the uncanny valley", this theory represents why we as humans reject computer animated humanoid figures or robots that are too similar to human facial features and this is due the fact that our brain cannot comprehend them as "artificial", thus our brain only identifies as "humans", but humans who are not acting correctly, thus "sick humans" is the cognitive response to it. The first and most important cognitive stimuli is the survival instinct that ls imprinted on all of us humans, because of this instinct, we "avoid" (or sometimes fight) things that are going to harm us or make us sick. This is the main reason why we reject these images.
In photography there's something that even digitally enhanced pictures cannot cheat and it's a honesty beyond words. This need of honesty and capturing that nature is what originally drove photographers and keep them pushing the boundaries artiscally and technically and that's why I think photography will not be replaced by computer generated imagery. It may on the other hand, enhanced just like in the video shown.
Blog Prompt 21
A. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of “news”-related photographs.
Usually they are snapshots: Usually are in the moment kind of happening, somewhat enhanced by the use of camera tricks like over exposure or shutter speed. I think this is by far the most honest category in which media uses photographs, as modifying these would take away the function they serve as news dealers.
B. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of “snapshots”, including family photographs, cell-phone shots, photos posted to facebook
The lighting is somewhat dim and usually comes from natural sources such as windows. It can also come from unnatural sources such as lamps. There is a sense of vouyeristic pleasure on them and I once red on the internet that these pictures makes you intimate with the owner in a very odd way, as they allow you into their intimacy just a little bit.
C. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of advertisement photographs, including fashion photography, product photography, etc
Everything is artificial, and apparently, the more artifical the better. Which is probably why me and half the world doesn't like those pictures: usually the subject is well lit, with unnatural sources of lighting, make up and fancy clothes (or the lack of them) play a huge role on the picture, even sometimes more than the subject itself who also, happens to be standarized on what the "ideals" on beauty are. Also the usage of Photoshop or other photo enhancement software is expected and even encouraged.
D. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of film/movie and television stills.
What I find interesting on them is that visually the only thing they have in common is that they appear to be telling something, just in one frame they tell a story due the context, body language or lightining. Apparently, they are highly contextual as just one picture may develop a whole story and sometimes fans and readers alike make up their own stories just by looking at them.
E. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of yearbook photos, senior pictures, and team/club/sports group shots.
I am not completely familiar with yearbooks, however I think there's a lot of standarization: usage of the same lighting and background, the same pose, almost like 3/4, the pose is somewhat unnatural and usually the photo contains either a face pic from the chest up or a photo in a medium close up, covering from heads to the middle of the legs.
F. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of stock images. http://www.corbisimages.com/ http://www.gettyimages.com/
They are general and powerful. Every single idea of context is removed and are left somewhat ambigous as all the pictures have to be easily relatable to everyone. The other thing is that they have to be easy to read and easy to be understand in less than 30 seconds. When the subject is a human there are some poses that are usual on those pictures and sometimes made fun.
G. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of fashion photography.
The interesting thing on fashion is glamour: it has to be visually appealing in every way and photographers use all of the tricks they can get their hands on: good looking models, great lighting, great outfits, great make up artists, great photoshop artists... the point is to glamour you, to hipnotize you into this picture.
H. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of paparazzi shots or celebrity photographs.
Flash and the subject being "unaware" of the pescence of the photographers. There is an element of voyeurism in these pictures as the audience enjoys what is seeing and the subject being unaware of these intervention. However, most of the time these pictures are "acted out" and "paparazzis" are called on to do their job, sometimes, they even get to know the celebrities really good because of this.
Usually they are snapshots: Usually are in the moment kind of happening, somewhat enhanced by the use of camera tricks like over exposure or shutter speed. I think this is by far the most honest category in which media uses photographs, as modifying these would take away the function they serve as news dealers.
B. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of “snapshots”, including family photographs, cell-phone shots, photos posted to facebook
The lighting is somewhat dim and usually comes from natural sources such as windows. It can also come from unnatural sources such as lamps. There is a sense of vouyeristic pleasure on them and I once red on the internet that these pictures makes you intimate with the owner in a very odd way, as they allow you into their intimacy just a little bit.
C. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of advertisement photographs, including fashion photography, product photography, etc
Everything is artificial, and apparently, the more artifical the better. Which is probably why me and half the world doesn't like those pictures: usually the subject is well lit, with unnatural sources of lighting, make up and fancy clothes (or the lack of them) play a huge role on the picture, even sometimes more than the subject itself who also, happens to be standarized on what the "ideals" on beauty are. Also the usage of Photoshop or other photo enhancement software is expected and even encouraged.
D. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of film/movie and television stills.
What I find interesting on them is that visually the only thing they have in common is that they appear to be telling something, just in one frame they tell a story due the context, body language or lightining. Apparently, they are highly contextual as just one picture may develop a whole story and sometimes fans and readers alike make up their own stories just by looking at them.
E. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of yearbook photos, senior pictures, and team/club/sports group shots.
I am not completely familiar with yearbooks, however I think there's a lot of standarization: usage of the same lighting and background, the same pose, almost like 3/4, the pose is somewhat unnatural and usually the photo contains either a face pic from the chest up or a photo in a medium close up, covering from heads to the middle of the legs.
F. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of stock images. http://www.corbisimages.com/ http://www.gettyimages.com/
They are general and powerful. Every single idea of context is removed and are left somewhat ambigous as all the pictures have to be easily relatable to everyone. The other thing is that they have to be easy to read and easy to be understand in less than 30 seconds. When the subject is a human there are some poses that are usual on those pictures and sometimes made fun.
G. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of fashion photography.
The interesting thing on fashion is glamour: it has to be visually appealing in every way and photographers use all of the tricks they can get their hands on: good looking models, great lighting, great outfits, great make up artists, great photoshop artists... the point is to glamour you, to hipnotize you into this picture.
H. Describe some common aesthetic aspects of paparazzi shots or celebrity photographs.
Flash and the subject being "unaware" of the pescence of the photographers. There is an element of voyeurism in these pictures as the audience enjoys what is seeing and the subject being unaware of these intervention. However, most of the time these pictures are "acted out" and "paparazzis" are called on to do their job, sometimes, they even get to know the celebrities really good because of this.
Blog Prompt 19 - 20
#19. Can you think of anything that:
1) should not be photographed? Why?
The only limitation here is the mind of the photographer. I think even the most gruesome scenarios can be photographed, and the most surreal scenarios can be created in photography and with the adition of Photoshop or other editing software, it's just easy.
2) cannot be photographed? Why?
Again, only the limitation of the one holding the camera will determine what you can or cannot photograph. I think that outside limitations can be avoided with creativity.
3) you do not want to photograph? Why?
In the past I have stated that "I do not believe in the power of self portraits, nor in the power of my own self portraits because I find myself dull, boring and utterly unwanted". Those were the days of my teenage. The only actual difference from that day to today is that I am not photographing myself only, but myself portraying somebody else. I really like this idea and I would like to keep pursuing the self portrait idea.
#20 Describe at least one photograph that you could take for each of the following “place” prompts.
* An image of a fantasy/fictitious environment concocted from your imagination.
I have been thinking on doing this sort of place called "the Tanzpalanz" (The Magic Theater) inspired by the novel "The Steppenwolf" by Herman Hesse. I really liked the idea of a Theater where your mind dissolves into it's own imagery and it's own little world. I would imagine this place to resemble a theater with the courtains and the spotlight, but still be some sort of imaginary place, visually like a collage where photos, drawings and sketches collide to create a different world and where rules often don't apply.
1) should not be photographed? Why?
The only limitation here is the mind of the photographer. I think even the most gruesome scenarios can be photographed, and the most surreal scenarios can be created in photography and with the adition of Photoshop or other editing software, it's just easy.
2) cannot be photographed? Why?
Again, only the limitation of the one holding the camera will determine what you can or cannot photograph. I think that outside limitations can be avoided with creativity.
3) you do not want to photograph? Why?
In the past I have stated that "I do not believe in the power of self portraits, nor in the power of my own self portraits because I find myself dull, boring and utterly unwanted". Those were the days of my teenage. The only actual difference from that day to today is that I am not photographing myself only, but myself portraying somebody else. I really like this idea and I would like to keep pursuing the self portrait idea.
#20 Describe at least one photograph that you could take for each of the following “place” prompts.
* An image of a fantasy/fictitious environment concocted from your imagination.
I have been thinking on doing this sort of place called "the Tanzpalanz" (The Magic Theater) inspired by the novel "The Steppenwolf" by Herman Hesse. I really liked the idea of a Theater where your mind dissolves into it's own imagery and it's own little world. I would imagine this place to resemble a theater with the courtains and the spotlight, but still be some sort of imaginary place, visually like a collage where photos, drawings and sketches collide to create a different world and where rules often don't apply.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Blog Prompts 16 -18
“I believe in the imagination. What I cannot see is infinitely more important than what I can see.” Duane Michals
Agreed completely. As a creative person it's not what it's phisically present what matters to me, but what is outside of me, what is unreachable and what I can push forward in order to grasp. That is what it's always important. However, this also poses to be a problem when it's almost unreachable. The best way to deal with this is to understand how far can I push it and how far can I go in order to get that idea or if I can switch it to something far more attainable.
“Photography, as we all know, is not real at all. It is an illusion of reality with which we create our own private world.” Arnold Newman
There are two photographies: one is the one that we as artist do and print or expose, the other is the one that is in the mind of the audience. When we see them, we understand not only the world of the author and what he wants to portray but ourselves as well as we look at it and how it relates to us in different ways, amazing or making us feel dread. Whatever the case, this is a work of communication between audience and author.
“Photography can only represent the present. Once photographed, the subject becomes part of the past.” Berenice Abbott
This is even philosophical as to ask, what is really the present and what is really the past? Thinking about it, there's really no time, but only interpretation. The minute you press the shutter it's gonna be past, and the minute after the shutter is completly closed is gonna be present, but once the photo is fully developed, again is back in the past. Can it really preserve a memory? Yes it does.
Agreed completely. As a creative person it's not what it's phisically present what matters to me, but what is outside of me, what is unreachable and what I can push forward in order to grasp. That is what it's always important. However, this also poses to be a problem when it's almost unreachable. The best way to deal with this is to understand how far can I push it and how far can I go in order to get that idea or if I can switch it to something far more attainable.
“Photography, as we all know, is not real at all. It is an illusion of reality with which we create our own private world.” Arnold Newman
There are two photographies: one is the one that we as artist do and print or expose, the other is the one that is in the mind of the audience. When we see them, we understand not only the world of the author and what he wants to portray but ourselves as well as we look at it and how it relates to us in different ways, amazing or making us feel dread. Whatever the case, this is a work of communication between audience and author.
“Photography can only represent the present. Once photographed, the subject becomes part of the past.” Berenice Abbott
This is even philosophical as to ask, what is really the present and what is really the past? Thinking about it, there's really no time, but only interpretation. The minute you press the shutter it's gonna be past, and the minute after the shutter is completly closed is gonna be present, but once the photo is fully developed, again is back in the past. Can it really preserve a memory? Yes it does.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Blog Prompts #11 - 15
#11 I am surrounded by my friends in the middle of the night, in my granny's house. We are eating dinner that my mom made for us. It's the second time I go back from MSU to my home during and it was this past winter break. We are using this white plastic tables and white plastic chairs, eating and having a good time. The conversation goes around us having fun and us catching up. The weather is sorta cold since we are in the outside, however it's a port, so it's really not that cold (70-80 F) We are iluminated by some yellow bulbs and some of my friends are smoking, the ambient is nice and I couldn't feel more happier among those dudes.
#12 The photo that I remember the most is the one of my dog. Is my dog in front of the window, with his paws on it, trying to reach outside. It's a little bit overexposed, so you can't really tell much on the outside other than a couple of trees and the metal bars for the window. The picture is dramatic and has this sense of "inside" and "outisde" considering also that the personality of my dog is hyperactive and having him quiet and calm for a photo is an achievement by itself.
#13 I took a picture once of a playground near my house. Problem was that the playground was constructed in the middle of a green area so the plants usually outgrow the place and stuck on some part or made some of the structures unusable, like the slide, which was dominated by a weed that grew all over it and made impossible to climb it without hurting the plant. Also the the tear and wear of the use was evident and there was no way of actually reparing it.
For me, it was amazing to see how the nature was retaking what was rightfully hers and how we as humans forget about this. I do not know the actual state of the place, but I am certain is not nice.
#14 A familiar place: My home. My place. My room. Maybe even my clothing and my underwear, that's kind of the thing that is around me everyday.
An unfamiliar place: the inside of other's bags. My own insides. The insides of my computer or the insides of my camera. These are unfamiliar places, places that I haven't been gone to.
#15 I would use to take two portraits of the same photo: Me now and overlaid a photo of me when I was ten, or try to emulate and recreate a photo from the past. There is one particular photo that I like where I am lying naked on the bed as a kid. (I do not know what is the obsession of parents and naked kids... ) but I like it because it reflects so much innocence on it and I'll try to recreate that. I have also a pic of myself on a photostudio when I was so little, I might as well take a new photo of me inside a photostudio with lights, to show how that baby from the past has grown into this artist now.
#12 The photo that I remember the most is the one of my dog. Is my dog in front of the window, with his paws on it, trying to reach outside. It's a little bit overexposed, so you can't really tell much on the outside other than a couple of trees and the metal bars for the window. The picture is dramatic and has this sense of "inside" and "outisde" considering also that the personality of my dog is hyperactive and having him quiet and calm for a photo is an achievement by itself.
#13 I took a picture once of a playground near my house. Problem was that the playground was constructed in the middle of a green area so the plants usually outgrow the place and stuck on some part or made some of the structures unusable, like the slide, which was dominated by a weed that grew all over it and made impossible to climb it without hurting the plant. Also the the tear and wear of the use was evident and there was no way of actually reparing it.
For me, it was amazing to see how the nature was retaking what was rightfully hers and how we as humans forget about this. I do not know the actual state of the place, but I am certain is not nice.
#14 A familiar place: My home. My place. My room. Maybe even my clothing and my underwear, that's kind of the thing that is around me everyday.
An unfamiliar place: the inside of other's bags. My own insides. The insides of my computer or the insides of my camera. These are unfamiliar places, places that I haven't been gone to.
#15 I would use to take two portraits of the same photo: Me now and overlaid a photo of me when I was ten, or try to emulate and recreate a photo from the past. There is one particular photo that I like where I am lying naked on the bed as a kid. (I do not know what is the obsession of parents and naked kids... ) but I like it because it reflects so much innocence on it and I'll try to recreate that. I have also a pic of myself on a photostudio when I was so little, I might as well take a new photo of me inside a photostudio with lights, to show how that baby from the past has grown into this artist now.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Blog Prompts #8, #9 and #10
#8 “My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph.” ~Richard Avedon.
I agree up until the point that the photographer is owner of the camera and he knows how to wield it in order to portray specifically something. It's the camera man who knows what he wants and where he wants it, so it's only natural that every portrait will stare back at the audience with the eyes that the camera man placed on.
#9 “You don't take a photograph, you make it.” ~Ansel Adams
I agree on this on may levels. First of all I think that no matter how spontaneous the moment you snapped, the photograph is not. It requires the photographer to frame, think on lighting, bracketing, levels, ISO and many other technicalities that bring on the exquisite taste on art. It's the search for this that makes a photography.
#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 and at the same time, I do not agree.
I do believe that photography is there to remind us of the things that we forget, because there are so many elements imbued in the artistic crafting that definitively gives a lot of sense to the audience of a photo and to the creator.
However, me being practiced painting and drawing in the past (and considering myself a creative artist) I have found that it doesn't matter how abstract or difficult is the painting, the audience will be remembered of something and the author again, will remember and give a specific on why he painted this, or why he used the colors or what he wanted to convey.
I agree up until the point that the photographer is owner of the camera and he knows how to wield it in order to portray specifically something. It's the camera man who knows what he wants and where he wants it, so it's only natural that every portrait will stare back at the audience with the eyes that the camera man placed on.
#9 “You don't take a photograph, you make it.” ~Ansel Adams
I agree on this on may levels. First of all I think that no matter how spontaneous the moment you snapped, the photograph is not. It requires the photographer to frame, think on lighting, bracketing, levels, ISO and many other technicalities that bring on the exquisite taste on art. It's the search for this that makes a photography.
#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 and at the same time, I do not agree.
I do believe that photography is there to remind us of the things that we forget, because there are so many elements imbued in the artistic crafting that definitively gives a lot of sense to the audience of a photo and to the creator.
However, me being practiced painting and drawing in the past (and considering myself a creative artist) I have found that it doesn't matter how abstract or difficult is the painting, the audience will be remembered of something and the author again, will remember and give a specific on why he painted this, or why he used the colors or what he wanted to convey.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Blog Prompts #5, #6 and #7
#5 “I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul.” ~Mary Ellen Mark
Back on the days when Photography first began, people believed that you could extract their souls through the camera. Of course, the mumbo jumbo behind this has a logical reason: Portraits can be a powerful tool to deliver a personal insight of the photographed. If used correctly, with a good frame and a great angle, it can deliver not only the feeling but even the real thinking that this person had.
#6 One of the things that I like about photography it's the fact that it can become a reflection of the reality we live in. I believe that the only way to alter digitally a photo portrait is when this reality is in fact, hurting somebody (ex: Car crash photographs on Newspapers or stuff similar to that). Other than that, the reality of the human body and mind is so beautiful, that I don't see why people would disregard it and wanted to minimize it throught the computer.
#7 Most of the portraits pictures I see are either on Facebook or in News over the internet, as well as trough my tumblr feed. Since I live pretty much 24/7 connected to the internet, it's easy for me to see at least 20 of these portrait pictures on my everyday life.
I believe there are substantial differences between all of them, and all of them are related to the fact of the representation. A portrait is the meaningful representation of somebody, using elements of the picture related to the portraited. We can see Facebook requires this picture in order to give you a personality, or a "face", to every word you say, and even if you decline submitting one picture, Facebook will provide you with a temporal anonimous picture in order for users to know who is the one in the other side of the computer.
Most of these portraits pictures are self taken, meaning, they are all were took by the owner of the account and uncously, the owner of the account "imprints" his personality over them: a social person will have a lot of party images and perhaps his profile pic will be that of a party, a serious person will have a standard portrait picture and a misterious person may have a black and white photo. All of those cues are for the user to realize who is the guy/girl the user is talking to.
Now when contrasted with Tumblr portraits: most of them are either from fashion photos, celebrities or art pictures. Most of them will be carefully crafted in order to create and convey a feeling or sensation. It's not about the subject any more than it's about the picture. There is this element of focus over one topic or feeling to explore throught that picture.
Back on the days when Photography first began, people believed that you could extract their souls through the camera. Of course, the mumbo jumbo behind this has a logical reason: Portraits can be a powerful tool to deliver a personal insight of the photographed. If used correctly, with a good frame and a great angle, it can deliver not only the feeling but even the real thinking that this person had.
#6 One of the things that I like about photography it's the fact that it can become a reflection of the reality we live in. I believe that the only way to alter digitally a photo portrait is when this reality is in fact, hurting somebody (ex: Car crash photographs on Newspapers or stuff similar to that). Other than that, the reality of the human body and mind is so beautiful, that I don't see why people would disregard it and wanted to minimize it throught the computer.
#7 Most of the portraits pictures I see are either on Facebook or in News over the internet, as well as trough my tumblr feed. Since I live pretty much 24/7 connected to the internet, it's easy for me to see at least 20 of these portrait pictures on my everyday life.
I believe there are substantial differences between all of them, and all of them are related to the fact of the representation. A portrait is the meaningful representation of somebody, using elements of the picture related to the portraited. We can see Facebook requires this picture in order to give you a personality, or a "face", to every word you say, and even if you decline submitting one picture, Facebook will provide you with a temporal anonimous picture in order for users to know who is the one in the other side of the computer.
Most of these portraits pictures are self taken, meaning, they are all were took by the owner of the account and uncously, the owner of the account "imprints" his personality over them: a social person will have a lot of party images and perhaps his profile pic will be that of a party, a serious person will have a standard portrait picture and a misterious person may have a black and white photo. All of those cues are for the user to realize who is the guy/girl the user is talking to.
Now when contrasted with Tumblr portraits: most of them are either from fashion photos, celebrities or art pictures. Most of them will be carefully crafted in order to create and convey a feeling or sensation. It's not about the subject any more than it's about the picture. There is this element of focus over one topic or feeling to explore throught that picture.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Blog Prompts #3 & #4
#3 “Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.”~Duane Michals.
I believe it is. Photography is a tool made by humans to convey different ideas through the clever use of lightning and framing. Much of the scene can be seen inside of the frame, but what is left outside this frame?
The interesting part of the photograph usually is this framing: no matter if it's done visually, but also historically or personally: what was behind the subject? to their side? what was outside the lenses or behind him?
There is a lot of stuff that is not said through the photograph and that part is, in my very opinion, the most exquisite one, just because it's the part where the imagination can run wildly and let all of our feelings, desires, ideas and what not reside.
#4 “If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.” ~Lewis Hine.
Problem with words, at least for me, it's that they are intricately personal. Unless being utterly specific, when describing a story or setting it, requires quite a lot of description in order for the reader to understand what I as an author try to achieve. Not only that, there is also a big filtering between reader and writer that cannot be overlooked: whether it's the editor or the lack of the knowledge of the reader on what I am trying to say, this poses a problem.
In that situation images are noble and honest, transparent and bendable to the artist that uses them. They reflect what the artist is trying to achieve or say in a very sublime way, almost working with him in order to convey something. And sometimes, working against him again, in order to convey something.
This is why it's impossible to make a faithful adaptation from a novel to a movie. The problem lies that there are so many layers that the original written piece worked on that are being left out on the movie. And the same goes the other way around. In my personal opinion both medium do not blend well together and it takes quite the mastery of the movie makers in order to convey and be faithful to the story, and the other way around. Mastery that nowadays is becoming more scarce.
I personally consider myself a visual artist that is only passing through a lot of media, but at the very end, an artist. And this is why my personal medium is related to visual images: drawing, painting, movies, video games or photograph. Because it's impossible to cheat with images, unless you utterly and specifically want to do it.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Blog Entry #1 and #2
Imagine a world without photographs.
There could be no such a thing. Photography has been part of my life (and thus my world) as long as I can remember. And not only mine, but everyone's.
I believe that we humans are limited. In so many ways more than others and we have such a hard time fighting back that limitation. Time is apparently our only big main enemy.
And when mentioning time, I do not mean scheduling and organizing. I mean the fact that everything changes, everything moves and nothing stays put the same. So we need something, something that can actually placed that time and hold it. It's a way of fighting back time and this constant movement.
Photography has many uses, but almost all of them are related to this fact of "holding" something and having it right with us. Even the little pictures for ID have this meaning of holding someone's face and knowing that person.
This is maybe why some people in the ancient times believed that photography "captured" the souls.
What does the word "photograph" mean to you?
Well, the technical side would be "light print", but for me, the word means a lot.
Again, I've used photography for many things in my life, and most of them are art related and graphic design related. It's part of my job, of who I am and what I do. So for me, photograph would mean exactly that: a tool that I use almost always.
There could be no such a thing. Photography has been part of my life (and thus my world) as long as I can remember. And not only mine, but everyone's.
I believe that we humans are limited. In so many ways more than others and we have such a hard time fighting back that limitation. Time is apparently our only big main enemy.
And when mentioning time, I do not mean scheduling and organizing. I mean the fact that everything changes, everything moves and nothing stays put the same. So we need something, something that can actually placed that time and hold it. It's a way of fighting back time and this constant movement.
Photography has many uses, but almost all of them are related to this fact of "holding" something and having it right with us. Even the little pictures for ID have this meaning of holding someone's face and knowing that person.
This is maybe why some people in the ancient times believed that photography "captured" the souls.
What does the word "photograph" mean to you?
Well, the technical side would be "light print", but for me, the word means a lot.
Again, I've used photography for many things in my life, and most of them are art related and graphic design related. It's part of my job, of who I am and what I do. So for me, photograph would mean exactly that: a tool that I use almost always.
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