Tree-flections

Puddle Portraits

A few nights ago I was laying in bed thinking, "What am I doing?". This question was focused on photography and what I was doing for my project- how were these images linked? Why did I want to make them? Suddenly, something occurred to me. I am searching for a new perspective(s). A new way of looking. A new way of seeing. Another way of being.

Things have been kind of rough lately. I have been having a hard time feeling grounded, safe, solid. This is not necessarily bad. I am learning a lot. But I also would just like to KNOW something once in awhile. Come on universe, please??

Part of this conflict has risen from not wanting to follow what "society" dictates I should do after college. Get a job. I just want to be free of commitments for awhile, do my own thing. Go where I want to. But I'm afraid. Not that I can't do what I want. Just that once I graduate, I CAN do it. I'm afraid of letting myself down, compromising. But I'm unsure of what the limits of compromise are-- how far can you go until you are being untrue to yourself?

So, in terms of perspectives, I guess I am searching for my own. I am looking for people with similar wants and needs. I want to see this world for what it is, not be naive, but also be able to see and convey the extreme beauty I see everyday. I guess I am also looking to understand pain and hatred and sorrow. And everything in between.

Floating

I continued to play with the mirror and realized when I zoomed in, I could make myself look like I was floating/ swimming in space. I liked the feel of these, but I think they are not a fully developed images at this point-- maybe adding something to the background (ceiling) and thinking about clothing/ expressions. Also, it would be cool to get rid of the camera somehow (photoshop!).

Frank said I was creating new worlds and that I need to fantasize more. I am, I just need to be able to convey what I want. Which takes time. And practice. And lots of reflection. (Pun not intended, but now it is).

Mirrors, Dance, and Alternate Universes

As part of my project, I want to play with mirrors and see what I can come up with. The idea behind these is looking into the mirror, trying to find what you seek. Maybe sometimes you want to go into the mirror, maybe another world where your (evil?) twin resides is waiting for you to explore it.

I was also trying to tap into some of the dance moves I've been exploring in my Modern Dance class. Having structured chaos in a way, with an engaged core, but loose head and limbs.

 

I liked the color palate of these images. However, some people did not like the background/ wood floor and suggested something more surreal. I also thought the idea to hand something on my ceiling was a really good one and want to explore that in the future. 

Good Mornin'

Starting to play with different reflective surfaces.

 



 

This image was called "hokey" in critique. Yeah, Foldgers would probably want something like this for their next coffee ad. And even though it sucks to be called hokey, sometimes I think it's okay to copy and be literal, so you can get critiqued and see that maybe you need to let go and do your own thing.

 

 

We also talked about the background being interesting in the last photo, but the reflection being interesting in this one. So next time, I'll be thinkin' about that . . . 

Photo Projects and Silly Notions

So . . . I have been in extreme diress for the past few weeks due to the fact that I did not have a project for my Studio Photography class this year. Actually, that is not true. I had an idea in my head since last semester. I liked it a lot. But when it came time to actually DO it, I made excuses. I wasn't really up for it. I was more entranced with the idea, I think, than actually making it a reality. So, once school started, I said to myself, okay, do this. And I didn't want to.

This gave me a lot of anxiety. I was thinking, doubting, arguing, chastising, hating, ignoring, anyting but photographing. Actually, I did photograph. But not for my project.

Then, in one of my other art classes, I shared how I was feeling about my photo class. How I cared a lot about this project but couldn't think of the right idea and was so stressed out about it. My instructor suggested instead of contiuning to THINK about my idea I should just DO. Just make photos. YES. Sometimes I forget the simplest things.

I skipped my photo class that day. I had printed some photos but I didn't love them, they weren't complete and I didn't feel like coming in empty handed. The next day I spent most of the day photographing. It was wonderful. It felt so good.

I am obsessed with making self portraits. I can't stop. Even though I don't think I'm that great at it, I want to be. I want to try new things with it. I have so many ideas I want to try. Right now, I'm drawn to mirrors/reflections and interesting body shapes. Maybe this isn't a "solid" project idea. But this is what I like. And I'm going to see where it goes. And stop being stressed and start learning about myself. Duh.