Scannography

Reflections of myself through Scannography

Composition: For these images, I chose to keep all of the subject matter within the center of the frame, as I wanted the images to feel somewhat balanced. Since these images are taken with a scanner, the vantage point remains pretty frontal and the depth appears incredibly shallow. For the first image I wanted to create a sort of ethereal presence in the subject, whereas for the second image I wanted harsh lines and bold colors protrude from the black space. Both images reflect a sense of movement and time within the frame.

Concept: In producing these images, I aspire to portray a sense of my personality to the viewer. In the first image, I have chosen to create a portrait of my face and hands moving through the frame. I consider myself to be an active person, so movement of objects captured within a still frame is a good reflection of my aways-moving mind. This is portrayed in my second image as well, where the movement of the image captures your eye and makes it wander up and down the frame. I am also a huge fan of color, so the colors within the movement of the second image help to portray the energy within me.

The use of the scanner reflects my ever-moving mind and body as I am able to drag the objects of my images along the light of the scanner in order to create a sense of movement. 

Method: To create the first image, I took one scan while moving my face along the scanner light. I then took another scan of my hands both in motion an still. I took these two scans, layered one on top of the other, and adjusted the opacity levels on each, thus making a sort of ethereal effect. For the second image, I took a bracelet that I wear every day and dragged it left and right along the scanner. I have done scannography in the past, and from it I have learned that when you move objects on the scanner, it will ALWAYS create a prism of color. With trial and error, I have learned how to control how many colors will show up in the scan based on how fast and how much the object is manipulated and moved.

Motivation: My goal in creating these images is to give a sense of my personality with regards to the aesthetics I enjoy and the ways in which I approach the scanner.

Interpretation: I am sure others will see my first image as a portrait of myself. The second image will be a bit trickier to grasp, however I think viewers will see it as something I find beautiful, which in turn reflects my thoughts and ideas.

Evaluation: I was absent for critique.

Extension: I would use the first image as a jumping-off point for a larger series of images by playing around with different ways in which I can make portraits of myself with the scanner. I would notice my weak areas and try to strengthen them (content, sharpness, layering).

Kaleidoscopography

Kaleidoscopography: Photography through a Kaleidoscope.

Compostition: For this set of images the framing is pretty loose, as I was more concerned with the design within the frame. I was not too worried about the inevitable flatness of the images, as I wanted the image to be more about color and design than depth and focus. The colors within the frame give the image its sense of depth. I pattern-like aesthetic of all these images give a sense of flatness, as if something should be placed on top of them (maybe these images could work as a background to a different foreground).

Concept: These images reflect seeing through the eye of a kaleidoscope. We are so used to putting our eye up to the view box and looking at an image and clicking the shutter, that we sometimes forget how fun it can be to alter the eye of the camera. These images are mainly about color, pattern and repetition of image. Some are portraits of friends (bottom two) and some are mere abstractions of colors and shapes portrayed through the kaleidoscope. The use of the kaleidoscope relates to my idea of an altered vision in that it stands between the subject and the camera in a way that changes the outside world.

Method:  For these images, I taped a kaleidoscope to the outside of my macro lens. I then walked around while continuously looking through the kaleidoscope until an appealing image presented itself to me. I then focused the image in the way I felt was most successful (a lot of times it was out of focus) and then I took the photograph. Once I found an image that I admired, I would also turn the kaleidoscope around so that I could see different shapes, patterns, and colors.

Motivations: In creating these images, I hope to create a more abstract approach to photography. I wanted to do something that appealed more to color and design than depth and focus, and I also wanted to try something that I had never done before this class.

Interpretation: So far, my friends that have seen these images see them as somewhat psychedelic and unusual. I admire these comments, as I like to do things that are out of the ordinary and more abstract.

Evaluation: ...

Extension: In the near future I plan on making more of this type of photograph. I will plan more accordingly by arranging color in a certain way so as to create a sense of depth. Before I was not concerned with depth and focus, however for future photos I would like to see what the outcome would be if I paid more attention to color combination (to create depth) and the plane of focus within the kaleidoscopic image.

Pinhole Photography

Composition: The composition of each image is very different from the next one. For the first image I wanted to frame with an emphasis on the instruments. For the second and third images the frames are more improvised and random as I moved the camera during the exposure. All of these images are brightly lit as they are long exposures, however they all seem to be of low contrast. Each image encompasses soft edges and a fuzzy atmosphere, both of which are aspects of pinhole photography.

Concept: My first image is about music and abstraction by using the pinhole, while my second two images are about movement of the camera body during the exposure. The second two images reveal my concept of abstraction through lighting and camera movement. In the third image I accidentally created an owl-like face, which I found to be very successful. The use of the pinhole relates to the content by reflecting the qualities of a pinhole such as softer edges and a fuzzier presence. The content in these images is very fuzzy, as though you are looking at everything through a bed sheet. I wanted to take a more abstract approach to the pinhole photos, so I decided to move the camera during a 5 second exposure and see what would happen.

Method:  For the first image I set the camera on a tripod and took a long exposure of my friends playing instruments. There is not much in focus, however I like the quality of the fuzziness. The second image is of a colorful lightbulb; it is a 5-second exposure and I am moving the camera in a zig-zag motion during the exposure. For the third image I am moving the camera in circles during a 5-second exposure while focused on a ceiling fan. This is my favorite image, as it appears as though there is a haunting face within the image.

Motivations: My intention was to create abstract pinhole photographs that incorporated movement in the image.

Interpretation: My friends have said these images are incredibly abstract and hard to understand. I agree with them on this, as these images are incredibly cloudy and hard to interpret with regards to what is in the image (excluding the first image---in that one the subject matter is distinguishable).

Evaluation: ...

Extension: If I were to create more pinhole photographs, I would focus more on creating a still and focused image rather than an abstract, blurry image. I would imagine it is much easier to do what I did than to create an image based on still subject matter.