Song Montage

Song Photomontage

Lyrics:

Looked down from a broken sky

Traced out by the city lights

My world from a mile high

Best seat in the house tonight

Touched down on the cold black tar

Hold on for the sudden stop

Breathe in the familiar shock

Of confusion and chaos

All those people going somewhere

Why have i never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so i can see

Everything that i keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach?

Give me your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me your eyes so i can see

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Step out on a busy street

See a girl and our eyes meet

Does her best to smile at me

To hide what?s underneath

There?s a man just to her right

Black suit and a bright red tie

Too ashamed to tell his wife

He's out of work he's buying time

All those people going somewhere

Why have i never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so i can see

Everything that i keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach?

Give me your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me your eyes so i can see

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

I've been there a million times

A couple of million eyes just moving past me by

I swear i never thought that i was wrong

Well i want a second glance

So give me a second chance

To see the way you see the people all alone

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so i can see

Everything that i keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach?

Give me your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me your eyes so i can see

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so i can see

Everything that i keep missing

That i keep missing

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach?

Give me your heart for the one's forgotten

Give me your eyes so i can see

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

(End)

This montage is about a song I chose by Brandon Heath “Give me your eyes”. This song is about people who cannot view the world in a different way and to take another’s viewpoint and view it through them, such as the saying ‘to be in another’s shoe’. I chose my montage to look this certain way because it is hard to see the details of a forest because of the many similar trees within it. I planted a city under each main tree to show a vibrant life is under each regular scene, and a street within the tree to show a passage way into the city of wonder. The lights in the sky are the city lights brightening up the passage ways. The eye in the middle was put there in order to see everything that is happening in the scene. I put people fading into the ground to show that it can be difficult to see the troubles of the world if you don’t look hard enough or past the ‘illusions’ of the world. I think my montage has a clear enough understanding of the song portrayed into it. 

Second Photomontage Critique

Marina Ratnasingham

 

 

Peter Kennard, untitled, 1982

My first impressions was this was about poverty and how the money we earn are the food that we eat and some people don’t earn a lot of money so they don’t get enough food to eat. Looking at the photo you see a white plate with small coins spread around and a person trying to cut into a coin for food. The person isn’t just a random person chosen, instead the artist chose an elder person struggling finically. The texture is rough, I know this because of the aged look of the person’s hands plus the plate itself is chipped with age. Space is used when the person distanced their hands lower to give the viewer a closer look to the persons’ “meal”. Value in light and dark is used mainly because this photo is in black and white and that the clothing and cloth is black with the white plate and the dark coins. The choice of the light and darkness contrast the single white plate to brighten and emphasis the dark coins. Form is used when the hands’ shadow is overlapped over the plate to help show distance. Emphasis is used when the white plate is placed higher up the center to lead the viewer into the contents of the plate. I noticed that the artist chose the photo to be in a 1^st person view so that we could look at this and think of ourselves in that situation. What grabbed my attention in this artwork were the white plate and the dark coins inside. The theme of this artwork is poverty; the mood this photo gives is sort of a sad feeling because despite the “food” being less the person’s hands look eager to eat. So it feels like the person is despite for survival which is most likely true. I think the work is created to be a reminder to us all because poverty is everywhere and  some people forget the struggles o surviving when it’s very hard to earn money to support yourself and your family. I think the artists view of the world is a sad place that needs help to be reminded of the sad truth of the world’s struggles, large or small. The artist had a very similar intention as I had suspected the photo was to show/represent poverty and the struggle of it. When I found out that my thoughts were not so far from the artist’s intent, my feelings had not changed any differently of the artwork. I learned from this artwork that there are easier and simpler ways to express our messages in order for people to understand.

First Photomontage Critique

                                                                                                                                                Marina.R

Titled: UNTITLED

Photographer: JERRY UELSMANN

Date: 1996

Jerry Uelsmann started his surreal photography in the 1960s. He is well known as “black and white alchemist”. He discovered his technique while studying in university. He introduced the idea of “post-visualization” in 1965. He used mainly traditional darkroom techniques; he uses several enlargers to combine different negatives film into a single picture by means of masking light and partial exposure, also using wonderful skills to create an artistic image out of photo montage in a hand-made ways. He tries to free photography from the shackles of “representation of the real world”. A quote by Jerry regarding his art works “I think of my photographs as being obviously symbolic, but not symbolically obvious.” [3].                                                                                                                        My first impression on this photograph by Jerry Uelsmann was that it was fascinating. I didn’t expect him to create something so magical from just cutting negatives and putting them together. When I looked at this image from afar I thought there was a church behind the floating man but when I examined the photo closely I realized that there wasn’t a church but rather it was a bunch of trees formed together to create an illusion of a church or heavenly like structure. This photo gives a surreal and harmonious emotion when looked upon. My thought on this photo was that it was utterly beautiful because this reminded me on what I was looking for, a peaceful area to relax in. This photo was like capturing a scene from a dream that I would have had.  I think he made this image by cutting the required negatives of the images and then put them together and then flipped the image to make it symmetrical. This photo looks like it was made completely out of trees/forests and then the man sitting in a yoga position. When looking at this photo you see towering of trees in ground view and the trees in the middle forming a heaven like structure that is brightened while the background is darker. The other trees on the side look like they have been moved to that certain angle as if giving room for the centered structure. The tree structure is symmetrical on both sides so it can be cut evenly. The man in the middle is sitting with a high posture in a yoga position.  As if to announce that this is a holy and sacred place. The man is darkening probably to show that the tree structure is bright enough to cast a shadow upon the man. The shadow under the man signifies that the man is floating over the forest grounds. But what struck me wild was something I don’t know if the artist was intentionally trying to do…under the man I could see a dragon. Beside the man’s shadow there is a black circle like shape on each side of him. As if to show the eyes of the dragon and if you follow down in a triangle fashion you can see the dragons’ snout. Anyways I was mystified by the imagery used. The background is dark but from the sky comes a light that shines upon the centered trees and when the view is ground level it kind of gives a ‘welcome sign’ feel.                                                                                                            Organic lines are used in the trees and when he angled the trees in an upward position so that we are forced to look up to the trees it gives us direction to look straight up. Value is used in this photo using both light and dark contrasting in the trees and throughout his photo. The hue is always black and white when Jerry works with his photographs. Texture is used in this photo, it has a rough look throughout but because of the lighting it gives it a warm soft glow. Space is used also from the man who is floating above the ground using shadow and distance between the shadow and the man, as well when separating the centered trees from the others surrounding it. Form is used in the picture it has depth using shadowing, sculpture and viewpoints. This photo has balance it is symmetrical and radical, the central point being the man because around him is light whereas he is dark himself. This also has dominance or emphasis because of the lighting being brighter than the surroundings. The light is focused in the middle showing that the structure formed trees are the center point with the man inside. This photo also has movement when it directs you to look up in the picture because of the trees. This photo also has contrast because it shows the tall trees surrounding the single small man in the center. I believe this photo has unity and harmony because he managed to blend all the negatives of the several other images and to create a single photo. This photo is well blended together as if he had taken the photo as it is now. I noticed that the artist used strictly materials of the forest and trees everything was natural straight from the forest. And that he choice to have a single man in a sitting crossed legged position to enhance the serenity of the photo. I was surprised in a good way that he chose the forest scenery instead of another location because it is like saying the only place to be realized in a heavenly fashion is by resting calmly in the forest made by mother nature. My attention was grabbed by the bright light and the many detailed trees to create another structure. I think the photograph is trying to show us about peace and that the forest is a place for harmony and protection because of how tall the trees are as well of the many branches each tree has. Jerry created a lot of unknown artworks without giving a certain description to them but he generalized all his photographs as dream like. When I found out that the artist tried to create an image that is freed by the restraints of the real world to create an idealistic world. When I found that out I was excited on how almost accurate he was. My thoughts do not change about this photo it makes it even more intriguing and I don’t interpret the picture any differently now either. I learned that these photos that Jerry created are not restrained but controlled to look realistic, in a dream like fashion, as much as possible and I wish to create those kinds of imagery myself.

Bibliography

[1]          Uelsmann, Jerry. Untitled. Unknown; 1996

<http://www.shutterbug.net/techniques/pro_techniques/0907ueksmann/index1.html>

[2]        Lee, Calvin. The exhibition Whispers of Blended Shadows: The Art of Jerry Uelsmann, Blogspot; Sunday, 8 February 2009

<http://calzmessdesk.blogspot.com/2009/04/another-great-afternoon-during-trip-in.html>

[3]        Pailet Mann, Joshua. Jerry Uelsmann. A Gallery for fine arts; 1973            <http://www.agallery.com/pages/photographers/uelsmann.html>

Less is More

In this assignment we had to choose a real image and hand draw 6 different versions of it. My real image was a rose.

The first four squares had to be in black and white, later colour was added. The first square was the full image. The second square was a cropped version of the first image but it was still noticeably a rose. The third image  had to cropped so that the image was no longer recognizable. In order to choose the fourth image I was able to choose any of the three images before that, I chose the second image. The fourth image had to be reversed, so from black and white it became white and black. The fifth image was black and white with any one added colour. The last image is a fully coloured design. All these designs were re-created by hand onto bigger rectangle paper and pasted to a black paper strip.

Black Square Designs

The Basics of this assignment was to create 6 different designs to convey different emotions using only four or less black squares with any size. We had to create 48 trials before picking our top 6 designs.

There were 6 emotions we had to design; Order, Increase, Bold, Congested, Tension, and Playful.
Eight different trial designs for each emotion. After choosing the final designs we finalized the designs on the computer using Adobe Illustrator. Later we printed them out and cut into perfect squares then mounted them onto half an inch black squares.

                             This picture has my finished Order and Increase Designs.

                              This picture has my designs for my Bold and Congested.

                              Finally these are my last designs for Tension and Playful.

20 Symbols Around the World

So this post is by me and my partner, Lilian. Together we are to choose 20 different symbols around the world. Me and Lilian decided to split the 20 in half so we each found 10 interesting symbols. So I hope you enjoy this post and learn about 20 symbols.

My 10 Symbols:

ANGEL: Symbol of good and evil spirits in religions around the world. http://www.crossroad.to/Books/symbols1.html

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 Rose: To symbolize love and passion, use red roses. In Catholicism, red roses are a symbol of the Virgin Mary.

http://painting.about.com/cs/inspiration/a/symbolsflowers.htm

Lion: The lion is a symbol meaning deathless courage and fearlessness. The lion symbolizes bravery, strength and royalty.

Raven: The raven is a symbol meaning destruction, despair and as the harbinger of bad news.

 Snake: The snake is a symbol meaning danger, charm and sexual energy, appearing repeatedly in the Bible and other ancient cultures.http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/animal-symbols.html#catsymbolism

Olive Branch: The olive branch has for thousands of years been used as a sign of peace and goodwill. http://salsa.net/peace/symbol/index.html

 

Apple: The Apple is a symbol of ecstasy, fertility and abundance as well as love.

Cupid/Eros: Cupid is represented as a naked, chubby boy with wings and possessing a mischievous smile. He carries a bow with a quiver of arrows, which he uses to strike love into our hearts.http://www.squidoo.com/love_symbols

Purple: Purple is a potent color. Purple is associated with wealth, nobility, stature, religion, piety, magic, and sexuality. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic. http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/list-popular-symbols.html

Venus and Mars: Venus and Mars symbolize the physical manifestations of the male/female division in the world.

http://www.astro.com/mtp/mtp12_e.htm

Lilian's 10 Symbols:

 Totem Poles

 Often large sculptures carved from trees by indigenous people. Because every tribe is different in traditions and beliefs, the totem poles' symbol varies from tribe to tribe. Animals and animal-humans are usually seen on the totem pole. The totems symbolize many things such as: public ridicule, commemoration of important people in history, spiritual powers of nature, and some unpleasant happenings in the past. They are painted and beautifully carved. 

 Swastika

  As people mostly connect this with the Nazi party, the swastika was widely used in Eastern religions (the swastika is turned in a different position). In the Eastern religions, the swastika represented peace, good luck, wealth, and love. It is odd that a symbol that was originally intended for love and peace has been abused and represented, instead for evil and hatred.

 Deadly Nightshade

  This plant is known to be highly dangerous. Their berries and leaves are toxic and these toxins trigger hallucinations and delirium.It symbolizes death, deception, and danger.

 Rosemary

  Known best for its fine fragrance and culinary use. It symbolizes remembrance (inserted in funeral wreaths), and faith (usually in wedding bouquets).

  Crows

  Black birds usually connected to greed.

In some religions/cultures, crows symbolize death and evil. Aboriginals connected them to curiosity and mischievousness. The symbolic meanings of crows are intelligence, power, oracle, boldness, skill, slyness, and thievery. 

 Olive Wreath

  Usually seen at the Olympics, they are an assortment of leaves, flowers, and other materials usually connected to nature.

The olive wreath symbolizes power and was awarded to the men involved in the Olympic games.

 Poppy

  A lot of people see this as a symbolization of the soldiers lost in the first and second wars. On remembrance day, these poppies are worn to commemorate the dead soldiers. Poppies symbolize death and some people say that these flowers sprung from the blood of the soldiers.

 Sunflowers

  Bright yellow flowers that grow to tall lengths and have a photo-tropic response where their heads follow the sun. Because of their photo-tropic response, they are symbolized with infatuation and foolish love. The sunflowers "blindly" follow the sun's orientation.

 Mistletoe

  This parasitic plant is seen every Christmas time, and couples kissing under it due to tradition or just for fun. They have been symbolized as magical and curious based on European folklore. There are many other folklore involving the mistletoe, with all sorts of meanings.

 Thistle

  A plant covered in spikes and prickles.

It is also the national symbol of Scotland. They symbolize protection but also evil.