Kweku Asafu-Adjaye Post 5

 Hey everyone. A quick update on the video art piece. The content of the artwork is now officially complete. Now for the materials acquisition from the previous post this weekend to start construction of the installation. As some of you may know, I had found out that there wasn't enough room in the gallery for my original idea so here's to improvisation. After I meet with my class to plan the layout I'll know the final dimensions I should use to construct the video installation. 

Expect the next update to be a sneak peek of what the installation will look like. 

Gabriel Harris - Crusade for Your Art (Part II) Review

 Hey, Part II was (in my opinion) a lot less interesting but good information, that I had not heard before! Setting an appointment with a curator is an extremely useful tip that I plan on using. I found the talk about editions and sizing important, I had not thought about creating prints of my work. The term Artist Proof was new to me as well, I had only know of keeping my RAWs when it came to commission work. The talk of editions made me realize that I never thought of pricing my own work. The tiering system stood out the best to me, so that  I can distribute my work and get my name out there. 

Gabriel Harris - More Work

Threw images together that I had shot a week ago. I was questioning whether I wanted to keep the first as a full shot or a cropped vertical. I will be shooting a lot more over this spring break!  

 

 

Blogger post 7

 I think going to random locations and setting up lighting there is going too. be my best bet for myself and for the people I am shooting. For this, I was able to shoot for a friend in a sorority after their event. Most of the positioning came from them but I helped with the final touches of where they needed to be. I am not sure I like where I had them stand and If I took the extra time I would re-do this shoot.(We are in the talks of redoing them).

Harrisonparker blogger6

I was able to do another one-on-one shoot this weekend where I could do the one-off camera flash. I do. I like how I can throw anyone anywhere and make the scene enjoyable. I also want to go into the studio and see if. I want o do random places like I did this shoot or have a white backdrop. 

Harrison Blogger 5

 I recently did an event for a sorority here on campus I was able to attempt the one-off camera flash portrait. I am not sure I really like some of the photos because of the background and not getting a full-color backdrop. During the event, I took other pics with a fisheye-like lens, where some of the photos could be used in a way that can also be used for promotional use. I personally like the fisheye photos more than the off-camera flash.

  

Tyarria Post 5 Chapter Response 2-5

 Chapter 2 : 

I definitely agree that the most difficult part about being a photographer is editing your own images. It’s hard to understand what’s too much or even what’s too of an edit. learning the importance of how not to overshadow, darken, highlight, or even over/under expose an image takes time. When I first started I didn’t know the importance of these things I would just click buttons to test things out. Another thing was learning how to be critical and objective while looking at my images. Being verbal about feedback is necessary too. It’s a lot of simple yet challenging things being taught that you never realize how important they really are. 

Chapter 3: 

Artist Statements was something I found extremely difficult to do. Talking about your work in a short and to the point kind of way can be hard sometimes. You never know what you need to add or take out unless you have someone proof read it for you.  These artist statements are meant to highlight  the work of your own that gives a high-level overview about the photographer(s) and their work. Project statements are important. It’s the same thing as an artist statement but with greater detail. To have one for each piece of work you have done can either get you to get used to writing them so you can remain consistent or you can be like me and not know the importance of what they mean to have them. 

I can’t say I have don’t these consistently but the more I get involved with creating more artistic projects and pieces, I’m learning why it’s so important. Questions you need to ask yourself  that you never thought you needed to until you become an art student or just freelancing with your images. It kills me to do it sometimes because I don’t see myself being in galleries consistently.

Chapter 4: 

Identifying goals and a plan for your work. Another important factor while being a photographer. Choose and adventure. Make it original and make it something that you know you’ll enjoy the entire time while creating. Learning what it means to put your work in exhibitions:non- commercial venues. These images have to be so spot on that potential buyers may want your work. Again asking questions like “does my art have an environmental them? Is it feminine? Issue-oriented? Ask yourself questions that other people would ask you. You can have mistakes but not major ones like misprints or cheap frames etc. Commercial venues, EVERYTHING must be perfect! From frames to your images and other stuff that’s necessary and happens behind the scenes. Gallery Representation is a gallery making a bigger commitment to exhibit and sell a photographer’s work. There’s so many details they forget to tel you when it come to photography. 

Chapter 5:

From goals yo action. It’s time to put things into action so, you can gain more photography connections. With building new connections you should be prepared so the importance of having a digital and physical hard copy portfolio to showcase your best work. The importance of getting your portfolio reviewed to give you feedback to help you be a better photographer. Although, some feedback may hurt to hear, but it’s only said to make you a better photographer. You aren’t perfect so you can also have room for improvement. Be realistic with where you are with your photography don’t allow your ego to make you feel like there’s never room for improvement. To make a portfolio review you need yo think about your paper you use, image size, presentation, leave behinds, pitch, and choosing your reviewers. After doing these things remember to listen and follow-up

Post 6

 In Chapter 4, I found everything in this chapter very helpful. I love the idea of portfolio reviews and would like to participate in one myself. I think they are a great way to network and connect with other artist, collectors, and curators. This part provided another way of reaching people and getting your portfolio out there by a more personal way of networking. Crowdfunding is a great concept and can really help artist not only get there work out, but also gain the funds to contribute to their work. This chapter also list other finical ways to reach your goals

As for my project, I have went to my fathers house to take pictures. It was raining pretty hard there and the house is in terrible condition so it wasn't safe to stay long, but I definitely got some picture and will be returning this week. I have decided to include some older pictures from when I was a child and what parts of the house use to look like for more context. 

Gabriel Harris - Crusade for Your Art (Part I) Review

What's good team! I hope you guys are good. I'm late to giving my part summaries, regardless, I am connecting to Part I, heavily. First off I did not know or maybe I forgot, that an official work is 20 images. It made me think about my time in the art program and being thankful that we have not had to present 20 images. I was also interested in the "Stages of Fine Art Photographers" and how the levels were dependent on the individual and not a hierarchy; I feel that it is important to explain that the stages are equal, I know many artist that would think that they need to be past a certain stage with their work. This part made me realize that I do not have any photographers that I look up to or are heavily interested. I just recently found Tim Davis his work seems surreal to me and I enjoy that. Other than him, I feel that I need more vets to watch! 

Sorry for the long read, but I enjoyed the first part on to the next! 

Post 6: Second Shoot

This shoot went really well. I am happy with the set that I chose and the costumes as well, which are not entirely accurate to the period but I think they bring more personality to their characters. These images show one princess' story and during the next shoot I will be capturing the other. After that I will shoot the beginning and end of the story, hopefully during spring break when I can get everyone together. 

V, Risbon Post #6: More Shooting

 Victoria Risbon

2/25

So I went out shooting some more, mostly just to keep shooting and keep thinking about what I want to shoot. The weather was less than ideal for today with a lot of the pictures being taken with the cloudy, rainy sky, but I really just needed to go out and take some more. I have a list in my phone of more places I want to shoot and I am going forward from there. Today I walked around the church where I grew up in as well as went to visit a restaurant that I used to visit all the time before it burned down that wasn't too far from that neighborhood. 

V, Risbon Post #5: Chapter Responses Intro - 4

Victoria Risbon

2/25

Crusade For Your Art; Best Practices For Fine Art Photographers

Introduction:

I agree with the concept about people with phone cameras and such calling themselves artists and foregoing a more traditional aspect, sometimes I do feel like it takes away from us as proclaimed artists, but needless to say it is going to continue to be a part of the community. I think its important to emphasize the "Make your mark on the world" and truly go out there and make something of yourself despite the odds against you.

Chapter 1: Making The Work

Straight off from the start I really recognize some of the things I have been told over the years that are really starting to actually be applied more in my life, for example just going out and shooting even if you end up with nothing usable, the sheer act of going out and taking photos is still benefiting you as a photographer. As Greta has stated before, you can't make the work or take it seriously like that if you are not going out there and actually taking images. Breaking down the process into those three simplified steps; experimentation, working with the objects next, and then taking the experience if the first two and applying them to reach your final idea; and me actually reading it all out in the book really makes me see these steps clearer and relate to that process. I think back to my experiments, my first shoots for projects, all the changed that went about, switching ideas and everything else that let to final projects, wether I liked the project final or not, it still ended up leading me somewhere else. The way the speak of your art practice being pushed down due to everyday responsibilities and work was also very relatable, and doing something like a residency or internship or whatever it may be and incorporating that into my life when my schooling is over to keep onto the same environment might actually help. If I want it I have to go out there and do stuff like that and strive for that. 

Chapter 2: Set The Stage

"You have made the work - what an amazing accomplishment!" is the first sentence in this chapter and I really enjoy that it starts off with something like this because sometimes it really feels like a breath of relief actually being able to go out there, work, and create something at the end. It is an accomplishment to end up with something solid whether you like it or not, the time and effort and creative values that went into it are an accomplishment. The book then goes into more of the technical process of editing and criticizing your work and reflecting on each photo and the experience or what you felt as you took the photographs. I think back to my senior show, we really asked the big question "When is it done, when is the pice finished?" and I really think about that every time I sit there and try and decide what to use, do I take more? Do I leave out this image or another? How dark is too dark, too light? This is a question that can make or break your piece sometimes, but all together it is something that each artist no matter the medium have to learn to deal with and utilize in order to keep creating their own works. Moving into the artist statement section, I think it was beneficial for me to keep going over working statements and ones that work less and really seeing them critique and see really what the difference it between ones written by individuals that I am not familiar with or did not see what the project was about along the way, it gives me more or a clear vision for the "why" aspect because of the lack of explanation from the person themselves during the process. 

Going in for the branding, sizing, pricing and everything else in that section is something I am familiar with, but I also tend to kind of avoid as it has made me nervous before and I am just unsure of my worth. I get paid for things now, but it is never consistent and more of a situational basis, I am hoping once I set up my website and make myself appear more "professional" and have more of my work available to see I can pin point a worth for my work and build myself up more. The listing and things in the book do make sense and I am begging to get an understanding on ranges should be. I think this is one of more important tasks to deal with because it is a multiparty transaction and you want to be careful and have the agreements so that nothing is over or undervalued. For the final section dealing with fine are vs commercial art I think really ties into my concept of my career for a more commercial work against my freelance more fine art/creative style work. I personally want to keep a boundary between my stuff in my future to keep more of a "work out of my free time" kind of vibe, I think the separation is important for balance especially when you're working in the art field and it can slowly become and take over your entire life. 

Chapter 3: Identifying Goals And A Plan For Your Work 

"Choose your own adventure."

I think this is one of the most important things to have a gameplay for as well, because as it states in the book everyone's definition of success is different and it is even highlighting in a sense how unique everyone is and how individualized this field or work really is. I enjoyed reading through this section as it helped me begin thinking more about my game plan and where I want to go, I don't have any type of timeline yet in regaurds to what I am doing, but I do know I want my work in a museum one day as well as I want to make a career out of my product/food photography. Selling my work in a museum is impartial to me, I just want to satisfaction of my work being viewed by people and them feeling from it. This also falls into the line of separating the type of work I am doing from my career goals vs my fine art goals. Having assess to this book and the way they describe the processes and procedures I think will always be beneficial to look back on when I am actively applying for this and trying to get all my work out there. I think I am also enjoying how this kind of feels like a how to and really feels like a guide for when I want to do these things. 

Chapter 4: From Goals To Action  

Throughout reading this section I actively thinking about present time, all the things they go over as far as the reviews and proposing as well as getting actively situated. All of these things were stuff I have recently covered in regards to doing the first show from senior show and proposing my project, I know that it is talking about things outside of education, but I still feel like the connection I made with the event now in classes and the show are really beneficial; for me to get base lines when I get there for more work int he future and after I graduate. This book will also aid in my getting all my things together for the big final show at the end as well, feel like I can use this as an actual guide for things instead of just gaining influence for what is in there. The breakdown for the specific topics was helpful in analyzing the content and not blending it all together, making it an easier read for me. 

Tyarria Post 4

 So, Ive gotten a few people that I've been able to shoot which was like 4 people.  I'm going to post these images in this thread so you can get a feel for what I'm actually doing. I still have more facial features I need to capture but Im shooting some more this weekend. Also, with these collages I plan on adding other races too, not just African Americans.    In the next blog ill have more of a mock up of what  these images will possibly look like merged together. 

                                         

                                         

   

I also plan on doing one post dedicated to a overview/reflection of Chapters 2-5 for the book that we are reading also.  So I should have two post uploading this week. well technically it'll be three if I include this one. 

Post 6

 For my project, I am still drawn to artist Alec Soth and how he photographs his subjects whether its inanimate objects or people and will still focus on his photographic style. I am going to take a deeper approach with my work and go to my father house actually this weekend. My father recently passed and there's so much of his stuff there as well as mine that's hasn't been touched in years. I think I've been struggling trying to find meaning within my work and this way I there will be true meaning behind it. I will update a little later with other artist with the same concept. I realize I am very behind, but now that I have a clear view of what I am doing, I'll be able to catch up quickly 

Post 5

Hey class, I thought chapters 1-3 in the book was very informative. In the first chapter, I felt sort of a personal connection when she was describing the process to making a good body of work and how she explains the work going from experimental to work with intention. Chapter 2, the main thing I took from it was to make sure there are no gaps when putting my series together and to make sure it really flows together. I didn't realize the difference between an artist statement and a project statement, so that was good to know. I also gained some good information on curating my website. In chapter 3, I learned the difference between commercial and non-commercial venues. I think its interesting that there is such a difference and I pretty much looked at both types of exhibitions/venues pretty much the same especially if museums can be included in the non-commercial category

Blogger post 4 Harrison Parker

 I recently got my flashes working as mentioned in my last blogger post. I am doing a small shoot for. a sorority for their bid day theme reveals and I am going to be setting up lighting to make it have that portrait/magazine look to them. Instead of doing a lot of full body/whole frame photos I might try and zoom in on these since it shows off a specific purpose in the portrait.

Harrison Parker post 3

 I've finally got my trigger and new flashes set up for use. I have yet to get to really use a good location for the picture as I was testing lighting and different modifications with diffusers. I ended up doing a mini shoot in my room with my roommate as a mock promotional photo, the product is celsius. As for right now, I'm able to get as much shooting done and still need to get some shots in the ODU studio and outside to see what background would look best.

Kweku Asafu-Adjaye Post 4

 An update on the Psyche project. I spoke to some classmates in my Senior Show class and one mentioned that rather than projecting directly to walls, project to insulation foam that you can by from Home Depot or Lowes. It not only allows the video to fit in more places rather than entire rooms, but also allows me to repaint the foam to whatever color I want to enhance the experience. So a smaller cut foam box for a more personal experience versus a larger one for a group viewing. I'll be trying to cut a medium size so that two or 3 people and share the experience. This option is very affordable. About 11 dollars for an 8' x 48'. So the next step is to try that and adjust the experience for it. 

This solves the problem of having 15 people sharing the gallery equally. I was told there may not be enough space for the work to be up.

Post 5: First Shoot

This week we did our first official shoot of the story. Some of the images came out very well while others still need work. I am thinking of editing the script to match what I can do with my camera and lenses better. Unfortunately I over estimated the location that I chose for these images, which was just an empty lot to start with. Luckily we will be shooting again next week and I have a better location in mind. The images are out of order, but it looks like things are coming together. I'm excited to shoot next week.

Gabriel Harris - Something!

 I got some work. I don't know what I want to do with it. but I've enjoyed looking at them! They almost make me want to do sequential work.