This reading discussed the postproduction work done on images: resizing, resampling, and several other aspects of using Photoshop. I found this reading to be useful because, while I am familiar with the program, review is always nice. I also really liked the section on color because I am hoping to start working in color in the near future.  

Reading Response: 364-376

This part of the reading discussed the use of words in/as images. I think that words—when used correctly—can be hugely powerful additions to imagery; however, to me, they can also ruin am image if there isn’t a purpose for them.  This reading made me think of Fall Quarter’s visit from Leslie Dill. I think her use of language was amazing.

Reading 137-162

The way light is directed has a large effect on the emotion that the image portrays. The reading discussed different directions of light, natural light versus artificial light, the color of light, and various tools used both in-studio and out. Front lighting creates few shadows, and it can become somewhat mugshot-esque. Side lighting highlights the contours of the face giving it great dimension. A more subtle variation on side lighting is to place the light at a low angle, and about 45 degrees from the side of subject. This makes the shadows more subtle. Natural light is often diffused more than artificial light because it filters through atmosphere and (sometimes) other objects, such as trees.  That is not to say that direct sunlight won’t give you bold shadows.

Reading 169-204

This reading discussed the theories behind copying, capturing and reproducing images. One thing that sparked my interest was the work of Sherrie Levine. She re-photographed images by Walker Evans from magazines and printed them as her own. I don’t really know how I feel about this. I can see how the process of duplicating an image is a form of art, especially when taken the source of the image is a magazine page, but I think that this her work may have been crossed the line. There really wasn’t much work done to make the images her own, and when you look at them, it is hard to tell the difference between the original and the duplicate.

Reading 339-364

The reading was about series and sequences, and how to display works. Displaying images in a slide format is very interesting to me. I think there is something to be said for the physical/mechanical process that it requires, unlike digital projections of images. I wonder if this relates the nostalgia of using film cameras. Recently, in many shows that I’ve seen, slide projectors have been used. Their noisy quality adds to the images and changes the emotional impact of the works being seen. The reading also mentioned flipbooks, in the section on motion. I like the idea of using a slide format to present work over a flipbook for a few reasons. Viewing art can be both personal and public; I like the idea of having my images seen on a large, public scale, but having the viewer’s interaction with it be personal. In addition, I like the way slides allow more room for image variation and that they also don’t (necessarily) have control over how quickly the images change.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/2-8-million-leica-world-most-expensive-camera-202354222.html

Reading Response (multiple)

Pages 49-68

The reading from pages 49-68 discussed the human eye and how it translates into photography. It also talked about viewing systems which allow you to see an “estimate of the picture” before it is taken. Small and medium formats usually have SLR, Rangefinder, Viewfinder, or LCD screens whereas large format cameras generally use Ground Glass.  Another topic that was brought up was the lens and focus. It was nice to review things such as circles of confusion and different types of lenses.

Reading 251-314

It is always good to reread and think about the elements of developing film. It was also good to review how exposure and development relate to each other. The book mentioned that the highlighted areas would appear in the early stages of developing and then midtone, then shadow. Push processing was also discussed, a technique that I often forget about. Push processing is when you underexpose the entire roll of film by one or more stops and then overdevelop by 25-50%. Also, on page 275, they talk about liquid light. This portion was specifically interesting to me because I would really like to experiment with this at some point.

Reading 319-346

I found this reading interesting because, as an artist, you must be able to construct a series or a narrative effectively. I enjoyed learning about the different ways people like Valie Export and Claude Cahun discussed gender in their work because it is something that I want to explore within mine. I like the idea of organizing images as film stills. I think capturing moments as they occur in life is fascinating, especially when they are staged events.

Reading 107-131

Reviewing concepts about lighting is always helpful. I find myself forgetting to think about how much light and shadow effects the overall image, which is silly because after all, photographs require light. In the work that I have done so far, has been (mostly) higher key and I would like to explore the more prominent use of shadow when I photograph people. I also find the symbolism of light and dark to be interesting because we really do associate white with “good” and black with “bad.” I think that this concept really does play into our every day lives and how we view African Americans (and all other people of color, for that matter).  The media that we see always portrays black as bad and that reinforces racial stereotypes. I think that it is essential for us to think critically about how we portray “bad” or “dangerous” emotions/situations, in our works.

http://www.jeanbaptistemondino.com/photos

Hey Everyone!

I want to continue with the long exposures of people making out. Is anyone interested in volunteering? I want to let the subjects choose the location… I am down to shoot wherever (public or private), just keep in mind that I’m using a the view camera. Let me know if you’re interested!

Katie

khudak29@gmail.com

The ever-famous……. –