Sarah Pierce

The Selfie 

After reading the article, I decided to actually think about why I chose this picture of myself.  Then I realized how much meaning a picture could hold for someone, even myself.  I chose this image even though it is technically an “ussie” because, not only do I like how I look god, but I also like remembering this moment.  This was taken after I went through a very rough breakup and had to take one of my friends to my formal at the very last minute.  Even though breakups are never fun, this ended up being one of the best memories because of it.  This selfie documented the first time that Riley, my best friend from high school, got to come visit me at school and it was an absolute blast. This selfie captures the moment, post-breakup, when I realized that I can be so much happier in other company and best friends truly are forever.

In emulating my photographer, Carrie Mae Weems, it was difficult capturing every aspect of her images.  I tried to mimic the fact that she is always sitting at a table with a new task in front of her.  I felt that this was the largest component in her images and was necessary to be captured.  It was hard for me to turn it black and white with my limited laptop features, although that could have made the image more successful overall.  Additionally, I felt that it was important to incorporate her disinterested expression in the recreation.  Overall, it was difficult to recreate another artist’s image to the same effect as the original image.

Sarah Pierce

Assignment #6

Sarah Pierce

Assignment 5 

Sarah Pierce

Assignment 4

Favorite Color Image

I am a big fan of the color blue so the fact that there are two shades of it in this image makes it very appealing to me. Blue is a strong color and pairs well with anything. Also, it is a kind of a natural color in the sense that the sky shares this color is also captivating to me. 

Least Favorite Color

While brown is also an abundant color in nature, it is unappealing to me because it reminds me of dirt and detritus. The association of the color brown with filth may come from the role it plays in nature as mud, soil, etc. Though it does sometimes add necessary elements to an image, when captured by itself it is unappealing to me. 

Changing Subject 

Color Changing the color of the subject of an image to one that is unnatural makes a viewer stop to think about the artists intentions behind such a manipulation. In my image I altered a purple flower to be grey in color. This alteration makes the image less appealing to myself but could also leave the natural color up for interpretation which could be a useful strategy.

Scene with 3 Unique Lighting Conditions 

Sarah Pierce

Assignment 3

Robert Frank is the photographer of the image I chose.  Frank was born on November 9, 1924 in Switzerland.  He was a Swiss-American photographer and documentary filmmaker.  His most notable work was a book called “The Americans” in 1958.  The threat of Nazism heavily affected his knowledge of oppression.  Frank began photographing to escape his stressful home life and emigrated to the US to obtain a job as a fashion photographer for a reputable magazine.  

Frank utilizes two key visual principles highlighted by the Hirsch text.  The first principle is unity and variety.  The unity and variety of a photograph are strongly connected and Frank does a great job and balancing the interplay of the two.  Variety is seen in this image through the diversity of people looking through the windows of the train.  Though each person is different in one way or another, they are unified through the windows of the photograph.  The windows unify since they are a repeating shape connecting each person in the image.  Additionally, Frank utilizes the idea of pattern subtly in the image.  The repeating sequence of windows forms a pattern in the photograph that establishes a balance among the diverse group of people.  Both techniques make the photograph successful because they tie a group of people together in a thoughtful, interesting, and purposeful composition.

Sarah Pierce

Assignment #2