An Important Critique

The critique is a very important process that each artist has to endure whether they wish to or not. It teaches them about their artwork and shows how others view and interpret the piece. The artist gets a feeling of what could be done to better portray their idea better. With a negative critique, you have something to work on to make your image better, and with a positive critique, you know that you have done a good job and the viewer is basically in your shoes because they know what you were thinking/feeling when you took the image or created it. Its a very good step because it makes you become a better artist/photographer in the end.

Critique

I am posting this again because I am not sure if I did it right the first time. I think a critique is very helpful and important for someone who is serious about their work. When receiving a negative feedback, that really helps to improve your work. It can give you a better way of getting out your message. With a positive feedback you know you are getting your message across. Another good thing about a critique is that the viewer's opinion can let you see your work from a different perspective. Even as a viewer you can see something else when the photographer explains their work.

The importance of a Critique

To the photographer:

When you are given difference prospectives of your work, you are able to see what you as an artist may need to work on. Any feedback is good, be it positive or negative.


To the viewer:

The viewer is able to get an inside prospective of what you were trying to get across with your images.


To the Image:

If the image is sloppy or has mistakes you might have over looked. It is important to listen to what is being said.


Didn't receive a handout.

Proposal

This semester I intend to take advantage of new techniques and applications such as choosing a variety of film speeds, using filters during shoots and tones in the darkroom. I am anxiously awaiting the development of my experimental photos, so that I can understand how to use colored filters in different types of lighting.

My final project will be a continuation of my self portrait that I worked on last semester. The work will consist of several instances where I am placed in a scene surrounded around typical people doing things common to society today. However, I will be slightly out of place by using materials that are not common to today’s world, objects from the past. Last semester, I photographed a scene that took place in a typical coffee house where everyone was working on laptops and I was using an old portable typewriter. Another from last semester is a group of people at a bus stop listening to iPods, and I am checking out some records. Now that I have gotten more comfortable asking people to join the photoshoot and am using other techniques, I will re-shoot every scene from last semester and add others to the list. This time around, I will photograph each scene from different stand points, to vary my options for selection (which I did not do last semester). I also will put myself more into the scene instead of directly in front.

This project is very important to me, because I feel it truly captures the essence of who I am and brings together the components that make me that way. All of the objects I use to pull me out of a typical scene, I actually own and display in my house. I have a fascination for antiques and appreciation for the past. I think it’s interesting how dated materials almost seem sturdier than things made today. There is a foundation for everything.

I have in mind one more project I want to work on this semester. I have recently gone through some old photographs from my parents’ childhood and young adulthood and want to recreate those using people who look similar (i.e. my self, my brother and my cousin). This is where the sepia tones will come in to give these recreations their proper tone. This is a project I can expand upon in later classes.

I am looking forward to this semester’s work and I feel much more confident shooting these scenes after the foundation work in Photo I.

Theme with photogram

After the first day of seeing how things came out, I have decided to go alone with a music theme. I myself am a musician, so i figured id be able to express myself through it much easier. I am using a mixture of object and stencils to create a very clean yet random images.

The music aspect of my photograms will not be music notes but of bands and musicians who have meant a lot to me.

Mel Roschal

Photogram Theme

My theme is the cross. After playing with items I brought in on Thursday and seeing how different things developed under the lights, I've totally changed themes. I have a huge cross collection and want to play with how different elements (metal, clay, plastic) will develop.

lyns proposal

I will be using an rebel k2 camera with 28-90mm lens for all my shots.
this semester I will be experimenting with different colour filters something I have not done before, also I want to expand my knowledge of printing pictures and dark room work. We will be using fibre paper instead of RC.
I am trying to concentrate on taking pictures of the sights of Houston, I have been here 8 years and have never really looked at all the history, monuments and landscapes that this city can offer. I do not want to take basic tourist pictures but try and make them unusual and interesting; emphasising on architecture.

Themes

I was having a difficult time coming up with a theme but this is what I came up with...Theme 1: "Flying w/ wings" Theme 2: " A Balance between good and evil" Theme 3: " A Risk Worth Taking"

James King

My theme for my project is the " Chaos in my pockets"

Montague Hotel implosion

TOMORROW! 7 am (official imploding)

Sunday, Jan. 20:
Montague Hotel implosion
6 a.m. – 1 p.m. Corner of Fannin and Rusk

http://swamplot.com/downtown-demo-party-montagu-hotel-implosion-this-weekend/2008-01-17/

PHOTO 1: Recap of 1/17 & Photogram Themes

Hi there. We covered a lot today, and congrats on getting your (perhaps first) experience with the darkroom. There is a lot to be covered initially, and I apologize for running a little over today. We will get our timing down within the next week. The lab is clean, and I organized it a little more logically - hopefully it will remain that way.

Today we covered lab orientation, the photogram demo, and you had your first experience with creating a test sheet for photograms. To refresh your memory, we set our lens aperture at f8.

- If you found that you reached a maximum black after your initial 3 second exposure, you will change your opening to allow for less light, meaning you will stop down (f11, f16).

- If you found that you reached a maximum black, but still had variations of black and gray, you will leave your aperture set to f8.

- If you found that you never reached a maximum black, even after several 3 second intervals, you will change your opening to allow for more light, meaning you will open up (f5.6, f4, f2.8)

*Remember, the larger the f-stop number, the smaller amount of light;
the smaller the f-stop number, the larger the amount of light.

Once you have a successful test sheet, you will pick the time exposure that looks best, (3 secs, 6 secs, 9 secs, 12 secs, etc...) and make one exposure. After doing this, you will have your first photogram!

Look over what we did today in class, and really think about how the density of objects affect their translation onto photographic paper. Consider that if the object is not flush with the surface, light can get under the object and perhaps make it invisible. Bring objects (new/old) and photo paper to class Tuesday.

Good luck, and be sure to post your entry by Monday, 1/21 by 6 pm.
You can post your entries as a comment to this entry by clicking on "comments" directly below.

PHOTO 2: Proposals

Please leave a comment (by clicking on "comment" below) as your entry.

Angela, if you will please copy and paste your entry as a comment.

Chemicals for processing will be made tomorrow, 1/18. Feel free to come in Saturday, but in no way are you required. (9am-3pm)

Angela Harden's Proposal

The purpose of enrolling in Photography 2 is to end the semester with a 20 print portfolio ready for submission to the Tisch Program at New York University. I intend to complete a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts then work in the field of photography.
From January to May 2008 I want to further develop as a photographer by; conducting night shots, expanding my knowledge of filter use for the camera as well as in the darkroom, and experiment with using a flash.
My work, thus far, has been greatly influenced by my move from New York City to Texas. I expect that my work will continue to reflect my Texan surroundings and that I will be further influenced from exposure to more photography at Houston Center for Photography, where I am an intern.
For my portfolio I plan to include photographs from three different cameras. I will be using a Nikon N70 SLR, a Yashica Mat EM TLR, and for one print I will be using a polaroid camera.
In order to demonstrate my ability as a photographer my subjects are going to vary throughout the semester. I plan to photograph landscapes, portraits, and any subject that I find artistically appealing. In my portfolio I am also going to include one hand colored photograph.
My main goal is to further educate myself and bring my photography to a higher level.

Assignments

All handouts, assignments, and additional information will be posted on our blog. Simply click on the link to access.
____________________________________________________________________
PHOTO ONE: Photograms
1. Information on Photograms

2. Powerpoint Presentation

3. Assignment

____________________________________________________________________
Other essential handouts:

1. The Enlarger

2. Processing Prints

3. Criticizing Photographs
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PHOTO TWO: Proposal

1.PROPOSAL

Welcome

Welcome to Photography 1 & 2. This blog has been created for our class to use frequently throughout the semester. You will be expected to check this page and post photography-related journal entries on a regular basis. You will additionally post all written portions of your assignments, allowing myself and your classmates to better understand your concepts. Please read over the Course Syllabus thoroughly. E-mail me with any questions, comments, or concerns: shannon.duncan@hccs.edu.