I'll be honest my project doesn't really have a concept too much behind it. I decided to shoot pictures of people that are somehow involved in my life and it was for the most part candid, trying to catch them in a moment, a snapshot. It was more of an experiment, and I used flash on all the pictures I turned in. I discovered while shooting (at the last minute) that I really like flash and decided to shoot the rest of my pictures using that.
My teacher said that technical wise my flash use was good, but she thought my previous work in previous classes was more imaginative. And I agree with her, I know she's right. I did however, have a few different ideas for this project, some didn't turn out the way I liked when I shot, and the one that I think would have possibly worked, I didn't have time to shoot (yes, because I procrastinated). So I can always resubmit, but it is not like I didn't like my photos. I absolutely do, but conceptually there's not much there. Some questions I need to ask are: How can I use the snapshot form in a different way? Possibly exposing our social tendencies. How should my flash be used? And that I could add more context into my pictures instead of cropping them so closely around the person. So quite a few options to push my work further.
Color Photo Class: Portraiture
Artist: Tara McPherson
I was at Urban Outfitters last week to get a birthday present for my sister, and found a Hello Kitty doll by Tara McPherson, oooo I was excited, it was so cute! That store has too much to look at I love it.
So I decided to do a blog entry on Tara McPherson, one of my favorite illustrators, who is a very talented and creative artist. I really mean that. She has her own unique style and color palette, even though much of her subject matter is cute, there's always that bite or darker side to it. Mischievous at times. She does a lot of poster work for bands and has many big name clients like KidRobot and DC Comics.
Check her out here.
Color Photo Class Assignment 1
Starting out the semester, we had our first project, and it was more like an experiment with color. Since many of the classes prior to taking this one was all in black and white, this was going to be fun. Besides, I had just gotten my new DSLR which I was excited to try out. One part of the experiment was to take pictures of variations of one color, then to contrast, another set of all neutral colors. Here are some of the things I took.
Cirque Berzerk Revisited
Last month on the 13th, I did go to Cirque Berzerk with my significant other and it was much more than I had asked for, very fun and entertaining. The contortionists were very talented, but I have to say my favorite act was when the four male acrobats started juggling themselves around on two trampolines, very fun and humorous. The posters make it out to be scary and dark, but it was not, plus there was a band and live music during the whole performance which was also very good. There were vendors on the bottom floor with unique and interesting merchandise.
And to top the evening off, me and my significant other (who introduced me to Pink's) went to the Original Pink's where there are delicious chili dogs, and they've been around since 1939. When we went around midnight, there was still a huge line! Anyways, if you haven't checked it out yet, I'm recommending it. Cheers.
Blabbing, and Oh, A New Camera for Me.
So yes I did have a break, and yes I am once again (for me at least) behind on my blogging, seeing as I'm still posting things from last semester, haha. Anyways, I'm taking a color photography class this semester and it is about 6 hours long, whooo, but only once a week, so I suppose that's why. Besides the point, it being a class I love, is still too long.(period). I have finally also gone out and bought a DSLR, a Canon Rebel EOS XS. I do plan on learning about color film photography still, but time to move on to the digital age. Needless to say, I'm very giddy, like a little girl with a new Barbie (at least when I was younger, it was Barbie). Found a good deal too, got the last one and the camera came with a case (big and roomy) and a memory card to get me started. Of course, I'm more concerned about the camera being good mind you, and it checks out...for now, muahahaha.
End of Fall 2010 Semester
So in the FA-4 art building last semester, this is what was done in the locker room, and also in one of the display cases. Tape babies, somehow made my day. God, I love the art department.
Tim Burton at LACMA
Tim Burton's exhibition of over 700 of his own art is moving to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and will run starting the 29th of May to the 31st of October this year. He's a brilliant engineer of the weird and simultaneously inviting worlds of Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, etc. etc. One thing's for sure and that is I will be going, maybe even coming, probably more than once. Tim Burton's work is going to be in the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion at the museum. There will be several large installations, such as one from Edward Scissorhands. Also, according to La Times, Burton's last exhibition at MoMa was the third most most attended exhibition in MoMa's history at 810,500 visitors. The other two exhibitions were for Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Read more here at La Times.
Blu's Mural
Mural done by street artist Blu.
He has a really beautiful website with his work up. Check it out here.
Salton Sea Scope Out
We stopped by the visitor's center, and I just put it out there bluntly to this group of elderly staff that I wanted to explore and photograph the abandoned sites around the sea and where the best spots where. They were very helpful and this one woman suggested Bombay Beach. It rang a bell in my mind, I had heard of it before and that was where we decided to head.
Arriving there, we explored a little then finally parked at the beach. There are still people living there, a mixture of abandoned houses next to those that were occupied. It was an interesting feeling being there, like walking around in only a half decayed town. But we had success, and I went on my photo frenzy. Might I also mention, thank God for Gorillapods, love it. We'd found the place I was going to shoot at, and surprisingly but then not so much, we saw another group that was doing what looked like a fashion shoot too.
Very good day, long drive out there, but it was worth it.
Disneyland in the Rain
I love the rain and when the occasion finally arose, I decided to go to Disneyland. It was exhilarating to me and not only that, the rain covered streets glowed with reflected lights. So beautiful, oh and did I mention it was raining? hehe. I got to put my new Canon point and shoot I got for Christmas to the test, and it did just fine. I was like a kid in a candy store, rain + camera + Disneyland = very very happy me :)
Here are some pictures I took...
CSULB Gallery: Monica Guerra
Due to the busy holiday season last month and finals, I was too lazy to post this post. Yet I must because when I went to the opening reception on December 12th, I was impressed with the work and presentation at the Dr. Maxine Merlino Gallery (the show I was in most anticipation to see).
Upon arriving at the gallery, I was presented with a slice of delicious wedding cake and Martinelli's apple cider in a champagne glass. The artist, Monica Guerra, Metals B.F.A., did a wedding theme (there's something about weddings I love), and the centerpiece was a masterpiece in my opinion. It was a wedding gown made entirely of lace that had been caste then made with metal. I just have one question...can I wear it?
Don't be shy...click on the picture to get a better look ;)
