Seen It, Heard It, Read It

Seen It

The Social Network

Heather and I saw this in theaters, but recently watched it on dvd with our parents. I absolutely love this movie and can't wait to get the soundtrack! It was so well done and the story is from my generation. I find it amazing.

Veronica Mars Series

I have NO idea why I didn't watch this when it was on tv. I must have been too busy with The O.C. or something. Anyway, I love this series! I wish it was on longer than just three seasons because I was bummed with the way they ended it.

Letters to Juliet

I watched this during my weekend away to Camp Perkins. It was the perfect chick flick. I had seen it once before, but I was busy doing other things. This time I was able to catch stuff I didn't the first time around.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Seasons 1-3

I was sad when I finished Veronica Mars and jumped head first into this show. Both were recommended by my friends Megan and Janelle. I don't even want to know the exact day Heather and I started watching this, because it would be sickening to know how fast we've watched the first three seasons, haha. We just started season four on Thursday or Friday.

Heard It

Landon Pigg: The Boy Who Never

Landon kept me company on the drive up to Camp Perkins. I haven't listened to him in a while. This cd reminds me of when I moved home from California. Heather, Jenny and I got to meet him when he played at House of Blues in Anaheim two days before we moved. See my blog post HERE. It was the most perfect evening! He is the sweetest guy!

Adele: 21

I'm a BIG fan of this album. I must admit I haven't listened to her other one that much. Chasing Pavements will forever remind me of Heather and Jenny and our time in So-Cal. So many good memories.

The Decemberists: The King is Dead

Heather has been playing this a lot lately. Last week we were both working in the office and I had this on. It's another great album to add to your playlist.

Read It

Once again, I haven't been reading much besides school. I started a book at the crafting retreat, but haven't got around to finishing it. I have a huge list of books (in my head and on my nook) that I feel like I'll never get around to reading. One day I'll learn how to better manage my time and fit reading into it. Anyway, here's the what I've gotten around to reading lately.

School Modules

I'm taking Portraiture and Location Lighting this semester. I don't have books for either of these classes, just the weekly modules. This week is the start of mid-term week. I can't wait for Spring Break next week!

Twitter favs

Like last time, besides school I've just mainly been reading my tweets. These are some of my favorites from the last couple weeks.

self portrait

This week's assignment for my Portraiture class was to create a self-portrait. This was challenging and intimidating. I had an idea of what I wanted to do, involving my old Polaroid camera, however, the film was bad and it didn't work out. I've since looked into getting some new film here. I wish it wasn't so expensive. I digress. When the first idea didn't work out, I didn't actually come up with a second idea. I just took my camera, turned it around and started shooting. I also had a little help from Heather. I'm happy with what came out of it.

In addition to the self-portrait assignment I needed to submit a self-portrait by someone else. The first thing I thought of was Sarah Rhoads. A couple years ago Sarah Rhoads posted a self-portrait on her blog. See original post HERE. It was great to go back and look at that post now after reading the module. She said the following in her post:

“Whether it is for an exploration of self, a projection of self, a means of therapy or just as a means to remember what they looked like and how they felt during a particular season.”

“This internal self-exploration is powerful and seems to be a therapeutic and beneficial practice for every creative.”

After her original post she asked other people to submit their self-portraits, which she then compiled. See the blogs posts here: ONE, TWO, THREE. I found it very inspiring to look through these as I was in the process of making my own.

I guess it's because I'm naturally self-conscious, but it's so intimidating to post this, not only for my assignment, but also on my blog. Anyway, here's my self-portrait.

update

Hey friends. Thanks to those of you who prayed for me through my presentation today yesterday. I just thought I'd give an update about how it went. The presentation itself went fine. It was nice because while I was talking I didn't have to see everyone else on the webcam because the layout of the screen changed during that part. It helped me to block out my nervousness a little better. The questions were challenging, but I didn't really expect any less. Through that I noticed that my concept wasn't as strong as it could be and I didn't have solid reasons behind all of my ideas.

After the questioning I was blocked out of the conference while they discussed and then was let back in after the panel had made their decision. The verdict was that they didn't want to pass me right now. They liked my concept, but think that the concept and my images need some work. I definitely understand where they were coming from. They made some suggestions which I think will be very helpful. I will either re-present in summer or fall.

I'm discouraged because it feels the time, money and effort that's gone into this project so far doesn't seem worth it when I'm just going to have to do it all over again. I'm not really sure where to go from here. I know I need to take it one step at a time and keep moving forward. I know my project will be better because of their decision, but at the same time I think I need a little time to wallow before I can move forward. So I'm off to wallow a little more...or just go to bed.

Goodnight.

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the big day

I can't believe that in exactly 24 hours I will be done with my Midpoint Review of my thesis project. I've been trying not to think too hard about it because I know if I do then I might seriously go crazy. I'm really happy with my presentation and feel very confident about it. I originally thought it was going to have to be 20 minutes long, but luckily it's only 15 minutes. Good thing too, because it had been running between 12-14 and I was afraid it'd be way too short.

I'll probably be spending most of today on my computer, practicing and working on my homework for the week. Unfortunately midterms are next week and I have 6 images I have to create for my Portraiture class. I'm thinking my images will either coincide with my thesis project or I might do something completely different for fun. I can't wait until Spring Break! I always forget I have one! I think it's because I've been out of college for almost 4 years (!!!) and I'm not use to it anymore. It'll be a nice time to re-group for the rest of the semester. Well, I better get to work. Happy Thursday!

By the way, I'd really appreciate your prayers tomorrow during my presentation. It's at 11:00 am (MST). Thanks in advance!

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thesis

I've been working hard this past week to prepare for my Midpoint Review on March 4! Yes, I have a date! I'm sending my project off to San Francisco next week! I can't believe how fast this presentation is approaching! I've done some editing and more photoshoots so I'll have 13 pictures to present to the panel.

THIS is where my project ended at the end of last semester. Since then, I've become more specific with my project, in that I'll be taking pictures of people in my life, family, friends and acquaintances, instead of randoms. I think it's going to be more effective and beneficial in creating a stronger body of work.

I know it's hard to get the complete idea with the images being small on the computer screen, but let me tell you they're great to see printed in their final size of 16" x 24". The details are what help make it. Anyway, here are my 7 newest images for the project. Thanks again to everyone who helped me!

One Cell In The Sea

Ahhh! I've been gone for so long! I really didn't mean to, but I couldn't help it! I finished up my final projects last week and then Jenny came Thursday and Megan came Sunday. I thought I'd share a little of what I've been up to as far as school goes. You might remember THIS post back in September. Well, I've come a long way since then and my project has evolved from that original concept.

The title of my project comes from the song Minnow and The Trout by A Fine Frenzy.

I know that we're different

We were one cell in the sea in the beginning

And what we're made of was all the same once

We're not that different after all

Here is my Project Abstract and the images I turned in for my final project for my Thesis Seminar Class:

"One Cell In The Sea" is a Fine Art, Environmental Portraiture project. This project is narrative based while taking formal elements into account, depicting a variety of people through environmental portraits. The details in the images will give cue about who they are, what they do, what they like and so on.

We, as humans, are all different, but we are also, all the same. Each of us has our own story, dreams, strengths, weaknesses, interests, and so on. I would like people to reflect on these images and in the larger sense, people whom they interact with in their daily lives. The intended outcome is to leave the viewers to identify with the subjects about their commonalities and appreciating their differences.

It will be captures in black and white digital images. The final presentation will be a total of 20 - 16" x 24" prints, mounted on 3/4" thick lightweight foam and banded with a black edge.

I had to get one of the images printed like how it will be for my final presentation. Here's an idea of what they'll look like as a finished product.

I obviously have a long way to go and lots to work on, but I'm really excited to see how far I've come this semester. I'll be taking Portraiture and Location Lighting next semester. I'm excited to see how those classes will push my work and especially this project. Then my Midpoint Review will probably be around March where I will be presenting my idea and hopefully get the green light to pursue this for the remainder of my time at AAU. I'm getting nervous because there is SO much to do before then, but I'm looking forward to moving beyond that and getting into the second half of my program.

Thank you to everyone who helped me throughout the semester!

to do

Just wanted to say sorry for the lack of blogs this past week. Life is insane right now. Even with a four day weekend, I barely managed to finish everything that's due tomorrow. I have two or three days left of work this week and then hopefully I'll be able to get back to my regular blogging.

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keep trying

I've been working all semester on developing my thesis concept for my Midpoint Review. Next semester I'll have my Midpoint Review where I'll present my idea for my thesis to a review panel. They'll decide if I move forward with my thesis idea for the rest of my time at school. I thought I had a pretty solid concept. I still think it is. I just don't know the right way to convey my concept with my images. I don't want it to be literal. I want it to mean something. I'm sure I could take an easy route and create a concept that would be less challenging and easier for me to accomplish each week. But I want to use this semester (and my thesis project) to challenge myself. I want to grow as a photographer. How do you become great at something if you aren't challenged and pushed? But I feel like I'm being pushed off a cliff right now.

Lately I've been questioning if I should even be doing this program. I feel like a phoney (hi, my name is Holden Caulfield). But when I talk to myself, I know that I do want to do this. I love photography. This is my passion. I just don't know how. I'm to the point in my Thesis Seminar where I can't change my mind about my concept for the rest of the semester. I had a conversation with Heather the day I got my tattoo. I basically said I was more scared to commit to a thesis idea than I was my tattoo. I seriously am. I don't think my life depends on it, but sometimes it feels like it. I want to work on a project that I'm passionate about, that means something. Especially because I'll be working on it for a year and a half. Like I've said before, God has given me this talent and I want to glorify Him with my work. I'm praying that He will continue to show me how to do this.

While I wait, I'm trying to remind myself that I need to keep trying. Especially when I feel like giving up, like I do now. I'm afraid to fail, but that doesn't mean I still shouldn't try. So here I go. Let's do this.

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In Their Shoes, A Work In Progress

This is a picture I took as a part of brainstorming for my thesis proposal project. Surprisingly, I think I actually know what I want to do, or kind of where I want to go with my thesis. The idea is from a project I did in my Concept class last fall. The project was titled, "In Their Shoes," stemming from the proverb about walking a mile in someone else's shoes. With my project, I hope to call people to think differently about who they interact with in their daily lives. Causing people to pause and try to understand more about who others are and where they came from before judging them. Obviously, I'm in the beginning stages of development and it's a work in progress. So this diptych is of my padre and his shoes.

Back to School

I started school today!!

I was able to read through my first module for my Thesis Project Seminar class. This class is to prepare for my Midpoint Review next semester where I will present a proposal for my final thesis project which I will work on throughout the rest of my time at Academy of Art. It was probably a mistake to read through this course first because now I'm incredibly overwhelmed. What if I don't come up with a good enough idea to present? What if I present it and the panel rejects it? Ahhh!! I need to calm down and take one day at a time. I'm hoping this class will be an awesome opportunity to brainstorm and get my creative juices flowing. One of the requirements is to create a journal for the semester, it'll be used for thoughts, ideas, influences and research for my proposal. I'm excited to buy one and get it started.

My other class is The Art and Ideology of the 20th Century. I watched a video for it the other night. The term "absolute truth meaning" was used 10+ times in about 6 minutes and the first module is titled "Friedrich Nietzsche." I think it might be smart if I turned in for the night and tackled that tomorrow. Haha. I have a feeling that as I get more into this semester and closer to my midpoint review/thesis project, I will be posting blogs that relate to what I'm working on.

Good luck to my fellow friends who have started, or are starting school soon! We can do it!

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