Visuals
Project Statement
This is a collection of my work from a photography class I took in the August semester. The project was a continuation of a study I did on the American photographer Annie Leibovitz. These photos are heavily inspired by her shoot with the dancer Twyla Tharp. I can really appreciate the movement she elegantly captures because I know how difficult it can be to represent full range of motion and the expansiveness a dance portrays. My project is focused on angles, blurred motion, and connection between multiple figures. I shot them on a digital camera and edited them to be black and white afterwards. This was done to mimic Leibovitz’s black and white film photos that I referred to for my inspiration. I was a dancer myself for many years and combining these two artforms that I have an interest in was fascinating. My intention was not originally to have an overwhelming anonymity to the dancers, but I think it emphasizes the humanity and beauty of the shapes and movements the body can make without putting a face to them, which was the main goal.
Reflection
This was the final assignment for this particular class and I was very pleased with the outcome because it shows how my confidence behind the camera grew. Since it is involved with dance, one of my main interests, I was able to curate the poses the dancers did with intention behind the angles their bodies made. This was imperative to the outcome of each photo. I enjoyed studying Annie Leibovitz’s work and even more so executing my own work taking inspiration from her. I would have preferred a simpler background but I worked with the space I had and incorporated the shade that covers the top half of the windows into my compositions. I think it adds an interesting contrast both with color and with the neutrality of the horizontal line compared to the organic flow of the bodies. I learned a lot about the camera itself during the duration of this project including how shutter speed and aperture affect particularly the blurred motion I was aiming for. My technical ability improved immensely throughout this course and I think that combined with my concept shows through these images.