Semi Contemporary Constructed Reality Photographer: Aurthur Tress

Flyind Dream, New York

Biography and Significance

Arthur Tress was born in Brooklyn, New York in November 1940. At the age of twelve, he took his first photograph, focusing on the rundown building and circus freak of the Coney Island Amusement park. Later he attended Bard College where he studied art and received his B.F.A in 1962. Afterwards, he traveled to Paris for film school, but left before graduating. He ended up traveling the world, finally lading a job as a photographer for a museum in Stockholm, Sweden.

Stephen Brecht, Bride and Groom, New York

In 1968 he returned to New York and continued his work as a photographer. Since then, he has done several exhibitions and is featured in museums around the world. Today, he lives in Cambria, California.

Spinal Tap, New York

  Composition

This image uses a heavy amount of contrast with the light hallway and dark subject. He uses the human spine as focal point and point of emphasis within the scene.

Motivation

I believe that based on the subjects position, and the exposed spine, this image is meant to represent some kind of struggle. Possible a struggle to find strength within oneself—the proverbial “Backbone.”

Method

I believe that the photographer used regular fluorescent lighting to stay true to the context of the scene. The lighting is placed in front of the subject for a darkened effect. The image of the spine was probably added later.

Opinion

I love how perfectly the spine matches the subject’s positioning. It makes me wonder if spine came first of the pose came first. I also enjoy the context of the image. I get the feeling that I’m in some kind of creepy hospital. The subjects position also adds a sense of unease.

Post 24

A. Pick two images from any of the “constructed reality” photographers presented in class or linked on the assignment sheet. Describe how you could recreate these two images on a “smaller scale”.

- I really love the work of Tom Drahos. He uses amazing colors and repetition in his images. I'd like to do an image using the repetition of the same photograph but with different little  changes in each image.

B. Describe your plans for your self-proposed final project (if the plan is the same as before, paste it here again and give a bit more detail). During the final critique for Assignment #5, you will discuss/present these ideas to the class.

For my final project, I plan to do a series of Photo Journalism style images. I really enjoy capturing candid, action packed moments. There are several events coming up in the near future that I think will be good for this assignment. The most promising is the MSU Drag Show. I plan to make put the images to music and couple them with a few videos as well. 

Recreation5 and Historical Presentation in Contructed Reality - John Heartfield

Biography

John Heartfield (born Helmut Herzfeld) was born in June 1891, in Berlin Germany. During the early 1900’s, Heartfield became a major player in the Communist Party of Germany.  In 1924, Heartfield developed a form of photomontage as a means of political and artistic expression. He worked for several publications and is best known for his work with the Arbeiter-Illustrierte-Zeitung. There, he created several politically charged images, to show his distaste for Hitler and the war. Heartfieild moved to East Germany in 1954 after WWII, where he continued to create amazing montages until his death in April 1868.

John Heartfield (1927)

Composition

The image uses a contrast of color (background) and black and white (subject and sax). The awkward positioning, placement and enlargement of the subjects legs, make them the focal point of the image. Music note cut-outs and text add context to the image.

Concept/Motivation

This image is one in a series of publication covers. The idea behind the image is to create the motion of a woman dancing. All the components come together to execute this concept.

Method

Heartfield took several pictures and pasted them together to form one final image. The woman’s legs and saxophone are two separate images. The music notes are paper cutouts.

Opinion

I like this image. I thing the photographer definitely captured movement in this scene. I don’t like the colors, but I understand the limitations ofCompose that time period. 

Friday Night (2011), Kimber Bowman

 

RECREATION

Composition

This image uses a series of cutouts as well. Emphasis is on the girl walking along the golden road. The image is framed to include the text, model and background.

Concept

This image uses digital cut outs. I also chose to make a woman’s legs the focus of the scene. I imagined that the original image was like someone going out for the night, so I tried to do a modern day remake of that.

The Fourth Assignment : Popular Media

Sunspot (2011), Kimber Bowman

Composition

The lighting for this image is the natural light coming through the window. The subject is the focus of the image, but the light obstructs her from view. The most visible part of the image is her feet. They give the viewer something to focus on when looking at the image.

Concept, Motivation and Method

The concept for this image is finding the beauty in a person without actually seeing the person. I wanted to find some way to obstruct the subject from view and the sun flare ended up working better that the curtain. I took this image at sunset with the subject sitting in front of a large window.

Context

This image looks like an ad for a summery perfume. The bright colors and sunlight give the image a fun look.

Interpretation

The class seemed to feel that this image was a good for a beauty or fashion ad. They also like the juxtaposition of the somber body language and the sunny background.

Evaluation

Based on the evaluation, I think the image is solid, but I'd like to try a reshoot using different body language.

Extention
I really like sun shots. The colors always look gorgeous and I'd like to try incorporating different poses and locations in to the same technique.

Young Hollywood (2011), Kimber Bowman

  Composition

Is image is about color. There is a high level of contrast in the bright colors, giving the image a neon feel. The tilted angle of the image adds an edgy vibe and gives the sense of the instability common in Hollywood.

Concept, Motivation and Method

The concept of this image is to emulate Hollywood youth. I wanted to portray what I see when I look at young Hollywood. Shades over the eyes add a sense of superficiality and lipstick and top add a sex kitten feel. To create this image I used a tilted angle to add instability to the image. Additionally, I left the face slightly off focus, making the subject look plastic-like.

Context

Many of today’s young Hollywood stars have such a glossy appearance. These stars are also very guarded and superficial. I believe this image captures that.

Interpretation

The class felt that the plastic-look of the subject correlated well with the idea of paparazzi.


Evaluation

The subject and context of the photo were nice, but the image needs to be less bright

Extention

I'd like to try over-saturated images with subjects in fun poses. 

I Don't Wanna Care Right Now (2011), Kimber Bowman

 

Composition

The subject is off center to emphasize her location, and the context in which she is set. Contrast is created by the dots on subjects dress and the lightness of her face against the dark background.

Concept, Motivation and Method

The concept of this image is a night at the bar. I wanted to take several candid shots of the people and goings on that evening. The subject was drunk and particularly rambunctious—a perfect subject. To create this image, I chose to put the subject off center so that I could include the other partygoers and create motion. I wanted to give the subject more emphasis, so I lightened her and darkened the area around her.

Context

This image shows the freedom of partying. It reminds me of the song “I don’t wanna care right now” by Lupe Fiasco. The song is about throwing inhibition to the wind and I think that’s what’s happening here. She is has an ethereal quality and it’s very beautiful—even though she’s drunk.

Interpretation


The class really like the position of the girl in the photo. They said she looked like she was in train station.


Evaluation


The subject and context of the photo were nice, but the image needs to be brighter.

Extention


I'd like to try a project using action shots in fun places. I love capturing the energy of a crowd.

And They Stay There (2011), Kimber Bowman

 

Composition

The emphasis of this image is the single hand in the air. The light shining through it gives the image emphasis and contrast with the rest of the scene. The lighting in this image is mostly dark, like the darkness of the nightclub.

Concept, Motivation and Method

The concept of this image is capturing the feeling of a bar. I wanted to make an image that captured the movement, color and fun of a night out. Using a long exposure and flash, I simply raised the camera in the air and took the picture.

Context

This image is reminiscent of news and event photography. I feel that this image could be found with and article about a nightclub. It could also be found on an promotional website.

Interpretation


The class thought this image captured the action of a lively atmosphere. they also liked the motion in the image.

Evaluation


The colors in the image were great, and the motion was good, but a little less motion may have added focus to the image.


Extention

I'd like to try creating and image that incorporates actions in an urban setting. It might be fun to do party and bar shots.

Post 23

1. In what ways do you “construct” your identity? In what ways do you “perform” in your daily life?

Twitter allows me to construct my reality. When I’m online, I can be much more outspoken and say things that I might be more afraid to say when in person. I think I probably seem a little bit cooler online than I am in person as well.

A way that I perform everyday is that I have to change for different people. I have one persona when I’m with my friends, another for my parents and another at work. It seems like a lot of work to have to be so many things, but I’ve learned to juggle.

2. Describe some ways in which your personal culture and social environments are “constructed”.

One social construct amongst my peers is the party scene. The same people always throw and attend the same parties and if you’re not there you’re deemed lame. Typically, I live my life outside of this social construct.

3. Describe some ways in which your physical environment/space is “constructed”.

I guess I would say that my bedroom is a constructed space. I designed it to be comfortable for myself. I used bright colors to amp up my mood and dark curtains when I want to tone it down. I have my own photographs on the walls to remind myself that I have the ability to create beautiful things.

4. In your daily life, what would you consider to be “real” and what would you consider to be “constructed/fabricated”?

Hunger is really. I can feel the emptiness in my stomach, and saliva pool in my mouth when I smell something good. Fast food restaurants are fabricated. They use aromas to make us think we’re hungry and psychologically chosen colors, to illicit hunger. They also use photographs of delicious food to entice, but never deliver.

5. Describe narrative tableaux that you might create to be captured by a photograph. Narrative tableaux can be defined as “Several human actors play out scenes from everyday life, history, myth or the fantasy of the direction artist” (Constructed Realities: The Art of Staged Photography Edited by Michael Kohler, 34).

I thought about constructing a scene at a café. Everyone goes about his or her business, eating, chatting, and typing. In the center of the bustle, a naked couple sits enjoying cappuccinos, unnoticed by the rest of the crowd. Just a thought.

6. Describe an idea for a photograph that includes a miniature stage or still life. A description of such an image is “The tableaux reconstructs events as in the narrative tableaux, but in miniaturized format, using dolls and other toy objects” (Kohler, 34).

One word: Gummy bears. I like to show the struggle of gummy bears that fall out of the bag and must find their way across the kitchen

Post 22

The Unfortunate Moment of Misunderstanding is a very strange and alluring photography. I have always been drawn to bizarre and dark images, containing a bit of surrealism. Jim Fiscus feeds this need. The puppet-like models leap from the screen in eerie positions. The worlds, created through CGI, make it possible create the creepiest worlds imaginable. I love the combination of photography and CGI, because it allows the photography to go beyond what the lens can see.

Recreation 4: Catalina Bartolome

Biography
Catalina Bartolome is an Argentinian photographer. She focuses heavily on producing images where a female subject's face, body, or both are obstructed from view.

Composition
This image lacks contrasts and focuses on the blending of the curtains into the wall. The emphasis of the photo is  the arms of the subject. The lighting seems to be very diffuse in images.

Motivation
The purpose of this image is to express the beauty of a woman, beyond just her face.

Method
A curtain is draped in front of the subject's face and body, covering everything except her hands. The image in take straight on, with a very shallow depth of field. The blending of the wall and curtain suggests that diffuse lighting was used.

Opinion
I love this image! I love how the wall and curtain blend together, and put emphasis on the two exposed arms. I also like the position of the subject, it seems as though her hand are protecting one another.

Compostion
This image plays with contrast in a way the the first image does not. The shadow stands out against the sheer yellow curtain. The emphasis is on the shoes in the crevice of the curtains. The lighting in this image is natural, coming straight from the setting sun.

Motivation
I wanted to stay true to the image by obstructing the view of the subject. Instead of attempting to block just her face, I decided to show just her feet. I felt that this mimicked the hands in the first image.


Method
The image was taken in front of a window, with the subject sitting behind a sheer curtain. The bright lighting was used to create shadow.