Self-Portrait

What is a Self-portrait?
- representation of the artist
- depiction of themselves as the main subjects
- important character in the art work
- mirrors the artist in some way
- you can have a part of yourself or any representational image that best depicts you


Image taken in Ivory Coast, Africa.

John Coplans: (1920-2003)
- a WWII war veteran who emmigrated to the U.S.
- many of his self-portraits consist of formational images using body parts (in the book, A Body)
- creates distinctive language using simply a hand
- contrast in light and dark and usage of B&W

SP 5 88,
1988 silver gelatin print, 42 x 44" Framed

unknown

Self-portraits convey a single aspect of the artist where the portrait becomes the expression of the viewer in a visual way. As I was experimenting different ways to set up my self-portrait, I tried using different techniques, STFV, to create a unique image that best describes me. For my digital photo, I chose the image where I am looking away from the camera. I like this photo because it describes my introverted self, where I like to process things first before I express them openly to others.

Digital vs. Film

Digital photo take on GWB

For the past three weeks, I've been able to get a feel for both digital and film cameras. Typically, with a digital camera, I've discovered how easily accessible it was to capture an image. With it, I'm able to filter the pictures that I like even before they're printed by deleting images or viewing them on the screen embedded on the camera. With film cameras, you just don't have the option to. It's quick and easy to take out the camera and take continuous photos without having to feel "bad" about snapping away because there are no rolls of film to consider. Digital cameras are convenient and so highly advanced, that it makes it easier for the photographer to take photos. But as I was exposed to being in the dark room in order to process my negatives and contact sheets, I've experienced a whole new attachment towards the photos I took for my class. It became a personal walk towards the final stage of photo development, where a feeling of authenticity surfaced throughout the process. Starting with placing the film on the wheels in the blinding dark and waiting for the chemicals to process the film, then to waiting for it to dry and processing negatives and, finally, to transferring them on to the contact sheets, I felt the intensity and attention involved through these procedures.

Taken at Salem, NJ

View of NYC

View of NYC

Start to Photography 101

I'm taking this course because I have absolutely no knowledge of a camera and in capturing a great photograph. Photos speak many ideas, emotions and convey a visual language without the usage of words. I always loved looking at my old photos and going through albums and albums of past photos that brought me back to the inital memory I had with the people, time, and place. I hope through this class, I'll be able to really get to know my camera, allowing me to be comfortable in taking photos that capture the perfect story through the lens.

I have this old vintage, black and white photo of my grandfather who passed away four years ago. I love this photograph of him, not only because it reminds me of my Halbi, but because it captures his physique so well. It embodies a stoic man who was respectable in many ways. This persona was something that stuck with me for a very long time, but as I got older, I experience much of his warmth, love and care for those around him. It's a perfect picture because ironically enough, it encompasses a demeanor that is misleading to his true persona.

As an artist, specifically as an artist aspiring to be a photographer, I do realize how photgraphs capture and frame a special time and place. It's a still life painting but used with a different medium, a camera. A personal photo may bring the photographer or viewer back to a memory that stood siginificant in one point in their lives. It conveys a specific message and emotion to the audience. Photographs, because of its single frame, may only depict a small portion of a larger, grander scale of what is actually happening. For example, if you take a photo of a stripe, you may miss the idea that that stripe is part of a bigger object like that of a zebra. Photographs help to create an array of mental, spiritual and emotional picture for the viewer. Pictures can be any visible image where as photographs are a specific medium used to paint the picture.

STFV

S: Peanut Butter and Jelly Crackers T:Still on a table. F: The image includes up to the edge of the crackers with some background images going off the page. Blurred background with clear foreground. V: Close up of the subject and on a slight angle.


S: Inkyu and the village boy. This photo reflects the state of Ivory Coast and the message of hopelessness and pain through the child's expression.
T: Ivory Coast, Africa. Still image in midst of active environment.
F: Portrait like shot.
V: Close up, eye-level shot.


S: Landscape of Ivory Coast with people in motion. Encompasses mystery.
T: Moving, evening time, in Ivory Coast.
F:Included scenic image of the sky, foreground and people walking towards the direction of the sunset. Picture is divided into 2 halves (Light, sky vs. dark earth.)
V: Slightly higher than eye-level.


S:Couple in a park, sitting on a bench. Communicates passion and possibly commitment since the subjects are older in age.
T: Lovers kissing in the middle of the day.
F: Subjects in the middle while the bench leans towards the left edge of the frame. Background is abit blurred and trees are cut off, thus refocusing the 2 figures as the main subjects.
V:Camera is placed far in order to capture the whole bodies of the subjects. Possibly to communicate the passion existing through their body language.


STFV definitions
Subject: It is the focus and subject matter of the photograph. It tels the viewer what the photo is about and what it is that it's portraying.
Time: Depicts when the photo is being taken, whether it is still, in motion, if it is timeless, etc. When in moment's history is the photo being taken?
Frame: Shows what is being focused and what you are including and excluding in order to determine that, by depending on the placement of the items.
Vantage Point: Determines the frame by the positioning of the camera.
- Birds Eye View
- Worms Eye View
- Moving position
- Moving your head
- Tilting the camera
- Looking at the edges of your frame
- Changing the light source
- Focus
- Moving in and out