Montage: Activity 4

Activity 4
-Find two examples of photomontages that are either from a commercial source or from a fine art background. Discuss in what context they have been produced and what techniques they share with political photomontages.
-What messages, if any, are communicated through these photomontages and how effective do you think they are? Consider different ways that each image could have been tackled by the artist and come up with an idea for ‘another in the series’.

Joachim Beyrowski 

I like this image a lot because it shows that a swimmer is doing laps on the road. That is highly impossible but it looks so real the way it was edited. The road image looks so nice and the road itself looks like its wet and has rain drops of sorts. It then looks like they edited in a puddle and a part of a swimmer in mid stroke. I think this was well edited. I like this photo a lot and I think its super cool! I think they could add another series with swimmers, swimming in random places but mix it in well together. Or even a walking on water type of thing would be way cool!

Joachim Beyrowski

This image is way cool because I can tell that there were many layers put this all together. He entered the kids in the image and had them standing or mid coloring. He also had an image of the street while people are driving and walking, etc. Then he entered in images of chalk drawings. I think this is a well edited image and was well though out. I think another series could be put together of kids drawing in random places. Like on the wall of China. You know something on those lines would be way cool. 

Montage: Activity 3

Activity 3
As editors exercise their ever-increasing power over information control, what limits would you impose on them as to the extent to which they can manipulate the photographic image?
Devise a series of guidelines that will control the release of images that have been constructed for media use so that the public is aware as to the extent of the manipulation.

I would edit photos to the point of where it isn't offensive or creates issues. I would also make it across that it isn't real by adding a bit of touches so no one got confused or I wouldn't go beyond editing so people thought it was so real. If it looks like that moment would actually occur or not. I would put text on the image to make the image look not too real so people wouldn't get confused or be convinced to easily. I think the other one that was edited looks real but to a point where it does look out of place, so I know not to take it too seriously. The people following the man look like they're walking on the carpet but the carpet looks edited and fake. So little details like that can help. 

Montage: Activity 2

Activity 2: Blog Entry
Find two examples of political photomontages that are either from a historical or contemporary source.
Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicate their intended message.
Discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message.

Peter Kennard

To me this image means that pollution is slowly taking over and destroying the earth. I think the person used a black background and another image of earth and buildings with pollution. I think they took half of each image and blended them together to look like the buildings and pollution were coming from the earth. I think this image speaks volumes and was well put together.

Unknown

Looking at this, it seems that the man in being portrayed as horrible man. That under him, when he takes his mask off he is a wolf, an evil looking wolf. Wolves can be represented as getting close to people for their own personal gain. So in this photo it shows that this man is evil, spiteful, and mean of sorts. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Montage: Activity 1

Activity 1: Blog Entry
Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. (This technique of piecing together separate images to create one picture is again very popular with both artists and the media).
What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique?

I think these photos were possibly judged because they are strange and what can come off as maybe inappropriate to be in an image. But thats what I'm just assuming. I think they were popular though because they were something different. They were something people had never seen before and was interesting to look at and think of, "is there a story behind this?" "What made the photographer want to do this?" I think its cool that we can take separate images and make one whole by placing them together. So I am excited to do this project and learn how to do it and work with it.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 3

Activity 3

Collect four portrait images with two to five subjects.In at least one image the subject should have been placed in the foreground.Comment on the arrangement of the subjects in relation to the camera and the effectiveness of the design.

Jason Baker.

This image has four subjects. This is a family portrait. I think it is so cute because they are both looking at each other and happy. It looks like the photographer got up a little, above them to get this image.

Ty French.

There are two subjects in this photograph. Theres the girl and the telephone booth. They are perfectly place besides each other which I think is really cool.

Ty French.

There are about five subjects in this image. There is the four people and the rock symbol behind them. The two are getting married and the pastor is with them and their child. What I like about this picture is how their placed, we get to see the ocean and the sky with them in the bottom corner.

Ty French.

This image has two girls in the foreground. They are framed by the entering into the stairs, so I think thats sort of cool. The two subjects are perfectly placed in the middle of that framing and of the entire picture.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 2

Activity 2
Find four portraits that demonstrate the different ways a photographer has framed the image to alter the design and content. Discuss the vantage point, depth of field and subject placement in all of the images.

Chrisitian Stoll. 

This picture was taken at a high angle. I think the photographer framed this image well and did so because skyscrapers are tall and from the bottom you could of gotten a some what decent image of a part of the building but by going to the top we can really see the of the buildings from the floor. 

Yuni Sidqialubis. 

This image was taken at ground level. I think the photographer used this method to show the level of the swan clearer. I think it was smart because any level would of made a better image but the ground level made sense because the photographer got a clear shot of the beak and its right in front of us and it gives the entire shot a cool angle. 

Yuni Sidqialubis. 

This shot was taken at low level. It wasn't taken straight from the ground but it wasn't taken above or at the tip top of the eifle tower. I think the photographer captured the image well because were able to see a lot of the tower but not from the normal view of just looking at it. We can see it like were under it. 

Adrian Limani. 

The photographer captured this shot that as the person was jumping that it would make them look like they were sitting on it or jumping over the moon, which I think is really unique and cool. Its defiantly different from what we normally see and I think the photographer altered the image to bring out the effect of the person and the moon. 

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 1

Activity 1

Look through assorted media, magazines, internet and collect four portrait photographs. The environment should be a key feature in two of the four images.Describe the subject’s character in each of the images. What can you see within each image that leads you to these conclusions about the subjects’ character.

Thomas Nutzl.

(magazine)

This is Lana Del Ray. She was in a section of a magazine for Grazia. From the environment, it looks like she was in a studio area with a plain background behind her and some lighting that brightens up her image. From normal shoots that I've seen in magazines, Lana looks natural and beautiful. Her make up (if she has any on.) looks very natural and doesn't make her or the entire photo look fake. She seems to be a person who is true to herself and just normal.

Mario Testimo. 

(magazine)

Taylor Swift was on the cover of Vanity Fair. Its not that she looks fake in this but it looks very staged. She's a singer and an artist, so they have the piano to bring that part out of the person she is. Which is a good theory and idea to bring that out to show that. They also made her look very sophisticated and rich. I don't know if I can determine the person she is from this shoot but the person I would think she is sort of just a regular model pose.

Dorothea Lange. 

(internet)

This is a very famous photograph called "The Migrant Mother." It was taken during the Great Depression and shows a mother and her three children. If I had never seen this picture before and didn't know its history, I would suspect that they are poor and struggling. From the image I can see that though the mother is struggling she is a support and comforter of her kids. You can for sure see that as they are crowded and lay on her. I can tell that this mother is strong for her kids. 

Sam Shaw. 

This is the Iconic image of Marilyn Monroe's flying skirt. It is said that Monroe was shooting a movie when she was walking over a vent type of thing and her skirt flew up. Many photographers were all surrounded being pervy and get a good story for the world to see. It ended up becoming one of the most popular portrait photograph's known. I could think that Monroe is shy and embarrassed a bit and she doesn't want people to see her under garments. But you can see behind her a creepy man looking and smily. While another man is trying to capture the shot as well. 

Self Image: Activity 3

Activity 3: Blog Entry

Consider some of the social pressures that you think may shape your behavior and personal image. List the images most commonly associated with the categories or ‘boxes’ you have already listed in Activity 1.

How have you responded to social pressures to conform by adopting an appearance that relates to the categories that you feel you have placed in or have chosen?

I think over time I've gotten past social pressures a ton easier and I've been able to stand up for myself and be confident. A lot of the social pressures deal with popularity and being "in". A lot of the kids around me cuss, drink, and take illegal substances. People think that if you want to be cool you need to do some of that stuff. I've just been able to surround myself with good people who don't do that or be myself. Being shaped to the person I am, I've been surrounded by people who have the same beliefs or morals and me. So it makes living easier and not getting tempted into bad stuff.

Self Image: Activity 2

Activity 2: Blog Entry

Find images in the media, which have been used to represent attractive and unattractive aspects of the human face. Examine and record carefully the photographic techniques used to accentuate both these qualities, drawing up a list that relates to the images you have found.

List the physical characteristics that we have come to admire in both the male and female face and write 100 words in response to the following questions:

Do you believe that media images or public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes?
I think that the definition of beauty universally has become stereotypical. When we look on tv or read magazines we see that perfect guy or girl. They are either the people we want to be or who we want to be with. I think the worlds definition of beauty means perfect. You need to have the perfect teeth to give you the perfect smile. You have no pimples, or you're a size 0, then you're considered beautiful. Those things may make you a little more flattering but it shouldn't define the beauty of a person. Universally we see the guy with the abs and everything perfect and the girl with the perfect body and lovely everything. So the world has changed what beauty really means.

Do you believe people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm?
It depends. People see media images and its people they look up to and have as role models. I think it can turn bad when people are trying to do whatever they possibly can to become them and be perfect. There will be girls and guys trying to loose weight, cover their with a ton on make up, etc.

Self Image: Activity 1

Activity 1: Blog Entry

What follows is a list of categories that serves to define and divide us. Make a personal list of the categories you belong to or have conflict with and visual symbols that are associated with each. Aspirations and expectations should also be listed.
1. Age/generation - is can dictate levels of independence afforded to the individual.
2. Gender - Our sex affects the way we are treated by some individuals.
3. Race - Prejudice and perceived racial superiority can affect hopes and aspirations.
4. Religion - Moral codes and ideologies that serve to guide, unite and divide.
5. Class or caste - A classification that an individual may never escape from.
6. Personality - Extrovert and introvert are classifications of personality.
7. Intelligence - educational establishments, based on IQ, often segregate us.
8. Political persuasion - Left wing or right wing. Each carries its own ideology.

1. A lot of the time I hear that my generation has things easy. For example, we have technology now and we get a lot of help from that, while pasts generations had to work a lot harder to get things done. They didn't have google, to search for help and answers for homework. I think pasts generations were able to enjoy nature and the simpler things in life, like just watching a movie with your family or getting lost in a book.

2. There are a lot of stereotypes saying that girls can't work out and be as tough as guys, or they cant achieve higher roles in work because they are girls. So back then we had to work hard and fight for the same rights as men. I think were doing a lot better in that and girls do have a lot more confidence in accomplishing as much as men could. Men have a lot of stereotypes too that they can't be sensitive and if they are crying during a chick flick then its unique for a boy to be like that. Or if they care about their appearance than they're being a girl. So I think we place a title on how guys need to be and how they act. So they need to be tough all the time.

3. We've progressed a lot with racial discrimination. I think its gotten a lot better through time. It still exists but its improved so much. When someone looks at one race they tend to categorize them with the rest of their race. If you're white, you're a snobby rich person. If you're black, then you aren't as successful and you don't work hard and do illegal things. If you're asian, then you speak Chinese and people mock the language. Theres ton more racial stereotypes that I can think of. But any race can be as successful as another race. Race does not tell you what the kind of person is and where they've come from. From what we could know, there could be an asian that knows English and know no Chinese. There could be a very successful black human and a white person who is struggling.

4. When there are rules in the religion you follow and theres someone that sees that you're making bad decisions and breaking those rules than you are going to hell or you're not meant to be in the religion group anymore. Outside of people that aren't apart of your religion, they want to argue with you and say that your God isn't the right one and theirs is.

5. If you are on a higher class then you are looked at as better. Yeah, you have the most money and such but class doesn't define a person. If you are lower class you can't afford anything, so you're worthless and not smart and have nothing going for you. What if they wanted to be that way? What if they are way smarter than you but couldn't afford going to a good college and get a good career. I think everyone is a person no matter on class and how much dough you got.

6. There are a lot of good people in the world and in that mix, they can be shy or social. When you're an introvert you can't really show anyone your personality but you right away come off as someone who is shy and might not be funny. But when you get to know them, they could be way different from what you were thinking in the beginning. Extroverts come off as the popular and fun to be with type of people.

7. If you're not smart, people may think that you can't get far in life and you won't have much to look forward too. When they could become as successful as the person who is a genius. When you work hard, you could land in any situation you work up to have.

8. Politics can be a very touchy subject and can lead to many disagreements and opinionated titles. I feel as if its a lot based on what you believe in and what you feel is "right" and how things should be and how it should be runner. 

Time: Activity 5

Blog Entry

Create four images that contain a mixture of solid (sharp) and fluid (blur) forms. Using the camera that you have been check out, create these four images as creatively and artistically as you can!

This was a harder assignment in my opinion just because it was hard to get the perfect shot. I either got both of the images blurry or both subjects still in movement. But it was a very cool assignment because I was able to succeed and get it perfectly, one solid, and one blurry subject.

Marcia Hawea. 

The first picture above is the background, or gazebo still wile the persons head is blurry. Even her body is still so I think its kind of cool I was able to capture that.

Marcia Hawea. 

The photo above is of two people as my subjects. One of the people are still and I had them not moving while the other person was moving their arms around and the shot turned out as one still and one blurry object. So that is one of my favorites that I took. 

Marcia Hawea. 

This is another favorite shot. I like this one because I have another person moving a ball and the ball was in motion, so blurry while the person was still. 

Marcia Hawea. 

The gazebo and background is still and the person is twirling in circles. So I caught that blur movement of her hair which I thought was interesting. 

Time: Activity 4

Blog Entry

Find a photograph where the photographer has used a slow shutter speed and describe the subject matter including the background. Discuss any technical difficulties the photographer may have encountered and how these mat have been overcome.

John W. Astin.

This photograph is an example of a slow shutter speed shot. The background is still while the object in motion is blurry. I think it looks really cool because you get to see all the colors and the motion. Its not mid shot, or mid movement like how fast shutter speed it. 

Time: Activity 3

Blog Entry

Take four images of a running or jumping figure using fast shutter speeds (faster than 1/250 second). Vary the direction of travel in relation to the camera and attempt to fill the frame with the figure. Examine the image for any movement blur and discuss the focusing technique used.

Marcia Hawea.

The 4 Photos above are examples of pictures with fast shutter speeds. I took these at the school basketball game. These are photos of motion but still. So the movement there in is captured so it looks like time stopped while they were playing. If that makes sense? I think they turned out good. The second photo, I think is my favorite because it is while she is jumping for that shot and its still at the perfect moment. This took a lot of time to get these photos at the point they're in because I either had to be there at the right moment or had my shutter speed at camera set up right.

Take four images of the same moving subject using shutter speeds between 1/15 and 1/125 second. Pan the camera to follow the movement. The primary subject should again fill the frame. Discuss the visual effect of each image.

Marcia Hawea. 

The photos above are slow shutter speed pictures. I took these of my friend. I had her flip her hair, walk, and kick her leg up. I used a 1/13 shutter speed. I got this result and I was pretty proud of it because the photos turned out with a blur effect, which I thought was really cool. Its like the motion is still but has this blur to show that there was still something in motion. 

Time: Activity 2

Blog Entry

Find an example of a photograph where the photographer has used a very fast shutter speed and describe the subject matter including the background. Discuss any technical difficulties the photographer may have encountered and how he or she may have overcome them.

• Discuss what happened to the depth of field and why. 
• Discuss weather the image gives you the feeling of movement, stating the reasons for your conclusion.

Lazlo

The photo above uses fast shutter speed. The main subject is of matches falling unto the ground. The photographer caught the fact moment before it hit flat. The matches look like they could of been placed in that spot, in a way. The subject is still in motion and the background is still at the same time. I think the photographer took many shots before this one to get the perfect picture. I think taking this picture could of taken tons of patience and time.

• I don't really see any Depth of Field in this picture. I think the subject its self and the background are both still and we don't really draw our eyes to the main subject while another part of the picture is blurry. 
• This image gives me the felling of movement because it is literally in mid movement. It is one single shot of matches falling until it hits the floor and I think it is very cool.

Time: Activity 1

Blog Entry

Look at a Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph and discuss why you think that capturing the decisive moment has added to the picture’s quality.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

I think when you take time to find the perfect moment to take a shot you get better, quality photos. When you just take the picture, you can get a good shot but when you wait it out and think of how can I attempt to make this shot better than the last shot I just took with no sort of thought. So when theres thought behind a photo I think it shows the point that you care and put more effort into your photography.