Masked

In this photo, I see a girl who has realized that she does not have to mask herself and make herself less than she is to fit in. In this moment, she accepts herself for who she is and she is comfortable with the way she is. If I was describing this to someone who could not see, I would explain that there are two versions of the same girl layered on top of each other so they are intertwined. I would say that one girl is the center of the photo smiling, while the other girl in the background looks emotionless. The girl smiling has a bright beam coming out of her, showing that she is full of emotion and not hiding anything. Yes my description sounds intriguing and it is very interesting. All my photos are about masking yourself so it is cohesive. I don't think I would add anything else to this photo. I have created a totally different image than before and it is unique.

This photo shows a landscape of mountains and a cornfield in Tennessee, with another landscape on top of it; showing a view from a cliff on a waterway. The two landscapes I used are so different, one being a mountainous cornfield and the other being sea grass above a saltwater river. They both have similar structure, however, with the corn stalks and the grass being a parallel between the two photos, so I wanted to combine them and make them into one photo. My theme is becoming one with nature, but whether that which is becoming one with nature is also nature itself is a question that this photograph brings about. Many of my photos have people or man-made aspects in them, but this one  doesn't have either. I feel as though it goes well with my theme, because despite the disuse of humans it brings up an interesting idea where differences in nature itself are being united as well as the differences between humans and nature.

This photo is of a natural beach landscape with images of gas station objects appropriated on to the photo. The image doesn't have much going on with it, yet the awkwardness of the gas pump and trash can make it more of an intriguing photo. I believe that my description properly portrays what is going on in the photo, however I don't think it makes it sound as interesting as it is. It is a simple image yet I think it makes people think and question what is going on. This particular image pertains to my whole series in that it has to do with mystery and weird things occurring or being in places they shouldn't be. To make it more interesting I could make it have more of an eerie effect by possible layering a color on top and lowering the opacity. I believe I have made something completely unique. 

I am not a huge fan of this one at the moment. I see a cracked egg with clouds of paint coming out of it, turning the liquid in a glass labeled "Drink Me" blue. The description does not sound as intriguing as I'd like it to. It is cohesive with the series I am constructing, which contains images displaying the concept of defying boundaries and taking the unexpected route, but it definitely needs something more. I want to add more layers and see how I can make it more unique and intriguing. 

Manipulation

My central idea revolves around a mindset, specifically the story of a boy trying to be a "hipster" by rebelling against the norm. In this photo, he can be seen leaning against The Temple of the Olympian Zeus in Athens with his arm around a dog. The image consists of three separate pictures layered on top of one another. One of the temple itself, one of the boy with is dog, and one of a piece of ironwork from Oia, Greece. The ironwork serves to not only add texture but also to give the illusion of spinning out of control. The "hipster" is not only rebelling against society, he is rebelling against himself, testing his limits to see just how far he can push himself.

In this picture I see a girl who is lost and clinging onto anything that would bring her comfort or remind her of a better past. The butterfly can be taken two ways. One positively: it is her guardian angel or another comfort. One negative: it is just another thing weighing her down and chipping away at her. I honestly do not think I did a successful job on this photo. I think I can be more creative and unique. Honestly, I have no idea what I am doing. 

When I look at this image, I see village women exploring their land at night, with their paths lit by a lantern alone.  To someone who cannot see I would tell them that village women, dressed in colorful dresses, are hiking across a mountain of dirt.  An oversized lantern, located behind them, lights their path.  I think the image is successful, because it portrays my theme of adventure perfectly.  The meaning behind the photo of the lantern was initially that light destroys the terror that comes with darkness.  The initial message of the photo of the village women was that leaving a place that feels like home is sad and heartbreaking.  Together, the two photos have come to represent adventure, an entirely different theme.  To make the photo more interesting, I could have put more interesting scenery in the background to really encompass the theme of adventure.  However, I think the image is successful without this additional step.

When I look at this photo I see different forms of light and the different techniques used to take each photo. One is out of focus which results in a bocca effect on the lights. The other photo was taken using bulb to have a light painted look. My photo depicts the organized chaos and bustle of nightlife through night lights. The lights symbolize the activity and life through their spastic and seemingly random patterns. The different lights photographed  and the varied techniques used create a chaotic feel and atmosphere to my photo. I think that my photo captures the idea that I wanted it to portray and gives off the emotion it was intended to. My series focuses on lights and nightlife.  

In this image, I see a skull that looks like it is coming to life and has a lot going on. If I had to describe this to someone that could not see it, I would say that in the middle of the image, there is a skull representing something that is not alive or working, and placed it in an environment with a lot of light and energy. The image in the background was taken with long exposure at night, with lots of long strands of light that look like they are coming from the skull. I think that this image is successful because it is cohesive to my project and displays my theme, which is putting items in an environment which contradict the meaning of each object.

Avery

I see the portrait of a young, dressy girl, forced into partying and showbiz, assumably against her wishes. Her stance is defiant, and her emotion is blank although it is covered by heats, lips, and confetti which represent love, glamour and partying. She no longer feels as if her personal wishes are important in comparison to her job. Her and her interests are portrayed in black and white and the things she needs to focus on are in full color. The original Holga photo was a film malfunction that I used as a patterned backdrop. The image is cohesive with the series "A Few of My Favorite Things".

house layered manipulation

This picture has several different layers of different pictures. Each picture was taken from a different angle but in the same backyard. There is a lot going on and it is up to interpretation from each person what they think. I would describe is as what parts of this picture are actually there in real life? What parts of the picture are placed in that exact location in my backyard? Yes, this collage fits in with my series. All of my series are layers of pictures from different perspectives. To make this more interesting, I could either add more layers to make it more abstract for the person who is looking at it or I could add more layers from different sceneries.

I see a soft blend of shapes and colors. In about the middle of the photo, there is horizon line and right beneath that is the top of some mountains but soft and blurred. in the right corner there is a faded upside-down old boathouse and dock. On the right flank of the photo, there is a vertical stretch of clouds. Where the clouds and mountains overlap, the photo gets darker in the bottom right hand corner. This is cohesive to my holga photo because of the overlapping scenery and ideas. The landscapes were originally individual, but together they bring a whole new meaning that is cohesive with my project. It might be more interesting if I add another landscape along the bottom of the photo.

Personally in this image, I see a man who is doing dishes and maybe he is thinking about how in the future he will be too old to do simple action. If you could not see I would say: "Imagine an above middle aged man at a sink and counter top doing dishes. Now picture a european street as the background. In the sky there is a faded out dissabilty sign. What do you think it means?"
I think I could make my idea either or prominent or more unique.

Holga layering project

This picture consists of multiple layers, one of 2 parent sitting on opposite ends of a bed facing away from each other, and one of a boy jumping across from bed to bed, but as a blurred motion photo. Honestly, I think the photo itself is more intriguing than my description. In my opinion, the image is successful and relates to my theme, multiple personas.

How much is to much?

I want you to post one image that you are currently manipulating. What do you see? How would you describe it to someone that cannot see. Does your description sound intriguing? Is the image successful? Is it cohesive to the series you are constructing? What could you do to make it more interesting? I want you to kill the content and create something 100% unique. Have you done that? Okay, go do that! Write this in a new post.

Happy 2015! Time to blog. In relation to the current assignment, I want you to consider the text and the image you see below. What does this image mean to you? Add comments and start a conversation.

JEFF WALL IS BETTER THAN YOU!