Calah Jones Artist Post 5

1. Photographer Erika Larsen uses a Wista 4x5 Field Camera to produce old-fashioned looking images. It requires her to mount a tripod and then hide under a dark cloth to compose and focus on a screen.

2. Larsen uses this 4x5 inch photographic film for contemplative pictures that display subtle color gradations and very high resolution.  She can make pictures in all types of weather. It takes her some weeks to see her own images, allowing her to have a different experience with the end results of her work.

3. I enjoy looking at Larsen's pieces because they give me a more natural and organic feel of her work.  The colors are very noticeable and yet they don't take over the image.  Her pictures are almost playful and energetic with the little bit of information they give you.  I like how she doesn't get to see her photos for a while and how they come out just as interesting as if she had been able to see them the moment she took the picture herself.

Julius Ayo Post 4

Joakim Eskildsen

1. The photos above are from Joakim Eskildsen's project titled American Realities. Most photos from this project have this dark tone to them. Some have a specific subject in focus and some features a landscape or environment. Some are overhead shots of objects and some are focus on facial expressions of people. It looks like they might have been captured on film because of this grainy feel the photos.

2. Joakim Eskildsen's American Realities Project focuses on poverty in the United States. The photos ranges from landscapes to portraits of people. Most of them have this shady, dark tone to them. It feels like the photos  were captured in the shadow of this fake reality Americans try to hide from. Eskildsen is illuminating that reality in his photos. One show old business cards all lines up on a table, folded, ripped to shreds, and unused. Perhaps those business could have been valuable to a person a long time ago. Another one shows a street outside from what looks like a store. Although in the foreground it is dark, the background is brighter that showcases an optimistic look of the future on a rainy day. The third picture show a child on a hammock. Although it could be fishing net. His life is hanging by those thin threads above a rusty, old fishing boat.

3. I love the title of this project. Poverty is a reality here in the United States. It is a reality that most people would not like acknowledge. Behind the pretty Facebook or Instagram pictures, there is a sense of reality that we hide. We are a very materialistic and image obsessed country. As beautiful as these photos are, they are very eye opening to what some people are experiencing in our country. Aesthetics and meaning are two different things. Some things can look pretty with no depth, while some could look ugly and be thought-provoking.

Jennifer Livingston - Artists Post 8

Ogle Winston Link

1) In Ogle Winston’s photos above from his series American Railroads, he used a 4 x 5 Graphic view camera with black and white negative film. He took night shots instead of shooting the subjects during the day because the sun was always in the wrong place. Each of his nighttime photos took meticulous work as he had to set up lighting.

2) The first two photos both show a train going along on the tracks with a billow of smoke following it.  There are also people in both which look miniscule when compared to the size of the train. The first one there is a train on the tracks overhead, and children playing in the stream below. In the second image shows another train on the tracks overhead, while some people stand on the sides of the road watching for it to pass by. In the last photo, many people are standing near the train at one of the stations. They took look small in comparison to the train in front of them.

3) Each of the photos in American railroad are all black and white. They show a timeframe where we relied largely on locomotion as a means of travel. The photos also give a glimpse of what used to be as locomotion isn’t as heavily relied on for travel. Through his nighttime photography of railways, he inspired others to try night photography as well.

Brandon Baker Artist Post 7

David Lachapelle 
Photo Resource

             David Lachapelle is an American artist to say the least. He is a commercial photographer who also dwells in fine art photography. His work is often noted for its use of bold colors and vivid scenes. Being a fine art photographer, he often composes the scene for the best conditions not only relying on the camera itself but on his artistic vision as well. The pictures that I have selected are from his portrait gallery, in which he has shot photos of some of the worlds famous entertainers. Above are portraits of andre 3000, Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams.

            Lachapelle is dominantly known for his artists vision rather than the camera he uses. Often his scenes seem like something out of a fantasy book, or or he will display a scene that conveys a message that evoke controversy or just conversation in general. In the first photo it shows Andre 3000, dressed as a mythical creature accompanied by a regal setting. In my opinion this suits Andre 3000 very well in the fact that his personality is not one that is normal and others would agree. However, he carries himself in a manner that suggests that he has education and is a bit civilized to say the least. This would relate to the background of the photo. In the second photo Kanye West in the midst of a riot squad, somewhat in a protesting motion. I would say that this also suits the subject in the sense that Kanye West often stirs up controversy in the entertainment industry that to some would look like a rebellion to "the man." The photo shows strong emotion, and the highlights are even brought a bit higher to better show the emotion carried in the photo. In the last photo Pharrell Williams is shown poised like a mannequin selling a product. I believe this suggests the professional nature of Mr. Williams, with his accomplishments and accolades in mind. The scene is a bit out of the ordinary, but somehow it just fits perfectly.

          I personally enjoy this artist a lot. I looked through the photo resource above to peruse through a bit of his galleries and I'd have to say I'm definitely going back for more. He has portraits of some of my favorite artists, entertainers, and athletes. I think he may be added to my list of favorite photographers alongside Walter Iooss. I value Lachapelle's creative intuition and the scenes that he is able to create with such detail and color.

Kerry Goodman Post #8

Patrick Joust

1. Patrick Joust is a self taught photographer. Joust is very found of the late night scenes of the cities and nature so you see that frequently in his photography. Joust is a very accomplished artist. He has won multiple artist's awards as well as many famous exhibitions across the nation. His eyes for a bright style during a time of darkness is astounding. His photographs are very captivating that it almost brings new life to night time photography.

2. Joust's photographs that are presented above are from his "Still" showcase. Ironically towards its name the photos instill motion and life into what is supposed to be a quiet and stagnant time of day. Joust's photography takes a lot of inspiration from the city landscapes . Joust's message is for the idea to look at the scenery you see everyday and flip them upside down. Make the conception of what the normal idea of it is and flip it to something that makes it unique and entertaining.

3. I enjoy Joust's work. The exploration of the scenes he captures intrigue and appeals to the sense of wonder that is the late night hours. Sleeping and dreams are the only images most humans conjure up when the night arises. Patrick Joust aims to prove that there is a vibrant time that only the night scene can provide.

Grant Layne Artist Post 7

Venetia Dearden 

Venetia Dearden creates her pictures in her hometown Somerset, a small town in England.  Her hometown began to flood and she used this to create Somerset Floods, her photographic project.  The flood affected over 600 houses and 17,000 acres. 

Dearden captures the post-storm stillness, which has descended on the water-drenched land – the pastel tones of half-light, the quivering mirror-like qualities of the water.  In her photos, she captures the damage the flood did to Somerset’s landscape, submerged gardens and flooded building.  She also captures the locals in interaction with the post flooding.

These choices are very effective and magnify the outcome of the flood.  The half-light tones create a gloomy look for this project.  This helps show the negativity the flooding brought to her hometown.  This affect also makes increases the intensity of the light, which shows that the storm is clearing. 

Jessica Manno - Artist Post 9

Patrick Joust

1. Patrick Joust's Baltimore photography collection seems to be taken in both vertical and horizontal frames. For this specific collection, he overexposed his camera in night time scenes to really bring out the subject(s) and convey his artistic vision of how he represents the Baltimore streets at night through his photos. 

2. Baltimore is the hometown of where Joust was born and raised in. With this specific photo collection, Joust wanted to showcase how lonely and silent the streets in Baltimore become  during the evening hours. Still buildings, few people, and overall somber and quiet atmospheric scenes is what creates a new sense of visuals and feelings about a bustling and central city. Making the decision to capture the parts of Baltimore that have the least moment and during that time of day rather than the typical business many other photographers would choose to showcase made me interested in Joust's photography from the get-go.

3. Joust's photographs have a genuine feel of someone who likes their hometown and the little corners and quiet streets it has to offer. There seems to always be a little light source in each photo, which give the scene almost an eerie feel. However, how the scenes are presented doesn't make me feel like there's any sort of danger or presumed threat. Each photo has a good sense of balance and atmosphere that I admire.