Diptych Assignment

My most recent photography assignment was to create a diptych, or two images placed in juxtaposition of each other in order to draw a similarity or make a statement.  For my assignment, I have chosen to do a piece of astrophotography (which I discovered was very difficult, but very rewarding) and another piece of nighttime photography at the Jersey Shore.  The first picture of the stars was taken in my backyard.  The only light present in the picture is natural light, and the main color of the picture is blue.  The picture on the right (the shore picture) is only illuminated by artificial light and the main color of the picture is yellow, which is on the opposite end of the light-color wheel.  I thought that this idea of opposites existing in the same basic concept (two different views of a nighttime scene) presented an interesting idea in application to a diptych.

Actor Workshop

This past Monday, a trained Shakespearean actor came to Ramapo to work with the advanced acting class on monologues that they had prepared.  His goal was to bring out the true meaning and emotion in each piece read by the students.  He brought an emphasis on military service, as the leader of the seminar is a veteran, as well as two of the students who chose to participate.  The session was very intense, passionate, and close to the heart.  There were amusing moments as well as more serious tones, but overall the session was very interesting, lighthearted, and an excellent learning experience.

Artist Talk: David Freund

Professional photographer David Freund came to Ramapo to discuss the upcoming publication of his next book series on the gas stations of America.  Freund's work covered several years as he traveled across the United States, capturing the culture of the country via the landscapes of gas stations.  What I found to be most interesting about the collection of images that Freund presented was how diverse the gas stations were as he traveled around, really showing the diversity within the country.  In a way, Freund's work can almost be seen as a microcosm of American culture; the variety and diversity among the gas stations can almost give you a sense of where in America the station is, without having to even have the location be given.  The culture of each individual American region seems to just pour off the images, clearly relating to the aspects of the parts of the country from which they originate.  This project was very interesting to see given both its simplicity, yet deep meaning as a cultural statement.

Stephen McCurry's "India"

This past weekend, my class went to the Rubin museum in New York to look at the work of Stephen McCurry, a famous documentary photographer.  This exhibition of his work was specifically focused on the time he spent in India over the years, documenting his travels and the people he came across.  Many of the works displayed the beauty and hardship of life in India.  It was an excellent voyage into another part of the world, exploring the rich culture and lifestyles of people unlike those found in the States.

I chose, as an example of Mr. McCurry's work, an image of an old train moving past the Taj Mahal.  I found this image to be especially striking as it shows so much of the culture of India in one frame.  The rustic-looking train shows the ways of old India, as it moves forward in technology and industrialization.  Not a modern train, but it is reminiscent of the way that the country once was, and moves forward in its development.  The people aboard it show the same mentality.  Show the old ways as well as the modern.  Furthermore, this shows the heart of India by means of showing the Taj in all it's glory.  It is in an interesting position in the frame, however, by being out of focus in the background.  As if to say that the soul of India is always present in the changing times.  I was rather interested in the composition and message of this image.  Certainly one of my favorites in the set.