Very General Artists Statement As of May 2009

Very General Artists Statement (revised) As of May 2009

As a photographer I document what I see. As an individual with unique point of views and life experiences I feel no one will relate to things exactly as I do. My photography is not always a documentation of beauty, I would much rather capture the reality of humanity. I find it very important to bring out of the ordinary events to light, to make the viewer think about the world around them. Without dictating to the viewer what they should be thinking, my photographs depict a bold narrative. I choose photography as my form of self expression, a means to have my opinion expressed. By creating images, I hope to express some aspect of my vision that another person might not see or understand on their own. However, if no one ever saw my work I would still have the need to create it. This unrelenting work ethic, and need to create is my way of expression.

Critique/reaction/ response to Hassan Pitt’s work in the Anderson Gallery

Critique/reaction/ response to Hassan Pitt’s work in the Anderson Gallery

I viewed the piece a few days after the opening so I could take in the entire experience, unfortunately it was a little too soft sounding but that was my fault for not turning the volume up.

I thought that the overall creation and purging of anything except skin was a very interesting approach to gain a vulnerable experience. I felt the direct eye contact and the display of an intimate act made the audience more vulnerable feeling than he seemed in the video, although he was the one stripping himself of everything.

The use of blurred, multiple exposures, gives the production an interesting element keeping the viewer more engaged than if it were just one body to focus on. The heater was on, I giving a bathroom an after shower feel, That element added to the piece as well.

Over all I enjoyed viewing Hassan’s Piece. I cant think of any thing to constructively criticize other than it was slightly weird seeing a person I viewed as a professor to be more exposed than in an expected class room setting. But that has to do with the relation to the class not the piece.

SAMETIME104

SAMETIME104
Ben Hostetter, Morgan Coffer, Rachael Rainer, Amber Bender(ME)

After being really intrigued with Michael Lease's SameTime 7:15, Rachael and I decided after a long Shaffer dinner (Something like three hours talking about how this was a great idea and we should try and see what Michael would think if we did something/exactly the same concept as his project). so we did and that gave rise to starting SAMETIME104 next Rachel and I, decided to pull in two other people. Then came Morgan, and Ben, Morgan like everybody knows is a photo student as well and Ben is my friend that is a English major now but is an artist as well. We needed to think of very dedicated people that could upload constantly.
Uploading constantly, as demanded by both viewers and participants, has proven to be the hardest thing for me, I am very busy and hate sitting behind my computer, and quite honestly it is last on my list some days. But with the help of people saying they keep up or persuasion by everyone involved it is a constant motivation.
Like the Same Time 7:15 group we are finding mixed reviews on the use of captions. As you can tell if you have viewed the blog at all, I hate doing the captions, I think it is distracting and not needed for the most part. But in some images it is very needed.
Another challenge we have all had to face is what to do when we are in the same space for that time every day like a class or work, it has shown to be very challenging but forced us to become more creative at that moment every day especially if we are in the same place, seat, or area.
As far as reviews, it is way harder than it looks, remembering, uploading, and continuing to be spontaneously creative every day is really difficult so for those who have negative things to say I suggest trying it for a year and tell me what you think then.
The project is a direct replica of the project we were introduced to by Michael Lease, but keep in mind we are different people and do different things during the day. So obviously the images will be extremely different.
One thing doing this project has really taught me to do is be more comfortable with pulling out my camera and shooting, I am gradually getting over the insecurity of pulling out my camera in a public place because I have to do it so frequently now.
Overall I truly enjoy this project it is making me more aware of the images I shoot and see thought the day, and the way I choose to shoot different scenes.

First Friday May 1st 2009

First Friday

May 1^st 2009

May Day Parade

I enjoyed seeing more photography this time than ever in the many First Fridays I have been too. Although I was a little surprised by the photography, I really would have expected more from the esteemed VCU Photography department. We talk a lot of game but when it comes to showing our work it was less than amazing. Some one said that it is to be expected when grad students are teaching undergrad that the filtration of less than astonishing work will come through. I feel that perhaps I am being too judgmental too fast, maybe in a different, less bustling setting I could appreciate the photography more, or maybe knowing something more about the process or idea. But as pure images they are less than impacting at first glance.

The entertainment was great for May 1^st, mayday, celebrations; weather you agree or even know what the parade was for it was very entertaining. And as always my favorite drummer boy was out serenading us with his awesome music

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