Changing Times

          The sun moves at approximately 15 degrees/hour across the sky at any given time of the year regardless of the earths positioning in the solar system or the position of the observer.  However, there is a variance in the time it takes for the sun to cross the sky with these factors. Even though we know the sun move across the sky, it does this every day without fail. It almost becomes like it's not really moving in a way.  We adapt to how much the earth changes in a day that we begin to think that the earth really doesn't change.
          In my "Changing Times" series, I experiment with time and try to discover just how much the world changes at any given time.  One moment you may see something and the next it'll be gone.  And yet, we take that change for granted.  We think that it might happen again tomorrow or it'll happen soon enough.  In reality, that same event will never happen again as long as the earth still exists.  If that's the case, why do we continue to take the things we see and feel and touch and experience for granted? Why do we think the world will reproduce another exact beauty or phenomenon? Because it won't. "Changing Times" is about capturing the world once simple photo at a time.  It's an image that can never be replicated, never be recaptured, never be relived.  And I was able to live it at that moment.  Take time to understand and appreciate the world around you.  I'm not saying you have to be one with nature and find your 'chi'; I'm saying see what you can and try to keep it for yourself; like no one else can or will ever experience it again. And try to appreciate that for what it's worth.

           Coming into this project, I decided I wanted to take photos of things that were the same, but different. Initially I wanted to shoot portraits of people and alter them in a way that seemed unreal, but I found a more interesting project instead.
           I wanted to see how much my simple neighborhood would change in 24 hours.  So, I set my tripod on a single spot and took a photo of the same location once an hour on the hour.  This proved to be a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be.  I got little to no sleep the night I decided to start my project.  I started at 12:00 AM Thrusday, November 22nd, 2012. Each hour, I shot one photo on the set tripod, changing my shutter speed and aperture as needed.  I really wanted to be diligent with my picture-taking by taking each photo exactly at the top of the hour.  I found, however, that with a lack of sleep and no patience, it would take a lot more effort than I thought I had.  Reguardless, I pushed through and pulled off 25 images completing a full day of photos from 12:00 AM November 22nd, to 12:00 AM November 23rd.
           The area I chose doesn't have any specific significance.  I chose an area that represents something I see everyday and take for granted.  The loft outside my bedroom facing northwest seemed like a reasonable place.  I wanted to get a full range of a day and that spot seemed to get a lot of action as far as the changing sky was concerned.  And I got exactly what I wanted.
           I decided to post each photo as a dip tic for the viewer to get the full effect of each individual change that happened hour by hour.  Remember, these events will never happen in this same order ever again.  Try to keep that in mind as you browse each image.

12:00 AM - 1:00 AM

2:00 AM - 3:00 AM

4:00 AM - 5:00 AM

6:00 AM - 7:00 AM

8:00 AM - 9:00AM

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

10:00 PM - 11:00 PM

12:00 AM (day one) - 12:00 AM (day two) 

           Each day is different and a new experience.  Let that be a constant reminder of the ever changing world around you and try not to take something that amazing for granted.

Artist: Corey Arnold

Title: Herman Melville

Corey Arnold has so many beautiful images depicting the sea and life working with the ocean. Herman Melville, however, stood out to me as brilliant, gorgeous, and breathtaking. Immediately when I saw it, I wanted to write about it.

What first caught my eye was the division of thirds and how unequal each section is but how balanced the photo is as a whole. There appears to be a natural gradient with the dark blacks of the sea, to the neutral grays of the clouds and the white brilliance of the sky. Each level is as intriguing as the last with so many textures and details, even with the lack of a formal subject. 

Of course what brings the most attention is the slight burst of color coming from the horizon in the middle of the photo. When looked at by itself, it doesn't seem all that brilliant. But in comparison to the dull and dark colors of the sea and sky, the sunburst shines above. It also illuminates the clouds from behind, giving an almost angelic look to the piece. The way in which he captured the rugged, fast, ongoing waves of the sea and the calming, peaceful fluff of the clouds bother counter act and add a sense of overall balance and brilliance to the photo. 

UNM Art Museum Review

 While my expectations going into this museum were minimal because of all the exhibits I've been to recently for my art history class, this particular visit was very interesting and informative for me. I was expecting another trip to a museum where I would look at art, "appreciate" it, and move onto the next one. However, having a discussion group and literally talking about only one specific piece was awesome. It got me thinking about the other pieces in the exhibit and asking the same questions, but getting different answers. My favorite part of the trip was the Sugimoto works. I was so impressed with his work. I loved the black and white imaged shown, the way they're set up, so simplistic, so inventive, so genus. His work totally inspired me to continue to take B&W images, and keep using my film camera to further develop my talents, appreciation, and knowledge of photography. 

Overall, I was impressed with our visit. I was really intrigued with the images, and grew in further appreciation for the art of photography and the dedication that goes into each image, whether it be how it was developed or how the photographer took the image in the first place. I will be returning to the museum in the near future. 

Artist: Nan Goldin

Title: Self-Portrait on a train, Boston, NH

Nan Goldin has very many contemporary pieces in which she likes to work. I chose this particular self portrait because it was not like the rest of her works in that the style, colors, and content are significantly different. Self portraits for photographers are usually a way to see how the photographer sees themselves. Here, Goldin is in solitude- often how photographers like to portray themselves. It's also important to note that she is not completely in focus. This could be due to the time in which it was taken and the camera wasn't able to focus on her or it's focusing on the window in the center of the image. In any case, the blurred face of the subject in combination with the motion blurred background of the area around the moving train balance the photo. Even though there isn't a clear subject in focus, the image still seems complete and balanced. 

Another aspect of this photo I enjoyed is the lighting. Her face is just lit up enough to highlight the front of her face while keeping everything else in the dark. The light gives great contrast and shapes her face, allowing the viewer to trace the shape of her face from her hairline to her chin. It almost feels as if the light from outside is pulling her in, but the glass keeps her in place. The monotone look on Goldin's face could be a sign of longing for the outside or her desire to be elsewhere. Taking self portraits gives a photographer a lot of freedom as far as telling the subject what to do, so it's interesting to me to see that she would take what looks to be such a candid shot, when in reality it was completely staged. To this that this was the emotion she chose to show asks the audience exactly what is going on in her mind.

"Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. John L. Burns, the "old hero of Gettysburg," with gun and crutches"

Title: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. John L. Burns, the "old hero of Gettysburg," with gun and crutches

Artist: Timothy O'Sullivan 

Timothy O'Sullivan was a mid 19th century photographer who specialized in depictions of the Civil War of 1861. He mainly went to battle scenes and took photos of the dead bodies and war scenes after the battle was over. This particular photo, however, shows a veteran named John Burns. While this photo doesn't show a dead body mutilated from war and battle, it shows a survivor in his new life, post Civil War. (This was taken in 1863) This isn't O'Sullivan's most famous work, but I chose it because of the content. Knowing what O'Sullivan focused on as far as his photography was concerned, you can tell this must be a victim of the Civil War. The title alone says he was the "old hero of Gettysburg". But there is a simple, almost mundane look on his face as if being in the war was enough to emotionally scar him for life. He has no physical bandages or scars from the battle on his body that you can see, but by looking at his face and reading that emotion, you can tell he has lived through a lot. 

The objects in the background give a lot of symbolism to the photo. Behind the Burns are an old pair of crutches that are most likely used for some sort of injury he received as a result of being a soldier. I feel like they're behind him because he doesn't necessarily alway have to see them, but he knows he needs them. To his left there is a gun sitting propped up against the door of his house. This means he has been psychologically scarred from the war and must always have a weapon on his person in case the enemy ever strikes again. These two objects play a similar role in showing the after effects of a war both physically and emotionally or psychologically. Burns needs both the objects, in his mind, in order to continue living- to survive. This image can serve for generations to come about the dangers of war and the effect it can have on not only a single person, but a nation or country as a whole.  

Lo Kemsley

Lo Kemsley

In class shooting assignment today had to do with long exposures and lighting the subject.

For the top one the settings are f2.8 ISO 200 3.2 sec exposure. I took the photo and "painted" the subject with a camera phone light. If you zoom in, you can see the way I painted her in her eyes. 

For the bottom the settings are f1.8 ISO1250 1/25 sec exposure with a newspaper and a camera phone light to act as a diffuser.

"The Red Ceiling"

Artist: William Eggleston

Title: The Red Ceiling

William Eggleston's Red Ceiling was one of the first photos that jumped at me when I first researched his name. I noticed all of his photos are retro in that they are taken in the mid 70s but this photo could appear timeless. What caught my attention was the contrast between the red saturation of the ceiling and the white wires moving in all directions coming from the bulb. It almost looks like giant spider legs crawling on the ceiling. The flash he used gives more definition and depth perception to the wires almost giving them more of a creepy feel. The angle the photo is taken at makes the room feel small or as if the photographer is standing on something. The angle makes the viewer feel smaller or insignificant. This photo is considered one his most famous photos because of it's surface simplicity but also because of it's deeper complexity. Eggleston claims this is one is so powerful that he has never seen it reproduced on a print to his satisfaction.  The Red Ceiling is also known as Mississippi 1973 in honor of where it was taken and the year. Eggleston names a lot of his photos in this way to give further context to the photograph and set a certain mood or feeling based solely on that information. The viewer gets a retro perspective at first glance without any information. To later learn that the photo was taken in Mississippi and in 1973 it can arouse different emotions for different people. For example, I was not alive in 1973 and I've never been to Mississippi so this photo can have a completely different feeling for me than for someone who has lived in either or both of those circumstances. 

As far as the artistic approach goes, the color red is very alluring. It catches the eye right away especially with the bright white contrast of the wires. It makes you wonder if a red filter was used or if the room was that color to begin with. In either case, using the flash to illuminate the lightbulb and almost give a vignette around the photo gives a retro context. The cropping of the photo is somewhat frustrating in that you can't see what the object is in the lower right hand corner or the proportion of the door in relation to the rest of the room. But it does add to the sense of wonderment and mystery for the overall feeling. 

Artist Statement

Sarah Siddons as the Grecian Daughter

William Hamilton

Sarah Siddons as the Grecian Daughter remake
Lo Kemsley

Tradgey

Lo Kemsley

Title: Sarah Siddons as the Grecian Daughter

I chose this piece because I loved how the artist made it look like she had a flash that lit her up and highlighted certain parts of her body. The story behind the photo is the subject is a famous actress in the 1700s and was playing a man's daughter who loved her very much but was sentenced to prison for crimes he never committed. Later, he was killed and that strong relationship with his daughter was broken. The play is a tragedy so I decided to play along those lines with my second piece. The train station depicted in my photo Tradgey is a "train wreck" (no pun intended) in that I feel it's a tragedy just to look at. The concept of being left alone with no one to help or protect you or even to keep you running so to speak, is what I was going for in my interpretation. The same idea of losing something great for unexplainable reasons is the idea of Sarah Siddons as the Grecian Daughter.

"Stampeder Motel Ontario, Oregon, July 19, 1979"

Artist: Stephen Shore

Title: Stampeder Motel Ontario, Oregon, July 19, 1979

Stephen Shore's photo Stampeder Motel taken here in 1979 show a different perspective on the art of photography. Almost all of Shores photos can be described as simplistic, vintage, mundane, or ordinary. The slight color mask that goes with shooting form the 1970s, which is kind of a hazy brownish color that overrules everything in the photo, gives a vintage look to this piece. On top of that there is a great one point perspective leading the eye straight to the old TV while the unique objects on and around the wall give the eye more to look at, keeping the audience engaged. 

The lighting of this photo adds to the mundane feeling. You can almost see what the rest of the house looks like just from the light source- there might be a big window to the left and the diffused light gives every object even lighting and nice shadows. This almost looks like a movie still with the way everything is laid out and set up.

As far as the content, the way it was shot is excellent. The mural on the one right side makes you feel like whoever lives there wants to get away or have some sort of scenery to look at. This gives great context to the setting. On the other wall we have dead animals which could give more meaning to where the photo takes place and who the residents are and what they like to do. The photo is almost ironic in that since it's a motel, the owners are trying to set different feelings to please the guests. The overall look and tone of the photo with the slight sepia tone and the similarly colored furniture and furnishings brings the photo together successfully. 

One word, one photo

This week's one word one photo assignment. The word was empathy

Bram Stocker's Chair Series

Artist: Sam Taylor Wood

Title: Bram Stocker's Chair Series

Sam Taylor Wood is a very unique photohgrapher. I chose this certain piece from her Bram Stocker's Chair series because it caught my special attention for several reasons. The first being her uncanny ablility to confuse the eye in what appears to be an optical illusion. You are able to see the shadow of the girl, but not of the chair. As a graphic artist I have special appreciation for this technique. I also was drawn to the use of space. The girl is closer to a horizontal position than a vertical one, yet Wood still took a portrait style photo. She was successful in maintaining all the space and balancing the white wall with the dark shadow of the girl. Also, she didn't crop anything out of the photo; the chair is almost cut off but the full figure still stands which keeps the balance of her shadow all the way on the right almost cut off. The content alone stood out the most for me. This series contains only four photos, each having a different pose with the same girl and the same chair. It's also interesting to note that in all the photos, her face is never showing. It's almost as if her shadow is showing more personality than she is. Overall, I found this entire series very interesting, creative, and innovated. Her unique use of space, contrast, and content keep the viewer engaged constantly while also providing closure to the entire photo and work. Well done!

Magic

The one word one photo assignment for this week was "Magic".

"Untitled"

Artist: Sandy Skoglund

Title: Untitled
No date specified

Sandy Skoglund, an artist from Quincy Massachusetts, has a very unique style of photography. She combines various styles of art with her photography along with brights colors and interesting subject matters. This piece, named Untitled, is one of her more political statements. Automatically the pointing rockets and the army men draw your eye to the center of the photo, however since the model is dressed in the same yellow color as the background, your eye continues to moves around the photo looking at every small detail. The fact that Skoglund hand crafts each piece out of clay amazes me. The time and effort that goes into these photos must be astounding. Though she usually only uses two contradicting brights colors in each of her photos, she is still able to keep the audience engaged with the entire work. In some of her other work, Skoglund uses animals or people each with very different expressions which adds so much character and personality to each piece. As far as the meaning of the photo, I believe it to be a very political statement perhaps on the effects of war or the fear of it on both national stances and personal, individual views. Each work can be interpreted in different ways which gives the viewer the freedom to think whatever they wish. 

Light Orbs

Thanks to Wyndham and Robert, I was able to make my own light orb tonight! I'll be redoing this project (hopefully turning it into a series), so stay tuned for that! This was super fun and it gave me a lot of ideas for future shoots. 


All I did was put a quarter on the ground, tied 2 lights to a string, set my camera to a 30 sec. exposure, and swung the lights around over the quarter while moving in a circle. It took a couple tries but I think I got it!

Shot with 50mm, f/11, ISO 100, 30 sec. exposure

"Chinese Workers"

Artist: Edward Burtynsky

Photo: Chinese Workers

Edward Burtynsky has a very unique style of photographs in that there are hardly any bright colors, the content isn't very extreme, and the subjects don't appear very outstanding. However, his ability to photograph situations that make us take a step back and think is what caught my attention. When I saw his artwork, all I saw were repeating patterns of every day objects or people; things that we try not to remember or stay blissfully unaware of. This particular photo sparked my special attention because of the geometry involved. The simple title for the work "Chinese Workers" pretty much says it all for the photo, however, Burtynsky was able to make so much more out of the situation. The one reoccurring shade of blue keeps the eye moving from one point to the next while the hundreds of vertical and horizontal lines push the viewer along. It's also interesting to note that the shutter speed was set quite low as you can see by some of the moving workers. Overall, this particular piece I'm sure is a part of a much larger work but it stands out for several reasons.  

Order

Today's photo assignment was a one word one photo task.

The word was order. 

"All Star"

A couple weeks ago, I saw this and decided I wanted to do my own version of it.

So I did.

The artist is anonymous, so I can't give proper credit. 

But thanks for the inspiration anyway. 

New York, 1980

Artist: Helen Levitt

Photo: New York, 1980

The playful aspects that brings this photo together is what draws the eye to not only the subject, but the work as a whole. The contrast of the green and blue cars provides a nice balance in color seeing as the rest of the photo is set to very bland or unsaturated tones. The form of the girl also adds a sense of mystery and wonderment as to the time and place of the photo. Street photography was one of Levitt's favorite genres to capture mainly because she lived there most of her life and she able to express New York as it appears. The odd positioning may represent the childish notions of the girl while she is either trying to get under the car or simply look at herself in the shiny hubcap. The grainy texture of the photo makes the audience feel it's antiqueness along with the desaturation of the photo all together. Levitt had a special view of children, saying they were small adults living in a world of wonder and excitement. The fact that this photo is not staged gives the audience a hint to her relationship with children and how she liked to portray them. Her ability to combine well-contrasted colors and funny, intriguing subject matter results in a remarkable, beautifully simplistic photo. 

"underExposed"

I have only been involved with photography for a couple years.

Graphic design is my main field of interest, however I feel that photography and graphic design go hand in hand. 

I mainly shoot portraits and I love using lighting, contrast, and color to express each photo in a way that pleases the eye and intrigues the mind. 

Hopefully, you as the viewer will enjoy my work and understand my composition! 

Tschüß