Tonight, our last night, we sat together at a long table at SuVan's, a local restaurant just up the street from the CPC. We brought photos from our 17 Angles assignment to critique, and we talked about what we learned and how we grew as photographers during Photo 1. We also gave feedback to a board member about our experiences in Photo I. It was a great time for the class members to give their input on how the class had gone and what might make the class stronger or better.
Afterwards, a bunch of us went out together and spend the beautiful evening sipping wine and recounting our photographic adventures.
I can't believe that the class is already over. A bunch of us are thinking we'll take Photo II together...
Monday, July 23, 2007
week seven: (still more) about interaction
This week we sat in a giant circle and talked about our experience on both sides of the lens. We talked about what we thought our photographer captured, what they missed, what made the experience good, and how hard it was to see ourselves as an 8" x 10". I thought it was difficult having my picture taken. Far more difficult was looking at that picture and being objective about the photographer's work. I'm still thinking about the difference between an authentic photograph of me (something that captures the me of me), and a photograph that I like (one that captures some brief moment in which I like the way I look).
It was fascinating to hear people talk about what they saw in themselves and what the experience of being photographed catalyzed for them.
Here's one shot I took while my friend A was photographing D. It seemed impossible for him to relax and be natural.
We stayed late into the night, talking and laughing about our thoughts about being both photographer and subject.
As I looked around the circle at the class, I realized that I'm dreading the end of the class (next week!) because I really look forward to seeing these people each week.
***
In addition to thinking about our interaction with subjects (and how to defeat photo face in our portrait work!), this week we're also shooting assignment: 17 different angles. We're supposed to find an interesting object and, well, shoot it from 17 different angles, capturing various aspects of that thing.
It was fascinating to hear people talk about what they saw in themselves and what the experience of being photographed catalyzed for them.
Here's one shot I took while my friend A was photographing D. It seemed impossible for him to relax and be natural.
We stayed late into the night, talking and laughing about our thoughts about being both photographer and subject.
As I looked around the circle at the class, I realized that I'm dreading the end of the class (next week!) because I really look forward to seeing these people each week.
***
In addition to thinking about our interaction with subjects (and how to defeat photo face in our portrait work!), this week we're also shooting assignment: 17 different angles. We're supposed to find an interesting object and, well, shoot it from 17 different angles, capturing various aspects of that thing.
week six: more about interaction
So you know that moment when someone points a camera in your face and you... smile? But it isn't a real smile, right? It's wide or open mouthed or expresses something you don't really feel at the moment. At the CPC, they call this Photo Face. And we all do it.
But if you want a real photo of someone, something that gets at the reality of a person, you have to find a way to help your subject navigate away from this face and into something truer—and, many times, something more interesting.
After talking about Photo Face in class, it was pretty easy for me to see myself doing it here:
And not so much here:
But again (in a way) here:
It's hard NOT to do photo face when you know someone is photographing you.
But if you want a real photo of someone, something that gets at the reality of a person, you have to find a way to help your subject navigate away from this face and into something truer—and, many times, something more interesting.
After talking about Photo Face in class, it was pretty easy for me to see myself doing it here:
And not so much here:
But again (in a way) here:
It's hard NOT to do photo face when you know someone is photographing you.
week five: interaction assignment
I got together with A and D this week. We each had to take our turn being photographed. It was interesting to be photographed. I was pretty self-conscious, really. And lots of the things my classmates said to try to get me to relax (things I say to my subjects, too!) didn't really help me to be better in front of the lens.
I took A's photo:
I like the photo above because of her unposed expression. It seems pretty natural, though it was a bit difficult to get her to relax.
I found that one way to help her relax was to let her look away from the camera, like this:
I'm not very excited about the composition of these photos; I was admittedly distracted, trying to figure out how to help A feel comfortable.
I think that new photographers like us might be the worst subjects!
I took A's photo:
I like the photo above because of her unposed expression. It seems pretty natural, though it was a bit difficult to get her to relax.
I found that one way to help her relax was to let her look away from the camera, like this:
I'm not very excited about the composition of these photos; I was admittedly distracted, trying to figure out how to help A feel comfortable.
I think that new photographers like us might be the worst subjects!
week five: interaction
This week we're thinking about both sides of the lens. It's funny—during the past few weeks, I've taken photographs of friends, headstones, neighbors, pigeons, ornate vases, orchids, and strangers, but I haven't taken one picture of myself. I don't like many photos of myself, so this has been just fine with me.
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