Consider My Soul Stirred

So... for this week's assignment we had to find a "soul stirring" black and white picture from before we were born and try and duplicate it. I looked and looked, having a pretty good idea of what kind of picture I wanted and I couldn't find it so I got desperate, found this one by chance and said "DONE! Easy Peasy!" Ok, well maybe I didn't say "Easy Peasy" but was satisfied that it would be easy to replicate it. It's called "Eleanor" by Harry Callahan taken in 1947.

I kept thinking about the picture and looking a it. As I kept reflecting on the picture I came to see the beauty in the simplicity of the picture, in the lighting and in the lines of her body. It is beautiful and sexy, and the model is openly vulnerable. I had originally planned on modelling for it myself, cause I figured it would be easy enough to do myself and was kind of dreading it. After reflecting on the picture I was looking forward to modelling for it! After all, why shouldn't I?!?!?! I know that "fluffy" girls shouldn't do stuff like this, and as a self proclaimed "Fluffy" girl, I wanted to suddenly do nothing more than try it. Who is to say that I can't be beautiful and sexy?! I don't know who "they" are that determine who/what defines feminine beauty, but they are so wrong! There is beauty in all of us! It may not be the conventional beauty that society seeks, but we are beautiful non the less. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made! I was wrong for choosing this picture originally when I didn't feel anything for it, but now I consider my soul stirred by this picture, so here is my interpretation.

SHELLY! I Love You More Than Kodak!!!

  This past week was nice and relaxed. What could be more relaxing than sitting back, munching on goodies and watching some movies with your fellow classmates? That's right, we had movie week! We had to watch a minimum of 3 movies, and the 3 that I watched  were 1) Born into Brothels, 2) One Hour Photo, 3) Pecker.


Born into Brothels was... I'm not sure that I can use only one word to describe the movie. It was inspiring, sad, heartbreaking and a million other emotions. I knew that it was going to be a sad movie going into it and expected to cry, but I didn't. Not until the very end when the updates were given on the children. That kind of surprised me, as I am a crier. What surprised me most about the movie was how all of the children wanted to get out of the red light district, because they knew what kind of life awaited them if they stayed. I know that sounds bad, but you know the saying "Not seeing the forest for the trees", well I guess I expected the kids to see the trees and not the forest. But they did and knew the forest well. As badly as their families treated them they still loved them, one of the little boys made a remark along the lines that even though his father wasn't a good one, he was still his father so he tried to love him. I couldn't get over how these children seemed so old, yet so young at the same time. This is totally foreign to my understanding of childhood. What is it like to constantly worry that you will "join the line" any day, will your mother be killed by her pimp or a customer, to be abandoned to family because your mother is unwilling to care for you? One little boy, Avjit commented "There is nothing in my future called hope.". So when Zana Auntie, began to try and get the children out of the brothels, I started to silently cheer along side her victories and feel her keen disappointment when it seemed like nothing would come together. I applaud her for all her efforts in helping these children. That she was able to help even some is a miracle in itself, these kids that she has helped don't have to fear life in the brothels. I was so excited when she was able to get these kids out of the brothels, and when they gave updates on the kids at the end of the movie, my heart broke upon learning that not all of the children remained in the schools where Zana Auntie got them admittance to, and it broke even more upon learning that one of the girls left the school of her own free will. I did a little bit of research on where the kids are now and am pleased to report that 2 of the kids were attending schools in the USA. Avjit being one of them, he was attending NYU studying film. After the movie was over some of us were discussing it and someone remarked that they felt like shit and wanted to hop on a plane over there, right then to help. And while I empathize with the feelings, I came to realize a long time ago that not everyone is cut out for being a hands on advocate like Zana Auntie was, but there are always financial needs, and helping financially is every bit important as being there in person getting your hands dirty, for without the financial support there would be no hope for these kids.


  One hour Photo! CREEPY! I have no other word for it, I really don't. Sy turns from a photo stalker to an actual stalker. It made me want to look suspiciously at all photo lab technicians from now on. To become so enamoured with a family through their photos that he felt he had become a part of the family (Uncle Sy) is creepy and scary beyond belief. To believe that he was a part of the family and to have daydreams of what it would be like to be an integral part of that family is disturbing. That he begins to stalk them, trying to relate to them and in a way protect them from the husband/father is mind boggling. Are there really people like that out there? I really have nothing more to say on this film other than I will never watch it again!


 Pecker! Oh, Pecker. Stupid, stupid, STUPID movie! But it did have it's funny points, I will admit that, and it did have some pretty funny quotes. My favourite is Pecker to Shelly "Shelly! I love you more than Kodak!". But, I also loved the blind photographer "I feel portraits and smell landscapes!", I loved it! So ridiculous, but kinda true at the same time, in a weird sort of way.  I could've done with out certain things in the movie, such as the lesbian strip bar for straight men?!?! Did no one else find that weird? Little Chrissy creeped me out! First the insane sugar highs!, and also referring to herself in the third person, just plain weird. think it is every photographer's secret dream that they will be "discovered" out of the blue and to become an instant sensation in the art world. Alas life doesn't work that way, at least for 99.9999% of us, but it is nice to dream. But we do all have family that support us in our photography adventure, like Pecker did.


  Well I think that about sums up my movie week. Now back to my reality of research projects, print auctions and cameras. Blog you later.

Christmas Chez Moi

   Christmas was nice this year. I did all of nothing! It was a great time of relaxing and hanging out with family and friends. If I could change one thing about Christmas this year, it would be spent in Montreal with  family like last year, instead of here. I love the people that we spent Christmas day with, but it's not quite the same as family. Oh well maybe next year. My fingers are crossed!

 

   So, this year I actually put up all the Christmas cards that I got this year, totalling a whopping 4!!!! Well 5, but I misplaced the last one (shh, don't tell). I am not a card person, so this is quite the accomplishment for me. I also had the most WONDERFUL advent calendar, it was a Lindt chocolate one. Can you say YUMMY?!?!?

   So, one of our family traditions that has been for as long as I can remember, is that every Christmas my Dad goes to the meat shop and buys a side of smoked bacon for the holidays.  A side of bacon is a LOT of bacon. I think the real reason he buys it, is for the Club Sandwiches using the left over turkey. It also serves as breakfast on Christmas morning, healthy, I know! But tasty!

   

   For those that know me, know that I LOVE presents! I am a snoop! As soon as the first presents appear under the tree I am there lifting the tags to see whom the gifts are addressed to. I can't help it, it is my own personal addiction. I am also the first one up Christmas morning, normally around 6am, but this year I was a bit better, 7am. Since I was up I decided to go check FaceBook and posted this as my status:

'Twas the morning of Christmas and all through the house not a creature 

was stirring not even a mouse. Nina sat by her Mac fully awake 

in hopes that her family would soon start to wake. The stockings 

were stuffed and the presents were wrapped, Nina started feeling her 

energy zapped. Since the family's still sleeping all snug in their beds, 

Nina too will lay down her still tired head.

   Sadly, this little ditty took me about 30min to come up with. Then I did go back to bed until I was woken up but the rest of my family getting up. The we went downstairs and:

   

   

   One of the things I love doing at Christmas time is Boxing Day shopping! I love it! I now wait until about 9-10am to go as I don't like the waiting outside a store for 2 hours before the store opens. BRRRR! I love the hunting for bargains and beating down old ladies for the last of whatever it is on the shelf that we are both going for!!!! Just kidding about the old ladies. But i do love a good bargain. I am quite happy with my treasures this year. A bunch of movies,some cloths, some odds and ends, some Christmas chocolates and what I consider the crowning glory of my Boxing Day shopping...a 2ft purple tinsel Christmas tree!!!!

   Ok, so it may look like the twin sister to Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree, but it's purple, it's shiny and it's all mine!

   My brother and I drove down and spent a day in Grand Forks one day this past week. It was fun! I love going down to shop for the day. I love looking to see what they have down in the States that we don't have up here! It would take me hours to list the things they have down there, so I won't. But what I did find was awesome. I found... Coconut-Pecan Frosting!

   And I could just imagine how it would taste. So, after we got back, no not that night, I baked a cake using my newest US find as the Piece du Resistance. I have one word to describe my cake...YUMMY! Ok maybe two words...PRETTY! 

   I had a pedicure! I LOVE pedicures! My toes always look SO pretty afterwards! I took a picture of my toes, and let me just say it was extremely challenging taking a picture of my toes using a tri-pod. I would also like to apologize, I never realized that my feet look like hairless Hobbit feet. However my toenails are still pretty and that is all that counts!

   Well, that about covers my Christmas holidays. Hope that yours were a bit more exciting than mine, but just as relaxing. So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  May the New Year bring you joys unknown.

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

   One of my favourite and unexpected things about PrairieView so far, has to be the field trips that we have gone on. So I thought I’d share some of my experiences with you. 


  FORE!!!!! Our first official field trip was to Grand Prix. It was a chance to get to know my competition a bit better ;) . Just kidding. But seriously, since then I have learned just how incredibly talented my fellow students are! (You'll be blown away as they continue blogging throughout the year).

  It was a wonderful day that we spent hanging out, getting to meet people we hadn’t had a chance to meet yet, and in general act like a bunch of big kids! It was totally awesome!!!!! We played mini golf in the morning (I won) and in the afternoon we got to do some go-karting (I lost). Even tough I lost at the go-karting I did appreciate all my adoring fans and their support. 


  We also got some pretty fun pics in the meantime.

 One man's trash, is another man's treasure, or so I've been told. On this specific outing, we went to a junk yard. It was cold, dirty, wide open, maze-like, confusing and challenging. We went with specific shots that we had to get, and I found that to be the most challenging part for me. I was so concerned about the shots that I needed to get, that I forgot to relax and have fun. I would love to go back and try it again, to just let go and have fun. 


  I'm slowly learning that you don't always get to do what you want to (even when you are doing what you want to) and that I need to let go of my pre-existing Christina-isms when it comes to, what I consider, "my style" of photography and try something different and have fun. Realizing that "but the ground was sopping wet" is not an acceptable reason for not getting the shot I wanted is incredibly hard for me! I hate getting wet and dirty, and I hate bugs and creepy crawly things! But I will "suck it up princess" as people have told me to do, and do what needs to be done in order to get the shot. Even if that means I need to be thigh-high in mud w/ snakes. Ok, that will NEVER happen! The mud ok, I can deal with that, but NO snakes, EVER!


 Here are my treasures from the Junk Yard.

  It's a bird...It's a plane...It's...Oh! Ya, it is a plane! So guess where we went for this trip. That's right, the Western Canada Aviation Museum. I kinda wandered around for a while, snuck onto a plane (didn't realize I wasn't allowed on it) and off it w/ out getting caught by the grumpy worker, taking pics all the while. Then said grumpy worker was quite generous and offered to take me into the workshop in the back where they restore the planes. It smelled...well like a workshop. It didn't seem like much to me, half restored planes, with spare parts here and there and plans spread out over the work benches.


 I learned some really neat things. Planes take 20-25 years to restore, I feel sorry for those people who spend their entire careers restoring one plane and, in most cases, don't even get to see the culmination of their work. These old, wrecked, dilapidated planes that are brought in to be restored are worth in the millions. And sadly, restoring planes is becoming something of a lost art form. 


  Here is my view of the museum.

  We have also had some unofficial field trips. Places that we got to choose to go to for some of our assignments. Some of the places I've gone have included the Assiniboine Zoo, the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden and a cemetery.


  The Zoo was a BLAST!!!! I can't remember the last time I went to a Zoo. I'd say I was probably 6 or 7. I have never been to the Zoo here in Winnipeg, so it was great experience. I spent almost the entire 4 hours I was there talking to animals in that voice that everyone reserves for babies. I got some pretty funny looks from some of the construction workers (from the  bear pavillion), but that's ok cause it worked! The animals would look my way and SNAP I'd get the shot. Ok well maybe it wasn't completely that easy, after all they are animals and have minds of their own. The thing I loved the most, was how peacocks have free run of the Zoo, it was awesome.

  The Leo Mol Sculpture Garden was kind of awkward at first. I didn't realize that there were going to be LOTS of naked statues. It took a bit, but I mostly got over it. It probably won't be my favourite place to take pictures, but it is really beautiful. I went in the late fall, just after the snow had started, so the gardens were mostly bare, so I am planning on going back in the summer when the gardens are in full bloom. Here is what I found.

  

  My new favourite place to take pictures is the cemetery. I went to shoot with one assignment in mind, but ended up going back a number of times to shoot different assignments. It might sound creepy, morbid or disturbed, but I really enjoy it. It is beautiful, peaceful, emotional and full of history and there is so much you can learn about people you never knew. I used to hate cemeteries for most of the same reasons mentioned above, but not any more. It is a wonderful place to go and think. I find it very relaxing. This is my favourite picture from the cemetery.

  
So those are my trips so far this year. I'm looking forward to what the rest of the year holds.

Annie Liebovitz

So, today I watched a documentary on Annie Liebovitz. What an amazingly talented woman. I spent some time googling her work, and I absolutely love her dream/fantasy portraits. The one that I connected to the most was "Where You Never Have to Grow Up", her version of Peter Pan.

  What I loved about this picture is how it is a perfect combination of Disney's Peter Pan and Cathy Rigby's  Peter Pan. Real people with an animated feel.  It's where reality and fantasy collide. Annie Liebovitz likes to recreate and give people what they want, but they don't always realize that that is what they want.

  The lighting is wonderful. Peter Pan, Wendy and Tink are all perfectly lit. The darker backgrounds help to bring out the 3 characters. The picture has a wonderful asymmetrical balance to it. I love how the flowing curtain divides the frame into two parts, Peter Pan and the window leading to Never Land, and Wendy and the room that leads no where. The curtain definitely gives  the picture a  feeling of movement. You can almost feel the wind that "blew" the window open and Peter Pan into Wendy's bedroom. Annie has done a fabulous job of creating multiple emotions within the picture. Peter Pan's half of the frame is blue which evokes feelings of it being cold, dangerous and inviting. Wendy's half is red which creates feelings of it being warm, cozy, safe, familiar and inviting as well.

  I hope that one day I will be as accomplished as Annie Liebovitz. Where I can walk into a set/stuido, take 3 pictures and say "Ok, got it. We're done!" and leave. I can only hope that I can develop her vision, her understanding of her subjects and models.  It'll take years...but maybe, just maybe.

Photographic Hero

 Rui Palha

  We were asked to pick a photographer whose work we admire. Let me tell you, it was not easy. I stumbled across Rui's Flickr account and fell in love with his work. I find that there is something very nostalgic about a lot of his work. There were times where I found his work confusing and I had to stare at it for a it before I could see what he was doing in the picture, kind of like one of the crazy pictures that you stare at, and after a while a 3D picture pops out at you.


   Rui is still living. And for this I was very thankful! I e-mailed him and he was kind enough to answer some questions, although, not as detailed as I would have liked, but as he was doing me a favour, I didn't want to push it.


   Rui no longer uses B&W film as his medium of choice, he has gone mostly digital in the past couple of years. There are several reasons for this, one is health and he is required to walk everyday and so taking the number of pictures that he does has just gotten to expensive to do in film. Another reason is that no longer has a darkroom of his own. He admitted that he doesn't like the dark room work any more. He didn't mind it when he was younger but finds it too tedious now. And since he doesn't trust the commercial labs, he had gone digital.


  For Rui, the gear is not important! He reiterated that several times in our e-mails. What is important, he said, is the "eye" behind the camera. So I have no idea what type of a camera Rui used, other than  a 35mm film SLR. His film of preference is/was the Kodak TRI-X with a ISO 400. If he needed to he would push it to ISO 800 or ISO 1600. One thing that I discovered about Rui that I love, is that he does all his cropping in-camera, what you see is the original image. He never crops in post-processing.


  Here are some of my favourite of Rui's pics:

  I love this picture! It makes me want to go jump in a puddle. The lighting and the timing in this picture are perfect! I wouldn't change a thing about it. The figure is in the top third of the frame, but the street draws your eye up through the frame. It has just the right amount of contrast as well. Part of the reason I love this picture is that it has a sort of 1950's feel to it, it draws me to what was a simpler time, and although I wasn't born yet, I like to imagine what it was like.

   This picture made want to take up surfing! Not that I would ever do something so dangerous, but it was an entertaining thought. Again, the lighting is wonderful and soft, thanks to the water. The water is clear and crisp as it is cascading over the edge. I love that he used a fast enough shutter speed to stop the motion of the water to give us those fabulous lines. I wish I could join the figure on the bike on a ride behind the water.

   I love how Rui captured the boy's personality in this picture. Just look at the attitude in the tilt of his chin and the gleam in his eye. This pictures makes me smile. Compositionally, it is very simple, but effective. The boy's eyes are on a line of thirds, it looks like he took advantage of some really nice soft lighting. I love the subtle nuances that the grain gives to this picture.

Symbols

Hello,

  So we had an assignment on Symbols. Symbols for love, envy and peace. We had to pick a final picture and blog about it, so here is me blogging about it...

  Love, that is my final image. As soon as we got the assignment I had an idea of what I wanted to do. I am a die hard romantic and so I had fun with this symbol. To me, when I think of love, I think of romance and commitment. What better symbols to use than a rose and an engagement ring? An engagement ring that belonged to my great-grandmother (since I don't have one ;) ).

  The biggest decision that I made in regards to this picture was the lighting. I had some really nice side sun lighting that was diffused by a curtain, so it gave me some really nice soft lighting. I shot in aperture priority because I really wanted to try and control my depth of field.

  I didn't realize what a challenge it was going to be taking pictures of an engagement ring. The ring I picked had diamonds in it and I picked because I thought it was pretty and sparkly! It didn't occur to me that sparkle is really hard to capture and in most of my pictures it blurred the shape of the stones, even though there was no direct light on the ring itself and the ring had been sharp in my viewfinder. I found out I would've been better off with a simple gold band, but figured that one out too late. Oh well. It just occurred to me that I should've tried to backlight it. I think I'll try that this afternoon and see if it works.