Writing Assignment Week 9

My book is appropriately titled Photographs and is a compilation of... photographs... by David Hilliard.

1. What is the main idea of the photography series in the book?

       The photos in this book were taken within a 10 year timespan and they revolve around the people and places in his life.

2. What is the purpose of these photos?

       The purpose of these photos was to document those close to him in an interesting way, as well as to explore the panoramic style that he learned from his Father who appears in a good portion of the book.

3. What photography techniques does the photographer use to communicate the main idea?

       The way he combines separate photographs into a panorama is a direct testament to his Father and therefore helps us tune into the idea that he is concentrating on the people around him... as well as the obvious fact that a lot of the same people appear in many photographs and the titles tell us information about who and where they are. He also emphasizes singular moments in life and uses saturated colors and shifts in focus to make them somehow more significant and intriguing.

Writing Assignment: Lighting

This photo by David Hilliard is titled 'Dad.'
The main focus of the picture is definitely the man in the window and the lighting absolutely supports that. Everything else in the shot is dark... even the light from the setting sun to the right is a cool purple color, so it doesn't contrast much. The brilliant orange coming from inside really stands out against the rest. Even though the man is a really small part of the shot, it is a clear main focus because of that light.

Contact Sheet

Lighting Exercise

I need to crop some of these. This is my best friend Maggie... before I took pictures of my object, I did a bunch of her with the studio lights.

 I like her face in this one and also the very bright, yet not overexposed quality.

 I love this one because she was really laughing and it was candid.

 This composition was my favorite... I like how the necklace lines up with the shadow and it sort of divides the picture diagonally... Also the amount of her face that is lit up intrigues me and her hair is in motion.

 I liked these two because it kind of looked like she was in a parking lot.

1Hour Nature

Interview an Artist

I Interviewed Rhea Nowak, a professor here and my advisor.

1. What motivates you to do your artwork?

       -Life experiences and metaphors

2. What are you trying to communicate through your artwork?

       -For this she sent me to her website, rheanowak.com, to take a look at her artist statement, particularly the last line:

Different formats have always intrigued me both formally and metaphorically. A long narrow format in the horizontal is reminiscent of the horizon or a timeline, in the vertical it reaches into infinite space. I associate this long narrow format with continuity and interconnectedness and am reminded I am always part of a much greater whole, one so much greater than the human imagination that I am simultaneously humbled and inspired. The square format is a young circle- awkward to turn but able to have four orientations and maintain its shape. I often create squares out of long and narrow formats or build other shapes out of squares. It is in the process of taking things apart and rebuilding them that I see aspects and relationships in new and intriguing ways. This expands my perceptions of and actions in the world.

I am intrigued by the relationships between clarity and chaos, rhythm and awkwardness, mark and intention, presence and absence.

3. What interests you in the artworld?

       -Museums and galleries. Seeing other professional artists' work that is out there.

       -Technology in art and how it has changed so much over the last few decades.

Break Photos

1. Cityscape... I was in Binghamton with a friend and decided to take pictures of the architecture.

2. Reflections... I was experimenting with reflections. I came up with a lot of cool images, mostly confusing and abstract... this one is some pine branches reflected in a bucket of water. I like the colors.

 3. Nikki, my dog! ... I had to put 2 up for this one... the first one i like because of the lighting and how regal she looks... come on... thats a respectable hound. The 2nd is just hilarious and though not very technically good... its very blurry from motion and out of focus and a little dark, but I really like the action in it.

                     4. The Kill.... My cat brought me a present and as grotesque as it sounds, I took pictures of him devouring it. I wish the sky wasn't so blown out in this one, but I really like how clearly defined the bird is and how the cat is towering over him.

5. Flowers... Self explanatory.

 and here's my cat thinking deeply about his life: