Ben Edwards

Part 1

Teenage female clears high jump

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This photo sequence shows the natural body flow of a trained athlete. From take off to landing we are able to view the high jump event which is something in reality would happen in the blink of the eye (or in this case the shutter). Timing made this photo successful because it shows the four most critical parts of the jump.

Bigger then Yourself

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Using the process which I have unofficially named "throwing the lens" my intent for this picture was to capture the sound of the drums. The rhythmic beat of the drums is portrayed by the blurred christmas lights in the background coming to the foreground, giving the effect that the camera is capture sound as well as the image. This was a successful shot because of the vivid colors flying from the drum and the subject himself, the drummer.

Phantasm

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This shutter speed experimental photo turned into photography gold, as I never thought I could get a long exposure photo to be this crisp. The light coming from the background out of the door frame complementing the shadow figure of myself makes the photo a pleasure to look at and a puzzle for the mind. Due this photos quality of possessing aspects of being a good looking photo on surface level and also having deeper meanings on the inside, this is one of the few photos of mine I consider to be a true work of art.

Large/Small

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Another experimental photo (meaning the ending results where not what I had expected nor intended) this is my best representation of tilt-shift. Using a G.I. Joe along with his WWII 1:14 replica Jeep I wanted to create the effect that the viewer was riding along in the back of the Jeep looking forward, pass the driver, towards their destination. The background of this photo only adds into the effect as my house and my sister's red car sarcastically play into the photo. While this photo is light on a deeper meaning it processes a certain humor which makes it successful.

A lacrosse player practices picking up a ground ball,

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For a lacrosse player, picking up a ground-ball is something he or she could do at least one hundred times during a single practice and due to this repetition no thought is eventually needed to preform this action. This photo was taking to show all the complexity our bodies do for just one simple action and what makes it successful is the point of view from the ball and timing. Laying down and angling the camera up I was able to catch a vivid background and make the subject larger then life. Also the timing in the photo helps to its success. The athlete's forward foot is extending forward while is behind foot is firmly planted in the turf all while the stick is coming into down in order to scoop the ball into the net.

Brash

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After uploading this picture from my camera to computer I was in a surreal moment of realizing that I had captured this image. Due to the simplicity of the subject and the all black background this photograph is successful. The crisp lines and vivid colors of the fire shooting up and disappearing add to the visual pleasure of viewing this photo but the actual flame caught while burning is what mentally makes it a good photograph.

Your Touch

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What better a place to photograph then Ohio University campus, Athens, Ohio. At the heart of the schools art depart lies a large set of stadium type seating which over years and years of artistic people coming and going have left their touch. The subject of this photo is the neon yellow and gold slaps of paint running down the edge of one of the seats which is surrounded my complicated works of arts left by other students. The drips (an art in itself) a mist the art makes an interesting contrast of the question, What is consider art?

An armadillidiidae walks over the rock

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Commonly known as the potato bug, this armadillidiidae depicted here seems to be on a journey of epic proportions when outside the realm of this photograph, all that had happened was the process of pulling a rock up and taking a picture. This photograph creates a story and legacy for the viewer to embark upon with his or her own thoughts. This photo was made successful by the use of the macro setting on my camera creating the blur in the foreground and background of the photo.

Process 45J

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This photo represents the artists animosity towards the subject of chemistry. The blue tub represents the schooling establishment in which chemistry finds its means to convey itself to young minds. Inside the tub, the still water represents the artist on the outside, where he cannot express is true feelings towards the subject in the vicinity of the tub, yet he must go on and reflect the information that he is fed. The jar is a representation of the artist mind, inside he toils and builds with frustration and spite. The more he learns about it the more the side of the jar will slosh and swoon but no matter what the outside of the jar will remain calm. Finally the yellow tubes represent the teacher pumping information into the jar, while the hand holding the jar represents the artist's mother keeping the jar from moving out of place. This is a great photo because not only is appealing to the physical side of the photo, but it has an enormous mental side to it.

A tired worker

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Sticking you lens up close and personal can result in some of the most detailed and intricate pictures proven here. This picture depicts an ordinary bee and a ordinary purple flower in extraordinary. Normally when i human sees a bee their reaction is "I really hope that bug doesn't sting me," but this picture creates and peaceful image of the bee. It gives the viewer a different view to the bee, to show that it is a beautiful creature of this earth. The leaf the bee is sitting on pops out to the eye as the background is blurred, along with the purple flower in the foreground making this photo stronger.

Door is Open

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Optical Illusions are a trick to the eye making us believe something that is or is not. This photo shows the reflection of a Coke can through the Lens and shutter of a 35mm film camera, no it was not Photo-shopped like this. Photographing a film camera with a digital camera is the ultimate fusion of new and old making a strong photo. The viewer gets a false sense of reality at first glance but upon further review understands the photo. Fusing the physical aspects and mental aspects into this photo.

Human Portal

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Using an unsuspecting reflective surface, a female chrome figure makes this photo such a success. The subject of the front three figures reflects all that is around them, much like a person reflects the mood of his or her atmosphere. Also the background of more lined up figures creates an interesting repetition in this photo. It stands for more then just an oddity at a warehouse store but actual humans themselves. Through the process of reflection this has become a strong photograph.

Part 2

Today’s world of people whom only read the book of life by the cover, image is everything. Society of this generation is quick to express opinion while even though they may have little more then a surface understanding on the topic. As photographers we shape the image wither negative or positive to our viewers.

Imagery effects faith in the same way. The masterminds behind the many faiths of the world use images of their gods and prophets portrayed in a heavenly and perfect way to give correct image about the religion. Imagery helps create and destroy faith, for example every time a person is in a Christian church they will see Jesus nailed to the cross, giving us the image of sorrow and sacrifice. This reminds Christian of the sacrifice Jesus made for them. Yet the swastika was once a symbol of life but taken by the Nazi’s it has eternally become an image of evil, destroying its pervious faith and followers. Image is everything.

Photography can enhance faith by sharing it and spreading it. When photographers take pictures they capture a moment, a time and an essence. For example if millions of people gathered in Vatican City to hear the pope speak, a photographer could take shots of those millions of people and enhance the faith of others by sharing it. Humans like to know they are not alone in the world so by sharing that photo of millions of people similar to the viewer it would enhance and strength their faith. When I see crowds of many people for pro-life rallies, gathered at mass, or to hear the pope speak, my faith is enhanced because through the photographs I learn I am not alone in my pursuit of faith.

Photographs can be used to express any feeling, thought or idea through different means and mediums. Photographs can show the good virtues of man but also the most evil and heinous actions as well. If a photograph was used to show the conditions of war to people back home, it would be a good photo because it correct informs its viewers, but if a photo was used for an action of propaganda it would be negative because it misinforms its viewers. Just as the actions of humans, photographs can be morally good and evil but we as the shaper of these images control their purpose and plans according to our belief system.

“Seeing is believing” Why would somebody spend two hundred dollars on Photoshop? Or why would someone use half their movie budget on special computer generated effects? For the vary reason that seeing is believing. If people in today’s world can see it, they will believe it because before their eyes, soaking in, is proof (real or artificial). If something doesn’t exist, for example Big Foot, and you a couple of buddies ran around in the woods playing dress up and taking picture of your friend dressed up does that make Big Foot real? In the realm of the photo Big Foot is real because the photo depicts Big Foot to the viewer, while in the realm of reality Big Foot doesn’t exist.

In a sense, when you press down on your big round “take the picture button” an image is captured. Any modern day idiot could figure this much out and thus said anyone can take a picture. So a photograph grants ownership when these conditions apply,

1) A well thought out and planed subject matter – The photograph must thing and plan for a good shot, he or she must consider every angle, every method, every use of light and every variation of focus possible to capture the subject matter in the way he or she would want to shape it.

2) Methods of photography – wither it be motion blur, dept of field, tilt shift or perspective a photographer must choose the correct means to achieve the correct effect on his or her photograph.

3) Something new and captivating – Yes, your dog is cute, but it’s been done. Following the norm will get you no where fast in taking powerful and meaningful photos, the photographer must be originally only being guided by his influences not replicating them.

When these three conditions take place the photographer owns that object, location, person or situation because he was the one that pulled the trigger that image becomes his work of art.

According to these guidelines of photography some of my works having ownership and some to do not depending on how I came to the means of the photo. I have taking a picture of a dog, I do not own this dog but I have set up my camera to allowing in light by having the shutter staying open and adjusting the appropriate amount of light to capture my shadow, I own my shadow.

Photography haunts me, as it slowly becomes tangled deep inside me. For no longer can I go outside, go to a friends house, go to school, or even go to the bathroom with out saying “darn, I wish I had brought my camera” Now, when I go down my morning leaving the house check list instead of just pencil, wallet, keys. Its pencil, wallet, keys, camera. Every time I miss a shot it eats at me for the rest of the day because now that I had learn the joys of taking a great photograph I never want to miss an opportunity to take another.

I find myself constantly lining up shots through the view finder which use to be just my eye. I find myself staring into the sun because the light is perfect through the trees. I find myself bending like a gymnast over a guardrail for the perfect angle. I find myself slowly become a photographer.

Viewing the world as a set of photographs is dangerous because anything can be photographed, and anything will be photographed. Some days its better just to leave the camera at home and let the day occur with no documentation for if every day is documented our photographs will become dull, repetitive and bleak, if we go in and hunt for the photographs, its highly unlikely we will come out with successful photographs.

Part 3

1)I take photographs to preserve, entertain, and shock;

Preserve; everyday is a gift, and everyday I forget a little bit more but by taking photos I can relive my yesteryears like they where my yesterdays.

Entertain; art is a medium through which ideas can be express, I entertain my ideas through my photos to my viewers.

Shock; using my photographs I intend to shock and cause a sense of disbelief in my views my achieving surreal photos.

2)My photography has drastically changed for the better because of my work this semester. My learning and applying the processes that where the overall themes for the projects my photos took one giant leap in the right direction. Always having an intresting in photography I came into the class knowing what cool shots looked like and had played around with cameras here and there but learning the processes gave me the edge I need to become a good photographer. My new skill and passion has transcended A.D.I. class and aided me in becoming the photo editor for the school newspaper the Visor.

3) Once I make enough banks to buy my very own DSLR, I would like to pursue more sports and action photography. Using the rapid fire mood on the schools camera I was able to capture some beautiful moments in an athlete’s performance. Stills taking from motion allow us to break every movement down in to simple motion by motion movements. Besides what could be better then taking pictures and sports?

4)Photography has grown from a hobby to a passion for me after this semester and theirs no apparent reason to stop in the near future. Once I have my big boy camera, I will only learn to love and photograph more and more. I need to avoid abusing my passion by over using it, for it’s very easy to become burnt as a photographer. I need to cultivate a better understanding for every function of the camera, for every function has a purpose.

5) A photograph become art when it takes on the two faces of a physical and emotional side. When the photo portrays first to the eyes as visually pleasing, and then once soaked in the emotional side reveals itself bit by bit to the viewer. All photos I chose for my exam deadline I consider works of art for the contain sides of physical and emotional elements. These photos took thought, multiple tries, different processes, experimenting, and evaluation of subject which is why I consider them art.

Ben Edwards

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Monday, May 24, 2010

Photographer Report

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Exam

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Perspective

About Me