Giraffe Print

     I believe that you can find beauty in anything if you look at it from different perspectives. One day I was invited to go to the Baltimore zoo and see some of the animals, “behind the scenes.” This allowed me to become closer than any other visitor throughout the day. While visiting the giraffes I noticed how interesting their pattern weaved through the giraffes ribs. Seeing a pelt of a fur and seeing the skin move in a completely different way inspired me to take this photo along with others. So I zoomed in on a part of the giraffe that made the animal unnoticeable (besides the giraffe print). I also cross processed this photo to add even more depth. Perspective adds variety and leads to a great photo!

box project

 While taking my 3d art at Towson this year, I had to make an ergonomically sound container from a tool box prototype. The long nights work hard at the shop and at home paid off, I officially finished it. Originally I wrote out ideas for the box transformation by wrote down plenty of verbs and nouns that describe how to transport an object, and objects that are transportable.  When writing down the verbs I there was one word that I kept going back to which was sift. So I thought of ways one would grab a box to sift. Generally speaking it would make sense to make it look like an inverted trapezoid, due to the fact that a lot is going in and only a little bit would be coming out. Holes are in the bottom panel in order for the sand or loose dirt to drop through.  I also put angled hand grips on the side of the box so one could shake vigorously and not lose control. On the top of the box I made indents that guided the hand to grips. This feature also made a comfortable hand space. Braiding the rope gives the box a more natural feel, if the user wanted to shake the sifter, all they would have to do is hang the rope to the side keeping it out of the way of the operator. There is a designated handle on the rope so carrying the sifter wouldn't put much strain on operator’s hand. I painted the inside of the box black for extra contrast against the sun’s rays, making it comfortable for the users’ eyes.  Sanding down the sides was another idea I had so it would be soft to the touch.  I did some research and found that a 15 degree is appealing to the eye it guides the eye to different directions and still fits together as a whole.  By changing the bevel on the saw I made my container more angular though I did round the edges.  Rounding the edges of the box was crucial to the design, simply because no part of the body is at a ninety degree angle; it allows the carrier to sit it on the hip without discomfort.  I think my piece came together as a whole in the end, I am rather proud of it.

Self-Portrait

When I first think, “self-portrait” I do not automatically think of myself as a being; I think about the mood and feelings I am experiencing in the now, that I would like to portray.  Expressing a mood in a portrait is more powerful than the unoriginal fake smiles of today’s photography.  I prefer to take self-portraits in a place that feel s natural to me: a couch at home, the trampoline, or even making a face plant in my dorm bed.  On the other hand if I am in an adventurous mood I may try new places for a shoot.  Although being in my element makes my self-portraits unique, it is always important to be flexible and spontaneous. Like any good photograph, it is always a loose contrast that mirror real life. 

A self-portrait has its own special feeling, though.  It takes time and effort from a photographer because he or she will always be the biggest critic of the “model” of which they are taking a picture.  Every flaw is apparent, every weakness bold and obvious.  When the picture is complete, though, you can tell when it has the exact feeling for which you were searching.  It comes together in that perfect way that more people could not better create.  A self-portrait is a view into a private life that is unavailable by mere photography in its most basic form. A self-portrait is real life.  A self-portrait is raw, flaws and all.

blooming tea

I enjoy loose tea, so I shop at Teavana a lot a lot. I found some balls of tea that bloomed as you steeped it. At home I made a pitcher full of it with roughly 5 of the blooming tea balls. When the tea was blooming in the water everything looked so perfectly placed and intricate.  I took the a picture with a point and shoot and still get an amazing image. I did some editing on picnik but not much.

For those interested in picnik it is about to shut down so utilize it as much as you can until April 19th, 2012!

Starting off this blog

Here are a few random pictures I took in the past that I have fallen in love with. I'll tell you what they are and either the inspiration or concept of each.

These two were ones I took in high school during a panoramic project. In the first photo is a small scene in my woods, I enjoy taking pictures of natural things with out setting up too much. I decided on both of these that I did not want to crop the image. "why?" you may ask. well it was simply because I liked the natural curve I made with the first photo, and in the second photo I played off the fact that my kitchen and sitting area was a mess therefore I wanted the edges to be a mess. (in that second photo my family was renovating the kitchen)