Artist Statement

Photography to me is the exploration of the ideal world.  Not only does photography capture moments that people do not want to lose, but also capture the world, as we believe it should be. Originally I felt that taking photos would be too much work for my time, however, when I really got down to looking at the works of other photographers I began to realize that having the ability to capture one moment out of the millions that take place each and every day really takes some skill.  After studying the works of many successful photographers I began to use many concepts that helped me in enhancing my work.  Through the use of major techniques and programs I was able to create what I believe to be beautiful artwork.  I used Photoshop skills in order to transfer ordinary photographs into much more through adding fragments of other photos and words and phrases.  Also I took ordinary photos and by tweaking them ever so slightly achieved much more than I would have ever given myself credit for.  I have never been a really artistic person but after looking into the prospects for my future I would like to say with absolute certainty that the concept of photography really has morphed from being a hobby to a profession, and even though there are many doubters in this world, photographs show the world more than be caught with the human eye.  When all is said and done, the lessons learned through my experience with photography will always be with me and I am thankful for that.  My favorite kind of photography is war photography because being able to capture the battle that may very well set your country apart from every one else’s is something that shows the strength and unity that a nation can achieve.  When everything is changing on a day-to-day basis it’s amazing how a picture can bring back the past and keep a sense of connection to where you came from.  Also I think its important that no one forgets where their roots lie, we are all different and have so much to offer the world, but most of us forget that so to be able to capture the past and remind us of who got us to where we are so that we could make ourselves shine is an unmatchable feeling.  I would like to thank Minor White, and Annie Leibovitz. Because I really tried to model their work, and although I may not have done it like they would, I still think that my photographs set me apart from the crowd and that’s all that any photographer wants. 

Annie Leibovitz photography

Annie Leibovitz is a famous photographer who has worked for many magazines, from the Rolling Stone to  Vogue, and has met many people along the way.  She got her start taking photographs as a child stationed with her family in the Philippines during the Vietnam War.  She began her career with the Rolling Stone magazine as it was just starting, and eventually became the face of the magazine.  She went through the drug and hippie crazes and spent some time in rehab where she regained her sobriety. 
When the fads of the time were through, she began again, this time her photography was very much for a working purpose, as she needed to change up her beliefs in order to constantly graze the cover of magazines.  She had turned away from her origin of photographers and spent much time in celebrity portrait photography, doing anything and everything to create the best shots.  Many celebrities complain about her tactics yet they swear by her, knowing that she is one of the best photographers in the business.  Over the past few years Leibovitz has come into some financial troubles, but is determined to continue in her quest to become the most well known photographer of the time.

This is a slide show of photo designs of poetry by Connie Wanek and Louis Jenkins.  I hope that these designs will fit the poems that I have chosen, and will do these great poets justice.

Helvetica

Helvetica is a movie made about a style of type design that is used around the world. Helvetica is significant in that it is really a clean, clear, and modern style of typing. Helvetica is seen by many as a boring way to type, and others believe it to be just what the world needs to see, I guess that it just depends on where you are. Helvetica is a san-serif type, which puts in the new generation of typography. I do not generally enjoy Helvetica, because I am not a person very interested in a clean way of communication, and I have a flare for strange texts. I really enjoy that Helvetica is used in important places given that in some areas clean communication is definitely necessary. There are many different styles of type created all the time, and the trade is ever growing. Along with the many styles of type come many great typographers. One such is David Carson. He is an American typographer, who is very famous in todays world.

Homage of a Mr. Minor White

When I was told to find a photographer to pay homage to I immediately found Minor White, and was astounded by his work. He incorporates textures, the environment, and architecture into his photography. I hope that I have captured his technique, and have done a good job of finding my own vision as a photographer.

Homage to Minor White, continued

Minor White photographed many things, he did a lot of landscape and building photography.  That is the aspect of his work that I will be performing.  I am interested in landscapes and buildings and I hope that I convey that effectively.

I have chosen these two photos to include in this blog post because I believe that they portrait his photographic styles well.  Minor White shot many landscapes that included a lot of action in them, and I believe that the top photo shows that well.  The top photo includes many things and has a nice haze to it.  The bottom photo is a picture of a building.  Minor White shot many buildings, and that is why I chose to include this photo.
I am hoping that I have done an adequate job in showing Minor Whites views towards  photography.

Paying homage to Minor White

Homage- "anything given or done to show reverence, honor, or respect: usually with do or pay:"

For this assignment I have chosen to pay homage to Minor White.  White was a texture and landscape photographer and that really inspires me, because I love landscapes and textures.   To pay homage to him I will do my best to capture the essence that made him one of the most renowned photographers.  Mr. White served as professor at MIT, and was also involved in the war, and I will be using both of these things as inspiration.  My collection will consist of many landscape and building pictures, as well as some of odd or unusual textures which look appealing.  I believe that doing these things and following Whites techniques will make it very easy to pay homage to the great photographer and make for a great piece of work.  Minor White really inspires me when it comes to photography and although my photos will probably be more modern and complex than he would have done, I do believe that he would appreciate the thought of me paying homage to his work.