Influential Photographers- (Entry 2)

This week I have decided to write about photographers that I believe have made a difference in the history of photography. Even if there are plenty of admirable contemporary artists to look at , I think it is important to recognize the work of the masters and to learn from these classic figures.

1957

I am starting this list with a personal favorite, from the united states, Richard Avedon. (1923-2004)
Avedon is internationally known for his portraits

1967

in studio. He worked with well known celebrities and artists such as Marylin Monroe,Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Bjork, The Beatles and much more. Avedon described himself as a portrait photographer that was not interested that much in the youth. He preferred characters with stories to tell in the studio, with physical marks left by time.

Interesting enough, he gained his initial fame as a fashion photographer for the popular Harper's Bazaar in the 1940's. He worked with fashion models and experimented with movement in the studio. He is known for using animals such as elephants and snakes as fashionable props. He was using a large-format 8x10 view camera.

http://www.richardavedon.com/

The Tetons and the Snake River(1942)

Ansel Adams (1902-1984) , an American photographer and environmentalist did beautiful black and white landscape photography that have been widely reproduced on calendars, posters, and in books such as National Geographic. 

During the early 1940`s , Adams joined photographers Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans in their commitment to affecting social and political change through art. Adams’ first cause was the protection of wilderness areas, particularly Yosemite.

His photos of landscapes are truly stunning. He achieved an unparalleled level of contrasts using the creative techniques in the darkroom.

http://www.biography.com/people/ansel-adams-9175697

My favorite internationally known female photographer must be Annie Liebovitz. (1949-  )
Annie is an american photographer renowned for her dramatic, quirky, and iconic portraits of a great variety of celebrities. Her signature style is crisp and well lighted. She mostly does portraits and documentary photos. She also does fashion and conceptual photography.She mentioned in interviews that her ultimate goal is to capture the moments others have missed. 
While she was still a student, she was given as a 1st commercial assignment to photograph John Lennon for Rolling Stone Magazine. Much later, she took the famous shot of Lennon and Yoko Ono , again for the magazine . It is probably one of her most famous work. This picture has been taken mere hours before Lennon's assassination.

On tour with The Rolling Stones, 1975

One of the biggest events in her career came when she was invited to photograph the Rolling Stones on tour. She took leave from her gig at Rolling Stone magazine (with no promise of a job on her return) to travel with the band in 1975. She was allowed carte blanche and she has permission to shoot wherever she wanted and whatever she wanted. The images from that tour are almost timeless. She came back from that tour with an addiction to cocaine but she managed to get sober after a while.

http://www.biography.com/people/annie-leibovitz-9542372

Death by Hamburger, 2010

The next photographer I am throwing in this list is commercial photographer David LaChapelle.           (1963- ) 

Lachapelle is to me the Salvador Dali of photography with a hint of Andy Warhol plus a particular twist. There are more than plenty of sexual connotations in his unrealistic colorful images. He usually references art history and sometimes conveys social messages through his photos.

When LaChapelle was 17 years old, he met Andy Warhol,who offered him his first job as a photographer at Interview Magazine.

LaChapelle worked with famous artist such as Elton John, Micheal Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj.

Fidel Castro 1971

http://www.davidlachapelle.com/

This list would not be satisfying without mentioning the talented Yousuf Karsh. (1908-2002)

His body of work includes portraits of statesmen, artists, musicians, authors, scientists, and men and women of accomplishment. Each of his portraits tells you all about the subject. He felt as though there was a secret hidden behind each woman and man. Whether he captures a gleaming eye or a gesture done totally unconsciously, these are times when humans temporarily lose their masks. Karsh’s portraits communicate with people.

During his career he held 15,312 sittings, produced over 150,000 negatives.

Karsh worked with incredible people such as Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Carl Jung, Pablo Picasso, Grace Kelly and Georgia O keeffe. 

http://www.karsh.org/

My Photograms - Reflection 1

These two artworks explore the theme of memories. They are both integrating the same objects but interpreting memories in a different way. In Loved Ones, I gathered objects that I value that remind me of specific individuals. In Summer Nights, I am using the same objects (some deconstructed) to depict a familiar scene based on memories from childhood. The image is created so the viewer can interpret the photograph in his own personal way and relate to the theme, bringing back his own memories.

In both cases, I selected a variety of objects of different opacity to create different tones. I achieved several tonalities of grey using glass, clear plastic, jewelry, artificial flowers and leaves. I created white zones with opaque objects such as feathers, chains, and a key chain in Loved Ones. The space left is black, reflecting the lack of objects permitting the light to hit fully the surface.

These photograms were an introspection that got me thinking of preciousness and the value accorded to objects. For this reason, I tried to dispose the objects in a gracious and interesting manner. I created a curve starting from a strong point, reminding me of a stream. I tried to give my image a sense if movement.

I kept that idea of movement in my second piece, representing the wind blowing during a warm summer night.

Further explorations should be done, exploring more in depth the patterns created by the transparencies. My challenge would be to create an abstract piece with a greater variety of objects.

Photograms are necessary to introduce the enlargers to the students. They require attention to details and conscientiousness in performing the task. The photograms involve a multitude of new techniques but there is also an important amount of new information attached to them. ( History; i.e Man Ray) Photograms could be meaninful artworks depending on the thematic imposed by the teacher. If they are no thematic imposed, they are still great practice in the dark room, allowing students to understand the principles of exposure.

Loved Ones

1st test - F8 2 secs interval
 

2nd test- F8 7 secondes - too dark
3rd test - F8 5.5 secondes
4th test - F 4.5 secondes - good
5th test 4.5 secondes on bigger scale

test 6, 7 - F8 4.5 secondes, trying different compositions

Summer Nights
1st test F8 2,5 secs interval

2nd test F8 5.5 secs. good 8x10
test 3, 4, 5 Different compostions

Photogram #2 (Reflection 1)

Summer Nights

Photogram

8x10

2014

Photogram #1 (Relfection 1)

Loved Ones

Photogram

8x10

2014

Ethan Jantzer : Photogram Artist ( Entry 1 )

Ethan Jantzer

Photograms are images produced without the use of a camera by placing objects directly on photosensitive paper and exposing the assemblage to light. 

Artist Ethan Jantzer creates photograms that take photography back to its roots.

When we think about photograms, Man Ray is usually a name that comes to mind. We often think of this practice as an old fashion photography technique. Man Ray's work included experimental photography, assemblages of objects exposed, using stationary and moving light sources. Is is absolutely logical and normal to associate photograms to old school practices since the first chemically photographic process, considered a photogram, has been accidentally discovered in 1725. (Yes, way before Man Ray) Johann Heinrich Schultze, a German physicist, found that silver nitrate impregnated on gypsum in a jar when left to sunlight. It turned dark on the side facing the window.

Let's go back to Ethant Jantzer. Jantzer used to work at a photo lab. He once mentioned  in an interview that it was pure boredom that led him to try fooling arounf with the equipment in the dark room. He experimented with lights and raw films. After multiple experimentation, he started creating images using organic content and a variety of accessories such as fish (as seen on the picture above), grass, flowers and also liquids such as Gatorade and Windex. He said the liquids are used to achieve translucent colors.

 

 In the same interview he explained hi process: ''...in total darkness, I lay objects on top of or in front of large sheets of photographic film or paper. Once the composition is in place, I flash light through colored liquids like Gatorade or Windex. This burst of saturated colored light creates shadows that are captured on the film or paper. By combining multiple flashes of light from various angles, I am able to create unique photographic images. One thing I really like about the process is how it forces me to pay attention to subtle changes in an object’s form or texture. I guess the same could be said about the images. The lack of detail makes us address or at least acknowledge the often overlooked and subtle details..''

His work can be found throughout a number of galleries, notable collections, and public environments. 

References:

http://www.ethanart.com/

http://www.seedsandfruit.com/2010/01/ethan-jantzer-photogram-artist/

http://www.photograms.org/Chapter-3.htm?m=83

Introduction (Week 1)

Jessica Paquette 

    

Welcome home
digital photography

Hi everyone, I am an Art Education student currently studying at Concordia University in Montreal. 

I can honestly say that I have been forever passionate about visual arts, anything from drawing cartoons to film making. I chose photography as a career. Unfortunately ,I had to put on hold (almost!) my career to fully concentrate on my studies. Since graduation, I have been working with all sorts of clients, from aspiring fashion models to punk rock singers. 

Working a la pige offered me the opportunity to expend my horizons and to discover all the possibilities and different genres of photography. I have been photographing weddings for the past 4 years and I am now photographing events and concerts whenever I can.

Vitam Mortem I : Dreaming
35mm

My personal favorites are conceptual photography and portraiture. I like to think of a concept or message and to find an innovative and subtle way to visualize it. I like creating set ups and scenes. My most recurrent themes are life, death, the inner self, consciousness, memories and dreams. The whole idea is to capture more than emotions, it is to create an ambiance.

Pascale
digital photography

 As for portraits, I am very interested in capturing the intrinsic properties or traits that characterized the identity of the individual through the body and the eyes. I'm as interested in fierce fashion shots as I am interested in street photography where I will be walking outside for hours and waiting for that perfect sincere moment offered by total strangers. My tastes are extreme opposites, either I am spontaneous or I set up the mood.

Grey
digital photography

I mostly work with digital equipment but I have done series on film as well. I am strongly attracted to film's properties such as grain, vignettes, and I'm interested in double expositions.

While studying at Concordia, I have discovered the joys of painting, which is now also a passion. I enjoy mostly expressionist portraiture and abstraction. The subjects of my paintings are similar to the ideas behind my photography. 

I consider artistic practices as a way of liberating the self.Also,as a powerful tool that gives the opportunity to diffuse ideas, messages, innovation, and to connect with others through emotionally charged pieces. It's an occasion to think and get creative, to imagine then develop strongly thought concepts or to be free and to let go, to be spontaneous. 

Untitled
oil on canvas