Tribute to Finding Myself

 To search for one's identity is like exploring the depths of the ocean. It is always changing and conforming. My self-discovery has been arduous, confusing, intriguing and hopeful. I am in the midst of a great awakening that has inspired me to stop asking questions and to follow my instincts. When I look within myself, I no longer ask myself  "who am I?" I have realized that it is more important to ask myself, "what is the essence of my being?"

Nicolas Méphane

Nicolas Méphane 2011

Nicolas Méphane - Photographies's Photos

Nicolas Mephane is one of the youngest top photographers in the year 2012. He was born in Bordeaux, France on December 20,1989 and started working as a photographer at a young age. Mephane describes himself as "Conceptual, Emotive, Expressive, Fashion, Surreal and ‘Miscellaneous" photographer. In his series, named "Book 2011," all of his photos consist of portraits of men and women. Although many people take portrait photos, Mephane is unique  and he manipulates his photos to provoke somewhat of an erie feeling. He turns everyday, normal photos into a true art form and captures the beauty in everyone. 

The composition, lighting, effects and all the elements Mephane uses create a world of glamor and fashion in unrealistic settings sometimes.I think that all of Mephane photos are extremely successful and I am excited to see future work of his.

Glove Animation

Deidree Romero 2012 Stop Animation


I always wondered how these videos were created and today I learned how in my Photography class. This video above is my very first attempt in Stop Animation.

Sherri Levine

Sherrie Levine 1981

 Sherrie Levine is a American photographer born in 1947 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. She is best known for her re-photography. Re-photography is classified as someone who "pulls" from other peoples work to inspire and to recreate as their own. Levine is known for her exhibition tittled "After Walker Evans." Levine re-photographed Walker Evans photos are re-created each of them as her own. The recreation of theses photos provoke intense feelings and perhaps new meaning. The photo above is a reproduction of Walker Evans Depression era. Levine's series was an attempt to capture the past, and traditional gender roles. Her work was praised and critized by many people.
I believe this photo is very successful, not only does it depict the "old times", it also has a feeling of sadness. Only two of the subjects are smiling in the photo, the black and white color reflect what was once here or maybe what was lost in time. The subjects outfits are outdated and it is very rare to have more than three children in the present time. In addition, the image confuses me, is the man in the middle cruel, does he  have more than one wife? Why are only a few of the children wearing shoes? These questions, further validate why I believe this is a succesful photo.

Richard Billingham

Richard Billingham "untitled" Published 1995

Richard Billingham was born in 1970 and is a English photographer. He is best known for photographing his family. He's style is characterized as raw images of reality, emotional yet deeply inspirational. I personally enjoy this photo above not only because it reminds me of a cat I once knew but it embodies more than just an animal. Looking at this picture makes me wonder what the cat was actually looking at. Furthermore was the photographer "Billingham" doing laundry at this moment in time. The lighting in this picture is also interesting to me. It is very bright and some of the image is lost in the lower left corner of the photo. I like the detail in the cats furr, it looks so soft and shiny. This photo is included in his series about family life. Billingham was not afraid to show his family or childhood surrounding as they were. This is what made him a "celebrated photographer"

September

GREEN By Deidree Romero 2012

Crackle by Deidree Romero 2010

Pink by Deidree Romero 2012

Time Capsule by Deidree Romero 2012

Bee-utiful by Deidree Romero 2012

A Day in Septemeber by Deidree Romero 2012

Alec Soth

Herman's Bed, Kenner, LA, from Sleeping by the Mississippi

 

 

 

 

 

Alec Soth  is an American photographer who was born in 1969 and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His work is described as "beautiful but very gritty and is unafraid of humor and irony." Soth's photographs captures the beauty and color of life through a different perspective. Soth is known for his large scale photographs which he has won many awards from and has published several books. His book which this photograph above is from is named "Sleeping by the Mississippi"published in 2004. The series includes several images that are joined together through a story like process.  This photo above caught my eye because of all the different colors in it. I wanted to know more about this image. One of my first questions to myself was; Who could sleep in this room without being distracted by all the different colors, and perhaps lights reflecting off the plastic beads? Seeing this image pulled me in and made me consider the actual set up or way he captured this photo. As stated above I really enjoy the colors in this photo.Although there is a deep depth of field, I think that the bed is the only real object in the photo that is in focus. All the different textures in the photo evolve into one and allows us to see a little bit into Soth"s imagination. I'm curious about the lighting Soth used in the photo, It seems as if there is a window on the left but I am still unsure of how he made the beads twinkle. Sloth's photographs  inspire me and I hope to learn from his technique and unique vivid imagination of reality.

William Eggleston

Dust Bells by William Eggleston. 2004

William Eggleston was born in 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee. He is an American photographer who is best known for recreating "color photography". He is also one of the most original and influential photographers in the 21st century. Eggleston work represents life and the simplicity within it. Although most of his work seems as snap shots he is able to capture the beauty, honest, compelling world that surrounds us. His work evokes past memories of an individuals life. All of his photographs are very successful because they provide "true"colors of the present. This photo above was published in 2004 in his portfolio called Dust Bells volume 1. It is one of 15 photos all printed on dye transfer paper. I enjoy this photo because the natural lighting makes me feel as if I am the one taking the picture. The angle of this photo is unique and gives a different perspective of the car, street and sky. As mention earlier, he evokes a sense of being in the actual photo, on a cold gloomy day. This photo also seems "creepy" which to me suggest more than just a car, but that someone is driving through a small, quiet, perhaps lonely town.Furthermore I appreciate Eggleston's work because I feel that my best photos are taken when I'm trying to capture the moment I am in.

Hiroshi Sugimoto

 Earliest human relatives by Hiroshi Sugimoto The Origins of Love, 2004

Hiroshi Sugimoto is a Japanese photographer born in 1948. He spent a good portion of his life working in Tokyo as a photographer. He later moved to New York and continues his work as a photographer.Each one of his series has a different theme but collectively they all represent a time in history. Hiroshi refers to his own work as  "time exposed", this photo above represents the earliest of human life and evolution. Hiroshi photos are all black and white, he works with long exposures and adjusts his shutter speed often. Depending on what his subject is, he adjusts his exposures accordingly. He is known as the "highest technical photographer" and later had some of his work published from the Pulitzer foundation. I enjoy this photograph because Hiroshi creates a sense of " real life" although I know that these are mannequins, they still look as though they are strolling through the land enjoying each others company. The lighting in the picture is all natural thus allows the viewer to see great detail in the neanderthals. This natural lighting is what creates the feeling of coldness and someone walking outside in the winter. Hiroshi is known world wide for his photography now and continues to have sold out shows.

Gregory Crewdson

Untitled photograph in book Twilight "Amstaged"

Gregory Crewdson is best known for his elaborate, detailed staged scenes of  "America suburbia" life. He often has a full crew to help develop and create his unique sets, then photographs them later. This photo above is from his book "Twilight" published in 2003, it belongs to a series that documents dramatic surreal moments in life. The subject "woman" seems to be in another world, surrounded by nature, yet she is still in her kitchen. The expression on her face creates a sense of loneliness and allows the viewer to perhaps put themself in her shoes. I enjoy the photo because  Crewdson thought about the the light that flows in through the right window and the increased contrast adds to the photo. The woman and flowers are in focus and the rest of the background seems to fade out. Although this photo has a deep depth of field its subject still stands out to me. The light areas of the photo give the dark areas a perfect balance, and all the flowers colors stand out. In my opinion, Crewdson has created a very successful photograph because it evokes a intimate feeling and allows the subject to be somewhat herself in the photo.

Jerry Uelsmann "Undiscovered Self"

Undiscovered Self

                                      Jerry Uelsman 1999

Jerry Uelsman photographs are  "surreal, spiritual and thought provoking". He is the very first photography that used a technique called layering. He only uses his negatives in each of his new works. He spends hours in the dark room creating new and unique pictures such as the one above. (Undiscovered self) I enjoy this picture because to me it represents the love between two people but also the separation. Most of his photos are black and white and with each negative he has put together a whole new picture. He also uses each picture as a frame, and the boarders of each picture create another picture within itself. 

Sandy Skoglund

Sandy Skoglund
Ger,ms Are Everywhere
1986

Sandy Skoglund is a photographer and installation artist  who was born in America in 1946. She studied at several different colleges but ultimately earned her degree at the University of Iowa and  received her Masters of Fine Art in 1972. Skoglund is most recognized for designing and creating a unique set. Her sets are complete with objects like furniture, plants, humans, animals and other various decor. She also uses a contrasting technique in which she focuses the attention of her subject with one distinctive color and blends everything else with another abstract color. Her sets take on average several months to create. Every detail is hand crafted and selected by her to give a realism yet surreal to her set. Once perfected she then  photographs it.Skoglund uses elements like shallow depth of field,texture and patterns. In "Germs Are Everywhere" she uses two similar shapes, rectangles and ovals. Notice the TV, the stand, the base of the lamp, the picture frames and the outlines of the lamp and light shade are rectangular. The chair, leaves, the germs, the actual shape of the light shade, and the women have a oval shape. This is one part of a series of photos that Skoglund creates. She often uses  real people in the surreal environments she creates.

Martin Parr 1999
Latvia Beaches

This photograph was taken on a non crowded tourist trap beach. Here a elder lady possible her grandmother is taking a picture of a young girl. A rainbow is in the background and the sky is cloudy with a hue of grey almost like the storm just ended. The rainbow the young girl and the lady are the subject matter. This pictures depicts the innocence of adolescence, the storm has just passed and the sky and atmosphere are due and grey. this young girl still finds a way to smile and joy in life. The rainbow can be taken as the silver lining of a bad situation and although this photo was taking on a gloomy it reveals a happy tone.

This photo relates to some of his other work. Martin Parr takes a lot of photos of people in their everyday life and what could consist of it. For example he has a series of beach photos with people acting as if there is no camera around. He is very good at capturing a sense of "I dont mind if your taking pictures of us"

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