6 photos for the final project & Book Format

Book format: 

• CVS photo book
• One sided
• One photo per page
• 12 photos
• Simple layout 
• black/white book colors

 

Final book theme

I am focusing on the movement of dancers and how to showcase movement through different dancers. I am showing casing the shapes and the body more so than the emotion and the connection of the dancers.

2 ideas for Final Project 11/4

• the shapes of different dancers in mutual colors

• capturing movement of dancers in different locations focusing on the upper body and the texture of the dancers

Photographer for Oral Presentation

Peter Lik

Assignment 6: Lighting

PART 1: Quality of Light

Hard/direct light

ISO:560, 55mm, f/5.6, SS: 1/4000 

Soft/diffused light

ISO: ISO:8000, 55mm, f/5.6, SS: 1/4000

PART 2: Direction of Light

Light from the front

ISO:2500, 72mm, f/4.8, SS: 1/60

Light from the side

ISO:160, 72mm, f/4.8, SS: 1/60

Light from above

ISO:1000, 85mm, f/4.8, SS: 1/60

Light from behind

ISO:3200, 70mm, f/4.5, SS: 1/60

light from below

ISO:160, 72mm, f/4.8, SS: 1/60

Assignment 5: Art Show Review

The art exhibition I choose to go see is Seeing Things at the Denny Dimin Gallery. The artist whose work is presented is Erin O’Keefe. Erin O’Keefe is a visual artist and an architect, and has shown work in Denny Dimin Gallery several times. The galley is in the heart of Tribeca, and is a small contemporary art gallery that showcases established artists on a global scale. 

• The presentation of the photographs 
• Form: The photographs are using unusual smooth shapes with different dimensional spacing to create the photographs. Each of the blocks are spaced next to each other without blocking the blocks. There is some interesting negative space that the maker created. 
• Medium: There are several things that make up the photograph. Many of the photographs have a couple of colorful blocks that are shaped in non geometric forms. The blocks are painted and each side is painted with different colors. There are also painted backdrops that compliments the colors of the blocks. 

• Background information on photographer(s)’ work presented (from press release or your own research, list sources)- The exhibition is a combination of new photographs as well as sculptures. The work explores the light and dimensional space. The photographs are straightforward, yet unstructured at the same time. The press release from Denny Dimin Gallery states, “the photographs in the exhibition are still life arrangements of painted wood blocks and planes.”  

• The photographs as a group
• The subject of the photographs are painted non geometric colorful wood blocks. The subject matter is the exploration of space and light, and how they relate and contrast. The form of the photographs are colorful wooden blocks and backdrops, and the style is abstract. Many of the photographs are around 50x40 inches. O’Keefe is an architect which gives her a new lens as a photograph, and emphasizes on spacial awareness of objects.

• Evaluate
• Did it evoke any feeling or response from you as a viewer?- I felt that anytime I would look at the photographs, I would see something new or something different emphasized within the photographs. 
  
  

• 

  Kiss
  By: Erin O'Keefe
  2019

  A particular image from the show that stood out to you, Erin O’Keefe Kiss, 2019.

The subject was two black, light blue, and gold wooden blocks. The subject matter of Kiss is the way two objects almost touch but are not, and how easily the objects can fit together. The form is navy blue, baby blue, gold, and black wooden painted blocks and backdrop. The style of this photograph is structured abstract. 

• What stood out to you about this photograph/what made you choose it? I liked the contrast of colors on the blocks, and the design and the shape of the blocks. This photograph very much reminded me of the ocean because of all of the blue used in the photograph, and the wavy edges of the blocks. This photo fits in well with the others because it has the same style as the other photographs in the gallery. 

• If there were works in any other media besides photography talk briefly about them and how they related to the photographs in the exhibition- There were three sculptures that were within the exhibition, they were wall hung painted plywood and mirror constructions. The sculptures complimented the photographs because the photographs were showing the infinite ways to explore space with a structured facility. The sculptures jutted out of the wall and emphasized the exploration of negative space. 

While looking at these photographs, it reminded me of the infinite amount of ways something can get to point A to point B. Many of the photographs have smooth curvy lines that extend from one side of the block to the other. The show also projected a calm state of mind for myself. When I saw all of the smooth waves within the blocks, it reminded me of the ocean and how each wave comes to the shoreline differently but ends in the same destination. I think the artist was trying to show the different ways objects can be looked at from the same lens. The photographs are very obvious yet uncertain in the same way. I believe the artist communicated that idea effectively. Some people were very certain at what they were looking at, yet others were questioning what they saw. I would love to see more works by this artist, O’Keefe has an interesting perspective of photography.

Press release: https://dennydimingallery.com/exhibitions/seeing-things/

Assignment 4: Composition

TEXTURE: Ct
ISO: 100, 38mm, f/6.3, SS: 1/125

SHAPE: Hope 
ISO: 800, 50mm, f/5.6, SS: 1/2000

LINES: Jose
ISO: 1000, 46mm, f/5.3, SS: 1/4000

ANALOGOUS COLOR: The MET
ISO: 100, 24mm, f/4, SS: 1/125

REPETITION: Hawks Nest Beach, Ct
ISO: 100, 34mm, f/5, SS: 1/1000

CONTRAST: Chelsea 
ISO: 4000, 38mm, f/9, 1/2000

COMPLIMENTARY COLOR: Union Square 
ISO: 400, 20mm, f/5.6, SS: 1/50

RULE OF THIRDS: Hawks Nest Beach, Ct
ISO: 250, 20mm, f/4.5, SS: 1/25

Reading Assessment 2

Barrett Ch. 3 Interpreting photographs for 9/30

1. What is the author’s thesis?

The author wants to inform others on how to interpret photos, and explain that there are many styles to interpret one photograph. Not everyone’s interpretation will be the same, that’s what makes photography so interesting.

2. What examples does he use to support the thesis?

Barrett explains interpretation using an interpretation written bySusan Sontag about a Jeff Wall photograph. Sontag goes in depth and interprets every aspect of the photo to analyze it and understand more about the intention of the photograph. 

3. In your own words, how does Barrett define interpretation?

Analyzing a photograph to grasp the sense of what the photo conveys to the individual. Everyone's interpretation will differ because of different life experiences, therefore one’s interpretation of a photograph is of value. 

4. According to Barrett, why is interpretation important in criticism of photographs? 

Interpretation is important in criticism of photographs because they offer a new language to the photograph going beyond description. They form interesting relationships and meanings about the photograph, which generates conversation about that said photograph.    

5. In Chapter 3 Barrett gives examples of various interpretations from different “interpretive perspectives” and “interpretive strategies” - choose one that stood out, surprised you, or interested you in some way and discuss why.

Intentionalist interpretation stood out to me because it is interesting to get a perspective from the maker of the photograph. If people did not know the artist’s intentions about the piece their interpretations are not invalid, however the artist may not have articulated enough in the photography for an audience to understand the work.    

6. In your own words, what is/are the main point(s) the author is trying to make in the section “‘Right’ Interpretations”?

No interpretation is considered wrong or incorrect, however some interpretations may be more articulated and detailed than others. Other interpretations offer new perspectives about a photograph, and they also are no “incorrect” interpretations.   

7. In your own words, what is/are the main point(s) the author is trying to make in the section “Interpretations and the Artist’s Intent”?

 Sometimes the artist doesn’t even know the true intention about his/her photograph. Also, the artist's intentions can be interpreted. When an artist shares their intentions, the audience’s interpretations can vary or stay the same.  

8. Write about two other key points that you learned from this week’s reading.

One key point in the reading is interpretations and feelings. Interpretations and feelings are what you feel after/when you look at a photograph. Not holding back feelings about the photograph helps to learn what the artist’s intentions was when making the piece. Another key point is interpret, meaning, and personal significance. The meaning of a photograph is more subjective than the significance. The significance of a photograph is how the photograph affects individuals.  

9. Summarize - what is the author’s conclusion? 

Interpretations need to articulate some sort of knowledge to be considered “correct” interpretations. Analyzing and interpreting photographs in an organized manner enables others converse about photographs and get others talking more about photographs. 

Assignment 3: Depth of Field

ISO: 100, 70mm, f/4.5, SS: 1/30

ISO: 2,000, 70mm, f/22, SS: 1/60

Assignment 2: Shutter Speed & Motion

Slow Shutter  

SS: 1/25 

f/20
ISO: 100

Fast Shutter

SS: 1/250

f/18

ISO: 100

Reading Assessment 1: Ch 2 Barrett

Barrett Chapter 2: Describing Photogrpahs

1. What is the author’s thesis?- The author’s thesis is to inform others how to critically think/talk about photographs. This reading helps to understand how a photograph is analyzed by critics, and how each deconstruction of a photograph is never identical to one another.  
   
   
2. What examples does he use to support the thesis? Barrett uses the examples of description, technical terms of photography, subject, interpretation, and evaluation to express different ways to view a photograph. He also uses examples from other critics analyzing different photographs to get the sense of how a photograph is deconstructed.  
   
   
3. In your own words, how does Barrett define: 
1. Description - Barrett defines description as answering the questions of what is in the photo, as well as who made the piece and at what point of time was the piece taken. Description states the facts of the piece and can be proven to be true or false. Critics find descriptive information by seeing the work and also finding out when, where, and who made the piece.
2. Subject and Subject Matter- Subject matter and matter do not have the same definition. Subject matter is the primary object(s) being photographed to create the subject. The subject of a photograph is the interpretation of what the photographer is trying to convey.  
3. Form- Form is the technical aspect of a photograph and how the photo is constructed visually. Form is not subjective and pretty straight forward when looking at the same photograph. There are formal elements in which a photograph’s form is deconstructed by using dots, lines, shapes, light and value, color, texture, mass, space, and volume.
4. Medium- The medium is described as the parts of the photograph that create the photograph to what it is. The medium is what makes the photo whether that be behind the scenes or what is in the photograph. 
5. Style- Style is described as recognizable characteristics within photos. Some examples of style are the subject matter, location, shooting angles, color tone/ lighting, and many more different styles that photographers use. 
   
   
4. In your own words, summarize what Barrett means when he refers to:
1. Comparing and Contrasting- Comparing and contrasting works are what many people do in their day-today lives. Many famous photographs are compared to each other to see what resonates with people, and why people are drawn towards certain photographs. This is also why photographs are contrasted to each other to see a different perspective of what could be the same subject matter or even the same subject. 
2. Internal and External Sources of Information- Internal and external sources of information are important when critiquing a photograph. The critic can only see what is on the photograph, but using external sources to find out what made the photograph and how the photograph was taken gives much more perspective and insight about the photograph.  
   
   
5. In your own words, summarize Barrett’s position on the relationship between:
1. Description and Interpretation- Description and interpretation go hand in hand. When a critic looks a photograph they want to list as many descriptions they can. However, every person has their own individual thoughts about a photograph based on their past experiences. A description of the same photograph can be different from person to person.  
2. Description and Evaluation- Description and evaluation also go hand in hand because when a person is describing a photograph they usually choose positive or negative descriptions to persuade others about a photograph. Not every description of a photograph will be neutral, while every individual's evaluation of the photograph will be different.  
   
   
6. Write a concluding paragraph that includes:
1. Summary of at least two other points you think the author was trying to make
2. Two things you learned from this reading
3. What is the author’s conclusion?
4. Your reaction to the material

Two other points the author was trying to make was how important a description is to readers as well as the concepts for describing photographs. When a photograph is being described the reader want to be able to imagine the same image that the critic/writer is describing. Creatively and effectively describing what the photograph is will help the reader envision the work easier. The concepts for describing photographs explain how a description of a photograph can convey multiple interpretations from the critic/writer. I really enjoyed reading the material because of the easy flow throughout the chapter. The first thing I learned from the reading is that there is no correct or incorrect way to analyze a photograph. The second thing I learned from the reading is how important the description of a photograph is to readers. The author’s conclusion is that photographs can be viewed/critiqued in numerous ways, and a description is a catalyst for interpretations, information, criticism, and evaluations.  

Assignment 1 Pt. 1 Bracketing

Bracketing is a technique of taking three shots of the same subject using the different camera settings.  One photo should be under exposed, the second photo should be over exposed, and the third photo is right in the middle of under and over exposed.

On each photo I manipulated the aperture setting to get the meter at 0, -1, and +1.

SS: 500
F10
ISO: 100
Meter: 0

SS: 500
F7.1
ISO: 100
Meter: 100

SS: 500
F14
ISO: 100
Meter: -1

Assignment 1 Pt. 2: Inspiration Images

Photographer: Bryant Eslava

Title: Sun rises 

Model: Alexis Ren

Date: April 7th, 2018

I found this picture from Instagram. I love looking at photos of places I would want to visit, and I came across this photo. The lighting and the composition are of my favorite aspects about this photo. The photographer, Bryant Eslava, is a rising fashion/lifestyle photographer with a huge following through social media, with over four million followers on Instagram.

 

Photographer: Luke Fontana 

Title: Liza Koshy in LA

Model: Liza Koshy

Date: June 30th, 2019 

This photo is from Instagram. I have been dabbling with headshots and was looking for inspiration and I found this photographer, Luke Fontana. I love the quality of everyone of his portrait/headshot photos particularly this photo. Fontana is a LA and Brooklyn based photographer who's photos have been featured in Vanity Fair, People, Forbes, NY Times and much more.  

  

Photographer: Danel Photography

Title: Mia

Dancer: Mia Shindle 

Date: February 15th, 2019  

This photo is from Instagram. Being a dancer I want to dive more into dance photography and explore how to capture dancers moving at a fast pace. I really enjoy the lighting, and the shape the dancer and photographer created.

The photographer Danel, is a NYC based fashion and dance photographer.