Filed under: Random.
This week my main focus was objects. I want to expand my photography horizon and be able to take beautiful pictures of things and people. I feel really untalented when I simply center people, and can’t do anything else. I’m not really impressed with the quality of my photos this week, but it may be because I’m not fully comfortable with taking pictures of inanimate objects yet. I was also somewhat pressed for time, this is not something I normally do, because I love to take hundreds of pictures during the week and have the ability to narrow my blog pictures down to the very best. Some weeks I lack inspiration, but I hope to take better pictures later. If I could change something, I would bring in those items I took pictures of and put them in better lighting. Again, I usually have fantastic work habits, but this week I was a bit off.
Filed under: Random.
I took these pictures at Gina Gouveia’s lovely home. Basically, I was playing with closeups and neutral-ish colors. I reached my goal by getting really close to a small object, but managing to keep the closest spot or edge to the lens in focus. I like the third picture the best, I think mostly because of the print of the dish. I had fun making these teeny objects look much larger than they were. I don’t really plan on doing any more pictures similar to this, although it was really good practice for getting close to my subjects while keeping my focal point in clear focus.
Filed under: Humans.
This was a Sunday a while ago, I was in the mood for taking pictures of people. The second photograph is of my brother. He never lets anyone take pictures of him, that’s why he sort of has the deer-in-the-headlights look on his face. It’s sort of ironic too, because my sister and I always tell him that he looks like a deer, so I guess that’s an appropriate look for him. Anyway, I liked the way these pictures came out. I wish I wouldn’t have cut off the ear a little bit in the first picture. I like how both Erika and Royce (Pictures one and two) don’t realize I’m taking the picture until they hear the snap and see the flash from the camera. I’m fairly satisfied with these pictures and they remind me how much i want and plan on getting back into my portrait taking mood.
Filed under: Creatures.
So, we’re at the zoo in February and my original project was to photograph their composting situation. Coincidentally, the actual composting for the zoo occurs at the dump. When my plans for anything are changed, I automatically feel overwhelmed… even under the most benign circumstances. Before this period of time, I had never really photographed animals, and was honestly not looking forward to it. Plus, with my current feelings of despair and depression I wasn’t in the mood to stroll around and snap photos of lazy enjoyment. Anyway, I sucked it up and took a couple unsatisfying shots of luxurious beautiful creatures. Although I took several hundred pictures, I didn’t have that sense of satisfaction that I usually wallow in.
My favorite picture that I took that day at the zoo really has nothing to do with the visual elements that typically please my eye. Nothing about the rule of thirds, or color, or placement, or expression played a part in making it my favorite. I just love elephants. While giraffes are my favorite animal, elephants are just cuter. I have dreams about frolicking and riding elephants. They’re so intelligent and truly hilarious. I read a great book that has an elephant deeply wound into the plot, and after that I’ll always view elephants as terrifically clever creatures. The way their bodies are designed, and the way they function is so noble and breathtaking to me. Gazing at the elephants was definitely the most delicious part of my day.
Filed under: Humans.
This was my original idea for the triptych, and while every aspect of it screams cliché, I think it’s cute. (It also reminds me how much I miss Erika’s long hair, though it looks super chic in the present.) Anyway, this is the side of me who’s still a teen thinking “I love you” sign language is really cute. I know, I know, it’s black and white too! Lame? Yeah. It is however meaningful to me because I love my sister and she’s a huge part of my life. And in all honesty, we kind of have a cliché relationship. I am the bold, bossy, older sister who she admires and looks up to immensely. We still take part in the name-calling, and pull each other’s hair occasionally, but she’s one of my best friends and living in Flagstaff without her is going to feel so surreal.
Filed under: Nature.
I know, more of the tracing, really? I’ve gotten pretty carried away. Anyway, it’s about time for a normal, semi-intelligent critique of these photographs and an analysis of where I’ve become as a photographer. Over the course of this year, I’ve learned so many things, or so I think. Let’s make a list, shall we?
1. Broadening the horizon. I realized that I can take pictures of more than just people. Mom calls it “getting there disease.” I’m super apprehensive about getting into anything new, but more than not, those new things turn out well. I was stuck in a mindset that made architecture, plants, and animals foreign to me. I felt like taking pictures of them would be meaningless and awful. I’ve learned that I am able to create a strong photograph with something other than a person.
2. Finding beauty in everything. Every part of life is attractive, I’ve discovered that a photograph instills so much meaning and time and beauty. Seeing different styles and different subjects and pictures of different things throughout this year coming from my peers has taught me so much. There’s always a way to make something look beautiful. I’ll always remember Tyler Delorenzo’s “Bolt” photo, it was a picture of a fly on a bolt. Never have I looked at an insect in that sense. Then there’s Clay’s photo of his grandfather, talk about emotion. Ultimately I know that everything has underlying meaning.
3. Taking pictures isn’t a task. I always set out with a plan. It’s sometimes overwhelming not accomplishing the original goal, or realizing that it wasn’t that great of an idea. I learned to always keep my camera with me, because there will always be sporadic photo opportunities. This post is full of plants and flowers that I drive by every day and think. “God, those are beautiful. I need photograph these some day.” Some of the best pictures I’ve taken haven’t been planned, and often I make taking pictures an assignment, and it’s so taxing that way. I love photography so much, and a major step in becoming better is realizing that I need to take pictures like I love it, not like I need to turn it in for an assignment.
4. There’s always someone better. There are so many talented people in my photography class who take excellent pictures and I’ve always felt incredibly discouraged by that. I’m currently on the road to acceptance that I can also take beautiful pictures that exude meaning and depth. Also, while I know that there’s always going to be someone better than me, I’m learning to take risks and challenge myself to take better and more pictures.
Filed under: Nature.
Hey, I just discovered that I love the Wacom Tablets. The first day I learned how to use them was about two weeks ago, the only picture I had on my T-drive was a snapshot of Kelly from inside the light studio. I pulled it up in Photoshop and drew all over her face and the background. Sounds degrading, but it was beautiful and so exciting. Since then, I break out the tablet at least for a couple minutes and play with different photos. I have yet to discover a practical use for the drawings, besides tracing and coloring every possible object. I like the way once the flower in the first photo becomes instantly posterized once I’ve traced it. I’ve always been impartial with filters, and although highly time consuming, I love the tracing so far!
Filed under: Random.
These pictures were taken in San Diego over Spring Break. Since I haven’t lived there in a few years, I assume sort of a tourist attitude about taking trips back there. Of course I wanted to spend an entire afternoon walking up and down the streets of downtown San DIego. Of course my friends wouldn’t comply with my demands since they get to happily experience the pollution and traffic daily. So, I proceeded to take hundreds of pictures out the window while I faked a destination in order to stay on the streets(although in a car). These three photographs were my favorites, but I could have thrown a few more up there that I really loved. In the first picture I desaturated an overlay of the original photo, because I thought it looked more old fashion like the “SPRECKLES” sign. Photo number two was really washed out so I just added an overlay, I intended for the colors to be kind of exaggerated. Photograph three is my favorite, I think because of the tree. One layer is multiplied to bring back in some color and shadow, and another layer was slighly desaturated to make the photo age a little bit. I am satisfied with this pictures given the circumstances in which they were taken, and hope to take more architecturally-based pictures in the future.
