Ten Words

• Beauty
• Emotion
• Storytelling
• Symmetry
• Connection
• Fantasy/Imagination
• Personable
• Impacting
• Thought provoking
• Importance

 

Final Project: #LondonAdventure

#LondonAventure

Oscars Selfie -2014

Although it may not be the most influential photo, it does hold an importance as one of the most shared images in social media history. Taken by Bradley Cooper during the 2014 Academy Awards, this selfie captures some of today’s biggest celebrities in one group setting, including Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and Kevin Spacey. As someone who is knowledgable in pop culture, this image really appeals to me because the casual fashion the movie stars were captured. There is no special lighting, photoshopping, or airbrushing that usually make them look flawless in the media. After Ellen DeGeneres posted the selfie on Twitter, it became the most “tweeted” image of all time. This image also increased Samsung phone purchases and coined the term “selfie moment” for Samsung marketing.

MOPA Photographer: Kevin Cooley

Kevin Cooley is a Los Angeles-based multimedia artist and photographer that finds inspiration in forces of nature to question the disconnection between human perception and actuality. Cooley uses a combination of video and photography in his work by capturing long periods of time to create photographic surrealism. He is also an accomplished night photographer and uses natural and manmade light to create visual effects within his photographs.

Take Refuge – Kevin Cooley

Smog House – Kevin Cooley

Airplane Trail – Kevin Cooley

While visiting the Museum of Photographic Arts, I had the opportunity to view Cooley’s A Thousand Miles an Hour series, part of the Boundless: A California Invitational exhibit. Referring to the speed at which the Earth rotates on it’s axis, Cooley captures the movement of the sun or moon by mounting his camera on an “astronomical tracking system” (MOPA). This technique blurs the movement of the earth causing a surreal, dream-like effect. Cooley displays his images at various angles to correct the earth’s horizon line. I have never encountered such an abstract approach to photographing an evening sky and thought it was quite inventive.

38.16 Degrees N, 107.73 Degrees W, Sunset – Kevin Cooley – MOPA

 

 

Boundless: A California Invitational

The Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) is currently featuring an exhibit of contemporary California photographers called Boundless: A California Invitational. Boundless showcases artists who have reimagined traditional photography techniques, and combined other visual media to create unique California landscape and narrative photographs. Each artist has presented a different style of photography that ranges from stunning aerial views to surreal landscape imagery. Although the artists photographed many different regions of California with similar environments, they had a different approach to aesthetic, technique, and presentation. Although I enjoyed viewing the images of California, some familiar and some foreign, only a few photographers visually stood out stood out and fully grabbed my attention. One particular photographer was Kevin Cooley and his A Thousand Miles an Hour series.

Seri/Comcaac Artisans visit CSUSM

Costume Photo Shoot

Collier Schorr

 

My impression of what Schorr is attempting to portray in her photos is a commentary of society’s push toward male gender stereotypes. Boys are often taught at a very young age what it means to be “masculine” (vs. feminine). Everything from how they should dress to what toys they should play with are engraved in the subconscious mind from the time they are born. Schorr’s photos depict these masculine stereotypes by showcasing young boys in sporting events, such as wrestling matches. Schorr also questions young (German) boys what it means to be “masculine” by photographing them wearing World War II solider uniforms. As she photographed these German boys wearing uniforms of the opposing side, she claimed they felt a sense of pride and dominance.

Photos for Archive Project

Photos from Juste (Red Nose Clown) rehearsals

Jeff Sheng: Fearless

The LGBT rights movement has seen many crowning achievements within the past decade, including marriage equality and same-sex parent adoption. These achievements have slowly erased LGBT individuals as “second class citizens” and influenced our society to become more accepting of the gay community. However, LGBT individuals still face a harsh reality of discrimination and homophobia in many institutions, including the sports industry. Artist and photographer, Jeff Sheng, has dedicated himself to an on-going project entitled “Fearless”.  Since 2003, Sheng has been interviewing and photographing ‘out’ college LGBT athletes all over the country. His work not only breaks society’s stereotypes of LGBT individuals, but shows athletes who were brave enough to be who they are in the competitive sports world.

Sheng’s work as an activist photographer continues into another controversial topic of gays in the military. Reflecting on the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, Sheng photographs LGBT individuals in the military who are not considered ‘out of the closet’. He achieves these striking images by stylistically hiding their faces to prevent any potential discrimination from other soldiers. Jeff Sheng is an inspiring individual who strives to cause awareness in our society. As the LGBT rights movement marches forward, we hope someday the hate we face will be a thing of the past.