We've had our last class, submitted the final project, and held the last critique. I look back at photo I and kick myself in the ass for not taking it sooner. Sure, there was a lot of work involved- learning my camera, long night in the dark room, 50 sheets of photo paper to one assignment- And I won't lie in saying I was a little happy never to have to process film again.
But, beyond all that, I wish I took photo earlier, not waiting till senior year, spring semester. It was a different medium of art for me, one that I could have experimented with. Looking at other people's projects, there is still so much I want to work with. I loved Amanda self-portraits and want to continue to work with that, utilizing the environment I am in. Not focusing so much on the subject, but the place of interest.
The class has affected me, I am much more conscious of what photos I take and what the frame captures. I want interesting pictures, not solely the typical photos I have taken in that past. Chances are, I'll move onto a digital camera in place of my moms manual. But... sometimes down the road a photo class seems highly possible.
I know I'll be in the dark room- probably tonight, making some extra prints for the family and mother's day coming up. So I guess, even after the class is over, photo isn't.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Artist Statement
Confrontation
This project was inspired by the work of Sebastião Salgado. He explains how people are often portrayed as victims of their situations. In the process:
“…people tend to be denuded of their larger, more complicated humanity, including their culture and the internal resources that allow for self-determination.”
Of his work, the photos that truly engaged me are those with direct confrontation. By engaging their viewer, these subjects are showing who they are, as they are. They may live in different, or even less situations than we do, but they are, if not equal, but stronger than us. This human strength truly amazes me, and is something I wanted to work with in my final project.
At first, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. It was only after I shot a couple of rolls that it popped out to me, and I remembered my reaction to Salgado’s work. My strongest images were ones when the subject had their eyes connected with the viewer, showcasing an emotional response of confrontation.
I chose to incorporate my two lives at
I found that kids were much easier to work with. They didn’t have the vanity of adults, and are not afraid to show who they really are. It is a time before we put that false pretense up, blocking others from seeing the real us.
My subjects all present themselves as they truly are. They are proud of who they have become and look not to shield that away.
Enjoy.
Rachel McCoullough
Monday, April 28, 2008
DONEEEEE!!
After +10 hours in the darkroom, I have FINALLY finished my final project. I'm very happy with how it came out- there is a lot of variety in my photos, and they capture many different sides of my subjects and ways the viewer is confronted.
I did run into some sort if problem... my last roll of self-portraits hardly came out. I think the film was too thin, and i appear silhouetted against the window with almost no features. This happened to about half my roll. I made the best of the situation, but I'm not completely satisfied with the one I chose. I can live with it though, since I feel my self portrait roll was my strongest in the assignments. I chose to do regular portraits because that was where I lacked- and I nailed it.
I still want to make more prints for the fam and a couple for me- hope I can bum some paper off Dee and Amanda.
Theirs and Ned were the only other projects I saw. From what I got, they all look awesome. There is so much variety- although I am glad to be done, I'm sad that I didn't take photo earlier and start really creating art. It had inspired me though...
I did run into some sort if problem... my last roll of self-portraits hardly came out. I think the film was too thin, and i appear silhouetted against the window with almost no features. This happened to about half my roll. I made the best of the situation, but I'm not completely satisfied with the one I chose. I can live with it though, since I feel my self portrait roll was my strongest in the assignments. I chose to do regular portraits because that was where I lacked- and I nailed it.
I still want to make more prints for the fam and a couple for me- hope I can bum some paper off Dee and Amanda.
Theirs and Ned were the only other projects I saw. From what I got, they all look awesome. There is so much variety- although I am glad to be done, I'm sad that I didn't take photo earlier and start really creating art. It had inspired me though...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Final Count Down...
In my art history classes, I have always found it interesting how engaging the viewer can symbolize so many things. In the Renaissance, for a woman to confront the viewer straight on meant she was a prostitute. Leonardo Di Vinci broke this mold by painting a well known artisocrat, Ginevra de' Benci. Well known and admired for her intellect, this woman is directly confronting the viewer, something you just didn't do back then.
This is what I am basing my final project on- confronting the viewer. My subject are my kids from work and my friends from school- two major aspects of my life during my time at Stonehill College.
I am also focusing on portraiture because I felt I did not capture it enough to satisfy my in our assignment.
I will include a mixture of children and friends and one self-portrait. I am also saying that this confrontation can be seen at any age. I found that the kids have a stronger, more intense look than the those my age. I really like the direction my project is taking and I'm excited to see how it turns out.
This is what I am basing my final project on- confronting the viewer. My subject are my kids from work and my friends from school- two major aspects of my life during my time at Stonehill College.
I am also focusing on portraiture because I felt I did not capture it enough to satisfy my in our assignment.
I will include a mixture of children and friends and one self-portrait. I am also saying that this confrontation can be seen at any age. I found that the kids have a stronger, more intense look than the those my age. I really like the direction my project is taking and I'm excited to see how it turns out.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Mask
For class, we had to choose a portrait which we liked and analyze it. I chose one of Kathie's self-portraits. She is sitting on the ground, wrapped in newspapers, holding a mask to her face. It caught my eye and my attention so this is the one I chose...
Kathy’s photo can be read many different ways. What first drew me to it was the mask. Although many of the portraits on the wall were not a clear view of the face, this one covers the face in a different manner. It is not someone looking away or focusing on another body part. Her face is right there in front of you, blocked. She is stopping you from looking in, but not entirely because she still uses her eyes to engage and confront the viewer. It is as if she is saying here is my message and what I am trying to say if you can read deep enough into the image.
The mask itself if beautiful, and framed by her dark hair. It is almost a trick that it is there because you look twice after realizing she is hiding her face. She is entirely dressed in newspapers- covered by the news. I loved Emmanuel’s interpretation of this image- how the news is masking her. But I interpret it a different way.
It first reminded me of an ancient Greek sculpture of the Parthenon. On the east pediment, there are three goddesses, one of which may be Aphrodite. This work was made in 430’s BCE before the female nude was ever sculpted. As a sign of sexuality, Aphrodite’s sleeve is falling off her shoulder. This ancient work of art was brought back to my mind after I saw this image. It is probably because her sleeve is black against the white background, but it holds a slight hint of sexuality as did this ancient work of Greece.
A statement she may be saying is how everything is masked, and reality is unknown. We do not see her face, only her eyes. By hiding this essential feature, you have to guess what is behind the mask. She could be stating her opinion on censorship of news material and how nothing is reported objectively- that everything is conveyed with some type of emotion.
At first, I thought she may be stating that she doesn’t feel comfortable or she feels like she is trapped behind a mask or still searching to find herself. But now, looking further into the picture, she is not. Although hidden, she still wears her rings and jewelry, something which belongs and means something to her as a person- it helps define her in a way. I believe we wear what we can relate through, the jewelry we wear holds meaning; otherwise it would not be important to us. So she does define herself. You can see that the title of the article on her newspaper dress talks about films. The mask could show her interest in theater. Not commercial theater but independent films.
The image is presented without a background, not letting me look into the photo frame. Also, her body is almost lost in the white wall behind her, but her hair makes her standout in a shocking, high contrasted way. She is saying that what she looks like is not the essential element of the photo, but what she is saying through the use of her mask, the newspaper and body language. I think this is an awesome image and it grabbed my attention right away.
*****************
Then I read her blog and realized that the newspaper she was wrapped in holds an article she wrote. Kathy is trying to show how she identifies herself through what she wants to do with her life and career.
Kathy’s photo can be read many different ways. What first drew me to it was the mask. Although many of the portraits on the wall were not a clear view of the face, this one covers the face in a different manner. It is not someone looking away or focusing on another body part. Her face is right there in front of you, blocked. She is stopping you from looking in, but not entirely because she still uses her eyes to engage and confront the viewer. It is as if she is saying here is my message and what I am trying to say if you can read deep enough into the image.
The mask itself if beautiful, and framed by her dark hair. It is almost a trick that it is there because you look twice after realizing she is hiding her face. She is entirely dressed in newspapers- covered by the news. I loved Emmanuel’s interpretation of this image- how the news is masking her. But I interpret it a different way.
It first reminded me of an ancient Greek sculpture of the Parthenon. On the east pediment, there are three goddesses, one of which may be Aphrodite. This work was made in 430’s BCE before the female nude was ever sculpted. As a sign of sexuality, Aphrodite’s sleeve is falling off her shoulder. This ancient work of art was brought back to my mind after I saw this image. It is probably because her sleeve is black against the white background, but it holds a slight hint of sexuality as did this ancient work of Greece.
A statement she may be saying is how everything is masked, and reality is unknown. We do not see her face, only her eyes. By hiding this essential feature, you have to guess what is behind the mask. She could be stating her opinion on censorship of news material and how nothing is reported objectively- that everything is conveyed with some type of emotion.
At first, I thought she may be stating that she doesn’t feel comfortable or she feels like she is trapped behind a mask or still searching to find herself. But now, looking further into the picture, she is not. Although hidden, she still wears her rings and jewelry, something which belongs and means something to her as a person- it helps define her in a way. I believe we wear what we can relate through, the jewelry we wear holds meaning; otherwise it would not be important to us. So she does define herself. You can see that the title of the article on her newspaper dress talks about films. The mask could show her interest in theater. Not commercial theater but independent films.
The image is presented without a background, not letting me look into the photo frame. Also, her body is almost lost in the white wall behind her, but her hair makes her standout in a shocking, high contrasted way. She is saying that what she looks like is not the essential element of the photo, but what she is saying through the use of her mask, the newspaper and body language. I think this is an awesome image and it grabbed my attention right away.
*****************
Then I read her blog and realized that the newspaper she was wrapped in holds an article she wrote. Kathy is trying to show how she identifies herself through what she wants to do with her life and career.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Procrastination...
Its about 430 on Saturday and I'm only just starting to do some work.
I've already got 3 photos done for the 6 due on Tuesday. I really liked this assignment- the Self-Portrait and Portrait one. After seeing my friend's work, i was inspired; i want to go back and retake a couple roles. Usually when I take pics of people, its the standard center format. You can say so much more by changing their position in the frame or focusing in on certain parts. I'm still debating on what I want to do with my final project- so this is something I'll keep in mind.
One thing i have noticed- its become a lot easier to do prints. I am no longer going through 20 pieces of photo paper for 3 photos. It makes me think back to the pinhole assignment and how much I wasted on that one. Also, even though I love using a normal camera and being in charge of what is in your frame and how the photos will come out, I really did like the unpredictability of pinholes. I really like the effect of round pinhole cameras- I think that looks awesome. I was searching the web for example of pinhole photos and stumbled upon this site that has lists of pinhole artists and their works. There are some really good works: one of my favs was a self-portrait by G Lancaster
The image has a warmer tone and pops out a bit more because its not b&w. I like how its not surrounded by black either. The picture is made by the shape of the image. This tiny mark holds the image of the photographer. The upward angle makes the artist looks unproportional- tall and kind of bent. I the image grabbed my attention- I had to ask myself what is that...? Because it was a pinhole camera, I wonder how much of the image was planned or maybe it just happened.The website is http://www.pinhole.org/gallery/index.cfm
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Light and Shadow Assignment
This has been my favorite assignment so far. My second contact sheet has been my best so far. It took me a while to grasp what I wanted to do, and to notice the different lights and shadows that are always around us.
It was fun not only seeing the different lights, but also making light on my own. The pictures did not turn out as I planned (I didn't figure out how to focus until after), but this is something I can take with me to work on in my final project.
It was fun not only seeing the different lights, but also making light on my own. The pictures did not turn out as I planned (I didn't figure out how to focus until after), but this is something I can take with me to work on in my final project.
Role of Photography in Communication...
Photography lets you capture something that no one else can see.
This statement is what I believe photography does in the role of communication. It can be taken to many different levels.
First, the camera lets you show any ordinary, boring object someone thinks is ugly in a new light. You can make anything interesting if you take the time to do it. I think that in photographing something ordinary in a different light to make it interesting and attention grabbing is humbling. It makes you overlook the vastness of landscapes or buildings and focus on this small, tiny detail and transform it into a work of art. It makes people think twice about their everyday routine and look at it in a different way.
The work of Ryan Bush uses this approach. He abstracts the subjects of his photos so you don't know what you are looking at. This is a good example of what I mean by using the camera to bring everyday objects to a new height
http://www.ryanbushphotography.com/#
http://www.ryanbushphotography.com/#
Another way I think photography is very important is making statements beyond the picture. Photographers that use their camera to make statements about social injustice, war, race among many issues use their camera to show ordinary people what is going on in the world that they cannot see. This sparks an emotional reaction in me and makes me want to capture such images.
Someone who has done this and is awarded for it is Kaveh Golestan. He gave his life to showing the world what was going on in Iraq while we were at home in our every day lives. As Americans, we live a life unknowing of what is going on around us. I myself, get so involved in the material aspects that I do not appreciate what I have- only wanting more. Photographers who capture images of people who are not like this, people fighting for what they believe or fighting to survive make me realize how important life is. This is a huge world, and sometimes you get lost. The camera gives you a way out of it, to see what is really going on.
The only thing about this kind of statement is it is emotionally draining. Sometimes you have to sit an think about a photo for a large amount of time before it comes to you. Also, this images themselves can be emotionally draining and very hard to look at. This goes back to Sebastião Salgado from my last blog. Some of his pictures disturbed me, but made me think. I can still remember them only after seeing them once. This shows me that he accomplished his job. It humbles you, makes you think.
*Overall, to me, photography is a way to show people something they cannot see. Whether it be an everyday object or a social injustice. This aspect of photography is humanizing and in some ways, disturbing.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sebastião Salgado
This image is from the work of Sebasti
ão Salgado-
Oaxaca, Mexico, 1980.
These two men are in the middle of a thanksgiving prayer, thanking the Mixe god Kioga for a year of good harvest and asking for another to follow.
This was one of the easier images to look at in the book. It combines human and nature- showing these men in a humble moment. It has an airy, mystical quality. The background seems to go on forever- making you wonder what the scenery is like and how long it extends. The photo is balanced from left to right with the use of the trees. The two men seem at one with the trees, and take on a similar shape. Instead of a photo with a huge city and city life, this goes back to the roots.
I also chose this image to signify how the artist, Sebastião Salgado, affects me. The rest of his work is blunt and honest, showing human suffering. He photographs starving children of Ethiopia, among others, that is very hard to look at. Of all the photographers I looked through, this one had the greatest emotional impact on me. He captures the dignity of any people he photographs, even in the worst of times. Although these people are striped of everything, they have their dignity left. This makes you reflect back on your own life and think about your problems and how insignificant they truly are.
One thing that really sticks out with all his works is eye contact. His subjects look the viewer straight in the eye, engaging them to the fullest extent. They say this is how I am, not asking for pity or forgiveness, but showing themselves how they are. This act deserves
the highest respect. It is hard for people to look at images of Sebastião Salgado, they certainly contract an emotional reaction. By showing this people, he is capturing their true beauty and giving them honor, respect and dignity. It is a different beauty from what we see every day in America.
There is a story he tells of a poor fisherman selling his fish. A young gentleman offered to buy all of them at any price the fisherman asked. However, the fisherman would not sell them because he did not like the gentleman- he explained he was "the master of my (his) own hunger". This shows the respect people have for themselves and their everlasting dignity. If you have nothing else, you must continue on with that.
ão Salgado- An Uncertain Truth.
Oaxaca, Mexico, 1980.
These two men are in the middle of a thanksgiving prayer, thanking the Mixe god Kioga for a year of good harvest and asking for another to follow.
This was one of the easier images to look at in the book. It combines human and nature- showing these men in a humble moment. It has an airy, mystical quality. The background seems to go on forever- making you wonder what the scenery is like and how long it extends. The photo is balanced from left to right with the use of the trees. The two men seem at one with the trees, and take on a similar shape. Instead of a photo with a huge city and city life, this goes back to the roots.
I also chose this image to signify how the artist, Sebastião Salgado, affects me. The rest of his work is blunt and honest, showing human suffering. He photographs starving children of Ethiopia, among others, that is very hard to look at. Of all the photographers I looked through, this one had the greatest emotional impact on me. He captures the dignity of any people he photographs, even in the worst of times. Although these people are striped of everything, they have their dignity left. This makes you reflect back on your own life and think about your problems and how insignificant they truly are.
One thing that really sticks out with all his works is eye contact. His subjects look the viewer straight in the eye, engaging them to the fullest extent. They say this is how I am, not asking for pity or forgiveness, but showing themselves how they are. This act deserves
the highest respect. It is hard for people to look at images of Sebastião Salgado, they certainly contract an emotional reaction. By showing this people, he is capturing their true beauty and giving them honor, respect and dignity. It is a different beauty from what we see every day in America.There is a story he tells of a poor fisherman selling his fish. A young gentleman offered to buy all of them at any price the fisherman asked. However, the fisherman would not sell them because he did not like the gentleman- he explained he was "the master of my (his) own hunger". This shows the respect people have for themselves and their everlasting dignity. If you have nothing else, you must continue on with that.
You can check out his page: http://www.terra.com.br/sebastiaosalgado/index.htm
Monday, February 18, 2008
FINALLY... A Camera!
We have switched from using pinhole cameras to the actual one- which I am very excited for.
I've already processed one roll of film examining the apature. I took these pictures around campus- well pretty much right in front of my door and in teh commone room when teh snow started falling. I'm pumped to see how they came out.
My next two rolls are experimenting with shutter speed and then focusing on teh composition. I went home this weekend, so South Hadley, MA was my subject. I stayed around the house and took pictures of things I missed. It been a while since I've lived home, so these photos hold a sentimental value.
Tonight I plan on processing them- so hopefully all goes accordingly.
So far the class has been awesome- I cant wait till I really get a grasp on photography then i'll see what I can do with it. But until then- ill just have to work on the smaller things.
-Rach
I've already processed one roll of film examining the apature. I took these pictures around campus- well pretty much right in front of my door and in teh commone room when teh snow started falling. I'm pumped to see how they came out.
My next two rolls are experimenting with shutter speed and then focusing on teh composition. I went home this weekend, so South Hadley, MA was my subject. I stayed around the house and took pictures of things I missed. It been a while since I've lived home, so these photos hold a sentimental value.
Tonight I plan on processing them- so hopefully all goes accordingly.
So far the class has been awesome- I cant wait till I really get a grasp on photography then i'll see what I can do with it. But until then- ill just have to work on the smaller things.
-Rach
Monday, February 4, 2008
A Few Thoughts
I'm waiting for my negatives and positives to rinse.
I will say this has been a very frusterating assignment. My camera would work, it wouldn't- Certain things would come out great but the rest was blurry. The whole process of testing positives itself is also tedious.
But... it is pretty cool to have a couple done. I'm excited to see what came out when I go back to check.
Will I be here for only one more hour? Or will it be another late, late night?
I have a more connected feel to the photos I develop- more so than picking up some pics at CVS. I like my subjects so far- but I don't think they are too deep. I know I can go further. This assignment is like testing the waters.
I can't wait to start with my camera, and get rid of that box that is falling apart. Within the next week to come, I'll be writing about just that.
This was just a little somethig I found on utube, and though it was cool:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=I80OC5gGjsA&feature=related
enjoy.
-Just waiting for my last positive to dry! It is 12:39am... offically +8 hours spent on this project. Worth it tho.
-Rach
I will say this has been a very frusterating assignment. My camera would work, it wouldn't- Certain things would come out great but the rest was blurry. The whole process of testing positives itself is also tedious.
But... it is pretty cool to have a couple done. I'm excited to see what came out when I go back to check.
Will I be here for only one more hour? Or will it be another late, late night?
I have a more connected feel to the photos I develop- more so than picking up some pics at CVS. I like my subjects so far- but I don't think they are too deep. I know I can go further. This assignment is like testing the waters.
I can't wait to start with my camera, and get rid of that box that is falling apart. Within the next week to come, I'll be writing about just that.
This was just a little somethig I found on utube, and though it was cool:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=I80OC5gGjsA&feature=related
enjoy.
-Just waiting for my last positive to dry! It is 12:39am... offically +8 hours spent on this project. Worth it tho.
-Rach
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Photos I just posted are all different. La Louvre is a scenery image while the others are silhouette or portraits. The one thing that ties them all together for me is the fact that they are all every day images. My first post explained that I like art that captures the everyday act and portrays it in a different light. We all lose track of life and take things for granted- these works make you stop and think, showing the real beauty and mystery of everyday life- which is life itself. I like how each artist plays with different lighting and effects in order to give their art a little something extra.
I hope you all enjoy these images as much as I did.
-Rach
I hope you all enjoy these images as much as I did.
-Rach
This photo is great. It captures an everyday moment in a great image. The strong contrasts darks give you the sense of darkness and thus sleep. The light only subtly outlines the figure making us feel we are watching him in his own moment. This captures a part of this man- and is a very string and incredible portrait of an unknowing subject. This man is portrayed in another light.
The artist is named Maurizio Polese, but the title of the photo and information is in another language- which I couldn't translate. Maybe you can: http://flickr.com/photos/fic82/753806936/
This self-portrait of the photographer Ed Deasy is awesome. By silhouetting himself, the main focus of the work is on the camera itself- his passion. I like the simplicity of the photo. It is as if he is taking your photographer- as he engages you. By blacking out his body, he holds some mystery to his essence, speaking only through his camera.
His website can be found at:
Big Camera by Ed Deasy
Self Seeker in NYC by Tatsuya SatoThis Japanese photographer travels throughout the world and is a traveling photo-journalist.
"And through his lens the ordinary becomes extraordinary and poetic. He confers moods and emotions upon everyday subjects or scenes which he captures in a mystery of lights & shadows reflect a perspective of relationship between people, society and the natural world by internal images".
"And through his lens the ordinary becomes extraordinary and poetic. He confers moods and emotions upon everyday subjects or scenes which he captures in a mystery of lights & shadows reflect a perspective of relationship between people, society and the natural world by internal images".
His work has a calming, mysterious feel to it. Capturing people in their everyday lives, he places his own emotion into the photo, showing that although this may be a daily routine, it can be so much more as well. We all fall into the same daily habits, thinking little of the commute to work or the walk to class. It appears that capturing this trivial, daily event, you can step back and look at it, appreciating what is around you. As Tatsuya Sato shows, these mindless activities can be transformed into art.
The website is http://www.gallerytokyo.com/index.html
La Louvre by Robert Gardiner This photo is from an artist named Rob Gardiner. He works from a pinhole camera- giving it a 1.5-15 minute exposure time. I like his style because he combines a lot of different elements and subjects in his work. He mostly photographs scenery, but there are figures in his art as well. I like how he doesn't stick to only one subject and continues to explore.
This image of la Louvre of Paris was one of the photos that stuck out to me. I saw the Louvre when I studied abroad in France last fall (2006), and so I feel a connection with the subject matter. I like how Rob Gardiner played with the reflection off of the pyramid. Also, he combines new and old- the newly constructed pyramid with the actual building from the 12th century. The combination shows the new-age advancement accompanied by the history that makes the city of Paris truly amazing. I view this picture as a comment on history and how time elapses and changes- how design and art develop and influence each other over the centuries, how the old and the new are both equally amazing.
The web-address is: http://www.nyclondon.com/blog/
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
'Everything has Beauty- Just not everyone Sees it'
Photography has always interested me... the ability to capture a moment in time or even to capture something else no one sees. I feel that everything has some ascetic quality when shown in the right light. You can take a dirty, gross pile of snow found in some heap in the middle of a parking lot and easily pass by it without thinking twice. If you can really look at it in an appreciated way and find beauty somewhere in the scene, you will appreciate everything else around you. Photography also lets you make a statement on life. Although it may not be interpreted the same, the camera gives you a chance to capture the concept as well as the picture.
I'm taking this class to help me with my art. I can paint and draw, but know nothing about a lens. This will add a whole new light to my work as well as my thought process.
This is what I expect to come out of Photo I... a new way of thought for my art. I don't expect to be a master by all means, but I do expect to be better at a higher level than I am now.
The last two sentences all tie into my personal goals: to use photography to develop my art, and perhaps to find a whole new realm which I am interested in. I want to explore it as deeply as possible.
-Rach
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