Portraits

For this project, I am trying to express a different way to identify an individual; through handwriting.  I was able to come up with a substantial amount of adults that would be expressing themselves through only a maker and a piece of paper.  I used a tripod to capture each image by first, having each person hold their paper in front of their face, and then, relieving themselves for a second photo. 

My plan was to just compare each person's handwriting by using one word, hello, but it evolved into how they would physically say hello.  This, alone, got more people involved.  I felt, throughout the process of taking the photographs, I learned a lot about others in such a simple way no one else has thought of except for forensic teams.

I am ultimately happy with the results of the photographs and am glad I decided to create a grid of all the different expressions than just picking a few to show to the class.  I feel, this way, everyone will receive the idea much better and in such a clearer light.

Documentation

My theme for this project was bike racks and, in shooting these photos, I wanted to express the chaos that happens once these 'organized' racks are overloaded with more than what was expected.  It shows how even the simplest things are taken for granted in our society.

I tried to express this theme by using different vantage points and angles for the fullest effect.  I used straight-on views to explain simple and basic dynamics.  The high and low angles were to dramatize the reality of what is going on in each photograph.

My thinking throughout the project did not change a whole lot but some in certain areas.  I was trying to figure out if I was going to stage any of the areas and, by the time I started capturing the images, decided not to because of the way the bikes were in the racks themselves.  To me, was perfect.  The images and points of interest ended up being exactly what I was looking to express.

  

Old News Interpretation

The Old News show opening by Jeff Sprang was interesting on many levels.  It captured a time within a certain period of history and also the era of film photography.  The one photo that stood out the most to me was The Editor's Desk.  Sprang describes facts about the photo but I would describe the photo as being an envelopment of chaos and a hint of wonder about the life of an editor.

My interpretation of this photograph was that Sprang wanted to show everyone that being an editor is not always just writing but it is about going through so many different ideas and the need for more space in more than one way.  The setting sun that shines on the papers creates a sense of beauty that expresses the end result of a successful article and how hard work can truly pay off.

Some questions I have for Jeff would be what brought him to the idea of Old News, what is his favorite   photograph, and why did it take him until now to want to do an exhibit?