In the last few weeks I have been thinking more about art as a whole, and widening my focus from just photography. I have realized that since I have been taking photographs in the last several months that I have been look towards more than just photographers for inspiration and for influence. I have also notice that my mind has been working on ideas for several different ways that I can expand upon the medium of photography.
I have chosen film for many different reasons, and I do not see myself exploring the digital photography realm with my photographs. However, I do see myself exploring other means of photographic expression, and I am starting to experiment in some new ways.
One of the ways, that those of you that are familiar with my photograph may have already seen, is that I have been creating videos with my photographs. These videos are basically virtual slide shows, and I have added soundtracks to enhance to experience. The first video that I made was after I had been taking photographs for a few months, and I incorporated as many different styles of photographs that I had taken to that point to show an overview of my portfolio. I also used the beat of the particular piece of music to time the appearance of photographs to give a more dramatic effect both individually and as a whole.
The next video project that I have been working on focuses on the flower photographs that I have been taking, and it incorporates these photographs along with music to enhance the meaning of this collection of photographs. Also, I am incorporating thoughts from some of the greatest minds, and quotes will be shown over the top of photographs from people like Henry David Thoreau and e.e. cummings.
As far as future plans, my mind always seems to be further ahead than my shutter. Especially because I have come to consider that if I am going to consider myself an artist in any way shape or form than I must be trying to say and express something with my art. I do not think it is enough for me to take a photograph of a landscape just for the sake of taking a photograph of a landscape. I feel compelled to say something.
So, it is along those lines that I have begun to research my first project which is going to be called Life and Death in the Brazos Valley. I think that this project will take about six months to complete, which includes the research and actually taking the photographs.
There are also other ways that I will be experimenting with photography. In the next few weeks I am going to begin photographing things much more in black and white, and I will also be taking many more night photographs.
In the next couple of weeks I will post about upcoming artist events happening locally, and I will also spotlight an artist.
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Reflections on Photography...
In the last three months since I have been posting photographs I have learned more than I knew that there was to learn about photography.
In the last few weeks I have been focusing on wildflower photography, which has turned out to be much more difficult than I first assumed. I have found that the most difficult part of photographing flowers is the limited depth of field that a macro lens provides. Also, attempting to photograph flowers in different and unique ways has sometimes been complicated, and it has mostly been complicated because of the composition of the flowers themselves. Another thing that I have found to be difficult to do is to bring out the vibrant colors of the flowers.
The Indian (or Texas) Paintbrush has been very abundant this spring, and I have also discovered it to be the easiest to photograph. The geometry and fullness of the flower has allowed me to experiment more with the paintbrush than with any other flower, and with some success. The Texas bluebonnet has proven to be the most difficult to photograph in unique ways. Because of the composition of the petals the Bluebonnet is a flower that tends to be much more visually stimulating from further away than it is up close.
I have discovered that my favorite time of the day to take photographs is in the later morning hours. About ten o’clock in the morning seems to be the right time to take most photographs; the light is usually just the right intensity. There is also something about the time of day that I think translates into the photograph. There is another part of our senses that is active when we look at a photograph in which the time of day can be reasonably assumed.
I am going to continue to post new photographs twice a week, and I will be posting a blog once a week. I have other ideas that are working themselves out inside my head, including showcasing the work of other artist especially local artist. I am also hoping to post video vlogs on my YouTube channel once a week and these vlogs will include commentary and new photographs.
At the moment I am researching a project that I plan to take photographs for this summer; I have called the project “Life and Death in the Brazos Valley.” In the more immediate future I will probably be taking the weekend off from taking photographs. Last weekend I took four rolls of photographs, and I need to focus on organizing my photographs and negatives (I am behind at the moment). Also, I need to spend some time finding more prints for my portfolio. Hopefully next week I will have some news pertaining to that specifically.
For now I will leave you with a thought from Berenice Abbott: “Photography helps people to see.”
In the last few weeks I have been focusing on wildflower photography, which has turned out to be much more difficult than I first assumed. I have found that the most difficult part of photographing flowers is the limited depth of field that a macro lens provides. Also, attempting to photograph flowers in different and unique ways has sometimes been complicated, and it has mostly been complicated because of the composition of the flowers themselves. Another thing that I have found to be difficult to do is to bring out the vibrant colors of the flowers.
The Indian (or Texas) Paintbrush has been very abundant this spring, and I have also discovered it to be the easiest to photograph. The geometry and fullness of the flower has allowed me to experiment more with the paintbrush than with any other flower, and with some success. The Texas bluebonnet has proven to be the most difficult to photograph in unique ways. Because of the composition of the petals the Bluebonnet is a flower that tends to be much more visually stimulating from further away than it is up close.
I have discovered that my favorite time of the day to take photographs is in the later morning hours. About ten o’clock in the morning seems to be the right time to take most photographs; the light is usually just the right intensity. There is also something about the time of day that I think translates into the photograph. There is another part of our senses that is active when we look at a photograph in which the time of day can be reasonably assumed.
I am going to continue to post new photographs twice a week, and I will be posting a blog once a week. I have other ideas that are working themselves out inside my head, including showcasing the work of other artist especially local artist. I am also hoping to post video vlogs on my YouTube channel once a week and these vlogs will include commentary and new photographs.
At the moment I am researching a project that I plan to take photographs for this summer; I have called the project “Life and Death in the Brazos Valley.” In the more immediate future I will probably be taking the weekend off from taking photographs. Last weekend I took four rolls of photographs, and I need to focus on organizing my photographs and negatives (I am behind at the moment). Also, I need to spend some time finding more prints for my portfolio. Hopefully next week I will have some news pertaining to that specifically.
For now I will leave you with a thought from Berenice Abbott: “Photography helps people to see.”
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