Final+Exam

__**Final Exam Thesis:**__

This year has really opened my eyes up to the world of photography so much. Before this year I always used the auto setting on my camera and did not even realize what the other options did. Last semester I started out in photography 1 and was able to learn so much about how to work my camera and what it mean to take a good shoot and make it great. I enjoyed that class so much and learned a great deal. When it came time to start semester 2 and photography 2 was beginning I was used to only needing one picture for each assignment so when the first assignment was to take 250 pictures I was in for a rude awakening. However, looking back on it I am very grateful that we had that assignment because it made things easier when we had to have six to eight pictures to turn i and going out for three or four shoots did not sem so bad. During the thematic I was just finding my way as a photographer; at first I was not sure what I wanted to do but then I just went out and started shooting anything I could. Eventually I realized that a lot of the pictures I was taking had a common theme so I went with that and loved the way it turned out. I learned that trusting your guts most often works out to your benefit! After taking this course I think the meaning of theme is just having a common element to a collection that unifies the piece. Like we talked about in class, if all of our pictures were spread out across the room would we be able to put them together? I think this is important because that is how you develop your style. When someone is looking at your work they should be able to tell right off the bat that it is your. I think Ellen Von Unwerth is great example of this. I love her work and I would be able to spot it fro across the room!

The meaning of style is very similar to the meaning of theme for me. I see style as the way a photographer takes their picture. That element that makes you automatically go, "Oh! That's Ellen Von Unwerth!" For Ellen Von Unwerth her style is the fun loving nature of her pictures. Her models all appear to be young care-free, mostly girls, who just want to have a good time and do not even seem to notice the camera. Her style is also in her editing. Most of her pictures are edited in a soft black and white with the model being the main focus.

Consistency; to me this just means the repetition in photographs. Not repetition in the way that all the pictures look the same, but that they flow together and you are able to clearly tell that they are taken by the same photographer. Ellen Von Unwerth embodies this element as well. If her photographer were scattered about the room I woud be able to put them together in a heartbeat. She is a photographer that I would really like to be like one day. I think her work is amazing and that she is very talented.

I feel as though if my pictures from any of the assignment were scattered about the room someone would be able to piece them together, but all of my work collectively I do not think someone could just yet. I am still growing and developing as an artist. Throughout this semester I have been experimenting with different styles so I do not think my work is recognizable just yet. With this last assignment I believe I have found what I am really passionate about. I loved the fashion unit and as I grow further in this area of my life I would like to continue with fashion photography. Before this assignment I was thinking that my style might be more like what I did for my thematic with shooting objects instead of people. And I have to honest it kind of disappointed me a little bit because I love shooting people. Then when I was working n the fashion unit I had so many good ideas that I wanted to try and I knew exactly what I was going to do! I think those pictures came out so beautiful and I will definitely continue that piece over the summer. Next year in college I want to start a photography club because I was asking around and everyone told me that they do not already have one there. My dad also told me that as a graduation present he has decided to give me his Nikon D60 to take with me to college next year! I will look for a photography class or a class to teach about editing pictures. I wanted to do so much with the editing but I did not know how and I did not want to ruin the pictures. I love the editing like this one blogger I found while researching photographers.

If I had to compare myself to any of the photographers I have looked at I think it would be Jason Christopher. His work is really beautiful. I do not think of of my work is very similar to his but my fashion unit was inspired by him and I think you could compare some of his pieces to mine. For example this image can be compared to my fashion unit: I have also been inspired by Mark DeLong; his work is so amazing that I hope I can be half as good as him one day. His shoots are so crisps and clear that they look as though they have not even been edited!

I think I have grown so much as an artist this year and I am going to continue grow in college! I am so excited now that I know what I am capable of doing!