Falling behind again...

I said I was going to start actually using this blog again, but of course I have fallen behind once more. I guess I should just say I will write when I have the chance.

Anyways I'm still photographing the objects and I am working on developing the text that goes along with them, but as of this moment I am printing photos from my night series for a print sale the senior photo majors are throwing this Friday. Unfortunately though we don't get any of the money from the photographs, instead the money is all going towards a fund for our book we are making and whatever is left we will give to next year photo seniors.


Here are the images I selected:

Starting this up again...

So, I did this blog as an assignment for class, but now I want to start actually utilizing it.

I am a senior now and this year is all about thesis. I still have no idea what I am going to do for it. Surprisingly I am not to worried, but I am sure once it gets closer to the deadline I will start stressing.

Right now I have been working on a photo series that deals with the significance of objects around the apartment I share with my boyfriend, Tim. I've photographed them within the environment of the apartment and without that background. Personally I'm more attached to the photos I did in the studio because it makes the object the most important thing in the photo. I'm not exactly sure what I am trying to say with these photos. I guess that objects have meaning only if we give it to them. I mean our apartment wouldn't feel like home without all the silly knick knacks adorning every surface. What does that mean though?
These are a sample of some of the images I took. The drunk jester with the red globe is mine and the gargoyle with the green globe is Tim's. We got these when we went to Renaissance Faire over the summer to add to a little pewter figurine army we kind of started. The army consisted of two wizards and a Roman soldier I got for Tim while I was in Rome over the summer before these two joined the group. This is the story of all the items around our apartment. It starts with one of us having something and then all of a sudden we start collecting more of those objects to cram in our apartment. It's a sickness really, but it's fun and we are creating memories while doing it.

Where will this project take me? Do I continue pursuing the value we give these objects or does it become about the differences between the objects that we each possess individually and those we possess together?

Well that's all for now, but I will post more as the project progresses.

I Am a Fine Photographer

Recently I have had several people questioning me to as why I don't want to photograph weddings and all I can say is I'm a fine art photographer. I understand that there are fine art photographers who do weddings, but being a fine art photographer means I photograph somewhat with my emotions and in that way I feel a need to be personally connected with my chosen subject. When it comes to weddings I have to be honest and say that I can't stand them.
That alone is reason enough not to do it. Why would I want to photograph something I hate? I understand the money is good and what not, but I'm going to school to learn how to better communicate with my photos not how to photograph for somebody else. On top of that there is the stress of photographing possibly one of the most important days in someone's life and I don't want to be held responsible for not capturing the right moments.
Another thing that goes along with people not understanding why I don't want to shoot weddings are the people that automatically assume because I am a photographer I will photograph their wedding. For example, over a year ago when I started at my current workplace on of the guys had just gotten engaged and when he heard I was a photographer said, "Oh great, you can shoot my wedding it's in 2 years. How much do you charge?". My jaw literally dropped, I just met the guy and he hears what I'm going to school for and automatically assumes my interest within that major. The store manager actually laughed and said, "Wow man you do realize that she may not be a wedding photographer nor interested in that kind of photography". I immediately set the record straight because I am just not comfortable shooting in that way.
If times get hard though and money is tight, there is no saying I may not turn to wedding photography, but as long as possible I will be avoiding it.

I Want a Photo to Remember

Before starting my journey to become a photographer I wanted to be a chemist. I loved the experiments and being able to work with my hands. Chemistry went hand in hand with my interest in photography because in high school all we did was darkroom work for my photography class. The day came when I had to make a decision, focus on my artwork or crack down on my chemistry studies...I choose my artwork. I like to think it was the right decision, photography makes me happy and I would love to have that career for the rest of my life.
Entering MIAD as a freshman I was excited about all the photos I was going to take and the work I was going to make while going to school. When I had my first photography class I was completely thrown off my axis when I realized I would be starting out with digital photography and I had never worked digitally before.
Looking back on all that I've done and all the worries I had, I know that this was the right choice for me and that challenging myself in this way has only improved my photography. Since high school I've learned that photography, or art in general, is all about experimentation and being able to discover something new about yourself. So, my photography is as such. I'm constantly changing my interests and hoping that I'll find my next inspiration just around the corner. I'm currently working on a nightscape series, in which I photograph places at night to show their deserted or rather empty feeling. I plan on continuing this for awhile so hopefully I can get some photos up here for you to see.