Lee ARTS_3379

Final portfolio Project

For the surrealism prompt I edited in planets into regular landscape photos that I took. I got the inspiration from Star Wars were the planets would have multiple moons or other planets in the background of shots. I thought taking this idea and using it with our mundane world would be interesting. It hits the surrealist aspect but it also has a science fiction vibe to it that I enjoy.

First I chose to look at the 27th Juried Exhibition from the Griffin Museum. It hosts a variety of different photographers. They are all modern but the genre and techniques vary heavily. All of these photographers are succesful in creating their own style. They are all unique and have their own strengths.

Jane Ivory, "Night Traveler," 2020

This is my favorite photo from this exhibition. I like that it is black and white. I like the atmospheric quality to it. It reminds me of an old black and white film. The framing is also really good where it captures a good amount of the water and the bridge. The way the clouds obscure the far end of the bridge is really cool.

The next online exhibition I chose to look at was the Nagasaki Journey Archive: The Photographs of Yosuke Yamahata. These photos of Nagasaki perfectly capture the horrowing event. The photos of the wrecked landscapes looks as if it was from an apocolyptic world.

Yosuke Yamahata, “gelatin silver on paper,” 1945

Thomas Ruff blends science and art with his photography. He uses photographs taken by NASA satellites and alters them digitally to get what he desires. He pours through many different scientific photos until they meet the aesthetic he wants. He is not concerned with the authorial claim to the photograph, he only cares about the final image. If he has to use a photograph taken by another person, a machine, or a robot to get the final product he is after then he will.

BLOG PROMPT - PASSAGE

Video art is a unique art form that combines mediums to create a unique piece of artistic expression. These videos are usually experimental and their purpose or meaning might not be perfectly clear. Video art breaks the mold and shows videos that go against what people typically think of art. Even though they might be weird and hard to understand, these videos are unique and interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UaRe6q7M4k

This video by Joan Jonas was interesting. It shows a good example of symmetry and also touches on the meanings of reflection. it is very short and doesn’t have a narrative but it creates weird imagery. I didn't particularly enjoy this piece. However, after doing some research and finding out the intent of the artist I found it interesting. Her use of the mirror as a symbol of representation, self-portraiture, and the imaginary is well done. Joan Jonas was clearly influential in video performance. Her work is not my cup of tea but I can see its purpose and influence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a56RPZ_cbdc

Pipilotti Rist’s Ever is Over All was much more my speed. This is very akin to the experimental films that I'm used to. I enjoyed this one more than the one by Joan Jonas. This one has a very loose narrative too but the viewer can understand it easier in my opinion. The abstraction and juxtaposition is clear from the start. The overlapping of imagery creates a unique and fun to watch video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQuSYsFMMt4

I am a big fan of movies and my dream is to become a video editor in the future. I like to collect movie posters of my favorite movies that inspire me. Seeing them reminds me of my passion for film and makes me work harder towards my goals.

I focused on elements such as line, shape, texture, and color. I focused on principles such as balance, emphasis, contrast, and pattern. Focusing on these improved my composition by making something mundane more interesting. When framing I focused on the rule of thirds and creating cool compositions.

The biggest inspiration for my work would be Roger Deakins. His website is https://www.rogerdeakins.com/. He is a famous cinematographer but he is a photographer too. He does still photography as a hobby on the side and you can find some of his photos online, like the one below. His use of lighting and color in his films is what makes him really stand out.

I also enjoy the work of Annie Leibovitz. Her Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/annieleibovitz/. She is a very well known photographer and I enjoy that she works so closely with famous actors/actresses. Here is one of her photos below.