crimsoncurves

Night Spinner

2009-01-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

When you're bored and waiting in line at the Vatican....

2009-01-14T10:36:00.001-08:00

Self-Belief

2009-01-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

So I had the idea to wrap up my model Anna Blachut in clear cellophane after she agreed to provide me with a nude back to shoot. I didn't have a clear idea on what I would draw or write on the cellophane but the idea of using the human body as a canvas struck me as something interesting to explore.

My main inspiration to pursue this project comes from Gaia Weise's work. I came across this series while I was browsing artwork from summer program alumni at the San Francisco Art Institute. I think that using someone's back as a canvas definitely added depth to the image as the appreciator is now looking at two canvases (photo paper, back.)

http://www.sfai.edu/Gallery/GalleryMain.aspx?gallery=10&imageGalleryID=589&image=19

I'm not talented in drawing so I decided that the outcome of the art on the cellophane would be better if I wrote words on it.

I feel that insecurity is a very big issue for a lot of teenagers, especially in high school. It's a time when people discover and experiment with their identities, a transition between childhood and adulthood, and it's messy! A lot of people go through phases in their life where they fit perfectly into a "niche" or a label that's already been created, most of the time because it's easier to assume an identity that's already been given to you. I saw an episode on One Tree Hill a while ago called "A Picture of You." The character of Brooke Davis used a projector to project words that other people have used to define her in a condescending manner.

The photos

Location: My apartment bathroom

I decided to write derogatory labels on the cellophane which is wrapped tightly around my model's torso. This represents how she is trapped within the image her peers have created for her and is unable to attain a healthy self-image until she breaks free. I later added the words "Don't let your self drown" in eye liner to add emphasis to my message, and added the element of water (bathtub) to further express the metaphor.

I love the pose in the picture. I think that it's beautiful in its vulnerability which is shown by her shoulders being slightly slouched, her head bowed and the hand that is covering her head.

This is one of the earlier shots (before I wrote the phrase in eyeliner.)

I got this shot by standing on a stool.

My friend Adam Thibodeaux edited the following image:

I think it expresses the horror aspect of this issue very well and is quite an attention-grabbing image.

Music can make a huge impact on the outcome of work, as it sets the tone and vibe.

Playlist:

Another Way to Die - Alicia Keys and Jack White

Closer - Kings of Leon

Hell is Around the Corner - Tricky

Post-project evaluation:

I think that this project was a success as I am content with the shots and I believe that my message comes across well in the photographs. However, I think that if I had more knowledge on how to use editing programs such as Photoshop, some of the images could be more effective.

Kevin's photography

2009-01-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

Location: Old town, Geneva

Photograph: Kevin Kawi

Let Go

2009-01-11T07:46:00.001-08:00

Worries, burdens and insecurities: they are a little bit like balloons. They are disconnected from the being and yet they are always hovering nearby. They trail and stalk you. They can tie you down from conquering the world. But you have the power to undo yourself, to let go. So free yourself. Today.

Inspiration

My main inspiration came from the soundtrack of Garden State. I was introduced to an artist called Frou Frou by this movie and the song "Let Go" became the soundtrack to this project.

"drink up, baby down

mmm, are you in or are you out

leave your things behind

'cause it's all going off without you

excuse me, too busy you're writing your tragedy

these mishaps

you bubble wrap

when you've no idea what you're like

so let go, jump in

oh well, whatcha waiting for

it's alright

'cause there's beauty in a breakdown

so let go, just get in

oh, it's so amazing here

it's alright

'cause there's beauty in the breakdown

it gains the more it gives

and then it rises with the fall

so hand me that remote

can't you see that all that stuff's a slideshow

such boundless pleasure

so we've no time for later now

you can't await your own arrival

you've 20 seconds to comply

so let go, just jump in

oh well, whatcha waiting for

it's alright

'cause there's beauty in a breakdown

so let go, just get in

oh, it's so amazing here

it's alright

'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

These lyrics remind me that once in a while, everyone lets go of their emotions, worries, past and regrets - and they just break down. It's human and it's natural. I think that in a breakdown, people accept what they are feeling and are therefore no longer in denial and letting go of their repressed fear resulting in the ability to move on. The words "boundless pleasure" remind me of the sky, and there is pleasure from the relief of letting go.

Frou Frou

Garden State screenshot

"I came here with a load and it feels so much lighter since I met you." - Green Eyes/Coldplay

The photos

Location: Sarawan Ville, Thailand

The entanglement of the balloons represents the complexity of the mind and the links between worries. These links may fuel and exacerbate problems or provide sudden relief.

The worries, insecurities and past are always a physical load as it is tied to the body and represses and tires the person.

To further pursue this project, I could photograph people (families, couples, friends, students, athletes, workers) functioning in their normal, daily lives but with balloons tied to them.

Window to Freedom

2009-01-10T17:25:00.001-08:00

Location: Alcatraz, California

Vanity

2009-01-10T16:09:00.000-08:00

The main goal of this shoot was to test out my new camera (Nikon D60) so I would gather outfits on a whim and choose random, interesting environments (well, as interesting as my apartment gets) in which to take photographs. As the shoot progressed, I realized that most of the images were purely superficial and there was a clear theme of vanity so I decided to explore the psychological consequences of being superficial in some of the later images.

Location: My bedroom, the study and my bathroom

Playlist:

Pokerface - Lady Gaga

Beautiful Dirty Rich - Lady Gaga

Licky (Work It Out) - Larry Tee and Princess Superstar

Shake It - Rediscover

Madrid

2009-01-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Miss Mahler & Miss Christman

2009-01-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

Location: Garden at the La Chataigneraie campus

MODEL NEEDED

2008-12-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

I was dying to do a mod-chic shot but we didn't have a model! So my friend Kev shot me and here are the results!

Location: Mies plage

B&W Manual Photography at Berkeley

2008-08-11T01:44:00.000-07:00

During the summer of 2008 I took a month-long course in beginning black & white manual photography at UC Berkeley with Andrea Land. We learned shooting and darkroom techniques, as well as ethical implications, the history of photography (movements, photographers) and the business/real-life side of things. Here are a couple shots I chose to include in the final showing....

Location: Foothill Residence and Berkeley

The week-long UC strike

L. Lewis

2008-08-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

Location: Mies plage

S. Marriott

2008-08-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Location: Mies plage

Honeydew

2008-06-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Paris

2008-01-11T07:30:00.000-08:00