Elinor Carucci

“Sometimes, photographing came before the logical understanding and my consciousness regarding life around me. Sometimes, it confused my world of pictures with the real world”

One cannot believe the simplicity in the composition in many of Elinor Carucci’s photography. Elinor Carucci-whom I choose to base my “Famous Photography” project on,captures a personality I want to acquire when it comes to photography. Born in Israel 1971, Carruci stands out from many women, since she seems to adore her body in some manner, on the other hand she is a professional belly dancer.
Whether in her picture “Will he take me 2002” image –where she stands scared and proud wearing nothing but her pubic hair- or in “Pain 15 2003” - where she lays on the ground with electrical patches on her leg, and once more wearing noting but skin- Carucci takes the perversion of the naked body and implies something natural. Of course its somewhat culturally shocking because 1) Posing naked for something other than porn and 2) A woman in her late 30’s is shun if her body is exposed (especially if she has children).The usage of the images in her “Pain” “Crisis” and “Closer” pushes the limits of a comfort level between family members, meaning a deeper relationship with her subjects –Mainly her parents and her husband-. For that reason I am focusing on people who influence me negatively and positively.
The main reason why I even considered Carucci was because of this quote http://photo.box.sk “ I once thought that to take pictures of my mom would help me overcome the fear of time passing, but the photography only shows me the cruelty of time and even the pictures of faces without wrinkles do not comfort me.”
I can personally relate to having a phobia concerning time. The cold hard fact that time does not exist, yet it we follow it religiously. The idea of photographing my world seemed like a good idea, since I was scared to let go of what I believed was me. The fact is that a past is meant to be forgotten, even if memories were full of grace. Nothing is as good as remembering. Carucci, as well as I did, have discovered how non-bias is the truth. Let the people we admire layer our lips with lipstick, for that is our only protection against time.

Robert Adams Emulation_Evan

According to Wikipedia, Robert Adams dealt with a movement termed the “New Topographies” ; much of those involved that movement like Stephen Shore where straying away from images, or postmodern pursuits. I identify with Adams, in that he trying to capture something that deals with a moment beyond temporary qualities, something that is close to home and not constructed through image based associations or lending from constructed works or aesthetics, though this is not entirely true concerning aesthetics, it rest heavily on modern modes of thinking. I love how nature is captured which is toned down from an overtly extreme realism as in Ansel Adams. As well Robert Adams focus seems to be of the putrid sublime, or the eroding qualities of nature due to man and not by nature. Such qualities are shown in his works in dried American landscapes that contain remnants of construction vehicles demolishing landscape quietly, and of aboriginal American landscapes that have been untouched buildings. I am drawn by his method in capturing scenes, which seems to be without retouching or burning, it seems to provide a realism that mocks the eye in a conventional way, as a sort of institutional photography. It seems the issue Adams tends to deal with are the everlasting nature of nature existing; a sort of paradox, and containing irony because how can man destroy nature and though man has destroyed nature it still exists. I believe contemporary culture strays away from this sort of work, because of the lack of conditioned beauty and aesthetics, but providing not necessarily a realism; but a subjective response to an environment similarly how Whitman did in poetry.
Roll 1 Robert Adams “35mm Warehouses landscapes”

1. 125 f4
2. 125 f5.6
3 125 f2.8
4. 125 f4
5. 125 f5.6
6 125 f2.8
7. 125 f4
8. 125 f5.6
9 125 f2.8
10. 125 f4
11. 125 f5.6
12. 125 f2.8
13. 60 f4
14. 60 f5.6
15. 60 f2.8
16. 60 f4
17. 60 f5.6
18. 60 f2.8
19. 30 f4
20. 30 f5.6
21 30 f2.8
22. 30 f4
23. 30 f5.6
24. 30 f2.8

Roll 2 “Cafe HOLGA”
1. portrait mode
2. portrait mode
3. portrait mode
4. portrait mode
5. portrait mode
6. portrait mode
7. portrait mode
8. portrait mode
9. portrait mode
10. portrait mode
11. portrait mode
12. portrait mode

1. Robert Adams Emulation and Some Stieglitz Hasseblad
1. 125 f4
2. 125 f5.6
3. 125 f2.8
4. 125 f4
5. 125 f5.6
6. 125 f4
7. 125 f5.6
8. 60 f4
9. 60 f4
10. 60 f5.6
11. 60 f4
12. 60 f4/2.8
13. 60 f4
14. 60 f4/2.8
15. 60 f8
16. 60 f5.6

2.. Robert Adams Emulation Hasseblad shots of Industrial landscapes
1. 250 f5.6
2. 250 f8
3. 250 f4
4. 250 f4
5. 250 f8
6. 250 f5.6
7. 250 f2.8
8. 250 f2.8
9. 250 f4
10. 250 f5.6
11. 250 f4
12. 250 f4/2.8
13. 60 f4
14. 60 f4/2.8
15. 250 f16
16. 250 f5.6
17. 30 f4
18. 30 f2.8
19. 30 f4/2.8
20. 30 f4/2.8

Upcomming Openings

Diverse Works
Thrive

Notions of time play through the work of 16 notable artists from Houston in Thrive, an exhibition organized in conjunction with a conference at University of Houston: "Gender, Creativity and the New Longevity." The exhibit and accomanying programs are a co-presentation of DiverseWorks and Women's Studies program at University of Houston. Artists include Elia Arce, Laura Bennett, Ellen Berman, Suzanne Bloom, Joanne Brigham, Kathy Hall, Roberta Harris, Rachel Hecker, Mary Jenewein, Lauren Kelley, Charles Mary Kubricht, Lynn Randolph, Debra Rueb, Toby Topek, Kelli Vance and Dee Wolff.

http://www.diverseworks.org/?pgid=3&subid=6&cid=169

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Lawndale Art Center
November 21, 2008 – January 10, 2009
Opening Reception Friday, November 21, 2008, 6:30-8:30 PM
Artist talks at 6:00 PM

Pleasing Punch | AJ Liberto and Jesse Robinson
Personal Panopticon | Cory Wagner
Once Removed | Ann Marie Nafziger
Flowback | Mequitta Ahuja
To Whom It May Concern | Emily Sloan
NIMBY | Kevin Curry

http://www.lawndaleartcenter.org/events/upComing_front.html

Robert Adams by Evan

My photographer of choice has to be Robert Adams, he documents banal scenes in America. These works encompass different genres of American topography, he documents grey areas of rural america and suburban america, such as a suburban community within an arid desert environment, as well he documents water bodies as they approach the dryland, and just crest movements. Robert Adams has been quoted to say his work is not conceptual but rather empirical, that is he tends to know what he shoots when he present with in area. I feel this is something i can connect with and explore, Houston contains banal industrial/folklorico suburban topology that are neglected in photography; what is typically shot are rustic scenes in america such as aged farm typologies and mom and pop buildings, i feel that an approach to Robert Adams in Houston may enlighten certain anomolies that are taken for granted such as the hybrid in between areas that happened accidently rather then planned, which seems to connect well with Adams mentality torwards photography, and how Houston originated. 

20 photographers.

Richard Avedon: First I would like to mention Avedon because of the first photograph that interested me, which was a portrait of (my favorite artist) Salvador Dali. This photograph is in a collection of portaits he did on artist: Including Chagall and Picaso. The best thing I enjoyed from Avedons work is his fashion pictures. Fashionably chic photos that successfully self-indulge on contrast.

Hans Bellmer: I simply enjoy the distortion and the mental disorder in Bellmer work. Including his sculpture of his doll collections. His sexual frustrated surrealism is one to enjoy over a hot coffee, especially when the topic involves the defiling of innocent children and not giving into sexual urges.

E.J. Bellocq: Despite on how much I do not have a space in my heart for portraits Bellocq utilizes space to say that the nude body in the picture is normal.

Keith Carter: Stunning picture on his website ( the boys holding the jar). I had seen this picture at the MFAH. This is one of the photographs I had chosen to do a larger work on. Most of his work seems to have some sort of mysticism to it.

Elinor Carucci: The photography shown in elinorcarucci.com seem to have a lot of contrast. One main thing her picture made me think about is the things that happen in our homes that we take for granted. Like a moment of passion, a simple coy kiss.

Clarence John laughlin: House of Hysteria by far my favorite photograph. This photo has a little signature that some artist like to leave behind, signature is the usage of hands in the photo.

Robert Mapplethorpe: Sex driven picture full of odd people and fetishes, I was almost surprised to see a photograph taken of Louise Bourgeois, personally her spider sculptures are very interesting, especially when she explores her subject. Wonder if Mapplethorpe used her as a muse. Mapplethorpe's work implies sexuality in evry object.

Ralph E Meatyard: A collection of ordinary people, doing ordinary things but wearing masks?, holding a rubber chicken? The usage of out-of-state objects is a nice concept to make any photo stand out more.

Paul Outerbridge: The human body is a wonderful thing to explore. Outer bridge seemed to know this and matured the body of a woman. A woman is to be looked at and loved, he implies, not a sexual obsession. His work also talks about his intellectual level, mainly because of the patterns he uses and objects he embellishes the bodies with.

Cindy Sherman: A bit of retro style woman photographs. One that interested me the most was her Untitled Film Still #16 done in 1978. Over time her style changed into this morbid dream of rainbows, made me think of Andy Warhol. Sherman's series include an exaggeration of the body.

Sandy Skoglund: THE COLORS!! I am a big fan of utilizing colors , especially in my work, that tend to intimidate people. Skoglund is wonderful of doing this. Definitely one of my favorite artist since she, not only takes photos but they are documents of her world. Something I truly want to explore.

W. Eugene Smith: No doubt captured life. No way to distort life. Smiths work involve life as it is, no intention embellish reality. Passion and raw blood shed and successfully captured. I enjoy these works for how they intend nothing more than to say what we all choose to ignore.

Frederick Sommer: Tell PETA to back off, Sommer is making Art. Corpses of animals are the subject in some of his images. His earlier still lifes' include"COYOTE" (location by Sommer's home) and A chickens head. Reminds me of a Surrealist photographer named Nathalia Edenmont, her subjects consist of dead animals, mainly rats, bunnies and chickens.


Mike and Doug Starn: Images taken of insects, even Buddha. What I am interested in the manner the photographs are represented. One large immage is printed on numerous of sheets,and archival paper.

Jerry Uelsmann: Layering images to created surreal landscapes. A mastered perfection of dodging and burning. Enjoyed the way you can see his creativity and his views of this Earth.

Edward Weston: Madness in still life, more dramatic in black in white, which Weston used. From landscapes to peppers, I can see the usefullness in organic shapes in Westons Work.

Five Print Project

Waterfall

I chose this negative because of the contrast with the water and trees that were lined up in the background of the waterfall. In order to make this print work, I had to use a #2 Filter @ F8. I exposed the full picture for 21 sec. - 3 sec. on darker areas. I had to expose the lighter area for an additional 6 sec. to even the tone with the darker trees. I was able to capture more detail of the clouds with this technique. After covering my darker areas around the trees for 3 sec. I then dodged the full exposure for an additonal 3 sec. to avoid any lines that appeared when I covered the darker areas.

I followed the same techniques for the other exposures except I changed the time of full exposure for my too light and too dark photos. I adjusted each by (+/-) 3 seconds to fullfill this effect. For my "too little" and "too much" contrast prints I changed the filters, but also used the same techniques as before with the timing. I adjusted the filters to a 1 1/2 and a 2 1/2 filter for each contrast.

-Marina Tejada

Famous Photographers

Shelby Lee Adams: He took very a interesting approach of capturin a person's personality on a portrait. His choice of preference for black and white photographs gives a subtle tone while freezing time. Pictures are very realistic without forced poses or experiences.

Diane Arbus: She based her work on taking pictures of ordinary individuals and of those considered as odd or freakish. Her subjects appear to be her primary focus while the background was not as emphasized. She portrays the true identity of each person in her pictures rather than a quick snapshot of what the public sees at a quick glance. She tends to make the odd individuals more interesting and appealing to see.

Robert Adams: His photography is of landscapes. He uses a lot of trees in his photos. There is a lot of appeal to the trees with the different shades that cause contrast with the rest of the landscape. Pictures taken with plenty of light to capture shadows.

Ansel Adams: Photos of beautiful landscapes and architectural views. He captures different textures in his trees and mountainside landscapes. The reflections on water capture identical mrror image of landscape and is caught with all details. Lighting was low enough to avoid any glares.

Robert Mapplethorpe: Very bold provocative pictures of individuals in the nude. Has a very sensual and simplistic way of portraying his floral pictures. His pictures of individuals are very symbolic with the ability to tell a story. Photos are very sharp with perfect contrast and well focused.

Edward Weston: Unique style of making normal objects look distinctive compared tot he ordinary view of others. Focuses on curves and lines of subjects. He uses nude models, shells, peppers, and landscapes.

Joel Peter Witkins: His photographs were made to imitate the work of famous paintings. He uses subjects such as hermaphrodites, amputees, and people with physical handicaps. His photographs are very bold and give powerful messages.

Richard Avedon: He shows a preference for portraits. His subjects seem to be themselves in photos. They give more of an intimate feel giving an introduction as to who they really are and represent. He used light backgrounds to emphasize all focus on subjects.

Bruce Davidson: He took pictures of people in poor areas of New York. His subjects show a lot of emotion. He captures the essence of the moment.

Josef Sudek: He uses light in the background of the subjects he uses for his work. He shows a lot of contrast with the right lighting. Tend to favor trees as his subjects for his photos.

Harry Callahan: His photos of his wife are very intimate. Everything else seems to be insignificant when she is the main subject matter. He does also take picture of landscapes which again show intimacy, perhaps his favorite areas to visit.

Manuel Alvarez Bravo: The subject matter of his photographs show a deep love for his culture. They bring reality to the everyday scenes of his time. His pictures are very realistic.

Andre Kertesz: He had a unique approach of expressing the nude body. He seemed to distort it, perhaps to still keep the identity private. He took pictures at different angles to show depth of field of different subjects such as inner city views, landscapes, and ordinary objects.

Alfred Stieglitz: He took many portraits exposing the characteristics of the individuals. His night scenes of the city buildings capture enough light to see the surrounding objects such as clotheslines and trees. His pictures of nude female bodies exclude their identities by not capturing their heads.

Immogen Cunningham. Her botanical pictures are very attractive. They are very detailed, capturing textures, details, and shadows. They have contrasting backgrounds to capture subjects.

Irving Penn: Took portraits with gray backgrounds to capture the subject with all details and clarity. His portraits make subjects give bold statements with symbolism of their cultures. The contrast against the background allow you to emphasize all attention to subjects.

Sebastiao Salgado: Capture different cultures around the world. The scenes are very bold and some tend to be very graphic. His subjects are very well focused with perfect lighting and contrast.

Paul Strand: Took sharp photographs of subjects anywhere from portraits, cityscapes, landscapes, to symbolic items. He shows a lot of clarity when capturing his subjects.

Nicholas Nixon: His photos are of ordinary individuals that give a sympathetic view for the elderly and gives comparison pictures of his wife and sisters as they age each year. His pictures givve a more intimate feel with the use of black and white prints. They give more vulnerability to his subjects allowing them to reveal their true identities.

Lee Friedlander: Displays photos of modernism. He takes random pictures of scenes from his car. Captures views of individuals in city scenes. Has a series of pictures, such as streetsigns, city scapes, and portraits.

-Marina Tejada