concentration

Valedictory

The meaning behind my valedictory project was to create a modern version of a fairytale so I could incorporate portraiture and something that I'm a big fan of. Originally I was going to find models that represented each disney princess, but I soon learned that this wasn't a very realistic idea and decided to make the photos have a fairytale feel to them instead. I decided to add in the fireworks because I wanted it to come off as sort of surreal and to give it that push it needed to feel like a fairytale instead of just looking like prom pictures. It also somewhat represents the magnificent firework shows that Disney puts on. I allowed my models to choose the way they thought a modern day princess would be and ended up with a lot of unique looks that turned out great. Overall, I'm very happy with the end results of my project and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Progress Check

I chose to make my concentration a modern version of princesses because I really wanted to take advantage of the portraiture side of photography while incorporating it with something that I really love, fairytales. I thought it would be a really fun experience and that I would get better at something I really enjoy and have it be something unique and personal to myself.

For the research part of my project, I took to pinterest to help with some ideas on outfits, poses, facial expressions, etc. Then I searched through my closet and my models' closets to find some outfits that resembled the look I was going for. I also went out and bought many props to help accentuate my idea and that it was supposed to be princesses, not just a prom photoshoot.

The one thing I didn't get to do was finish all the shots I wanted. I went out at 3:30 saturday until the sun went completely down and missed the opportunity to get some of the shots I still really wanted so I'll have to round up my models one more time and get the rest of the shots I want. I also need to get more props I was thinking to use and incorporate those into my photos as well.

Surrealism Final

The meaning behind this pose was to show that I can come off as a pretty happy person, but I'm happiest when I'm at a concert which isn't something people will see often. 

The meaning behind Corinne's pose is that she really appreciates nature and the personal photos express her love and appreciation for nature and art such as singing and playing piano along with showing her appreciation for natural art. 

The meaning behind this photo was to combine "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" because religion is something I'm very open about. I also incorporated photos from a vacation to express how I love traveling and the beauty and brightness that nature can bring to a person's life. 

The meaning behind this pose is that she can come off as shy and kind of introverted but has a deep appreciation for nature and loves the look of sunsets and flowers.

I really enjoyed this unit because I loved the concept of getting to know people on a deeper level without necessarily saying anything. I also loved the uniqueness of the photos and that none of the photos were going to come out looking the same no matter how similar the pose. 

Contact Sheet

Examples of Poses

Rene Margitte Questions

Questions to answer about the reading:

1.    What is surrealism? 

   Ideas developed from strange dreams. They take unrelated objects and place them side by side, creating an image that looks both real and unreal.

2. What motif did Magritte use in many of his works? Why was this significant? 

  A man wearing a bowler hat.  People believe he referred to himself when he used the business man.

3.  In his work Golconda, why is it important that Magritte varied the image of the man in the bowler hat?  How does it add depth to the work? 
It's important that he varied the image because if he had just made it the same with no variations, people might have gotten bored with it, but the subtle differences make the audience look closer. 

   

4.     Why did surreal artists choose to create strange worlds with their art?

They believe that juxtaposing ordinary but unrelated objects could be as disorienting and powerful as waking up from a strange dream. They love this concept.

5.     Explain how the techniques of juxtaposition, altered scale, and language help Magritte explore Surrealism. 
He pulls viewers into his compositions with imagery but doesn't reveal all the answers. You become part of the work and your experience in seeing it changes the meaning of each painting.

6.     What would be a few reasons why Magritte would cover the faces of his subjects? 
-Insecurity
-His mother drowned and when they pulled her out of the water, her dress was wrapped around her head.

7.     Why did Magritte strive for realism & precision in his paintings?
He believed it allowed viewers to focus on the subject of the work instead of the techniques used to paint it.

8.     Google more of Magritte’s work and include 2 images that interest you.

o   Explain the technique(s) used to enhance the work

o   Hint – review the words in bold from the reading

He used juxtaposition because the colors and objects really contrast with each other. He also uses negative space and has a lot of variation.