Instagram: Do It Right, or Don't Do It At All

To the makers of this image, I applaud you wholehearted and thank you so freaking much:

(source)

Unpopular opinion: Instagram is atrocious.

Trust me, as soon as I got my first smart phone, and was looking at the app collection, I too was attracted to this "photography" app that had a collection of filters that could make my images look all vintage-y. Our society is OBSESSED with it, and it's gotten out of control. 

Yeah, you could make the point that since I am mostly a digital photographer, I would hate for my medium to become obsolete and replaced with phones. But that's never going to happen. But what is actually happening is that our culture (mainly girls, but I've seen plenty of guys as well) are now just so attracted to the cutesy, the fake-shutter sounding click, the weird-ass color combinations that exist, and the fact that everyone is using the same what? 10-12 filters? 

It's not original. And even if you have a good eye for photography, slapping a yellowish-pink tint to it isn't going to make it any more accepted in the art world. I hope to be struck down dead if someday when I'm interviewing young artists for jobs that their porfolios contain instagram shots.

I'm not saying that people can't make great art with phones. There are already photo shows up across the county displaying just that, and they're GORGEOUS. But Instagram is just ruining the beauty and mystery of photography. If you got oddly-color shots, it's because you had a light leak, or it was probably Polaroid film -- something that is nearly obsolete these days unless you buy them for 500% their cost at Urban Outfitters. 

I guess I'm just saying this: THINK before the next time you take a picture of your cup at Starbucks, your feet as you watch TV, or YOUR FREAKING COMPUTER SCREEN. Think of how stupid you're looking.

And for all you Instagram lovers: COME AT ME, BRO.

Inspiration Thursday #8: Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin did her undergrad at my school, so her name is constantly being tossed around in my classes. Her most famous work depicts the counter culture of New York City she adapted into after she graduated.

Whether "scripted" or not, Goldin's photos show the average viewer something they're not used to seeing. I guess, for me, the best way to describe her work is real. All of her photos look as if she was in the right place at the right time.

(Self-portrait, supposedly after she was beaten by a lover.)

What do you think of her work?

Let me know!

Memories vs. Experiences

So right before I came back to school, I was cleaning up all my stuff out of the current guest bedroom, which also happens to be my parents bedroom (they're redoing it, so they temporarily stole my room) and right behind this one hutch, I noticed a number of picture frames.

Now, my parents have been married for over twenty years, and haven't faltered through any of it. They're both amazing human beings, filled with love and care. We might not always see eye-to-eye but they have always provided and have been supportive for my brother and I.

And well, you can only guess what I found.

Covered in what felt like an inch of dust was there wedding photo. One could think, "well they obviously hadn't looked at that in a long time, something must be wrong in that marriage." But rather, I think it shows how much they've been working on other things, that in the 16 years that we've lived in that house, they've never had a spare moment to hang it up. They do so much more for their two children, and love each other more than what that photograph represents.

Here's one of my very few critiques on photography: A photograph may show the past. A photograph may show what was once there, and is now lost. A photograph may withstand it's meaning, or lose it. But a photograph will never be anything close to the actual experience. It can trigger a memory, but you will never be back in that spot ever again. The flash of a moment is gone in ... well, a flash.

We live in a society where our memories are becoming obsolete. Why memorize the parts of the eye when you can just "Wikipedia it?" Why write down important dates when you can just tell your phone to? Why experience a party to it's fullest when you can just look at the pictures the next day on Facebook?

Because you'll never have the memory. We expect computers to be our extra storage our brains can't handle, but just like this picture, it will never be genuine.

When I look at this picture, I have memories of when my dad used to have that goofy mustache, or when my mom used to perm her hair. But I don't have a experience of that day (obviously.) I have my mom and dad now, and always, to remind me that this picture is genuine, and only to them, is it.

Inspiration Thursday #7: Joan Fontcuberta

[I know this is two days late, sorry!]

This week's Inspiration is Joan Fontcuberta. This is probably currently my favorite photographer. I have done presentations on him, I have emulated him, and I find so much of what he does fascinatingly beautiful. I aspire to be like him, as I have the same views on photography that he does.

He has three main projects that I think are kinda stunning: Fauna, Sputnik, and Deconstructing Osama. How he works is that he creates false narratives. In photography, we're supposed to believe that what we see is what happened. How can you trick the senses into believing something other than the notion of reality? He does this so well, and so believably, that people viewing his exhibitions have said to felt tricked by his work. Here, let me just show you what I'm talking about using Fauna as an example, possibly his best and most intriguing work.

Fauna
In Fauna, he creates an elaborate lie about a doctor who stumbles onto this land with animals that had never been seen before. In the book, this doctor documents these animals through pictures, anatomical drawings, and notecards filled with German/latin gibberish.

 

He sets it up like a natural history museum exhibit. One might think, oh well photoshop photoshop photoshop... except that this project came out in the 80s, when computers weren't even close to being at that level, and digital photography did not exist. When you put him in the context of his own syntax, it shows how simply amazing and flawless these images are.

I know, I am too in love myself to give a proper critique.

But what do you think? Leave a comment.

Latest Favorites: January 2012

Yet another addition to the blog will be monthly (bi-monthly, possibly) posts about what are my favorite things at the moment. I hope I can bring some information/new music/ideas/books/shows/art to your atmosphere.

January 2012:

1. The Fault in Our Stars -- I may be slightly biased because I'm in love with the Nerdfighters, but when I started this book I couldn't put it down. It's tragic and awesome and witty and it feels so real, like I could be any character in this book and know that same feeling. It's so down-to-earth, and John Green (author) is an excellent writer. I suggest everyone get this book and read it for themselves.

2. How I Met Your Mother -- This is a oldie, but a goodie. There are now 7 seasons of this show on Netflix for instant streaming. I have always caught episodes, but I never watched them sequentially. Now that I have (I'm into season 4) I am hooked. It reminds me of me and my friends in 10 years, and it's so relateable! Watch a few episodes or get hooked on like me, you'll enjoy it either way.

3. Gotye -- My new music find. (Actually, to be fair, a friend made me a YouTube 'playlist' and one of his songs was included on it.) I just love his voice, and he's currently on tour in the United States!

Check out this music video, which is simply amazing:

4. 2012 Constellations of the Northern Hemisphere Wall Calender -- I'll be the first to admit that I love everything space and aliens and weird happenings and things of the sort. And these wall calenders are awesome! They are now on sale for $15, courtesy of littlebrightstudio @ Etsy.

5. Pomagranates -- A simple favorite, but needed to be included. I've been trying to be better about health and wellness, and while expensive, these fruits are probably one of the best things for you. Filled with antioxidants and other great vitamins, I'm definitely going to stock up and freeze before they're out of season for good.

What's your latest favorites?! I wanna know, leave me a comment!

Break from Monotony -- Hampton, NH

So, I've decided to make it a little tradition (in my head, I suppose) that I make it to the coast at least once during the winter. I actually enjoy the beach so much more in the winter than I do in the summer -- you can actually enjoy the serenity, the brisk air, the washed up shells that haven't been smashed to pieces quite yet. Not to mention all the dogs and people with metal detectors make for great amusement.

So for the past few years I've dragged my boy with me. The hour-long ride flies by, and when we arrive it's like approaching a ghost town. There's this long getty that extends a great bit into the little cove there, and we decided to make it our mission to climb to the end. Here's some shots from our little winter excursion.

I felt like a nobody on this tiny spot surrounded by blue. Tyler and I joked what would happened if it was suddenly high-tide or if a crazy tsunami swept us away. We sat there for a good while until we couldn't feel our extremities and our noses were too runny to manage.

It's moments like these that I forever long for every year, and I remember for years longer.

Inspiration Thursday #6: Sandy Skoglund

Funny story before tonight's Inspiration Thursday Post: 

I was meandering around my local Barnes & Nobles (I think they're pretty spread out, but if you don't know what that is, it's a bookstore chain) and I was looking in the very small and sickly looking photography section. This is to be expected: the books were half ripped open and traditional coffee table style. They had the usual "stereotypical" books, Ansel Adams, LIFE Magazine, Annie Leibowitz (who I love dearly but she is such... I don't know.) In any case, I was truly disappointed. But then I laughed, because right beside the "Alfred Eisenstadt: Classic Photography" book were these books that caught my eye. One book was dedicated solely to photos of wet men. Like, men that were drench with water. How conceptual! The other was The Big Book of Breasts.

So obviously B&N has captured the audience of all ages: from boys in middle school ... to divorcees. Kudos, B&N, for perhaps having the crappiest selection of photography books I have ever witnessed. (Though you must admit that I was probably quite a sight -- imagine a girl of college age sitting on the floor of your local B&N, flipping through page after page of titties. I'm sure the hipster sitting across from me was mortified.)

----

But with that aside, one of the few artists I DID notice was Sandy Skoglund. I have been a long time admirer of her elaborate scenes and sculptures. The photos I'm about to show... it must be known that there is no photoshop in these photos. There is no color altering or anything. She's had a long career, but I'm pretty sure these are what she's best known for.

The use of sculptural animals, the entire usage of a space, the two-color scheme, the anonymity of the figures... simply stunning.

As an artist who focuses on not only creating a portrait, or a feeling, but a scene, another world -- it is her level of work and dedication that she puts into each photo that revitalizes my yearning to be a photographer.

You can view her website here. 

What do you think? Too over the top or beautifully composed? Let me know in a comment!

A Lack in Updates

Please forgive me for the lack of updates in the last few weeks. I have been taking photos and have been on adventures, I have blog post ideas, but working full-time and trying to hang out with friends I won't see for months after I go back to school has taken priority. Not to mention the wireless connection on my laptop decided to crap out on me.

Not to mention I have been having some personal problems (if you follow me on tumblr you know all to well about it -- I have to stop using that as an outlet!) and just today I found someone in the family had a heart attack. I digress, enough excuses.

But take note, the upcoming posts will include beaches in the winter, things keeping me sane lately, a Inspiration Thursday (tomorrow), and going back to Boston. Trust me, I may have derailed a little bit but I'll make up for it!

How are you all doing this week?

Inspiration Thursday #5: Sandra Stark

This featured photographer is near and dear to my heart, if anything, because she is my mentor. She teaches at my school, The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a photographer-walking-dictionary: you just show her a photo and she can probably tell you the artist. She's knowledgeable about any technical skill you might wonder about, and she's so helpful with tips and tricks for more conceptual projects that I wish it wasn't weird if I continued to talk to her once I graduate in a few years.

This is the work of Sandra Stark (and another website.) She makes beautiful, conceptual-bound work filled with beautiful light and awesome ideas.

In this series "Self Portraits After Charcot," she recreates the poses of women under the care of Dr. Charcot.

Like her work? Tell me what you think in a comment!

Happy New Years 2012!

Happy New Years! I spent it with Boston with the best friends a girl could ask for. I thought long and hard about resolutions, and here goes nothing:

1. Lose 30 lbs -- this has been a resolution for the last few years, and I've made dents but no clear successes.
2. Get an internship -- I need an internship this summer in either photography/art or psychology.
3. Finish my Interrupted Journey Project -- I have been working on a photography re-creation for the last semester that I am completely wrapped up in, and I can't wait to finish it into a book form!
4. Live it up! -- Be better, greater, and more awesome in all areas of life.
5. Added this one after I submitted but realized it was wholly pertinent -- BLOG MORE! I love this blog, I love where it's going, but most of all I'm glad you all are along for the ride with me!

What's your New Years Resolutions?