alyssavanni-blog

[alyssavanni-blog]

Last Blog

So unfortunately I have been locked out of my Tu,blr but I am happy to have bee table to regain access to it this week. I had the pleasure of going around Philadelphia with my boyfriend who has lived in the city his whole life and was able to experience parts of the city that were once booming areas. I was able to go to graffiti pier which is one of my favorite places to go to and  Was able to meet a group of people there who were cleaning up the area to try to make it look clean. There was also another group there that were shooting a music video. Both groups did not want to get their picture taken but I was able to get some pictures of the number the group told me that people can call to volunteer. I went around the city capturing pictures that were once booming places and are now filled with vacant structures or looked neglected. It was eye opening and sparked some great conversations. 

One difficulty I had was the lighting. I went on Friday but it was the only day I had available to go this week the lighting was grim and it was raining earlier in the morning but I think it added to the content I was trying to shoot. I am excited to get into the lab tomorrow and edit the pictures and see how they came out on the screen and in print. 

One artist that inspired my work this week was Zoe Strauss a majority of her work is inspired by Philly and taken in Philly and that is what I wanted to capture in my work. 

[alyssavanni-blog]

Week 10

Unfortunately this week I was not able to go out and take pictures. I did think the class though this past week was helpful and fun going into the lab and taking photos. One Failure I had was printing. For some reason every time I print pictures they come out darker than what they appear on the screen. I did however learn to brighten the whole picture and it seemed to work out better when the picture was printed.

 My motivation this week is to schedule a lab time so I can see what works and what doesn’t so I can get a jump start on editing so I am not waiting until the last second.

 The artist motivating my work this week is Anastasia Samoylova. I like the use of colors and the abstract appeal it has. One of my goals is to collect objects and create almost a collage looking picture as use mirrors to create texture and colors in my photographs.

Anastasia Samolylova 

[alyssavanni-blog]

Week 10

What were my success and failures? 

One of my success this week was getting more images in the portrait format. I went down to Cape May to see the WW1 train tracks that emerge when storms erode the sand on the beaches. It was a surreal moment to be able to take photos of the tracks and meet people who had traveled from different states to see them and hear and capture their stories. One thing I found challenging though was trying to capture the tracks but get up close to the people I had met. 

What issues and ideas were motivating your work this week? 

My motivation this week was to capture the individuals and try to capture the tracks at the same time. I wanted to meet new people and hear their stories as to why they were coming to see the tracks. One thing that I noticed was when looking at other photographers photos the tracks were more pronounced. When I went it seemed as if they were starting to get covered back up. 

What artists were motivating your work? 

The artists motivating my work this week were the people who had took pictures of the tracks in news articles. 

[alyssavanni-blog]

Week 8

What were your successes and failures?

 This week I had a lot of fun playing with different exposures. I was able to get some shots outside this week and I also took some photos indoors. The exposures made the skin pop and different features on the body which I thought was interesting and unique.

 What issues and ideas are motivating your work.?

 This week I wanted to get more pictures outside because it was nicer out and the nice weather motivated me to get outside.

 What artists are you looking at?

 This week I was looking at Diane Arbus’s portraits. I liked how she captured the portraits in black and white and captured people in their everyday activities which was a goal of mine in this project.

[alyssavanni-blog]

Week 7

o stand out What were your successes and failures? 

This week I had a hard time shooting outside. It was dark and gloomy and rained quit frequently which made it hard to shoot outside. I also had a hard time finding people to shoot that fit my schedule because I had a busy week with tests and work. I did however had an easier time learning how to take pictures in the dark with specific lights hitting the subject. 

What are the issues and ideas that are motivating your work? 

I would say they are the same as last week. I am still working on the next assignment and I want to capture the essence of the individual in pure form doing what they love or daily activities. 

What artists are you looking at? 

Annie Leibovitz was the artist I was looking at this past week. I like her ability to capture models and actors on sets and make them look flawless yet natural. I also enjoyed looking at her background and how she was able to mold the person she was shooting to stand out in everyday scenes. Below are a couple of shots that I thought she captured perfectly. 

[alyssavanni-blog]

Week 6

What were your success and failures?

 This week I had a problem with my prints. When I went to the park last week the pictures came out a lot brighter when they were edited than they looked when I printed them out. The next assignment I hope to nail down the issue with darker prints. I did however have an easy time printing. I thought I was going to have trouble going through the steps with the software but it did not take me as long as I thought. In regard to the photos I presented in class, I thought I did a good job for the most part of capturing the designated form that was assigned to us.

 What are the issues and ideas that are motivating your work this week?

 I took a peak ahead at the next assignment and was excited to see that we are able to capture people that tell us a story. I wanted to capture people doing what they love to do or unexpectedly in their everyday activities so I started shooting inside.

 What artists are you looking at? How do these relate to the work you are making?

 An artist I was looking at this week was Eli Reed. I love headshots and capturing the body in black and white. I think it gives a special dimension that color cannot do. It makes it seem pure and effortless. I enjoyed scrolling through his portfolio of black and white images.

 What are your responses and conclusions regarding the previous class critique of your work? Was it or was it not helpful?

 I enjoyed the critiquing process that we did in class. It was a good opportunity to see everyone’s pictures and how they interpreted the project. In regards to my work, I agreed that my pictures came out dark and as for one of my linear pictures, I have better options to choose from and in the future I am defiantly going to add one that fits better.

Photo credit Eli Reed. 

[alyssavanni-blog]

WEEK 5 

What were your success and failures?

On Friday, I went to Ridley State Park and took pictures of the landscape and buildings that were on the trails. I went in the afternoon are 1 P.M. The sun was not out and the sky was overcast; however, I feel as if I were able to capture images that stood out. This week I would say I was more comfortable with the content I was shooting and my ability to maneuver the camera and capture images that were more formal. Last class, I had successfully edited and printed out three “lines” pictures so my goal this week was to capture the rule of thirds and more formal shots. One thing that I found challenging was that it was so cold out that my fingers could not respond that quickly.

What are the issues and ideas that are motivating     your work this week?

One thing that was motivating me this week was capturing the essence of nature. Our lives have become so fast paced that it is quite difficult to take a step back and enjoy what mother nature has to offer us. Growing up in a place that is heavily populated with parks, and forests, coming to college in the city has made me miss nature a bit more. Below are some of the photos I captured in the park and they are edited on my mac.

What artists are you looking at? How do these relate     to the work you are making?

I have not been able to do any reading this week on artists but I have been able to get on Instagram every now and then and look at photographs that are taken. Clack Little is a photographer that I have been following for a while and he takes stunning photos of beaches and water. His ability to capture the raw power of waves is incredible and his editing skills are out of this world. It makes me excited for when the weather gets a bit warmer and I can get down to the beach and start shooting more.