Post #6

These are 5 examples of where I want to go to with my book so far. These are test photos none of which I want to submit into my blurb book. 5 different ways to go about blurring an image.

Photo 1

This is the style of blur I am going with for the final images I chose. I use photoshop to blur out the parts of the image that I do not wish to have in focus.

Failed attempts

The rest of these are failed attempts to merge two photos one blurred and one focused to reate a single image.

Post #5

Blurb Book Proposal:
What I would like to do for my blurb book is the idea of documenting SUNY Oswego inside and out. From where I have lived to classes I've been in. Images from around town, displaying the extreme differences of day life and night life. This books purpose would be to capture the memories of my college experiences, friends and life. It would be nice to come back to this book anytime in the future and be able to see how these four years of my life were spent because I know a lot of people that ask themselves that question everyday. This book will be as many pages as it needs to be, hopefully with minimal text other than possible image titles.


Top 5 Book Store Favorites:
Bruce Elbeblawy - "Julifest Deutschland"
This book is once of my favorites because of its layout. I love how it has a scrapbook look to it with a digitally altered image in the background with photos overlaying it with added emphasis so they are the first thing you look at. The book basically narrates a trip through Germany.

Sandrine Henkinbrant - "Retour au plat pays"
This is another one of my favorites for a lot of the same reasons it documents a trip or just a life experience. There is some narration like Bruce's book but mainly lets the photos do the talking. The display of each page was the grabber for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the designs used as a background underneath the photos.

Barbara Simon Photography
I love the photos in this book. The layout is simple, one image per page, all images are the same size and the majority of them black and white. This book is full of fantastic images from different cities that were toured. Some of the images are of very recognizable places and some are just landscapes that look beautiful.

Jim Brown - "Shanghai, Stockholm"
Another book documenting a trip to a foreign land. This book is full of pages with one image per page displaying side by side like a dyptic. All of the images that show up side by side are related in some way too. Either in composition or color or theme.

Aaron Morris - "Untitled"
Phenomenal Images!

Portrait Mini Critique

So these are my top five images that I created. I was really inspired by Kelli Connell who 's images we all looked at earlier in the semester. She would use Photoshop to take two or more images that she photographed and merged them to one that will help express her views on living an alternative lifestyle amongst other ideas. I did the same type of process as far as taking all of my own photos and merging them into one. I tried using two and three characters in my images and I'm not sure which tells a story better. I made these images more dark just because of the Halloween spirit I guess. What I would like to try to do for next time will be self interaction. touching each other and such. It will be much more challenging than getting two characters in one picture. Thanks ahead of time for all of the feedback I'm about to get! See you Wednesday.

-Mike Sheppard

Post #4

Kelli Connell
Poolshark, 2005
Kelli Connell Site

Analysis:

Interaction between two females in a public setting playing billiards.

Form (what is most relevant in regard to the interpretation)

• Relation of elements within the frame:
  This form is the basis of her reason for creating these images and is probably most important. Kelli is always both figures in her photographs which creates scenes that are personally relate-able to the viewer and herself.
  
• Light and Value:
  The light and value seem to always add emphasis to the point shes trying to convey in her images. In "Poolshark" she puts dim lighting in what appears to be a bar and point lighting on the pool table and the two women so you can understand that those three things are what are most important.
  
• Positive/Negative Space:
  There seems to be an equal amount of space in between the two characters in a large majority of her images.
  
• Scale:
  Since these images are being created from multiple images, scale would be a big concern in order to make her work realistic.
  
• Distance of camera to the subject matter:
  In a large majority or Kelli's work the camera seems to always be an equal distance away from her characters. With the exception of a few close ups the camera is at a distance that can capture the two figures of Kelli and their environment.
  

Interpretation

• Kelli Connell uses Adobe Photoshop as a tool to create a believable scene out of two or more images. This series of images was meant to reconstruct personal relationships of Kelli's or just scenes she has personally witnessed or has seen on television, yet none of these scenarios has actually occurred in order to be photographed. The great majority of her photos interpret the questioning of sexuality and gender roles that are meant to be autobiagraphical. Her photos are supposed to represent everything from personal relationships to belief systems to family and lifestyle options.
  
  
• This whole series of images is appealing to me because it directly relates to how I want my images to be portrayed. I plan to create a set of images by using two or more images per picture. Kelli Connell has mastered this type of image creation fueled by personal relationships and external information. I love the idea of creating scenes that have never happened in real life through images that haven't even been photographed at the same time.
  

Post #3

Douglas Prince
Fireplace and Sand, 1978
Photography and Vision

Analysis:

Partial sand floors in a living room, constructed by double negative exposure.

Form (what is most relevant in regard to the interpretation)

• Relation of elements within the frame:
  The whole series of images in Prince's portfolio are using 2 to 3 un-relating subjects that compose an interesting photo.
  
• Balance:
  The sand only takes up about one third of the image which is okay because it isnt covering too much space to get the point across.
  
• Color:
  Black and white is most likely the best way to go with a photo like this due to possible contrasting colors.
  
• Unity:
  Even though the two subject matters are un-relating they still come together nicely to make a whole image.
  
• point of view:
  The cameras point of view was head on with the fireplace witch give a good perspective on the sand floors and making the room look bigger than it might really be.
  

Interpretation

• I love this series because there are quite a bit of contradictory photographs. Like sand floors in a stiff living room. This image will bring you the idea of fun, being outdoors and messy into a living room that was meant to look very clean and rigid. He does a great job with the room lighting being similar to the outdoor lighting of the sand while also implementing a large range of contrast.
  
• some of his other photos include a woman standing in a lake during a lightning storm, an outdoor fire in an art gallery or a baby deer walking around in a big game hunting gallery.
  

Post #2

Unknown Author
In the company of books..., 9-2-2009
Lensimpressions.net

Analysis:

This image is of a woman reading in a park outside the city of Chicago. Literally being outside provides an element of peace and tranquility.

Form (what is most relevant in regard to the interpretation)

• Color: I think this piece might be more powerful if in color, but i really enjoy it in black and white, that is how it stood out amongst others to me.
  
• Angle of View: showing a couple skyscrapers in order to match the tall object in the park was a great addition to the photo.
  
• Line: The buildings and the tall object in the park provide a downward center of focus so that the person reading isn't the focus but the second or third thing you see.
  
• Distance of Camera to Subject Matter: this allows the woman reading to not be the first thing you see but the center of focus.
  
• Relation of Elements in the Frame: the city and the park are sizable but they are very unrelated and the difference between the two is very organic.
  

Interpretation

• Author:
  "As I was walking through the Grant Park, I saw a girl, lost in her book ... maybe a sci-fi had taken her long time ago in a galaxy far, far away .. or she was engrossed in the suspense of a murder mystery .. or engulfed in an intense tragic romantic novel ... whatever it was, she was lost in the pages ... "Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.""
• This Image exemplifies how tranquil and relaxing reading by yourself outside can be. The cityscape only provides backup to this example. Being on the edge of noise and chaos, but still being able to tune out everything and get lost in your hobby.

Post #1

Thomas Allen
Upshot, 2003
Foley Gallery

Analysis

Cowboy Shootout
Form (what is most relevant in regard to the interpretation)

• Point of view (angle of view)
• Depth of field
• Positive/negative space
• Distance of camera to subject matter
• Relation of elements within the frame

Interpretation

• This image is one of many parts to a photographic sequence that describes the ability to tell a story through photographs. Similar to reading a book a photograph can give you an in depth story about the subject matter. Through the formal elements, specifically Depth of Field, you can read into what brought you to this moment in the photo and what potentially might happen after. Using Depth of Field you can see that the one cowboy in focus is shooting at the cowboy out of focus, But putting them at different heights and changing the Point of View gives you a sense of trickery or potentially danger.
  
• Upshot, I consider a great example of the message that is trying to be conveyed through Allen's photography. Thomas Allen also adds books into a great majority of his photographs and does a very good job at making the books relate-able to the subject he is shooting.