Richard Avedon Documentary Questions

Richard Avedon Documentary

1. When Richard Avedon refers to portraits he uses the words contradiction, complexity and connected because of how essential each other them are in creating portraits. First, contradiction is the base of a photo, it combines the ideas and features in order to create the ideal image. Next, complexity is important to taking portraits because it's what makes the image unique and different compared to other photographs, such as manipulating lighting or facial expressions. Lastly, connected, is the key aspect of a portrait because it brings together the entire image's vibe and links the message as a whole. Therefore, when Richard Avedon uses contraction, complexity and connected it explains how he actually makes the people in the photographs express themselves with these aspects.                                                                                                                                             
2. When Avedon moved towards portraits that were simple and clean he actually started to challenge himself to look beyond in the different aspects in a portrait. By eliminating the individual's surroundings it isolates and makes the viewer focus on one object and increases the specific features that make the individual original and different than any other. Therefore, when Avedon started to create simple portraits he was challenged to make the individual stand out with its different but natural facial expressions and features that define who they were.                 
3.  Photography is a fascinating creation by how it freezes time at any moment. By doing this it lets viewers admire success and creatively from others at a whole different level than painting, Not only that it displays the history of the individual itself and compares it to the present. However, when the image freezes it does not show life since it's not in the present, but in the past. Therefore, photography is an advantage and disadvantage because you can catcher moments that should be the individuals' memories and experiences.                                                                                                                               
4. What and who inspired you to become a photographer and how were to able to express and share it when photographing.               

Portrait Photography Analysis

By: Maegan and Leah from Poetic Portraits 

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Analysis

I decided to select this photograph created by Poetic Portraits because of it's unique and fascinating aspects, such as lighting and contrast. Lighting, for example, is one of the main features that increases the cheerful atmosphere. The light comes from the sky shown from the reflection of the balloons and character's hair, which makes the scenery more open and bright. Furthermore, even though the light source is beyond the main focus point it still develops smooth and spontaneous shadows from the moving objects and individual since the light source is natural and outdoor. Therefore, the format of the lighting results in creating a more happy and positive mood throughout the photograph. Not only is the lighting the main aspect in creating this joyful vibe, the colour and contrast are too. Even though the photo is in black and white is still creates a positive vibe. The reason being is that it makes the image look as if it is from a happy childhood memory since it has low contrast and has a young 2-year-old subject. The contrast is critical because is develops smooth transitioning in the image, which develops a more gentle and amiable picture. Thus is makes the photo more appealing in which it resulted in persuading me into selecting it. Additionally, the balance of the light and dark spaces complaints the whole vibe as well because of the bundle of light coloured balloons. One could say that if there was no light coloured filler in the photo where the balloons were, it would decrease the positive vibe as well as create an isolated and unbalance photo between darks and lights since the background is mainly dark. Besides the camera and lighting positioning, the subject itself created a more cheerful mood too. First. one could say that the expression of the character displays a happy and natural feeling since she is seen laughing and carefree. Also, the posture of the character is seen as being natural because of the fact that she is being informal by running and looking away from the camera. Therefore, this would create a more appealing scenery and would go well with the background of the spacious field and sky because it focuses on the object more, which would create a more happy and positive atmosphere in the photograph. In conclusion, I personally selected this photo because of its positive vibe and balance layout created by the object's expression and movement as well as the outdoor scenery and lighting. Since the photo displays a pleasant and carefree feeling it makes readers such as myself think of the positively throughout our lives and makes us happy. Therefore, I selected this image because I wanted to share the photos strong pleasant atmosphere, which is displayed with unique aspects of this photo.   

Portrait Lightning in Photography

Split with Broad Lightning

Loop Lightning

Rembrandt Lightning

Butterfly Lightning

Broad with Butterfly Lightning

Short with Rembrandt Lightning 

Cinematography Video

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Evaluation

For our video we decided to shoot it at a telephone booth, focused on a person in action, like talking to someone, holding the telephone phone, or just standing still. When we were editing the video, we had to decide what order the shots should be in and how we should cut the shots since the video had to be 20-40 seconds long. We wanted the video to be exciting. The soundtrack we chose was "Thomas the Tank Engine Theme Song" and we also decided to include the actor's voice in the video. By adding the soundtrack we created a video that was funny, extraordinary, and interesting. While adding transitions, we came to a conclusion of not wanting it to be a smooth transition because it would have made the video have a relaxing or gentle feel. Since we didn't do that it made our video have a faster pace and also made the video thrilling, because the viewer wouldn't know what was going to happen. In our video I think the soundtrack was a good combination, because it gave the video a more bright and playful feel to it. And I think the shots were pretty great, but I kind of wanted to reshoot again because some of the clips that were in our video didn't have any wild moments where something funny happen in it, like the first shot. I wanted the actor to dance or tap-dance. Since he didn't do anything exciting it decreased the happy feelings. This was my first time using the tripod/monopod and making a video that had music, overall it was pretty fun and fascinating experience. I was kind of struggling with what to do and how to do it, but I learned how to do it right and figured out which kind of camera positions I should do with my group.    

Digital Surrealism Artwork

Digital Surrealism Artwork 

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Digital Surrealism Analysis: My artwork focuses on social media and how it can affect us. Since media has influence our self esteem, like how we look, act, or how talented we are. I added some symbols to show how media can have a huge impact on teenagers around my age. The images I used were a dress, because most of the time people see dresses as something pretty and “girly”. The main character is seen holding a withering rose, because the love she’s getting is different/fake; the people who are supporting her don’t know how she really is in reality. The floor is made up with media icons, because I wanted the girl to feel like she can be happy when she uses media (and get likes and nice comments). A cracked screen with a smile face, because you may think that she is happy but there are things in media, like mean comment or dislikes that can make her feel hated or sad. When I started my surrealism assignment I had many ideas, but there weren’t a lot on human issues. At first, I wanted to create something surrounding the topic of “you are drawing your life” which means how you decide on something throughout your time alive, but it wasn’t related to others and it wasn’t serious enough. However, I thought about bullying, but it was too easy and simple for me. Next, I thought about people who hid their personality or lie. Finally, I thought what is something that a lot of people use and can be effective, and that’s when I thought about (social) media. I made a rough blueprint of what I was going to do and brainstormed what people do to fit in.  While I was completing my project I learned a lot about Photoshop, like Mask, Refine Edge, Exposure, and Quick Selection Tool. In Photoshop I used Curves and Levels to change the lighting of my background, Free Transform to move and change the size of the picture, and Quick Selection Tool to select parts of the photo in order to use Refine Edge, which is needed to make a Mask or smooth the edges. I used Exposure to lighten and darken the photo, but when I needed to change the lightness on one area I inverted the Exposure so that I could colour in the areas that I wanted to lighten or darken. I’m pretty satisfied, because it went really well, because there weren’t any problems that were serious and I think that my artwork really told the issue I wanted to show people.  

Amazing Week 4

Moon Climbing

By: Los Tomatos

Spanish Surrealist Joan Miró