C.R.I.T.: August 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Kitty Ethridge 8/19/11

The images you see here are the results of an ongoing personal project I’m working on and an assignment Ben G and I occasionally give our selves. The one thing they have in common is all were taken at night, one of my favorite times to shoot, and all without a tripod. The artificial lights moodily reflecting off the shiny surfaces, the cool shadows on the streets, sidewalks and the exterior of the buildings, especially after or during a rainfall can make for some pretty interesting photos.

The first image here is from a project I’ve been working on down in DC. The second was taken that same night but randomly. Both are examples of me trying out particular styles, a photographer trying to find her way. Am I more interested in photo essays/documentary or architecture? Or all the other subjects I like to shoot? Why pick and choose when it could be ultimately beneficial to my craft to try as many different styles as possible.

Both of these were shot with the same zoom. I wanted to pack as light as possible and the zoom just gave me more flexibility without having to lug around several different lens.

For the photo essay.

Something more formal.

These next 3 images are from the night ride assignments. They seem random and the subject matter is more or less but I’ve made decisions that I don’t ordinarily make. One is I’m only shooting with a 50mm 1.4 lens. Secondly, I’m trying to create more abstract images. It’s a first time for me for both. Lastly, one rule of the assignment is we have to make exactly 6 images we’re happy with so actually I’m not shooting randomly at all.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Laura Miner 7/17/2011

As the readership of this blog knows, my current project has involved using food products to represent blood. Since February I have been attending therapy sessions for a phobia of blood and injuries, and things have been going well. I set out on this project to do two things. One, to make my audience uneasy, and question the juxtaposition of food and blood, hunger and danger (like many other projects of mine). Two, to explore my own feelings about blood in staging the scenes.
I produced some "sketch" photos using bandages, chocolate syrup, and wet chili powder that were not shown on the blog, and then the shots from the last post of red frosting and raspberry jelly on my hands. After weeks of contemplation, I realized that my methods were not working out. I felt my images were not compelling, and I was not having fun coming up with new ideas. My project guidelines were too rigid. I found myself shooting off most a of a roll of film, that I had planned to use for this project, on Portabella mushrooms.

In order to keep this project alive, I decided I cannot restrict myself to food. While the concept of using food is interesting, it should not be holding me back from using something awesome-looking because it is not edible. The new images are going to be more surreal, and intense. I want to express the idea of something screaming out for help.
I am very excited to show some new and improved photographs. Until then here are some serene images of mushrooms.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Ben Gebo 7/17/2011

In mid June, I went on a three week road trip across America. It's something I've done a few times before, but never as extensive and rigorous. We traveled 7,500 miles with stops in Louisville, Denver, Los Angeles, Fargo, and many other places(See the map http://goo.gl/9989q) with a lot of unscheduled stops along the way. I didn't plan out the route or destinations, just tagged along knowing I could have this be the start of a project or an addition to my travel portfolio. I think it's both. The only rule I gave myself while traveling was to photograph two people a day and have a camera around my neck whenever possible. Here are four portraits I took during my trip with a moleskine entry accompanying each picture. America is nicer, weirder, and more beautiful than you think.

Ben Gebo 2011©

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