Statement - Benches

At first my final project was about the age of benches. In every bench a different age can be seen. They each weather, rust and rot as time goes on. That weathering gives them character. In the beginning of my project I focused on age. As it progressed, I shifted my focus to the surroundings and landscapes around the benches. I also used inspiration from Bernd and Hilla Becher. Their photos have a certain gloomy feel to them. I tried to recreate that by taking photographs of rainy cloudy days.

Benches - Final

Photographers such as Bernd and Hilla Becher gave me inspiration for my personal project. The first few photos I took in a very sullen day that was dark and gloomy. Their photos are not only in black and white but are taken on rainy looking days. That look inspired some of my photos. I saw photos in Google search and in class. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernd_and_Hilla_Becher. Contacts Video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZSLvFY1X6g

Homage to Cindy Sherman

When visiting the MOMA I was drawn to Cindy Sherman's clown images. I tried to imitate her photo that I found most interesting. Although it does not look exactly the same, the  make up is painted in the same manner and it is a self portrait.

Benches

Places

Personal Project

    For the personal project I have chosen to photograph benches. Benches are not just a place to sit. They tell a story. Benches show age, use, abuse, or neglect. Some people use benches for show and others actually use them. They are at lunch tables, in gardens, and on the sides of walkways and some rock, stay still, sway or swing. They are made out of many different materials and can be photographed differently.
   
    Benches all tell different stories depending on their uses. A wood bench left outside through out the seasons is going to tell a different story and photograph differently than a bench that has been kept inside. A bench in a church is going to tell a different story than a bench in the park or a bench where the wood has grayed and the metal is pitted. Sometimes the most interesting bench are the ones that are barely there where the wood is rotted away and only the iron sides are left.

Portraits

MOMA Review

    The Cindy Sherman exhibit at MOMA was good. It was very interesting to see how she took portraits of what seemed to be the same person in different ways. Each portrait was very different yet very similar at the same time. For instance, she would pose the woman in the same way but put her in very different clothing. In one image she was wearing a plaid shirt and a blond braided wig, while in another she would have strange red hair and her face would be oddly painted. In most of those portraits the light was harsh and colors were bright which emphasized the bright colors.
   
      Although Cindy Sherman took very nice portraits, they weren't great. Her portraits didn't grasp me and pull me in the way that Weegee's photos did at the ICP museum. His photos were fantastic. Cindy Sherman's style is not that attractive to the eye. The person in the portrait does not have to be good looking to make the photo attractive, but her style of taking the photos was not pleasing. Also, many of her photos, such as Untitled #250 and #263, were to vulgar to be appreciated artistically.
   
       Although I did not like many of her color portraits and other color photos, her black and whites were beautiful. There is something about a black and white photograph that is always gorgeous. The shadows are emphasized and the photo overall has more personality. The Untitled Film Still #13 is wonderful. The books on the shelf in the background have every shade of gray and the light that is cast on the woman is beautiful.

Layering

Abstract

Color and Light