Final- The Anatomy of Personality (Concept)

When I set out to do this project, this is not how I envisioned it. I shot pictures of body parts in different positions and was planning on stitching them together (via photoshop), to create this inhuman creature that is relatively similar to the Frankenstein monster. But as I was looking over the requirements for the final, as well as the photos that I took. The realization of how long that would take for one image, being that there was a 5-8 image requirement, was just far to difficult to comprehend. So I went through new ideas while searching through image after image. And I saw the variations of expressions and mannerisms that each of three fellows that I photographed displayed. See, I know these guys like the back of my hand, being that I grew up with them and that we all have the same parents. There is so much that binds us brothers together and so much that is different between each of us. I wanted to illustrate that through photographs in the manner that would be appropriate. Like Leonardo Da Vinci's drawing of the anatomy of a man, these don't show the extents of these people's abilities or personalities. But with the quick request "Just Pose!" You are able to see what these individuals are displaying about themselves in the way they compose their body and the expressions that the make on their faces. I use transparency to show the movement that is viewed. Placed this motion on an image of parchment paper (used for drawing) to express the illustrative quality. I also desaturated the image quite excessively, so they sink into the paper like a drawing. Basically this is a sketch of my brothers, using photographs.

When looking at the first image, you see my youngest brother. He does not move his legs a lot, because he has finally grown taller than the rest of my family, so he has to keep that posture high. The movement of his arms and face show that he is uses his confidence to create familiarity with others.

My second youngest brother is very dramatic and shameless as illustrated. He does not care the time or place, he will say and do crazy things. He is an actor, so when I said "Pose," he knew exactly what to do, and that's act. There is also and up and down composition to this that I enjoy, he stood tall and he squatted.

The last image is my older brother, the strong and silent type. He does get wild at times, but his exterior shows that he is respected. The movement that he showed conveys an athletic strength, almost seems geometric. Which perfectly illustrates someone who takes good care of himself.

Though the requirements were for 5-8 images, I felt that with these could not stand with any others. Given, this is a personal series and expresses a differentiation of personalities within three of my best friends and three siblings. This along with any others would seem wrong. I did not include myself because I can't understand my exterior personality, that is a task that only someone close could achieve.

Enjoy and Thank You for looking at my photographs throughout the term. I had a lot of Fun!

-Alex Morton

Final- The Anatomy of Personality (Mapping)

Contact Sheets: Final

[Shot more than this, but they got deleted when I was trying to transfer them onto a university cpu. There is around 130 here.]

Critical Mass: Concept

For the third project, I have chosen the route of Critical Mass. There is a complexity of images throughout our vision at a constant pace. We view a different image almost every time we blink. Within our mind, there is a resemblance that occurs, causing us to view a different image within our head. My concept for this series is the traveling mind. Being someone who's mind wanders constantly, there is a multitude of images that pour into my brain. Most of the time, these images don't make sense, but are a rapid fire of memories responding to the image currently viewed. So while I worked through these images, the movement is made by the thought process causing a new image to appear. I tried to create some consistency throughout the book, to allow the flow to be understood while flipping through the pages. Through looking in the book, you will notice that the relations start to become more vague and confusing. This is not by accident. The thought process begins to slow down and this causes frustration. Sometimes, the images that seem obscene arise. Through this, I tried to keep it experimental. This way it seems more natural, relating to my theme.
While working, I noticed that the differentiation in color seemed inappropriate and irrelevant, when it came to the physical book. I wanted that consistent flow, so the black and white range helped keep a better composition as a whole. I hope you enjoy, comment and criticize, that's what blogs are for right?!

Critical Mass: 5 pages

Critical Mass: Contact Sheets

While shooting for this series of images, I wanted to find movement and activity. I'm not talking sports, just movement that would cause one to turn their head or eyes. In the process of looking for these images, I tried to incorporate images that related to the previous, so that it could offer a flow and consistency. This ended up creating a mess of randomness, which is perfect, for me at least. My mind has trouble even focusing on one thing. This is obviously my own minds interpretation of focus. And the rapid changing of lenses within ones eyes to create a new focus each time you blink.

Project 2: Singular Image

For this image, I tried to capture the movement of individuals while they were waiting for their train or for others. The panoramic photograph is displayed to portray the range in which these people are limited to in this anxious state. While waiting, many people grow tired of staying in the same location, so they venture around occupy time. Though these photographs were only taken within an hours time, it illustrates some specific individuals. The simplicity is portrayed so that one may not lose focus on certain individuals. I found that the sun definitely played a factor in both lighting difficulties and adding to the subject of time passing. As you can see, the left side is brighter than the right, this offers an interesting accident that I feel helps the piece. This image was rendered using photomerge and blending photographs upon the panoramic image in order for the individual's motions to be included.

Morning

The word that I have chosen is "Morning", where beginnings start daily and shape the way the day is portrayed.
morn·ing (môrnng)n.

1. The first or early part of the day, lasting from midnight to noon or from sunrise to noon.

2. The dawn.

3. The first or early part; the beginning: the morning of a new nation.

morning [ˈmɔːnɪŋ]

n

1. the first part of the day, ending at or around noon

2. sunrise; daybreak; dawn

3. the beginning or early period the morning of the world

the morning after Informal the aftereffects of excess, esp a hangover

5. (modifier) of, used, or occurring in the morning morning coffee

Within the morning, we are left with the remnants of what has happened through the night. "The morning after" stated in the fourth definition. This content consists of a particular action that has taken place within the morning and the new beginning for what is to come. Seed falls, seed escapes, seed placed in the ground, and a new beginning is formed.

As the dawn arises, the gentleness of the light awakens to accompany those that are caught within time. While the sun shines within the early hours, it reflects onto the memories that have been aged, yet those objects still serve a purpose for those who have grown fond of the past times.

Though we have these items that we use everyday, while the sun shines its new light, you come back to these items like the first time.

(Much of what I photographed was premature to the definition, represent contents and contexts that take place during morning. Though many reflect the definition of the sunrise creating shadows that are of reminiscent of the night and a light that is new. Given my own personal interpretations, these are the images that consist.)

Ryan Russell, an influence.

Ryan Russell series (In the studio with UnderOath "Lost in the Sound of Separation," 2008)

Ryan Russell is a male photographer born in Birmingham, Alabama who has a B.A. degree in art studio from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Clients are signed/ unsigned bands, companies, and various publications. Also works in album art direction and layouts. (All information used from http://www.ryanrussell.net/)

Photography can create relationships in so many forms, whether it be with the concept, artistic interpretation, or the content within the photographs. What draws me to the photographs of Ryan Russell, is the nature of the individuals within his photographs. He primarily works with bands and musical artists with documentation of them in concert, studio, or even while they are walking around, smoking, eating, or having a conversation. Some people often forget that musicians are human beings like everyone else and have to do the same everyday routines like everyone else. Ryan presents "in the moment" photographs, which I have grown a fondness for. These photographs put you in the lives of these individuals and allows you to interact with them. Which allows you to grow an even closer bond with not only the band, but with the nature of this business. Creating an album is such a process for these musicians, that it can be tedious and complex. Ryan has created some series that document the production, tracking, interactions of band mates, all while capturing individual personalities.

For me, being a musician with such a passion for this art, I enjoy the sense of relativity I get while viewing this work. The photographs that I have viewed are naturally lighted and work to keep a crisp focus on the particular subjects. The settings are very interesting, to understand the dialogue. Ryan Russell does a spectacular job to include the details that are necessary for understanding his photographs. There is limited usage of modification or rendering, with the exception of some images that have been merged or have had color effects. This helps keep a theme of reality within his images, while allowing a story to be told within.Overall, the photographs are a well observed insight into the process of music and the personalities that bless the work that is produced. Ryan Russell does an exceptional job in allowing an audience to view poetic lives at work.

Though there are many ways that his work has influenced my own, I have found that my focus on people has increased since I have seen his work. I try to focus on a moment within a situation in order to summarize that event. You can create so much dialogue with the right composition. Ryan Russell is able to focus on a particular emotion so that it is portrayed within the entire piece. This may not be monumental work in photographic, but it is significant and has allowed viewers to connect with musicians through a fascinating media. I hope that I may reach areas to where personalities may be captured through my art.