Fine Art Photography

This is going to be our last week to study a new style of photography. We are looking at fine art photography.

The best place to start looking at fine art photography is with Alfred Stieglitz. Stieglitz solidified photography as an accepted form of art. Until Stieglitz's work and influence, photography was mostly thought to be a supporter of other art forms. Stieglitz and his powerful influence helped to make photography appreciated for its own aesthetics and styles. Here is a bio on him for you to read

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/S/stieglitz/stieglitz_articles1.html

The next link is Diane Arbus. A photographer known for her photos of "freaks". She often photographed those not accepted by society. This includes transvestites, mentally handicapped, members of the circus and nudist colonies.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/arbus.html

Hopefully throughout the last several weeks you have noticed how unique each style of photography is while each are tied together. To bring this full circle, we want to once again look at Ansel Adams. Adams is an awe inspiring example of how a photographer can work in several types of photography at once.

http://www.anseladams.com/content/ansel_info/anseladams_biography2.html

Sorry this went up a lot later than I thought. But don't worry! You still have two weeks to get everything read. Remember, our next class is March 22.

Have a good break!

Stephanie

Portraits/Wedding

Whether you realize it or not, each of you is familiar with Annie Leibovitz. She is famous for environmental portraits capturing not only the persons but the personalities of celebrities. Her work has sparked awe and controversy for decades. We have three links for you to look at about her, because we had trouble finding just one with all the images we want you to look at. The first is a link to her bio, the next two show her work.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/annie-leibovitz/life-through-a-lens/16/

http://www.nytimes.com/library/photos/leibovitz/bourgeois.html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/annie-leibovitz/photo-gallery/19/

This week we will be also looking specifically at wedding photography. Wedding photography is a lot of hard work! You have to deal with a bunch of people who want everything perfect. You must capture not only the people and events but the emotions, feelings and personalities involved. Addison and I each picked out a photographer that we want you to look at as examples. The first is Tara Kneiser, a photographer based out of Knoxville. Please look through her site paying special attention to her wedding photography.

http://www.dixiepixelphoto.com/

The second is Greg Allen a photographer in high demand all over the country and in Europe.

http://gregallenphoto.com/

Don't forget your papers are due this week by class Monday! See you then.

Fashion Photography

I want to thank everyone for your patience and attentiveness to professor Dahlman. There is so much to say when it comes to photojournalism. Even though class ended on a very serious and somewhat dark note, I hope you all enjoyed him speaking. If anyone thinks of another or perhaps more specific ethical question please email us and we would love to be able to address that.

The style of this next week's photography takes a dramatic turn and very different ideas about ethics. This week we will be talking about fashion photography. Fashion photography saturates our malls, our magazines and our billboards. The style of this photography is often based on what is popular. Please read about these two fashion photographers Gordon Parks and Adam Rowell.

http://www.nndb.com/people/248/000027167/

http://pdngallery.com/legends/parks/mainframeset.shtml

The first is a link to the biography about Parks and the second is a link to a small online gallery of his work. Please note the many obstacles Parks overcame and how he added to the world of photography.

http://www.adamrowell.com/about/about.html

http://www.profotos.com/pros/biography.cfm?member=947

The first is a link to Rowell own website. Please read his biography and look through his photos. The second is a link to another very short biography on Rowell that we would like for you to look at.

Don't forget, start thinking about your midterm papers. We will talk about them more in class on Monday but if you have any immediate questions about it, don't hesitate to give us a call or email.

Thanks!

Stephanie

Photojournalism

For Monday, February 15

One of the oldest genres of photography is photo journalism. The first "spot news" photograph was taken by George Barnard during July of 1853. Photojournalism brings us some of the most haunting images. These pictures are often unforgettable because whether they are sad, disturbing, or happy they are attached to stories and emotion. This week, we will have a guest speaker talk to us about what sets apart photojournalism from the rest of photography. Photojournalists keep their cool when they are thrust into exciting and often terrifying/heartbreaking situations.

We have 3 photographers to look at this week. First is Robert Capa, an early photographer who helped make photojournalism what it is today. We have already mentioned his quote in class "If your picture isn't good enough, you're not close enough."

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/robert-capa/in-love-and-war/47/

Another photographer we are looking at for this week is someone you may already be familiar with. James Nachtwey has photographed some of the issues and events of our lifetime.

http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

The last photographer we will be looking at in our reading is Steve McCurry. McCurry is another photographer whose images you will most likely recognize because of their frequent appearances in National Geographic.

http://www.stevemccurry.com/main.php

Because we have 3 photographers and because they have done so much work there is more than normal for us to look at this week. Please take the time necessary to read about the photographers and look at their photos. Because of our speaker, it is important that when we meet this week we come together on the same page.

See you in class!

Reading for Monday 2/8/10

Hey everyone sorry this has gotten up so late this week. I promise the readings will not go up so late regularly. This week we will be looking at stock photography. We talked in class this last week a little bit about the business side of photography and some of the marketing options there. But making calendars is not the only way to sell your work. Stock photography is a relatively new opportunity in photography. Stock photographs are photos sold for licensing. We will be having a speaker on Monday talk with us in more detail about what makes a stock photograph different from other photographs. Here is a stock photography website for you to look around and get a feel for what these photos are like:

http://www.shutterstock.com/

Joel Carillet is someone you may recognize from around campus. He is a photographer who has done a lot of stock photography. Be sure to read his bio and check out his site.

http://www.joelcarillet.com/about

Remember, post your comments here or email them to Addison or myself. Thanks!

Reading for Monday 2/1/10

"Pretty Pictures"

Pretty pictures is the term we're using in this class to define the style of photography that is popular because of it beauty and comfortable appeal. This style is used by photographers working with both digital and film cameras. The two photographers we are reading about this week are Ansel Adams and Scott Graham. Ansel Adams is one of the most classic landscape photographers. I bet most of you have seen at least one of his photos before, even if you didn't know it. This is a link to a short bio on him.

http://www.anseladams.com/aboutAAG.html

Scott Graham is a modern photographer who does a lot of his work in this area. His work on the Blueridge parkway is what he is most known for. He still uses a medium format camera for his work. Read his bio and spend a little time checking out his website and looking at his photos:

http://www.jscottgraham.com/

http://www.jscottgraham.com/bio.htm

Welcome!

Hello everyone!

Welcome to Practical photography!

Each week your reading assignments will be posted on this blog. Follow the links and check out the sites and articles we have selected for you. You will also be required to make at least one comment a week on the blog about the reading or a question in general about the style we will be addressing that week. These need to be done by Saturday night by midnight. Remember, these comments and questions will greatly help to add to our in class discussions and will make it more enjoyable for all of us.

Thanks!