samantha sailiata: Core Skills : Lens

Showing posts with label Core Skills : Lens. Show all posts

Monday, 7 April 2014

Core Skills : Lens - Elements of Photography Task

" Elements of Photography "

Texture

Invisible Line

Line

Pattern

Sunday, 6 April 2014

Core Skills : Lens - Research

"Mark Adams"

I chose to do my research on Mark Adams because ever since I started getting interested in photography I have always admired his work. Mark Adams is the first photographer I have ever looked up on the internet just to learn more about him. The first time I noticed his photos was when I was doing research on Samoan Tattoos, the book that I had where I found his photos was called "Tatau". While researching Mark Adams I found this photo on his website "http://www.markadamsphoto.com" although the photo doesn't deal with a self portrait or shallow depth of field it was the photo that capture my attention the most. I've always been captivated by the black background and heavy shadow photos but haven't actually tried doing it myself. I try to stick with what I know and what I know is how to use the different depths of field from deep to shallow. I'm not as skilled in lighting as I am in the depth of field area but I try to learn more and more about photography in every class that I attend. I might try to take photos like the one I placed at the top as an experiment just to try and follow in the footsteps of Mark Adams but adding in my own techniques to it.

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.

Tuesday, 18 March 2014

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

Elliott Erwitt

Sunday, 16 March 2014

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.

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Core Skills : Lens, Experiment Blog 2

"Photography Experiment Two"

With this experiment I decided to try and capture the moments of the girls dancing by setting the shutter speed high to freeze frame them during their dancing. I also wanted to get close ups of the girls to show the people that are looking at my photos how happy the girls are when they do the siva Samoa ( Samoan dance ).

Core Skills : Lens, Experiment Blog 1

"Photography Experiments"

This is a photo that I took last year at Poly Fest of the Taupou doing her Taualuga.

I took these photos over the weekend of Mangere College prepping themselves for Poly Fest this year. I used these photos as an experiment blog and a research blog because although the photos are not self portraits they still represent who I am in a way.

Core Skills : Lens , Research 1

"Lindsay Gaono"

" I was always told from my father to always stand your ground regardless what happens. My mother always told me to never forget your culture and where you come from.

I was born in Australia 12th of August 1989 raised in Samoa for five years then moved to New Zealand, August 8th 1996. Lived in St Heliers then we moved to Glen Innes. Stayed in Grey Lynn on Johns street moved to Mt Albert and been here since. We spoke English when we were at school and in public but we spoke Samoan at home and at family meetings. Now days we are starting to loose our language. Due to being surround but this westernized environment. I can stand here and say that regardless your situations there is always a way to hold on to your culture regardless were you end up in life. " - Lindsay Gaono

I find Linday's work interesting because of how he uses places his culture into his work.

In most of his self portraits he represents the importance of his culture adding concepts to each photo that he takes. When it comes to my work I try my best to represent those concepts but by taking photos of other people. I'm not into self portraits because in my own opinion I believe that taking photos of yourself can get boring for others to see. I express my culture through my photos by capturing moments in life whether its of myself or others.

This is an old photo that I took last year at Poly Fest of Mangere College. I edited the photo using Photoshop CS6 making the background and foreground black and white while keeping the woman in the mid-ground ( taupou ) in color to show that all eyes should be placed on her during her dance routine ( taualuga ).

Monday, 10 March 2014

Core Skills: Lens - Photography Task

Slow Shutter Speed Experiment

Shallow Depth of Field

Frozen Moment

Shallow Depth of Field

Deep Depth of Field

ISO 400

Automatic White Balance

Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Core Skills: Lens - Bad Photography Blog

" Purposely Bad Photography "

With this photo I lowered the shutter speed in order to get to make the photo blurry and show every movement that was made.

This photo was taken in the classroom with a low ISO to cause the photo to become dark.

This photo was taken outside, messing with the light settings on the camera helped us create the blue image.

Core Skills : Lens , Statement

" Art enables us to find ourselves and loser ourselves at the same time. " - Thomas Merton.

My name is Samantha Sailiata I am one of those who have lost themselves in something that they are truly passionate about. Most people are able to speak their minds in order to tell their story but as for me, I let my art work be the illustration of a story ready to be told.