Sydni Stearns Post 14- Alexandra Cameron

1. Which of these artist's many technical choices are of interest to you and why?

I am so interested by the photographer's ability to create such soft yet dramatic photos. I am fascinated by each type of photo that she produces whether it is very dark and dramatic or lighter and more playful. She can make someone's skin look absolutely beautiful and flawless without making it look overdone or unnatural. Recently, she has been focusing on more of the up close portrait type of photo such as the first one I have attached. Her range of darks and light and this is so stunning. The background is blacked out and the model's shirt fades into it, becoming apart of it. I am so interested in this type of portrait and I want to try it, myself. 

2. What do you believe are the artist's conceptual and/or thematic intentions?

I believe that the artist's intentions are to create attractive photos that are either on the more dramatic side or the playful side. I have included examples such as the first two being the more dramatic, moody images and the last two being the more playful images. She comes up with several creative concepts such as the inclusion of the hydrangeas on the models head in the second image and the background, suit and banana in the last image.

3. How do you personally respond to these choices and intents?

I think that her photos are so beautiful and I appreciate her attention to detail. I think that she comes up with wonderful ideas for photos and makes them come to life. I am so drawn to her style of editing and I am just obsessed with the pictures I have attached. The blacked out background portrait is so wonderful and I want to attempt this kind of photo. The image of the girl holding the banana is so colorful and vibrant and quirky and I just love it. The photo of the girls with magnifying glasses is so peculiarly wonderful and was a funny idea yet one that created a beautiful photograph. I am so inspired by her images and I hope to create ones such as hers.

Denver Edmonds - Roy DeCarava *post 14*

1)  Technical decision and why I'm compelled/moved by said tech decisions?
I appreciate how Decarava really paid attention to composition. I feel as though there are some very intriguing angles within each image. Also, I am interested in the choice of lighting in each image. The  environments mostly seem to have one bright light source, which creates beautiful shadows on each figure. 
Lastly, I feel as though Decarava's images are more open than they are tight. The artist clearly knows how to crop within camera (especially since digital camera's were not available at that time), which is something that I (and other younger artist) struggle with a lot. 

2)  What I believe the artist's intentions and concept are?
I feel as though Decarava's focus pertains to the imagery/ portrayal of black people. Each photograph casts the subjects in what feels like everyday environments. Yet, the way Decarava depicts the subjects causes them to stand out because of all the elements he is thinking about. His appreciation of black people is almost clearly represented through these images. 

3)  How do I personally respond to the intentions and concepts?
I am moved by the images because the way in which Decarava handled each environment and each photo. The artist made sure to display beauty in each frame by using various technical elements. This means there was minimal to no post editing within the photographs. As a result, it inspires me because Decarava pays such great attention to detail.

4) Why I chose this artist?
I chose this artist because of their appreciation of black people and how they handle each photograph. Representation is an extremely important element to me in portrait photography because it is limited a lot of the time. Especially during Decarava's time, black people were only considered photography worthy by other black people only. However, the artist handles each photograph in such a compelling way that allows each figure to be beautiful.  

Amanda Burton - Micaiah Carter post 14

MICAIAH CARTER

1.Which of the artists many technical choices are of interest to you and why?

The technical choices that interested me in these photos are the colors. Not only of the way it is edited, but of the skin tones and makeup choices. He uses the simplistic human face and skin to turn it into a piece of art that emphasizes the true essence of these individuals. I like the use of the diversity that also plays a role in her photos. 

2. What do you believe are the artists conceptual and/or thematic intentions?

I believe she wants to get the viewers attention by incorporating details that are so prominent to the certain image. For example the first image is of a chinese male, with his language written across his face. This is a bold statement to show the viewer a clear message of his heritage. I value how well she portrays a person of their background.

3. How do you personally respond to these choices and intents?

I personally am very interested in seeing more work she creates. I am very drawn to the mood and tone of these images. Her series of images on her websites are also very interesting because of how much variety she presents. I honestly just got inspired but the first image and want to create something similar. 

Schuyler VanSyckle - Jessica Kobeissi - Post 12

  
  

Pictures By Jessica Kobeissi

1. Which of the artist many technical choices are of interest to you?

The way that Jessica positions her models in each photograph is what interests me the most. Not only does her use of poses elongate the figure but it also helps to fill up the frame of the photograph. I am instantly drawn to this while viewing these images because posing models is something that I am trying to get better at and these images inspire and show me ways I can pose my models in my own photography. 

2. What do you believe are the artists conceptual and/or thematic intentions?

Jessica's intentions for these photographs were to show the movement of the model through their poses and to also show off the fashion aspect of their clothing. 

3. How do you personally respond to these choices and intents?

I personally enjoy these images because I am very passionate when it comes to fashion photography. I love the unique over dramatic poses, outfits, and locations that come along with fashion/editorial photography.

Emma Doherty - Frank Machalowski

1.Which of the artist's many technical choices are of interest to you and why?
As I've looked through the artist's week, Frank Machalowski tries to attempt every form of photography and tends to properly execute it. I originally researched him as architectural photographer experimenting with long exposures. As I look more into my portfolio, I've seen that he experiments in all styles from landscapes to snapshots. The main goal of all of his work has been to make it as technically "deep" as possible whether that means with motion, wide perspectives, etc

2. What do you believe are the artist's conceptual and/or thematic intentions? 
While all of his intentions add a technically depth, there is also an emotional depth to each image while being very simple. The motion adds a lot of missing information that requires the viewer to create the missing pieces/information. 

3. How do you personally respond to these choices and intentions? 
After I was shown his work, i've immediately applied it into my own work. I enjoy his use of long exposure to simplify crowds and force a less distracting approach to over populated areas that he wants to photograph.

Abby Chambers - Kelli Connell

Kelli Connell

1) which of the artist’s many technical choices are of interest to you and why?  

What initially drew me into these photos was that the subjects look like sisters, but they're more intimate than sisters. Also, the framing of all the images is really pleasing to me. The poses are also very nice, it makes me wonder if Connell posed them or if these were just candid shots.

2) what do you believe are the artist’s conceptual and/or thematic intentions?  

After reading an essay based on Connell's work, I believe this is about freezing moments in time.

3) how do you personally respond to these choices and intents?

I love these photos. They're so intimate and beautiful. These moments feel so special, almost like they shouldn't be photographed and I think a lot of people are interested in the moments like that.

Anna Gaskell- Madeline Edwards

1. Which of the artist's many technical choices are of interest to you and why?

I am very interested in Anna Gaskell's choice to make her involvement in the creation of the photographs known. These aren't every day situations you would happen to stumble across and photograph. These are clearly manipulated scenes. In this sense her photos become part of a staged narrative. It has become so natural for me to manipulate everything in a scene, that I already forgot its a choice and technical strategy. 

2. What do you believe are the artist's conceptual work and/or thematic intentions?

This opinion may not be my own after reading about Anna Gaskell's work. Her photographs exist in a dark psychological/fantasy scape. She is exploring some dark reality of girl adolescence. Maybe the point in a girl's life when she realizes everything doesn't have a happy ending, not everything happens for a reason, that adults are just pretending to know whats happening in an unknown, unexplained Wonderland. The article I read suggests the strange acts the girls participate in may be a metaphor for mental illness, but I disagree especially after having read Alice in Wonderland and its analysis. I read somewhere long ago, that Alice in Wonderland represents a child's confusion upon entering the adult world. Its the world that's mad and Alice is the only one who seems to recognize it. I think Gaskells photographs may be less about mental illness and more about the strangeness of existence itself. How we act without thinking, mimicking others especially our parent's behaviors. How everything just is, and there's no concrete answer for why. 

3. How do you personally respond to these choices and intents?

Considering Shane suggested I look at Gaskell's work in reference to my own, I thought I would like it. I don't especially like or dislike these photos, but have found myself stuck on another issue. Mental illness is bad, ugly. These photographs are haunting, but not grotesque. I can't help, but wonder if they romanticize mental illness. I wonder if they graze over all the awful nitty gritty details of mental illness, if they find some sort of beauty in adolescent suffering. Then I think about if its wrong to find beauty in suffering. I don't think I have answers.

Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek- the secret life of alpaca's- Niko Fernandez

Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek
1. Which of the artist's many technical choices are of interest to you and why?
I love his choice to use very formal private area's, and added elements of surrealism, with the alpaca's throughout the series of images. Koekkoek's tribute to the old myth of alpacas sneaking into homes after the owners left was so playful. Its a turn at what happens when no ones looking similar to how toy story works and it allows for a playful visual to this Andean mythology.
2. What do you believe are the artist's conceptual work and/or thematic intentions?
I think that he was trying to pay tribute to an old mythology that is very playful. these images are unique in the fact that these alpacas are all genuinely just hanging out and existing in these spaces practically undisturbed. Obviously with traces or in the environment one would normally expect to see a person and not an alpaca. 

3. How do you personally respond to these choices and intents?I think that they are very comical and weirdly disorienting in a good way. They are just not what you'd expect to see in these environments and allow for a different take on how people thought about what occurred when they were not present. People normally think about what occur's when ones not around, I think the way its presented as a calendar is good simply because of how comical the series is. 

Brezaja Hutcheson - Jack Garofalo - Post 14

1. Which of the artist's many technical choices are of interest to you and why?

I admire how Jack Garofalo captures life in the moment, specifically the lives of marginalized people.  Garofolo captures primarily urban life through the method of street photography. I admire the fact that all of the pictures he makes have a very raw approach to them - none of them seem posed or premeditated in any way, he just captures what he sees. He tends to capture the landscape that his subjects are in as well, which only adds to the potency of these photos. He aims to show parts of life that may not be talked about by others who do not live these lives - he is not afraid to capture areas that are more impoverished, as well as people who may not fit the mold of conventional beauty standards, or rather individuals who do not have Eurocentric features. His work is unapologetically Black; this aspect of his work stood out to me the moment that I came across his photography. 

I appreciate how Garofolo seems to integrate many colors in his photos, whether it be his subjects' clothing, the landscape background, or the pigment of his subject's skin. Garofalo does an excellent job of finding beauty in all places, even the ones that are deemed "ghetto" or unsightly by others who are removed from that environment and may look down upon the people who live in these communities. 

2. What do you believe are the artist's conceptual work and/or thematic intentions?

I believe that Garofolo is attempting to document life as it happens - what he sees, things that he notices that his subjects may not even be aware of. His photographic eye and sense of composition is nothing short of compelling to me. Due to the setup and subject matter of each of his individual photos, it clearly shows that Garofolo is unabashed in what he chooses to document from these urban neighborhoods, and is showing his viewers that beauty can be found in whatever he chooses to capture. 

With each photo being different from the rest, I have concluded that the only commonality amongst all of his photographs is that they are photographed in the streets of New York City. If one are to examine his photographic works further, they would discover that each individual photograph tells a story. Not only that, but it captures what is occurring in front of his lens in that exact moment in time. Although his photos were captured in the 1970s, I feel that they are timeless in a way, because the dynamics and interactions between his subjects can still be felt. I find that when looking at these images, I still feel that I can relate to the subjects. It felt strangely nostalgic to me; something that will remain tangible for many years to come. 

3. How do you personally respond to these choices and intents?

When looking at these photographs, I am inspired to create street photography. I feel that the process is not easy, and I have always commended anyone who is able to successfully document street photography. Something about the way Garofolo captures these subjects in their respective locations - as well as the portraits of some of these individuals - has me in a state of fascination and awe. His photos look as though they could be scenes from a film. 

I have always been interested in telling the stories of others, and learning about people and how they navigate through the world. I feel that Garofolo definitely accomplished this when he began to make pictures, specifically street photography. The colors, composition, as well as the aesthetic choices he has made for his photos is what helps them truly shine. I am to do the same with my photos, and hope to eventually delve into the world of street photography myself, simply because it is so compelling to me.

Mariela Gavino - Heikki Kaski - Post 14

Heikki Kaski

Kaski's photos are simple yet striking. They speak a poetic language (something I never realized photos could do until someone said it about mine). They capture isolated forms that are each telling their own story about the town of Tranquility, where these photos were shot. And while Tranquility is the umbrella bringing these photos all into one place, at first glance they couldn't be more different. Nothing necessarily jumps out at you that they are connected, but side by side they are still saying something about emptiness and loneliness.

Kaski places his subjects in the center. The compositions are dead on and your eye rests in the middle. He also utilizes low contrast which allows the subjects to almost blend with the background (a part from the portrait of the man's back). He also gives the subjects a good balance of space around it with strong consideration for his edges.

I don't think there is a necessary overall theme to all the photos or typology. I can see that there are similarities in compositional choices though. Kaski is displaying the way this town of Tranquility feels in the most abstracted way. He photographs quiet vignettes, somethings probably not seen immediately. They almost feel like secret, weirdly magical spots.

I was moved at how much I related to Kaski's body of work. These photographs were so simple yet amazing to me. They weren't trying hard or elaborate in anyway. They do tell a story all next to each other. A weird story of how empty this town might be but it is at peace. I think overall you can't look at his photos and understand the story right away. Its like you have to keep rereading them over and over again.