DARKROOM PROJECT

Students are getting reacquainted with the darkroom by:

• Using the big enlargers to make large prints
• Comparing fiber and RC photo papers
• Experimenting with head, upper torso, and full body photograms

Please post 2-3 sample images of your work and briefly describe what you did.

Starting the 2010-11 class year

Our Advanced Photo Class is just getting started. I've asked each student to post something to this blog to make sure their account is working. So let's see if everyone can just say hello here in response to my post. Thanks!

READING: Incidental, Personal, Abstract Photography: Is it for Everyone?

New York Times Lens Blog looks at web sharing of photos which are personal, incidental and often very abstract. These photos are taken by Sasha Frere-Jones with a cell phone camera on a whim and without pre-conception. Do you like them? Do you take photos like these? Are they interesting? Would you call them art?

READING: Challenges of Video Journalism

Great article from a video journalist for the NY Times describing the challenges of dealing with the multimedia elements of a story.

INFO: Getting the Big Picture - Print Services for Large Photos

The New York Times recently published an article featuring several services that provide very large photographic prints. Some of these are quite affordable and could make for an interesting art project. These include fabrics, wall coverings, large decals, and wallpaper.

READING: Self Portraits in the Social Networking Age

Some interesting results about which portraits are considered most successful for social networking uses are described in this NY Times article. Don't forget to smile!

READING: Pictures by Women - A Political Satement?

Are famous female photographers making a political statement with their work? That is what Holland Carter proposes in this New York Times article which reviews the "Pictures by Women: A History of Modern Photography" exhibit at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

So, what do you think?

INFO: Photo Galleries Near San Francisco's Union Square

One of my favorite photo galleries near Union Square in San Francisco is Fraenkel Gallery. They typically show work of international stature.

There are a couple of other great photo galleries in the same building: Stephen Wirtz, Robert Koch and ModernBook.

Only a few blocks away, Gallery 291 at 291 Geary is also worth a visit.

Here's a nice list of photo galleries in the SF downtown area.

EXAMPLE: Minimalist Landscape

I enjoyed seeing the work of Chuck Kimmerle. He uses a spare, minimalist style reminiscent of Michael Kenna. It would be interesting to compare their work more closely.

EXAMPLE: Light Painting

I've always been fascinated by light painting for the camera. It seems like the essence of photography in some ways. Here's a nice tutorial on creating light circles like the ones from Dennis Calvert (left) and Dennis Smith (right) pictured below.