Month: December 2013

Renewal of Germane Activity

I’m still decompressing at this point.  I edited a video assignment from earlier in the semester based on feedback received.  This final video contains the portfolio I submitted for review to enter the BFA program.  I also went to a birthday party last night for a friend of mine that was nice, even if I did stay relatively sober.  This was after a trip to the Catherine Couturier Gallery (Link) here in Houston to attend the opening for “Deck the Walls.” All in all, it was a good night.

The Catherine Couturier Gallery (formerly known as the John Cleary Gallery) is a gallery that represents photographers exclusively.  And these aren’t just any photographers.  Among her clients are some of the heavyweights in the medium.  These names include Elliot Erwitt, Jerry Uelsmann, Maggie Taylor, and the estate of Edward Weston.  The selections on the wall last night were fun pieces from a wide range of artists.  If you’re in the Houston area, I highly recommend checking it out.

I gave a preview of where I was headed with the portfolio review in a previous entry (“Concept #1“).  In that entry, I attempted to remove the object from its normal context and cause the viewer to have a moment of objectivity when contemplating the object before him or her.  This required me to regard the photograph as an object rather than an index of an object.  The intent of this was to give the viewer an object to consider in an objective manner, even if that objectivity was momentary.  This particular project, of course, is rather dependent upon the final print and its mounting in order to achieve maximum impact.

I explain this as this youngest and least developed (in terms of execution) subject matter.  I will explore this concept more as time goes on (and I can get access to a camera that could yield some incredible results.

The idea was put forth by my professor to enter my blood slide portraits and my cloud photographs for consideration as well.  The professor felt that all 3 projects conveyed deep intellectual thought (that compliment caught me off guard, but it was very much appreciated) and that would demonstrate that I’m not tied to a single idea.  I thought about this for a couple of days and decided to go with the professor’s idea.   I mean, go big or go home, correct?

For some lighthearted entertainment, I was able to roll the digital versions of my portfolio submission into a video assignment.  Please enjoy this (post-critique revised) video:

https://vimeo.com/81331707

Feel free to ask any questions you may have of the work presented and I will be happy to answer.  Until the next time, please have a good evening.

This was the exhibit for the portfolio review.

This was the exhibit for the portfolio review.

The Decompression Chamber

This semester went by very slowly and very fast at the same time.  The amount of work I did this past semester exceeded my expectations (and initial cost estimates).  At least I had football to keep me grounded.  The UH Cougars went 8-4 while the Houston Texans…  well, let’s just say they’ve seen better seasons.

The semester, at least for us art school undergrads not in a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Art History program, ended this week.  I turned my final video project in on Tuesday, while my Portfolio Development course effectively ended for me on November 20.  On the day prior, I submitted my portfolio for review in seeking acceptance into the BFA Photography/Digital Media program here at UH.  I am happy to report that I have been accepted and will start those classes in approximately 6 weeks.

I know I should avoid hyperbole, but the pace at which my activity level picked up in the month prior to the review seemed exponential.  Each day for the 2 weeks leading up to the day found me at the photo lab 5 nights a week taking care of things for the review.

So here I now find myself just bleeding off the stress.  Soon I’ll be rested (sleep was not a priority in November) and ready to start, what I am told, is a much more demanding series of course.  To this I say, “bring it on!” Just let me get some sleep first.

It's the day after my semester ends, and I still can't seem to stop studying.

It’s the day after my semester ends, and I still can’t seem to stop studying.

For other viewing pleasures, the following was my submission for my final video project:

https://vimeo.com/80902751