“The photographer who works with leftovers!”

In one of my recent classes, I told my instructor that I was like a “chef who works with leftovers.” What I meant was that I frequently go back to my old work and pull something from that image to make one outstanding image. I have tons of old photos that I never gave a second thought about and more importantly, never was going to use again. Now in my final class here, I found myself settling into being a conceptual photographer. This style of photography allows me to compose an image with tons of layers all combined into one. My concept is not hard, I just think of unconventional ways to express myself as a photographer. I like clean lines, but at times a bit of chaos within the image. The image below is made up of 8 different images all shot at different times and different locations.

Quiana P Jackson. Untitled, 2014

As a student I have learned my camera in and out, new techniques and different genres, but while working as a photographer in my personal life, I struggled to find what made me feel most creative. I spoke before about the Creative Process in a previous blog post, but now I needed to explore my visual creative process to be where I am today.  Every day I am learning something new with conceptual photography. Every day I am finding out something new with my own photography. Every day I am getting one step closer to being the photographer that I know resides in me.

Quiana P Jackson. Untitled, 2014

Sunday Spotlight On: The Emotionally Inspired Photographer

As I begin to create concepts for my photography, I find myself driven by my emotional state at that time. In my opinion that is when I create some of my best work. Recently I have been almost like a zombie with school, work, parenting and even as a friend. I am not sure why things are hitting me all at once but I have accepted it and begin to approach photograph as my therapy. Trust me when I say that I have a ton of series that I begin and never finish and it is because I am over that emotion. Now I am finding myself just creating and have taught myself that things does not always have to be about a series. One image is enough, or shall I say that one image can relay the message that I am intending to make. For my Photo Criticism course we were to create images with two different concepts. That day I was running on empty and I knew that I had to do the assignment but I just wanted to sit down and finish watching my television show The Leftovers. Once it was over I thought about using that show as inspiration. Just like that it all came together!

Quiana P Jackson. Floating, 2014

Quiana P Jackson. Untitled, 2014

Quiana P Jackson. Gravity, 2014

As photographers, who says we cannot be inspired by our misfortunes?

I am your Sunday Funday Ambassador. Happy shooting!

Conceptual Photography

Let me tell you, I had been having a bit of trouble with conceptual photography in the current class I am taking. I think I have finally got it.

I think BrightHub defines Conceptual Photography the best: "Conceptual photography is, first and foremost, about the concept of the photo. A conceptual photographer is trying to bring some message about to the viewer, be it a political advert or a social commentary or an emotional outcry. There is some level of abstraction, thus, in a conceptual photo: the image is not an explicit example of the concept, but a general expression of the idea." (BrightHub)

So the photographer has an idea, a concept, and they wish to share it with their viewer; the viewfinder is their canvas, and they "paint" with light.  You and I are the artist, attempting to convey a message to our audience. Something I couldn't quite accept about Conceptual Photography, is that the audience, the viewer, can really decipher just about anything from your work.  It really is about them.  There are a million things that could contribute to how the audience "sees" your work. It's about what's in their head, their reality.

I try to keep my message, my concept, in mind as I shoot. I think of my audience, but only slightly. My current audience is my classmates (mostly) so they know the message I am conveying, or at least attempting to. HA!  Sometimes I don't quite get the message across, and I think heavens that we are in school and learning

So for now I will leave you with this: the images here are of course, mine.  If you, my audience, were to think of one word as the one-word concept I am conveying, what would it be?  I will post the answer next week, as well as carry this post further. :)

 

{the source for the quote in the beginning of the post}

http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/39542.aspx

A link to some outstanding examples of conceptual photography:

http://www.thephotoargus.com/inspiration/40-outstanding-examples-of-conceptual-photography/

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