Back...

I am back from a short hiatus.
Beautiful plants.

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photos by me

Japan, many thing

I can't do any homework anymore. Photography related or not, i only have 5 weeks of school left and all I can think about are cute kids in Japan and drinking tea with 99 year old women. And filling out my application for the JET programme (lots of presumptuous spelling).
And I'm currently reading all the Japanese secrets for living to 200 years old.

photo courtesy of an old sweet navy website

Novatos

© Heather C

Anthropomorphisize

This is the second post I have that includes photographer Nick Brandt but his photos blow my mind every time I see them. In an interview with Lens Work magazine he talks about how he feels that there is very little respect for animals in photography. His photos have been criticized for being too anthropomorphic, but Brandt describes his work as true to the character of the animals he photographs. Animals are typically photographed in action in a pure documentary style, but there is little exploration into their actual souls.
Agreed.
It amazes me at how narrow minded some photographers are about various fields of photography, rejecting Brandt's work and calling it too fine art. what? His photos have some the most honest animal expressions I have ever seen. It also reminds me a little of Jill Greenberg's monkey portraits. These are shot in studio, and reveal a different element of animals. She uses Hollywood trained animals, but in a way there is a sort of satirical look in their eyes. Different from Brandt, but lovely all the same.

Lesson: keep an open mind to the borders between "fine art" and "photojournalism". better yet, don't label just look...
And a photo of my cute puppy.



photos © Nick Brandt



photos © Jill Greenberg


photo © Heather C

Faith in your own photography

Just found this article in PDN about having faith in yourself as a photographer. Piper Carter was a photographer's assistant for seven years and then finally realized that she was never going to be a photographer if she kept on assisting. This is very similar to the understanding I found in NYC this summer. As tempting and alluring a full time job as a photographer's assistant is, I made the decision to come back and work on my own photography. Work. And work.
I figured I can always go back and try to get work, but NOT assisting. As difficult as it might be, a young photographer has to try try try...

Untitled 1-3

sometimes photos don't need an explanation

© HetherC