WHAT I DID: This week i explored night time and long exposure photography. I am not done and intend to explore this more in the coming week. I have done light painting but that was the extent of my night photography in the past. I intimidates me because I don't have experience, I don't know what I'm doing, and I don't feel confidence that success will happen. Others seemed semi-impressed by my first attempt so I guess there's hope for me. I have seen many examples of this kind of photography, but never actually tried it. I decide to give it a shot because I am very interested in it and it's something new and uncomfortable. The pictures posted above are a few of what I took this week.
WHAT I DISCOVERED: That I have a lot of learning to do. I read about exposure times that were a number of hours, but discovered that the settings on my camera go from 30 sec to bulb. Meaning that I normally don't take photos under 1/60th of a sec and most are much faster so the pictures I took this week were no more than 30 sec exposures. I'm not sure if there is a special setting on my camera to do longer exposure times since on bulb i'd have to sit there and hold the trigger down- but i want to figure this out. 30 secs is a lot of time and so i'm having trouble visualizing an hour long exposure (other than stars) since i only read about it. I read about a guy who used a pinhole camera to do a 6 month exposure because he was interested in recording the pathway of the sun. I like the idea of long exposures because you get to see this hidden world within the real world that you're used to. If it weren't for the camera this wouldn't be possible. Its like this fantasy world hidden in the real world- not something I fabricated.
WHAT'S NEXT: Realizing my lack of technical knowledge in this subject and seeing that the information is slightly difficult to find online, I ordered a book which should be here the beginning of next week. I realize that a lot of finding success in this is trial and error, so more experimenting is in order. I will do more photos this weekend and see what happens. I also read about the use of filters to block the majority of light so that longer exposures were possible but the name of the filter wasn't mentioned. Maybe Huron Camera would know...
WHAT:
I would like to explore the passing of time through pathways made by the movement light, nature and living things in order record the changes that time creates.
I would like to unveil the beauty of fantasy worlds hidden inside the real world
I would like to open up the lives of people who have made a career out of saving and rescuing those who don't have a voice: animals, and share their experiences with the world.
WHY:
It is hard to notice change unless it is recorded. Seasons make the same land look like a different place. One walks into physical places like the white houses and wonders who has stepped in the exact place. It is intriguing to record these things on a small scale.
Night and lighting transforms surroundings into places that seem scary or magical. It excites me to show images of worlds that people walk by and don't realize that they exist.
I am personally interested in who these people are and what drives them to do what they do. I feel that they are mostly anonymous to the general public and I believe my desire to tell their stories will give them recognition they deserve, make them feel appreciated and educate people who view my work.
HOW:
By recording people and places evolving and moving through time using photography- long exposure and visitng the same people/places multiple times in intervals.
By the use of night and long exposure photography
By making contacts with people, places, and organizations related to the subject and photographing on the job actions shots, portraits, and audio recording interviews with the intention of creating a book of photos paired with feature stories.
Question: Are we ever going to get feedback on our summer homework assignments? I feel like I put a lot of thought into those ideas and I've been waiting to hear thoughts about them.
I need specifics on the subjects, yo. What are these weirdly lit things no one notices that only you can capture on film? You know, this doesn't have to be photo-journalistic... set up some creepy lights. I think the first 3 photographs are interesting (especially the 3rd where you can't quite tell what going on). The red one is cool, too. The campus lights and the moon... not so much; but hey, you're expirimenting.
ReplyDeleteThe animals thing needs expanded upon. Like, just the doctors and nurses seems mundane- if you include the pet owners, other dogs that are friends with the dog-- like every friend or person this dog knows, how it's life was saved/or lost, and the effect it had on said relationships... you could be on to something. Really stress how much this dog's life matters (mattered). Or go into the weird aspects- pet insurance, cremation, caskets, semetaries-- I spent hundreds apon hundreds of dollars on my guinea pig last year (x-rays, sonograms, medicine, shots) AND it could have been alot more had I seen a cardiologist! Oh, talk about extremes, check this out: http://www.honda.co.jp/dog/wow/seat01/index.html It's interesting territory, but not from just one aspect.
Is the summer work posted on here, or do we have to see you...?
-Sean
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteA few thoughts: perhaps in reverse order to your post.
Summer assignment. Although we asked you to hand in your summer assignment - and we've read them - they were for you as much as for us. I can tell from reading yours, that you benefited from the process.
You spoke of it beginning to sink in that soon there will not be any teachers and assignments, and indeed IP is meant to begin that transition. We are here to support you and your work, but ultimately the work must be your passion, not my preference. Likewise, you cannot let others be the exclusive judges of whether you've succeeded or not.
Personally, I think you are up to the challenge of not only technical reaches, but reaching out from your comfort zone. Many of your ideas (from assignment 3) are not mutually exclusive. I'd love to see you connect with people and places that you otherwise wouldn't. I'd love to see you capture their lives with all the techincal approaches that intrigue you -- night imagery, silhouettes, color and shape -- with the addition of meaning, both in the making of the work and the viewing of it. Your experience, your voice needs to be a part of this. I am wondering if you are using technical challenges as a way to hide from the scarier parts of interacting with others as you shoot. You can do it! It will get easier each time....
Hannah
We can talk more in person, let me know if this makes sense.