Mother Nature

mixed lighting: outdoor lights and flash

For this photo the main theme was mixed lighting.  By using the natural light from outside and the camera's flash, I was able to create a combination of light.  This gives my model Grace, an extra highlight on the anterior side, along with an all over light courteous of the sun. Her naturally intrigue with this plant gave me a good idea in surrounding her with nature-the place humans call home, and the thing civilization needs to survive.

Speak Now.

Painting with light, 20s exposure

     Painting with light consists of your subject standing completely still in a dark room.  With a tiny flashlight and a long exposure, the photographer "paints" light with the flashlight towards the photo.  Once the exposure has finished, you will notice that streaks of light appear throughout the photo-this is your paint.
     With Grace as my subject I decided on using text for my paint.  I set the exposure at 20s in the dark room with my subject standing with her mouth open.  Next, I pressed the shutter and stood behind her.  I flashed the light in small letters coming from her mouth backwards, and increased in size as I wrote further away from the subject.  After writing, I stood infront of Grace and shone the light on her face to make sure it appears in the photo. 
     The words "speak" represent the term to speak outloud.  I chose this in the dark room not only because I have to in order for the light to appear, but because thinking in the dark is like speaking your mind with no one else listening.  Therefore, with the words "speak" shining brightly in a dark room, it resembles speaking your mind and having the right to speak when so many don't have the opportunity.

Blast from the past

Madonnna with the Long Neck, Parmigianino
Oil on Wood, 1535-40



Sara as the Madonna with the Long Neck
2:0 light ratio






           The Madonna with the Long neck is an oil on wood painting during the 16th century, also known as, "The Renaissance."  The renaissance occured between the 14th-17th century (1301-1801) in Italy and spanned across Europe during the Middle Ages.  During this time period, "Humanism"-which is the belief of creating a universal man who consisted of intelligence and physical excellence along with the capability to function in any given situation.  This is shown commonly as god-like figures or sculptures like Greek and Roman ancient art.  Paintings in this era commonly include nature, extreme realistic-style paintings, human anatomy (it is common to have subjects in the nude), and pillar/columned buildings.  This architecture influenced Italian art prior to European literature (ie. the leaning tower of Piza).

          This painting is represented as the virgin Mary holding baby Jesus.  Six angels are seen to be looking over Mary to see the baby.  Parmigianino created a new style of painting when he added the Prophet at the bottom right corner- just  under Mary's knee.  This inproportion was the beginning of realistic paintings with an unrealistic twist. The abnormally large size of Mary and the baby Jesus are guessed to provide the perfect inharmony to the picture which was uncommon in the 16th century.
          Lastly, I adjusted my lighting to meet the same lighting as the painting by having two studio lights: both on the left side of Sara's face.  This created the perfect shadow just on the outer-left side by her chin and her cheek bones.  The right side is extremely bright, giving the perfect luminescence of Mary's angelic face, which goes the same way for Sara.  All in all, a combination of studio lights and photoshop have created a good replication of a renaissance painting.