Photo Forum Entry Proof

Here is proof that I entered Photographer's Forum's 29th Annual Spring Photo Contest. I entered 8 pieces and finalists will not be decided until August 3rd.

Sunday 3/29 Entry

Miklos Gaál

"I am interested in creating alternative aspects on perceptions we have become accustomed to."

Gaál is best known for his perspective controlled "miniature" cityscapes. Although they can be considered formal landscapes, the photos give a fresh look at the strange group behaviors of people within such a confined area. Suddenly, colonial parades, dog parks, protests and shopping frenzies become abnormal rituals that make the viewer feel as if they're analyzing another species.

Gaál's photographs give the illusion of a constructed reality, however they are in fact documentary in nature. Nothing has been added to the scene and nothing has been altered with the exception of in-camera perspective. In essence, Gaál is working in a manner opposite of mine. However, the great expanses that he chooses to photograph and the questions that are raised about the truthfulness of each photo are strikingly similar. His use of activities that would be, on ground level, pretty normal, intrigues me.

http://www.miklosgaal.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miklos_Ga%C3%A1l
http://www.moillusions.com/2006/09/toy-world-by-olivio-barbieri-miklos.html
http://www.helsinkischool.fi/helsinkischool/artist.php?id=9006
http://www.artnet.com/artist/424522567/miklos-gaal.html

Thursday 3/26 Entry

Group Activity

Group activities are prime examples of the social nature of humans. They build relationships, confidence, help people learn, and teach social skills vital to surviving within a greater society. Social activities are even hardwired into the brain. Without other people we are left underusing are brain, and in drastic cases that can lead to health and mental issues.

In my series, group activities are acted out, but are stripped of the group itself. The result is something that leaves the viewer uneasy, signifying the mandatory nature of the group. Without them, we are left with no logical conclusion, and thus, to us no logic.

"This image was found at http://www.utrecsports.org/activities/activities/soccer.php*

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/56247.php
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/psychology-0111.html
http://www.rikenresearch.riken.jp/research/281/
http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/brain.shtml

Tom

I have gone back and placed a credit in the Thursday entries where I used outside imagery. The credits will be in asterisks at the bottom of the post.

Comments are extremely difficult to hunt down on this site. It would be very helpful if you would post a new and separate entry of your comments. Thanks Tom!

Sunday 3/22 Entry

Lee Bul

Widely considered the leading Korean artist of her generation, Bul focuses her work on current political issues affecting Asia. Her work often incorporates or insinuates traditional Asian design elements and forces the viewer to examine the contrast between the past and the future.

Although my work doesn't deal with political issues, it does examine issues within formal society, mainly issues with self and solitude. The way that she brings past, present and future into one work through the use of traditional media intrigues me. She has found a way to do so that is semi obvious to the viewer, without spelling it out. Most would consider the use of film to be photography's traditional equivalent, however I would like to explore other elements, such as lighting, composition and possibly even dated scenarios as ways of comparing past and present, in regards to society.

http://www.leebul.com/
http://www.lehmannmaupin.com/#/exhibitions/2008-05-08_lee-bul/
http://www.artandculture.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/ACLive.woa/wa/artist?id=1007
http://www.pkmgallery.com/exhibitions/2008-10-16_lee-bul/

Thursday 3/19 Entry

Fear

I have found that a lot of my work deals with fear. In some of it, I try to depict the fear as a tangible, or "photographable" thing. In some of it, the fear was personal, and I had to force myself to complete a task in order to photograph it successfully. Fear has always controlled what I did and did not do, and I tend to struggle with that concept in my work.

In a book I read a few months back, "Fear Itself: The Origin and Nature of the Powerful Emotion that Shapes Our Lives and Our World" by Rush W. Dozier, the author talks about the brains natural question: Fight or Flight. Fight being to stand ground against that which scares you and/or defend yourself, flight being to run away and attempt to escape the fear without facing it. This series deals with a different option: Ignore it. To the people in my current project, those fears simply don't exist. The viewer gets a sense of discomfort and thoughts of loneliless, one of the ultimate fears, while the subjects don't appear to even realize other people exist. The foundations of this fear of solitude can be question, leaving us with an intangible idea that has the power to drive a person insane.

*The images shown in this post are mine.*

One Tribe Lecture

Jared Karnes, owner of OneTribe Organic Body Modifications, came in as part of an entrepreneurial lecture series, but drew me in because of his arts background. The more he talked, the more he sounded like me. He came to VCUarts for his undergrad in Photography, but had to drop out due to money issues. His love of body modification art, such as gauge piercings and tribal jewelry, led him to begin working with his hands on jewelry; it turned out he really wasn't as in to photography.

Karnes soon found a niche in body mod using organic materials and hand carving one-offs and limited runs. His work is traditional tribal, based on Mayan and Aztec jewelry. His knowledge of body mod's background gives him an edge.

Karnes went over his finiancial information with us and gave us tips for starting a business as a small and cheap owner. Among his key points were asking future competition questions about the business, bartering and cheap advertising techniques. He also discussed a few points key to art businesses specifically, which helped me tremendously!

http://onetribe.nu/index.php

Sunday 3/15 Entry

Ezra Mansur

Mansur is better known as a commercial photographer. As a result, the artistic images he creates are vivid in color and stunning in composition and light. These formal aspects are what make Mansur's photographs of everyday, seemingly mundane landscapes into eerie, surreal scenes that deserve more than just a second glance.

I'd like to create a similar style of lighting with my current series. Mansur's lighting turns shopping center parking lots into movie sets, which is my ideal design. I've also found that his use of soft focuse not only directs the viewer's eye, but also creates a sense of distortion and furthers the "just no right" feeling of his work. In trying to master these techniques, I hope to also

www.ezramansur.com/
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/contests/e3i69c4daba6cf2b7e5a1bcdc949f5d46e3
http://www.thefrasergallery.com/2009PhotoComp.html

Photo Lecture

I was not able to attend the photography lecture today because I had a quiz in Physics at 3:00. I will post on two other lectures for this month.

Thursday 3/5 Entry

Real Life

Obviously, my current work questions the notions of real life in photography. In one sense, I am documenting a scene that is occurring. But in the truest sense, I am documenting a scene that has been planned to occur, one that has been set up. One main question that comes to mind is "Just how real can something be when its subjects are aware of the camera in front of them?" Theoretically, you're getting a true and authentic reaction, it is just of someone reacting to a camera being introduced into the scene. This question seeks its answer in many scenarios, including war/conflict photography, portraiture, and even reality TV.

Of course, my approach is a more obvious one. The subjects are fully aware of the camera and I think the viewer realizes it. What they don't immediately question is what they are seeing a reaction to. Is this how the subject subconsciously posed? Is this how they would act in such a situation? Is this just how they think the photographer or the viewer who envision them? Although it doesn't necessarily answer these questions, my work does pose them in an attempt to find answers.

*This photo was taken as a "Real World" promo by MTV*

Sunday 3/1 Entry

Adrian Fish

Fish's most acclaimed project is entitled "Staged", where she photographs completely empty theaters and concert halls. These vibrant rooms are contrasted by the lack of movement and activity within them. The viewer is fully aware of what should be, but is left wondering what significance the place holds once "what should be" isn't.

Although this series most closely resembles mine, all of her work is relevant to my concept. Her even her portraiture features forced solitude, pushing the bounds of anonymity and one's singular role within an environment. Both of the ideas I have always played with in my own work, and hope to continue them within my current project.

http://www.afish.ca/

Thursday 2/26 Entry

Human Presence

Human presence, and the lack there of, makes my work. The large, empty spaces that are normally overwhelmed with human activity become nearly vacant, but not quite empty, creating a kind of limbo between occupation and absence. This limbo is rarely observed in everyday life and, as with anything that we rarely encounter, causes discomfort and confusion within the viewer.

But why? There are many times within the day that we, ourselves, are alone. We talk to ourselves to prepare for an interview and practice flirtations in hopes of attracting a mate, all in the confines of solitude. Yet, when the setting of these activities becomes a normally public arena, we rebellious, even guilty, as if we might get caught and punished for doing absolutely nothing wrong. Even as a child, sneaking through the hallways of school with a bathroom pass was entertaining. I myself would often explore the corridors, peeking around corners to make sure I wasn't caught. Of course, if I was I could simply say that I was heading to the bathroom and then proceed to the nearest one. But something about it made me feel as if I was in danger. I haven't got an answer to this phenomenon, but I am currently exploring it within my work.

*The above photo is a stock photo taken off of Corbis.com*