Thankful

This research project has really increased my passion for photography. It has made me want to achieve better in my prints and the skills I need to make them with the best quality. With reviewing the determination showed by other photographers, I do believe I can become much more dedicated to this hobby of mine.The research was kind of difficult to locate, but they connected when I discovered them. I do wish I could of found more in detail the processes of how some of these inventions were put together, but I can always do that on my spare time. I also like the idea of doing a research paper in website form because I believe it entails more effort than just writing a 3 page paper. I would strongly suggest that teachers use this technique more often in today's society. Technology grows each and every day, so we become more comfortable with it. Plus, it will reduce the usage of printer paper that we plaster words that seem to have little interest in the matter. If you're going to teach someone, you might as well make it enjoyable. This project was an unique experience that will travel with me past this year. Thank you Mrs. Stoklosa!

My Wikispace

     To go further into my research, I've been assigned to create a wikispace to project my findings and the final conclusion. While exploring my resources, I've discovered things I never even knew about! I was shocked to come across a timeline through National Geographic that went back all the way to 1826! It displays how much technology has allowed this specific field to blossom as the years go on. To think we have had digital cameras for 11 years now still amazes me. The thought of color being available almost 200 years ago seems impossible, but these photographers and scientists never gave up. These advancements show great determination of reaching goals!  But if you want to learn more, visit my wikispace by clicking on the link below. 


http://fineartphoto.wikispaces.com/

Photography Professor Speaks Of Her Love

       Elaine Mayes has immensely surprised me with her decades of dedication to the arts - photography being her major favorite! Her lively passion for photography began in the 1960's. She describes seeing a scenery as using your eyes, heart, and mind all together to create the captured image. Mayes started her hobby off by just traveling around and shooting locations and people that grasped her interest. She became so addicted, that she traveled to New York from LA to see abnormal sites. Mayes not only took pictures of averages joes, but of famous musicians like Jimi Hendrix. Elaine's main purpose or outlook was to freeze the nature of a person's environment. I think she did a fantastic job at it. Take a look for yourself!!!

http://vimeo.com/7577395


Mayes, E (Videographer). (2009). Hampshire College | Tashmoo Lecture Series: Seeing, Conceptual Art and Transformation [Web]. Available from http://vimeo.com/7577395

A Woman Determined To Change A Notorious Cliche

       I was completing my daily Youtube search when I search photography debates, and came across a girl named Natasha Noorani. Within the first minute of her speech, I was stunned by her courage to speak up for the status of photography in her home country of Pakistan. Photography was mainly used as a way of taking pictures of personal moments, like weddings or birthdays, but Noorani saw photography in a totally different point of usage. She believes that photography can support change in Pakistan, and decrease the stereotypes they face daily from individuals around the world. So, in order to accomplish this risky, courageous task, Noorani created a website with a friend that she believes to show the true colors of her country. In the video, she admits that some images aren't the most joyful, but not everything in Pakistan is horrid. Her images travel in various ways from the depth of face expressions to colorful landscapes that we wouldn't think as an ordinary location in the Middle East. Natasha Noorani finished her lecture on these terms - " The only way you change how the world sees you is if you do it yourself." Cheers to Natasha Noorani for standing up against stereotypes!

Noorani, n. (2011, March 27). Tedxkinnaird - natasha noorani - your world through a new lens. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e213D_mbt98

A World-Wide Interaction

     I truly thankful that my English 2 Honors teacher, Mrs. Stoklosa, presented me with this specific article published in The New York Times Magazine called 'Capturing a Single Moment Of Perfect Stillness'. Written by A.O. Scott, this piece goes in depth on how technology of different genres has given us the ability to capture almost every single event inn some one's lifetime. Scott also goes to explain that many people in this modern era have lost the connection of memories in these personal images by relying all on technology's glory. Throughout the passage, Scott also questions the judgement of another writer - Susan Sontag, who appears to be famous for a written a piece named 'On Photography'. If I were to debate against one's opinion, it would have to be Sontag due to her lack of interaction with any source of picture-taking device. Who is she to judge and say what photography stands for? Who gave her the right to predict the outlook on photography has an "ecology of images"? But A.O. Scott brought up an intriguing perspective on photography. In every minute of our lives, we are attacked with millions of images through various directions of technology and advertisment as well. And each of  these pictures could, indeed, be considered an art. But photography is such a broad category, that maybe some photos have become less of importance. Would you consider every picture taken a "form of art"? Or is there too many still lifes to classify each as an individual masterpiece?


Scott, A.O. (2011, May 8). Capturing a single moment of perfect stillness. The New York Times Magazine, 58-59. 

A Book With Infinite Possibilites

        When given this week's assignment for my research blog to find a book as my source, I instantly knew what book I just had to use. Since I have become very engaged with my positive photography hobby, my family has generously supported me with abstract filters, a case occupied with several compartments for future lens, one of the notorious For Dummies book for my Canon Rebel T2i, and another thick, height book that changed my entire outlook on this field. The name of this intense, but shocking literature - The Complete Photographer by Tom Ang. My first judgement of this object was that it was just pages occupied by magnificent  photo works, but I knew I must read on in order to make my opinion more reliable. Sections filled with numerous techniques of how to freeze motion, the effect light can have, and the goal to discover the most "striking angles". Throughout the reading, there are random, but intriguing "conversations" where Ang has questioned respective photographers, like Carrie Musgrave. She is prominent for snapping photos of legendary music icons, such as Madonna and AC/DC. Tom Ang also did an amazing job of organizing these individual categories by chapters of interest. Several of the categories are: Fashion & Nude, Documentary, Landscapes,Portraits, and the most debatable and conflicting - Fine Art. After skimming through the Fine Art segment, I notice a particular occurrence with the "fine art" photographs. Many of them are simple, world-wide items with diverse directions on editing them. Some used the lighting as their "abstract" technique, while others focused their attention to the variety of colors and shades. My thoughts have now been cycling with questions that Ang might not have an accurate answer to. What field of photography seems to attract the eyesight of viewers around the globe?  What makes one photograph more "fine art" than another?  Who decides as to what photos make the "fine art" category? I've seen some staggering snapshots that express captive imagery, but I find very difficult and also impossible to choose which picture is considered the "best". A photographer sees a certain visual in their mind, and have a mental set of how they want the print to come out. Do you think photographers should be judged on the "best" one? Or do you think every photo is special in their unique perspective? Tell me what your views on this issue!     


        Ang, T. (2010). The complete photogrpaher. New York, NY: DK Publishing.                     

                                         

Amazed By Ridiculous Accusations

     I was in utter shocked when I read this astonishing article by Reyhan Harmanci. Photography has become some what of a debate by a man named Rick Norsigian. This man had taken a rebellious risk, boldly accused Ansel Adams, a famous photographer, of stealing his film negatives. Of course, chargers were dropped due to the lack of vital evidence. But that hasn't stopped Norsigian's determination of "justice". He stated, "I'm not ever going to quit." Ever since reviewing this article, I've reminisced over several questions - Why would anyone dare to blame a well-known artist like Ansel Adams? Could Mr. Norsigian be accurate on his outrageous complaints? I guess nobody will ever know the honest truth. But it seems that photography isn't as inadequate as some people put in out to be. Maybe, just maybe, it is considered a fine art, but it's a personal opinion to each individual. Would you defend your art if someone tried to snatch your creative masterpiece and claim it to be their own?

Harmanci, R. (2011, March 15). An agreement is reached in ansel adams lawsuit. New York Times,