Artist: Annie Leibovitz

Incredible. Annie Leibovitz work has always been so amazing to me, because her vivid colors and composition always catch my eye.  After watching the film, I feel more educated about her in her life and as an artist.

One question, that the interviewer asked her was “What’s it like to be in a photographer’s life?,” she replied, “a life looking through a lens.” When I heard this, I thought wow, this is exactly how I think. But as a young artist, I feel it’s sometimes hard to relate to the more professional artist. But to be able to relate in the same thought process as Leibovitz, is such an awww… I always look at my life through a lens, whether I have a camera on me or not. If I don’t have my DSLR, I always have a point in shoot in my pocket. And when I don’t have a camera on me, I look at things as though I do. I look at a person or people and think, wow, that’s a great shot. Or I look at sunset with someone walking by, and think wow, what a great silhouette. Sometimes, when another person is driving, my mind wonders and I look through the window a though there were new images I could create with my camera. Sometimes I will even pull over the car and take the picture too!

I also liked the way she talked about having children and working as a photographer. I too, have a little girl of four years old who often accompanies me on photo shoots or is actually included in some of my work. When my daughter was little, it was easier to take her along, because she would just attach herself to my leg and hang on while I would shoot. Now that she is older, I give her my point and shoot and she shoots her own pictures. I don’t ever push her into photographer, but I push her to let her to explore her curiosity. If she is not playing with the point and shoot, she is letting her imagination roll. Or often times, I will throw her in some of my images.

I was really surprised that she didn’t take longer in a photo shoot. But I guess when you are that talented, you really don’t need too. I was amazed how she used a medium format camera and a DSLR, to take probably 20 photos and was done in about fifteen minutes. I usually take over a hundred photos when I am shooting and I take about an hour or so. I feel as though with the DSLR, that it is free film and that you should shoot shoot shoot! But after listening to more and more of the film, it seems as though Leibovitz has tons and tons of experience.

I was amazed how she had the guts to walk into the Rolling Stones Headquarters and land a job as a photojournalist. What amazing confidence to have and a wonderful reference. The opportunities that she had and took, made her more than just a photographer, she became famous in her own element. Another quality that I have like Leibovitz, is her ability to go unnoticed when working. I am small female and I love it! It makes it so much easier to work when you are tiny and can get in and out of situations without anyone noticing. I was in the Navy as a photographer for six years, and most people liked to work with me because I was so small and could the images I needed without going unnoticed. I didn’t attract a lot of attention to myself, and people acted like I wasn’t there. Which for me, was much easier to work when people would just let me do my job. I love it!

The one quote that I thought was a great point that Leibovitz said, was that she wanted to be an art teacher. However, she thought to herself, ” I can’t become an art teacher, until I have become an artist.” Which in my eyes was a very powerful statement. Right now, my goal is to finish my BA at Cal State San Marcos and go on to get my Masters in Fine Arts in Photography, so that I can teach at the college level. However, as a young artist now feel the need to establish myself as more of an artist. Right now I am doing so, and I can only hope to accomplish more this year.

Artist: Natalie Forbes

I am always introduced to male photojournalist and photographers, but never really women. Today I watched part of a documentary about Natalie Forbes, who captures the essence of cultural and environmental through a lens.

One of her projects was the Pacific Salmon and how one moment became a 10 year project. However, the focus was not just the salmon, but the cultures that depended on the fish itself. He photographs capture a story in a sense, that starts with the life of the salmon and how where it goes during its life span, to eventually the death of the salmon. Forbes photographs the journey of the fish by capturing its every stage of life from the water, to the fishermen, and to the market. Her images are both striking and mesmerizing.

One thing that really caught me off guard is her enthusiasm to write. When she was told to submit her work to the Pulitzer Prize, not for photography, but for creative writing, I was caught off guard. However, as a young photographer, there is always so much emphasis to write from my mentors. They are always telling me to write, blog, blog or write write write!!! This summer, I worked on my writing and it was great to know that it helps not only with your line of work, but yourself as an artist.

I also saw a different perspective that Forbes had on writing. She emphasized in order not be overwhelmed by your work, that you must have two seperate journals. One journal for journalistic writings and the second for your personal writings. As I am still learning, I thought that this point was awesome.

I also saw this video and thought it was pretty interesting : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGflRQp5cAw

Funes Competition: The body

I wanted to focus on my book project being the body, but ended up not having enough time to do so. However, I was able to use one subject who was very willing to help me out. The body is a beautiful thing and I love the different shapes and colors in can take. There are so many diverse backgrounds that people come from in America, that I wanted to try and focus on that in my portfolio. This piece was just focusing on the different muscle tones that the body can undergo. I used available to light from an open to window to capture different contrast. I also wanted to keep the pictures black and white to keep the essence of simplicity. Unfortunately, I didn’t win, but I beat Jermaine 

ART BOOK: DONE!

SID’S ABC’S

SID'S ABC'S by Nancy C. diBenedetto | Make Your Own Book

******CLICK ON FULL SCREEN TO VIEW BOOK IN LARGER FORMAT********

Since my daughter is going away for the summer to be with her father in New Orleans, I decided I wanted to make something special for her. The longest I have ever been away from her is a month, when I was deployed in South Korea. Three months is a long time!!! I am freaking out, but I am okay with the idea, since it is only far. I have her all school year and she is not going to be able to see her father that often. I figured what could I get her to let her know that I always love her no matter what. I figured a book filled with pictures! Most importantly a book filled with pictures of all her belongings representing the alphabet. Some of the letters I found my looking at my surrounding areas or environment. Other letters I had to make, but the fun part with that, was finding things in her room and getting creative with that. This project ended up being a lot of fun for me and I can’t wait to see the final product!

ARTIST BOOK: “ALL BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE DID THE DEED”

Me, Myself and I by Nancy C. diBenedetto | Make Your Own Book

I am okay with the way my book turned out so far. But I excited to see how the print came out to see if it needs more work. At first, like I said before, the book was initially going to be about my family and I. But since I am going through a separation/ divorce, my whole idea of my book completely changed. This book is what I needed though. I needed to really reflect on myself and who I really was. I am still becoming that person I have always wanted to be, and I think with everything that I have learned I am more that person today. I love my life, I am happy with my daughter and being able to be back in school and running. I love life right now.

*Click on FULL SCREEN to see the book in a larger format*

Artist: Joe McNally

I meet Joe McNally about two years ago at a military workshop. He is probably one of the most amazing lighting photographers I have ever met. He attended Syracuse University, where the military sends their most prestigious photographers for a year of training. He works closely with the military, but also with National Geographic and does many workshops for people like me. The reason I love his work so much, is because he can take a simple flash and create wonderful images. He is mainly known for his ability to produce technically and logistically complex assignments with expert use of color and light.  He is always experimenting with the flash and how to use it. He candidly admits that he is not perfect, and he is always trying new things to better himself as a professional photographer. This is my favorite quote from him, from his book, The Moment it Clicks, “What you see on these pages is not about a particular place, people, time or cause. It’s not about one type of picture or another. It’s not about sportsmen or fashion models or war or politics or the news of the day.It’s about being a photographer.”

He uses several different flashes instead of always using softboxes or studio lights. He creates these images, that you think would be impossible to do, but he takes that challenge and creates more than just a portrait, he creates art, with just a click. Here are some images of how he sets up with different flashes.

Artist: James Nachtwey

Photojournalist, James Nachtwey is considered by many to be the greatest war photographer of recent decades. He was introduced to me not by the military, but by Deborah Small, one of my professors at Cal State San Marcos. James Nachtwey’s career as a war photographer began in 1981 when he covered civil unrest in Northern Ireland. Since then he has photographed more than 25 armed conflicts as well as dozens of critical social issues. He has received the Robert Capa Gold Medal, World Press Award, Magazine Photographer of the Year, and I.C.P. Infinity Award multiple times.

I like a lot of Nachtwey’s work, and he certainly makes me think. Some of his images hold so much beauty and are very striking. As a trained combat photographer myself, I think war photography is important, and Nachtwey does it well. I believe its important to capture these moments, to let people really know whats going on in a war and sometimes imagery is the best way to educate people. I know some people get offended by photographs of grieving parents or a young child with no shoes on in the middle of a war, but I feel its important to give those people a voice, since they can’t tell there story to everyone. Some people may not agree with the “voice” or the person’s actions that are being photographed, but I believe that it’s my job to expose people to those photos to understand what is happening in the world. But not even in a war, but expose people to whats happening outside of America and hope they can appreciate there life more. I suggest you to watch, War Photographer, by Christian Frei, in which Nachtwey describes what its like to be a war photographer.

Artist: Jerry Uelsmann

Jerry Uelsmann is a photographer from Detroit, Michigan. He was born on June 11, 1934, and suffered from poor grades throughout his school life. After working as a wedding photographer, he obtained a degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s from Indiana University. Uelsmann began his teaching career at the University of Florida in 1960, where he developed his unique styles. His first solo show was at the Museum of Modern Art in 1967.

The reason I enjoy his work so much is because when the average person looks at a print made by Jerry Uelsmann they probably assume that he is a master at Photoshop.  However, his couldn’t be further from the truth, Jerry does all his work in a darkroom the old fashioned way. Which to me the way every photographer should start. Learning the basics of film and how to develop your own film and prints makes you a master of your camera. Uelmann is a master printer and his multiple image prints have both wowed and intrigued people all over the world since the early 80’s.   Having the creativity and vision to produce such wonderful pieces of work over the past 3 decades have propelled him to the top of many a photographers’ favorites list.   He by far at the top of my list, he was introduced to me last semester, by a fellow photographer and since then I have always been attracted to his work.

Panorama Pictures

Here are two of my panorama pictures. I didn’t like the way they came out, so I am going to try and shoot it again and see if the print or concept works a little better. I am really fascinated with the body right now and how the muscles and veins can change its form and shape. Unfortunately, the print didn’t turn out as well as I had wanted it too, but I have to learn to print a couple before I turn in a final product. Lesson learned for the day, I assume.

Artist: Jim Brandenburg

I really enjoyed the second half of the video about Jim Brandenburg’s quest in his 90 day self project.  As a photographer myself, I completely understood the frustration of having to many exposures to compare. You are always taught to shoot the subject from different angles and different placement. Brandenburg brings up the point that because of this, there are too many exposures to compare. Having to make the decision to live with and in the end be happy with it. I also could relate to him about the subject driving obsession. I usually get ideas in my head and either write them down on a post it or sketch them out. I am very much subject driven to the point where, I need to shoot the subject that’s in my head, in order to rest sometimes. Or sometimes I a driven by a way a photograph was shot. I want to try to recreate that image or try to do something better. 

I like that he said he takes a chance on things. Having the opportunity in a self project is a sign of relief, but also a sign of a huge accomplishment.

Artist: Edward Burtynsky

The images from Edward Burtynsky were very  striking and interesting. I kind of started to get emotionally attached to them and felt them to be very heartbreaking. The images were about “e-waste,” which is used electronics. Many of the items or trash are sent to China to be recycled and are sorted by workers. The workers are exposed to hazardous waste and material, which unfit working conditions. He makes the viewer look at the images in a very different way. His approach and angle that he takes his photography is almost as if he got giant crane and was looking from top down. The depth of field and clarity of his quarries image series are breath-taking and invites you too look through all the details of each image, which then makes you think more deeply about the image you are looking at.  Burtysnsky:  “The concept of the landscape as architecture has become for me, an act of imagination.”

His various photographs of ship yards, urban mines, and industrial work  demonstrate certain areas of work and how processes are carried out. His photographs show the dilemma we live with when it comes to industry and the environment. You start to wonder and can’t help to think that  we should be repulsed at the idea of quarrying into the land, But then should we also embrace it for the technological marvel that it is? It’s hard to say and its a hard concept to think about.

Artist: Barry McGee and Margaret Kilgallen

We watched a short video on the Artist Barry McGee and Margaret Kilgallen who mostly focus on typography, folkart and graffiti. I like the way Margaret thinks and how she views the world around her. She observes everything that is in front of her instead of passing it. She also see things that don’t look like art you and I, and makes it art. One of her thoughts that crossed my mind is that people are too busy rushing to work or rushing to here or there, that they don’t see the beauty around them, the art around them. I like how Margaret emphasized that people see graffiti as distasteful or meaningless when its art, but how can people look at billboard signs all around and not see it as mindless garbage that fills are heads. Mindless garbage… thats how I feel about things in the world sometimes, mindless garbage. About four years ago, after I had my daughter, my husband and I decided that we were taking television out of our lives. We found it to be filled with trash and mindless crap. It felt like the news wasn’t even reporting real news, but gossip. I didn’t want my daughter to grow up watching all that crap. I felt like if I could limit her tv watching to educational videos or certain kid like movies, that she would grow up just fine. And so far she is, she is growing up fine. We have one television in home, and its hers. It just plays DVD’s.

Artist: Sally Mann

I love love love Sally Mann! Sally Mann is one of the those artist you either love or you hate. I happen to love her! I love that she uses a 100-year-old camera to truly capture the white and black essence of film photography. She uses her surroundings as her subjects, such as her family, her home in Virginia and subjects that she is truly curious about. She took a lot of criticism with her first project “Immediate Family.” People called it child pornography or called her an irresponsible mother. I think she was just being a mother. Period. I have a four-year old of my own, and I take pictures of her doing everything, naked or clothed. These moments are priceless and children are innocent and simply don’t know the difference in which they find themselves. She put herself out there and exposed her family to the world. Thats a hard thing to do, because no matter what kind of artist you are, there is always going to be someone who doesn’t like your work.

More about her process… She used a 100 year old large format camera with a damaged lenses. The camera is so old that requires her to use her hand as a shutter. These photographs are marked with  scratches, light leaks, and shifts in focus that are part of the photographic process. In one interview, she says that she sometimes likes that, because it creates a different portrait than what you were really trying to capture. I don’t really have a specific reason why I like her, I just do. Sometimes you just don’t need a reason to like someone, you just do.

Artist: 1000 Journals

Artist: Rick Smolan

Rick Smolan

Today I started my VSAR 302, Computer and Arts class. I feel excited and thrilled to be learning about new artist, new concepts and new ideas. This is my first blog too, so I’m very excited  to see how well I keep up with it. My last semester, my Professor’s emphasized the need and will to write, write, write! I like to think this blog is the first step to that.

We were also introduced to a photographer named Rick Smolan, who I am somewhat familiar with because of his striking images in Time magazine. As a photographer myself, I found Rick Smolan interview to be inspirational and motivating. I could relate to a lot of his stories of frustration with editors and even how being at the right time at the right moment really leads you to where you are today.