Response to "Some Photographic Myths"

I really liked this reading, especially as a final reading for the class (or maybe it would fit better as a first reading?) I though it was interesting, and liked that like some of the other readings it had a lot of examples. It was nice that it echoed and sort of reinforced what was being said in class about photographers being their worst editors. I think that the commerce vs art being corrupt was one of the more interesting sections that had a lot of good points as well as the section after it about photography not being based on the talent and instinct one is born with.

Some Photographic Myths.

When reading the first myth about photographers are the best editors of their own work, I thought it was crazy W.Eugene Smith shot over 11,000 negatives in one year. I felt kind of bad for him when he ended up resigning from his job because he wasn't allowed full control over the picture selection, because he wasn't a very good editor on his own. From this reading I realized it's really important to collaborate with people when creating your art to get the best possible results, like talking with an editor, writer and printer. You are the artist and take the image, and having someone else help you doesn't take away from that. Once you have your image, you want to be able to show it in the best possible way. So handing it over to someone like a really good printer with a lot of experience, is a good idea, to get the best print. Also the quote "The immature artist imitates; the mature artist steals," is a line I heard all the time in high school and I still hear all the time now. If you are going to take an idea from someone you defiantly want to make it better or a little different or it does end up just imitating and seeming like you just copied an idea, not being very creative.

PRC- color photo awards

Curtis Mann's work was really fascinating. I just want to examine every corner of the photograph. I'm drawn into the large white spaces, and then want to look at every detail of the color. They almost don't look like photographs, like the picture Out Scouting, looks a lot like a painting to me. Also Alejandro Chaskielberg's work was really beautiful. The color in it was great, and for some reason made me think of the I Spy books I used to read when I was younger. I was not a big fan of Claudia Angelmaier's work. The images were just too light for me. It's hard to tell what exactly is going on in the image and what it's a picture of.

PRC- Color Photo Awards

First off, I loved this show because color photos/prints are always interesting to look at. I absolutely loved Alejandro Chaskielberg photos. They all had some quality of fantasy to them. The color is so rich you just can't stop staring at them. Curtis Mann's work was definitely interesting. It's like crosses between photos paintings and mixed media. I'm not sure how much I like it. I found it a bit to bright and florescent for my taste. Nicholas Kahn & Richard Selesnick work is so fun. They utilize multiple exposures, props, costumes and location to convince historical fiction that also critiques the major issues of today's environmental and financial crises. Those Photographers stood out to me the most. I thought the showing was great.

PRC Color Photography Awards Response

I would say the pieces all worked together as a cohesive show based on the concepts behind them. These surreal-type photographs all depict either a fantastical landscape or setting with people. Especially impressing, whether it is just their unusual format or not, are the panoramic photos by the duo Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick. Putting their unusual size aside, I think the two panoramas are successful in creating accessible, though creative, scenes, and going beyond the norm. I also enjoyed how Curtis Mann put together the panels of separate images, although I'm not too keen on his work. Claudia Angelmaier's work however, really stood out to me. Maybe it's just the air of mystery in them that captures my attention; it's hard to tell exactly what those are photographs of, or what exactly is going on. But still I like the fogginess, and the fact that they are traditional opposed to digital prints. Since I've mentioned all the other winners I should mention Alejandro Chaskielberg. His work is nice too. It's vivid and definitely is a display of surreal settings on account of the lighting. They all possess strong composition and out of this world feeling, which ties them all together.

Hannah Johnson

hey guys,

just wanted to say hi and that i hope all of you made wonderful pictures over thanksgiving break.

i know its early in the game for all of you, but a little something called creative setback or block has come upon me and it will happen to all of you. i want you all to know the best way to battle that is to keep making photographs or art in general. sometimes it seems impossible upon everything in life that is going on, school, boyfriends and girlfriends, exams, work, parties, etc but remember you are all photographers. you all love making photographs, so keep doing that. and tell me to do the same if you see me!

time is ticking for editing and printing, if you need help with anything i am always around, email me or find me in the halls or darkrooms.

-your TA

PRC- Color Awards

I think the show was really interesting. The pieces all worked really well together, the sense of colors were strong and vivid. Most of the pieces seemed to be creating fantasy worlds. The "Real World" series by Seung Woo Back and "Eisbergfreistadt" by Nicholas Kahn & Richard Selesnick had the most surreal and otherworldly quality to them. I think that, compared to the rest of the artists, Claudia Angelmaier's work is out of place yet stands out because it's so different from the rest of it. Her work is very desaturated and not as brightly colored as the rest of the show. I think out of all the artists I was most attracted to the work of Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick, I think their creatures and fantasy worlds are very interestingly constructed and make an impact. Overall I think the show and the artists were well chosen and they all fit well together.