AT21.1 Hybrid Photography

So over Spring break I had an Analogue assignment to shoot a roll of colour film on any theme I wanted. Unfortunately, it didn't end up as 'themed' as I originally planned and would of liked!

For the first half of my spring break I ended up not being able to do anything as I was recovering from having my wisdom teeth out, so when it came to shooting this assignment it was Thursday and I realized I'd picked up the wrong film! Uh Oh! Luckily, my star of a mum went and got me a roll of the correct film so I could still get it shot! 

So it came to Friday when I was planning to shoot and lone behold, it was miserable weather and raining! :o( As it was forecast to rain all week, I decided to have my theme as 'in my house' and started to snap a few shots. Saturday came and I hadn't finished the roll by any means, and luckily for me the sun decided to come out! I decided then to take my camera everywhere I went on Saturday and shoot things that I came across throughout the day. Theme therefore entitled 'A mish mash of things from Katy's Saturday' haha!

I'm just glad I got the roll shot!

These are 3 images that I took when I went out for lunch with my mum and Liam.

Shot on colour film, scanned onto my mac and enhanced in LR.

Liam standing in the road

Coffee at Stella's

Reading Uptown

Katy

x

Movie Week Extravaganza!

So, this past week at school was movie week, in which we had a bit of downtime (and when I say downtime, I don't mean it was relaxing or any less stressful than any other week lol! 'Relaxing' and 'not stressful' are not words that you will find in the 'Prairieview dictionary'!) It was, however, a time to have a bit of fun with fellow PVers and enjoy (or not, as some cases may be) some photo-related movies. As always, there was a catch, and this catch is what you are now reading! We had to write a review on each of the movies we watch and blog them!

So, here goes, here are my reviews for the three movies I watched!

O' Brother Where Art Thou?

Now I think I was only one of few who didn't really enjoy this movie! Maybe it was for the fact that I don't have a crush on George Clooney, find it hard to understand the amazingly thick southern American accents that each character adopted, or just simply because I found the story line quite boring, but either way it just wasn't, as we english say, 'my cuppa tea'!

The thing that I did find interesting about this movie was the way in which it was shot and processed. Having watched a short interview on the 'dvd extra's footage', it was explained how the colour balancing on the movie was changed on every frame to give it the mood and atmosphere the director/producers wanted. The whole movie was very much on the yellow side of the colour scale, with lots of warm tones, which I thought really emphasised the heat. This was especially effective, I found, in the opening scene, where it faded from black and white, into colour as the scene progresses. In this scene, there is a chain gang of convicts working outside and the colour balancing really adds the sense of how hot, tiring and uncomfortable it would have been for them. 

So, on the whole, the most compelling aspect, for me, with this movie, was the cinematography and the general look of the film.

Pecker

Second movie of the week, was Pecker. Probably one of the weirdest and most random films I've ever watched! Words can't really describe this movie, other than "I Love You more than Kodak!" BEST line in the entire movie! Only a passionate photographer could 'love someone more than kodak!' Maybe I should try that line on my boyfriend, perhaps "I love you more than Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop" would be enough to show my affection! Because let's face it, in today's photographic industry with digital taking over the world, Adobe products are pretty much the equivalent love for a digital photographer, to Peckers love for Kodak film!

As much as I found this movie extremely random, I did find a lot of good moral points within it, from the fact that money and fame can ruin someone's passion and also ruin a lot of other things in people's lives, to the fact that there is a thin line between art and photography capturing the 'truth' and what is simply perceived as the truth! It raised awareness to the fact that as a photographer, you have to be careful with who you are taking photos of and where these images are being used, and whether of not you have the subjects consent to publicly display the images, as this could have consequences (and not always good ones!).

Overall, I think this film portrayed the passion that some people show for art and photography and how sometimes this passion is used for good, and other times, just to exploit people. 

One Hour Photo

My favourite movie of the week!! I had seen it before, as I own in on DVD, but I think it's a fantastic film, therefore, I found watching it again very enjoyable! 

In general, it is a very creepy film, and certainly would make you think twice about taking your film to be developed at a one-hour place, like Walmart or Shoppers, just incase you found out that you are being stalked by the extremely lonely guy that does all your developing! Overall for me, I find this film less creepy and more just really sad! Sad to think that someone could be that lonely that they revolve their life around watching someone else's life unfold through their family photos.

I also find it very interesting the way in which the scenes are filmed and the producers choice of lenses and colour balance. For example, I think that the way in which the scenes with Robin Williams character 'Si', on his own, are filmed with a long lens, creating a shallower depth of field and therefore, isolating him as the point of focus in the 'frame' is a really good way to reflect the emotional state of the character and really depicts his loneliness. 

Asides from the creepy, yet sad story line, I think this movie also represents how much photography can mean to some people, but also that typically, for most, photos only ever capture positive and happy moments, the good memories, never the negative things in life. Is photography therefore, really a true representation of what's happening in people's lives? I find this film raises questions about certain morals and situations, that's for sure.

Until next time...

Katy

Out of this world!!

So I haven't blogged in a while, so thought I'd share some recent work with you.

I can't say this was my favourite assignment (sorry Sarah!), and my ideas were lacking! I found it really hard to come up with ideas to create 'Space' images. I think, however, that I managed to pull off some good work, despite the creative block! 

I've been working hard all day on these 3 images, and I know there are some areas that can be improved (my PS skills are still developing, so don't be too critical on my errors please! Lol. Photo-manipulation isn't quite my thing!)

In order to achieve the final results on the following images, I began by photographing 3 different things, then I used PS to manipulate the images to create a 'Space' effect.

Let me know your thoughts! :o)

Katy

xxx

People and Pets :o)

Hey People,

So sorry my blog entry's are few and far between lately! My life is so hectic these days that I rarely have time to sit down and blog!

Right now I'm not feeling so well, so I've had to rain check on going out for the evening and I've been chilling at home in the warm instead! 

In order to try and keep some sanity, whilst at home, depressed about not being able to go out on the town, I've been playing around with the studio lights that I've borrowed from school. 

This evening my dog has been the only willing person to 'model' for me haha, but I did manage to rope my mum and dad in for a few shots too!

Here are my 2 fave shots! 

Not bad for a studio light beginner, I'd say! Makes me want my own lighting kit coz I know I'm gonna miss it when I don't have it at home! lol.

Anyway, hope to do some more shooting with the lights over the weekend, so i'll keep you posted :o)

Katy

xxx

Dorothy!

'Dorothy' is a series of images I've been working on for a Creative Imaging assignment.

The brief was basically that I had to produce a body of work that had a narrative - a beginning, middle and end. It had to be at least 5 images and it could be anything I liked! Fiction, non-fiction, a recreation of a story... anything!

I chose to base my work on 'The Wizard of Oz'! I have a HUGE love for anything related to the 'Wizard of Oz' so I had a lot of fun shooting this and a lot of ideas! 

It was challenging trying to work in the freezing winnipeg winter temperatures and Janine was a TROOPER modeling for me in the 'outdoors' images! I faced a few challenges and limitations while shooting, so I would love to attempt this series again sometimes, maybe in a warmer month! lol! 

Overall, my version of the story is based on the character of Dorothy, as opposed to being a recreation of the whole story. I wanted to represent Dorothy's experience with the 'witch' alone, and in this instance didn't include the 'scarecrow', 'tin man' or 'cowardly lion' characters. Again, this was due to time, weather and model limitations! I really hope I can work on this series again in order to work on these shots as well.... so watch this space!!!

The Storm

The Wicked Witch is Dead

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Hello My Pretty

Trapped

Dorothy Escapes

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!

There's No Place Like Home

Goodbye 2009...Hello 2010

DT13.2 Blogging Non-School Related Photos

So Christmas break is over and what a great break it has been!! After a crazy few months of photography school I think I got to the point where I needed a break! Not that the photography stopped of course... oh no, lots of assignments have kept me busy in that department! 

But asides from all the assignment shooting, what else have I been up to you ask?! Well, I'll tell you... not a lot! lol! 

I genuinely have been just taking it easy and chilling out at home a lot of the time (oh, when I haven't been at work earning some cash!). 

I haven't been a complete hermit however, and I have dragged out into the cold, blistering Winnipeg weather a few times. 

The first couple of images I'd like to share with you are from a shoot that I done with my sister and her boyfriend, (who has been over from England visiting). Now, my sister wanted some cute/cool couple shots of them, so off we trotted to The Forks where we wandered around, played in the snow and I, as usual, snapped away! Here are 2 of my favourite couple shots:

Harriet and Stuart

Harriet and Stuart

Another snow day that I endured, was with my family and some family friends, tobogganing down a hill!! Now, I was so busy shooting, I only went down the hill once myself, however, I was having great fun watching everyone else! My dad in particular was hilarious, suddenly he was 10 years old and sliding face first on his belly on the sled down the hill! haha! Next thing I knew, someone else was jumping on his back and 2 of them were sliding face first down the snowy hill! The other highlight of the day, again presented to me by my dad, was when he tried to push my sister down the hill, but managed to get his foot caught on the rope of the sled and he tripped backwards and landed on his back in a heap on the floor! I actually think I almost peed myself with laughter whilst trying to get an 'in focus' shot of the event! haha! dont worry though, I didn't pee myself! lol! Anyway, it was a right laugh and here are some of my fave shots from the day:

Tammy about to push my dad face first down the hill in a race again Shawn on the yellow sled.

My Mum and Dad, in fits of laughter might I add!

My Dad on the floor after he fell over haha - is it mean to laugh?!! 

The main event of the holidays... CHRISTMAS DAY itself!! 

My Christmas day was spent at home with the family, there were 7 of us in total, Me, my boyfriend Liam, Mum, Dad, Sister Harriet, Sister's boyfriend Stuart and Catherine, a Chinese student who is living with us in a 'home-stay' while she is studying at the U of M. It was Catherine's first ever Christmas, as they don't celebrate it in China so it was good fun being able to exchange gifts with her and enjoy a delicious christmas dinner with her! Hopefully she enjoyed it as much as my family and I did! Here are some of my shots from Christmas Day:

Our lovely Christmas tree

The Family (plus Catherine) - (L-R Dad, Harriet, Stuart, Catherine, Me, Liam, Mum)

I set this up then put on the self timer and had to run around the table without slipping over on the wooden floor to get to my seat before the photo was taken!! A Challenge!!

My yummy Christmas Dinner, Starter course - Prawn Cocktail! - I don't know if this is something that's eaten in Canada, but its my starter every year!!

Oh and finally, how could I almost forget; at the beginning of the break, myself, Laura and Janine went out shooting together. We got in the car and basically just drove, looking for things to shoot. It was typical though that it was like -40degrees with windchill the day we went out! I swear I almost died! We were all wrapped up in our snow suits, basically we looked like we were about to go snowboarding down a mountain! BUT even being wrapped up it was STILL cold!! We were jumping out of the car, taking a few shots, then running back into the car to warm up! Crazy times, but kinda fun still! Here are a couple of shots from our little adventure!:

Laura freezing her backside off setting up her shot!

Janine Posing on the car

All in all, I had great break! I didn't go away anywhere or do much really, but I had fun with my family, regained some energy that I'd burnt during the last few months and worked hard on assignments. All in all, a nice end to 2009!

Welcome, 2010!!!

xxx

AT 11.2 Karsh Assignment

Karsh Critique

Tennessee Williams, 1956.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Winnipeg Art Gallery with my school to see the Karsh Exhibition. I really enjoyed it and found his work fascinating! Each of his portraits were very strong and stood out, but one in particular that I was drawn to, was the Tennessee Williams portrait (shown above).

First of all, I love how he uses the rule of thirds in his composition and how Tennessee Williams is looking out of the frame. His eyes create and implied line which then leads me to look around the frame to see what else is going on. I think Karsh captures Williams personality in this image by having his typewriter in the shot - he is a writer, therefore this would have been a very important tool of his. Also he has a glass of Scotch, which again tells me something about his personality. 

Other than the general composition of the image, Karsh's use of lighting was incredible. His use of shadows and highlights, to me, seemed perfect. I love how he captures the smoke from Williams cigarette, which creates a real atmosphere within the image. I like the contrast in the image and how the background is really dark, so I, the viewer, am not distracted by anything in the background, as there is nothing to distract me. The focus is completely on Tennessee Williams and Karsh has perfectly situated Williams belongings in front of him, therefore, they are a part of the scene, not a distraction.

I would imagine, that in order to enhance this image to how we see it today, Karsh would have used different darkroom techniques to make the image look its best. I find it really difficult to analyse the darkroom techniques , but the first thing that popped into my head regarding his possible use of darkroom techniques was dodging and burning. Obviously, his use of lighting would have an initial affect on the highlights and shadows of the image, but I also think that he would have burned and dodged in areas to make certain areas even lighter or even darker to get his final desired effect. I also think that he would have used some magenta when developing the print, in order for the contrast to look the way it does. If he hadn't used any, I feel that the image would have looked a little flatter.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition and it only made my love for portraiture stronger! Im not sure my darkroom skills will ever reach the level of Karsh, but I will certainly keep on trying.