Thursday, March 26, 2015

Triangle Triangle with Benoit Paillé's "LSD"


The contrast of colors and the beautiful stars surrounded by the trees led me to this photographer. Unfortunately, his website is in development, so I was unable to find information about him. However, this image (and others) were created after Paillé took LSD and began to photograph. My favorite part of his post is where he divulges, "i try to show you the magic,sacred metaphysical quality of the nature and new age bullshiting you" [sic]. His honesty reminded me of Mariah Robertson who both wanted to create something philosophical with her work, but also explained her own vulnerabilities in doing so. 

Other images by Paillé show a square of light being present in an otherwise dark and empty field. This idea that the world has all been discovered so that man-made light permeates even the most remote areas came to mind. Overall, I found that juxtaposed humor and beauty in really intriguing ways, and I thoroughly enjoyed his Flickr feed.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

"Read, watch, be curious." Urbanautica with Vincent Delbrouck



I was drawn to this blog post because of the dino-looking tree. I enjoyed this photograph because the whimsical shape of the tree set against the majestic background of the mountains reminds me that we should never take ourselves too seriously (Worth noting-the mountains in the background are the famous Himalayans). 

I appreciate the posts on Urbanautica because, like this post, they are longer and contain quite a bit of original content compared to some of the other websites I have viewed for this class. This article, specifically, is an interview with photographer Vincent Delbrouck, and covers his photographic style, his camera preference, and the fact that he has other jobs to support his photographic passion (among other things).

Delbrouck's interview combined quite a bit of philosophy, pragmatic suggestions, and personal reasonings in his responses, which made it an insightful read. So often, our lives are more than just a single facet for which we are known, but are a deeply intertwined collaboration of everything we have and ever will be a part of. I felt that Delbrouck's interview exemplified this idea, for his answers often contained more information than was asked for by the interviewer. One of the best parts of the interview is the end where Delbrouck lists some of his favorite photographers. I plan to look over them to continue my exposure to photography.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Aperture with Gordon Park's "Back to Fort Scott"



The story of this new gallery opening begins with a LIFE magazine story that never ran (for "reasons unknown). After realizing that these photographs depicting life for African-American families in the early 1950s had never been shown, Karen Haas began to compile them for a showing at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Unfortunately, the blog post on Aperture only includes this singular image, but a quick Google search reveals other captivating images that will be displayed in the collection. Many of the images, as Haas points out, mimic the "American Gothic" as individuals stand stoic in front of their homes or businesses. As a result, the images do not depict the hopelessness of segregation (as LIFE magazine had asked for), but instead, produce images of strength in the face of a broken system.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to see the exhibit in its entirety, but I am excited that these works are being shown, rather than being forgotten in archives.