After a heavy winter snow, a woman walks from her front door, down a winding drive, to her mailbox. Upon her return to the house, she notices the beautiful pattern of light and shadow that her footprints have left in the snow. She takes her camera and takes a series of pictures of the footprints, snow, shadow and light. She makes a large black and white print of her footprints. She studies this photo and takes charcoal and white conte and creates a mytical, lyrical drawing of the footprints.
What in this series of creations; footprints in the snow as she walked, black and white photo of her footprints, and drawing of her footprints in the snow is a work of art? If you decide that all are works of art, once the snow melts and the footprints disappear what happens to that art work? Does something have to be permenant to be a work of art?
Is there a hierarchy to art? Are the results of some mediums better art work than other mediums. Is the drawing "better" art than the photo? Is the photo better art than the melting footprints in the snow? Who decides? Is it art work if the creator of it thinks it is or is it art work if the viewer thinks it is?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Blog Work
After three weeks of having the blog up and running I still have no followers!! I still bellieve that this could be a very good manner of enhancing the class and communication about the arts. So, I am going to post Aesthetic Questions every week from now on that you are to respond to for points. These responses should be one paragraph (5 - 6 sentences long minimum) long in the blog. Hopefully, you will read the responses of others and be inspired to enter into a debate regarding the issue at hand. I will respond to your entries and points will be given for your participation.
Tuesday's Class; 9/29/09
Last class was basically a lab night.
1. We worked on processing the motion assignment with the goal that you leave with cut film in a sheet protector and a contact proof sheet to study for that assignment.
2. We worked in the darkroom on completing the depth of field prints. Our goal was to have two final prints; one that showed wide depth of field (everything in focus) and one that showed shallow depth of field focus (only what you focus on in focus).
3. Portfolios for this assignment were to be completed and turned in for grading if possible. If not, they should be turned in at the beginning of the hour next week.
1. We worked on processing the motion assignment with the goal that you leave with cut film in a sheet protector and a contact proof sheet to study for that assignment.
2. We worked in the darkroom on completing the depth of field prints. Our goal was to have two final prints; one that showed wide depth of field (everything in focus) and one that showed shallow depth of field focus (only what you focus on in focus).
3. Portfolios for this assignment were to be completed and turned in for grading if possible. If not, they should be turned in at the beginning of the hour next week.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Depth of Field Stars
Wow!
I saw a lot of really nice depth of field photos in class last Tuesday. Very nice! Class Update
Tuesday's class:
1. A Pop quiz was given at the beginning of the hour over depth of field.
2. A new shoot assignment was reviewed covering the use of the shutter to shoot captured and stopped motion. This shoot is shutter priority meaning that you will set your shutter to fast and slow setting to capture 3 final pictures; one that shows frozen motion (for instance throwing a basketball and capturing it frozen in mid-air), one that shows captured motion (for instance the blur of motion as a runner passes you as you take the picture) and a third one that is experimental as you capture panning (following the movement of an object as you engage the shutter button) while obtaining an average light meter reading by adjusting the aperture each time.
3 You should use a 24 or 36 exposure roll of black and white film and take a series of pictures to capture stopped motion with your shutter set on 500 or 1000.
4. You should take a series of captured motion pictures with your shutter set on 1, 2, or 4.
5. You should take a series of experimental pictures where you play with both captured or stopped motion or panning to complete your shoot.
6. We will process this roll of film in class next Tuesday and complete printing your depth of field final prints.
1. A Pop quiz was given at the beginning of the hour over depth of field.
2. A new shoot assignment was reviewed covering the use of the shutter to shoot captured and stopped motion. This shoot is shutter priority meaning that you will set your shutter to fast and slow setting to capture 3 final pictures; one that shows frozen motion (for instance throwing a basketball and capturing it frozen in mid-air), one that shows captured motion (for instance the blur of motion as a runner passes you as you take the picture) and a third one that is experimental as you capture panning (following the movement of an object as you engage the shutter button) while obtaining an average light meter reading by adjusting the aperture each time.
3 You should use a 24 or 36 exposure roll of black and white film and take a series of pictures to capture stopped motion with your shutter set on 500 or 1000.
4. You should take a series of captured motion pictures with your shutter set on 1, 2, or 4.
5. You should take a series of experimental pictures where you play with both captured or stopped motion or panning to complete your shoot.
6. We will process this roll of film in class next Tuesday and complete printing your depth of field final prints.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Quote
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
Friday, September 11, 2009
Alzheimer's Memory Walk
We're gathering participants in the Annual Memory Walk to support a treatment or cure for Alzheimer's Disease; people who wish to walk as part of our team to honor our mother who died from this disease, or people who wish to contribute money to sponsor the team. The walk is at the Zoo on October 3rd; you get free admission to the zoo and walk a mile past the new tiger exhibit, so it should be fun as well as helpful. To sponsor a walker just contact me and we'll add your name to the list and collect your donation. To join our team just let me know. My sister and I appreciate any support you can offer.
Thank you
Connie
Thank you
Connie
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Quote
"The ability to make a truly artistic photograph is not acquired off-hand, but is the result of an artistic instinct coupled with years of labor." - Albert Stieglitz
Newman Photo Students
Hello.
If you missed information Tuesday night, following is a summary of class activities.
1. We used the landscape negatives that you processed to create your first contact proof sheet. We then analyzed your frames to choose one that you thought would work best to create your first print. You were to look for the 5 pictorialist rules of composition in your work: one center of interest, that center of interest shifted off dead center, lines of direction that kept your viewers eye inside the frame, horizon line on the top 1/3 or bottom 1/3 of the frame and use of a serpentine line.
2. After having identified that negative you wanted to use for your first print we made a series of test strips; one with no filtration, one with #3 filter, #4 filter and the #5 filter.
3. You chose the best exposure time and filtration and made your first print.
4. You were given the second shoot assignment; depth of field. This assignment is meant to familiarize you with the use of aperture priority shooting, controling shallow and wide depth of field by taking a series of pictures with foreground, midground and distant objects using f16 or f22 and f2 or f2.8. Light meters are adjusted by compensating with your shutter setting.
For next week, don't forget your reading assignment on "Making the print" and "The camera lens".
If you missed information Tuesday night, following is a summary of class activities.
1. We used the landscape negatives that you processed to create your first contact proof sheet. We then analyzed your frames to choose one that you thought would work best to create your first print. You were to look for the 5 pictorialist rules of composition in your work: one center of interest, that center of interest shifted off dead center, lines of direction that kept your viewers eye inside the frame, horizon line on the top 1/3 or bottom 1/3 of the frame and use of a serpentine line.
2. After having identified that negative you wanted to use for your first print we made a series of test strips; one with no filtration, one with #3 filter, #4 filter and the #5 filter.
3. You chose the best exposure time and filtration and made your first print.
4. You were given the second shoot assignment; depth of field. This assignment is meant to familiarize you with the use of aperture priority shooting, controling shallow and wide depth of field by taking a series of pictures with foreground, midground and distant objects using f16 or f22 and f2 or f2.8. Light meters are adjusted by compensating with your shutter setting.
For next week, don't forget your reading assignment on "Making the print" and "The camera lens".
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Quote
"Photography records the gamut of feeling written on the human face - the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited: and the wealth and confusion that man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to man." - Edward Steichen
Hello Newman Photography 1 class.
My hope is to keep information on this blog the pretains to our previous and upcoming class. I'll post upcoming events, handouts, brief lecture notes, etc.
You, on the other hand, can keep me informed of absences, late attendance, questions and /or problems that you have with regard to the class.
I hope that this will be a useful tool as we work together the next couple of months learning black and white photography. I'm looking forward to it!
My hope is to keep information on this blog the pretains to our previous and upcoming class. I'll post upcoming events, handouts, brief lecture notes, etc.
You, on the other hand, can keep me informed of absences, late attendance, questions and /or problems that you have with regard to the class.
I hope that this will be a useful tool as we work together the next couple of months learning black and white photography. I'm looking forward to it!
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