Well they always say you best know yourself. As an “artist” I think that I have grown immensely since the beginning of the semester. Comparing my pictures from the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester it is apparent that I have learned the concepts and been able to execute them in a proper way. If I compare my picture of the bench from my first set, against the dock from my third set, I have learned the digital imaging concepts of pixels and resizing, sharpness and white balance, the levels and curves tool in Photoshop as well as using the masking tools and layers. I have been able to create a background on color perception and change the color using the eye dropper tools, as well as changing and creating a different appearance with the lasso tool and several different filters. Besides the elements of Photoshop, I have successfully learned how to take a picture, to allow the viewer to see it from your perspective, may it be the depth that you capture in the picture, the tones, or the sharpness of the picture, what is in the foreground and the background as well as what the subject is and how you are trying to portray it. I feel that the lenses of the camera are an extension of the eye, so you want viewers to look at the photograph how you imagined and how you saw it. I have learned how to use the macro setting to capture the details, and to get on the level of m subjects to see if from a different view, been able to change the lighting and the flash setting depending on my settings. I take my subject out of the middle and can also lock in on focus. I can also change the picture by the landscape or vertical or panoramic view that I capture the photo at. My newer pictures in the sets, were influenced by the nature photographers that we studied within the last few weeks but for the most part I captured what I thought was beautiful in nature and something I wanted to share with everyone else. Kevin Michael Snyder was my favorite artist that I have been able to relate to and he really inspired me to capture the beauty of nature. He stated that “Nature and being in nature makes me feel alive. For me, Capturing these moments is a blessing and the ability to do these tasks a gift.” I believe that that is SO true! I am always taking pictures and will continue to after this semester is over. The things that I have learned from this semester I will definitely carry over and be able to use them in creating better photographs. I will use photography as an art form throughout my whole life.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
memyselfandI
Reaction Paper 8
I have learned a great deal about photography and my style of photography this semester. When I first started taking pictures for digital photography, I basically just pushed the button on my camera not expecting anything in particular and hoping that the picture will turn out. Surprising myself with whatever I capture. I also didn’t edit my pictures at all. Nor did I know how to. I believed that the picture that I had taken looked great and that was how it’s done. When I got to be more developed with my photography skills I learned how to edit the lighting, color, and much more in the photographs that I capture. This helped my pictures to look much more alive and beautiful. I also learned to take a picture with a purpose, and not just to take a picture of any old random scene. I didn’t take any random old picture for my final project, I thought about something important in my life, like my family, and decided to capture a memory. I took pictures of things that had a meaning for me and had some impact or importance in my life. I also learned how to portrait aspects of my life and at times even told a story. The most recent picture I have photographed have been influenced greatly by things I have learned throughout the semester in digital photography. I have portrayed many different techniques I have learned in my photographs. Such as levels, layers, hue/saturation, and much more. It amazes me that a small little change to the lighting of color of a picture can make such a big impact on the final portrait. I found that my style of landscape photography was very similar to Bill Atkinson’s. We both wanted to show the beauty of the earth around us, and the beauty of the earth around us. We both choose to photograph many of the same landscapes and the way we edited our photos was greatly alike. After class ends I predict that I will still utilize the tools that I have learned this semester. I hope to use my new found skills to capture memories of my family and just my life in general. I will continue to use photography to capture my life, and hopefully develop my skills to an even higher level, to help my pictures to look more and more developed in time.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Reaction Paper 7 - Kevin Michael Snyder
Kevin Michael Snyder is a photographer who attended the University of Iowa. I was really drawn to Kevin’s work when I started viewing some of his images because I love being outdoors and taking nature photos. I follow the link to Kevin’s website and found this amazing quote that I can relate to very well. “Whether I am on a lake, climbing a frozen waterfall perched on a rock in the middle of a raging river or just watching a sunrise to a new day, Nature and being in nature makes me feel alive. For me, Capturing these moments is a blessing and the ability to do these tasks a gift.” Kevin also says that his goal through his images is to raise awareness of the treasures that surround us and also to preserve them. There are many breathtaking photos in Snyder’s set “hidden falls 1” on the Minnesota artists website.
Tim Olson
Reaction Paper 8
Reaction Paper 8, Final Paper
Reaction Paper 8 by Amanda Knudsen
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
My Visions: Kristine Sellner #8
Dean Tatooles inspired me to work with images of nature without civilization resulting in beauty without time. I think I was able to do this with the waterfall image, capturing size, seasons, color and motion.
One of my favorite memorable works was of Cindy Sherman who inspired me to step outside the box and work stage shots. This was something I have not done before and it was hard to work for a natural look. I think her process of trying multiple looks and endless attempts show that this is just a start in artistic growth.
I love taking photos. I have since I was given a camera to use at age 7. I know I have taken photos in the thousands over the years. Now, I can say, I have experienced the tools to add artistic quality to my photos. I know I will continue to take photos and use the tools of photoshop, however now they will have a new agenda for perfection. I was inspired by the exposure of the styles of many photographers. I intend on entering art shows in our area as I work to improve my photos. Time permitting I look forward to a camera club.
Reaction Paper Eight
however this class has made me look at many other things as subjects. I can create a beautiful photograph by changing the angle, creating depth and showing the gradient of colors or tones. These types of things are what will change an ordinary photo of a tree into something much more interesting. After researching the many photographers that we did showed me that a ordinary door or a broken tree can still be art. It is all in the way we look at things as well as the technique used when photographing these areas.
I have always been more of a spontaneous photographer. Although I may have an idea of how I want to photograph something, the outcome, setting and angle always seem to change in the last frame. This is the case with my self portrait that I photographed. My original idea was to have dramatic lighting and I wanted to be under the truck. The lighting technique that I wanted to use was something that I learned many years ago, painting with light.
I found that by switching things drastically I had a better outcome. I ended up using a normal flash with a slow shutter speed, and I put myself in front of the lens. I found that learning photography using digital versus film is much easier. A person should never have to go back to the drawing board. A person can see things immediately and switch things up if necessary.
I compare myself to Jodie Keefe, a photographer that I located on www.mnartists.org. Jodie is currently employed as a band director, yearbook advisor, photographer and vocalist at Holy Name of Jesus School. She received her BA in Music Education from the College of St. Benedict and later went to Hennepin Technical School to study photography.
Flower Photo taken by Jodie Keefe.
Leaf Photo taken by Me.
Portrait taken by Jodie Keefe.
Portrait taken by Me.
I am currently employed as a Human Resources Personnel Specialist at Mount Olivet Rolling Acres. I received my Photography degree from Ridgewater College and am now working towards completing my Business Administration degree.
Although Jodie received her BA prior to studying photography, I see that our style of photography is similar. We both look at a moment and tell the story through photography. This is more than just taking a photo of a subject with a prop. There is a story to be told, this can be done with a close up photo, or a portrait.
This course reminded me why I went into photography as a career many years ago. Although I miss it a lot, I don’t see myself making a full career switch again. I will continue to create beautiful photographers; perhaps after I am completed with my business degree I will go back photography as a side business. Photography is a true art form. I have really missed seeing the art after the photo is taken. The last few years I have viewed my camera as a job. Even when it has come down to taking photos of my family. I felt it was a hassle to take photos at a family event; it was easier to get a CD from my sister than to be the one to take the photos myself. I do think this class has reminded me that everyone sees things differently and if I want to have photographs with my point of view, telling my story, I have to be the one behind the viewfinder. I will continue to have my camera by my side.
Final reaction paper
I have learned so much in this class, and I think it will definitely come in handy down the road. I will probably be able to use some of the knowledge in the career that I am going to school for now. When I become a police officer I am sure I will have to take digital photos of crime scenes and I will have to know the best way to use the camera to capture the best image. As far as the editing goes, I will for sure have to use it to help enhance some of the family pictures that my wife and I like to take throughout the lives of our children. I my first images I was trying too hard to focus on one certain thing, but now I like to try to look beyond the primary subject and try to capture the best background that goes with the subject. I think by biggest influence was and will be Jeremy Turner. His work with landscape is very inspiring, and will help me to look for more awe inspiring images to capture.
Final Reaction Paper
This picture above, is actually my favorite picture that I have used for an assignment during this semester. I used this photo for our Project #3. It is a picture that I took around New London. I really like this picture, I think that it show good use of Photoshop. The main thing that I used in Photoshop is the levels, hues/saturation. I think that this is something that can be helpful to anyone who has photoshop, this picture was very bland and plane to begin with and now it turned out very bright and colorful.
Reaction Paper 8
Penny Mulder
About Me
When I look at these two pictures, I see a big difference. I think that in the picture from project 1 I only used 1 element that I had learned so far. In my picture from project 4 I see many elements, also my mind was working harder to make it look better. Because of all the artwork I have looked at through this course, I now have a better eye and I can imagine what I would like my photo to look like, and then I can create it. I really liked Sylvia Plachy, she really knew how to show place, with things in nature and with people. She really gave a good picture, and I could feel what the people were feeling. I think that is what I want to convey in my pictures, I like having feeling in my photos, as well as a common theme. My favorite of hers is the ladies legs, and the barbie doll legs sitting right on top of her. I also really liked Jim Brandenbergs, photos of wildlife, and the shapes of nature, my favorite would be the one with the hill and tree and all of the colorful grass and flowers on the hill.
After this course I will take with me all that I have learned and apply it to whatever type of picture taking I may do. I always have loved photography and I have entered my work in the fair for 4-H. I also love taking pictures with friends and scrapbooking, I will use what
I learned for things like that. I will see photography as an art form, I have always seen it as one of the primary art forms, and it is very important to learn about. It is something that anyone can have an eye for and anyone can enjoy no matter what level you are at.
About My progress
About Me
When I started this class I really had no idea how to edit pictures, only take them. Now that I know how to edit and make some really nice effects to the pictures, I feel like I have advanced so much throughout the course. I think that from now on I will be able to do a lot more with my photos and will be able to make them better because I can do that little tweak that may make the picture look 100 times better. I will be continuing to take pictures after this course and I think that I will be able to be more creative even with just taking the shots of the photos because now I know what else I can do with them once I get them onto the computer. I have already taken Christmas photos for family friends and now with my new knowledge of editting I will be continuing to take theirs, and hopefully other people's families too. The first picture is one that I put up the first time we uploaded any pictures, and the second one is one where we had to filter the pictures. I am very confident that I have suceeded and advanced in this area for myself, and am very happy that I learned as much as I did with editting pictures.
Reaction Paper 8
Me
Monday, November 22, 2010
Photographer: ME
Tammy Moll
I have chosen these two photos; the first one is from the first assignment and the second from the project 3. I have learned so much during this class. The way I was able to adjust the 2nd picture and understand what I was actually doing.
I plan using my skills in the near future to take my own daughters formal portraits at her wedding. I would not have had the courage to do this without this class. I hope to continue learning more about photography whenever possible. I will take whatever classes that I can but I think I really want to develop my skills with a lot of trial and error. I have always enjoyed that my family here in MN have seen me as the family photographer but now I believe I can become even better.