24 February 2010

During our visit to UCF yesterday I was amazed how much my client has progressed. Whereas before she was only able to get out a few words and maybe a complete sentence, she was putting together full sentences and holding conversations wonderfully. Not only that but her photography skills are getting seriously good! She has such a strong personality and drive in her and it continues to impress me every week. She even figured out a trick to the camera that none of us were able to figure out--student teaching the teachers! She is such a kind hearted and wonderful person and it truly makes me so happy to see her progress so wonderfully. I can tell she really has gotten to enjoy photography and the workshop we do. Also from her pictures I can tell she's really bringing her camera with her everywhere she goes and taking some great pictures along the way showing a true dedication to her work. With the progress she has made so far I can only imagine what's in store for the future!

Assignment #2

For this assignment, we were asked to take portraits. I chose to use one of my best friends, eric, as my subject. The final three pictures I chose of him represent some of the different aspects of his personality that I love. The first being his serious side. The picture that is in color, of him in the back of the truck with a strong gaze into the camera shows his serious side. The side of him that is so deep and thoughtful and pure- also the side of him that is so strong. In his eyes I can see the struggles he has dealt with in his life and his ability to remain the strong and stable person that he is. The picture of him and his dog, Wimbly, show his loving and nurturing side. Just as he holds Wimbly with such care and love is how he treats me- he is always dependable and loving and there to take care of me and the look he is giving his dog and the way he embraces Wimbly portray this. Lastly the picture of his back of his head lying relaxed in the back of the truck show his easy going and care free side, the side of him that will lay relaxed and at ease with me all the time as we simply enjoy life.

Not only do these three pictures embrace three different aspects of Eric's personality but them embraced the different aspects of all human persona. We have our intense sides, our loving sides, and our care-free and relaxed sides. I feel that the pictures express emotions without words, something that I feel our clients are able to do through their photography as well.

10 February 2010

Today our clients shared their work so far with us, and I must say I was very impressed with the pictures! My client had a great picture of her husband with his motorcycle and I'm not sure if she realized how well she did on the assignment but she framed her husbands arm beautifully with the shelf in the background and also framed the bike along the vertical frame in a very interesting way. I could tell she was proud of herself and it made me so happy to see that in her eyes. She also did a great job talking about the other patients photos and I was impressed by how well she was able to articulate. All of the pictures were great and I can't wait to see what future assignments hold for the clients as I'm sure they can only improve from here!

On another note, I'm heading to New Orleans this weekend and am excited for the opportunity to shoot in such an amazing city. Hopefully someone doesn't spill their beer on my camera...

Reflections

Just thought I'd take a moment and reflect on my feelings about this wonderful service-learning class so far. Since we've started to go to UCF I've gained a new found appreciation for those suffering from aphasia. I remember when i was younger my Grandmother had a stroke. Being only 7 years old at the time I never really understood what was going on, or why she only said the word "yeah" and nodded her head. Because I was unaware of her condition, I always treated her in the same way. I think that's why she always enjoyed my company over the adults. The adults used to talk to her like a baby- whereas I always just saw my same old "oma." I try to keep this in mind when working with our patients. I can see in the eyes of my client she knows whats going on and when she tells us stories of her pre-stroke life I know that just because she's endured a stroke doesn't make her any different of a person. I look forward to getting to know her better and more importantly helping her find her way to express herself through photography.

The Photographer's Eye

William Smith: View across Chain Bridge, Washington, DC., c. 1863 The Library of Congress


While reading "The Photographer's Eye" by John Szarkowski there were many images that caught my eye but this one in particular really did because of what it creates. Szarkowski writes that the photographer starts with a frame and within this frame. creates the shapes that surround objects and edits the meanings and patterns of the world through an imaginary frame and this frame is the beginning of his picture's geometry. In this picture, Smith took a bridge and framed his picture in a way that created a pattern and geometric pattern. The two sides of the bridge make up the vertical frame and emphasize the pattern of the top of the bridge which makes up the vertical frame. The way he framed this picture almost morphs the reality of it and creates a pattern out of real life. The people in it are also placed along the frame and the horse in the distance gives a starting point for the depth of the picture and allows us to see the pattern continue into what looks like oblivion.

Edward Weston once said "Putting one's head under the focusing cloth is a thrill...to pivot the camera slowly around watching the image change on the ground-glass is a revelation, once becomes a discoverer... and finally the complete idea is there..."

To me it looks like Smith did just that in this picture. He moved around the camera and the image of the bridge changed into a pattern. He took life and made it art- made it geometric. And the result is extremely aesthetically pleasing.