Conceptual IntentionsWhat did you find meaningful about the process and practice of this project? Where does your voice and style as an artist emerge in this project? If you did not find the practice and process meaningful or you do not feel that your voice emerged in this work, why not?
I felt the project was meaningful because I was able to actually create my own camera out of household materials and take successful and interesting photographs using very simple technology and creative thinking. I was able to show my voice through varying my use of photograph locations and in designing my personal camera to fit my personal preferences. I was able to take photographs that demonstrated my compositional skills using the camera that I created.
Stretch and ExploreWhat challenges did you face over the course of this project? what changed over the course of your project? What opportunities or occurrences led to these changes? Given what you know now about building a camera, how might you have changed your concept or approach to working?
I had trouble with effectively creating my camera so that my photos were not overexposed to light. I had to experiment with various photo locations in order to find those with optimal light and shadow in my quest for a successful photograph. Over time, I chose locations with more light because darker locations did not produce photographs that were as interesting or effective as those with bright lighting. I would have probably chosen a paint can or other cylindrically shaped object because from the experiences of my classmates, it seems that objects in this shape make the most light-tight cameras. I used a box and although it worked effectively eventually, I had to work much harder to create a light tight environment than my classmates with cylindrical cameras.
Formal IntentionsHow have you deepened your understanding of photography in this project? Describe your pinhole prints. Please upload at least three examples to your blog.
This project helped me to understand the importance of light and composition in photographs. I gained a better understanding of aperture and how to use it efficiently and successfully. I also learned to take photographs of locations with interesting and diverse compositions in order to take complex and unique photos. In my first two pinhole prints, I took photographs of a darker environment and ended up with lighter and less successful prints. They prints were more blurred and out of focus. After changing my location, I was able to take more focused and contrasting photographs of Maxwell Music Hall. I was more pleased with this location and was able to take successful and interesting photographs.
