toricayle-blog

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Week 9

The first photograph is the original and the second is a cropped version. The three captions I have come up with are: 1. Bedtime! 2. These are the three most important books in the collection and 3. A chapter a day keeps the doctor away! I have chosen to crop the photograph in this way because it changes the meaning of the books. In the original it is hard to see that there are actually 3 books and the one on top is a very important Jewish history book. Without cropping, the caption 1 implies that whoever took the picture was getting ready to read for bed or is taking care of a child who likes being read to before bed. The cropping also accentuates the photograph and allows for the words to be a more important part of the picture. Caption 3 makes the photograph out in a lighter mood making a joke out of the importance of reading. I have chosen to take the pictures in this way because although it is not a perfectly taken picture, it relays a message that can be changed by how much of the photograph is cropped out.

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Mohamed Bourouissa

Message: Bourouissa’s main message is trying to integrate individual lives and shaping them into one history story.

Techniques: He does this by placing a visual to different stereotypes. His awareness of cultural divisions is prevalent in his work based on the emotion felt in each photo. His use of color and camera angle helps tell the story of the hardships of the subjects.

Anton Kusters

Message: Kusters message is about the long lasting effects trauma has on a person and group of people.

Techniques: The camera angle of just the sky, along with the photo explanations, causes viewers to have many questions about the scene and what is actually going on in the images.

Mark Neville

Message: Neville’s message implies a utopia or a perfect world where everything works without any issues and everything is possible.

Techniques: use of animals in odd positions to create the feeling that anything is possible - including keeping a pig on the hood of a car and two young children riding a bike together alone

Clare Strand

Message: on the website it says “her practice is often concerned with methods of communication and the related failure, or the deliberate or accidental misinterpretation of information” so because of this I think that her message is that everyone is entitled to their own opinions 

Techniques: colorless, abstract-ish art, hard camera angles to accentuate subject.

In your view, which artist should win the competition? Why?

-I think that Kusters series should win because of how important his message is behind the photographs. The piece interconnects individual trauma with history, making it one issue. Making personal connections to history is important for the education of future generations. This piece allows for an important memory that is also educational on an important sector of history.

Pick a photo from each artist. Describe how focus; contrast; colour (if there is any) and composition are used in the photo, and what effect each of these attributes has.

-Bourouissa: the clear focus on the man's face as the one and only subject induces the feeling of dominance. In addition, the photograph must have been cropped and in doing so, the photographer is able to say their message louder. Bourouissa mentions in the text that he is standing up against stereotypes so, by using bold color and up close visual of the man’s tears, he makes a piece that viewers will be attracted to.

-Kusters: at first glance, this image looks like a moon cycle calendar. I think the composition of the image is specifically important with regards to camera angle. This series is eye opening because of the angle and connection to the text; somewhere under the captured image, in real life, stands concentration camps from WWII. Each image has a different amount of light which changes the color of the blue sky. Some images have clouds which creates a closed off mood in the small circle.

-Neville: the subjects of this photograph are obviously the woman and pig. A small side note: I would classify this as a portrait. The clear focus is important to understand the message Neville is trying to convey. The bright shirt worn by the woman creates a happy and hopeful mood against her slightly negative facial expression. The whole photo is lit by natural light leaving shadows in the barn. The main message, as Neville said in the text, was to exemplify a utopian world. On a small scale, he shows this by the pig placed on the car. In a utopia, anything is possible.

-Strand - she achieves this by creating a piece that is understood based on someone’s background and life. Under the layer of numbers, there is a clear focussed image of a man taking a photograph which could be important in an individual’s life. The numbers alone could be representative of age, amount of time, math related job, or many other possibilities. So, when the two parts are put together to make a whole, a third holistic message comes into play. Black and white also allows for fluid interpretation because there are no color clues besides the deep red numbers. Having the text is helpful for the meaning.

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Week 9 captions activity... captions on photos

Ice cream: The outfit choice for the children might signify protective parents. I think this because sometimes when children are out in public with their family, the parents will match the kids in similar colors so they are easily found if they wander off.

1. Siblings on vacation! -- simplifies photo and makes it just about the kids

2. An ice cream cone is always a necessity on a hot summer day -- only focusses on the ice cream, not why the kids got it.. keeps open interpretation

3. After spending time at the carnival, it’s finally time to hop in the car and go home! -- allows viewers to connect the background with the treat in the kids hands.. more context

4. Perfect day to spend time by the ocean -- just implies that it is a warm day that a family or the kids with an adult spent time at the beach.. again, gives room for viewer to create own story along with the help from the caption

Old man: The man seems as though he is a part of a travel group. I think he is looking for the group of people he is traveling with. I think this because the men behind him have the same neck lanyard but instead of standing and talking to them, he is looking for other people.

Laundry boy: The boy is relaxed waiting for his laundry maybe right before a trip or going out with friends. He has the bag right next to him so this could mean he just put the load in or it is about to be finished

1. Dress to impress at the laundromat -- opens question to why/where the boy is going when laundry is done

2. Drying cycle is around 30 minutes, perfect time to people to watch -- makes the picture’s mood light and joking and shows how the boy spends his extra time while doing laundry.. also gives background of personality (introvert)

3. Happy national sock day! -- completely ignores photograph as a whole and zones in on the decor in the room... room for viewer imagination

4. Dorm hall worker sits in the laundry room after a long day -- places the subject in a job helping tell the story about what he is doing in the room

Chain men: These men seem to be at work because of the outfits they are wearing. The chains on the ground could signify some sort of construction work or maybe a moving business.

All photographs have a similar color scheme (reds, blues, browns).

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Cropping activity week 9

BEFORE CROPPING: 

Look carefully at the whole photo – notice everything that is depicted in it and how these different elements work together to create a narrative. What is the photograph of? 

- Before cropping the photo, the image depicts a man who was placed as a model in a deserted area bringing color into the photograph. This photo is specifically for a message from the photographer bringing a pop of color into an otherwise dreary scene. The sky in the photo is even a dark gray creating an eerie mood.

What is the photograph about?

-I am honestly having trouble creating a story for this photo. As stated before, I think that this is a very staged photo trying to tell a story about contrast and color. The structure beside the man seems very old. I am unsure if it is a building that was once standing or if it was in the process of being built and never finished. But either way, the introduction of the design on the man's outfit and colors from the balloons against the dull background portrays both a playful and dark mood.

AFTER CROPPING: 

What is the photograph of?

-After cropping, the photograph is simply of a man holding a bouquet of balloons.

What is the photograph about?

-In contrast to the original, the cropped version displays a completely different story. If I were to see this photograph in this version, I would say that it tells a story of a man in a poor place giving out balloons to children to brighten their day with the pop of color in life. Without the structure beside the man, the interpretation of the background is up to the viewer rather than trying to figure out what the structure is.

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BLOG 9

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The Wisconsinites... - BLOG 9

These three photos represent Mequon, Wisconsin, the city that I grew up in. American football games are a really large part of social gatherings during high school and being in the student section is something everyone looks forward to. Also, Wisconsin has a lot of incredible forests that are filled with deep greens even during the winter time. Lastly, Lake Michigan is one of the main attractions for coming to the midwest in the US. Milwaukee is the main big city in Wisconsin and is 25 minutes away from where I grew up.

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BLOG 9

Leaving the UK because of COVID-19 has not been very easy. These photos document three different ways my life has been affected by this transition. I chose to photograph these pictures to portray a feeling of being uncomfortable. The photos are cropped in certain ways to leave out what my home looks like and do not have one clear subject. Although the focus is mostly on one subject in the photos, the image, as a whole, is important for the message. Not just the subject that is in focus. First, an exciting part of visiting home has been the time I am able to spend time with my dogs. Now that I am stuck here with them for an uncertain amount of time, I am used to being around them and it feels similar to when I was living at home in high school. I took this photo because I like the smudges on the glass and condensation from my dog's breath. The photo shows my front yard which is so close, but not fully unattainable because of the ‘safe and place’ regulation put on the state of Wisconsin. Second, my family has had to adjust to new activities like puzzles to keep our spirits lifted during this time. I chose to stack puzzle pieces to exemplify how people need to help each other out during these hard times. I have been away from home now for almost three years, so it is difficult to transition from complete independence to living in my childhood home. I think this picture of puzzle pieces encompasses the way the world has had to change because of COVID-19. Lastly, I wanted to take a comedic and serious approach at the same time. The media has affected the way we have reacted and continue to react to the virus. The US president has caused an immense amount of stress across the country which has shifted the world’s ability to take the virus seriously. The issue of hoarding toilet paper has been a comedic relief amongst many other things that are being hoarded. But, it is a real problem that America is facing where people are being selfish with buying necessities. I wanted to use light and shadow in this last photograph to imitate how fast the spread of the virus really is. The toilet paper casts a shadow on the words and creates a feeling of distress in front of what should be a bright light from the computer screen.

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BLOG 8

I chose these photos because of how different they are from each other. Each has different camera angles, subject matters, and backgrounds.

Mikhael Subotzky - Prisoners climb over a dividing wall, Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison. Cape Town, South Africa. 2004: this pictures two men crawling over a wall into an unknown territory for viewers. We are unable to see over the wall and it is cropped in a way that there is no other information to try to even guess where the two men would even want to be going. I believe that there is no real relationship between the subjects and photographer as their backs are towards the camera and there is no real explanation for where they are going.

Newsha Tavakolian - Imaginary CD cover for Sahar. Caspian Sea, Mahmoudabad, Iran. 2011: as a CD cover this is a beautiful photo. But, Tavakolian photographs to highlight the struggles of Iranian women so there is more to the story. The lighting is interesting in this photograph because it accentuates the woman’s face but the photo as a whole is not completely clear. Her outfit is kind of blurred and is covered by the waves. The message of this photograph is completely changed by the way you see the water. Is it covering the woman… or is it giving her strength with the force and power of the ocean? The photographer subject relationship seems strong as she uses the woman’s name in her caption.

Alex Webb - Tefe, Brazil. 1979: I like this photograph a lot because of the use of silhouette with the monkey. As a viewer, I am unsure if this is a random monkey crawling across the roof or if it is someone’s pet, which is not unusual especially in Brazil. The camera angle is interesting because the exact subject is not 100% clear. Is it the monkey, the scenery as a whole, the boat? I am not really sure, but that is why I like it. There can be many different messages for this photo based on what the viewer thinks the subject is. 

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BLOG 8

last two photos from MASCULINITIES: LIBERATION THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY series

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Too Close to Home: Family and FatherhoodMale Order: Power, Patriarchy and SpaceDisrupting the Archetype

In this photograph there is a very distinct message connecting the masculine and femenine ideals in a household. There is a very clear vision for the photo exposing the male body in a way that a woman’s body is shown. The straight on angle provides a strong focus on the two men and allows for power to take over the message.This photograph shows what men in power look like but brings a positive twist to educate on the hardships felt by men in power. This image exposes how men feel that they need to be in power when all they need to do is help those around them and provide assistance with their partner for their loved ones.This image aids in closing the gap between femenine and masculine ‘looking’ athletes. No matter what, if a person does well or can even win a game for the team, looks tend to take over. This series shows that long hair does not determine athletic ability and men should not be belittled because of their appearance just like women deserve that same respect.BLOG 8

1. Choose one series of photos and explain why and for whom you think these photos were taken

I believe that these photos in the series Masculinities were taken to send a message to the world about the many different views on the male gender. This series depicts the many different ways men are seen in the world. The term masculinity is given many different definitions from this exhibit and can be understood by all genders across the world. Each person has a different view of what it means to be a man and I think this series does a good job exemplifying the main views.

2. What, overall, can you understand about masculine identity from this exhibit?

I have always thought that one’s identity is completely individualistic. This exhibit exemplifies that masculine identity is an incredibly broad statement and cannot be defined by just one photograph. In the other series I could have chosen to talk about, there seemed to be one theme throughout the photos. But, in MASCULINITIES: LIBERATION THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY, it is obvious that the photographers wanted to represent the male gender as fluid and capable in many different parts of life.

3. Is there anything about the works you have seen by following these links that you find problematic or that you think is worth of praise, or both? What makes it so – style, subject matter, a combination of both, other?

As a whole, I think that these plethora of images display the male side of the world in many different ways. There are parts that expose the feminine part of the male body that opens up the conversation about the similarities and differences between men and women. The images allow for open doors to new conversations to make the world more meshed between gender.

1. Too Close to Home: Family and Fatherhood

In this photograph there is a very distinct message connecting the masculine and femenine ideals in a household. There is a very clear vision for the photo exposing the male body in a way that a woman’s body is shown. The straight on angle provides a strong focus on the two men and allows for power to take over the message.

2.Male Order: Power, Patriarchy and Space

This photograph shows what men in power look like but brings a positive twist to educate on the hardships felt by men in power. This image exposes how men feel that they need to be in power when all they need to do is help those around them and provide assistance with their partner for their loved ones.

3. Disrupting the Archetype

This image aids in closing the gap between femenine and masculine ‘looking’ athletes. No matter what, if a person does well or can even win a game for the team, looks tend to take over. This series shows that long hair does not determine athletic ability and men should not be belittled because of their appearance just like women deserve that same respect.

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“Horn of Africa famine: Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya suffer worst drought in 60 years” - BLOG 8

Article:

“The worst drought in over half a century has hit parts of East Africa affecting more than 10 million people. Thousands of families have travelled for days across scorched scrubland from Somalia to Kenya, including barefoot children with no food or water after their crops and livestock were destroyed by drought. More than 10 million people have been affected across the Horn of Africa. Acute malnutrition has reached 37% in some parts of north east Kenya and child refugees from Somalia are dying of causes related to malnutrition either during the journey or very shortly after arrival at aid camps.”

Response:

This image represents the lack of food and water in East Africa at the time of the drought. The image I have chosen reflects many aspects of the article entry. Particularly, this child represents the lack of food and water. The signs of malnutrition are extremely prevalent; as the child’s skeleton is completely seen. The bucket he is sitting in seems as though it should be filled with water for a bath, but is not because of the lack of water from the drought. This image completes the article, for me, because it encompasses the hardships families went through. Mother’s have an instinct to care for their children, no matter the circumstance, but in this situation this child is malnourished and without water. I think this helps tell the story of how hard it was to take care of oneself let alone children during this horrible time. If the article was not accompanied by this photo, I would be able to understand that there was a lack of food and water. But, with the addition of this particular photo, the article comes to life and represents how people of all ages were affected.

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BLOG 7

Feedback for photo series:

For my photo series, I had an idea of using trash or flowers (or something of another nature to tell a story) and putting it up to a model to create clothing as a message of sustainability or something else. The idea was not fully there. Now, being sent home to America, I have decided to come up with a new idea that I am still working on. Although I am upset I cannot continue with my original plan, I am excited to think of something new. I am thinking about doing a series encompassing different usages of reflection with light and human/animal subjects to create a message about inner beauty even when the world is not beautiful at this time.

Lorenzo Castore 1976

The lines within the image are scattered and allow the eye to circle around the photo. There is not just one subject which makes it more interesting. Light is coming from the top left. The photo is also faded and blurred; not one clear focus. The light within the image is natural light that seems like it is coming from a window. The natural light highlights the white from the paper and accentuates the deep reds and greens scattered in the paper. Shadows appear in the bottom right because of the usage of layering of papers. The mood of the photograph is light hearted and memorable. The books seem to be old and crumpled up pieces of paper are nonchalant. As a whole the photo is still and solid. The photograph is completely filled with books, papers, magazines, and other forms of paper. There is no open space throughout the image. I believe that the photo is about someone going through old boxes as they are moving into a new time in their life. The maps and papers represent old memorabilia from a past life and moving onto the future, just taking the important things.

as inspiration.....

I chose to compose this image like this because although I like the scattered lines in the original photo, this type of condensed scatteredness is more pleasing to me. I wanted this photo to represent the world and the importance of understanding how the earth is able to be. On the inside the lines change direction and do not have a set way of being. But on the outside everything is contained into a ‘bubble’. The earth is our bubble and no matter how scattered it is on the inside, we need to respect and care for it.

as a copy...

I recreated the image with old books and papers from my childhood home. I was unable to use the same type of light as the original because the windows I have in my home did not create the same effect. I believe that I was able to capture the same lines, smaller details, and message as the original though; as my family is moving out of my childhood home.

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Work Stations critique - BLOG 6

Photographer Anna Fox commissioned a project in 1987 to highlight the aggressive nature of British office culture. The general story tells a day in the life at work. The series depicts a highly masculine environment by using certain technical choices to have the men overpowering the women. Fox’s use of a strong flash accentuates the expressions of the people in the images. In general, the series is pretty crowded but the camera angle helps to soften the noise. The series entails 10 photographs (only 5 are shown here for samples) and all of them are fully in focus and are full of colour. The series does an incredible job telling a story of the aggressive nature of a business environment in the 80s. The women are shown as second to male counterparts and each worker seems to only be worrying about themselves.

Rogers, S. (2013). How Britain changed under Margaret Thatcher. In 15 charts. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/datablog/2013/apr/08/britain-changed-margaret-thatcher-charts [Accessed 4 Mar. 2020].

Crum, M. (2015). These 1980s Work Offices Will Make You Thankful For Your Desk Job. [online] Huffingtonpost.co.uk. Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/anna-fox-work-stations_n_55f9be65e4b0fde8b0cc9a5e?ri18n=true [Accessed 4 Mar. 2020].

Annafox.co.uk. (n.d.). Main : Anna Fox. [online] Available at: http://www.annafox.co.uk/ [Accessed 4 Mar. 2020].

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Own photo series -- technology - BLOG 5

The photographs I took are intended to depict the high pedestal technology is placed on in today’s society. The two girls in the photo have just met but instead of interacting with each other, they are sitting on their phones, scrolling through social media. The photo on the couch shows the lives that people live at home. Every day ends with college students sitting on the couch catching up on all of the drama they missed during school. This technology filled life we live stops interaction with those around us, including people that live in our own homes like family and roommates. The last photo shows all of the things our society places on using technology/phones. Travel, social appearance, money, and education are all shown to the world through platforms like Snapchat and Instagram instead of explaining ‘happiness’ through word of mouth.

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Class activity - BLOG 5

My first impression of the photos in four words was: blue, snow, nature, and pollution. The general theme of the photos exemplifies photos very similar in colour. Each photo also has snow in it which allows them to intertwine. I notice that the lines in the photos of the man made structures are more harsh and draw the eye towards the middle of the scene. The lines in the nature photos are horizontal and pull the eye around the scene ending on the right side guided towards the buildings. The title of the series in the magazine is “Double page spreads from book: Once in Europa” by John Berger and Patricia Macdonald. I think that this title connects two very important parts of life today; nature and man made structures/buildings. The author chose to have the pictures read like a book from nature to house to factory. The theme stays generally the same throughout the series when focusing specifically on color - Besides the consistent brightness from the white snow, each has a pop of color that stands out in the photograph in contrast to the other darker colors. Top right: yellow construction stand, bottom right: green/reds on roof, top left: reflection of the sun off the rocks, bottom left: green trees. The reading of the photographs is very fluid because of the consistency throughout the series and the use of separation between the top and bottom photographs. At first I thought the series was sending a message about how people have built homes and factories which, in turn, is ruining our earth. But, now I see that these photographs could be depicting some of the ways that new structures and nature can work together - such as creating buildings that encompass the same visual effects as nature.

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Tate Modern - BLOG 5

Naoya Hatakeyama took these photos with the intention of playing with light. The photographs, all in black and white, are taken throughout Tokyo focusing on minimizing the strength of light. In all of the photographs, the lights are not overpowering. They are not simply photos of a building with lit rooms. They are photos exemplifying the different ways a camera can be used to play with light without the use of color. I think that these pictures are really incredible because it is really hard to produce a clear image of a building at night while also keeping the lights in focus. Hatakeyama’s goal was to capture the contrast of light at night within buildings in Tokyo. The message was thoughtfully portrayed by the clear focus on both the dark and light formations within the photograph. As a series, viewers are able to see the elevated level of photography he has because of how similar the works are with regards to the clear light against the dark night background. The written information created a very simple understanding of the photographs for me because at first glance I was very aware that these pieces were meant to talk about light. After reading, I liked the pictures even more because of how easy it was to understand his message.

I think the artist is trying to depict everyday life. The boys are the representation of humans who use phones and cars/gas stations. The message is portrayed by how easily viewers can relate to using a telephone and getting gas at a station. I think that these are good photographs but I wish they told more of a story. The colours are lighter and not as harsh. I think this helps tell the story of how often and regular the photographs are meant to be perceived as. The message of everyday life is definitely reinforced by the nonchalant use of faded colour and lack of focus. As a series, the photographs do tell a story of life in the day of the boys showing a relaxed scene and what they could have been doing prior to the picture being taken. By reading the information, I was able to understand why just a photo of a phone and a gas station was captured.

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Portraits - BLOG 4

I think this is a portrait because it is a photo fixating on one person and her specific features. She is not centered and there aren’t really any lines really moving around the photo, so the direct focus is on the woman. Light is coming from the right side of the photograph which lightens up that side of the woman but darkens the left. I think this lighting creates a more serious mood. The vinget edges soften the photo. In the back left something there but dark and out of focus but other than that, there is nothing in the background of the photograph. Even the cigarette is not completely as in focus as the woman’s facial features. I cannot tell 100% if the woman is sitting or standing but she has a very straight posture. Her stance within society with the cigarette does not remind me of a rebel teenager smoking on the street with their friends. It looks like it is just a part of her lifestyle. The mood is almost confusing because its super light on one half but then the cig half is darker and less in focus and starts to be drowned out. I am taking this as a serious/casual mood.

The Hubbucks, 2018

Garrod Kirkwood - The family in this photo is light and happy. I think this exemplifies the best side of family life - being in the car, singing, and getting along. The bright colours accentuate the mood especially with the vast blue background encompassing the car and family. The point of view seems to be from a small child looking out the window as they drive by this beautiful family. The car is cut off in the middle so that the street is not seen by the viewer. I think this was a great choice because the family is shown fully and is not distracted by other cars or open land backgrounds. Kate and I chose this as our winner because it does such a good job of using colour, position of subject, and how the actual subject tells a story.

Raynen, 2018

Tristan Still - I was drawn to this photo because of the intense features exemplified on the subject. At first, when I saw the photo from across the room,  just the face seemed important to me. But as I walked closer, I saw the scars tailored across the torso. These types of pictures can be very controversial because of the varying views people have today. The actual composition of the photograph is incredible with the subject highlighted with focus just on them. The light background allows for viewers to have to look just at them and produces an easier conversation. Tristan Still has done an incredible job posting, what is, very important so some people in our society. With them centered and showing every part of their scars, there is room for conversation and for people to share their opinions about this beautiful human. I think the point of view is tough for this photo because there isn’t anything in the background to spin off of. But, generally I think the point of view is people looking at them to understand why/what is going on in their life.