Capture candid emotion among groups of people in various situations.
Take photos from uncommon or unexpected viewpoints.
Make a photography collage using various materials holding the pictures together such as paper clips, thumb tacks, and masking tape.
artist Hero #1
Ansel Adams is a photographer that is known for his incredible talent to capture timeless images of the world around him. He mainly shoots nature images in various different environments and puts a black and white filter on them to create a timeless affect. Adams grew up in the Bay Area and found his love for art at an early age. He grew up playing piano but put that hobby aside when he realized his talent in photography.
Who is the artist? Ansel Adams What is the title of the work? Mt. McKinley and Wonder Lake When was it created? Summer 1947 What is it made out of? (media) 8x10 camera on black and white film What is the size? 8x10 What is the setting of the work? Mt. McKinley and Wonder Lake in Alaska Is it additive, subtractive, or cast? Cast What is it? (include subject matter and note details) This photograph includes Mt. McKinley and Wonder Lake.
Identify and describe the elements and principles of design that pertain to your piece: The different values created by the black and white filter on the image exaggerates the texture of the mountain and nature surrounding. The large depth of field allows all of the nature components to be in focus and show how grand they are. The leading lines of Wonder Lake and the surrounding trees guides the viewers eye to Mt. McKinley. The denaturation of the picture adds to the contrast and the creates a timeless affect.
How were the elements arranged to order and control: The high contrast between the black and white of the image creates emphasis on the subject. The variety of texture and value creates an interesting composition. The proportion and scale of the images shows how grand the mountain is and how wide the lake is.
This piece is realistic. When I look at this piece it makes me feel small it reminds myself and others that there are greater and bigger things than humans on Earth. The mood of this work is dark and dreary. It tells the story of a journey that has a beautiful destination. The purpose of creating this work was to capture the raw beauty of Alaska's nature.
Do you like or dislike the piece? Why? I like this photo because the high contrast adds emphasis on the snowy mountain and lake. How does the work fit into the historical time period in which it was created? This work fits in the time period it was taken and every time period before and after because the black and white creates a timeless affect. Does the title make sense to the artwork? How does the title relate? The title make sense and relates to the piece because it is the name of what it is included in the piece.
Museum visit #1
This past week I was fortunate enough to visit the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco while on vacation in California.
Who is the artist? Larry Sultan What is the title of the work? Conversation in Driveway a piece from the series Pictures from Home. When was it created? 1986 What is it made out of? (media) Printed Photograph What is the size? unknown What is the setting of the work? The setting of the photograph is what drives the series, they are all at the Sultan household. Is it additive, subtractive, or cast? cast What is it? This is a photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Sultan Larry’s parents talking in the family’s driveway. It is a piece from the series Pictures from Home which captures his family in both posed and natural going about daily life. Identify and describe the elements and principles of design that pertain to your piece: Larry Sultan used the lines in the driveway lead you to explore more of the photo. The values of the colors convey the time period that the picture was taken in. The couple creates positive space in the foreground and with a shallow the background creates a sense of negative space. How were the elements arranged to order and control: In this photo the photographer lines the couple up in the center of the picture, but with the car on the side of the man and created rule of thirds. There is a shallow depth of field because the couple begin in foreground and the only thing in focus, the people in the background are unclear and out of focus. The shallow depth of field says that despite what's going on in the back of them the couple are only focus on their conversation and places emphasis on them as a subject. The photo is unbalanced because with the car in the foreground behind a man and nothing on the other side of the woman in the photo is not equally balanced or asymmetric. Is the piece realistic, non-objective, abstract? Realistic How do you feel when you look at the piece? Feel like I am standing right there, the photo invites you to feel what they are feeling. What viewer response does the piece evoke? This piece evokes curiosity among the readers to know why they are the only ones in their driveway with all the commotion across the street and what they are talking about. What is the mood of the work? The mood of this photo is inviting and almost secretive. Does the work tell a story? This photo tells a story of the artist’s parents and their current situation. What do you think was the artist’s purpose for creating the piece? The purpose of this piece was to be apart of Larry Sultan’s series Pictures from Home.
Do you like or dislike the piece? Why? I like this photo because the response it evokes from me, I want to know more about what is going on. I also like how by the style of the car and their clothing you know it is an older picture. Is it, or should it be, an important piece in art history? This piece is important to art history because Larry Sultan was an artist that made color photography what it is today. How does the work fit into the historical time period in which it was created? The period of time is conveyed through the style of clothing, car, and the technology in the piece. Has the piece had influence over other’s work? This piece has not influenced any other’s work. Does the title make sense to the artwork? How does the title relate? The title makes sense because it relates to what the subjects are doing in the picture.
Pikes peak photo series
This is a photo series is from a family vacation to Colorado. During our trip we took the Cog Railway which is a train that brought us up to the top of Pike's Peak Mountain that stands at 14,115 feet. This photo series sums up our journey to the top of the world and back attempting to capture the beauty of the trip.
Artist Hero #2
Mario Testino is a internationally known fashion and portrait photographer. He was born in Lima, Peru but then moved to London, one of the fashion capitals of the world. While living in London he was inspired by other photographers that came before him to try out photography. One of his big breaks was with British Vogue, a magazine company he still works with now along with countless others. Testino’s biggest break was when he did famous shoot with Princess Diana, that shoot opened doors for him all across Europe to photograph royal families. No matter if he is shooting a campaign for a brand or a magazine cover or shooting a royal family or shooting portraits of people on the street for personal projects Mario Testino has the ability to pull energy from his subjects to capture raw emotion.
Who is the artist?Mario Testino What is the title of the work?Diana, Princess of Wales When was it created?1997 What is it made out of? (media) Photograph What is the setting of the work?A photo shoot set for London Vanity Fair. What is it? This photograph is a portrait of Princess Diana for a magazine spread about her.
The lines and shapes created by Princess Diana’s body guides the view through the picture. The values of light and dark are emphasized through the contrast of white, black and the midtones. This piece has a shallow depth of field which makes viewers focus on the Princess.
Is the piece realistic, non-objective, abstract? Realistic How do you feel when you look at the piece?When I look at this piece I am amazed at the poise and elegance of Princess Diana and the ability of Mario Testino that he was able to capture it. What viewer response does the piece evoke? Princess Diana was an icon that very many people looked up to and thought highly of, when people looked at this picture it evokes a response of heartwarming pleasure. What is the mood of the work? The mood of the work is happy and light. Does the work tell a story? This piece tells an intime story of what Princess Diana is like behind the palace doors. What do you think was the artist’s purpose for creating the piece? The purpose of this piece was to highlight Princess Diana in a way people didn't always see.
Do you like or dislike the piece? Why? I do like this picture because it captures a person of stature and royalty in a very common way, it reminds myself and everyone else who views the piece that she is a normal person like us. Is it, or should it be, an important piece in art history? This piece and its series is an important piece in art history because it captures a member in the royal family in a way that is not common to see. How does the work fit into the historical time period in which it was created? Yes, this piece fits in the period it was created, you can tell the time by her clothing and it's timeless because the black and white filter. Has the piece had influence over other’s work? This piece did have influence other work it got Mario Testino’s name out and gave him opportunities to take portraits for other royal families. Does the title make sense to the artwork?How does the title relate? Yes because the title is the same as the subject, Princess Diana.
PhOto series #2
From Colorado my family and I continued our adventures to California. We spent time exploring the ins and outs and highs and lows of San Francisco. We found new places like Sausalito and enjoyed the state capital in Sacramento.
mUSeum visit #2
I went to The Narrows in Fall River to view May Pang and Deborah Feingold’s exhibit of “Rock n’ Roll Through Our Lenses.” This exhibit excludes many pieces of John Lennon, May Pang’s on and off again boyfriend and many other rock n’ roll stars.
Who is the artist? Deborah Feingold What is the title of the work? Chet Baker When was it created? 1977 What is it? This is a picture of the famous jazz musician Chet Baker. Identify and describe the elements and principles of design that pertain to your piece and how were the elements arranged to order and control: This piece contains values of light and dark that are shown through the black and white filter. The outline of Chet Baker creates shapes and creates spots of positive and negative space. With Chet being in the foreground of the picture and the focus on him creates a shallow depth of field. The lines created by the windows lead the viewer’s eye through the picture.
Is the piece realistic, non-objective, abstract? This piece is realistic. How do you feel when you look at the piece? When I look at this piece I feel curious to learn who the man playing the trumpet in a windowsill is. What viewer response does the piece evoke? This photo evokes a curious response for viewers who don’t know Chet Baker and for those who do they admire a new perspective of him. What is the mood of the work? The mood of this work is sad. Chet Baker looks sad and focused like he is lost in the music. Does the work tell a story? This work seems like there is more to what is going than what is captured in this picture. What do you think was the artist’s purpose for creating the piece? The artist purpose for creating this piece was to capture a jazz musician in an intimate way.
Do you like or dislike the piece? Why? I do like this picture I like the intimacy of a big jazz musician sitting in a small space like a windowsill doing what he loves. Is it, or should it be, an important piece in art history? It is not an important piece in art history and I don’t think it needs to be, it has a more important meaning to music history. How does the work fit into the historical time period in which it was created? The photo fits into its time period because of the model of the trumpet and the old windows. The trumpet alone makes him fit into that time period because jazz music that involves trumpets are not that popular and haven't been for awhile. Does the title make sense to the artwork? How does the title relate? The title make sense and relates because it is the name of the subject: Chet Baker.
Artist Hero #3
Larry Sultan is a photographer from San Fernando Valley whose main focus is to capture documentary and staged photography. Sultan focuses on landscape and domestic settings. He wishes to show the difference between realistic and fantasy in his work. Larry Sultan has been apart of a thirty year collaboration with Mike Mandel which includes multiple series. His work hangs in various prestigious museums world wide.
Who is the artist? Larry Sultan What is the title of the work? Meander, Corte Madera When was it created? 2006 What is it made out of? (media) Photograph What is the setting of the work? Meander, Corte Madera What is it? It is a photograph of a man in a rowboat on a calm river.
Identify and describe the elements and principles of design that pertain to your piece: In this piece the river creates lines that leads the viewer’s eye through the picture. The desaturated earthly color creates a mood of peacefulness. The texture of the water is smooth in contrast to the rough prickly grass.
How were the elements arranged to order and control: The lines that the river forms demonstrates the rule of thirds. There is a shallow depth of field, the row boat is in focus but the city in the back is not. As the river expands downward through the picture rhythm and movement are created.
Is the piece realistic, non-objective, abstract? This piece is realistic. How do you feel when you look at the piece? When I look at this piece it make me feel serene and makes me wonder the purpose of this man being on the boat. What viewer response does the piece evoke? When viewers look at this picture it gives them a sense of serenity and curiosity. What is the mood of the work? The mood of this work is serenity. Does the work tell a story? This work does tell a story it tells a story of a man on a boat and how he lives in a place where there is not much. What do you think was the artist’s purpose for creating the piece? I think the artist’s purpose of this piece is to capture the lives of people in secluded areas.
Do you like or dislike the piece? Why? I do like this picture, I love the simplicity of the picture even though it captures something that represents a lot. Is it, or should it be, an important piece in art history? I do think it should be important piece in art history I think it captures and way of life that doesn’t get much attention, it is shown a beautiful way and it should be recognized. How does the work fit into the historical time period in which it was created? Yes it does fit in the historical time period in which it was created it shows how there are still some places on this Earth that are still simple despite the incline of technology. Has the piece had influence over other’s work? This piece is a part of a series that is made up of pictures of people in their homeland in which are all inspired and have influence on each other. Does the title make sense to the artwork? How does the title relate? The title does relate and makes sense because it is the location the photo was taken at.