visual seeing

I enjoyed meeting all the students who came to the first class last Saturday! Ryan, Carly, Krystov, Shafi, Friedolin, and Jamie all eagerly participated and displayed an earnest interest in learning about photography.

We were lucky to have met Brian Jinns, a local antique photography collector, who came in and spoke to us about the history of the still camera starting with the Daguerreotype working up to the stereoscope, and then the medium-format view camera. Several students pointed out how the cameras got smaller as technology improved. This was reaffirmed when Krystov pulled out his camera phone! Shafi was enthralled by the fine detail on the wet collodion glass plate; if you click here you will find a step-by-step account of the collodion process. And thisis an excellent DA-Guerr image.

Gustave Le Gray, 1859:
collodion rundown: collodion

After a short break, we cut out images from photography and assorted magazines; we then went around the table a couple of times and talked about why we chose certain photographs, what we observed in them, why they might have been taken, among other thought provoking visual analyses. There wasn't an overwhelming interest in writing about particular photographs, so we shared our thoughts orally. Friedolin chose to cut out a portion of an image, to then only show scattering puffy grey clouds at sunset to focus on the "air pollution" in the sky. His image lacked the obvious smokestacks often seen in environmental photographs and used as "statements"; whereas without their harrowing presence, the viewer is allowed to feel comforted by the warm red sky and mysterious clouds for only a short while until the eyes pick up on the dark grey contours of the clouds and the mugginess of grit seeping through. Way cool pic. This is sort of similar:

Additionally, we cut out paper frames and framed different places in the classroom sharing what each person within and outside of the frame. We talked about various ways to frame a picture; from angles to distance. We also had a short discussion on portraits where we were able to cover the challenge of taking a self-portrait without being in it, and how to describe a subject with light, shadows, and colors.

The first assignment is to take self-portraits and family portraits. Before we had our cameras in hand, we talked about possible photographs and approaches to telling a mini-story about the subjects they might want to photograph. Next week I will stress the importance of writing down a few picture ideas before taking them.

There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and I look forward to our first group walk today at 3pm. I know many of you will not be able to meet, so best of luck on your photographic adventures, and please remember to return your cameras to the Library by Thursday 5pm!