Artist's Statement
I mostly end up taking pictures of either nature or people i.e. my friends and sister. This is partially because these things are just convenient for me to photograph, but I also really enjoy the way the images turn out and how they work in a series. I am influenced by the culture around me and am fascinated by human interaction and the possibility of life. The colors displayed throughout nature and the emotions of humans influence me and inspire me to capture them in a specific way. I am motivated to capture a capture when there is a pop of color, an ideal moment for a candid shot, or by the way the sunlight hits a certain object. I decided to take photography because I wanted to learn how to use the professional cameras as opposed to just always using my phone. I was hesitant about Photoshop at first but I ended up really liking it and am going to miss having easy access to it.
When I take pictures, I really focus on the background and the angle I’m shooting at. Depending on the time of day and whether I’m outside or not, I also focus on how the sun casts shadows on different things and the high contrast that comes with it. Sometimes it’s different for me to get the settings right on my camera and the exposure/ lighting looks off on the pictures I take. At that point I acknowledge that I can fix this issue, more or less, on Photoshop using the curves and levels features. My favorite project(s) we had was the 3 series. I really enjoyed being able to freely pick my topic/ theme and having more flexibility with it instead of being given a specific theme. I also really enjoyed the shoot for the photographer research project because it forced you to emulate and try something new. I believe I developed the aesthetic of high contrast in my photographs. Before the photographer research project, I was never really interested in it. After shooting and editing for it, I realized I really enjoyed the way the contrast looked. I also never thought that I would get into black and white photography, just because I like my photos in color, but after this class I have a new outlook on black and white and believe it’s a good filter for select photographs/ series. When people look at my photographs, I want them to get a satisfaction out of them and understand why I shot what I did and why I edited like how I did. I also want people to connect to the emotions of the people I photograph and the mood the colors give off.
Taking pictures is important to me because it captures a moment in time that can never be replicated. Photographs also allow you to connect to your peers and the world around you while also helping you cherish memories of the past. Photographs can have the power to start a revolution or maybe just inspire someone to take photographs him or herself. Towards the end of the class, I believe I started putting more thought and effort into my work than the beginning of the semester and that is evident in what I shot and how I edited it.
I mostly end up taking pictures of either nature or people i.e. my friends and sister. This is partially because these things are just convenient for me to photograph, but I also really enjoy the way the images turn out and how they work in a series. I am influenced by the culture around me and am fascinated by human interaction and the possibility of life. The colors displayed throughout nature and the emotions of humans influence me and inspire me to capture them in a specific way. I am motivated to capture a capture when there is a pop of color, an ideal moment for a candid shot, or by the way the sunlight hits a certain object. I decided to take photography because I wanted to learn how to use the professional cameras as opposed to just always using my phone. I was hesitant about Photoshop at first but I ended up really liking it and am going to miss having easy access to it.
When I take pictures, I really focus on the background and the angle I’m shooting at. Depending on the time of day and whether I’m outside or not, I also focus on how the sun casts shadows on different things and the high contrast that comes with it. Sometimes it’s different for me to get the settings right on my camera and the exposure/ lighting looks off on the pictures I take. At that point I acknowledge that I can fix this issue, more or less, on Photoshop using the curves and levels features. My favorite project(s) we had was the 3 series. I really enjoyed being able to freely pick my topic/ theme and having more flexibility with it instead of being given a specific theme. I also really enjoyed the shoot for the photographer research project because it forced you to emulate and try something new. I believe I developed the aesthetic of high contrast in my photographs. Before the photographer research project, I was never really interested in it. After shooting and editing for it, I realized I really enjoyed the way the contrast looked. I also never thought that I would get into black and white photography, just because I like my photos in color, but after this class I have a new outlook on black and white and believe it’s a good filter for select photographs/ series. When people look at my photographs, I want them to get a satisfaction out of them and understand why I shot what I did and why I edited like how I did. I also want people to connect to the emotions of the people I photograph and the mood the colors give off.
Taking pictures is important to me because it captures a moment in time that can never be replicated. Photographs also allow you to connect to your peers and the world around you while also helping you cherish memories of the past. Photographs can have the power to start a revolution or maybe just inspire someone to take photographs him or herself. Towards the end of the class, I believe I started putting more thought and effort into my work than the beginning of the semester and that is evident in what I shot and how I edited it.