The End of a Semester

So here is it, the end of the semester and my last post for this particular class; it has been very educational, interesting and overall a great class. I actually came into this class thinking it wouldn't be that hard, after all I have used my camera and all the programs attached to this class for years. I know how to take a picture. I was wrong. Well, not about being able to take pictures but about how very much work the class would be. Along with many hours in the lab during class, I spent many a late afternoon and weekend day in the school photo-lab and loved every minute of it! I love every member of my class and would consider them a dear friend. In the end, I got way more out of this class than I realized I would. Thank you to our instructor Kate, for being the base of my "photography family tree" and thank you to my fellow students for a really awesome semester!!

Water is Life

I LOVE water photography!

I love the colors:

I love the shapes:

I love the movement caught as a still life:

I watched an interesting video on how to do it that is super interesting: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yvyk5rcUm0  What can I say I so love love love water photography!

Artist Statement: To Define or not to define my art, that is the question

Part of my final project for my digital photography class this semester I have to write an artist statement. Like many in my class I have never done this before; what do I say? What do I not say?, HOW do I say whatever it is that represents my art? Is my art, art or just pretty pictures? What defines the difference? Oh the questions that come along with this one little piece of paper!!  I'd rather be taking pictures :)  But alas that is not the point of the assignment. The point is to write about my art. As I suggested to a fellow classmate, I goggled artist statements and came across a very interesting article about what they are about and what to think about when writing one. I am posting the link to maybe help some of my fellow struggling classmates.  How to Write an Artist Statement

Fangirl Issues

I love photographs and there is one photographer who's work I really enjoy. In fact I almost made an ass out of myself at last years Sullivan parade; while waiting on the float I was a part of, I saw that a photographer I admired had a small float too. I was overcome with my fangirl excitement and practically vibrated with the need to run over and introduce myself and gush about how I loved her pictures. Luckily I was able to control myself and just mooned from afar but still I love her work :)

Brook G Photography

Every Idiot

It seems that a common punch line one hears in photography is that "every idiot with camera thinks they are a photographer". But lets face it, with the advent of digital photography, lower to medium grade cameras at an affordable cost and Photoshop knock offs like Gimp or photo sites like Instagram with built in effects that can mask just about every technical shortcoming, it's getting easier and easier to make that statement true. But regardless of actual "talent" there is something to be said for those of us hobby photographers that want to learn to create the photo's we love to look at. When my kids were tiny I used to "plan" a studio visit. I would have a vision in my head of what I wanted then I would buy/make the outfits and props I needed. Then I discovered friends with higher end cameras who would allow me to borrow them to try to create the pictures in my head. Now of course I have my own equipment and I love the freedom to drop everything and run with an idea in my head. I still love pictures, mine and those made by both professionals and amateurs but even if I am just an idiot with an expensive camera, I am a happy idiot with a camera, much like a painter with new paints or a dancer with new choreography, I love my art outlet.

 

Studio vs Outdoors

So I own studio equipment...lights, backgrounds, reflectors, the whole nine yards but I personally prefer outdoor settings. This weekend I spent most of my Saturday helping out some fellow students in setting up and working with a makes shift studio and lighting in a spare classroom. From it came a lot of great pics and got me thinking maybe I am just prejudice against the studio because it takes so much to set up and take down. On the other hand I can see the ability to control the light and "setting up" the portrait can be fun too.  I think I will always be an outdoor girl but I think I may set the studio up in the basement and try doing some fun stuff with the family and see if maybe I can change my own opinion :)

Food Photography

I love food art! It is so fun and interesting and creative! I look at an orange and see an orange but someone else can look at it ad see a cat? How amazing is that! I need to find someone who likes to do art and offer to take pictures of it for fun because I find it absolutely fascinating!