Montage: Activity 2

Activity 2: Blog Entry

• Find two examples of political photomontages that are either from a historical or contemporary source. 
• Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicate their intended message. 
• Discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message. 

 

Montage by Jared Krebs

This montage is very powerful about the strength of women, the poster "We Can Do It" is meant to convey the go get it attitude of women who have forever been repressed. Showing the sharing of the coloration on these images shows that these women throughout history are sharing the strength in this world. Another way that this image could have been achieved would have been to photoshop one of these powerful ladies into the image of Rosie the riveter to show they are one and the same.

Montage by John Heartfield

This image is very interesting, it is a picture of Adolf Hitler but his throat is filled with gold coins, it is showing the drive for money that is powering this infamous individual. This could have also been achieved if there had been more of these tyrants being fueled by money in the same way to show that they are all driven by money. 

Montage: Activity 1

Activity 1: Blog Entry

• Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. (This technique of piecing together separate images to create one picture is again very popular with both artists and the media). 
• What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique? 

Painters in the victorian times probably would have criticized these techniques because they were untraditional, painting is very much an art that has a direct focus and not all over the place like the images that are pieced together. The images would appeal to the general public because they were something unexpected and interesting, not seen anywhere else.  I can assume that this technique is in revival because it is very interesting to look at, it gives a very different message than what is originally seen in the image. It could also be revived because it is fun for the artist to take an image that already exists and create something totally new and interesting with it. It is taking an art that is made to capture a moment and twist that moment into new art. It is truly a beautiful technique.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 3

Activity 3
Collect four portrait images with two to five subjects.In at least one image the subject should have been placed in the foreground.Comment on the arrangement of the subjects in relation to the camera and the effectiveness of the design.

Photo by: Amber Katrina

This picture has a very interesting placement of the bride in relation to the rest of the bridesmaids you can still see all of the lovely ladies but obviously the most important character in this image is the bride. The only thing off in the structure of the image is the bride being off centered in the lineup. it just creates an off feeling in the image.

Photo By: Josh Brewster

This is another image in the group portraiture where there is a group of dancers showing off their moves. This is an interesting composition because there is just so much to look at, they are all in different positions and it's very dramatic, I like that none of them are standing straight up because that would make the composition less interesting.

Photo By: Nina Paz

This group portrait is very interesting in its composition. this is a groom and his groomsmen. You can tell the groom is the one with the white tie in the center with the one on his bike, I like the placement of the groomsmen behind his because it creates an interesting composition, also having the other subjects at that angle creates a sense of leading lines.

Photo by : Joyful Gestures Photography(Marcia Kuyper)

This is another interesting type of group portrait, a family portrait. The subject is obviously the little girl's reaction to her parents in the background. I think this is absolutely adorable. The parents are out of the depth of field and it creates an interesting composition to see the parents blurred and the little girl perfectly clear. But this is a great placement for the subjects.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 2

Activity 2
Find four portraits that demonstrate the different ways a photographer has framed the image to alter the design and content. Discuss the vantage point, depth of field and subject placement in all of the images.

Photograph by Dinofa Photography

This is a very interesting way to frame a portrait. The bride is sitting in a car and the image is encased in the side mirror. This is truly a stunning image because as you can see by the bride's veil and dress it is a very vintage wedding, the mirror makes the image seem more vintage and creates a very interesting display. I love this image because of how directed the focus is on the bride through the mirror. (a looking glass). And finally the black and white display of the image makes this all the more stunning.

Found on Photographymagazine.com

This is one of the most intriguing portraits that I think I have ever seen, The subject who is covered in colored makeup and paint, is framed by it looks like a wreath of twigs and buttons. This makes me automatically think that this subject is an artist. This is obviously shown through the use of colors and structured obscurity. I love the use of colors in this image because it just makes the image so interesting and hard to take your eyes away from.

Found on Wewiwa.com

This series of images is very intriguing, with the use of the photographs as the pieces of their faces it gives a sense of depth to these flatter images, there really isn't very much going on in this image other than the photographs being used so it really adds something interesting into the image.

Photography by: Lindsay Adler

I think this image is gorgeous, my favorite part of the image is the leading lines from the walls of the alleyway leading directly to the subject. The depth of field is also very shallow allowing for the viewer to focus more readily on the subject . The black and white of this image is used very effectively to make the subject seem more dramatic.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 1

Activity 1
Look through assorted media, magazines, internet and collect four portrait photographs. The environment should be a key feature in two of the four images.Describe the subject’s character in each of the images. What can you see within each image that leads you to these conclusions about the subjects’ character.

Nmbcdesign.com

The subject of this image is clearly a guitar player or a luthier (guitar maker) due to the images of the hanging guitars in the background of the image. It really shows the musician's character. The colors of the guitars in the picture also creates a very interesting and colorful backdrop for the subject of this portrait.

Thomas Campbell Photography

 This is another Example of Environmental Photography where the subject is clearly the basketball player as shown through the direction of focus through the basketball hoop. this a very interesting way to take the picture because it creates a very busy and yet effective image. 

This is another example of environmental photography. the subject is the amazing walt disney in his most famous creation, disneyland. This is a very effective image because it would be a very recognizable image, everyone knows who walt disney is and everyone knows what disneyland is, it would be an effective tool in connecting with the audience.

gretatu.deviantart.com

This is a completely different type of portrait  a studio portrait where the subject is clearly in a studio somewhere with perfect lighting and strategically placed objects. You can tell this is studio by the light placement on the subject. This is a great picture to define the smoke coming off of the cigarette, this definition would be lost in an environmental portrait.

Self Image: Activity 3

Activity 3: Blog Entry

Consider some of the social pressures that you think may shape your behavior and personal image. List the images most commonly associated with the categories or ‘boxes’ you have already listed in Activity 1. 

How have you responded to social pressures to conform by adopting an appearance that relates to the categories that you feel you have placed in or have chosen? 

The World around us tries to to make us be the perfect image of a human being, the supermodels of the world and that just wont work with me, they expect us to have our makeup perfect, out clothes amazing, our grades perfect, our bodies perfect, everything to perfection all the time. I have responded to this social pressure by just not caring what the world around me thinks. I don't do my makeup or hair for school, I don't spend every waking minute on school work, I eat fast food. I don't do what the work expects of me because frankly, it is better for me to stop pretending to be someone I am not. 

Society tries to change us. I have responded by not letting myself be changed for the worse.

Self Image: Activity 2

Find images in the media, which have been used to represent attractive and unattractive aspects of the human face. Examine and record carefully the photographic techniques used to accentuate both these qualities, drawing up a list that relates to the images you have found.

• List the physical characteristics that we have come to admire in both the male and female face and write 100 words in response to the following questions: 

1. Do you believe that media images or public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes? 
2. Do you believe people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm?

Attractive

Unattractive

There are many different types of techniques used to describe beauty in the media and these are just a few of the images to describe that by seeing the two different sides of the same celebrity. Jennifer Lawrence is considered a very beautiful person but that is all seen through the lens of a camera, as seen on the left she is wearing a tight dress, her hair and makeup are done, there has been photoshop work done, this is all to assume the perfect face, and the perfect person the media likes to push into our lives. Now the picture on the right is what we would consider in the media as unattractive, wearing loose dull clothing, no makeup, hair undone, and un-photoshopped, she is just a regular person and in the eyes of the media, this is unattractive.

The media forces us to see people as lesser because they cannot reach the high standards of beauty that they push at us. The characteristics of beauty that we see are so unreachable that people never feel like they can never reach that unattainable beauty, the media is to blame for all the problems we see with people trying to reach this high standard. The people trying to reach the beauty of these perfect glamorous models with their perfect skin, hair, and features. are in turn harming themselves. The media is forever to blame.

Self Image: Activity 1

Activity 1: Blog Entry 

What follows is a list of categories that serves to define and divide us. Make a personal list of the categories you belong to or have conflict with and visual symbols that are associated with each. Aspirations and expectations should also be listed. 

1. Age/generation - is can dictate levels of independence afforded to the individual. 
2. Gender - Our sex affects the way we are treated by some individuals. 
3. Race - Prejudice and perceived racial superiority can affect hopes and aspirations. 
4. Religion - Moral codes and ideologies that serve to guide, unite and divide. 
5. Class or caste - A classification that an individual may never escape from. 
6. Personality - Extrovert and introvert are classifications of personality. 
7. Intelligence - educational establishments, based on IQ, often segregate us. 
8. Political persuasion - Left wing or right wing. Each carries its own ideology. 

My Personal List

1.    Age/Generation-  As a younger person with a more mature outlook on life, age is definitely a dividing factor because I am constantly treated like I should be as immature as my peers, I also look at age as an accomplishment and a visual diary or your life, the more smile lines, the more joy, the more frown lines, the harder stress that you've overcome. visually defined by coloration and wrinkles. Typically loss of color and gain of wrinkles

 

2.    Gender- Women are now a days highly looked upon, especially in the STEM field because it is a new series or ideas being created but there will always be the preconceived thought of women being weaker and lesser of humans. But I don't fit into that typical girl model that the world so enjoys, I like to stand out and take charge rather than letting the men take control. This ideal for me is usually displayed by pink or strength in feminism.

3.    Race- As a white person of european decent people stereotype me as the "Basic white girl" typically considered the super stereotypical and ditzy girl that can't be expected to know very much about anything real. Not really how i want to be viewed in the world. (it was worse when I was the "dumb blonde") although at this point it is just easier to ignore the judgement. 

4.    Religion- As a Mennonite it is really hard having that divide from the traditional christians, there are only a few people in Arizona my age of this denomination and even fewer that share my pacifistic views. This definitely creates a huge divide but also is such a unique point to define me by. Seen by the Cross, Dove, and fish.

5.    Class- I've always been the middle class person who lives comfortably, although I wouldn't say that I was spoiled my whole life so that is definitely a divide wit some of my friends and peers, I had ti work for what I have. Determined through money and style

6.    Personality- It is really hard to show a definite personality of a person because we all change our personalities to be the person others want us to be. I definitely don't have a very usual personality, I can be outgoing and confident but inside hating the world, it is hard to show this to people because it is very easily judged. This can be shown through a smile or color, More standing out

7.    Intelligence- I have always been on the smarter end of the scale and that definitely created a divide right from the start because my friends or peers never felt like they could be right up there with me. But in the field i am going into it is nice to be perceived through intelligence rather than through gender or race. usually seen though numbers or nerdy glasses and success.

8.    Political Persuasion- I am considered to be independent because I don't really have strong views on either side of the equation but in general I hate politics, I feel like they are an unnecessary struggle in our everyday life. Though everyone is especially particular to judge on the basis of politics very easily because apparently a side of the scale completely defines who a person is. And that is just wrong.

Time: Activity 5

Blog Entry

Create four images that contain a mixture of solid (sharp) and fluid (blur) forms. Using the camera that you have been check out, create these four images as creatively and artistically as you can!

 These two images are both taken with a normal shutter speed and the subject, (Brian) is mostly with the soccer ball out to focus because it is moving so fast.

Both of these images have are using the same technique, panning, I used a slow shutter speed and followed the subject with the camera as the shutter was closing to achieve those streaked lights you can see in the background, by following the subject the camera streaks the background and keeps the subject clear.

Time: Activity 4

Blog Entry

Find a photograph where the photographer has used a slow shutter speed and describe the subject matter including the background. Discuss any technical difficulties the photographer may have encountered and how these mat have been overcome. 
Discuss what happened to the depth of field and why. 
Discuss whether the image gives you the feeling of movement, stating the reasons for your conclusions.

In this photograph, the subject(girl) is clear with the background, the moving train, a blur. This is achieved with a slow shutter speed, but the depth of field doesn't go away, the capturing of motion makes there feel like there is more depth, and not just a flat image. Some technical difficulties that the photographer may have encountered are the subject moving because with such a slow shutter speed it is harder to capture the subject in the most clarity due to the slight movements that we all make. there could have also been a person or thing that interrupted the shot because with the longer exposure it would be easier to mess this photo up. This image gives me a feeling of movement because you can see the train moving in a blur in the background of the photo, the fact that it is blurred while the main subject is clear helps to define the motion in the picture.

Photo by Epstein Studios

Time: Activity 2

Blog Entry

Find an example of a photograph where the photographer has used a very fast shutter speed and describe the subject matter including the background. Discuss any technical difficulties the photographer may have encountered and how he or she may have overcome them. 

• Discuss what happened to the depth of field and why. 
• Discuss weather the image gives you the feeling of movement, stating the reasons for your conclusion. 

Photograph found on www.swingdans.com (no photographer listed)

This photographer used a technique called stop motion to capture the dance movements as they were happening. Everything is mostly clear because the shutter is so fast that it freezes the dancers literally in mid air. The most difficult thing about this is the overwhelming margin for error, the dancers could not jump at the right time, the shutter could be slow, the scene could have been set up wrong, dancing, especially swing dancing is very unpredictable so capturing a solid picture is very difficult. The depth of field is very shallow in the picture because it was staged, this is because you are using a fast shutter speed with a very large aperture to capture the most amount of light in the shortest amount of time. The image definitely gives me a feeling of movement because they are dancing and she is in mid air. You can also see this through the movement captured in their clothing. The girl's skirt is raised as if she is going down and the guy's jacket is skewed as if he has been swinging around. 

Time: Activity 1

Blog Entry

Look at a Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph and discuss why you think that capturing the decisive moment has added to the picture’s quality. 

Umbrella by Henri Cartier-Bresson

I chose this picture because I think if shows the innocence of young love. I think capturing the Decisive moment makes the image seem more relatable and real. Also it adds to the quality of the picture because it seems like the subject is not posed so it is more a quality candid than a staged picture. It just seems more powerful, just like pictures in the news they are not expected or planned so they have more impact knowing they are true and not fake.