Self Portrait

Taking your own portrait  can take an incredible amount of time.  First is deciding why you are taking this portrait - is it for the public, to practice your technical skills or because you want to share something about your self with the viewer - in my case it is a Photo School Assignment.

The instructor's notes give a tiny bit of guidance: "Sometimes you get more intimate and thoughtful self-portraits if you're alone when you make them; Think carefully about how you want to portray yourself, and try different things... TRY DIFFERENT THINGS! I want you to do at least three to five different set-ups.  Sometime you have to fish around a bit for the best idea."

OK. so now it is crunch time for me - will it be a whole body shot or just a head shot?  What lens will I use? Where will the image be captured? Will there be enough light there - in the right places?

This image is titled "A View From Inside".  I really do feel like I see the world from inside a bubble.  Sometimes it feels like I can see and hear everyone, but they can't hear me - no matter how hard I yell from inside my bubble.  I can't remember a time that I did not live inside this bubble. I always thought it was related to a "shy" personality type but when I recently
had my hearing checked and learned I have a hearing loss, the Audiometrist said this was a common report from people with hearing loss - "who wudda thunk it?"

My next series is titled "It's Not a Bad Hair Day".   It takes the viewer from how I look when I get up in the morning (if I don't roll my hair before I go to bed - which is a lot of nights) to how I look when I walk out the door - too funny.

Box 1 - frizzy hair - too frizzy to be called straight, too straight to be called curly or kinky-
Box 2 - contained under a headband - if I'm just staying home - this is a great no work solution-
Box 3 - on with the product to give the frizz some shape-
Box 4 - brushed flat-easy as pie-
Box 5 - sunglasses as a substitute for a head band-
Box 6 - one of those HUGE visors I wear when I walk "the better to protect your skin my dear"-
Box 7 - the ethnic look-
Box 8-  the warm suede and fur look (o.k, o.k. it's just faux fur )
Box 9-  the wig-

School is In

Well, here it is almost Autumn and school has started in earnest.  I'm restricting myself to two courses this semester a Portrait Photography class and a Web Design class (yes you read the words correctly - a web design class - what the heck was I thinking?  :(

So here we are, four weeks into the semester and this is my first post.  Max Gerber is the instructor for the portrait class.  He is a self taught photographer (he admits to taking one photography course) who is able to create dramatic and intriguing images.  You can find examples of his work at Max S Gerber.

Our first assignment was Friends and Strangers:  The objective was to photograph three people you know and three stranger, with their explicit consent - none of that - sneaking a photo with a long lens while someone waits in the bank line or is playing with their kid at the park.  It's not that tough to get people who will help you create a photograph - but pulling out that Model Release - and asking people to sign on the dotted line is a horse of another color.  Some people are really worried about giving a photographer permission to take their photograph.  Not sure what they think will happen - but they are not about to sign a piece of paper giving you ownership of their image.

Here are the strangers that agreed to help me.

It is interesting to note that the photographs where people are looking into the camera and smiling are not nearly as engaging as those images where people seem to show a bit of their personality.  The dichotomy is that people often want those very generic, vanilla ice cream photos.  Max - our instructor, says his clients are never the people he photographs - he works for people who commission the photographs, that way he is not required to create something the subject "loves."  I'm not too sure that works for the rest of us - who would hire us if all we captured were images that people hid behind the couch?

Pastor Faye and the Low Riders

Pastor Faye spends many of her weekend sharing her faith with men and women in Low Rider clubs.  She does not expect them to come to a "building" to worship, but brings her faith out to them and shares with those who want to listen the "Good News".  

Descansos - Contemporary Photography

My final project  has been collecting images of roadside memorials.  Descansos or Resting Places.
I started off thinking I would hear about an impromptu memorial and I would capture it before it was removed, instead all the Descansos I was able to document were sites that had been in place months or years.  It was an interesting project and one I may continue - It might be nice to do an exhibit of some of the images.

Descansos by Cynthia Dugan-Terrell | Make Your Own Book

Sizzle Factor - Studio Practices

We were given a photograph from a magazine and challenged with creating a headline for the product we thought was being advertised.  I was "lucky" enough to get an older man in a superman suit, hanging up his cape on a clothesline in the backyard of an older suburban home.  It did not take long for me to come up with the phrase "Hang it up and Hang Out - purchase Retirement Annuities.  I thought it was pretty clever - little did I know - the second step was to use that same headline and product in our own set.   I was furious.  How in the world did the instructor expect us - well - me to think through a scene, find a model, arrange a shooting date and print the photographs in a two week window - especially since I was still trying to create the images for the final.  I that it was a poorly thought out assignment and told him so.  But as it turned out - I was able to complete the assignment...

Cynthia:  I really think the way you put this together was quite nicely done.  The addition of the headline, and the product makes a huge difference in terms of putting this image into context.  The light and setting is nice, and the subject is emoting well.  I'm not sure the "Sizzle" factor is overwhelming however.  The addition of the hats is the strongest contributor, while, the briefcase may be a bit more subtle.  Consider removing the bar behind the back of the subject, it is a bit distracting.  A few more oranges in the tree could be nice.  Grade:  B

I'm still struggling with the difference between capturing and image and creating an images.  I never thought about actually changing the scene - I'll try to take that bar out and add oranges - Photoshop here I come  :D.

Panorama_Digital Capture Workflow

 Using CS4 to construct a panorama is relatively easy.  Using Lightroom 2 and sending it to CS2 to construct is harder than heck.  I have CS2 at home ( I am not likely to upgrade anytime soon) and I spent several hours trying to create a panorama.  It was not until I gave up and took advantage of the equipment and software in the Cypress College lab that was successful.

Long Beach, California near the corder of Long Beach Blvd and Del Amo

The Story - Studio Practices

For our final project we must tell a story, a visual story, with impact and interest, a story that might be accepted in a magazine.  I decided to tell the story of Pastor Faye Newman who ministers to the "Low Rider" community. For the past three weekends, I have spent some time at a "Low Rider event. The cars and all their "bling" are interesting, but the real story is about Pastor Faye and her interactions with the people she serves.

Super Bowl Cover - Redo

The assignment was to create an image that could be used for the Super Bowl program cover.  The image had to use light to show texture and have some free space where text could be inserted.   I was not happy with my grade and thought I would have time to re-shoot and submit for a better grade....  what was I thinking, the end of the semester is as harried as ever - finals, missed assignments, student show....  This image will have to suffice.

Campus Life

We each captured 10 images in the following categories: Campus Activity, Campus Beauty and Campus Architecture.  We each developed a Light Room Catalog with these images, placed images into appropriate folders, made selections, rejected images that did not meet our goals added keywords and other metadata.  We demonstrate Compare and Survey functions and assigned rating with the 1-5 star system.  applied adjustments to one image and then copies and synced to other selected images, placed 5 star images in a collection using filters and created a smart collections.  Finally we demonstrated the use of virtual copies, to make various examples by applying quick develop presets.

These images are the second part of the assignment:
 Select one image in each category, make three virtual copies and create four variations from the original.
Obviously I have to reprint Campus Beauty.

Panorama

Last week we were to capture images for a panorama, upload  the images to Lightroom and merge them into a panorama in Photoshop.   I have Lightroom 2 and  CS2  and wouldn't you know it - there does not seem to be an interface between LR2 and Photoshop for Photomerge.  I could have organized the images in Bridge - but I no longer have it and since I use LR most of the time I have not tried to reinstall it.

Although it was late at night, I was determined to get all my loose ends
tied up - so I can concentrate on the final and the magazine advertisement
assignment in the Studio Practices class.  I sent all 16  (yes I said 16) of
the images from Lightroom 2 into Photoshop and tried to open them in
Photomerge.

Slow as molasses and shut down PS2 a couple of times - finally got it done
around 3am.  Now I have to think about the best way to print it.  The
original size is 110"x11.5."  Roll paper is $110 for luster and $60 for matte
- will try to reduce the size so I can print it on the 13x19 paper I already
have.   Maybe I can cut it down, print it on two sheets and mount those
sheets together.  I have more images - if I can't get this down to a
reasonable size - will start over :(

Melt Down

I had a melt down at the end of the Studio Practices class last night.  It was a new assignment that sent me over the edge.  I was already miffed that we had been given a final project with less than a 1/3 of the classes remaining to complete the work.  It seems reasonable to expect instructors to develop the final project and provide students with the details of that project early in the semester so they can begin the necessary work for submitting a quality product.  Instead, we did not receive the assignment until the week prior to Spring Break.  Then tonight, we are given a very labor intensive assignment and asked to submit that assignment in two weeks.  I have never dropped a class before - and will try to get this work done  - but don't think it is possible.  We'll see.

O.K.  here is a second stab at the Warhol assignment.  Tried to use RGB/CMY colors but could not
get the right shades/tints in Lightroom.  Still color -but perhaps a bit more creative use - hope I can improve my grade.

Digital Workflow - Warhol

So distressed by the grade I received on my Warhol assignment, a B-.  I was so sure I had nailed it.  

                           PROJECT ASSIGNMENT
                           Your partner of choice has the need for a strong, graphic
                            image for their "Bio" type application.  Image should
                            have some mysterious, abstract, artistic theme.

                           Using a gray card in first image, capture images to card,
                           download to catalog in our normal workflow fashion,
                           applying corrections to the first image, and then syncing
                           to all the others.  As part of the process, create a preset,
                           which changes the image to the Warhol look.

                           I will be checking your workflow for all the components
                           (keywords, copyright file structure etc.  Complete as
                           much as possible in class today.  Submit final image,
                           before and after (on one page) in the public Drive, by
                           2 p.m. Friday.  Strength and character of image is the
                           essence of this project.

              Here is the original I captured.  Like all women over the age of 5 -
                  I needed to smooth and even out the color in Nicole's skin.  

                            

                            Here is the image after I worked on Nicole's skin and 

                                      brightened her eyes a bit.

I added a vignette and "Voila"  I thought I had a great artistic, Warhol look.  

                Instructor's comments to class:  Images appear to be grab images 
                without out much thought to composition or background 
                distractions.  


                Instructor's written comments to me: Apply effects beyond color.  


     I don't think his first comments apply to me, but so often the instructor 
     has one image in his head and I have another in mine.  He encourages 
     us to talk with him or email him to clarify instructions  - I may have 
     been closer to the mark if I had discussed my original idea with him.  
     This is one assignment  I should redo - it seems simple enough to 
      include additional effects.   

Resting Places

My final project in the Contemporary Photography class is a photo essay on Descansos - Resting Places. The memorials people build by the roadside to honor a friend or a family member who lost their life at that spot.

So far I have been able to find eleven:  Seal Beach, Anaheim, Torrance, Hesperia, Lake Los Angeles, and San Bernardino County.   Got a tip there is one in Riverside at Center and Iowa.  Will try to get down there this week - maybe Wednesday.  The deadline for completing this project is fast approaching so if you know of one of these memorials in the Los Angeles Area - send me a tip   cdugcyp@aol.com - thanks.  

Pairings - Studio Practices

We were to select an object and match that object with a person.  The goal was to light the object and the person the same way and to move the image from a completely flat two dimensional image, to one that popped from the paper because of the ratio and position of light and shadow.  


I asked Lauren if she would model for me and then spent several days trying to find the right bunny.  I wanted one that was not too big, and not two small, and it had to have  long floppy ears.  I never found the right bunny in the store, so was really lucky that Lauren's mother remembered where she had seen a bunny I could use. Once I knew the color of dress Lauren planned to wear for our shoot, I bought the pink ribbon....

A fun day - Lauren did a really good job, and I earned an A, well, really an A- but I was pretty happy - did not want to re-shoot.

Instructors Comments:  A very lovely job here.  I find an immediate connection between the two subjects.  Light works very well for both, including the nice backlighting for the bows and the side lighting for the arms and shoulders.  Good roundness on face.   I would have considered a darker clothing choice for the girl as I find the light colored dress a distraction from her cute face. Be careful to crop image neatly at bottom....

Food Photography

Our Studio Practices class had a food photography assignment at Cafe Mocca in Encino last week.
We had a consultation meeting with the managers to learn about the restaurant and the kinds of items they offered and the ideas they had for the use of the photography.  Finally, they told us which dishes they wanted photographed:  two salads, two dinner entrees, two luncheon entrees, French Toast, deserts (cheesecake and cupcakes) and a cup of cappuccino .

After the consultation meeting I spent a lot of time searching the internet for photographs and information I could use as a guide for capturing mouth watering food images.  Up to this point, the only food photography under my belt was the images I captured of my own plate, when we went out to dinner.  Stand up - pull out my point and shoot and "Voila" - a great food shot, or so I thought.

We gathered at the restaurant around 4:00 and arranged the set for our dishes. We were assigned the two dinner entrees.   It took us forever to get the  computer synced to the camera - and then it was on to the lights - we started with strobes and a reflector.  Finally we were ready and  the manager brought us our first dish.  We were working without a stylist so that part of the job was our responsibility too.  After four hours, we finally had an image we were satisfied with.

Our next capture was a Salmon Steak.  It did not take us quite as long to get set up for this dish - practice make perfect, or perhaps it was the close assistance of the instructor.....

  Great going Daisy, Mary, Stephanie and William - we make a great team - a special thank you to John who served as our Digital Tech when we were pulling out our hair, and Cliff who encouraged and supported us until the wee hours of the night.  

I packed up my car and started the long drive home around 11:30.

Identity Plate and End Panel

I was finally able to create an Identity Plate and End Panel I actually like.  Something that can be used on business cards and as a logo (yipee!).  I turned in something I was happy with, but not Mr. Lester :(   He liked the concept but not the presentation (printed on copy paper) - he gave me - rather, I earned a C+,  so I was not a happy camper.   I reprinted the assignment on photo paper and resubmitted - am anxious to see the new grade. 

Digital Workflow - Catalog Structure

"This gives me a headache".  That was Cliff Lester's comment on the workflow structure I submitted a couple of weeks ago.  He probably understands that it is giving me a headache too.  I'm still struggling with how to create a LightRoom catalog in a way that allows me to have current projects on a small external drive I can pop in my bag and carry with me - it's a nightmare.  The only bright spot is that I still believe it will be great when I finally do have a coherent and workable catalog with all my images - well actually two catalogs: one with all my originals and a second one with all the selects and edited versions.  What a wonderful world that will be.

I finally came up with some broad categories that seem to work for me.  

Client Work - Capturing Treasured Moments (I thought that was pretty clever :)

Fine Art - Travel, Flowers, Abstracts.....

Instruction and Training - Class Assignments and other workshop captures

My Groups - Iota, Links, Red Hatters ...

Personal Work -  Family and Friends and stuff like that..

There are a large number of sub categories that still seem to overlap - but I'm making progress.

Contemporary Photography

The first shooting assignment in my Contemporary Photography class was to find the letters of the alphabet in the environment.  No actual printed letters, but objects and shapes that look like letters.  What a great assignment.  I saw letters everywhere.  Here are some examples I found....

I chose this image for the "H" I saw immediately.  But there are many more I saw later.  

New Semester - Spring 2010

I'm taking four classes this semester:


DIGITAL WORKFLOW
I missed the first meeting of the Digital Workflow class but the instructor sent the Syllabus and first assignment to me - I'm supposed to think about and decided how to organize my LightRoom catalog.  Seems simple enough but I'm been tinkering with this problem a long time.  I try one organization then find it does not work - so through all the catalogs away and start over [:(   Maybe I get get it right and permanent this time.


CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY
I keep taking this class, hoping that one day I will really "get it".  I know a bit more than I did the first time I encountered "contemporary photography" but I'm a long way from understanding this genre.  The Instructor sent a couple of essays for us to read.  The Family of Man  - A Reappraisal of "The Greatest Exhibition of all Time" by Bill Jay and The Last Picture Show by Douglas Fogle.  First assignment is to find letters in the environment - not actual text but forms and shapes that look like the letters of the alphabet. Captured some images Saturday and again today - it was fun.


STUDIO PRACTICES
I so need to learn how to use my flash. First assignment design a cover for the Super Bowl program.  Bring three designs to class next Thursday.  Right now I'm thinking I will take photographs a young boy - Ali_ all dressed in foot ball gear - several different poses.   I was in Barnes and Noble this morning looking a magazines looking for different poses - will look at some stock photos too.

BLACK AND WHITE LAB
Black and White Lab starts Friday, February 5th.  Gives me a couple of weeks to decide what body of work I would like to pursue.  Black and white flowers are great but so common.  Would love to do some street photography - but don't know If I can shoot a roll of street photography each week - need something I can do closer to home.