Mary Ellen Mark and Emmet Gowin

I really enjoyed our story time last week, it was fun to gather around and see pictures straight from the book instead of blurred on the projector. Technology really has gone too far on that one.

All of the photographers we were shown had their different characteristics and looks, but two of them stood out a bit more for me. 

Mary Ellen Mark was nearly my favorite - there really are no "favorites" yet - because her photographs were so real. Real life. Real choices. I loved the images she captured of the circuses; they had a certain mood to them. I don't know how to describe them...kind of sad and yet content. They allow viewers to see beyond the entertaining aspect of these people's lives. I was fixated on one photo when it turned up, though. It was of a pregnant teenager going into labor leaning against a bathroom wall. It was so perfect, which is a strange word for the situation, but the expression on her face told you how her last nine months have been emotionally.

I also enjoyed the works of Emmet Gowin. I think his are less emotional to me, but rather I appreciate and admire his use of subject matter, composition, and what it's all about: lighting. His portraits especially are so serene, and he really captured the moment he intended. I especially liked the peephole photos, with the different distortions and shadows, and the fact that he composed them so well despite the difficulties he must have had. Comparing my simple beginner's problems with the first assignment - dealing with lighting, my camera's settings, and posing - to his photographs intimidates me and makes me want to get better.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Watching the documentary about Henri Cartier-Bresson was...interesting? Frankly, it could not keep my attention. Maybe it was the dim lights or the serene music, but I found that I had a hard time keeping focused on the projection. I could not tell you anything about the video except that it was in black and white most of the time.
 
Even so, upon further investigation I found that Cartier was much more interesting than the video let on. His photographs are spectacular in that they truly capture the essence of life. Many portraits may show a person, but few reach the point where viewers want to know more about that person. To me, Cartier's photos are narratives of those people and of their environment, and viewers are able to reach a personal level and relate to them. Who are these people, and what is their story?

I love the concept of snapshots and how powerful they can be if done properly. Some criticize it, saying they aren't really "photographs" but I think that if I was able to look at a scene, pick out a composition regardless of external obstacles, and still take a beautiful photo showing exactly what life is really like, I would do it. (Then sign it on the bottom right and price it at $10,000.)

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 Hello all! Arielle McMahon, here.

I'm a sophomore taking my first photography class, and this here blog will showcase my attempts at doing so. It's a bit nerve-wracking at first because I literally know nothing about cameras other than pointing at something and clicking. Oh, and changing from automatic flash to none at all. My manual will become my best friend.

Even so, I am ready to begin the madness! Everything I hear in this course will be new to me, I will have everything to gain from it, and I hope to absorb as much as possible. Spongy.

Right this second, as I look through the My Pictures folder on my laptop, I have nothing to show but self-portraits with friends and family at my side, sky shots, and a frog that suctioned itself to a parking meter. Freddie is awesome, but I want him to be blown away by even more epic photos from this course.

Just the act of knowing how to use a camera correctly, and being able customize the settings according to what I need, will help me become a better designer. Composition is key, no matter what. I may not be completely decided on which branch of design I'd like to major in, but being able to take professional pictures of my designs and drawings will be infinitely helpful.

I want to be able to appreciate my surroundings, because the prettiest pictures I've ever seen are of the most common settings and objects. I want to be able to make a shovel look beautiful.

McMahon out.