Final Project Photographs

What can be more curious than that the hand of a man, formed for grasping, that of a mole for digging, the leg of the horse, the paddle of the porpoise, and the wing of the bat, should all be constructed on the same pattern, and should include the same bones, in the same relative positions?

There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.

How have all those exquisite adaptations of one part of the organisation to another part, and to the conditions of life, and of one distinct organic being to another being, been perfected? We see these beautiful co-adaptations most plainly in the woodpecker and missletoe; and only a little less plainly in the humblest parasite which clings to the hairs of a quadruped or feather of a bird; . . . in short, we see beautiful adaptation everywhere and in every part of the organic world

Assignment: Create original project. I wanted to explore projection photography. I wanted to express a connection between the human body and the natural world since we are a part of nature and we were not created to be where we are now, but rather we evolved to where we are now and we continue to evolve, just as all creatures are. I think projection photography was a good way to express this thought. My biggest struggle was creating body movements that complimented the photos, I didn't want anything to look forced. One thing I found to work well was to ask some of my models to pretend they were stretching in the morning. I would drop my camera and let them stretch until I liked their pose and then I lift my camera and take the shot. 

Final Project

For my final project, I would like to explore the process of bromoil printing.

Conceptually I would like to create a series of images of people in their “environment” or with a beloved object. I think these are very honest moments that would benefit from the process because of the softness that the bromoil image would add. When a person is captured within the environment they are most comfortable, there is a wonderful soft and calm feeling that I believe the bromoil process will lend itself to. These will be simple moments, of dancers alone in their studios, a moment between a girl and her horse, a boy and his dog, or a person sitting silent at a coffee shop among the bustle of the outside world. I think the lack of color will really focus in on the simplicity and quietness of the moment, and the bromoil will bring out a sense of softness and beauty. Lighting is an important element in my photography. I like to photograph in low light, with high contrast illuminating the subject, or another element of the photo. I like to photograph light that is creating interesting patterns, such as at sunrise or sunset. The softness of the bromoil print on the subject will lend itself to extenuating the lighting situation that I am trying to express.

    I will shoot images on my DSLR this weekend and over Thanksgiving week. The majority of my printing will probably begin after the break since I need the break to shoot, but I will print preliminary images before the break. Materials needed include photopaper, bromoil kit, negatives and DSLR camera.

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.5 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.0 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.5 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.0 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.0 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.5 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.0 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.0 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.5 min

Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.0 min

 Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.0 min

Van Dyke: 18 drops, Rives BFK, exposure - 3.5 min

Assignment: Van Dykes-- At first I had trouble with coating and some of my prints didn't come out. Once I understood how I needed to coat the paper the prints came out more successful.  With this series of photos I wanted to bring out a feeling of nostalgia, especially for me and others who grew up showing horses. I tried to get a mix of good quality shots combining young children and their horses as well as older people. I think the process lends itself to this series of photos because of the darkness, the tones, the ripped edges and Van dykes being an older process itself. The old style of dress in horse shows also brings the viewer into the 19th century in my opinion, but the girls seen in modern clothes and cars in the background of some of the photos confuses the viewer on their sense of time. Overall I'm happy with the way these photos came out but I'd like to look at expanding the series and bringing in more photos that were shot with the thought of this process in mind. I'd also like to experiment with the process until I can figure out how to get a consistent tonal range into the series.

Display is up in Diamond Library! Go check it out! On the third floor right behind the Circulation desk

Cyanotypes and Cliche Verre

The assignment was to create original Cyanotypes and Cliche Verre prints.

 The Cyanotype project was a really good experience for me, I really loved working and experimenting with blues and what can be done with a image composed completely of blue tones. The most difficult part for me was the technique for coating the paper, but I learned that how you coat paper significantly affects the result.

Scanner As Camera

The Scanner as Camera assignment consisted of arranging objects on a scanner to create photographic images.

 I really like the simplicity of this image and I think it captures my personality well at the same time.

 The image above was the most difficult to create. The exposure was long, and to keep still the entire time was difficult. I took many scans that ended up with a bit of movement before I got this one. I still wish I would have been able to get my arm more flat on the scanner, but if I did that the tattoo would distort itself and ultimately I decided that it was best to not have the arm completely flat and have the tattoo look normal.