Self Portrait October 2011

I keep trying to create a self portrait with some level of focus - making progress:

This one has a slight color cast - I think it is green - but it is the one Brooke chose.

I should redo it and see if I can get the color corrected.

Contemporary Photography

I have taken Contemporary Photography before - at least two times.  Each time I take the course I am a bit less confused.  This time we are reading Charlotte Cotton's The Photograph as Contemporary Art which is pretty interesting.  We were introduced to the website Learning to Love You More and were given the assignment to photograph under our beds????.

So this is what it looks like under my bed...   it's a storage closet.  My bed hides a huge mat cutter that I need to learn to use (so I don't  spend all my little dollars with my local framer), some ankle weights I plan to use again - one day,  a yoga mat, I have never used, and the mirror from my grandmother's chest wrapped in a black plastic trash bag.  (It is too beautiful to throw away and I have no where to hang it - yet.)   Doesn't look much like "art" to me.

This is a bit more like art - a narrative to be sure.

Food

1) Produce 4 entirely different images (LIGHTING WISE) of a simple food object in an appropriate
    setting.
2) The images must be turned in as follows:
         4 4x5 inch images together on an 8.5x11 sheet
         Printed beautifully
3) Images must include use of 1)soft light, 2)harsh light with shadows, 3) use of gobo, and 4) one image of your choice of lighting. Label each image using the above numbers.  MAKE SURE EACH LIGHTING APPROACH IS DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT.
4) Shoot the images of each item keeping the camera position and the subject in exactly the same position, while moving the light/only, to experiment with different approaches to lighting.
5) Utilize your design and composition skills to make these visually strong images.
6) Consider :cropping, props, details, foreground/background, depth of field, light/shadow, color, etc.
7) Include assignment sheet

Summary of comments:  Fruit looks old and messy, crust damaged. Like effect of gobo should fall on background, too dark, need separation between blueberries and background, use more colorful props, vary lighting directions, improve focus.  B-   (will try to do this one again)

Pairings

Studio Practices

Pairing Inc.

Makers of Duplicate Items

332211 Digiduo Dr.

Dual, PA 882244

PROJECT ASSIGNMENT SHEET

Assignment:  Round Objects and Faces

Description:  In order to demonstrate the similarity of lighting when applied to either a human face or a rounded object, we will photography one of each with similar light.

Grading:

1)Turn in image on time

2)Images are lit well, and the same

     a. Two lights for those comfortable with two

     b. Three lights for those comfortable with three

3)Present finished images as a digital file with the images side by side.

The file should be approximately 8x10 inches at 150dpi, emailed to cliffordlester@mac.com by 9/20 at 9 a.m.

4)Creativity/concept

 I think I did well on this assignment - I only think so BECAUSE my file did not reach the instructor.  I sent it - but he did not receive it - so no critique yet :(