So haven't wrote for a while- sorry! Well here we go again I guess, we can make it to the end of the semester. As we have been watching videos of Sally Mann and other amazing photographers, I was thinking of how they became so popular. I don't like to be the last to know who and what is "fetch" so I goggled "Photographers to Watch in 2014." The results were so much fun to look at! Check out http://pdn30.pdnevents.com/gallery/2014/#grid to take a look for yourself. My two favorites were Charlie Engman and Grant Harder. Charlie Engman uses a term "visual gesture" which I love because you feel as if you are moving similar to his model. The photo director of New York Times Style Magazine says his work is "perfectly imperfect." Charlie Engman is a little different with his clients of enRoute and Bon Appetit. His work came from a hobby of over 10 years. After traveling with his wife he decided to make it his career, "But like anything I'd ever done, I jumped in." I have so much respect for that attitude and love his work.
With the next assignment approaching, which is all about light and form, I
remembered one of my favorite America's Next Top Model photo shoots. The shoot
was set up in an open, outdoor space. A piece of lace was held up in order to
cast a shadow which models posed underneath. The pictures, shot by Tyra Banks,
were amazing. I love the idea that the lace added emotion to the picture
without being physical present in the exposure itself. I also was drawn to the
contrast between the delicate lace and the softness of the outdoors with the
emotion portrayed by the models- it is great juxtaposition. It is definitely
going to inspire my next photo session.
After having long discussions about light and shadow, I decided to find
some much needed inspiration. I first began by googling "Brassai" a
famous Parisian photographer who has renowned photographs of the romantic city
at night. His first book was entitled Paris After Dark; it was incredibly
successful-even being nicknamed, "the eye of Paris." I am very drawn
to his photos because at first glance they seem cute and simple but after analyzing
you realize there is something deeper and mysterious about it. You just can't
help but stare.
Spring break is soon upon us which means I take my very
first trip to New York City! Beyond excitement, I find myself googling
everything about the over-populated island. First, I wondered about the renowned
photos taken in NYC. The same old, same old came up then I found the picture
above along with other "random" black and white photos. I fell for
this one because it holds so much juxtaposition. It also expresses the
differences in people in addition to the irony of the "Learn English"
ad behind Mr. Business. As I continued searching I came across 5 Pointz which
is similar to the STL Tag Wall. Although it is closed, it was an outdoor art exhibit
space in Long Island for graffiti artists around the world to create and
express themselves. The colors and artistry is amazing and captures so many
thoughts and emotions. Take a look!
This past Sunday, I had much needed "me-time." And when all else fails, I usually find myself at a bookstore with other stressed book lovers sipping on a grande Starbucks coffee. A table stacked high with photography books caught my eye. As I started flipping through Life: The Classic Collections, I was thinking how raw the black and white photos looked. Absolutely beautiful in unique ways, each one hitting new thoughts and emotions. Then I began thinking about editing photos. How did they do it in the past? How long have photos been retouched? Are there such things as un-retouched photos? So next step I went to Google like every other inquiring individual. I found this has been happening for years! Do you know of the famous photo of Abraham Lincoln's portrait where is standing tall and strong next to a chair? It is not even his body! Photos has been lying to us for years and years. So is there such a thing as a true photograph?
The last few days have been absolutely gorgeous outside and what else to do besides grab a camera (pictures soon to come). As I began to capture some pictures, I began to play with the shadows. It really caught my attention. I came home to put "shadow photography," into my Bing search. These are some images I really loved and may get your creative juices flowing.
Inspiration is rare. Yesterday I came across the blog Humans of New York. It is simply amazing. Photographer Brandon Stanton began this project in 2010.
"I thought it would be really cool to create an exhaustive catalogue of New York City’s inhabitants, so I set out to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers and plot their photos on a map. I worked for several months with this goal in mind, but somewhere along the way, HONY began to take on a much different character. I started collecting quotes and short stories from the people I met, and began including these snippets alongside the photographs. Taken together, these portraits and captions became the subject of a vibrant blog. With nearly four million followers on social media, HONY now provides a worldwide audience with daily glimpses into the lives of strangers in New York City. It has also become a #1 NYT bestselling book.. It’s been quite a ride so far."
I find it so amazing that someone is inspired to shoot strangers; people we pass every day and take it for granted. Everyone has something beautiful to share and to capture their story with a click is an incredible thing. Take a look. It might inspire you to do the same.
