Stephanie Nelson: May 2011

PART ONE:

Leave your fears behind.
F/ 4.3
shutter speed- 10/600 sec
This photograph is from my most poorly done project, but my strongest project idea. This is my portrait project. The subject of the photograph is a person but they are holding a secret that weighs them down in front of their face. I think the lighting and the background are perfect for this image. The colors, contrast and saturation are also good. I think this photo marks a growth moment because it was the lowest grade I have gotten on a project and it made me realize I need to step it up and produce more careful, diligent work.

My eyes are blind, all I can see is your love in me
f/ 2.4
shutter speed - 10/1600 sec
This picture is something that I took for no specific project. I was just messing around and this image is a result from that. I used this as an around the block image. The subject of the photograph is Pat "Eyeball" Connell. I think the lighting and darkness of the background make this image the success that it is. The colors is really vibrant which also is something I view as a success. This is a growth moment for me because it made me realize photography is something that I actually am really interested in and perhaps will be a lifelong hobby.

City Vines
f/7.1
shutter speed - 10/1000 sec
This photo is from my Urban Decay project. The subject of the photo is the decay that you can see walking around the street of akron. I think the lighting is successful and the angle is also what makes this image pleasing. I boosted the contrast which turned this picture from dark decay to beautiful. This image was a growth moment for me because it was my favorite project I have done all semester. I really do see a lot of beauty in decay. I think Akron is a really beautiful place to live. I think that a lot of history is present behind the decay which made me even more involved and connected with the images.

I believe in free love.
f/10
shutter speed - 10/1000 sec
This is from my "Student Choice" project. The subject of this photo is supposed to be "Old Town Retro". I think that the lighting is successful because it needed to be a little bit darker to produce a retro/vintage looking image. In order to produce this image I had to watch photoshop tutorials on how to make the colors appear retro. I think that this is a success because I produced all these images after missing a week for school because I had mono. I think this image shows my dedication to photography and I also think this image shows the most about me. It reveals the most about the inner workings of stephanie nelson than any other project.

PART TWO:

1. I think that the image becomes the reality. I think that images play a huge roll in our beliefs because through the invention of photography we are able to see things on the other side of the world. We are really able to see anything with the use of photography. People always say "seeing in believing". I think when people see things like for example images of war, images of deprived nations that affects their beliefs. When people back home saw images of vietnam that affects their beliefs or faith in authority figures like the president etc. This can also work the same with religion. If people would have seen pictures of the Crusades they would have had less faith in church authority. Pictures and altering of pictures play a large roll in faith because they are able to show the stories. They are a visual representation of the good things and the bad things. Seeing is believing. I firmly believe that.

4. I really like pictures by Dorothea Lange. I think she is a very interesting women. I think that these are her ways to get her messages across to people. They always say a picture is worth a thousand words. I think that she is a news reporter at heart and this is her way of showing how people lived and she was successful because we still talk about them today and use them today. I think the wrinkles and the bags under the eyes show the stress and the hardships these people faces. I also think that the fact that it is in black and white makes it more soulful and shows pain better. I completely view this image as a success. I think the only thing that shows a "lie" is the fact that the image is glorified.

PART 3:
1. Photography is an art. I take photographs because it the best way I can represent myself artistically. I think that photography is my way of showing people inside "Stephanie Nelson" and showing them who I am and what I view as beautiful and what I want others to see as beautiful. I think photography gives the viewers a chance to see through the eyes of the photographer.
2. I think through this class I am more careful and thorough in my work. I think with the help of this class I am a lot stronger of a photographer. I have learned many techniques and strengths that have put my photography over the top.
3. I think the part of my photography that needs to still progress is working on deadlines and not procrastinating. I learned that the more I procrastinated, the worse my ideas and final product turned out. But the more time I had to take pictures and develop my ideas, the more successful I was.
4. I plan on staying active by continuing photography as my hobby throughout college. I think that the blog is really cool way to show work. I also think that I will take more photos now because I don't need to worry about deadlines and I can just freely produce my work.
5. I think after learning the techniques I learned through this class I was able to produce work that is considered "art". I think the techniques or guidelines for each project already sets us about simply photographing as a hobby. I think it puts us on a whole new level. I know that my photography has improved ten fold just from taking this class. I think photography has always been an outlet or a way that I can express myself artistically.