Week 10

I am really interested in Marilyn Minter’s work. There is a ton of glitter involved and the photos are so closely cropped that the photos seem slightly grotesque.  Minter focuses on photographing women who are all dolled up. Minter also seems to be attracted to different textures. All though all the photographs from the series are in color I think that photographing images in black in white will still create weird photographs. 

Since I want to focus on creating interesting still lives I think it would be great to look back on Minter's work. She is able to create very uneasy close up photographs. I would like to be able to use my props and create unsettling photos also. Since these photographs use similar props to the ones I have it would be very simple for me to be able to recreate photos. Additionally, after looking at these photographs I think I would like to also invest in photographing ridiculous jewelry too. 

Helmut Newton is another photographer I would like to use for inspiration. His photographs take a different direction than Marilyn Minter. Newton's work is a lot more commercial and the majority of photos I found were from vogue.

Helmut's work reminds me of older glamour which also could be a direction I would want to take in taking more photographers. All though this expands my direction and inspiration for photography, I think it would be an interesting route to take. The last photograph is my favorite because of the fake nails and large amount of money. 

The last photographer I find inspirational is Keizo Kitajima.

Although I know I can never fully recreate these photographs or create something with the same vibe because of the time period I still want to use them for inspiration. I plan on going to the Easter parade on Sunday because I know I can photograph people in ridiculous outfits. Photographing strangers is out of my comfort zone and I want to still create photos that are unsettling and weird. I also think that it is a perfect opportunity to take some beautiful photos and not having to recreate sets in my dorm room. I am hoping that the photos come out really theatrical and pretty. It looks as though Kitajima pushes film because the photos seem really gritty and contrasty. That is not a look I am going for. If anything I would like to pull my film so my photographs come out finer and clearer. 

Lastly, I think that my direction for my project keeps broadening. I am inspired by a lot of different photographers and I feel like they all have different vibes. I definitely want to create theatrical, interesting, and weird photographs. I just do not want to get derailed from my project. I want all of my photos to look related in some way and I still need to focus on how they can all be related. 

Week 9: Project

My focus on my work for the rest of the semester is making more theatrical photographs. This includes using interesting props and focusing on the setting and backgrounds I use. I want the photos to look complete and interesting so I really need to focus on the details in order for my photos to be successful.

I did a photo-shoot last week and continued this week. I was able to use a large range of people because I made a Facebook post and got a lot of responses from people. Everything I used in the photos were from 99ct stores in White Plains. I was able to set up backdrops using wrapping paper from the store. I wanted my photos to be ridiculous and not taken too seriously. I was able to borrow a lighting kit from CTS but after taking my photographs I found the focus was slightly off and that next time I should use a tripod.

These two photographs of Amankae and Maddy show some of the direction I want to take during the rest of the semester. There is a heavy emphasis on enhanced beauty (fake lashes, fake nails) and fake wealth. The money is actually tissues that have fake money on the plastic cover. The props I use are slightly confusing and I want to make my photographs even more confusing as I continue working.

Here is a close up of the fake nails and tissues. The focus is slightly off and I know it is because of the aperture. I should have used a tripod and more lighting next time. I want to also focus on making my photos as sharp as they can be. I have found that while pulling my film I get much better results. I still am very found of this photograph I just wish that you could be able to see the designs in the nails. I do want to use more jewelry in my future pieces. I usually photograph portraits so I want to focus on trying to take more still life photographs that still translate enough emotion or feeling a portrait does.

This last photo is really strange and that is why I included it. I used my friend Julia and put this odd ski mask I had and pulled her hair through it. It is really off-putting but that is why I think it works as a photograph. I like the direction the photo-shoot went because I did not put too much planning into it. I bought all the props and had them laid out on my table so I could easily access them and would randomly pick and chose as the shoot went on. By the end of the days of the photo-shoot the photos would get really odd. I think that was the best way to plan the photo-shoot since so many people were involved I as able to do whatever I wanted and use the props in odd ways.  I want to continue doing photo-shoots for the rest of the semester. I am much happier with my photos when I plan something out.

Week 8: Tod Papageorge's Essay on Henri Cartier-Bresson

While reading Tod Papageorge’s essay about Henri Cartier-Bresson it seems as though Henri Cartier-Bresson was able to do anything he wanted. He started as an actor then moved on to painting and then moved on to writing. Cartier-Bresson was finally inspired to take photographs while traveling in Africa. Papageorge’s statement that Henri Cartier-Bresson is the best photographer is a large one. I understand that it is because he has spent a lot of time perfecting his craft but that is still quite large of something to say.

            I was interested in Henri Cartier-Bresson’s work about post-war, which was mentioned in the essay so I looked up the three photographs listed.  Valencia, 1933 is such a confusing yet interesting photo to look at. At first I had no clue if the face was looking through a window or if it was a mirror reflection. Since the photo is only focused on the face the background is slightly blurry but you can make out that there is a man behind the sliding door. Madrid, 1933, is also another interesting photo.  It is very dynamic and the background building that looks like it has a bunch of small windows really adds to the photo. The children’s facial expressions all look natural so this feels and looks like a snapshot photo. The last photo listed, has a nice frame around it because Cartier-Bresson takes a photo through a broken wall. This also feels like a snapshot but because of the angle and position of the camera it feels much more thought out. After looking at these three photographs it is clear that Henri Cartier-Bresson has a very good eye. I always find this tricky in snapshot photos because you want the photo to feel natural but you still want some planning to go into it so there is an interesting perspective.

            After reading the essay I looked up Tod Papageorge’s work. I was really drawn to the Studio 54 photographs. Once again Papageorge is also a snapshot photographer. These photos have so much emotion to them. They really describe a party scene that is no longer scene in New York City. The photos are so glamorous and interesting. I am really drawn to his work. There is so much glitter, smoking, and drinking that Papageorge photographs. Everyone seems to be having a great time in these photographs. They do not feel staged at all.

            Snapshot photography has always been an issue for me because I think that my best photos are the ones I plan and make people pose for. Both Cartier-Bresson and Papageorge have mastered the art of snapshot of photography. I feel like it really depends on where you are and if you take the photo at the proper time. I still want to focus on this type of photography so that I can make more personal photographs. Papageorge is some I will look for more inspiration from because I like glamorous photographs and the ones I usually look at are very staged.