Progress

So far I have had a photo shoot with Candice and Maeha. They both flaunted their armpit hair and had very different opinions about it. Maeha said hers is part of her identity.  She spoke about how people have different preferences and opinions. She was anti hair before she met someone who said you should grow out your armpit hair I want to see more of you. Her mind was changed and after growing the hair she then saw it as beautiful. I had the same thoughts. Candice didn't really have a preference she just is cool like that and doesn't care. She only grew her armpit hair out for my project and her boyfriend made a comment about it. He didn't like it but knew it was for the sake of an art project and his girlfriend is a model. I have seen a post online that talked about stretch marks on girls that read "please teach girls that it’s completely natural and okay to have stretch marks because i had to learn that on my own". The same could be said for body hair, being curvy, skinny, play like a boy, like girls, etc. This could be the jumping off point from hair to other body "issues" that aren't really issues.

Loss

As I have been unearthing objects from my sisters past, I find myself understanding that you can truly never overcome loss. (or at least me) It's not a battle, it's not an uphill climb, it's an understanding of learning how to control and harness those emotions in a positive way. As these objects stare back at me through my camera lens, I find myself on an emotional roller coaster. I'm on a journey in the dark trying to find light.

( I will be posting new images on 2/24/15 )

Questions

So as this series progresses I find myself asking questions...

Why do we collect so many things?
Where do we put these items?
Are we holding on to something more then just these objects? Do they represent something more?
Can we let go of these objects?
Are we in search of something?
Is there a fear in letting these objects go?
Do these items represent something in our life?

Just some random thoughts for the night.

Todays Photo Shoot

After leaving class today Alexis, Kyler and I decided to work more with flashes. We used 2 flashes as well as a reflector. Alexis was also kind enough to let me photograph her in her home for my series. As I continue this project I like seeing how people collect things and what the content is. Alexis had all her awesome outfits that we put out on her bed. Her room was also full of neat interesting things that reflect her personality. I am happy with how the lighting turned out and I am excited to see what else I can do with the flashes.

Photo shoot with Amy

This photo turned out to be an emotional one. I decided to photograph Amy right after she brook off her engagement with her boyfriend. She had a lot of his things still lingering around her apartment so I decided to take advantage of it. It made me think back to my own split up 2 years ago. When I moved out we had to decide who kept what. Packing away a life that you once had is hard. These objects have a memory tied to them. And maybe that is why people hold on to things. They can't let go of what once was and these objects are a reminder. 

The Plan of Action

In our last class discussion we had touch on how we as humans collect a lot of thing over our life time. We form these sentimental attachments to objects and cannot part with them. As a child I remember my grandfathers house being cluttered with useless junk. His hoarding habits carried on into the back yard where he had 17 sheds filled with more artifacts from his past. I never understood why he kept it all. As I have gotten older he had to move into parents house and he now stays in my childhood room. Now my room is cluttered with whatever he can fit in there. There is only about 5 feet of moving space.

Looking at this has inspired me to investigate more into our habit of collecting things. Is this a health habit? Why do we need these things? Also where are we putting all these things? I plan on going to different locations such as storage space, homes, sheds and photographing there. I am also hoping to stick with my narrative style and create stories within these space of clutter.

Below are just a few photos that I took in my childhood room. It is interesting to see the mix of my things with my grandfather junk.

I think color is working more successfully.

-KB

Research Symposium photo work

I have been working on putting together my piece for the Research Symposium on the 7th. I wanted to configure a grid to display my looks. The book has too much space between the pages and you have to flip back and forth between pages to get the full effect of comparison between the pictures. This poster like 30x40in image allows 9 looks to be compared at one time with the central natural me in the center. I see now that I have uploaded this onto the blog some of the shadows still need to be edited especially in the hooping picture but I am ready to print this on the large printer now!