Part Deux

As previously stated, I photographed in my friends' garage. I had seen these stairs before and been captivated. But for a little while I had forgotten, but then somehow saw them again. . .

First I photographed myself looking through the stairs. Turned out sort of too dark, not that much interest.

Then of course the series where I am standing, again fragmented by the stairs but either looking up or into the camera, as pictured in previous blog. Color is alot nicer.

(This is the one I decided to print larger.)

Then I started playing with hiding my face, and the position of my hands.

Then I was just playing.

Sadness, exploration, escape and sanctuary. This is what I am playing with in these. I like some of the qualities that are starting to come out, something that I haven't had since I initially started this type of work in black and white. I like the dead-on confrontation of the camera, but I also like it when fragments of the character reveal more than the gaze can.

So I have my mid-program review on Wednesday. Wish me luck!

Hangin' at 100 & 1/2

Photographing with a broken-down staircase in my friends' garage.

This poor shot was terribly under-exposed. That's what happens when you switch your lens and don't double check the aperture! I was shooting at about f/11, should have been f/4. Didn't turn out too bad though, considering. . .

Photographing through the stairs. . .
Amongst these, I just can't decide which I like best. I think maybe either the one where I am looking up but not holding my dress, or looking into the camera with my hand stretched out in front of me.

Unfortunately I'm too frustrated by technonolgy at the moment to finish this post. Enjoy these, more coming later.

Resurrection

Can't really take credit for this one. It is a "resurrection" if you will of an old large format negative my grandfather took (or at least I presume it was him with 100% certainty). From the book of negatives I found in my grandmother's basement.

Sassy, right? Again, can't really take credit, but this image has been in my head for almost a year ever since I saw it on a contact sheet. These images are a treasure to me, my thoughts on photography stem back to this idea of time, memory, longing for identity, and these artifacts encapsulate some of those aspects for me. I want to work with manipulating them, perhaps in printmaking, playing up their age, wearing them artificially, folding them a million times, coffee stains. . . but still they will survive.

So this may end up being more a printmaking project, but photographic at its roots. Plus its just fun to show off.

Right now I really want to make my own photographs again, coming up on a bit of a block, can't find quite the right wardrobe. . . annoying. But something is coming soon otherwise I probably won't be able to take it any more. Although I did find a wonderful wardrobe piece yesterday, perfect for some later shoots.

Until later I'll leave you with these images I made last spring (with thanks to Eva for being my shutter finger).

They were in my show this summer but I thought it might be fun for some of you that didn't get to see it. Wallpaper is terif, right?

The Photography of Hellen Van Meene

Simply amazing.

Please go here.

http://www.hellenvanmeene.nl/photos/

Food for thought

An extremely famous image, taken by Henri Cartier-Bresson. "Behind the Gare Saint Lazare" (1932).

It gained it's note as one of his "decisive moment" shots, the idea being he caught the subject in the moment of decision, at that pivotal point, something either extreme luck or extreme patience must have played a part in.

Or did it?

Please note the poster in the background.

Could Bresson have studied this environment? Perhaps even chosen it? And why would this random man be jumping into the water anyway?

Question the established.

Photographing the historic Colver House

On my most recent photo trip I travelled to the historic Colver house in Phoenix. At that point I only knew that I had passed by a partially burnt down house while driving through with a friend. I rode the bus. I didn't know exactly where to stop in order to find it. Finally I got off and turned around. It started raining. I got on the bus in the other direction. Finally I found it.

Upon arrival I noticed a behemoth and unsightly chain link fence. This was apparently a new addition since I had last driven by (either that or I am extremely unobservant). A hitch in my plans. I walked back and forth, circled the block, thoroughly confusing the workers at the autoshop next door. No back entrance was to be found. I contemplated climbing the fence. My demure nature prevailed. I made the compromise of framing the shots so I could get the house in the background, but not the fence. Did I mention I was in costume?

After I did what I could at the house I continued my walk down the street. I came across another house that although not burned down looked slightly old. Took this photograph there.

Thus I completed my roll of film. Rode the bus back to Ashland. Day of photography successfully completed.

Then I found this news story a few days later.

http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0916/stories/0916_fire.php

Intriguing. Here is an old shot of the Colver house:

Pretty beautiful, right? Yeah.

So we'll see where this story takes me. Until next time, y'all.

All Photographs (except black and white) copyright Amanda Ball 2008.