Category: Final Project Statement (Page 2 of 3)

I am intrigued by the emotional roller coaster individuals embody through life changing experiences. This idea presented itself to me as I’m in my own journey to detect my emotions so I may articulate them to another person or for my personal growth. I plan to capture these intimate moments with different close people in my life. I will ignite a conversation and ask them to express themselves. During these conversations, I may ask the subject if I could start taking pictures. I will also ask them to take their portraits beofre and after the conversation is done. I hope to translate these emotions through photographs. To do so, I will experiment with lighting and angles to try to mimic the mood if necessary. I may ask the subject to be seated in a designated area or we may be in a busy street. I want them to feel comfortable and at ease in front of the camera.

I am looking for raw emotions. This doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be dark, on the contrary when going through difficult times or any life altering decisions whether we made them ourselves or life has done it for us, the outcome may be alleviating. We as humans may look back at them and smile, laugh, feel a sense of relief, calmness and gratitude after it has all been said and done.

I’ve been inspired by the photographer Brandon Stanton who has been taking photos of people in the streets of New York City for years. He has shared long captions to accompany the emotions we are seeing. Each person tells a personal story.

I’ve always loved candid photos but during this project I hope to make it more intentional. This may feel more like a therapy session than a portrait being taken. But that is what I enjoy, having conversations that stay with me. It doesn’t have to have some form of a great epiphany but it’s what I long for.

The photography session in the library will revolve around the theme of exploring the passage of time, the accumulation of knowledge, and the quiet beauty found within the walls of a library, the story will follow a protagonist as they embark on a journey through the library.

The subject matter will include the protagonist navigating through the library’s aisles, browsing books, and getting lost in a good book. Additionally, the session will capture the architectural details of the library, shelves, and the play of light filtering through windows.

To capture the peaceful and calm ambiance of the library, the session should ideally occur during off-peak hours when fewer visitors are there.  Late nights or early mornings could be the ideal frame of opportunity. Add some natural light, use a shallow depth of field, and experiment with long-exposure photography. 

Photographers of inspiration:

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Dorothea Lange

For my Final Project, I want to capture the uniqueness of different cities and excitement of travel. Many photographers dedicate a profile to a collage of different destinations, showcasing a wide range of color, culture, and environment. There are also many travelers that record and photograph their journeys as they adventure to different countries. Additionally, different cities around the world have various unique points to show for. For example, capturing architecture and festivity in Spain will highlight their special feature, while capturing the unique layers of Chongqing’s streets will showcase theirs. Since traveling is an activity I am passionate about, I want to use this chance to capture the thrill of exploring different cities..

Being one of the top cities for tourists, New York City offers a lot of diversity. In New York, I plan to photograph near midtown, where a large number of travelers usually explore first. I also want to be near transportation to capture how various people move around the city. I’m thinking of something similar to the photo of a train station by Thomas Tsang (2nd photo below). Additionally, I want to capture activity at the airport—a place home to travelers. I can’t say if anything exciting that is worth capturing will be happening there, so it’s currently an idea.

Over spring break, I will be spending the week in Amsterdam, a city known for their arts, museums, and scenery. There, I plan to utilize the many techniques we’ve learned in class to capture the city’s special points. For example, I know I will be going to experience canal cruises, so I’ll use this opportunity to capture the activity. I will also be venturing away from the city to villages, where there is more nature and scenery. Amsterdam also has a variety to offer when it comes to transportation—ranging from trams and buses to ferries. I want to capture the difference of their atmosphere in comparison to that in New York City.

Since a lot of the environment in Amsterdam is still unknown to me, I’m not sure which techniques will best highlight the scenery; however, for New York, I hope to fill the canvas and make it look very busy. As a city bustling with tourism and activity, New York City is special for its fast pace and diversity. I want to capture that mood. I’ll go out to midtown on days where I’m more free before and after the break week, since I’ll be spending that week in Amsterdam.

For my Final Project, I aim to create a visually captivating series of landscapes that narrate the journey of a few toys/characters as they travel around NYC and other areas. The theme revolves around the unlikely friendship and adventures shared by these characters as they traverse through various landscapes.

The story I want to tell contains the essence of exploration, adventure, and the beauty of nature. Through the juxtaposition of the gritty urban environment of NYC as the starting point, I intend to showcase the contrast between the NY cityscape and the serene, expansive landscapes that the characters encounter during their journey. I may achieve this by taking pictures of my characters on the subway or on NYC rooftops.

Inspired by the work of photographer Kim Leuenberger, who captures landscapes with toy cars in the foreground, I aim to infuse a whimsical vibe into my project. Like Leuenberger, I will utilize techniques such as the Rule of Thirds, Depth of Field, Reflections, Converging Lines, and Frame within a Frame to create visually compelling compositions.

The subject matter may feature landscapes ranging from urban streetscapes to forests, ocean and lake views, etc Each landscape can serve as a backdrop to the adventures of these characters.

Using various lighting conditions, weather elements, and compositions, I aim to evoke a range of emotions and moods within each image. From the excitement of embarking on a new adventure to moments of the quiet and serene beauty of nature. Each photograph will offer a glimpse into the experiences shared by the characters.

I plan to shoot the project over the course of several weeks, allowing me to capture a diverse range of landscapes and weather conditions. Additionally, I will experiment with different angles, perspectives, and editing techniques to enhance the visual storytelling aspect of the project. Overall, my goal is to create a captivating series of images that not only showcase the beauty of landscapes but also tell a captivating story of the characters in the image.

Photographers:

1. Kim Leuenberger
2. Anna Bitanga (Four Bricks Tall)
3. Daniel Laan
4. Benedek Lampert
5. Hosein Ashrafosadat