Lizzy Oppenheimer

Again, Emily is on a roll finding GREAT photographers I loved. She told me to look her up when I was working on my artist statement completely frustrated that I couldn't write what I was saying out loud. Anyways, Lizzy photographs rest stops and after reading her artist statement, i cant help but think we're the same person. She decided to shoot this in a BARREN point of view without people, strictly SYMMETRICAL and GEOMETRICAL. Her idea came when she wanted to kind of immortalize her childhood through images of something that she was so attached to. She spent some time at rest stops as a child traveling and now since they are becoming extinct in certain states, shes using her art as a means of personal documentation. I think maybe this is what I was trying to say!!!

ED FREEMAN.

Ed is a working commercial and fine art photographer living in Los Angeles. Emily told me about him the other night, so I looked him up and I fell in love! His work is currently traveling for shows as large format prints and I think they're beautiful. The only problem I have with them is that he manipulates every single image. I find it kind of a down fall to it especially because he wants to heighten the abandoned feeling and he has to use photoshop to do so. Disappoint. The images I chose, were the ones I was most attracted to and didn't look at as if they were manipulated. From the series, Desert Realty and Urban Realty.

http://www.edfreeman.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=0

Christopher Anderson

Anderson was born in Canada and raised in Texas. He first began photographing documentary style and then spanned his interests photographing portraits, fashion and even his own family. These images are from his series, Non Fiction, which came out in 2003. I was interested in these because they seemed to be kind of like a snapshot, family album document with a story behind them that could be read by everyone. I also think the colors are super funky and even though they aren't the norm, they capture the feel of the photographs really well.

Trent Parke

I chose Trent to put on my blog this week because this one series of street photography really interested me. Although this is by far not even close to anything I would be interested in, I was attracted to it because I could sort of relate it to my current series. I was drawn in by his centering in each frame which is focused on one pop of bright, saturated color. I also like how he has people his in shots but they aren't directly photographed head on. (I think this is kind of what I wanted to achieve with seaside!) The only thing I wish I could change would be the color saturation. It almost seems too strong or bright for my liking.

SOTH

Assignment 1:
Treasure Hunt

I put this image up because I was immediately drawn to it. I felt that the lighting was just right and the placement of the figure was perfect for what he was trying to say. The leading line of the blanket up to his movement of his arm and under his chin leads me into the main composition and keeps me attracted. The way it was cropped was fantastic. probably in post!

Assignment 2:

Short Story

I thought these images worked to tell a story because they depict this town in it's everyday settings. When I looked at them I felt as if I was standing there seeing these places as a normal townsperson would. I was also greatly drawn to the composition as color as a whole in the images.

Assignment 3:

Take a picture of a non-photographer, then have them photograph you

I was immediately drawn to this image for the fact that children took one. I've always been interested in how amazingly well some pictures children take, come out. I liked these two images placed next to each other because they both have the same kind of focus and lighting. I like the fall off around the woman's face next to the image of the 2 boys and the lighting shining in between them.

Assignment 4: 

Photo with words

I didn't like this assignment at all. I think it's because I like simplicity and I like the viewer to take the time to figure out what the image means to them rather than to take the time to describe it in a caption. I also didn't think they were tastefully done at all. I chose this image solely for the color and the fact that the caption wasn't hugely visible.

WEEK 5: George Awde

I chose George because I liked his work the most out of all the other photographers listed. I thought his photographs conveyed a true sense of emotion and they really told a story about how he felt. I understood what he was trying to say about his hometown or where he is now.
George originally got his BFA in painting and then his masters as well. He photographs what he believes to be his home or where is has ended up residing now. He believes home is something grounded and stationary and is often something hard to find. He strives to show a search for individuality and stability as what you would call "home" in his photographs.

I love love love this photograph! The shadows splashed across the house and along the floor of the patio reaallllyy jump out to me. I feel really drawn back into the space where they are sitting and very welcoming. The color is also warm and homey in a way. I feel emotion between the two people too almost as if they're safe and content on the patio and warm in the comfort of each other and their own home.

This picture stood out to me for the subject of it. A lot of his other images seemed to be very race oriented and almost religious? in a way. I was drawn into this because I found it interesting that women were on one side and men were on the other. Were they not allowed to cross to the other side or associate with each other or was it just a decisive moment to convey the idea of that specific culture? I also LOVE that line across the street in relation to the telephone wires. beautiful.

I got emotional attachment to this image too because it feels so empty and alone. I would think this is the photographers town and he found it empty and barren. I would go so far as to say that maybe his emotions mirror this emptiness, when he is searching for a place to call home. The drab, almost monochrome color mirrors that as well and brings me to a dark and empty emotional place.

I just put this image up just cause I liked it :)

WEEK 4: Stephen Shore

I thought this image was soooooooooooo successful. Watching Shore in the video compose was incredible. He was talking about how he pays attention to space and lines and shapes before he shoots and it is so evident in this picture. The green pops out from the brown wall and the white wall and the yellowy colored carpet. I was so drawn to how the background is separated into 3 shapes that mimic the table and the chair and the couch. Also the lines between the table and the chair and the couch and the blinds string. amazing.

I think this image is successful because the way he separated the spaces. I love how theres this foreground of road that feels like its closing in on you but it also brings you back into the middle with the red van and the green windows and then the background with the trees and the sky where it really opens up and draws you back. It feels so closed it yet so open at the same time.

I HATE THIS IMAGE. It frustrates me to no end. The space is too chaotic and I don't see any point of interest. Its just chaos and cars and gas stations. Argh.