Before & After: Photo 402

I spent quite a bit of time trying select what stories to tell for this assignment. I tried to think of things that were pertinent to myself as well as the pictures I take. There is always always always construction going on at Penn State. Sometimes all those closures get in the way. Especially the protuberance on the HUB lawn where there used to be awesome concerts and good times spent basking in the sun. I used to walk alot down Bigler Road and the construction there was a big inconvenience because it took up the whole sidewalk and just caused all sorts of problems. Now though, there is a gorgeous building in place called the Millennium Science Complex and I just love the architecture of it. My first before and after represents all the frustration before but the amazing building that came out of it.

The second set of photos just came out of something that I pass everyday lately and one of my favorite subjects. I love flower photos because, well, flowers are just plain pretty. I ride along Park Avenue to get to class and a house along the road has a small sign that inspired me for the set. My initial plan was to have the sign paired with a flower, but when I went to the arboretum to find some subjects, I was pleasantly surprised to find a different type of plant that seemed perfect for the season.

I have some extra images which were in the style of a single image telling the whole story. They are both similar concepts. The idea is explaining what was once there through what was left behind. For the second image, I got a little lucky by having the story tell itself a little more clearly.

Agee

When one starts to read "Let us Now Praise Famous Men," it is certainly a struggle to adapt to such a writing style. There is certainly an excess considering most of the pages consist of an individual sentence. Then as you read on, there is an understanding that is developed. I see now that this wordiness and excessive detail is not something that comes out of lack-of-skill, pompousness, or extravagance, but of passion. He points it out himself regarding how these people, being real, are more fantastical or extraordinary than any fictional character simply because they really exist and thus deserve much more than even he could provide. Now, step back for a moment and realize that this was just a journalistic assignment studying families of sharecroppers during the depression. He was legitimately passionate about these people and later in the third area of our assigned reading he even says flat-out that he felt (as they felt too) that he was one of them and as close to family as he could be. He even fell in love with one of the girls. Not in a journalistic fashion for her tragic story, but in a legitimate heart-felt way. This story is no way simple and all Agee could do is write and write and write because he felt that it was all necessary to try and describe the minute details required to create an understanding for the reader. It is just amazing to me to see that someone could take journalism that far and become that embedded in a story.

Paradox

This article raises some interesting points but they are all very relative. It seems almost that if there is any sort of artistic intention behind a photo that it isn't a documentation of the real. It makes me imagine what the accurate representation of real must look like. I see a straight-on non-color photo of people standing around. Of course, that's not totally true. I believe photojournalists today are the people who really document actual events and they have the ability to be somewhat creative with their frames in the digital age. Whether or not the truth of the event depicted actually matters is really all about the audience. The example provided about "The Kiss" shows exactly this point. When people found out that it was staged, it didn't make them like the image less. As an emotional being, we just enjoy what the image makes us feel and whether or not it was a real moment doesn't always detract from the feelings the viewer associates with the picture.

Is Photography Dead?

Photography is an art that is constantly changing due mostly to the fact that it is created using a medium that is, well, constantly changing. There are many areas of thought regarding what photography "should" be. There are purists who think only film is the true form of art and reality for photographs. One of the reasons that I am such a fan of the photographer Joe McNally is because he started working at a newspaper using film. He developed his skills and understanding of photography using film and became quite talented. When digital started to blossom, he accepted it and saw the benefits of using that kind of technology. Now he shoots with the top-of-the-line equipment from Nikon and brings a whole SUV filled with equipment for a shoot. His portraits are nothing short of amazing and just because he uses a digital camera and edits the files, does that make him less of an artist? Not to me it doesn't. I have always used a digital camera. Mostly because that was what I was given to start with an it's really all that I know. While on the sidelines of the football game, I thought about whether or not I was cheating by using the "burst" mode and shooting a ton of pictures in important moments. From the purist standpoint, I'm wrong and my photos don't count. Did soldiers in Vietnam who used the "spray and pray" tactic still hit an enemy? Were they not soldiers because they didn't land their man in one shot? Technology changes and if you don't embrace it you are just missing opportunities sometimes. There is absolutely a truth and reality to film which I totally love and would like to explore someday. On certain assignments though, I'm a digital guy. Photoshop is an entirely different realm. I'm hardly for the way photographs are treated today on the computer. I'm alright with boosting the contrast or helping my exposure, but I rarely try to make my subjects look any different than they really do. I think the best statement that really shook my core regarding my own abilities and how I view my work was said by a man known only as "Emerson" for he now lives in subsistence out in the woods. He said, "Photographers need to get away from hyper-connectivity, and all this internet s**t. It’s making the work all look the same . All these anxiety ridden photographers hustling for attention. Tweeting frivolously, talking about their shows, or what stupid blog they’ve appeared in. Oh, you have a Blurb book! You’re an amazing visionary! Destined for immortality. The whole thing is whacked. Never before in the history of humanity have so many people been so delusional about their creative talents.”

Where I don't belong- Photo 402

Reading, Pennsylvania is on the top 10 per-capita most dangerous cities in America.

 Living just a few miles away for my whole life, I have grown with the understanding that this is not the place I want to be. I feel much more at home in Philadelphia then I ever have in Reading. Based on the nature of this assignment, I thought going into the city for an hour only accompanied with my camera would be the perfect thing to do. I set out to capture people in the environment, but with the tropical storm there were not too many people in the streets. I decided to present an overall feeling of this place I have never really called "home."

 

 I've never learned any Spanish in school other than the extreme basics. I can order a beer if that comes up, but mostly I'm lost when it comes to the language. The majority of the population in Reading is either of a Latino descent or flat out speaks mostly Spanish. There is enough of a demand that most of the signs on buildings are in both English and Spanish. It doesn't make me uncomfortable, but it certainly is difficult to understand just what you overhear while walking around.

  

 It's funny to remember one of the things that made this town so populated and important is on the Monopoly board game. I like to think about all of the people who must be mispronouncing the "Reading Railroad" spot on the board. The things that makes me feel out-of-place while following along the tracks are the vast amounts of scattered trash and the graffiti. Again, it's not something that makes me feel uncomfortable, just not something that feels like home. It just makes me consider the mindset of the residents when they can feel alright with just throwing their things on the ground. What kind of respect do they have for their "home?"

   When the rain opened up again heavily, I took refuge for the sake of the camera underneath a bridge. Something about fire escapes running alongside buildings just screams "city" to me. There are certainly many brick buildings in Reading which points to the age of the city.

 Getting yelled at by the cars driving by while trying to get shots along the roadside especially completed my experience of feeling like an outsider. The one thing one can notice though is the attempt in the "nicer" areas to create a feeling of home are the trees scattered along the pavement.

  In one of the older sections, it was refreshing to see the brick-lined alleyway. It reminds me of "Old City" in Philly where even the roads are brick.

Graffiti laced dumpsters lining the street definitely have the feeling of a non-homelike place. Walking past the men on the street corner all speaking Spanish added the additional touch until one of them was wearing a Penn State shirt. I guess that might help me feel at home most places across the country anyway.

 I did find this an interesting sight as there was hardly anyone on the street for several blocks. Normally there are people all over the corners and sitting on stoops. Kind of interesting to see a moment of almost solace in this busy place.

I enjoyed the pattern of the crates and took this picture without realizing that I was being watched. The man came out asking me about the photo and I just talked about the building for a moment. I actually felt a little more at ease speaking to someone because he asked me about my Phillies hat and how much I paid for it. I felt a little native when he asked me for directions to a local place! Don't be fooled by the grass there though. That was the very end of the patch in all directions.

  I saw this area as being quite representative of the town. I first noticed the little shed in the back but then the condition of the building around it just speak for the style of Reading. There is not much interest in beautifying. That is partially one of the biggest things that certainly makes me feel out-of-place.

"Stranger" Photo 402

In the spring semester of last school year I took one of my favorite classes to date. Basketball. When we were doing a drill, I had two guys throw the ball to me at once. I caught one with my hands and one with my face. My glasses broke right down the side completely cracked. So several months later now, of course, I headed into the store downtown to see about repair or new frames. The woman helping me with my new frames was extraordinarily wonderful to work with me on my adventure to new glasses. Just earlier that afternoon I was assigned to photograph a stranger and here I was with a nice young lady who I thought might be able to help me out. I posed the question and she says..,"now!?" With reluctance, she agreed to be photographed. I learned a little bit about her while we shopped. Her name is Rachel and she certainly has a keen eye for fashion flair. I didn't want to ask her her age, seeing as that is just generally polite to stay away from. We mostly talked about different designers and tv shows like project runway and America's Next Top Model. I think this experience was mostly a lesson in how to create comfort with an unfamiliar subject. I made sure not to take out the camera even after she agreed. We just kept talking about everything else. I started to divulge things about my majors and what I like about photography. I talked especially about all the little ads they have set up around the store and just how difficult it must be to do lighting for a glasses advertisement. This was one strategy I had to gain her confidence that I know what I'm doing. The next was to actually show her the camera and take pictures of other objects around the store and show her what they looked like so she could get a sense of my work. I was also trying to gather photos that set the mood for the encounter like this:

I showed her this photo and she said, "it looks better than real life!" I figured she was getting more comfortable with me and she must have been because she started making some suggestions for what might look cool. She must have read my mind for suggesting the next shot. 

While Rachel answered the phone, I tried to find something that could really show the essence of the shop. There is a large chandelier in the room and I thought it would be perfect. The store is filled with elegant yet modern leather sofas and chairs as well as crazy designs on everything, even the coasters. It works well when you're promoting brands like D&G, Vera Wang, Kenneth Cole, and Michael Kors. 

We went and made some final decisions on the frames I would like to get. New glasses can always be so exciting, but I think I'll just be sticking with the same old style. If someone lets me photograph them like this, I usually like to give them a copy of one of the prints just to maybe thank them for their time somehow. I was particularly grateful for Rachel to allow a stranger to take her photo. Can't wait to head back in soon. 

Happy Birthday to Me

Many people were asking me what the big plans were for my birthday. I really didn't feel too much like celebrating since 22 is that first of the the truly meaningless birthdays. I had the most amazing 21st birthday so I don't mind having gone out with a bang/free Hanson concert at school...yeah, Hanson. I actually treated myself by going to my first ever PSU women's soccer game with the long Sigma lens. Definitely a fun sport to photograph. Plus they won 3-0 which was stellar to say the least. Out to Kildare's for a couple of drinks with the guys after and I'd say this birthday wasn't so meaningless after-all.