Sally Mann

I just watched Sally Mann Art 21 again.  I started with intention of watching the segments that wouldn't play in class yesterday.  They won't play for me either so I don't think it was a school computer issue.  Anyway, I decided to watch Art 21 again because I cannot hear that darn projector at school.  Turns out I was able to activate the closed captioning!  I was near tears at some of the statments made that I would've never "heard" had I not watched it again.  The stories about how she embraced the broken lenses and scratches.  I complain all the time when I find a tiny flaw.  Maybe I should embrace the subtle differences, like she did!  The statements about her upbringing and how that molded her as a parent.  The statements from her daughter about how her work was her Bible or her spirituality.  Sally Mann is awe inspiring!  I want to learn more!

http://sallymann.com/

   

Love the Lab!

I just have to say how much I really enjoy my time in lab.  It takes me an hour to "get going" and remember the steps to things.  But each time it gets easier to do that.  I really am interested in continuing my education with photography.  I'm going to start looking through the course catalogs for the next session, if I'm not too late to sign up.  I'd love to be able to continue learning with Kate.  I spent some time in lab tonight printing some test pages for the Light and Form assignment.  I'm taking them home to ask my family for their opinion on what I have so far.  I'll shoot some more pictures too because I think I need a few more options.  I need to have them printed for the critique when we get back from Spring Break.

I plan to be in lab as often as possible during the first part of the break.  I absolutely must finish that before Easter weekend.  I have three moves coming up starting that weekend and through the end of the month.  My daughter is moving her stuff back from her apartment in KC; my oldest son bought a new condo and is moving in around the end of the month; and middle son is moving into his new apartment in Orlando around that same time frame.  It's going to be nuts so I really need to have all of this done before that craziness starts :)

Well the printer has stopped so I need to wrap things up and head home.  I'll be doing some more blog posts ASAP.  I have a couple more artists to post.  I should have posted 8 total by this point.  I didn't get all 8 done each week as was requested because I could not figure out how to post pictures.  Once I figured that out (a couple of weeks ago) I started posting them like crazy.  I've had them all written on a list so that I could just bang them out in a hurry... but I still have a couple more to post.  I'll have to email Kate so she doesn't think I'm slacking by not having 8 on there already.

'Til next time!!!
Sherrie

James Nachtwey

James Nachtwey is another artist that for me, evokes a lot of feeling and emotion in his work.

http://www.jamesnachtwey.com

He is an American photographer, best known for documenting war, civil strife and other conflicts.  I couldn't agree more with his quote below...    

"I have been a witness, and these pictures are

my testimony. The events I have recorded should

not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

-James Nachtwey-

Arno Minkkenen - Arms and Legs

Wow... another one that I found, quite by accident:  Arno Minkkenen.  I am AB-so-LUTE-ly amazed and awed... not only by his work, but by the way he describes his process of taking photos.  I could try and summarize it, but with every word I read, my jaw dropped open even more.  So I invite you to read about him yourself.  Hopefully you'll be drawn into his world and be as awestruck as I was.  

Wow... Wow... WOW...

http://www.arno-rafael-minkkinen.com/interiors_and_exteriors.html

Ed Vatza Nature and Graffiti

Ed Vatza is a nature photographer.  I ran across this photographer and his images while investigating another photographer, Tony Sweet.  When I think of a nature photographer, I imagine flowers, trees and bodies of water.  Ed Vatza does plenty of that... 

... but the image that initially caught my eye doesn't fall into that kind of category.   The image below is from a section titled "Graffiti Underground" called "Ghostly Apparition."  He took this as part of Tony Sweet's photography workshop.  I thoroughly enjoyed the images of graffiti.  This one makes me want to learn more about superimposing photographs.    

I find it oddly beautiful how this journey Kate is taking us on to broaden our horizons and find what inspires us has so many possible twists and turns.  I hope that I keep finding treasure like these with every fork in the road.

My progress

So, just to keep a timeline on my progress... I'm not sure if I'm any better as a photographer, but I do think I am more educated on how it works.  It's much more than snapping pictures on "automatic."  I sincerely hope that I continue to improve over the next couple of months.  I'm a little frustrated with myself because I can't seem to pick up on this as fast as others have.  It's not Kate's fault, that's for sure.  She is a great instructor and really knows her stuff.  I hate wasting her time to ask her to repeat stuff over and over again when she has so much she needs to teach us in class.  Everything just seems to fly out of my head so fast!  Guess that's why I've avoided going back to school since graduating High School.    

I'm in class 100% of the time and come to lab a lot in between so I can keep up on things... and also to keep practicing things so I can try and keep it fresh.  I have ups and then I have downs.  The most recent downer was when I came for lab last Saturday.  I wanted to print some of the Light & Form photos I took and I had to leave without doing them because I couldn't remember how to print :( But I was happy that I managed to get them imported!  Hey, I have to pat myself on the back for any successful moments, no matter how small.  Practice makes perfect and I don't want to give up.  I know I'll get better at this eventually.

  

Half the Sky

I watched Half the Sky over the weekend.  It is unfathomable that things like this are happening. I plan to share this story with as many people as I can.  Perhaps if we all share this with one or two friends, the ripple effect will help increase awareness.    http://www.halftheskymovement.org/pages/film