COMD 2340 Spring 2018

This is my favorite picture because the light hits her face along with her face expression and the surroundings makes it look like its night time. Also the shadow on her cheek stood out.

I choose this photo due to how the light causes an off-balance of the image. There is also the light and dark balance with the image. And there is the expression that is clearly seen and made better with the light reflecting off her face.

This is my favorite picture shot of my classmate because it is very intense and has a strong sharp clear image. The lighting of the picture is great because of the lighting. On the left side it is very dark and the other side the light is very strong.

I like this because it has the feeling the photo is taking in a alley at night time. The light that hit one his face just bring the contrast with the shadow at the wall, and this makes his face stand out.

The dramatic contrast between light and dark in this photograph make it stands out. I like how the light hits on the subjects’ dominant eye. And I also captured by his expression. He seems shock by something he was looking at.

This is best picture of day, because the light and dark contrast. also the shape of the shadow. overall,  the structure is very interesting and the background is connected to the man character.

During our school field trip to Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, we as a class went to 8 different locations with different kinds of art galleries. The three of my favorite art galleries that we went to were photographer Arlene Gottfried (A Lifetime Of Wondering), Bruce Writon (St. George and the Dragon), and My favorite, Stan Douglas (Scenes from the Blackout).

Arlene Gottfried was a famous photographer during the late 70’s to early 80’s in New York City. Arlene Gottfried exhibit was located at 526 W, 26th st #9C. What really caught my attention with these great pieces of photographs were that she showed and expressed the daily life of how New York City was back in the day. The daily lives of different people expressing their jobs, families, and locations (neighborhood). It was very important to because, society back in the day is very different on how it is today. It is also very important to understand the lifestyle these people and New York City had. Most of the photo graphs were in black and white, with a lot of medium close up and close up shots. Some were from birds eye view and lighting was great.  One of my favorite exhibit I’ve experienced.

Bruce Writon was another famous photographer from Binghamton, NY during the late 60’s to 70’s. Bruce Writon exhibit was located at 521 W, 26th st 5fl. What really caught my attention with these photographs were that it was called “St. George and the Dragon”. These photographs showed specific locations with holy religious crosses in the photos. Many of them were bedrooms, restaurant’s, doors, and etc. The lighting of the way the photos were taken were amazing, very clear, very sharp, and very far shot views. The lighting was great because it made the photo more clear to show the audience what the photograph really was. Another one of my favorite exhibits.

Last but not least, my favorite exhibit and photographs. Stan Douglas is a famous artist from Canada, who works in film and video installations. Stan Douglas exhibit was located at 525 W, 19th st. What really caught my attention with this artist and his pieces of work was his project called “Scenes from the Blackout”. Absolutely amazing photo captures of a  script acting persona scenes during a blackout in New York City, Very clear, very sharp visuals and understanding the concept behind every piece of work in this project. All the photos are acted scenes from a blackout, in different locations. Some in a elevator, stairs, bridges, and streets. Dark lighting but made the audience what the purpose was about. Birds eye view shot, close up shot, far shot view and pano views really made the shots of the scenes very intense, strong , and emotional. My favorite.

Stan Douglas: Scenes from the Blackout

This exhibit was viewed at the David Zwirner Gallery found on 525 West 19th Street.  In this sporadic darkness, or disruption of routine, the photography captures the essence of the time in which possibilities are found.  In the work staged on the building stairs, elements like symmetry are found in the enormous columns and cascading staircase. There is also a subdued chaos, with only one light source in the frame, you see citizens seated conversing with one another, or the extreme a gentleman making use of his bag to lay on in lieu of a pillow. People have slowed down, which is a rarity in New York, the land of the hustle. Worth mentioning the street scene also makes use of one lighting source, a burning trash can, with the perspective of a bird’s eye view, and randomly placed things such as a horse near the crosswalk of an apparently looted block and a van parked on a curb directly in front of a store front. The dark reoccurring tone is no coincidence, after all, what happens in the dark soon comes to light.

Coherent because… CHOAS

Boomoon: Falling Water

This exhibit can viewed at the Flowers Gallery found on 529 West 20th Street.  The subject matter is that of an Icelandic waterfall.  Leading lines come to mind, but I say this very loosely because it the eye is lead by the well articulated gravitational pull in conjunction with water molecules. I cannot say these works are symmetrical as the motions have intact been “frozen” yet the kinetic energy captured can still be felt by the eye with no two exact intricacies present.  The rule of thirds is apparent at the point where the ferocious falls meet the calm of the flattened water bed which occupies the bottom of the frame, and the resulting impact mists fill the middle third of the frame, as the first portion documents the aquatic descend. Monochrome was the weapon of choice here.

Coherent because… SUBJECT (WATER)

Bruce Writon: St. George and the Dragon

This exhibit can be found at the Laurence Miller Gallery found on 521 West 26th Street, Floor 5.  Set in the town New York  town of Binghampton circa the 1980’s and shot with a 8 x 10” camera, Bruce had a knack for framing things together unexpectedly, yet, they worked so well for many of the arrangements found in this body of work. “Union Hotel” grabs my eye because of the intricate patterns initially. One is an ornate floral patterned continuous wall paper, and the other is a bedding, a sheet, who also bears a pattern of an enclosed flower. The wallpaper is busy without a doubt, and this causes the eye to focus on the calamity of the Jesus painting staged in the center of the frame. The placement of a pesto colored chair at the bed rest, and a terra-cotta pillowcase on the far right of the frame form a triangle with the painting mentioned above.  Let us not forget the polka dot floor whose turquoise base flows right to the edge of the frame and soothes the eye from the convolution throughout the top portion of the frame. Prayer would be needed to live in that room.

Coherent because… PATTERN