26.10.09

CI Field Trip 1


I was pretty stoked on going to the Zoo.
I haven't been there in a very long time.
What was really good about the zoo, was that there were next to no people and the clouds produced great lighting, but what wasn't so good, was the minimal animal activity, and the chilly weather.

In the end, I am very glad we got to go!


19.10.09

AT 6.2 Photographic Hero


Richard Avedon

1923 - 2004
New York City



Using a 8x10 Deardorff View Large Format camera, Richard Avedon was famous for his originality in portrait and fashion photography. He not only shot portraits, and fashion, but also confronted the realms of politics, power, suffering, and war.
A few events he covered include:
- The Civil Rights movement in the South
- The Vietnam War
- Mental Institutions
- The Washington Establishment

Richard was known for coming out from behind the camera, after focusing, to develop a rapport with his subject. Occasionally while doing this, he would guide the subject into an uncomfortable area of discussion, evoking reactions from them to produce images revealing aspects of the subject's character and personality that were not typically captured by others.
The subject would be pulled from their environment just as they were, and photographed against a white backdrop, eliminating any sense of landscape. Avedon avoided expressing his personal opinions of the subjects and allowed them to choose their own pose and clothing, and in my opinion, making the photographs more powerful and truthful to the viewer.

His photographs usually involved a straight on angle with the subject, high contrast, and a close crop (often chopping body parts off)



This is one of my favourite panoramic shots he did of the Civil Rights Movement in the South. This shot isn't balanced, and he cut the guys head off, but it works for me. The grungy guys, probably just pulled out of the mine shafts, work well with the grungy composition! I especially like the pure white, and the high contrast in the image.

Richard used lighting on his subjects in a way that worked.
Aside from using the sunlight (like the American West), he used strobes to control light. The strobes are obvious here, as you can see them in the eyes of the subject, and the shadows are noticeably smaller and darker then then would be with natural sunlight.
This is my favourite example of one of his more humorous images, for obvious reasons.



My last favourite.
Here's an example of his originality, and way of pushing the boundaries of portrait/fashion photography.
The high contrast between the white, smooth dress, and the dark, rough elephants really make the image (more importantly her dress) pop. The other thing that catches my eye, is the way her body form is mimicking the elephant's trunk and legs.
You never expect to see a clean, sleek model in a photograph with rough, dirty elephants. That is what makes this photo unique.


2.10.09

CI 1.4 - Composition at Home

It was fun trying to find each design element in my house, among the things most people wouldn't think to take a photo of.
I haven't lived in this house very long, so it helped me get to know it a little more!

I noticed that it's more enjoyable for me to look at a photo after I created it, to see the design elements that drew my eye, instead of trying to find things that match an element.

This was definitely a good way to get the feel for each element though.


Here are the results for my elements:

Line

Shape or Form

Pattern or Rhythm

Texture

Symmetrical Balance

Depth