Memorable Experiences

The most obvious highlight from this semester was our trip to New York City. This trip was unique in a few ways for me. First, it was the longest time I'd ever spent in the city and we were able to do many of the things that I've always wanted to do in New York. And, of course, the entire purpose was to photograph everything. It was great to go everywhere that we did -- the Highline, Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 Memorial, Times Square, etc. -- but the really cool part of the experience was to be there for the sole purpose of photography. We were able to spend a ton of time exploring each place, which allowed me to experiment with various techniques and perspectives and to work with both digital and film. Most importantly, it forced me to take a deeper look at each location, to find the details and unusual perspectives, to push myself creatively, and to shoot as much as possible. The results go far beyond the typical touristy snapshots of New York.

A second highlight was the whole experience of the Clayton's show. I was excited at the opportunity to be able to show a few pieces of work and learned a lot about the whole process of an art show. From choosing which work to show, to matting and framing, to hanging the show, I had never considered all of the work that goes into a show like this one. It was great to be able to learn about this process by being directly involved. The final payoff of having two photographs shown was really exciting. Most of our work never goes beyond the walls of YHS, so it was great to be able to share this with a part of our larger community. 

Finally, I also want to add that I loved the way this class was structured with so much freedom. It was incredible to spend so much time in the darkroom, printing as much as possible and becoming more proficient in the techniques. It was also great to have the freedom to photograph whatever theme we chose for our weekly assignments. This forced me to think more creatively and to push the boundaries of my focus. This class has been one of my favorite at YHS and I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn so much about photography, something that I know I'll be doing for the rest of my life. 

Capturing Maine

Maine will always be home to me although I won't always live here. It's the place I've lived for nearly all of my life, the state I've grown up exploring. There are a lot of things that define Maine for me: the ocean, woods, rocky cliffs, mountains, coastline, forests, small towns... I tried to capture a few of these things. The unique character of this beautiful state will always pull at me; nowhere else could I find this incredible mix of scenery and outdoor spaces, all within a few minutes of home. Maine has an intense, yet comforting kind of beauty because it is so classic.
"These are the places I will always go..."

Clayton's Exhibit

It was a great experience to be in the exhibit at Clayton's and to be able to show a few pieces of my work. It was also interesting to learn about the process of behind a show like this. I didn't realize all of the pieces that were involved leading up to the exhibit, from choosing the photographs I wanted to show, matting and framing them, and finally hanging the exhibit. For me, it was difficult to choose which photographs I wanted to show out of the huge variety of work I've done this year. I think, in the end, the two photos I chose are some of my best and favorite work. I also didn't realize the many steps involved in framing the photos and the difficulty in doing it correctly. The framing classes were definitely an ordeal, but it was worthwhile when I saw the finished product. Knowing the work that goes into a show like this one, I think I am able to appreciate it a lot more. I am also glad to have had an opportunity to share some of my work with the community.

"In the Window"

"Seeing Double"

POW: Patterns

For this assignment, I focused on observing repetition and patterns throughout my daily life, mostly around the house. It was an interesting exercise in observation and forced me to be more aware of my surroundings. I began the assignment trying to photograph patterns that appeared or were created naturally and not for the purpose of the photo. Eventually, I began to arrange things myself to create interesting patterns. My inner neat-freak came out a bit as I meticulously arranged various objects to create the effect I was looking for. My idea behind this assignment choice was to communicate the simple beauty in repetition which is often overlooked.

POW: Creative Self Portraits

Self-portrait photography was weird and challenging because I was the subject while I also had to be behind the camera. It was especially difficult to determine the desired exposure, focus, and placement of myself because I had to be in front of the camera to test all of this and behind the camera to check it. Most of my work was trial and error. I set the self timer with 10-shot bursts to have the best chance of getting a well-composed shot. In the first few photos, I was working with mirrors and reflections which allowed me to get some interesting shots. Safe to say I felt pretty ridiculous waving my arms and flipping my hair around repeatedly, hoping that one of the shots would be timed well. In the fourth shot, I was trying for blurred motion and good running form. Again, it was strange to run pointlessly across the street and back but I think the photos paid off. In the final photo, I wanted a closer up image of my face, but I wasn't really sure what to do with myself, so I grabbed the flower and played around with that to take some of the focus away from my face. 

Darkroom Update

 Contact Sheets

 Sampling of Test Strips

Final Print!

I've been doing a lot of work in the dark room which has so far only yielded two final prints. Since most of my film from New York did not come out, I opted to shoot more film for a photo of the week which meant I had to develop it and print more contact sheets. I now have a ton of photos to choose from with lots of different subject matter. I love being in the dark room and working with film. It can definitely be frustrating at times since there are SO many ways to mess up, but its really worth it when I finally get the exposure, time, and filter right and come out with a beautiful print. I'm beginning to develop more of an instinct for knowing which exposure or filter will be right for a particular photograph. Before, I knew what to do mechanically and was able to go through the motions correctly, but now I am starting to really understand the process and all of its intricacies. Since I have so many photos to print, I want to continue working in the darkroom for as long as possible. This is especially true because its my senior year and I'm not sure if I'll have another chance to work in a darkroom in the future. I want to be able to print as many photographs as I can and to be able to understand the process on my own and become more independent as I work.

POW: Film Photography (Farms; Still Lives)

I chose to shoot more film for my photo of the week assignment so I could have more photos to develop, especially since most of my film from New York did not come out :(. I took one set of photos at Coopers Farm in Windham during Maple Sugar Sunday. Many of the photos are of animals: everything from ponies (there were 28 at the farm!) and cows, to chickens and peacocks. I'm also excited to see how the photos turn out from inside the sugar shack where the sap was being boiled. The air was filled with a sweet maple steam illuminated by the light coming from the windows which will hopefully make for some interesting photos. A also have a few photos of the many children that came to the farm to enjoy the maple syrup and seeing the animals. My second set of photos is a continuation of the still lives which we worked on when we started working with film. These still lives consist of an varying combinations of oranges, eggs, and a few plants and china pieces. I am hoping the light in these photos turned out well because I was trying to photograph quickly, between the passing clouds which blocked the morning sunlight.

NYC Reflection

We spent a busy weekend in New York City, experiencing all the sights and sounds of the "city that never sleeps" and photographing it all. New York is such an exciting and different place that it is hard to choose the best parts of the trip. Everything we did could be a highlight. One of my favorite things, though, was definitely the Highline walk. The walk offered a completely different view of the city, looking down on the streets rather then being on them looking up. I also liked seeing the trees and plants along the walk, as well as its interesting design. Unfortunately, I had unknowingly switched my camera to shoot in black and white. I was frustrated to realize this because I had been thinking about my photographs in color rather than black and white. Luckily, some of the photos still turned out well. I think New York is a city that has a black and white feel to it; the monochrome subdues the craziness of the city and brings out its essence. However, I do wish I had been paying more attention and been aware that I was shooting black and white.

I also loved walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. Just being in Brooklyn and getting to see Manhattan from a more distant view was something I had never done before. My only view of Manhattan has been on the streets looking up, and I've never seen it all from afar. The bridge was crowded and crazy but it was fun to see the view change as we left Brooklyn. I was also shooting film while we were in the park and crossing the bridge. The bridge was an interesting place to photograph, especially in black and white film, because the patterns of the bridge (the lines of the cables, the outline of the arches, the line of the bridge extending into the distance, and the Manhattan skyline) are so distinct.

Over the course of the weekend, I improved my efficiency with manual settings and my ability to get the photograph that I had in mind. I also learned to consistently check my work for correct exposure, focus, and to be sure I captured what I wanted. At times, I would forget to adjust the settings and end up with a series of under-exposed or out-of-focus photographs. This was frustrating, especially when we were moving at a fast pace and the moment had passed. As a result, though, I quickly became more careful in my work and more attune to my camera settings. I had such an incredible time in New York, seeing everything that we did and having the chance to photograph everything. I took a crazy amount of photographs and am happy that many turned out well (hopefully the same goes for my film!).

More from NYC

 "Grand Central Crowds"

 "Grand Central Stairs"

"Double Skyscraper"

 "Flying High"

"Bank Interior/City Street"

 "Up the Glass Staircase"

"Park"

"Ancient Headstones"

9/11 Memorial

 "Reflective"

 "Droplets"

 "Those We Lost"

 "Water Falling"

"City Reflections"

Brooklyn Bridge

 "Across the River"

 "At the Park"

 "Along the Bridge"

 "Brooklyn Bridge & Beyond"

"From the Ground Up"

Times Square at Night

 "Neon"

"Parking"

 "Times Square Crowds"

"All of the Lights"

Highline Walk

"Highline"

 "Street View"

 "Trees in the Tracks"

"Beyond the Branches"

Portland: Details

"Intricate Edges"

"Abandoned"

"Snowed In"

I spent part of the afternoon walking around Portland, mostly in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood. As I walked, I kept my eyes peeled for the details around me -- in the houses, the streets, and other parts of the landscape -- which would characterize the area. Capturing details, rather than a house as a whole or the length of a street, provided a different perspective from the way I normally see. The houses in this neighborhood are grand-looking, with long front porches, turrets, picture windows, and lots of scalloping and artistic details around the windows and doors. They made great subjects for my particular focus. One house stood out among the rest because it was old, empty, and run down. The porch was caving in, the railings were no longer attached, and some of the siding was peeling away. In a well-kept neighborhood like this, the house caught my attention. At the cemetery, the late-afternoon sunlight played out across the drifted snow. These patterns of shadows contrasted well with the soft new snow, broken only by the crooked gravestones. 

POW: Southwestern Landscapes

 "Mountain Sunset"

 "Joshua Tree Silhouette"

 "Mountains in Saguaro"

"Spiky"

The sunny skies of Southern California and Arizona provide a welcome break from the long winter months back home. The landscape here is vast and open: a desert criss-crossed with mountains which seem to rise straight out of the flatlands. Trees are uncommon but cactuses abound, dotting the landscape with their strong stems and sharp spines. In Joshua Tree National Park, the sun set at Key's View, overlooking the San Bernardino Mountains and the Coachella Valley beyond. The sky is hazy with pollution, funneled into the valley from the industrial regions along the coast. The Joshua trees for which the park is named are illuminated and silhouetted as the sun sinks below the mountains. In Arizona, giant saguaro cacti fill the view in every direction. They cover the rocky mountainous landscapes where it seems no plant should grow and their dangerous spines reach extend precariously towards the path. These incredible landscapes are truly unlike any other.