Blog Entry 2: What Makes Photography Art?

Everyone has a different idea of what specifically makes photography art. What is listed below are my own ideals of what is the basic criteria for photography. I'll touch on each one.

Criteria for Photography:

1. An artist

2. Technique

3. Style

4. Intention of Message

5. Principles of Design

-Balance

-Rhythm 

-Contrast

-Unity

-Emphasis

-Movement

6. Elements of Design

-Line

-Shape

-Form

-Texture

-Pattern

-Space

-Color

Elements of Design: 

The elements of design are very important to remember when creating a photograph. 

Line: Lines help draw the viewer's attention to a specific point in the photograph.

Shape: Shape can be a lot of things. Mainly though, it is considered to be the overall flow of the subject with the objects of the image. 

Form: Form is considered to be a 3-Dimensional shape and is accented the best by side lighting and use of shadows.
Texture: This is generally used to add a "3D" effect to your photograph and to add a sense of touch to your image.

Pattern: Pattern is the unity in which pieces of the photograph flow together

Space: Space refers to the negative space within a photograph. 

Color: The colors within a piece have been carefully considered and they flow together. 

Principles of Design: 

Balance: This distribution of the visual weight of the subjects in the photograph

Rhythm: Is created when one or more elements of design are being used.

Contrast: The arrangement of opposite elements.
Unity: The feeling of harmony that subjects in the photo create. It should be noticeable throughout your photograph.
Emphasis: Part of the photograph that catches the viewer's attention.
Movement:  The path the viewer's eye takes as it goes through the photograph. 

-Calista Gonzales

Pano Image: Tonto Natural Bridge

Calista Gonzales: Dream Wild Photography

New

Calista Gonzales: Dream Wild Photography

Original

Tonto Natural Bridge

Hey everyone!

So this past weekend I took a hike with my aunt out at the Tonto Natural Bridge. For anyone who doesn't know what it is; look it up. It is amazing and for sure worth the trip! I'll include some pictures below! We also tried to find the ever elusive Box Canyon Trail but alas; no such luck. Anyone who's been on the trail...I'd appreciate some commentary on how to get there ! Thank you! Hope you enjoy my shots! 

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Calista Gonzales; Dream Wild Photography

Welcome Back: Reflection on photo 3-4 and intro to photo 5-6

Objective: In your first blog entry, write about what you want to accomplish in Photo 5-6. Include at least one of your best works from Photo 3-4. Also write about the camera you are using and anything new you learned about it. 

   New year; more photos! Welcome to photography 5-6! Last year I began my journey as a digital photographer. I don't think anything needs to be said on how excited I am about this new year. I have so many new ideas and I'm so excited to show everyone the products of my assignments; and my imagination. The camera that I used last year and this year is a Cannon Rebel T3i. Compared to my old Nikon; this is a dream come true. This year I hope to accomplish a more professional level of photography. My main focus for this year is going to be working on my photoshop skills and gaining more credit as a photographer. Below I have added a flash back onto last year. 

Montage: Blog 2

Question: Find two examples of political montages that are either form a historical or contemporary source. Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicated their intended message. Discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message. 

 In the right hand image, it appears that a traditional image was taken a part and blended with modern day war tactics. I think the artist could have chosen to integrate more modern items in order to bring out the whole aspect of the piece. Overall though I believe that the artist go the point across. I think their intended message had something to the affect of how we are still warring with each other; just the weapons of our choosing have gotten us deeper into the destruction of each other. 

In the image depicting Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton I believe that the artist is trying to highlight the similarities between the two. The artist does get this point across with the nearly identical facial and body expressions that the two display as well as the background image blending. I believe that they could have depicted this better by showing them shaking hands or something of that nature. Just like the above image however, I think that it still successfully gets the desired point across. 

Montage: Blog 1

Question: Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photo montages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. (This technique of piecing together separate images to create one picture is again very popular with both artists and the media). What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique? 

 I believe that painters during the Victorian period might have might have criticized these early photo montages because painters worked very hard to create such spectacular images and by taking such things and making it by a computer compressed of various people and places is almsot like cheating. I believe that they are poupular with the public because they are unique and appealing to the eye. Some reasons I can come up with about why this technique has been revived is because of the visual appeal and the creativity and blatant fun that comes out of such images.

Jerry Uelsmann

Portrait and Studio Photography: Blog 3

Question: Collect four portrait images with two to five subjects.  In at least one image the subject should have been placed in the foreground. Comment on the arrangement of the subjects in relation to the camera and the effectiveness of the design.

WeeklyImogen

 In this image, the model is placed slightly off center of the camera. This creates a dynamic aspect of the photograph and with the background adds a bit of moodiness to it.

The next image has an almost coy attitude because of the way that she has been placed in the image. Being placed closer in the foreground allows the viewer to get a more up-close and personal with her mood and just the overall image of the piece.

WeeklyImogen 

WeeklyImogen

 This photograph has the same coy attitude as the one above, but this one is more playful. The center positioning of this image allows for the viewer to have direct contact with the subject.

 In this image, the photographer got very up close and personal with the image to create an dynamic effect. They used the arms as framing devices in order to add more of a realism effect to the photograph.  In my own opinion, this image in comparison to the other ones is a lot more appealing. It shows the character of the model as well as the friendly nature of her eyes. With the other images, there is still a connection with the viewer but not as deeply as with this image.