#16 Darren Pearson

After watching the short video in class, go to his web page HERE

1) Pick your favorite image and explain what inspires you or makes you curious when you look at it.

2) What types of ideas do you get for your own long exposure photos after looking at these images?

#15 Klaus Pichler

Klaus Pichler - "Just the Two of Us"

1) Check out the series of portraits by Klaus Pichler Here. Pick one that stands out to for some reason. Describe what catches your eye in this image.

2) What information can we gather about this individual when we look at their costume and the way they're photographed in their surrounding environment?

3) If you could have an incredibly elaborate costume of your choice, what would the costume be?

#14 Double Exposures

James Fitzgerald - Double Exposures

1) Describe how you think this artist created these shots. 

2) What's your reaction to these shots, do they evoke a particular emotion or mood?

3) Given that this will be a photoshop assignment, what ideas do you have to create your own "double exposure" effect in photoshop?

#13 James and Shauna!

James and Shawna - Wedding Photos - By Brenton Salo 

(Note: This is a wedding shot by my friend Brenton and the couple featured are my close friends James and Shauna)

1) Describe to me what types of portrait photography Brenton covered in the above images (think about the categories I introduced Friday. Feel free to cheat and look on the website at the assignment)? Explain.

2) Which is your favorite and why? Describe the mood that your favorite image conveys and how it does that visually.

#12 Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy 

1) After looking at these images, how would you describe this artist's work? Is he a sculptor, a photographer, both? Explain.

2) Does Andy's work fit into the category of still life? Are his photo's interesting and engaging? Explain what catches your eye (or doesn't).

3) What do you think he's trying to say with his work?  

#11 John Batho

Go to John's webpage HERE and check out the series "Photocolore".

1) Describe John Bathos' approach to still life. What art element is he placing emphasis on in these images?

2) Now navigate down to the series "Colour Froide". Again, what stands out in how he handled still life in these photos? How did he edit these?

3) How might you apply John's style in your own work?

#10 Meatgrinder

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

1) Pick the photo that stands out to you as the strongest composition. Explain why you think it's stronger than the rest?

2) What are the two most important compositional considerations should you take into account when you're working with still life subjects?

3) How could you set up a similar situation and get similar results here in class or at home?

#9 STILL LIFE

Giorgio Morandi 

Pablo Picasso

Vermeer

Juan Gris

1) Above are a variety of historically important painters who excelled in their representation of found objects in the medium of paint. This study of objects, known as "still life", is a long standing tradition in the fine arts. Why do you think almost every artist in history (including photographers) has used still life as a study in their work?

2) Which painting is your favorite? Explain what strikes you in terms of their style and composition. 

3) What historical time-period would you place your favorite piece in? What gives you that idea?

#8 David Bayles

Go to David Bayle's website HERE and look at his series of photos titled, the "Urban Forest".

1) What types of things is David interested in depicting here in this series?

2) What is something visually / conceptually consistent in this series of photos that stands out to you?

2) What do you think David's point was when capturing these images? Was there some driving intention, or are these just strange images of trees?

#7 Smithsonian Photo Contest

1) Look through these photos HERE and pick one that stands out to you. Vote for one of the finalists below!

2) Explain what makes the photo interesting or inspiring for you to look at in terms of its subject and/or its composition.

#6 Ezra Stoller

1) Above are a series of photos from famous architectural photographer Ezra Stoller. Describe what stands out when looking at these images of the built environment in terms of composition and/or the elements and principles of design.

2) Pick your favorite image and explain why it gives you inspiration. If none of these inspire you, explain why.

3) Would these photos have the same results if they were in color? Why or why not?

#5 Andreas Gursky and Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams - Moon Over Half Dome - 1960

Ansel Adams - Jeffry Pine

Andreas Gursky - Bahrain - 1987

Andreas Gursky - Swimming Pool - 1987

1. In world of art and photography, we talk about “conventional” versus “unconventional” imagery. What’s the difference in your mind?
2. How would you describe these two photographers, conventional or unconventional? What makes them fall into those categories?
3. Pick your favorite. Describe what you like most about the photo and the artists’ depiction of the landscape in terms of composition and/or the elements and principles.

#4 Klaus Leidorf

"Remember Summertime" - Klaus Leidorf

Go HERE to see more photos.

1. What are we looking at here? Photographs, paintings? explain.
2. Pick your favorite from this collection and describe what the subject is and what's compositionally strong about the image. 
3. Describe what elements and principles you can see in the image you chose as your favorite (if you’ve forgotten what these are, look over on the wall to the right of the window).

#3 Eva Besnyo

Starnberger Street - 1931

Untitled (Vertigo #3)

1. Look at these photos by Eva Besnyo and describe what compositional technique stands out to you as the strongest in both photos.
2. Is there more than one technique that she’s working with? What other techniques or elements/principles of visual art do you notice?
3. Which piece is your favorite and why?

#2 Marcel Duchamp + Edward Weston

"Fountain" (readymade installation) - 1917 - Marcel Duchamp

"Excusado", 1926 - Edward Weston

The first image at the top of the page is a piece installed by artist Marcel Duchamp in 1917. It was a piece meant to be displayed alongside paintings and drawings in a prestigious art society exhibit, but was denied exhibition. 

1) Explain why you think the "fountain" was denied exhibition and what you think Marcel's point was with his "readymade sculpture"?

Here is a similar image, a photograph made by photographer Edward Weston. 

2) Describe what you see in this image in terms of compositional technique and/or the art elements. 

3) Now go a bit further and explain what you think the artist's intentions were when capturing this image. Is this a worthwhile object to photograph with a camera? Explain.

#1 Joseph Niepce

"View from the Window at Le Gras" - 1826

Illustration of a Camera Obscura

This is thought to be the earliest recorded photographs Created by Joseph Niepce (a French inventor) using one of the very earliest forms of the camera called the "camera obscura". This grainy, crude image was an attempt to capture the view from outside his apartment window and took about eight hours to capture! This marks the beginning of the revolution of photography, but also the development of all the visual arts (drawing, painting, etc.) towards a modernism.

1) What's your first reaction to this first photograph? Does it make sense to you?

2) How does this photo remind you in a crude way of modern art?

3) Do you think the world we know today with the internet (facebook, instagram, etc.) would exist without this guy's invention?