David Durbak Academia Erudition: 2017

Monday, November 13, 2017

Assignment 07 - Creative Experiments

Once you understand the technical aspects of photography, you can experiment with different in-camera and in-darkroom techniques.

Long before digital cameras or Adobe Photoshop was ever developed, multi-layered imagery was being created by Jerry Uelsmann (born 1934), who is best known for his seamlessly composited images in black and white. His photographs combine several negatives in the darkroom using multiple negatives in multiple enlargers to create surreal landscapes that interweave images of human figures, rocks, trees, and water, in new and unexpected compositions.

Diptych and triptych come from the Greek meaning two (dip) or three (trip) fold (tych). These terms originally referred to a work of art that was divided into sections and hinged together, but have come to be known as images designed to be displayed together and are a brilliant tool for photographic storytelling. They present two or three images which can be from the same session or they can be polar opposites to show opposition or contrasting ideas.

(above) untitled (known as Floating Tree) by Jerry Uelsmann, 1969

(above) untitled (known as The Philosopher's Desk) by Jerry Uelsmann, 1976

(above) untitled, by Jerry Uelsmann, 1997

(above) Eclipse by Jerry Uelsmann, 2011

(above) Calla Lily diptych by Patricia Strand

(above) diptych portrait of Francis Bacon by Harry Benson, 1975

(above) diptych portrait of artist Zakir Huseynov by Sana Aleskerov, 1998

(above) Baptist minister and Ku Klux Klan diptych from the series "Created Equal" by Mark Laita

(above) Marine and war veteran diptych from the series "Created Equal" by Mark Laita

(above) Polaroid diptych portrait of dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones by Chuck Close, 2008

(above) Saddleback, Polaroid SX-70 diptych by Michael Kirchoff

(above) Swan Pond, Polaroid SX-70 diptych by Mark Hillyer

(above) "Who Sees" by Andrew Bartram, 2015

(above) triptych from Olympus Pen camera by Lost Aruban

Assignment 06B - Self-Portrait

Assignment 06B - The Self-Portrait

Photographers were creating "selfies" long before the advent of smartphones with built-in cameras. By framing an area of background, carefully measuring for focus, and using a timer on the camera or a long cable release, photographers have created self-portraits that speak volumes about their personalities.

Create self-portraits for this assignment that reveal a bit about you. You will find a tripod or a stable stool, table, or ladder to be helpful for supporting your camera while you create your self-portraits.

Here are some examples of self-portraits by well-known photographers:

(above) Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #21, 1977

(above) Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #84, 1978

(above) self-portrait by Lee Miller, 1945

Miller, an American Jew and the only female combat photographer in Europe during

World War II, photographed herself in Adolph Hitler's bathtub in his captured residence

(above) self-portrait by Yousuf Karsh, 1946

(above) self-portrait by Lisette Model, 1940's

(above) self-portrait by Vivian Maier, 1950's

(above) Lee Friedlander, 1970

(above) self-portrait of Irving Penn photographing a New Guinea mud man and child, date unknown

(above) self-portrait from the series "On Being An Angel" by Francesca Woodman

(above) "self-portrait talking to vince" by Francesca Woodman

(above) self-portrait from the series "On Being An Angel" by Francesca Woodman

(above) self-portrait by Richard Avedon, Provo, Utah, 1980

(above) self-portrait by Annie Leibovitz, date unknown

(above) self-portrait by Robert Mapplethorpe, 1988, as he was close to death from AIDS

(above) self-portrait by Mark Seliger, date unknown

(above) self-portrait from the series "Wallflower" by Corinne Perry, date unknown

Monday, October 16, 2017

Assignment 05 - Reflections

Assignment 05 - Capturing Reflections

Seeking reflections to photograph is always an opportunity to observe the world in a new way, whether capturing beautiful landscapes or tiny, detailed macro images. Here are a few basics that will help you achieve better results when dealing with reflections.

1.) Depth of field - Try to select a larger aperture, such as f/8 or wider, as this will broaden the range of focus so that the eye perceives the subjects of your composition in closer relation to the environment which helps to enhance the effect of the reflection.

2.) Shift your focus within the same image - First, create an image of the scene by focusing on the subject, then create a second image of the same scene by focusing on the reflection. This allows you to have two different perspectives and slightly different stories of the same scene by shifting your focus.

3.) Look at the angle of the light upon the subject and how it affects the reflection. In a natural outdoor setting, move around and explore different viewpoints to find the angle at which the reflection is most visible.

4.) Look for reflections that you might have missed as you pass by your everyday scenes; reflections in windows, in puddles, in mirrors, etc., and see how they allow you a different outlook on your daily walk or drive.

5.) Use an entire roll of film for this project. This is a excellent assignment to use your camera's built-in Aperture Priority or Aperture Value mode and experiment with the various apertures on your lens. This is also a good project to use the LUMU app on your smartphone to check exposure and aperture control.