READING: Current Research in Digital Photography

Here's a brief NY Times article about some of the leading research in digital photography. Since the megapixel race for large sensors appears to be over, most of the effort is on the processing side, which is called computational photography.

For example, there are efforts at MIT using laser pulses to calculate, model and record the 3d geometry of subjects like a room. Stanford is working on processing multiple images and "re-focusing" the still image after it has been recorded.

Another direction for researchers is the open source software model so that any software developer can use and contribute applications which control the camera's functions. Using open source software, a student programmer at Stanford has developed an application which can direct you to the exact location, position, and angle that was used for a given photo.

Large Format

For This rotation I was given the task of handling a large format camera. I was surprised at how you could take such cool pictures with a camera that consisted of a box, and a piece of glass. These are two of the pictures that I liked with water drops.

Wonderful street Photography

Smash Magazine

I was looking into different photographers to compare and contrast when I stumbled upon a very interesting website. It included many photographers work and many were very impressive however these following photos were my favorites. The website also goes further to discuss what aspects are needed in great street photography which really caught my attention.

Winter Photo Exhibit, Sale and Reception

Winter Photo Exhibit, Sale and Reception

Friday, December 3rd, 6-9 pm 
Menlo School Student Center

More than 200 hand made, black and white photo prints will be on display and for sale. All sales proceeds support Menlo School's Photography Program. Art work from 50 beginning and advanced photo students will be on display until December 10th.

The show includes mostly portraits and landscapes. Here are a two examples by Craig Robbins and Madeline Berry.

EXAPLE: Macro Photos of Watches

In my fever of procrastination stemming from my inability and simultaneous lack of desire to concentrate on college apps, I've been researching/reading about everything from cars to watches. One thing I've recently discovered in the field of horology (the production of watches) is how ridiculous all of it is. You can regularly find watches that cost upwards of 5 or 6 digits.

Anyway, one of the things that makes some luxury watches so expensive is how many tiny little contraptions (called "complications," for good reason, in horology) are crammed into them. Chronometers, date displays, and the grand-daddy of expensive complications- the tourbillon.

They're more or less little spinning doohickeys, and they are awesome.

Flickr user "martin t w" has a lot of watch photography on his photostream that displays closeup shots of various parts of luxury watches, and they embody nearly everything I love about closeup and macro photography. The minute details and the very abstractness that come from getting up so close to something are simply amazing.

Examples:
The crown of a Panerai 316. http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinwilmsen/3826742492

Another Panerai, with this shot focused on the inner workings. You can see the tourbillon in the center of the photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinwilmsen/4688510362/

The tourbillon of another Panerai, from the back of the watch. Mmmm, gears.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinwilmsen/3825942705/

Project- Medium Format

HasselBlad Camera


For my past rotation, my focus was on experimenting with medium format cameras. I used two different types, one was a Holga and the other was a HasselBlad. The Holga was more of a toy camera and less expensive. It was very simply to use and had a small range of focus. When the pictures I took with the Holga were developed you could clearly see that past that range of focus the rest of the picture became blurry. The HasselBlad is a much more expensive camera, requiring a light meter to be used along side it since it does not control the light on its own. The difference between the two cameras was evident. The HasselBlad could take very clear pictures with a wide focus while the Holga did not. It was fun being able to capture images with both types of cameras because it was a new expirence. I liked working with the Holga a lot too because you could play around with double exposures. Holga

PROJECT 3: Large Format- Polaroids

This rotation I have been working with one of the two large format cameras. It's been a much slower process but the amount of control I have over each image is amazing. I have been experimenting with tilt-shift focus. Working with polaroids before shooting a piece of film is very different as well-- it helped me to have a much clearer idea of the photograph I would get. Sometimes looking at the Polaroid helped me to see that the framing of my photograph wasn't very good, or it was too dark, or the focus didn't look the way I wanted it to. I focused on photographing leaves and fences. These are four of my Polaroids.

EXAMPLE: Rephotography

I've always enjoyed the idea of self reference and re-photography to break up the idea of a conventional photo. Here are a couple of good examples to consider if you are doing the Alt Process rotation for our class:

Holding an empty mat card.

 "Floating" camera display with blurry and sharp subjects.

EXAMPLE: Superhero Grandma

I found this on Gizmodo about an elderly grandmother who was depressed and lonely. As a result her grandson/photographer took her on a photoshoot. She was actually a hero. During WWII she helped save 10 Jews and as a result had to illegally leave Hungary to avoid persecution. Anyway, enjoy!

EXAMPLE: Hasselblad Photos

I'm currently working on my Hasselblad rotation, but unfortunately, since I'm in that awkward in-between stage of the rotation where my film has just been processed but is not yet available on any digital form, I suppose I'll instead show some examples of photos other people have taken with Hasselblads.

Do note the lovely small depth-of-field effects, as Mr. Z so pointed out to me a few weeks ago.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwardolive/1184889133/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newage/457807641/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/manyfires/3681069948/

READING: Headmounted Camera. No, Really, I Mean It.

Would you care if your teacher had a camera surgically implanted in the back of his head? Do you think this project will yield anything interesting or valuable? Some people speculate that in the future we'll have embedded camera's constantly recording the events that happen around us. That way our memories will be "backed up" and available for us to review at any time. Are you looking forward to that day?

PROJECT 3: Cyanotypes

Here are some 11x17" cyanotypes that I made using digital negatives and a 15 min exposure to full sun. Enjoy!

EXAMPLE: Digital Version of Kevin's Photographer

Just saw this on Gizmodo. Can't seem to find the seams yet...

EXAMPLE: Flickr Finds

I found some cool photos from Flickr.

This is a long exposure taken at night.

I love the mystical feel of this photo.

Light painting.

I like the short depth of field here.

Black Friday is Coming up.

http://gizmodo.com/5688188/guaranteed-awesome-gifts-for-the-potential-photographer?skyline=true&s=i

What more can I say other than one word? Want.

EXAMPLE: Bubbles!

I just saw this on deviant art, and it reminded me of some of the work Mr. Z did with gummy bears and a scanner. These were done with some soap, oil, and a syringe. The shape was not photoshopped. Enjoy!

PROJECT 2: Large Format

Recently, I've been working with large format film, more specifically the view camera in the photo room. It was interesting to work with, mainly because it takes A LOT more time. It's difficult to move around, it takes a while to focus the camera, and just set everything up overall. For test shots I used polaroids, and in the end only had one piece of film for each set-up. I got to work with taking my brother's portrait and I'm working on printing a set of all three of us for a gift for my mom. I was kind of bummed though because one of the pieces of film was exposed and was essentially ruined. Thankfully, I've already set up the classroom as a studio several times, so doing it again isn't too difficult.

The other aspect of working with large format film is printing it. Because it's so much larger, every flaw can be seen. The paper is bigger and a bit tricky to avoid getting "man-handling" marks on it, but in the end I like the bigger image. It really shows off the effort that went into taking the shot. I'll upload some of my work later.

READING: Photographing Autism

Here's a short NY Times article about a father and son who use photography to build bonds between them and document the boys autism. The story and the photos are touching. Some readers left comments saying that the father is exploiting the condition of his son by publishing these photos and a book. What do you think?

PROJECT 3

Here's our third project rotation Nov 4 - Jan 4

• Alternative Photography - LeeAnne
• Large Format Camera - Anna and Craig
• Medium Format Cameras - Phil and Kevin
• Biography Comparing Two Photographers - Laura

PROJECT 2: Balloons at Nighttime

I recently went out into downtown Los Altos to try and incorporate our "White Balloon" theme into some nighttime photography. At first it was a bit of a struggle to try and find what, and how exactly I wanted to incorporate the balloons. But with a little scotch tape and some experiments with the exposure time, I cam up with some interesting results. Enjoy

READING: Reach Out and Touch Someone

Here's an interesting idea for a project from Richard Renaldi... having strangers touch for the sake of a photograph. What do you think of the idea as a photographer? as a subject? as a viewer?

Could this idea work at Menlo? What people or groups would you choose to have touch for the camera?

Photographer: Jerry Uelsmann

Jerry Uelsmann is a quite-well-known photographer who is primarily known for being a master of achieving Photoshop-like effects using darkroom techniques. His work primarily consists of composite photographs utilizing multiple negatives to achieve a surreal, magical effect. When Uelsmann first began his work, photography was considered a very documentary and accurate way to capture events, and so Uelsmann's work was among the first to shatter this long-held perception.

Below are a few examples of his work.

Photographer: Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison

Not much information is publically available on photographer Robert ParkeHarrison and his wife Shana, who often produce their work collaboratively. The ParkeHarrisons' photography is comprised mainly of highly edited abstract black and white photography involving self-portraits of Robert and various mechanical contraptions and strange depictions of natural things in unnatural arrangements.

The ParkeHarrisons' most well-known and well-received work to date has arguably been their book The Architect's Brother, which is a collection of their photography up until around 2000.

Robert himself said, "My photographs tell stories of loss, human struggle, and personal exploration within landscapes scarred by technology and over-use…. [I] strive to metaphorically and poetically link laborious actions, idiosyncratic rituals and strangely crude machines into tales about our modern experience."

The ParkeHarrisons' work comes off as strange at first, perhaps bordering unsettling and maybe even pushing past the boundary of downright creepy. Of course, this is all in a very poignant and beautiful manner.

Below are a few samples of their work. You'll see what I mean.

PROJECT 2: Cyanotype

In my experimental rotation, one of the things I focused on was cyanotype printing. I was also working with liquid emulsion on plywood, but was unsuccessful in my test run and then ran out of liquid light. They all exposed in the sun for several hours gathering light.

This is the beach.



This is a fireplace.



This one is my favorite. I think it captured the most detail.

EXAMPLE: Wide Angle Pinhole Holga

I am currently experimenting with a wide angle pinhole Holga, and so I decided to look on flickr to see some interesting photos in this style.

Here are a few of my favorites:

This was a five minute exposure.

.

I love the vignetting on the edges and the high contrast of the photograph.

The water and blurred reflections make this photograph look surreal.

Here is the search results, for more photographs:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=wide+angle+pinhole+holga&m=text

EXAMPLE: Pakistan, Iran and China

This is a post of several photos from the NYT Lens Photography blog. It won't let me pull any of the photos from the website, but it is a series of ten. I think the one with the Pakistani girl in a Halloween costume is very poignant. I think these photographs do a really good job of communicating so much more about what's happening in the photo than just one frame of action.

This is the link:

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/pictures-of-the-day-pakistan-and-elsewhere-11/

READING: Circus Series

http://www.fotolog.com/mister_t/75675647

During photography class I found a book on an urban photographer who specialized on taking pictures of street life. Finding this book, inspired me to further look for other photographers who specialized in this same type of photography. My favorite work came from this link. Many of the works play with contrast in such a poetic manner that this photographer's work easily spoke to me. The one image that most struck me as fascinating is called "Circus Serie". The picture overall is very haunted and it has many shadows that add to this dark effect. In addition, the smile of the person being photographed is very sinister.