Final Cut

I know that I've already posted most of these pics throughout the semester.. but I did re-edit most of them using my way improved photoshop skillls so I decided to show them off. These are SOME of the wonderful photos that made the final cut into my digital photography final this past Monday
Enjoy:

(Okay, so these family dinner pics weren't actually in the final.. But I re-edited them and wanted to share)

Thanksgiving with the Wolfs

I was attempting to somehow capture the insanity that is my family.

The photo my dad is holding (in the first dinner pic) is of my older sister.. she didnt want to be in the actual photo, so my dad grabbed her Batmitzva photo so she could be there in spirit.

Oy Veh

As Promised I went back to shoot another still life.. this time WITH a tri-pod. These are all of the same pomegranate that I sorda tore apart throughout the shoot. I like these images, but I dont love them. So I can't say that I've succeeded in my still-life quest for greatness, but its definately a start. I think that they would work better for me with an all white background (sorda Avedon-esque) but I may be alone in that thought.

I've been wanting to take pictures of fruits/vegetables like this for quite some time... thinking that it would be just another way of working with light and form. I think this picture is a good start, but its not quite as sharp as I would like so I'm going to re-shoot with a tri-pod. My goal is to make the viewer forget that they're looking at such ordinary produce by bringing forward a more intense beauty by way of lighting.

Granby Oak

This Sunday I went with Adam to this Oak tree in his town,

it's actually the oldest oak tree in Connecticut

I've photographed it almost every time I've gone there over the past

1.5 years,and they are some of my favorites pictures I've taken.

This was my first time shooting it with digital,and I must say

that I reallyliked the control I had editing it in photoshop.

His mom also made us lasagna and cookies.

Best Day Ever

Something new

"Oyster Ho"

Playing with perspective

This past weekend I went to Boston with my family.
I got to sleep in a nice hotel, order room service and drink a lot of October fest.
I also took my first architectural pictures ever.. and I actually like them (weird)
All in all.. it was a good weekend

Grandma Shirley

So I took these at my Grandma's house last weekened while I was home. I actually came up with the idea while not paying attention in math class.... I was trying to think of something that interests me in color, and for some reason my grandmas house popped into my head. My initial plan was to take pictures of all her "chachkas"? (I have no idea how to even begin to spell that)... but I quickly realized that she was way more interesting. Whats really crazy is that I actually drew up the picture of her sitting on her bed leaning back on her arm that same day in math class... so I knew that I had to make that picture. I can't wait to go home for thanksgiving so I can take some more of her... maybe do some closer portraits. I really think shes a great model.

On my drive home last weekend I realized that I've been a fool for having not taken any nature picks during this wonderful time of year. Unfortunately, the leaves hadn't begun to change in NY as they have up here but oh well. I shoulda used a tri-pod for this one (sorry Frank), but I had just done like a 3-hour shoot at my grandma's house and was pretty fed-up. Plus it was pretty bright and the exposure was short.

This is a lake right near my grandma's house that I used to go to much more as a kid (Yes, we DO have nature in Long Island.. shocking, I know). As I said I took these pretty quick, but I may go back there next time I'm home (even though all the leaves will likely be gone by then). I think I took this with my mom's paintings in mind. She paints watercolors, mostly lanscapes and flowers and whatnot. I wanted to take pictures that looked like something she would possibly paint.

Anyways, its been really nice to spend some time not in a studio and just taking pictures of things as they are.

I've decided that I NEED to get out of the studio for this class (at least for now) and try to shoot some things that I'm not quite so comfortable shooting. I took these the other night inside and outside of Moynihans bar over on Main and I think one is from later in the night. My friend's band was playing and they no longer let anyone in who is not 21, so I got myself in by having them tell the bartender that I was just coming to take pictures of them. I have to admit it felt pretty funny to have them( the bartenders) refer to me as "the photographer". Unfortunately I have to admit that I really should have had a tri-pod with me... and as I didn't these aren't quite the sharpest pictures ever. But hey, they're not of a nude model and I don't hate them.. so I think thats a good thing. I've been shooting in a studio for two semesters now so it was quite a change to not have total control over the lighting, although it did make for more of a challenge to just make the lighting work as is. These are also my first attempts at night shots ever, and I really like how the lights are glowing. All in all I wish I had had a tri-pod so that these could be sharper and so my pictures from inside the bar weren't so awful

This is much more like what I've been doing with film...I've been trying to create fairly abstract pictures using dramatic lighting with human form. I even made it grainier so that it looks like I also shot it with the 3200 film that i've been working with.

I don't know... its just not the same.

I went back and forth for quite some time about whether or not this picture "needs" color. I just feel that the picture is about shadows and form. Color takes away from these aspects of the picture. Maybe i'm wrong?

ps. this is from the same shoot as the pic below.

So I did another shoot with the same model, but this time I got out of the studio to try out a new location. Not sure if this background works better than the plain one. I also decided to keep this one in color (though I did de-saturate it a bit). I really dont know what direction I want to go in... so I guess I'll just have to try a bunch out and see where I end up.

After the session I showed my model (Melissa) a Jeanloup Sieff book I have and remebered how inspired I am by his work. Maybe he will provide inspiration for my next shoot.

I'm used to shooting nudes with film and so I thought I'd give it a shot with the digital. I converted it to black and white because thats just how I'm used to looking at my nude portraits. It's definately not the same as with film, but it's certainly much easier.

Posting my first pick from a lovely day of apple picking!