thursday Feb 26th: Anthropology

an⋅thro⋅pol⋅o⋅gy

   /ˌænθrəˈpɒlədʒi/ Show Spell

1.	the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, and social customs and beliefs of humankind.

2.	the study of human beings' similarity to and divergence from other animals.

3.

the science of humans and their works. Accodring to http://www.cyberpursuits.com/anthro/ : "Anthropology is a science of humankind. It studies all facets of society and culture. It studies tools, techniques, traditions, language, beliefs, kinships, values, social institutions, economic mechanisms, cravings for beauty and art, struggles for prestige. It describes the impact of humans on other humans. With the exception of the Physicial Anthropology discipline, Anthropology focuses on human characteristics generated and propogated by humans themselves." In several ways, I feel as if my project is anthropological. Here we have a behavior that is part of mainstream human lifestyle, at least in the wealthier countries, and it is certainly shifting. For better or for worse, for reasons we may not understand yet. It makes me wonder who anthropologists hundreds of years from now will look back on today, and what they will say. I think, in trying to capture the details, I'm going to have to drop the tight, somewhat emotional POV and keep it straight/documentary. You know, make it look like something the anthropologists could use.

Sumday Feb 22nd: Julie Blackmon, Domestic Vacations

I've always admired the work of Julie Blackmon, and when I saw two of her prints in person at Photo Miami, they took my breath away. Her innate attention to detail coupled with her touch for light create these incredible narratives. My current work is far from narrative, but Blackmon is still one of my photo idols, if you will.
Blackmon has been published in Vogue, London Times, Milk and National Geographic's Digitial Photography. She has had over 10 solo exhibitions and is represented by 4 galleries, as well as a commercial photography agent. She has won several photography awards, most notably American Photos Emergin Photographer of 2008. There is no information regarding Blackmons education available, which is curious.

Blackmon expounds on the above work in her artist statement:
"The paintings of Steen, along with those of other Dutch and Flemish genre painters, helped inspire this body of work. I am the oldest of nine children and now the mother of three. As Steen’s personal narratives of family life depicted nearly 400 yrs. ago, the conflation of art and life is an area I have explored in photographing the everyday life of my family and the lives of my sisters and their families at home. These images are both fictional and auto-biographical, and reflect not only our lives today and as children growing up in a large family, but also move beyond the documentary to explore the fantastic elements of our everyday lives, both imagined and real.

The stress, the chaos, and the need to simultaneously escape and connect are issue that I investigate in this body of work. We live in a culture where we are both “child centered” and “self-obsessed.” The struggle between living in the moment versus escaping to another reality is intense since these two opposites strive to dominate."

Artists Website: http://julieblackmon.com
represented by: http://www.claireoliver.com
www.edelmangallery.com
www.ggibsongallery.com
www.photoeye.com

Thur Feb 19th: Unity

Unity noun


-a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one
- the state or face of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; unification.

or, according to the art dictionary on line:

Glossary Term: Unity
Unity is one of the principles of art. Unity is the feeling that everything in the work of art works together and looks like it fits.

The art dictionary is somewhat elementary, but explains that painters often used color or shape to bring unity to a composition. For me, simply having the subject matter the same throughout my photographs is not enough. I'll need something more, and I'm considering doing something out of the ordinary for my medium to help with this, perhaps some sort of alternative process, either in printing or maybe even in editing. We'll see.

Sunday Feb 15th: Taro Hirano

While I was shopping in Venice Beach on Sunday afternoon, I think the photo gods were directing my attention to this artist. His book was on a coffee table in a furniture store. The book, entitled "Pool", is a photographic series of empty swimming pools in California. Each pool is represented in a basic typology (very similar to my first round of photographs), and then detail shots ensue. The detail shots differ from pool to pool, depending on what takes importance for each location.
The timing in finding this book was perfect; right before leaving on my trip I went out to shoot a station & ended up taking about 100 detail shots. I got totally swept away, feeling what I haven't felt in far too long- enjoying the shoot.

According to his website (you have to search for the english version), After studying Photography as Contemporary Art at Musashino Art University, Hirano worked as photographer's assistant at Kodansha Publishing. Hirano also opened a gallery in Tokyo, "Number 12 Gallery".

Check out the project in it's entirety, alongside some other work a http://www.tarohirano.com/pool/

Thur Feb 12th

Enamor:

To inspire with love; captivate

Since it's valentines day weekend I'm going to be cheesy and talk about loveeee. oh yes. Paul, you can deduct points for this if you want. but I've been feeling down about my work for the last several months...maybe since the beginning of summer, even. You know when you see some an excellent project and your heart skips a beat? and then you're feeling those pangs of envy......why doesn't my project feel like that? ok maybe I'm taking this whole metaphor a little overboard, but the thing about my work is.....I want to put the rommance back in it. I want to rush out the door with my camera the way I used too. and it's not that I don't love photography any more- I could talk/read/learn about it all day.

So it's not as if they offer counselors so you and your art can work out your problems. But there is a great website,: I give you my secret weapon. http://blogs.photopreneur.com/ . The blogs are the best, with tons of stuff regarding commercial/proffessional photography as well as inspiration and techie talk. My personal favorite when I'm feeling extra low is 60 Sources of Inspiration for Photographers. http://blogs.photopreneur.com/60-sources-of-inspiration-for-photography. If anyone else feels the way I do, check 'em out.

Sunday Feb 8th: Yiogros Kordakis

Very little information is available concerning the work of Yiogros Kordakis; I'm not even sure of his/her gender. I do know that Kordakis is an amazing Greek photographer whom exhibited at Photo Miami several images from the above series, "Global Summer". Large scale, crisp where they need to be and vibrant beyond belief, these photos are not done justice on the computer screen.
Kordakis' website, www.yiorgoskordakis.com , shows a diverse range of shots. A substantial commercial portfolio shows fashions and interiors, while art and books are dedicated to the more conceptual. Discounting the subject matter, all the images are pulled together by the same techniques that solidify the photographs above.
This work really pushes me to continue developing a "style". I'm struggling yet with linking together a mixed-bag of a portfolio , and if an objective viewer can tell that I shot all my images just by glancing through, then I'll feel a little more successful.

http://www.yiorgoskordakis.com/

LEcutre: Josh Goff

Thursday Feb 5th: Value

Value: noun
1. relative worth, merit, or importance
8. import or meaning; force; significance

"The value of money is determined, like that of other commodities, by the principle of demand and supply. " "Money And Banking", by John Thom Holdsworth

Value becomes subjective in the hands of a allegedly free market, controlled by supply and demand. What the people need, desire, approve, purchase, and or afford becomes of value. If something is marked as undesirable, offensive, threatening, negative, unwanted and or overpriced, it's value then declines.

This is specific to the economical scene, but holds strong into other issues. Society assigns value based on numerous factors. The desirable body type, personality, job, religion, etc shifts over time. Our societies taxonomy, in it's extreme subjectivity, affects everything.

Has the value of a building degenerated because it no longer services your vehicle? Could it be worth something, even as a signifier that change is approaching? Maybe a loss doesn't exist at all; simply a transition from one energy source to another. We should try to shed our old standards of a success (a booming oil business) and look ahead to something better.