Life

So a lot has happened since the last time I wrote in this blog of mine. I was never good at writing in journals, so I guess this is an example of that! I will have to rewind a bit to have you get the full picture.
When I heard we were doing pinhole cameras, I said to myself, YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME! I guess my experience from Mentoring Through the Arts has ruined my chances at every loving pinhole cameras. All I could remember was what a pain in the butt they were. Also, how I could never get mine to work properly. I couldn't believe I had to make them again. But then I thought maybe I learned something from the experience.
Of course this time around it seemed like it was just as hard as it when last fall. My cameras did not feel like working. I don't know, I must be cursed or something. I tried all three I made and none of them seemed to want to work. I was very disappointed about it. The frustration from last year just came back. I couldn' believe that it ws happening again! I decided to go back to what worked for me last year. I used a film canister and it seemed to work the best. So I charged back to my room and realized the only film cansiter I had was clear. Then I had to run around to Walmart, then CVS, and finally at Walgreens I picked up some electric tape. Then I ran back home to start taking pictures. For my pinholes I decided to take them all of Pooh. I chose Pooh, because for this week only I have Pooh. Pooh travel aroung in my staff each week and we are suppose to document different things we do with him. I thought this would be a great way to do that. I had a lot of fun and I think Pooh did too. He stood by me when I was failing and now he could see my succeed. My pinhole pictures came out pretty well I am happy with all of them.I was proud I actually got pictures to come out. I think what was keeping me sane was the fact that I knew I would be able to use a camera for the next assignment.
At photo class I was very impressed at some of the other students photos. I wish I could have had bigger pictures like they did. I feel mine were overlooked, because they were so small. I felt better after hearing the stories about how hard other people had doing this assignment. It made me feel good that I wasn't the only one dealing with this issue.
The next assignment was to take two rolls of film showing motion and depth of field. I thought this assignment wasn't to bad when I got it. I thought it should not take to long. I went into Charlestown on that Saturday and decided I would shoot a roll there. So that is what I did. I didn't realize how long it was going to take me to take a roll of film. I mean it had 36 pictures on each roll. It was fun and relaxing to just walk around Charlestown and take pictures of things I saw that I have never seen before. I even went to Bunker Hill, which I never had been before. It was an amazing day. I thought a lot of my photos would come out very well. I was very proud of what I accomplished. I also realized how much easier digital photography actually is. It was hard not being able to see if my picture came out or not. I just crossed my fingers and hoped for them best.
This past Tuesday in class we learn how to develop film. I definitely don't ever remember developing film to be such a lengthy process as it was. Maybe I only remember the good times of photo. Myself and another girl went into darkroom to put our film on a reel to develop. It wasn't to bad, but it was just weird not being able to see anything and just have to trust your senses. I must admit that it was very difficult to open the film canister to get the film out. It was a pain. I had to really pry it open. I tried to be super careful not to touch the film, but it was definitely hard. Finally I finished getting it in the film developer canister and started the long process. It took time, but it was worth seeing my pictures in the end. I can't wait until I see my pictures from the other roll I took too.
Now it is Sunday and I have a lot to do. I am going out to shoot a roll focused on framing and composition. I think I am just going to walk around school to take pictures for this one. I am just going to do my best and see what comes out. I can't wait to see what I can come up with. Well there is not time like the present, so next time I return I will have all three rolls developed.

Staged: Constructed Narrative in Comtemporary Photography

Last Thursday I went to Staged: Constructed Narrative in Comtemporary Photography show in Cushing Martin. It was a great show with a lot of amazing photo. I loved the compositions. I thought it was awesome how much photographs can actually tell a story. Every photo I was drawn to, because I want to understand or figure out the story it was trying to portray. Obvious the photos don't portray the same stories to everyone, but it was fun to try to make one. There was one artist that I really liked and the was Ri Anderson. I thought her work was amazing. I think I related to it more since it was black and white. It seems weird to like the photographs that portrayed death, but I guess that was what was so interesting to me. She took pictures of things that are not so pleasant and yet are at the same time. She stepped out of the safe box of happy picture and create a world of the unknown. I believe curosity of the viewers is what makes these pictures so great. None of the picture were very graphic in a violent nature, but more poetic. My favorite was called "The Burnt House". I was just totally blown away by it. The use of light was incredible and convey such a peacefulness quality. The body/person in the tub just caught my attention right away and brought me into the picture. I examed the picture closely and realized the reflection in the mirror. The reflection was of a man's sholuder and arm in a position as if he was peering into the room. I thought this element was amazing. It added another layer to her picture that most of her other pictures didn't have. I hope that one day I can capture such a rich picture. I think I learned a lot about how a pictures can tell such amazing stories all captured in one moment. I think I will definitely consider this element when taking my own photos.