Hero's Journey: Interim Critique

My group members liked the idea that I presented of creating a book for my photos in order to present a fluid storyline. They suggested that I bind the book with ribbon or string or in some other interesting way that would evoke the fantasy and fairytale that I am trying to capture in my photos. They suggested that I put the photos together in a way that creates a story that is easy to follow, and I plan to do a bit more shooting in order to fill the holes in my storyline. They also suggested that I begin and end the book with photos of the same object, so as to portray the circular nature of the hero's journey and to create unity to ground the story.

My Creative Practice

     Generally, the concepts that I tend to explore when creating compositions are related to the world around me and to the process of experimentation and discovery. I like to explore the natural world and photograph the natural world, but I also like to use Photoshop to manipulate natural elements and create a composition that is more complex and thought-provoking than a photo alone. Formally, I rely upon my use of Photoshop and I think that my use of line, color, and texture in Photoshop help to create my distinct style. I habitually draw lines on my photographs and use masking to superimpose photos upon one another. Also, I like to work with vibrant colors in an aesthetically pleasing manner. When taking photos, I tend to use a very open aperture because I love the way that a shallow depth of field brings out details that are otherwise difficult to see. I enjoy playing with focus and depth in my photographs. Moving into the rest of the year, I'd like to experiment a bit more with film photography and work on communicating conceptual intentions through photographs. I'd like to get to a place where I can take photos that instantly communicate a larger, more important message that I'm trying to get across. So, I plan to work on the methods that I employ to communicate my ideas to my viewers.

The Hero's Journey: Planning

For the upcoming storytelling project, I plan to move away from my use of Photoshop and instead shoot on location this upcoming weekend in a setting reminiscent of fairytales. I would like to find a wooded area or go to a lake or river to shoot these photos. I'll bring a friend or two with me who I will include in my photographs, and I will bring several objects that speak to the fairytale theme. I'm thinking of using a key, a watch, a clock, and any other antiquated objects that I can find and photograph in an interesting way. This week, I will spend time photographing objects that I can find in a variety of lightings and settings in order to figure out the type of compositions that I aim to produce in my series. I will also research several common fairytales, stories, and myths to see whether or not there is one particular story that interests me that I would like to use as inspiration for my series.

Interim Unexplored Territories

What We Notice
- leading to central point of focus, something important
- small shapes inside larger pieces draw attention - conjure images of roads, networks leading to central destination
- contrast of angular vs. organic
- contrast of manmade vs. natural

Intentions
- maybe roads or lines leading to central purpose, intentionally representing something important or something frequently visited
- representing California in the way I see it, different views of different parts of California
- natural
- tension between man and nature

Unexplored Territories Project

On Monday, I began by doing a daily practice outdoors. I used dead pieces of pine to create a linear pattern with a direct sense of movement. I spent about 20 minutes carefully arranging the pieces in an arrow-like pattern, trying to achieve the linear and directional sense that many maps often have. I become interested in the idea of repetitive detailed pattern and I hope to use repetitive detailed patterns within my map. I am drawn to detail and to organization, so I hope to create an aesthetic that is uniquely mine with this map.

Inspired by my daily practice, I began sketching a map of California. I used major highways to divide the state into several portions. Then, I sketched different repetitive patterns within these sections. In my final piece, I plan to use Photoshop to layer two photos, each of  on top of one another. Then, I want to use masking with the second photo to erase parts of the photo strategically, creating a pattern accentuated by the photo underneath. I hope to incorporate map-like geometry and organization to create a digital collage that pays homage to maps in a non-traditional fashion.

Self-Study Reflection

Conceptual Intentions
     I used photoshop to superimpose several photographs together, creating a complex and multidimensional piece. I addressed the idea of a self-study using dark, calm colors to portray a sense of concentration and contemplation. The final product is a self-study because it shows my connection to nature but also emphasizes my fondness of urban spaces, and the movement in the images illustrate show my mind often works, moving in stages or layers and building upon previous ideas. I wanted to make the image detailed yet cohesive so as to represent the complexity of the human mind. The project was meaningful to me because it allowed me to intimately explore a more thoughtful side of myself. I enjoy using photoshop and multiple images together to create one unified piece, so this project allowed me to further develop my authentic voice as an artist. I am also fond of clean lines and symmetry, so I combined these elements in my self study.

Stretch and Explore
     At first, I wanted to use film and long exposure techniques in natural spaces to create a sense of motion. However, due to time constraints and issues with film development, I switched my focus to digital photography and then to photoshop. Instead of using long exposure photography, I layered several photos of myself on top of one another in order to achieve a similar effect. Once I began layering images of myself, I began to see the piece coming together. I used black and white tones to achieve a film-like effect, and I used an out-of-focus light photograph to put more of an emphasis on shadow and to incorporate a more urban feeling to contrast with the natural background. Having completed this composition, if I were to go back, I would begin initially with digital photography and photoshop so as to give myself enough time to really flesh out the image. I would clean up some of the edges of the photo and perhaps increase contrast given what I know now and what I encountered during my artistic process.

Understanding the Art World
      I was particularly inspired by Francesca Woodman's photographs as well as Cindy Sherman's Untitled Film Stills. Francesca Woodman's work had a certain unexpected, almost eerie quality that I hoped to channel by layering my photos and playing with opacity to create ghostly figures. Also, her work did not include her face, and I wanted to try to portray my personality and emotions without having to use my face. Her work was a good example of how object placement and surroundings can influence figures in a photograph. Cindy Sherman's were very raw and expressive with a variety of different backgrounds. I was inspired by how she used lighting to design the mood of the photographs and how her backgrounds complemented the figures in focus, and I tried to use both of these techniques in my final piece.

Reflect
     The critique provided me with new insight as to how my viewers saw my work and how their interpretations compared to or differed from my intentions. I intended for my viewers to get a sense of thoughtfulness and contemplation from the colors used and the positioning of the figures in the photo, and many did. Also, other viewers commented on the natural vs. urban contrast and on the movement of the figures. Benjamin mentioned that the movement and opacities of the figures mimicked the human thought process and that the layers could represent the process of understanding concepts and ideas. My classmates also noticed that the diagonal horizon line challenged the general notion that horizon lines should be straight. In future processes, I will take into account these kinds of elements and think about how details work together to communicate ideas that may be deeper and not as immediately obvious. I was able to give my peers insight into how the emphasis that they put on certain elements of their projects played out visually and the messages that I received from the emphasized elements. I was also able to help my peers decide the best organizational strategies for series of photos and to decide whether their works truly communicated the points and qualities that they were aiming to emphasize.

Interim Self Study Critique

Following my conversation with my peers, I aim to...

• maintain contrast in the black and white photos but keep colors on the light side in order to keep the mood calm and pensive rather than moody and depressed
• experiment with different textures, which ones work best with which photos
• play with opacities to get the intended affect, put the emphasis on the right parts of the photo
• make more photos! 

Starting the Self Study

• how is this work a self study?

              This work is a self study because I plan to explore myself and the things that are important to me through film photography. I hope to use this as an opportunity to explore myself and discover myself through a new medium. I plan to use a series of unconventional photos of myself to compose a thorough self portrait.

• what media do you plan to use in this work? are you confident in your use of these materials or using the project as an opportunity to grow in you proficiency with them? or both?

                 I plan to use a film camera in my self study. I am relatively confident with my proficiency as a film photographer but I would like to use this project as an opportunity to further my skills and to become more comfortable experimenting with film cameras. Given the absence of immediate feedback in film photography, it can be more difficult to determine the best photographic strategies. However, through trial and error and using different developing strategies, I hope to grow and learn as a film photographer. 

• what potential specifics can you offer--large or small scale, series or individual work...

                I plan to do a series of film photography incorporating long exposure and focusing on light and shadow. I aim to use simple surroundings to create a clean background and depict motion using the long exposure feature. I will include myself in most photos but want to avoid focusing too much on my face and instead focus on figure and movement.

Opening Practice: 2015-2016

Look at the work or works you created last week. What is your initial response to the works? 

     When I look at the work I created last week, I first notice the variety of different textures and the dark, moody colors. The emotion that I was assigned to depict was despair, and I used clutter, passionate colors, and sharp angles to capture this emotion. When I see the piece, sadness and panic come to mind first. Although I do think that I could have made a more precise and cohesive composition had I had enough time, I believe that my emotion was expressed thoroughly through the textures, patterns, and colors used. 

What emotional, conceptual, formal elements emerge as important in the final piece(s)?

     To me, the most important elements of my final piece is the use of directional movement and varying texture. The fast brushstrokes and angular cuts I used create a feeling of movement that helps to illustrate my emotion. Also, the distinct shape and form that I used to create the face of the figure stands out to me and invokes a certain sadness or depression. Emotionally, the dark, turbulent colors in the piece emphasize the emotion of despair clearly why the harsh, jagged lines and edges make the composition more unsettling. 

How was working with limited time and materials helpful to you?

       Working with limited time and materials allowed me to express my true and immediate feelings in my work. I did not have the time to censor myself or to filter my thoughts, so any ideas that I had were quickly implemented in my work. As a result, my piece is more natural and genuine than it would have been otherwise. Though it is also slightly disorganized, I find my work to be raw and emotional rather than polished and vague. 

What in this quick introductory practice would you like to take into your regular creative practice?

     In my regular creative practice, I would like to incorporate the quick and uncensored mentality that I embraced during this project. In the future, I hope to put my first ideas and reactions into my work directly without editing myself to create more emotional and genuine photographs. I want to embrace the expressiveness of this practice and to implement the spontaneity and fearlessness in my work this year. 

Year in Reflection

      Over the course of the year, I found myself to be most engaged with projects that combined photography with other elements, including dark room developing as well as photoshop. I found that synthesizing photography with various other mediums and techniques allowed me to gain a new appreciation for the capabilities of both digital and film photography, as both are so much more than simply taking photographs. I have learned through projects such as the House of My Mind and the dark room portrait exploration that photography can in fact capture a moment rather than just an image of a moment. The freedom offered to me during these projects has allowed me to express my artistic visions in new ways, and I have learned that deliberate portrayal of a subject and thoughtful composition can entirely change the message of the photo. I felt that by the final project in which we could choose our own assignment, I truly owned my artistic process. I knew the moment that I heard that project's guidelines that I would want to combine my love of drawing and of portrait photography using photoshop, and I allowed myself to get lost in the creation of my compositions and to use colors and lines that felt appropriate to each image in order to convey the message of the photographs and of the individuals in the photographs, rather than just relying on the photo to do this on its own. I thoroughly enjoyed the freedom and large period of time allotted to the final project, and I appreciated the opportunity that I was given to find an artistic path that I am passionate about. 
      I believe that I have grown most in my willingness to explore and to experiment. At the start of this year, I tended to stay within guidelines that I was given and I found it difficult to push the envelope when it came to taking photographs. I wasn't entirely accustomed to photography as a medium, and I did not feel that it gave me as much artistic freedom as drawing and painting may have. However, as I was introduced to new methods, techniques, and mediums, I found that photography could become whatever I wished it to be. I could manipulate my photographs using techniques in the moment, such as off camera flash, or digitally after they had been taken, using photoshop and lightroom. After I became comfortable exploring new kinds of photography, I was able to experiment and think outside of the box. I saw this first in the House of My Mind Project as I incorporated photography with drawing and collaging, something that I would have never thought to do in a photography course. I now am accustomed to taking risks, as shown in my recent abstract photography project when I looked for photographic opportunities in the most unexpected of places and used lightroom as a tool to push my photos even further into the realm of abstraction. Most recently, I have shown my willingness to push the envelope in my final project through incorporating several mediums that I was equally passionate about and playing with them until I found a way for both drawing and photography to work together harmoniously with the aid of photoshop. 
      I have definitely gained a better understanding of portrait, abstract, and darkroom photography during these past 9 months. I have come to appreciate the messages that deliberately taken portraits can express and the beauty of capturing moments of human connection and human emotion. I understand now that portraits can truly tell a story, whether it be about the subject themselves or about another issue entirely. I have also come to appreciate that abstract photography is far more than just zooming in on objects or taking photos from a new angle. I appreciate the complexity of abstract photography and the freedom that it gives the photographer to explore the world in new and intriguing ways. I have also learned the key role that digital editing can play to enhance or change the message of an abstract photograph. Finally, I have also come to appreciate the process of darkroom photography. I've learned that being with your photo from the moment it is captured and processing it for days until you can finally appreciate its physical form is a very rewarding experience. Dark room photographs also have a very different feeling than digital photographs, and I think that the quirks of developing film make the final compositions more special and nuanced.  The hard work that goes into the darkroom developing process truly does become apparent in the final product, which I have come to appreciate. 
      I felt that this course was a very appropriate and informative introduction to the complex world of photography. With projects like House of my Mind, Dark room Portraits, and Off Camera Flash, we learned many new techniques and became comfortable using new mediums, an experience that I found to be very valuable. I also think that the final project was a great opportunity for us to exercise the creative thinking skills as well as technical photographic skills that we have gained throughout the course. We were forced to think outside the box, and I think the amazing and diverse projects that everyone in the class came up with were a true testament to the success of the project. After giving us the tools to express ourselves, it was very nice to get an opportunity to do so without restrictions. However, I found the project where we incorporated unusual objects into photographs (such as tinfoil and plastic forks) to be somewhat frustrating and I felt that "light as a character" could have been a shorter or more specialized project, because the theme itself was broad and overwhelming at times. However, I do think that Ms. Seal has done a good job with making us become comfortable thinking outside the box and getting us acquainted with new mediums and techniques. One important thing that I would say regarding the course is that although time for new skill development is necessary, the amount of time that we spend learning and experimenting with new techniques should not compromise the amount of time we are given to freely explore and create. 

- Natalie Turner

Create Your Own Assignment Reflection

one. your conceptual intention. what is it for this project? how is your conceptual intention expressed in this series or project? 

Conceptually, I intended to illustrate a word or idea with my final project. The idea I used to inspire my work was self-expression. In order to make my conceptual intention apparent, I added colorful backgrounds using photoshop in four different portraits of four different individuals. I then used photoshop painting tools to draw patterns and outlines surrounding the individuals. Each set of patterns was in different colors that I chose according to the portrait and the personality of the individual. In this way, I used the backgrounds and patterns to express the personalities of the individuals and thus emphasize and encourage self expression. 

two. your formal intention. what is it for this project? how is your formal intention expressed in this series or project? 

My formal intention for this project was to incorporate pattern / rhythm. I expressed my formal intention in my final composition through my photoshop drawings that have a linear pattern and spacial rhythm. I also created backgrounds that incorporated geometric patterns and rhythm. In addition, I arranged my final four pieces into one larger composition in a rhythmic and balanced way that further illustrates my formal intention of pattern and rhythm. 

three. your technical intention. what is it for this project? how is your technical intention expressed in this series or project? 

My technical intention for the project was heavy photoshop use. I expressed my intention through taking unedited portraits and then using photoshop to crop and mask the photos of the individuals. After I had cropped and edited the portraits, I added a multi-dimensional background that I colored and shaped using color balance and posterize tools to each photograph. Finally, I used photoshop to draw lines surrounding the border of the piece as well as the individual. I repeated this line drawing process three times, lightening the color that I was using each time in order to create a gradient effect that felt almost like a shadow or halo. I used photoshop to incorporate elements of drawing and painting into my digital portrait photography. 

four. what did you take away from the critique? what comments resonated with you?

During the critique, it was suggested to me that I work with incorporating more items from the background of the original photographs as I did in the green piece in the lower left hand corner. This comment resonated with me because I believe that the portraits could be more diverse and dynamic with more of their original elements incorporated, and I will take this into consideration when using photoshop and portrait photography. I was also told that my use of color worked well and that combining photoshop, photography, and drawing to create electronic portraits was an interesting idea and that I should explore projects along these lines in future artistic ventures, which I plan to do.

five. were you able to use the freedom this assignment afforded you to your advantage? if the structure was helpful, how so? if it wasn't helpful, what would have made it more so?

I appreciated the freedom of this assignment because it allowed me to combine my passion for photography with my passion for drawing and painting into one single digital composition. Although the mediums that I utilized were all digital, I was able to successfully replicate the actual process of physical drawing using Photoshop. I believe that incorporating the process of capturing a moment and the process of creating a moment into my piece made for a multi-dimensional and intriguing final composition that successfully expressed my voice as an artist. Although I believe that I would have created a similar piece with or without the given guidelines, I do think that the structure of the assignment helped me to narrow my ideas into one cohesive concept. 

Final Project In Process Reflection

For my final project, I am planning to use portraits and photoshop editing to create digital drawings that complement the photos. I am planning to choose one word or idea that I feel each photo best exemplifies, though I have not yet chosen these words because these are still works in progress. My technical intention will be heavy photoshop use while my formal intention will be pattern/rhythm, and I plan to use photoshop drawings to achieve this pattern and rhythm. My classmate mentioned that incorporating more of the original background into the photo makes for a more natural and interesting composition, and I plan to take this advice into consideration when creating my final pieces. I was also told that using light more deliberately could make my photos more complex and dimensional, and I will consider this while taking my future portraits. 

Strongest Abstract Photos

These were my six strongest photos. My classmates told me that the images utilizing light would work well together in a series. This would include the two curtain images, the chair shadow image, and the fabric image. They liked the ways in which the blue hues of the photos played with one another and they thought that the red in the window photo was very interesting. They also thought that the focus of the book photograph was dynamic and that leaving it black and white allowed the viewer to focus on texture and contrast rather than color. 

Abstract Project Reflection

How did you find opportunities to explore abstraction through your work in this project? Which image is your strongest? How does that image exemplify abstraction?

During this project, I was able to explore abstraction through using deliberate photographic techniques and enhancing my photos using photoshop and lightroom. I used geometric shapes found in everyday objects to create abstract compositions. I also found light to be a valuable tool in creating abstract images, as the shadows and lines created by direct light sources made my photos more complex and dynamic. Cropping was also a valuable tool in my quest for abstraction, as I could focus on particular textures and colors to make the objects in my image stand out. The image that I have posted above was my strongest, and it exemplifies abstraction because I used cropping and light to create a composition that is unique and interesting. It is difficult to identify what the subject truly is and what is going on, leaving room for interpretation. 

How did you push yourself to gain a better understanding of the digital camera and photoshop? What are your favorite photoshop tools? In what ways did you come to better control the various tools you employed? 

I used the zoom feature in particular on my camera to find textures and lines that made interesting abstract compositions. The zoom lenses were very useful and helped me to find and create images that I otherwise may not have seen without such a close view. I really enjoyed playing with cropping and color / hue during the course of the project. Many of my photos had a warm, yellowish tone, and with photoshop, I made the images more interesting   when I switched the tint from a yellow to a blue. I used the editing tools to find hues of blue and green that enhanced the detail of my photos without being distracting. I learned through experimentation to use color in subtle ways that do not detract from the overall image quality and instead enhance my composition. 

FAB Work Reflection

What intrigues you about the artwork? What do you think the intentions of the artist were with the piece? what formal, technical elements of the work might you want to use in your own creative practice? 

I found this artwork to be very intriguing because although it seems one-dimensional at first glance, there are layers and layers of texture and color that make the piece more intriguing as you continue to look at it. I think that the artist was trying to demonstrate complex textures and use strategic colors and directional movement to make an emotional piece that may tell a story personal to the artist. To me, the painting is reminiscent to the heart monitors used in hospitals or to sound waves. Either way, I find the piece to be exciting and complex. I might use this method of layering color and texture in my creative practice to make layered and complex compositions. 

Abstract Evaluation

My peers appreciated the harsh line and asymmetry of this composition and the reverse effect that the light coming through the window and coming through the curtain had on the table surface. The use of light is interesting and the unexpected cropping was intriguing.

Photo Encapsulating Current Project

Off-Camera Flash

I plan to use both natural and artificial light to create complex shadows inside and outside of nature to convey something along the lines of passage of time. I plan to finalize my conceptual intentions during the upcoming weeks, but as of right now, I am drawn to shadows with unexpected light and attention to detail.

Map of My Mind - Reflection and Final Project

Conceptual Intentions

Although I initially struggled to create a piece that communicated my voice as an artist and as a person, I believe that I was eventually able to do so through incorporating photos of places that are important to me along with drawings that I have made and textures that I find interesting and communicative. I found this whole process to be very meaningful, as it allowed me to explore my inner consciousness in a physical project and forced me to find a way to effectively communicate my intentions using photoshop. I hadn't previously spent much time imagining what a physical representation of my mind would look like and it took lots of thinking to create a piece that told my audience the story that I wanted them to see. After hearing the comments that my classmates made regarding my final piece, I realized that I had communicated more about myself than I had even intended simply through the methods I used and the placements of certain objects, which made the critique both interesting and valuable for me.

Stretch and Explore 

Originally, I had placed several photos of nature bordering the entire piece but I struggled with creating a background that felt appropriate and I felt limited by my border. To solve this problem, I eventually removed the photos from the shorter sides of the image and incorporated a background that was very simple. In order to make this background meaningful and evocative of my mind, I made it symmetrical by mirroring the sky over the center line of the photo and place a circle of sky in the very center. The circle ended up being indicative of a camera lens, which was very appropriate for my mind and my imagination. Adding several drawings that I made around the border of the image also allowed me to evoke some final elements of myself and my mind. Despite changing my approach and adding and eliminating several images and drawings, I feel that I successfully represented my mind using photoshop and art that I had previously created. After having spent a few weeks getting to know Photoshop, I have come to appreciate some of its capabilities and the creative license that it allows. If I had been this comfortable with photoshop before starting this project, ideally I would have spent less time experimenting and more time effectively communicating my mind and the ways in which I think.

a room of one's own reflection

Conceptual Intentions

How did you address the idea of A Room of One’s Own (place and use of light) with this work? How did you explore your authentic voice as a visual artist? What made this project meaningful for you? If you did not find the practice and process meaningful, why not?

I addressed the idea of a room of ones own using strategic placement of light to emphasize certain aspects of my photographs and through using light to convey feelings and emotions. I explored my own voice as a visual artist through experimenting with different techniques and settling on uses of light that created dark, complex, or interesting moods with simple objects. This project was meaningful to me because it allowed me to learn about taking different types of photos and allowed me to find a general aesthetic that I enjoyed to take photos of. I explored different techniques and settled upon methods that produced photographs that I found both interesting and personal. 

Stretch and Explore

In what ways did your intentions change over the course of your project?  What opportunities or occurrences led to these changes?

My intentions changed throughout this project as I learned about the different applications and true purposes of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The new knowledge of these factors really influenced how I thought about taking photos and the introduction to long exposure photography was particularly interesting to me. I could influence what I saw in person and manipulate my camera to make it appear differently in photographs, a process which I found to be very fulfilling. 

Given what you know now about your work and your materials choices, how might you have changed your concept or approach to working?

Given what I know now and what I have learned over the course of this project, I would have changed my approach to digital photography. I would have liked to have taken more time to explore with my photographic techniques in interesting locations and experimented a bit more with the same subject in order to discover the most effective techniques for use in different situations. However, I would not change my approach to film photography with this project and I feel satisfied with my selected film photographs.