Final 8

These are the final 8 images.  I met with Jim today and he doesn't agree that the first image goes with the rest because it shows too much information whereas the others are more engaging because of their crop.  I really like the first one though, it grounds the viewer into this being more than just a study of the body.  And it is of sentimental value to me because of its back story.  But I will definitely give his opinion some thought because I don't want to have to constantly defend why that image is a part of the 8.

 

                                            

Super Quick Update!

I have come up with a final 8!  I would have liked to have an odd number, only because I am sweet on odds, but I am way happy with my 8.  I just need to find out about transparencies, which hopefully will happen tomorrow or Saturday (I am awaiting a sample in the mail and a return email) and then I can start making my 4 to 5 light boxes!!!  Everyone has been so supportive and helpful!  I am looking forward to getting my paper back and working on that as well :)  I will post the images later.  I had Annie look at them and she brought up an interesting point-historically art has shown objectified women for the viewing pleasure of men however I have turned the tables in my images as I am objectifying my boyfriend (a male) for the viewers pleasure (mine-a female).  I never thought of it like that but I like that she took it there!  I'm way way psyched about how all of this is coming together, however I am super super nervous/anxious about the show and all the work still ahead. 

Cutting photos

So recently I've decided that I want to display my images on light boxes.  With this decision I had to quickly cut down my images to figure out how many boxes I need to make.  I started with over 150 images, cut down to 63, then 28, and today I cut it down to a total of 14.  Some of the images are just slightly different and I am having trouble deciding which ones to choose so I am not only going to reveal the project/idea to Pat but I am also going to have him help me pick.  Through this cutting down process I have come to realize that the images I am choosing are much more intimate and I have really done a 180 degree turn with what I was trying to convey through this idea of our relationship.  At first I wanted to do 3 separate views-one of him, one of me, and one of us.  That turned into 2 views-personal and others.  Now with the 14 images I realize it is much more sentimental and comfortable, mirroring our relationship exactly rather then me forcing it through 3 separate/specific views.  I am really happy with the images I have come down to; it's really us that I am showing and I'm not tired of it.

More and more Ramblings

I think I have enough photos to work with for my project, although I could probably use more non-laying-down images.  The bed is extremely symbolic of our realtionship (as it started as a one night stand type of deal) as a result I have slept over practically everyday for the past 4 years and most of the time during the week I don't see him until we go to sleep.  Right now I am figuring out how to display and how many to display.  My friend Melissa who graduated last year suggested a false wall that people would have to walk around and on one side I would show the images of us out in the world and on the reverse show the images of our time together (intamacy).  I really like this idea so I have been heavily considering it.  In our last crit Rachel made a comment about the whole power aspect and Pat being unaware of the photos and asked the question "Aren't realtionships supposed to be about equality", I didn't want to sound like I'm a mean person but I am very bossy in my relationships and I have only recently accepted this and so I really enjoy being in a relationship where out in public my boyfriend looks like he is the boss but behind closed doors I am actually the one in charge.  I am the mechanic and he is just the bells and whistles :)    

More Ramblings about Thesis

-I am the authority- I take the image, I choose the image- then I pass this authority on to the viewer because they are looking into/at my personal relationship, my intimate relationship, they get to choose how long to look at the images, they choose which ones get more importance then others, they give the work an importance that I as the image taker could never give them.

-Relationship: 1) The idea that he is mine and I am his
                       2) Trust
                       3) Sex
                       4) Acceptance of flaws
                       5) Other's views of us/us outside of our relationship

-Diptych or Triptych; Verticals with horizontals; Clothed vertical, nude horizontal; Triptych-others views; relationship/sex/us together; acceptance of flaws/trust/he is mine, I am his

-Leigh Ledare's Installation shots as reference, Different heights, sizes, orientation:

Cheetos & Leigh Ledare

This song in this commercial makes me think of Leigh Ledare.  It sounds kind of retro and some of the images of Ledare's mother remind me of the same retro-ness.  I've supplied some examples where she is wearing lingurie that I find to be retro and what no one would really consider sexy in this today's society, specifically on someone her age, as (in the first image) her nipples are no longer seductively hidden by the tacky blackend hearts and in the second image she's wearing frilly, lacey long red red gloves.  This song and these images are like peanut butter and jelly. 

Sally Mann

I don't know why I didn't put this on sooner.  I saw this 3 years ago during my first semester at Rutgers and my first photography class since high school, I think actually since 2002 or 2003!  Changed my life and her work is beautiful.  It's in 6 parts