Mikal is a musician from Kansas City who is studying film at SAIC. (She is also friends with everyone in the whole world and the reason I once got to eat lunch with the amazing Eleni Mandell.)
Showing posts with label sr degree project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sr degree project. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
amy farrand
This is Thomas, Amy's ultra attention-needy cat. Whenever he was not posing in a photo with Amy, he was in my lap. I tried to pack him in my bag.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
testing the portrait
My process is partially inspired by the writings of Annie Leibovitz, as I am currently sifting through a book titled, Annie Leibovitz at Work. So far I have realized, no matter how gloriously talented a photographer may be, a portrait that truly defines the subject is no swift journey. During one of her commissioned portrait campaigns, she devoted an entire day to interviewing and researching each subject. She is of the persuasion that solely reading about the person is not enough. A one on one exchange is much more effective if truth is the pursuit.
With Annie on the brain, I met up with Taylor at her house. (I recently purchased a set of strobes, so I am officially mobile!) When she opened the door, a pretty and especially clumsy puppy attempted to give me a hug—I knew I was in the right place. This project is sort of an invasion into the lives of people, some I only know from afar.
As we sat down at her table, I grabbed my detective hat as well as a pen and paper. Vintage details everywhere—I had a hunch. My inner Sophie Calle peaked out. Should I walk around photographing objects that I find interesting and ask for a story? Should I ask her to leave the room while I take a gander and determine a possible narrative? First things first, this is the just the facts ma'am part of the project, and my word, and I would like to create a (loose definition) traditional portrait.
With Annie on the brain, I met up with Taylor at her house. (I recently purchased a set of strobes, so I am officially mobile!) When she opened the door, a pretty and especially clumsy puppy attempted to give me a hug—I knew I was in the right place. This project is sort of an invasion into the lives of people, some I only know from afar.As we sat down at her table, I grabbed my detective hat as well as a pen and paper. Vintage details everywhere—I had a hunch. My inner Sophie Calle peaked out. Should I walk around photographing objects that I find interesting and ask for a story? Should I ask her to leave the room while I take a gander and determine a possible narrative? First things first, this is the just the facts ma'am part of the project, and my word, and I would like to create a (loose definition) traditional portrait.
Taylor began explaining how she has a hard time throwing anything away. And sentimental she is, her apartment contains many inherited items from her grandmother and great grandmother. Even Taylor's cat, Calle, belonged to her grandmother. Her world revolves around family. Upon the completion of the casual interview, I waited. Surely it would happen. The sign. The one that flashes with (almost all) working bulbs with the arrow pointing towards which path to pursue. (This is beginning to become a little verbose and so I will stop now...thank you for listening.)
For this portrait study, I plan to put into practice what I have (and will) glean from studying the masters. (Those that I consider masters are defined in previous posts.) I will bathe in their processes and emerge anew. My personal goal is to collaborate with the subject and allow the processes I have learned thus far from graphic design to merge with the tests.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
initial leap
A designer’s purpose may be to educate, connect, provoke, author, facilitate. (as gleaned from advisor, Jamie Gray) Honestly, these action words will assist will keeping my project from becoming self-fulfilling mush.
Intervention
My position as a designer, is to identify a problem and intervene with a graphic design solution. Within this structure, My research experiments will consist of tests to will help narrow the topic of portrait and narrative toward a valid and concise focus.
(If I were to join the El Dorado teams my personal question may begin as: how can photographic narrative asssist with the facilitation of two separate communities?)
tests
A test will include aquiring models and photographing them (with added graphic design elements) to expand the traditional photograph to contain more layers of meaning and information. I would like the photographs to speak loudly and drip with narrative.
Felix Gonzales-Torres, Portrait of Ross
Sophie Calle, Self Portrait
Sophie Calle, The Love Letter
Lois GreenField
Lois GreenField
Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still
Annie Leibovitz
Intervention
My position as a designer, is to identify a problem and intervene with a graphic design solution. Within this structure, My research experiments will consist of tests to will help narrow the topic of portrait and narrative toward a valid and concise focus.
(If I were to join the El Dorado teams my personal question may begin as: how can photographic narrative asssist with the facilitation of two separate communities?)
tests
A test will include aquiring models and photographing them (with added graphic design elements) to expand the traditional photograph to contain more layers of meaning and information. I would like the photographs to speak loudly and drip with narrative.
I will refer to those whom I look up to as portrait masters to keep my work in check:
Felix Gonzales-Torres, Portrait of Ross
Sophie Calle, Self Portrait 
Sophie Calle, The Love Letter
Lois GreenField
Lois GreenField
Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still
Annie Leibovitz
Mapplethorpe, William Burroughs
Mapplethorpe, Self Portrait
Mapplethorpe, Self PortraitSoul Search
Project Proposal
I entered art school with a longing to photograph truth; Initially I aspired to pursue, cut and dry, photojournalism. And then I happened upon photographers such as Nan Golden who understood photography as an opportunity to reveal portraits of the less palatable side of truth—a photojournalistic biography of the underbelly and the so-called freaks. Another inspiration is Sophie Calle, who includes photography and typography within her autobiographical (though often fictitious) story-telling accounts. Cindy Sherman has also emerged as a source of inspiration, especially her invented identities and egos within the series titled, Untitled Film Stills. I have come to the conclusion, photography carries much broader potential for narrative injections.
My need for this project is to pursue my deep unquenchable passions. Photography is a defining force for me; I feel most at ease when behind a camera, (not to mention in front of the camera.) And I now consider the marriage of graphic design with photography and opportunity to dive into the world of fine art.
I am longing to position my project around the portrait. The reasons for this are many; I am captivated by the soul penetrating portraiture of such artists as Man Ray, Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Felix Gonzales-Torres, as well as the autobiographical and ego/alter ego exploration others such as of Cindy Sherman, Sophie Calle, Nan Golden, Pipilotti Rist…. After being exposed to rhetoric possibilities, I feel like a secret weapon ready to am and fire at photographic narrative pursuits.
Social Objectives
For my social objective, I would like to encourage others to reconsider the idea surrounding the portrait as a possibility to to flavor with narrative and layers of meaning. Truth is not always the goal. The addition of graphic design elements will serve to complement as well as contradict narrative. In my opinion, the existing view of the portrait is occasionally a simple and carelessly rendered smile and cheese, in and out experience. I am thirsting for more.
Messages
My primary message would be to communicate that the incorporation of graphic design to a portrait can elevate the narrative. I long to expand and contradict the real or perceived “truth” surrounding the image.
Audience
My “concerned” audience would include art enthusiasts and those that frequent the art show scene, as a longing for this project would be a gallery show.
Communication Strategies
For this project to function, I will require interesting personalities—models. I will employ experimental methods of graphic design that include topics of rhetoric to expand the idea surrounding the portrait.
Competitive Landscape
The competitive landscape includes high profile photographers and artists that will serve as both inspiration as well as a leaping point to test and combine possible methods.
I entered art school with a longing to photograph truth; Initially I aspired to pursue, cut and dry, photojournalism. And then I happened upon photographers such as Nan Golden who understood photography as an opportunity to reveal portraits of the less palatable side of truth—a photojournalistic biography of the underbelly and the so-called freaks. Another inspiration is Sophie Calle, who includes photography and typography within her autobiographical (though often fictitious) story-telling accounts. Cindy Sherman has also emerged as a source of inspiration, especially her invented identities and egos within the series titled, Untitled Film Stills. I have come to the conclusion, photography carries much broader potential for narrative injections.
My need for this project is to pursue my deep unquenchable passions. Photography is a defining force for me; I feel most at ease when behind a camera, (not to mention in front of the camera.) And I now consider the marriage of graphic design with photography and opportunity to dive into the world of fine art.
I am longing to position my project around the portrait. The reasons for this are many; I am captivated by the soul penetrating portraiture of such artists as Man Ray, Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Felix Gonzales-Torres, as well as the autobiographical and ego/alter ego exploration others such as of Cindy Sherman, Sophie Calle, Nan Golden, Pipilotti Rist…. After being exposed to rhetoric possibilities, I feel like a secret weapon ready to am and fire at photographic narrative pursuits.
Social Objectives
For my social objective, I would like to encourage others to reconsider the idea surrounding the portrait as a possibility to to flavor with narrative and layers of meaning. Truth is not always the goal. The addition of graphic design elements will serve to complement as well as contradict narrative. In my opinion, the existing view of the portrait is occasionally a simple and carelessly rendered smile and cheese, in and out experience. I am thirsting for more.
Messages
My primary message would be to communicate that the incorporation of graphic design to a portrait can elevate the narrative. I long to expand and contradict the real or perceived “truth” surrounding the image.
Audience
My “concerned” audience would include art enthusiasts and those that frequent the art show scene, as a longing for this project would be a gallery show.
Communication Strategies
For this project to function, I will require interesting personalities—models. I will employ experimental methods of graphic design that include topics of rhetoric to expand the idea surrounding the portrait.
Competitive Landscape
The competitive landscape includes high profile photographers and artists that will serve as both inspiration as well as a leaping point to test and combine possible methods.
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