Thomas Mangelsen 01-25-10 Jacquelyn Nelson

I went to Breckenridge, CO a couple weeks ago and walked into Thomas Mangelsen's gallery where I was truly amazed by his large-scale prints of nature and landscapes. His photograph “Light Among the Giants” was taken of the redwood trees that were preserved by the Redwood National Park in California. I especially was drawn to this photograph because of the unique lighting that is traveling through the trees to the viewer. A light fog that gives the photograph an interesting hue dulls the back lighting. Knowing that he waited for this precise moment is captivating and I think if it were done at a different time it wouldn’t have been as successful.

jenny reagan- mark lobo

Mark lobo has very interesting eye in his photographs, most of which are ordinary things. But he makes you feel like some how you are involved in his photos and your left with the feeling of wonder. His photos are very crisp and colorful. he does well with light and composition even if the photos are uneven they have the feeling of balance. Viewing his work makes me motivated and want to go out in search of awesome artistic art pieces that i can create! you can check out his work at www.marklobo.com
check it out!!

Monica Garcia 1.24.10 Capturing the Essence

Howdy ho folks! I started thinking about all the stuff that I had to do this week and then I remembered about this blog assignment. It’s Sunday night and I’m in a panic because the Vikings and Saints game is in overtime and I’m on the edge of my seat! I did not get a chance to go to a gallery or show this past week due to my job (lame) . I decided to look up magazine articles online and found on that kind of spoke to me. I read an article on Apogee.com .

Noella Ballenger Wrote an article entitled “Seeing the Essence”, basically this article talks about “capturing” the essence and making a photograph worth while and amazing. This may sound silly but I feel like my photos don’t do that and that I don’t know how to do that better yet capture that essence. The article was a bit of one those beginner how to shoot articles but I think that it helped me understands that sometimes not all the times the photo needs to have a sense of discovery and mystery. The photographer needs to capture and inspire the viewer. The simplest thing and instructions that the article gave was angles and always taking the first shot that inspired you and made you stop to look at it.

Last semester towards my portfolio I felt as if I did accomplish this to some extent. I want to push myself further and really put myself out there and find a way to inspire and capture the essence so that not only I can relate to but others as well.

Courtney 1/24/10

This week, for my first blog, I didn't get a chance to see a show. So, next best thing....look up an artist that Libby suggests. I was looking through my syllabus and remembered that we will have some visiting artists soon. One of them is Lupita Tinnen. The first thing that came up when I googled her was her "Mourning sickness" series. This series of photos is very powerful. Shot in black and white, they portray her personal struggle with infertility. Almost all of the shots are of Lupita in varying poses that illustrate her despair. She never faces the camera, allowing other viewers to be able to fill her shoes. While she is clearly the focus of the shots, the way she uses the rooms, furniture, fabric and daily use items help drive home the idea of loss and spare-ness. Many of the shots have a window that shines brightly, almost as if to suggest hope in an other wise hopeless situation. I love all the shots of this series, but the one that keeps me looking is one that sort of looks like a double exposure. It shows her as a translucent figure standing over a counter near a sink. She appears to be almost disappearing. It is beautiful and haunting.

Windows- Apryl Corbin- 1.21.10

This photo was taken by Ralph Eugene Meatyard. Libby had mentioned him in class and I cannot express how much I am in love with this weird soul...his photos anyhow. This is one of my favorite window pictures of all time. The mystery and irritating vibration that resounds from looking at it stresses me out and makes me happy all at the same time. Not many things in this world can do that!! But when it happens...Bliss...this. The way Meatyard makes you stare at the image leaving light casts mocking the windows, it's almost as if a conversation is being held between the lights in the photograph. The way his camera shook when taking the eerie photo makes you wonder if it is a happy accident or intentional. Its just "yummy" in Libby's words. There is movement in the photo and tention in the movemet which balances to greatness. Man, I can't wait to go window shooting!

Brittany Kennedy 1/20/10 Intense Concentration

I went to the opening at the UTSA Art Gallery and the piece that caught my attention the most was by Hong Chun Zhang. He had four works hanging on the wall in which three are part of a triptych titled "Three Graces". The other is the one I favored the most called "Twister". This piece is a charcoal on paper on scroll which covers the wall from the ceiling to floor. The grand scale of the piece is what captivated me. From across the room the viewer could see exactly what the imagery was. Up close as the viewer I was captivated by the high contrast between the black, gray's, and highlights in the piece. The next captivating moment was the attention to detail in the motion. The painterly strokes added a feeling to this "Twister" which was much different then what a twister actually does. It destroys, vexes you, makes you uneasy and helpless. A natural disaster to which mankind must submit to the harsh reality. Zhang is able to captivate this well known image within a work of art and make it seem peaceful and welcoming. This artwork comes across complete. As if the story told is conveyed to the viewer without having to experience the twister and see the damage that typically comes along with this imagery. Further more the way he treated the part of the twister that touches the ground is delicate yet inviting. The viewer when walking up to the work places their eyes at eye level and is forced to view upwards then back down and the viewer is invited to keep doing that following the painterly motions of the artist strokes. This relationship between viewer and the work can at times be unsettling however as a result of the way the artist treated where the twister touches the ground the relationship is balanced.

Welcome to Spring...by Libby

Hello Advanced photo students.
This is your blog, please see the assignment sheet for details. I have left the past semester of entries online for you to peruse at your leisure. Please make sure you put your NAME in the entry title line so that I can give you credit for your weekly entries.