Brandon Harrell- Weekly Artist Post #15

Matt Dutile

It is not clearly stated whether or not that Dutile is using a digital format or an analog one, although one can assume that it could be either one of the two formats. For most of his photographs, he is using a wide open aperture setting on his camera, due to the shallow depth of field in some of his pictures. However, he is also using a closed down setting in some of his photographs, showing a much deeper depth of field compared to others that he has taken. It appears that he is using a faster setting on some pictures in his collection, evidenced by one of the pictures, which features a herd of goats in motion, have no sense of motion in them whatsoever.

Dutile is capturing daily life and culture in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. He had always had a fascination for the country, after reading about the ancient temples and Buddhist shrines that Myanmar has, but was not able to get to the country to see these landmarks firsthand. His wish was granted when he was sent to the country for a travel magazine to take pictures to promote travel to Myanmar. While he was there, he became very fascinated about the culture and the people, which he remarks were very welcoming and willing to have his take portraits of them.

Dutile’s work is very informative to me, as it gives me and most likely most viewers a glimpse into how everyday life is in a country that we normally don’t hear about here in the United States. Looking at his pictures, it gives me the impression that Myanmar is a place that is truly paradise, and that I actually do want to visit the country to see these temples and shrines myself. 

Dawit Samson - Artist Weekly Post #15

Ezra Stoller

1.) Ezra Stoller uses repetition, wide angle shots, and lines to compose his photos. The first photo shows a worker in front of an assembly line of TVs. The repetition of gives the photo a pattern which makes the worker stand out more. The second picture, which looks similar to Andreas Gursky's famous grocery picture, was shot with a wide angle lens, in a landscape orientation. Repetition and leading lines can be found in the picture also. The last photo, captures all three elements, repetition, wide angle shot, and leading lines, perfectly. From the repetition in the poles and phones to the lights and circle vents. The leading lines  in the poles, the lights, and even the telephone line. All this was wonderfully captured with a wide angle lens.

2.) The theme behind these pictures is the US Industry. When Ezra Stoller took this the Us industry was thriving and he captured it lovely. From the tedious assembly line work to the amount of products that were being produced is all captured in this photo series. The third picture, for me, is weird, but somehow it fits with the story. 

3.) Ezra Stoller really fascinated me on how he captured the US industry. While I was looking for an artist to write this post on I came upon a lot of creative, out of the box stuff, but for some reason Stoller's use of composition rules really caught my eye. His content is something that artist dread to be in, a 9 to 5, but he captures it so well. 

Clarissa Stanley - Weekly Artist Post 15

 Wolfgang Hildebrand 

 It is clear that a DSLR is used in the making of the pictures as well as photoshop or editing software. The photographer has clearly gone over these pictures to play with the vibrance and exposure. These pictures are very vibrant in color and they show a lot of movement. The scenery in all of the pictures are set on an edge which gives interest to the viewer.
 The urban theme is evident by the background buildings and architecture. This set of pictures gives a sense of hustling through life or being busy in general. Overall, these pictures work well because of the movement and life shown throughout the series and the hustle and bustle of the city streets.

Mary McCarter-- Weekly Artist Post 15

Arnau Blanch

Blanch uses color relationships and dominant lines to frame and compose his photographs. All three photos have a use of line, light and color. The depth of field is very close up maybe one to five or so feet. There is a contrast of color in the first photo with the green grass and red strips of the building along with the blue sky it is almost a transition from cool color to a warm color then back to cool again. The second photo has smaller hints of color contrast with the small amount of yellow on the headband with the blue of the model's shirt. The third photo, though it doesn't have such a  prominent color contrast it is made up for in the contrasting line relationships that Blanch made. There is a lot of intense detail which makes the pictures more interesting, such as the dust/debris on the face mask in the second photo.

The meaning of this series is not that obvious. These three photos don't seem to have any kind of relationship except for that technical aspects of line, light, and color. There may be a meaning of space and how things can occupy certain spaces. All of these photos are taken close up. Why? Maybe the artist wanted to fill the space of the picture plane as much as possible filling it with different relationships of light, line, and color.

These photos are very well done. Blanch has taken relatively underwhelming scenes very interesting. The second photo especially encapsulates a perfect combination of light and color. This photo is also incredibly clear, the dust/debris on the mask is perfectly visible as well as the wrinkles/folds of the model's skin. The first also really does cause the viewer to really look at what is being photographed, though the scene is a bit boring the color relationship really causes the eye to bounce between the two cool colors. The third photo is also very focused the vines almost create a sort of curtain for under the bridge. I really enjoyed the relationships created within each photo by using line, light, and color.

Megan Wingfield- Weekly Artist Post 15

Jason Nocito

          Jason Nocito takes pictures from a short distance away. He captures high contrast by using light and water to produce beautiful colors reflecting off of the streets. All of his pictures are taken outside and are in the moment. Jason tries to take pictures of world as it appears. He sees playful images and captures that moment in time because it might not be there later. 

        In the first photo there a lot of bright contrasting colors that fill the space. You can tell it was taken between a street and sidewalk. Theres trash underneath the water but the main focus the artist wants to get through is to look over that and see the beautiful colors. Jason Nocito tries to see the best in the world. The second photo also has high contrasting colors that vary from purple to yellow in all sorts of shades. You can tell its a plant of some sort he found outside but using a high resolution camera to depict all of the colors. The third photo is of a puddle on a corner of a sidewalk. It portrays crisp colors of bright blue with a touch of orange. The dark street underneath it brings out the colors and makes the viewer focus on the beautiful part of the picture. 

        Jason Nocito takes pictures of the dirty, dark parts of the city but seems to capture bright alluring colors in the process. He tries to bring the viewer to the realization that theres natural beauty all around the world, we just have to search for it. I really like Jason Nocito's work because it looks like he spends a lot of time trying to capture the right photos that represent him. He is an inspiration to want to create better photos and to look at something for what its not. 

Galina Karasoy - weekly post # 13

Thomas Hoepker

Thomas Hoepker is one of the most acclaimed Magnum photographers. His pictures of heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, his shots from the USA in the 1960s, as well as newer photos like the one he took in New York on September 11, 2001, have become emblematic. Hoepker has been using Leica cameras ever since he started working as a photo journalist for renowned magazines.

Hoepker has series of works Life behind the Berlin Wall and Germany after unification that really connect to one another and sequentially tells the story of one country devided in two parts for almost 30 years.

First image is black and white and it represents that happy childhood can happen even behind the Berlin Wall. Environment is pretty dark and  wall where one of the kids stands is wrapped around with barbed wire. Composition consists of contradictive elements and black and white setting adds more gloom to it. Clearly, we can picture war and postwar time and lack of the comfort of living in those conditions. Overcrowded lower part of photograph forces to bring viewer’s eyes up to the main object of composition – soccer ball, that plays important symbolic role.

Second image is taken during parade. Composition is based on complimentary color scheme of green and red. Unified movement of the composition, vertical lines of fence bars, human bodies and trees stabilized with horizontal stretched posters on middleground and background of composition. Middleground stays in focus.

Third image is portrait, primary focus on the subject. Background stays out of focus. The way the person positioned his hands holding glasses reflects shape of the ladder creating isosceles trapezoidal form. Composition is centered. Idea of this photograph is conceptual presentation of youth, culture, style of living of East Berlin in 1980s.

Looking through the works of Thomas Hoepker, I compare environment of Berlin during Wall and the place where I am from. It brings my childhood's memory back and I can't get enough of it. Those works are based on impact of the separation of the half of the country. There is nothing humorous as a subject matter however, photographer presents even sad raw simple moments with a bit of satirical critique. Looking through those photos, makes me think about idea that it could be old prints in my grandmother's closet somethere. Unique and timeless. 

Logan Willis - Weekly Artist Post #15

Peter Kollanyi

1) Peter Kollanyi is a photographer based out of Tallinn and London. He studied photography at Balint Gyorgy Academy of Journalism in Budapest. This particular collection of photos was called "Toxic Sludge Spill". Technically, Peter uses many different depths of field depending on the items/objects being photographed. For example, there's a much more shallow depth of field in the indoor photos as opposed to the outdoor photos. Most of these photos look as if they are either underexposed or another light source or even a natural light source is being used and interjected into the frame.

2) Thematically, these photos that I have selected would be more documentary photographs but there is something about the toxic sludge and it's dark, deep red color almost similar to that of blood. I think that the similarity between the sludge staining and splattering tends to make me think of a blood. This could be a theme in the works as if the toxic sludge was a very "bloody" and horrific thing that happened in this area and how it not only took over the town but the plants and also everywhere including the insides of homes. There are also no people in these photographs but you still get a sense that people were just here and now have to deal with the wreckage and chaos of this toxic sludge that now covers everything.

3) I was really drawn to these photos because of the deep, dark red in the toxic sludge as well as the way Peter really captured the splattering and spilling of this sludge throughout this location. I am really drawn in closer to these photos when the blues of the sky or white of the snow contrast brightly with the orange-ish, red color of the sludge. I also enjoy that Peter not only photographed outside where it had covered doors and plants but also the inside view of where it had covered people's items and clothing and in a more splattered way. I really enjoyed the documentation that Peter took time and risk into going to this location to find out and capture more of exactly what happened with this toxic sludge spill.