Core Skills : Lens - Experiment Blog

"Self Portrait Idea"

 

 Although I wasn't able to find a certain photographer who takes the type of photos that I want to use as an idea for my self portrait project I was able to find a photo that can somewhat explain what I'm going for. My idea is to take photos and use them as a comparison of the past to the present.Since my photos are comparing the past to the present day I decided to add in photos from the past that my mom has held on all of these years to new photos that I'll take using the different skills I've learned during our course. Most of my photos from the present will be dealing with shallow depth of field to show the difference of how photos were taking back then to the way we take them now and how most people such as myself like the idea of having a shallow depth of field effect to our photos.

 

The image that I placed above is an example, it isn't a proper example seeing as to how the photos aren't in focused but it's just to get a better idea of what I'm trying to do. My idea is to have a photo from back then which I could use the photo of my dad holding me in his arms as the first photo on its own. Next to that photo would be a photo of myself sitting on a couch looking at the empty space next to me to represent the fact that someone's missing which is my dad since he passed away 3 years ago. Another photo could be of my mom and I back then by itself compared to a photo of us now to show that my mom is still here with me. I got my idea from a trend that happens on instagram that happens weekly called transformation tuesday. Usually the photos are selfies of that person from back then compared to now so I decided to take that idea and make it my project.

RRAW : Statement of Intent

"Statement of Intent"

I want to use my blog as a place where I can show what I am interested in and how I am able to connect to the work that I post up. I also want to use my blog as a way of showing others the differences between living in the states compared to living in New Zealand. Demonstrating a perception of journey by showing how my work along with my writing progresses. 

RRAW : Inspiration Writing

" My Inspirations "

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:13. My parents brought me up through the church and our Samoan traditions. Growing up in the states surrounded by people of a different ethnicity wasn't easy especially when it came down to the point where I was literally the only Samoan kid in school. Elementary and Middle school was when I was questioned about my ethnicity the most. The other kids used to come up to ask me what ethnicity I was when my reply was "I'm Samoan," they always asked if being Samoan was the same thing as being Hawaiian. Although I said that my culture was different from Hawaiians everyone still associated me as an Hawaiian because it was something that they were familiar with.

Once High School started everything was different. I was surrounded by many students of the same background as myself. The Samoans seemed to have stuck to themselves, there were times where we associated with the other ethnicity's but most of the times everyone knew us as the Samoan Crew. Even though the students felt like equals when it came to the teachers it was a different story. My teachers always pulled me aside saying that my work is amazing and my attention span along with my presentations in class is great for a Samoan. They used to say that not many Samoans that attend their school pass or graduate because they joke around to much and rather be known as the class clowns. 

I took those words home with me contemplating on what my teachers said, then once I got home I told my parents. They didn't have much of a reaction to what I told them because they were just glad that I was doing well. They told me, "... you may feel as if your teachers are talking down on you but always keep in mind that as long as you keep trying to make your dreams come true and do well in school that's all that matters because once you're old enough and you become successful you will be able to help set that standard for all of our people. Encouraging them that they too can do well in school even with people like that looking down on you, aua ke popole ma fa'amalosi mai pepe (don't worry about it and stay strong baby) you're almost there."

It were these words that stuck with me through out my years of high school and now university. So if I was asked who my inspiration is my answer would be, "my parents." I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for everything that my parents did for me, without them I probably would've gave up on my first year of high school. I owe my parents everything which is why I do my best and give my all in everything that I do. Even though my dad isn't here anymore and wouldn't be able to sit back with my mom once I'm able to take care of them I'm still doing my very best to make him proud as he watches and guides me from Heaven.

Core Skills : Building Images - Steve Lovett's Powerpoint

" Steve Lovett Powerpoint "

The person who created this image simply took a photo of the aircraft then cut around it using photoshop so that they can copy the image of the aircraft alone. After copying the aircraft they were able to paste the image on to any background that they can find to make it work. 

An example of that would be this image that I created and used for my landscape assignment. The snow is my foreground image, the city is my mid-ground image along with the wolf and the sky is my background. I used about 5 different photos to create the illusion of one. 

With this image I believe that the person who created this using photoshop just used the same photo and layered it on top. After that then they free transformed it to where the eyes are set above each other. Last they set the opacity low and erase around the areas that they wanted focused and kept the area they wanted it to look blurry and duplicated at.

With this photo the person erased the man that was in the photo with the woman but forgot to erase his hand off of her shoulder.

RRAW : 200 Word Free Write

"200 Word Free Write"

"People without the knowledge of their past history, orgin, and culture are like a tree without roots." - Marcus Garvey. Looking back at this photo I believe that in my mind it demonstrates the importance of culture. Although some may find that difficult to see in this photo I believe that it does portray that in a certain way. The elderly woman who sits alone with the quilt like object shows that she is still fully interested in the traditions of her culture. These days it seems as if everything is becoming modernized and due to that fact people begin to lose touch with the understanding of their culture. Instead of taking the time out to listen to the stories from the elders as they embrace on the traditions most of the younger generations don't show any interests into it unless it has something to do with tattoos, all of the well known traditions. I believe now traditions are becoming more of a trend for the younger generations then a blessing like how it seems to be for this elderly woman in the photo. I envy the older generations because they were able to learn about the culture first hand by their parents without any technology distracting them.

Core Skills : Lens - Research 2

"Evotia Tamua"

"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. -Elliott Erwitt

Photography to me isn't always about capturing something amazing for someone else to see but about capturing moments that are meaningful to not only yourself but could be meaningful to others as well. I found a photographer who takes photos of the same things that I am interested in her name is Evotia Tamua. While at the library I came across her book which had photos of different cultures incorporated inside from around the 1990's and early years of 2000. Each photo showed every culture group excited and pleased to be able to represent where they are from whether it's their actual culture or if it's just for their school. This is the type of photographs I love taking.

 

I mostly love taking photos of the Taupou's because of their major importance in the Samoan culture. Taupou's are usually the Samoan high cheif's daughters.

It seems as if no matter how much I try to make myself feel interested in self portraiture it just doesn't happen. However I do love photography and have a high passion for it the only thing is I rather be the person hidden behind the camera then the one to be noticed by being in front of the camera. Looking through the lens and seeing the world is far more satisfying then being apart of the world hidden but seen at the same time.

To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/elliotterw141210.html#0YmRpQCVzvgwkWaZ.99

To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.

Elliott Erwitt

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/photography.html#4VJFIBYJVzySGVzk.99

To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.

Elliott Erwitt

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/photography.html#4VJFIBYJVzySGVzk.99

To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.

Elliott Erwitt

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/photography.html#4VJFIBYJVzySGVzk.99

Core Skills : Lens - Experiment 3

"Self Portrait Experiment"

The first thing that I did was make a collage of photos that I took to express what is important to me. I came up with an idea to use the collage of photos that are important to me to represent what makes me who I am. 

Then I decided to create a stencil with my self portrait to place on top of the collage. My original idea was to place my stencil on top of the collage edited using the black and white filter so that way when I erased my stencil away it would have the color of the photos create my image. 

When I tested my idea it didn't quite come out the way that I expected it too, the stencil didn't pop out the way that I thought it would so I had to keep my stencil on top but faded in with the color of the photos. Although my plan didn't turn out the way that I wanted it to I actually came to like the outcome that I came up with. This idea actually is the only solid one that I find interesting which is why I decided to just work more into it but with different concepts.