Emotions Photomontages Convey

Find two examples of photomontages that are either from a commercial source or from a fine art background. Discuss in what context they have been produced and what techniques they share with political photomontages. what messages, if any, are communicated through these photomontages and how effective do you think they are? Consider different ways that each image could have been tackled by the artist and come up with an idea for 'another in the series'.

Photomontages By: Antonio Mora    

I've found two photomontages shot and created by former news anchor Antonio Mora. The photo on the left is titled "Where Dreams Will Take You"of a woman with the top half of her face faded away and an escalator path where her eyes and mind would be I believe he's trying to convey a message bout the dream world and the escalators represent the path to the dream world. Moreover in the photo on the right is titles "Cyclops" with on half of her face visible wearing a mask and on the other side her face is faded away with scrambled wires. I'm not too sure what he was trying to convey her but I think he was trying to show how she's being suppressed by the mask on her head.

Photoshopped Political Images

As editors exercise their ever-increasing power over information control, what limits would you impose on them as to extend to high they can manipulate the photographic image? Devise a series of guidelines the will control the release of images that have been constructed for media use so that the public is aware as to the extent of the manipulation.

Photo from: Gajitz

Photo from: Dartmouth

Photo from: Dartmouth

In the photo on the left Abraham President Lincoln's head was photoshopped in over politician John Calhoun Moreover In the photo below Benito Mussolini's horse handler was removed from the photo so Mussolini was portrayed as powerful. Furthermore in the photo on the bottom left of President Obama a cigarette was photoshopped in his mouth to create the illusion that Obama lacks the will to quit smoking after he pledged to quit. All of these photo's are mildly modified to send a message although I believe some restrictions editors should have is to not release personal info or false info that could put others at risk or endangering 

Political Photomontages

Find two examples of political photomontages that are either from a historical or contemporary source. Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicate their intended message. Also discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message.

I found the two political photomontages below, both emphasizing war. In the photo on the left there's earth wearing a gas mask, the mask has the american flag in one eye and the soviet flag in the other along with nukes sticking out of it's mouth-piece. It was made to show how the whole world is in trouble during the cold war as both the US and Soviets have nukes armed and ready that could be set off at any moment. On the other hand, the photo on the right of Uncle Sam (death) saying he wants YOU to DIE for OIL. This was depicting the war former President Bush declared to get more oil. Many soldiers lives were lost just because of Bush's greed.

Painters Vs. Photographers During The Victorian Period

Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique?

Photo By: Unknown

Photo By: Unknown

I think the painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages so much because they were taking the spotlight over paintings. During this period the early photomontages were popular with the general republic because they were something new that looked cool. These day's I think the revival of this old technique is due to the technology we have. Moreover, it isn't restricted to just one style of art because of how much resources you have all over the internet.

Key Features In Portrait Photography

Look through assorted media, magazines, internet and collect four portrait photographs. The environment should be a key feature in two of the four images. Describe the subject's charachter in each of the images. What can you see within the image that leads you to these conclusions about the subject's character.

I got these photo's from one of my favorite photographers in the skate game right now, Jacob Messex. The two photo's on the right of a dude cruising in his ride makes him look hard because of the way it's framed. Moreover the one below of a dude chilling on the courts was also framed behind a fence and only lighting the subject to emphasize the mood.

Photo By: Jacob Messex

Photo By: Jacob Messex

Photo By: Jacob Messex

Photo By: Jacob Messex

Importance Of Framing In Portraits

Find four portraits that demonstrate the different ways a photographer has framed the image to alter the design and content. Discuss the vantage point, depth of field and subject placement in all of the images.

The four photo's below are good examples to follow when you're out and about shooting. In the underwater portrait by Jenna Martin she used the surface to give a distorted reflection look above, along with the blue background to contrast the subject. Moreover, in the two photo's below taken by Steve McCurry were framed to make the subject stand out against the background using shallow depth of field and contrasting colors. Lastly the photo taken by Alberto Monteraz was framed to where the woman is at the center point of the street with leading lines.

Photo By: Jenna Martin

Photo By: Steve McCurry

Photo By: Alberto Monteraz

Photo By: Steve McCurry

Foreground & Background In Portrait Photography

 Collect four portrait images with two to five subjects. In at least on image the subject should have been placed in the foreground. Comment on the arrangement of the subjects in relation to the camera and the effectiveness of the design.

The two photos on the top row were taken by me, I placed the subjects in the foreground and the with eye-catching backgrounds to give more depth to the photo. Moreover, the other two photo's were taken by Steph McCurry who also uses a lot of foreground/background photography.

Photo By: Jakob Barlow

Photo By: Jakob Barlow

Photo By: Steph McCurry

Photo By: Steph McCurry

Social Pressures

How have you responded to social pressures to conform by adopting an appearance that relates to the categories that you feel you have placed in or have chosen?
To be honest I don't really care what others think about me when they first see me. I choose to be more educated so when someone comes up to me and begins to socialize I can hold a steady conversation about anything. So the social pressures others think of when they first see me as an uneducated native goon I can surprise them with who I really am.

Beauty Standards Put Out By The Media Then Enforced By The Public

List the physical characteristics that we have come to admire in both the male and female face and write 100 words in response to the following questions:

1. Do you believe that media images or public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes.
I believe the images the media puts out into the public are responsible for the characteristics of beauty  becoming universal stereotypes. Not only the media is responsible for what the world sees as beautiful, the people's minds are routinely being fed images the the media labels as true beauty and overtime they actually begin to believe what the media puts out is what real beauty is and then shun and mistreat others who don't fit into societies standards. Therefore, both the media and public opinion are both responsible for universal beauty stereotypes.

Photo By: Chris Fifita

2. Do you believe people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm?
I do not believe that people admiring images of glamorous models the media puts out can do harm to a certain extent. When people start seeing these "glamorous" models and begin to change themselves into something the public sees as "glamorous" it then becomes a problem. Often people become depressed because they start to believe they are ugly just because they don't look how the models look in magazines.

Art By: Kyle Simpson

My Self Image

Make a personal list of the categories you belong to or have conflict with and visual symbols that are associated with each. Aspirations and expectations should also be listed.

1. Age/Generation: I'm a young adult ready to venture off into "the real world" after I graduate in a couple months.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Gender: I'm a male
3. Race: I'm a Navajo
4. Religion: I don't follow any certain religion, I believe in a God though.
5. Class or Caste: I'm a Native American, therefore I'm usually overlooked and underestimated.
6. Personality: I believe I'm more of an introvert that extrovert but once you get to know me I'm more of an extrovert.
7. Intelligence: I know I am smart in every way but math.
8. Political Persuasion: I consider myself more of a Democrat because I agree with more of what they enforce rather than the Republican party.

Solid Vs. Fluid Form Photography

Create four images that contain a mixture of a solid (sharp) and fluid (blur) forms. Using the camera that you have checked out, create these four images as creatively and artistically as you can!

Photo By: Jakob Barlow

In the photo's on the left of my friends Chris (top) and 

Snot (bottom) I used the fluid form photography (slow shutter speed) to give the photo a sense of movement.

Photo By: Jakob Barlow 

Photo By: Jakob Barlow

In the photo's to the right of my friends Kyle (top) and
Chris (bottom) I used solid form (higher shutter speeds) so the photo comes out sharp and crispy

Photo By: Jakob Barlow

Using Slow Shutter Speed To Emphasize Subject

Photo By: Jakob Barlow

Find a photograph where the photographer has used a slow shutter speed and describe the subject matter including the background. Discuss any technical difficulties the photographer may have encountered and how these may have been overcome.

I found this photo I took a couple weeks ago during a skate sesh with my friends. I decided to experiment with slow shutter speed using a flash because I always see photos using this method in popular skateboarding magazines like Thrasher, Skatemag, etc. I slowed the shutter speed down to 1/100 and used a flash so the subject us more in focus and crispy clear while everything else in the background is blurred from motion. while shooting I ran into the problem of the flash being too bright and my buddy Chris either being to blurred or too sharp. I overcame these problems by changing  the shutter speeds, ISO, and Aperture to get the photo nice and clean.

Fast Vs. Slow Shutter Speeds

Photo By: Me

Take four images of a running or jumping figure using fast shutter speeds (faster than 1/250 second). Vary the direction of travel in relation to the camera and attempt to fill the frame with the figure. Examine the image for any movement blur and discuss the focusing technique used.

In the Photo on the left i used a slower shutter speed to capture a motion blur effect, I also used a flash so the subject is more in focus and can stand out from the background .

Photo By: Me

In the photo on the right my cousin Kyle is bombing a parking garage switch on Mill Ave around Midnight. Since it was dark everywhere (because it was night time and I had to use a faster shutter speed) and my flash died I used the light above to light up the subject because I had to use a faster shutter speed so he was in focus. 

Photo By: Me

In the photo on the left of my good friend SNOT I captured him ollie-ing off of my kickoff ramp. I was trying to use motion blur for the first time so I used a slower shutter speed to get the fast motion effect along with a flash to make him stand out from the background.

Photo By: Me

This photo on the right of my buddy Josh was taken the same night I took the photo of my cousin bombing a parking garage although my flash still had power so I used it to light up the subject and background. I was able to get the photo nice and sharp because pf how powerful the flash is combined with using a super fast shutter speed.

Capturing Fast Subjects Using Shutter Speed

Photo By: Atiba Jefferson

Find an example of a photograph where the photographer has used a very fast shutter speed and describe the subject matter including the background. Discuss any technical difficulties the photographer may have encountered and how he or she may have overcome them.

I've found one of my favorite photos of all time of "the boss" Andrew Reynolds frontside flipping the les park double set surrounded by a hyped crowd of skaters filming and watching the trick go down. While taking this photo I believe Atiba faced the problem of the crowd getting in his way and taking the photo at the perfect moment where Andrew catches the board and is framed perfectly.

Capturing Decisive Moments In Photography

Photo By: Henri Cartier-Bresson

Look at a Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph and discuss why you think that capturing the decisive moment has added to the picture's quality.

After looking at Henri Cartier's work I've learned that his style was capturing decisive moments. I do believe that taking a photo capturing emotions does improve photo quality because when I saw the photo of the kids playing in the right it made me think what are they all laughing at?