Week 7 EOC: Adult Content

Gentlemen's Relish by director Douglas Mackinnon is a very well done film in my opinion. It showed me a side of photography I wasn't too familiar with. First of all, I really like the way Mr. Swan (played by Billy Connolly) shot his portraits using all kinds of different, interesting props in his studio. Another thing from this film that interested me was the way Mr. Swan shot his pornography or ""tableaux": photographic versions of famous paintings of nudes." The way he did it was very classy, unlike what I had in mind when I thought of pornographers. Then again, it wasn't really pornography, it was art. I believe it wasn't meant to be sexual, it was meant to be artistic. I don't have anything against erotic photographs, or nude photographs. I believe they can be called art, if done right. For example, I wouldn't call most of the images in pornography websites "art". I believe nude photography, unlike pornography, is not made to arouse the viewer, but to appreciate the human body. Like the photography of Wilhelm von Gloeden, who did a great job creating nude portraits and photography. But like I previously stated, I don't have anything against photographers creating photography with the goal of arousing the audience, as long as it's done in a legal way. But erotic or not, nude photography isn't really my style. I prefer conceptual photography, but in the future I may need nude models for to show a message for nudity can be a symbol of innocence or freedom.

Week 6 EOC: How Art Has Changed Me

I believe I was born with art in my soul. My whole life my heart has moved towards art. My mother tells me I was the one who got her to listen to classical music when I was young. Makes sense to me, since I've always had a love for music, which has turned into a deep passion in my life. Music is my favorite form of art. I even love it more than photography. Other than listening to the classical music albums I would get my parents to buy, I would enjoy playing with a piano I received from one of my mom's friends. I still remember the first song I taught myself on the piano: Symphony No. 9 "Ode to Joy" by Ludwig van Beethoven. I'm specially proud of this achievement because I learned the song by ear. I later went on to learn how to play it on the trumpet as well, since I was a trumpet player for three years in middle school. 7th grade was when I began getting into music other than classical, mainly Green Day, My Chemical Romance, and The Killers. And finally when I was in the 8th grade, I went to my very first concert on December 8, 2006. The "Nothing Rhymes With Circus" tour by local band, Panic! At the Disco who to this day remain one of my favorite bands. Since then, I have attended many numerous concerts; I've lost count! But it was around the age of 16 when I decided that I wanted to become a musician. I love travel, and I love music. I can not think of anything more perfect that I can do with my life. But also when I was young, I was told I was good with photography, I explored the photography world, became involved in it, and decided I wanted it to be more than a hobby. That's why I am now going to the Art Institute to learn how to become a professional photographer. Art makes my life joyful in many other ways, like cooking, but I've chosen to make photography my career because that will help me earn money, while enjoying the work that I do, and I can eventually use the money I make from my photographs to also start a music career and live my dream of being a successful artist.

Week 6 BOC: Collage

To make my own personal collage I looked around many of my folders on my PC and used Google to find images that define and represent me in the most outspoken way possible. I looked into myself and thought about what I myself thought defined me, like music, before searching for the images on Google, and after finding several images I decided to use Picasa to make the collage, since that's what I've been using to make collages whenever I've needed to make them; it's a great program. Obviously every image in the collage has a meaning pertaining to me:

The Peaches/Peach Pie: Cooking is a hobby I enjoy very much. I often bake pies, cookies, and other things for my family and have even made vegan mac & cheese. I believe I got the talent from my dad, who is a professional cook.

The Cameras: I've been practicing the art of photography since I was 16, and began taking lessons with film cameras, and a dark room with chemicals in high school. I'm working on getting a Bachelors of Science Degree in Digital Photography now, and plan on making myself a successful photographer.

The Gardening/Tree Hugging/Climbing: Another one of my hobbies is being close to nature by gardening and exploring natural places, like Red Rock. I plan on moving from an apartment to a house soon, and in that house I will start a new vegetable/fruit/herbs garden which I will use to cook organically.

Meditating Boy: I practice meditation every now and then, and I love being part of spiritual groups. It's a huge part of my life.

The Daydreaming boy photo explains itself, I'm a big day dreamer, and have been since I was a child. I love getting lost in my dreams and drawing inspiration from them.

The Guitar and Concert Tickets (photo taken by me) represent my passion for music. I don't play any instruments like a pro, but I do have a small collection and I enjoy learning to play them when I have the time. And since my first concert at 16, I've been going to concerts and music festivals non-stop. They are a joyful part of my life, and I will never stop supporting my fellow musicians.

Defend Equality: Another thing I've made part of my life since I was a young teen is activism. Thanks to internet petition sites and Meetup.com, I have, with the help of others, done my part to help people around the world, and been able to go to local animal rights protests.

The Rockstar: This is a great photograph of my biggest idol, and inspiration, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. He inspired me to be me in Middle School, High School, and to this day I owe a lot of my confidence to him, and music. For over 5 years now I've dreamed every day of my life, with a burning passion I can not even begin to describe, of becoming a musician myself, and I Am doing just that by writing my own songs. Music, Love, and my Love for Music are the biggest part of my life, and I know that that will never change.

Week 5 Photo Assignment

I go to the Art Institute of Las Vegas to learn, but I have to do a lot of work outside of school as well. When I do photo shoots, I  later like to use my laptop and Adobe software to edit what I shot. I don't edit because I think the photographs are bad, but because I know I can make them better using this software, and therefore it can attract more costumers and I can make more money out of my photography, or I can get a better grade in class. I'd say most professionals today also use editing programs like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Bridge to perfect their photographs, or to do things that you can't with just a camera. When using professional programs like Photoshop, the possibilities are endless. I love conceptual photography, so I know I will be using these skills and programs more often in the future. The reason being is that in conceptual photography, photographers love to add effects that make the photograph grab the audiences attention even more. Others like to add lasers or "mystical" like objects in their photographers using Photoshop. Or when using Adobe Bridge, a great thing you can do on there is make colors in photographs brighter than they already are to give the photograph a different look or feel. I specially like "playing" with the saturation on my photographs because I want my photographs to be either bright and colorful with a good feel to them, or dark and scary, to scare the viewer. I want my photographs to have meaning, and speak to the audience, and editing programs can help me make that happen.

Week 4 Photo Assignment

For the week 4  weekly photo assignment I decided to go to Ritz Cameras photography shop at the Las Vegas Outlet mall. I have been to Ritz before several times, but it had been a while since I had gone there. This time the camera shop was a better experience for me, because I saw more things that interest me now. I found an object that allows you to take photos using filters you mount on your camera. I thought this was pretty nifty because these days when one thinks of photography filters, it's either on Photoshop or Instagram, not something that you place in front of your camera lens. But out of all the items, cameras, accessories, filters, and gadgets there, what caught my attention the most, and what I found most interesting and useful there was the light umbrellas. For a while now I've wanted a light umbrella for my photography, and Ritz sold some for under one hundred dollars! I thought they would cost at least two hundred, so it's a relief to see there's cheaper ones. Photography shops are a great place for photographers to go because you never know what you'll find, or who you'll meet there. I plan on going back to Ritz one day to support them, and to improve my photography with new equipment.

Week 4 EOC: Peering Into The Future

I still have 30 years until I'm 50 years old, but even now, I need to start preparing myself for my future. I'm currently going to the Art Institute of Las Vegas studying to be a better professional photographer who knows how to sell himself to the public. I'm working hard to be this professional, and I'm doing what I need to do to perfect my profession. I want to be ready to take on the world when I graduate in 2014. I want to know where to go, what to do, and how to do it in the best way possible, and then I want to do it. What I would love to do is get a good job that pays well, and on my time off, work on my stock photography. A person can make thousands a month working for stock photography websites, and who wouldn't want that? I love photography, I love stock photography, and yes, I love making money, so working for a stock photography website is clearly a great place for me to work with. When I'm 50, I will already be an expert in my profession and I see myself still doing what I love, and making money from it. I see myself living in my dream house (possibly a farm) with my soul-mate, at least one son, a big garden, and a some animals. But to get there, I am aware that I will have to be making big, and smart, decisions in life. So for now I will focus on school and getting better at what I do in order to live my life how I want it to be in the future.

Week 3 EOC

“Inner Peace” by Peter Lik

Peter Lik is one of the most respected photographers in the world and my first, and still one of my biggest, inspirations. He has won a heap of awards from professional contests and other professionals and is well known as a master photograph. His photographs can be found anywhere from airports to restaurants. The world loves Mr. Peter Lik. This is one of his many photographs which have won awards. “Inner Peace” is a sublime photograph of a Japanese maple tree beautifully lit by heavenly natural light. I love the peacefulness you get from the natural greens painting the photograph, and the calm body of water. It shows the viewer the true beauty of nature, and in a way it makes the viewer want to conserve it. This same photograph has had the honor to be exhibited at the Smithsonian:

“For the second consecutive year, Peter Lik has been honored by the Windland Smith Rice International Awards. Peter is the 2011 winner for “Inner Peace”, his masterwork of a summertime Japanese Maple. It will be featured in an exhibition of nature photography at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. from the end of April through September 2012. Peter Lik’s famed photograph, “Ghost”, was awarded and exhibited the previous year at both the Smithsonian and the Capitol Rotunda.”
From Peter Lik’s website: http://www.lik.com/news/newsarticle10/

It’s clear why Peter Lik is loved and celebrated by many. His photographs show what nature can truly be to many who unfortunately don’t get to see it, or choose not to spend time with mother earth’s peaceful paradises.