Artist Statement

My digital photography portfolio has many different projects that I worked on in class. It starts all the from the beginning of the semester. These projects were crucial in my learning in this class. They helped me develop my skills one bit at a time. As you can see the way my recent projects came out.

I feel like this portfolio was a unique way to show my masterpieces. They seemed to come out really good. I also had some feedback from my fellow classmates and Miss Cook. They helped me to adjust and think in different ways on how to do my things. Overall the portfolio was a great way to hear people’s opinions and learn from my mistakes.

I have learned many things over the course of this semester. I had the chance to use some of my skills from the first two quarters. Some cool and new things that I had the chance to learn were Shutter Speed, ISO, and Metering. By using these new techniques I was able to enhance my photos into coming out better. I feel like if I was the most successful with using the ISO. It’s a great way to bring light into the picture.

I had many struggles with my photos. It’s just the thought process that I have a hard time with. There are days were it is hard to come up with different pictures and ideas because of the environment. But there are many other times were things just pop up in my head and make them a little easier. But other than that I feel like if I have mastered most of the things in Photoshop.

What influenced me the most was trying to make my pictures a little bit more unique but to also capture my personality. I have seen the growth in my picture taking abilities and the angles I take my pictures in. Being in this class has made my picture taking skill to another level. Seeing the feedback from other people has made me learned. Having this portfolio just showed me how I progressed.

Adjustment Layer

Self Portraits

I wanted to express the type of person that I am. My ideas did change a little but most of it stayed the same. What makes my self portraits creative is that I came up with them from the top of my head. The color of all my self portraits makes the pictures seem more dramatic. Doing this was a bit difficult but not as much as I thought.

I specifically set up all of my pictures. I felt like if I was a photographer in a way. None of the pictures were taken on accident. I actually for once came up with all of them. I tried to use the rule of thirds a lot but there was only one picture were I made it more dramatic. I think my Light portrait was the best because it has great lighting and its very unique. I wouldn’t change any composition on my pictures.

I think my photographs craftsmanship came out perfect. None of my pictures to me seem too blurry or too dark. I did not use any of the camera settings that we have learned because they came out perfect. The strengths of my craftsmanship has to be the type of settings and lighting.

I believe my portraits came out just fine. I’m happy with how they came out. I did well in the overall settings and moods of the pictures. My favorite shot has to be the light portrait. I liked the mood that it gives you and I am sure people can relate to that. I didn’t have a least favorite. I would give myself a good grade simply because of how my pictures make you feel.

ISO

The picture on the top was taken with a flash and as you can see the lights on the background are hardly lit because of the strong light from the flash. The second picture was taken at ISO50 and it came out a little dark. The last picture was taken at ISO5000 and it came out the bast due to the high ISO.

Light Metering

In this assignment we were suppose to take a picture using metering. On the dark photo I first focused in on just the screen so it became my main point and it came of clear. Then on the other picture I first focused in on my partner then backed away and took the picture. By doing that, it made the first thing that i focused on the main point. This is important because If you need to take a good picture of anything or anyone then you want your main target to turn out good.

Personal Metaphor

I chose that specific metaphor because I was feeling hungry at the time. I am always hungry so it fit me perfect. Not only did I feel hungry at the time, I always have a big appetite. Kind of like a bear. Putting the bear there and the whole background made the picture seem more dramatic. The mood that I was trying to capture was that of a bear that doesn’t care about anything when they are hungry and will eat whatever.
I specifically placed things were I did because of the whole theme that I was trying to reveal. I don’t really have a strong focal area because I basically just try to make the environment seem as a place where you see something unique but at the same time get the point. My composition is balanced due to the way that I showed how big my appetite was. My image felt sort of unified because everything fit in almost well.
I really think that I did nothing well because of the way the whole picture looks. I know I could have done better. It was difficult adjusting the lighting on the picture and blending them all in. I did not like my picture and I would do it again.

The Aesthetic Experience

The experience that I had when I was by the cup was a very fast one. I didnt feel excited or anything like that. I felt a little dirty because I don't like seeing colored water. But at the same time I liked the color of the water. Other than that I didnt realy feel anything else.

Movie Moments

Inspired by Cindy Sherman, a contemporary photographer who took photos of herself staring in movies that never existed.
Movie Tittle: Better Days
Movie Genre: Drama
Movie Summary:
Better Days is a movie about an eighteen year old girl named Gloria. She comes from a very disturbed and abusive family. Her entire life has been a struggle. As her teen years progress she gets worse and worse. She hangs around with the wrong crowd and gets involved in crimes and even drugs. She then looses focus at school and gets suspended. After getting suspended from school she decides to leave her house. While she’s living out on the streets her best friend from childhood dies from an overdose. Will this horrible experience help Gloria to try and change her ways? Or will she continue to live a bad life?

Chocolate Frog

For Valentines Day we turned frogs into chocolate. I thought this project was very cool and I learned how to blend colors together into making a smooth surface on the frog. I learned how to use the smudge tool to make the dripping effect on the frog.

Shadows And Reflections

In these exercises we learned how to create shadows and reflections to help us make more realistic artwork. A new tool we learned was layer masks. The things we learned here can help me in the future be making realistic shadows that can actualy blend in with the background. Also, it can help me into making perfect reflections.

Graduation

In this project all the digital photography classes were asigned to make a graduation cover for the graduating class of 2008.

Student Handbook

In this project our class was asigned to make a student handbook for the upcoming freshmen class of 2008-2009.

Aged Photo

In this project we used one of our frame photographs to practice using photoshop to create specific effects.

Balance With Frames

In this project we were given a frame. We had to use it in our composition. We also had to be in our photo, but not necessarily in the center. It was to be black-and-white, and we needed to create a sense of visual balance. I created balance by having bright light and strong shadows in the pictures.

Random Object

We were each assigned a random object to photograph. We could choose to have it in color or blach-and -white. We were to focus on the three C's(Creativity, Craftsmanship, and Composition). According to my peers, one thing I did well was on the craftsmanship of the photo and the placement of the object. One thing they suggested I work on was the angle of the photo. I agree with what they suggested because now that I see other student's perspective I could have done a better job in the angle of the photo so the theme could have been stronger.

Egg Challenge

In this project each student was given an egg to photograph. We were to tak a photo in both color and black-and-white. We were suppose to exemplify one or more of the following: Creativity, Craftsmanship, or Composition. I believe my Black-and White photo was the most successful because It showed definite shape and it came out unique. I believe it was very creative even though the egg on the color picture looked as if it was drinking water.

My Favorite Project From Last Semester

This is my phobia project. I was trying to capture what I fear when I am sleeping. I liked this project because it was fun and I got to be creative. I did well in blending in all of the clowns into the background and making them look scary.

Last Semester