Blogs 5, 6 and 7

#5 Give your thoughts on one or both of the following quotes.

“Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to man.” ~Edward Steichen


I agree with this quote.  Without photos we wouldn't have known about past beauty in nature due to weather, mankinds' destruction, etc.  We couldn't learn about medicine, science and many other things that have enhanced our lives.  Photos capture our history in a way that the written word can't express.

“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


I believe this comment is subject to interpretation based on the belief in older days that people believed if you had your photo taken it took your soul.  I do agree for the most part that if a person is unknown to the photographer they should be advised of the picture being shot, unless it's a large group and the picture is of an event that is public or is a natural setting such as a waterfall.

#6 In your opinion, when is it beneficial, ethical, or appropriate to digitally alter photographic portraits? I think it's appropriate when creating a senior picture or wedding photo or if there is a mark on the photo that affects the clarity of the image. These photos are created for a special day or occasion and people want to appear their best.  When do you think it is inappropriate or ethically wrong?

I believe it's inappropriate when it changes the entirety of the picture or what it is supposed to be representing such as a specific product.  It is unethical when done to harm someone for the purpose of making money or getting a photo printed for personal gain such as on the internet in a divorce action or similar situation.

 

#7 Pay close attention to the types and number of photographic portraits you see in one day. Where did you see them? How do you think that the content of the portrait changes based on the context in which you see the image (news, facebook, magazine, advertisement, television, youtube, etc)? In other words, what is the difference between the portraits you see on facebook vs. those on the news?  On Facebook one will see a number of different portraits, funny, silly, sports or special occasions that people want to share. Television presents pictures that depict whatever is being sold or presented for the public to buy into the advertisement, whether it be movies or personal products.  What is the difference between the “viewpoint” of the photographer in each situation? On Facebook the photographer generally isn't being serious with their photos, it's usually family and friends and meant to share their lives with others, photos in magazines generally are taken by professionals for a specific purpose. What is the difference between their “intents”?  As stated above I believe the intention of the Facebook photographer is to depict events that occur in their lives while the intention of the photographer is to produce a photo that appeals to a specific audience or group that they would like to sell a product to.

Final Image 2

‘Faith’

In this photo I utilized the tree for framing of the cross as well as perspective for the width of the photo.

The tree represents life to me, we must wear many hats, go in a number of directions but we are still connected at the base.  Even though we are pulled this way and that, in our core we can find peace.  That is what the cross represents, an inner peace brought on by a Higher Power.  It doesn’t leap out of the photo and you have to look carefully to find it, but the inner peace is there if you choose to look for it.

I took this photo standing back to get most of the branches in the shot but not the base.  I also didn’t want the cross to be the first thing your eye was drawn to.  I photographed the cross at a closer angle but chose this photo because I preferred the perspective of having the tree be the first thing a viewer would see.

My goal for this picture is simplicity.  We can find beauty in everyday things but sometimes we don’t take the time to stop and look.

This tree is historical, emotional and social.  The height of the tree shows how many years it has been standing and the church under the cross allows for a social network of people to congregate on Sundays to share a common belief.  This photo compiles those beliefs with nature and a cross making a statement about God, inner strength and unity.

Final Image 3

‘Years as a Spartan’

This photo was taken using the sky as the framing so Sparty is what you notice first.  I added the tree for perspective and visual interest so the picture wasn’t so stark; I believe the tree softens the photo.

It has taken me a number of years to obtain my degree because of family and work.  Since I’m graduating this Spring I wanted to capture my final semester on campus with something of importance to the University as well as a memory of my time here.  Sparty represents both strength, shown in his  muscles, height and structure as well as his vulnerability, his bare rib cage, lack of clothing and standing alone; both emotions I am feeling at this point in my life.

I shot this photo from just below the statue to give it a different perspective than straight on.  I stepped out of my safety zone of shooting the entire image square in the lens with symmetry usually being my goal.

Shooting Sparty was my attempt to capture a part of my life as a non-traditional student, a beginning to a new life and the end of my old life of a 25 year marriage and 23 year career as a crime victim advocate.   I would like to print and frame this image, along with the year of my graduation as a reminder of the hard work I put into achieving this goal.

Though I’ve seen photographs of Sparty over the years on campus, I can’t name the photographers who have taken them.  This perspective is my own personal view of the statue.  It is an emotional and historical photo for me because it represents a lifelong dream as well as the number of years and hard work and dedication I’ve put into obtaining my degree.

Getting Ready

Final Images

‘Getting Ready’
This photo represents high school senior girls getting ready for their last homecoming dance. I shot it showing the girls doing their hair, one of their dresses hanging up waiting to be put on and trophies earned; using the mirror to capture the feelings and emotions of them as they were preparing for the dance.
The thought behind the photo to me is the apprehension, nervousness and single-mindedness of preparing for one of their last important events in their high school years. I was sitting in the room listening to the girls talk, watching them get ready and wanted to capture the innocence of the ritual that most every young girl goes through in her life.
I used the mirror to capture the event so that I wasn’t intruding on their thoughts, so they didn’t feel compelled to pose. I had not tried to photograph from this perspective before and I learned that you can capture much more feeling or depth in the emotions shown.
My goal in this photograph was to personify the life of a teenager through the reflection of the mirror as well as chronicle an event for my daughter’s review later.
This is my first photography class and I haven’t really studied anyone’s art to compare it to so I don’t have anyone that I would be able to name but using the mirror creates another level to photography and while it’s not new to everyone, it is different for me. The picture reflects the insecurities of being a teenager, the importance of being accepted by your peers as well as the need to choose the right dress and having your hair and makeup just right for your own self esteem.

Blogs 3 and 4

#3 “Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.”~Duane Michals. Write a brief reaction to this quote. Is this quote applicable to your experience with photography? What does it mean to you? Do you agree with the idea presented or disagree?
My first instinct is that it doesn't make sense but I have learned that not everyone's reality is the same. If 5 people witness an accident, they all saw the same thing but interpreted it differently. I believe the same holds true with pictures. I took photos of a church built in 1887 today and my focus may not be what someone else sees when they look at it. I agree with the comment based on my life experience that everything isn't always as it seems.

#4 “If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.” ~Lewis Hine.

Write a brief reaction to this quote. Is this quote applicable to your experience with photography? What does it mean to you? Do you agree with the idea presented or disagree? Describe situations when photographic images reveal “the story” (as compared to words). Describe situations when words reveal “the story” (as compared to images).
This quote defines simplicity. With my prior employment as a prosecutor based victim advocate I worked on many cases that used photographs to show jurors scenes that would help them understand the case better. It was my experience that when photos were used along with witness' testimony it generally clarified details and helped jurors come to a decision regarding a verdict.
Photos bring the story to life with actual events or people, something that the listener can see and it becomes a reality, they don't need to rely on their imagination to put the facts of the story together.
When telling a story without photos it allows the teller to describe an event or person in terms they believe can express how the story affected them and allows a listener to visualize the story using their own interpretation.

Blog Prompt #1 and #2

Blog Prompt #1: Imagine a world without photographs. Describe what this world would be like. I think without photography we would not know our family or world event history, we would not learn from mistakes of the past, such as a doctor treating a tumor, a teacher educating kindergartners what an apple looks like for letter A or the progression of the automobile development. The world would not be as wonderful as it is without photos, we would be unable to share the joy of our world with others!

Blog Prompt #2: What does the word "photograph" mean to you? Photograph means capturing a person, moment or event that has meaning to the person taking the shot. It means the ability to keep relatives alive who have passed on, to remember a vacation that was amazing or it allows us to watch our children grow up all over again! Photograph brings joy to my world because it's my hobby and passion.

480 Wendy Watriss. Agent Oranges, 1982

My first recreation attempt

When Sarah first gave us our recreation pictures I had my plan before I walked out of class.  Then I started trying to take the picture. It's a pair of shoes, legs and a coin, what could be easier???  Okay, I'm ready to go, self timer again and again, my contact sheets will be very interesting, especially the one with my 2 cats sitting on the stool I was using. The most difficult part of replicating this photo was getting the coin in the picture! 
While this first attempt was a bit frustrating it made me really think about the photo. I noticed the shoelaces were messy, the left foot was up and the right leg was relaxed (for a challenge try and take a picture of your feet without your toe(s) sticking up) but I became much more aware of the tiny details that could be overlooked very easily.  Fun project....

Wendy Watriss is the photographer who's photo I was given to do our first recreation.  In addition to being a photographer she is also a curator, journalist, and writer. She is one of the founders of FotoFest, an internationally known photographic arts and education organization in Houston. She began her professional career as a reporter and writer for newspapers in the U.S. and then became a producer of news documentaries for national public television in New York.
The photo I was given is one of a series called Agent Orange, it is number 480 and was taken in 1982.