Following another students’ lead, I’m going to combine a few of these responses.

Reproductive Processes & Tools P. 251-314:

A classic reading, it’s always nice to review the ways to process black and white film. Reviewing the processing times is especially important, as I have had a few mishaps with wrongly estimated processing times.

Editing, Presentation & Evaluation: Theory 4A: Series and sequence P. 319-346:

This reading was very helpful during the Body Narrative project, in the way that it describes the powerful possibilities of creating a narrative. The sentence that most resonated with me was, “Photographs arranged in deliberate sequences direct the view to view each image in a specific patter, and often have a narrative dimension, even if that narrative is oblique or purely poetic.” (320) I also found it interesting, the slightly scientific explanations for how our eye fills in the gaps or “space” between each exposure. The sequence is an effective way of portraying a narrative and something I’d like to continue to explore in my own work.

Editing, Presentation & Evaluation: Theory 4A: Series and sequence P. 337-346:

I found the discussion about 35 mm slides very interesting in this reading. It’s funny to think of slides being a controversial means of exhibiting work in galleries in the early 1960s. This spin on displaying photos as a slideshow is interesting because of the nostalgic, home-video quality that 35mm slide shows generally have today. I also liked the bit about photographs being arranged in a sequence as presenting the illusion of motion. (It even discussed flip books!)

Light & Shadow: Theory P. 107-131:

This reading was jampacked with really interesting theories about light. It was good to reread Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, from a more photographical standpoint than I’ve read it before. It was also interesting (pages 110-111) to think of dark blacks without contrast, as a void. There were comparisons also to Malevich’s Suprematist paintings, which is a fun tie in to art history concepts. Light and shadows are inevitably mysterious and mystical, and this reading displayed it well.

Light & Shadow: Practice P. 137-162:

This reading reminded me of the struggles and small success of my first time working in the light studio. It discussed the different directions of lighting, the temperatures of light, and the ways light affects a subject. I’m not too familiar with technical light as I prefer to use natural light, so it is good to review lighting method slight strobes, external flashes, and hotlights.

Reproductive Process: Theory P. 169-204:

This reading makes me think of the challenges that happened while trying to make 40 identical pieces for 290’s portfolio exchange. Identical, is of course impossible, but trying to stay true to the “original” work was still very difficult. I like the quote from Walter Benjamin, saying, “From a photographic negative, for example, one can make any number of prints; to ask for the “authentic” print makes no sense.” Working in the darkroom has really made it apparent how important each print is, even if many multiples are made.

Alex Stoddard is an incredibly talented photographer based in the South, whose portraits are dramatic and stirring. If you need some portrait inspiration, you’ll spend at least an hour looking through his stream!

Here’s a link to his flickr page.

If you’re in the mood for travel, but can’t actually afford it (college life), check out the wonderful photos of  Kristine May, a Californian with a serious case of wanderlust.

You can see her photos on flickr!

Found this wonderful accumulation of photos on the blog BippityBoppityBoo. If you need a few hours of eye stimulation in between studying for finals, this is a good place to go!