March lecture 2

Safety Lecture
This past week I attended a lecture in Harris Hall concerning our safety as students here at VCU. A panel of 10 people who all serve an important role here at VCU stood before us to answer any questions we had. Prior to the lecture, students had sent in questions through a forum and those were the topics we discussed that evening. Issues ranging from "bums in the school hallways" to "the worst crosswalk ever ( between the library and commons)" were discussed by people like VCU's Head Nurse and our new Chief of Police. In regards to the worst spot on campus ( crosswalk) , the school has decided that the location of the walkway is too close to Laurel St to put in a new light. An option of covering up the crosswalk was brought up but they felt like students wouldn't abide by it. We are so used to running across whenever we get a chance that they didn't think we would ever be able to change our ways. In my opinion that's ridiculous. I have had too many close calls with almost hitting students due to the lack of organization of that area. Something must be done! This lecture was really beneficial to those of us who attended, I was glad to hear some of the things that VCU plans to change in the future...even though I won't be there to enjoy it!

Monday 10

For this Monday's post I've decided to do something a little different. Typically we highlight an artist of interest but I have come across this amazing website that just won't fit in to the normal blog structure. I know I could have formatted this to work as a Thursday blog but it just seemed more appropriate to do for Monday. I felt it was important to show the work of these few artists rather than focus on one. These photographs are more scientific than anything and for that reason It would be hard to write about the photographer ( They don't have an art background and I can't find credible outside sources of their work!) . This website called Wellcome Images is " one of the world's richest and most unique collections, with themes ranging from social history to contemporary health care and biomedical science." Each image is available to the public in digital form which is so convenient. From ancient Sanskrit manuscripts to Tibetan Buddhist paintings, you can find a great variety of information and types of imagery. The work that I have focused on is classified as part of the " Biomedical Collection" which is a compilation of over 40,000 high-quality images selected from the UK's research institutions and leading teaching hospitals.

The first image in the group of 4 is by a man named Yorgos Nikas. This is a beautiful picture of a human embryo after "zona drilling". The second image, done by David Gregory and Debbie Marshall is a color enhanced image of what a lung looks like on its inner surface. Image number 3 is by Annie Cavanaugh and its a picture of red blood cells. Lastly, Liz Hirst shows us what an actual split end looks like...not so great.

http://images.wellcome.ac.uk/

Submission 2 PDN

Thursday 10

“The sheer ease with which we can produce a superficial image,” Mr. Adams once wrote, “often leads to creative disaster.”
It's a natural feeling to want to replace something old with something newer and better. In the digital electronics world, the number of pixels in both cameras and camcorders is so important to consumers. All though many believe the myth to be true, higher megapixels do produce great output but its actually not all that important. When looking at purchasing a product like a camera, people tend to look past the size of the pixels on a camera's sensor. The bigger the sensor, the bigger the pixels which provides advantages to the artist when making images. Russ Juskalian, A writer from the New York Times explains that, " The mechanics of this can be understood by thinking of a digital camera sensor as a flat sheet of material pocked with millions (hence “mega”) of cylindrical, cuplike pixels. In other words, picture the digital sensor as a tiny cupcake tin." A recent test done at dpreview.com proved that the Canon EOS 50D, a $1,400 - 15-megapixel camera , showed less dynamic range and more noise than the older camera Canon EOS 40D. ( 10-megapixel and 500 dollars cheaper).

There are many advantages of having a larger sensor but one of the most significant is the ability it gives you to produce a clear image when only a small portion of the subject is in focus. Although the technology is improving rapidly, the most important thing is still the photographers skill. Juskalian says it perfectly, " But no matter when the next advance in digital imaging comes, the old saying that the photographer is the most important part of a good photo will still hold true.

I felt it was necessary to blog about pixels becuase it has a great connection with my project. I am continuing a series I started last semester and I'm improving things that didn't go so well before. Rotating between my two lenses, only one being macro, led to my final prints coming out pixelated. In the images without the macro the pixelation just overtook the entire picture. It was frustrating to have these stunning images that I just couldn't make look decent in large format. This time around I am hardly cropping my images at all, I try to do it all in camera. Hopefully the changes I've made will make all the difference.

JusKalian Russ. "Pixels are Like Cupcakes, Let Me Explain." NyTimes.com. 11-12-2008. 3-25-2009.. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/technology/personaltech/13basics.html?_r=1

Visiting Artist March 1

Dr. Olivia Judson
As I walked into the auditorium I noticed almost every seat was filled so I figured this speaker must be great. I forgot what type of lecture this was but i quickly realized it was something unusual because the first words out of Dr.Judson's mouth were " Hello my fellow primates". For some I'm sure listening about Darwin's life and his accomplishments might be interesting but not for me. Most of the humorous scientific jokes flew right over my head. With a quick look to my left I could tell that my friend Carrie was feeling the same way. Olivia was born in the UK and she earned her biology degree from Stanford University. She is a freelance science writer and is currently being recognized for her book Dr.Tatiana's Sex Advice to all Creation- The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex. This award winning book has been turned into a television show that aired in Australia, the UK and Canada back in 2005. Richard Dawkins, a World-famous evolutionary biologist describes the book as a "winningly sophisticated zoological comedy.". Olivia was a great speaker and you could really see her light up as she talked about evolution. Everybody has a different passion, I'm just glad mine isn't science.

Monday 9

Joakim Eskildsen




In 1971 Joakim Eskildsen was born in Copenhagen Denmark and he was lucky to train with the Royal Court Photographer, Rigmor Mydtskov. A change of direction came in 1994 when he moved to Finland to pursue the craft of photographic book-making. There at the University of Art and Design he graduated with a masters in Photography in 1998. Joakim is a documentary photographer who has done a lot of traveling in his time. Claire O'Neill , a writer from NPR tells us that the project of his titled Roma Journey consists of seven series in different countries, in rough chronological order of the journey. Shooting with Hasselblad and Pentax medium format cameras, he truly captures the beauty of the locations. He is now the proud author of more than 4 beautiful books including Chicken Moon, Bluetide, and Nordic Signs. Over the many years he has dedicated to his art, Joakim's processes have changed quite a bit. Up until 1999 he made only traditional darkroom prints but in 2000 he began making Lambda prints. Currently he uses a variety of papers in his Epson 9800 ink jet printer. As a true artist should, he produces all of his prints himself.

Website: Http://www.joakimeskildsen.com

Conversation: http://www.jmcolberg.com/weblog/2008/0
/a_conversation_with_joakim_esk.html

Exhibition: http://www.photography-now.com/artists/K06547.html

Thursday 9

It seems like every time I blink my eye some new and improved piece of technology has evolved. The internet is the most fabulous tool and it allows us to have anything we want with just a tap of the mouse. The popularity of the darkroom is decreasing and while its a sad truth, it just can't compare to the advantages of online printing. For example, online companies offer a wide variety of choices. A print in the darkroom can only be changed so many times because of the expense of chemicals and paper etc. The internet gives us endless possibilities and we can constantly change our minds. Another benefit of using an online printing company is that there are no time frames for its users. At any hour of the day you can just hop on your computer and send off an image to be printed. If a customer has a question about something specific it's not hard at all to contact someone who can help. Email has become such an important line of communication these days. In just an instant you can ask the questions you need answered and hopefully get a response in time! Not only is communication made easier but the instructions are so clearly laid out for the customer that you just cant go wrong. This is certainly a good example of why online is the way to go

For these three years I've spent in the photography department I have continued to print my work from Elco Color. Typically I receive great prints back but I have definitely had my share of bad experiences. For the convenience factor, nothing compares with being able to upload your images to an online source and not have to do anything else. You get what you pay for in a sense, you are no longer in control of your printing so you better trust the company you choose. Reguardless of how my prints turn out ( for the most part ) I am just thankful to have such a great tool at my fingertips.

"Why Is Online Printing Such a Better Source?". ArticleBase. 03-04-09. 03-22-09..

Monday 8

Jill Greenberg



Jill was born in Montreal Canada but after a few years moved to Detroit. After receiving a BFA in photography at the Rhode Island School of Design, she picked up once again and went to New York. In her biography she states that since the age of 10, she has been staging photographs and creating characters with different mediums including drawing,painting, film and of course photography. Greenberg has had great success in the commercial field working with clients such as Target, Paramount pictures, Time Magazine, MGM, Coca-Cola and so many more. Her series of toddlers titled End Times became very controversial in 2006. These hyperreal closeups of children's contorted faces were a reflection of her "frustration with both the Bush administration and Christian Fundamentalism in the United States." Jill had unique methods for capturing the intense expressions on the children's faces. One way was to give a child candy and the quickly taking it back.Some viewed these ways as inappropriate and unethical. Her work is exceptionally well done and this particular series was striking to me.

Website: http://www.manipulator.com/
Gallery: http://www.clampart.com/artists/greenberg/greenbergmp1.htm
Article: http://michellemalkin.com/2008/09/14/the-atlantic-should-have-googled-jill-greenberg-before-hiring-her/

Thursday 8

The Met

In the past 6 years the Metropolitan Museum of Art has gone through some incredible changes. Diane Arbus presented her work at the MET in 2005 and it ended up receiving a lot more attention than planned. As a result of this series, a gallery has been designated for the exhibition of photographs created only after 1960. This room presents the perfect space for a photograph to be displayed, it has a much quieter atmosphere than the rest of the museum. "Those pictures will finally have some room to breathe in the new Joyce and Robert Menschel Hall for Modern Photography, a high-ceilinged, gray-carpeted sanctuary on the second floor, across from the special exhibition galleries for drawings, prints and photographs." A recent installation of Depth of Field : Modern Photography at the Metropolitan includes work by Adam Fuss, Rodney Graham and Sigmar Polke just to name a few. A large -scale still life by Wolfgang Tillman rests upon another wall within the gallery. Critics agree that despite some limitations, the show had a great debut. The museum appreciates work from the past and this gallery gives us an opportunity to learn about early photography.

One of my favorite places to go to in New York is the Metropolotian Musuem of Modern Art. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to get back to NY and I saw quite the display of different works. A fabulous sculpture hung downstairs and i literally sat there and stared for minutes at a time. Some of the photography just blew me away while some images left me feeling very uneasy. I tried to picture my work on that wall and I think it just might be possible. ( maybe )

Rosenburg, Karen. "Modern Photography in a Brand New Space". Nytimes. 9. 28 .07. 3.18.09.< http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/arts/design/28mens.html?_r=1&fta=y.>

Monday 7

Medford Taylor



Medford Taylor was born in North Carolina and he stayed there until he graduated from High Point University in the 60's With a bachelors degree in science and five years as a Naval Officer under his belt, he headed off to the University of Missouri where he decided to get a graduates degree in photojournalism. After college he worked for the Houston Chronicle and then the Virginian- Pilot in Norfolk. During these years he freelanced for Newsweek and Time Magazine. In 1984 Taylor's work was published in National Geographic, one of the many times this happened. He was fortunate enough to photograph the Everglades, Newfoundland and the Big Bend National Park. Medford's photographs have been published in national and international magazines including Air and Space and GEO. Currently he lives in Richmond and continues to work in the digital field.

Website:http://www.medfordtaylor.com/

Published work: http:http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/life-color-red/red-oats-taylor.html

Essay: http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/02/medford-taylor-mariposa-y-michoaca%CC%81n/

Thursday 7

Compilation

"In image processing, computer graphics, and photography, high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR) is a set of techniques that allows a greater dynamic range of luminances between light and dark areas of a scene than normal digital imaging techniques." - Wikipedia

A technique created back in the 1930's has become very popular in the work of digital artists today. This amazing process of layering multiple images allows the photographer to achieve a greater range of tonal detail. The images that are created are surreal becuase there is nothing else that can produce this amount of detail. HDR photographs are made using the same image multpile times, but with multiple exposures too. This creates a dynamic range that can't be created within a camera. The only way to make a successful HDR image is by using a tripod, it would be impossible to capture the same picture multiple times. The guidelines below will help the artist capture a usable series of pictures."It is essential that the darkest of these exposures includes no blown highlights in areas where you want to capture detail. The brightest exposure should show the darkest regions of the image with enough brightness that they are relatively noise-free and clearly visible. Each exposure should be separated by one to two stops, and these are ideally set by varying the shutter speed." HDR is new to the art world and like other techniques, sometimes it is overdone. HDR has a purpose and it should not used for everything!

This is the first time I have ever looked at HDR photographs and I would love to have my images look this sharp. Although I strive for this beauty within my work, I have to say that I like the realistic factor in my photography more. I don't want my work to look as surreal as HDR images do. It is a technique i definitely plan on trying in the future.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/high-dynamic-range.htm

Monday 6

Tomio Seike




Tomio Sieke was born in Japan in 1943 and has been working on his hand printed series since 70's. Tomio graduated from the Japan Photographic Academy in 1970 too. He is recognized for his work in the United States as well as Great Britain. His photographs take months to complete and in a years time, he usually creates about 4 or 5 new images. In the past 40 years Sieke has created roughly four different bodies of work. The first was a portrait series of the artist Zoe Leonard( photographed for 5 years). After this he photographed nudes and from there, he created his series of classical Paris. In the more recent years he has moved into the "realm of abstraction combining both 19th century photography and contemporary painting practice to create highly unique vision. An important aspect of Tomio's work is the quality of light he is able to capture. He shoots under limited light conditions, sometimes with sunlight, sometimes with indoor room-level light.

Website: http://www.seike.demon.co.uk/
Gallery: http://www.f5komma6.de/nw/artists.php?artist=00020&show=text
Article: http://www.tokyoartbeat.com/event/2009/8375.en

Thursday 6

Sharper



"Blow Up uses an innovative algorithm that temporarily converts pixels to a vector representation which results in perfectly smooth, crisp edges." - AlienSkin

Recently, a new plug-in for Photoshop known as Blow Up 2 was introduced to the public. This amazing software produces "dramatically sharper" images than any other program. The photos are able to stay natural looking even when extreme enlargements are made. A huge benefit of this application is the time it saves for people preparing photos. Cropping and resizing can now be done in one easy step. Blow Up 2 makes an "intelligent guess about where to crop the image with its auto crop feature. The Auto Rotate feature adapts the preset to match your photos orientation. Blow Up applies the proper amount of output sharpening based on the paper type you choose. There are so many more fantastic features of Blow Up 2 including the tool to re size a group of photos at one time. How convenient? This is the first major Photoshop plug-in that will work in CS4, the newest version of Photoshop.

I would love to be able to print my own work but I just don't have the funds to do that. As a result, I print from Elco, an online company based in NJ. Three years ago I wouldn't have complained about the quality of my prints, but now that's all changed. The quality of my print is everything to me. I have had major issues with color and pixelation but its something i've just had to get used to. Blow Up 2 sounds amazing and I'm so curious as to how it all works. I'm going to do more research on their printing process and hopefully I will be able to print with it one day!

Link: http://www.alienskin.com/blowup/index.aspx