Mechanical Machinations Photography Blog

 Michael Kenna I could have probably guessed that this man was going to be a catholic priest, with his consistency and conservatism in his work.  The slideshow hinted that Kenna would be categorized in the same category as Ansel Adams, but I would disagree with that and say that there is noticeable difference in the two artists' styles for the two to be categorized differently. I would categorize Kenna's works as artistic landscapes. I would say that someone could recreate these shots with relative ease, given the same circumstances as Kenna.  The shots aren't necessarily complex, but are quite time consuming to set up all the same.  I would definitely say that this conservative form of photography is rather uninteresting for my tastes.   “I look for graphic shapes, I look for simplicity of line, I look for an almost two-dimensional canvas with brush marks on it.”       I would say that this method is very straightforward and easy to interpre...

 Shadows Project Zephan Dickey Snow Way Around Blank Canvas No More                                          Pining in the Dark Throwing Shade Questionable Conifers Shadowed Shrubbery                                                                                Not a Thought Behind Those Eyes Simplex Shadow *Copyrighted Michael Jackson Song* Puzzled Pup

 Fear and Art Response by: Zephan Dickey I can see why you chose this excerpt for us to write about, because it aligns quite nicely with one of the questions answered through the ‘Artist of the Week’ assignments; the question asking about what would change if someone replicated the artist’s works.  The excerpt writes about how complex the artistic process is to do, as an artist.  The artist must fully immerse themselves in their art to excel.  The correlation between that idea and the concept of replicating art can be found through the idea of replication.  In order to replicate art, the fabricator must first elevate the process that the original artist used to create their work.   Steinbeck had written about the change in the value of art with the development of mass media and entertainment. The modern ideal art for most people would revolve around mass media though some may claim themselves connoisseurs of traditional paintings. It follows the emotio...

 David LaChapelle All of LaChapelle's work seems vibrant and colorful, giving a 'larger than life' feeling. I would categorize his work as artistic portraits. His works are far more over-the-top in color and vibrancy than any other artist covered in this segment, which I appreciate. This flashy, aesthetic style is a change from the norm, and stimulates the brain far more than many other monochrome, ordinary, and all around boring style of photography. His works show an amplification of the character photographed in each shot far more than other portrait photographers, like Annie Leibovitz or Yousuf Karsh. I would sa y that I like this eccentric, almost cartoony method of photography. LaChapelle's work seems meticulously planned, and also catches the essence of the 90's, at least through the eyes of someone who never experienced that time period. Someone could most likely recreate these works, however the pseudo-LaChapelle would most likely lack the amount ...

 Reflections Project Mud Season  Spring Cleaning  "Oh, Look. A Nice, Calm Pu... Never mind." Daylight Savings Time "Is That... Me?" Reflectception Dead End Average Husky Adventure Right Where You Leafed Me                                                                      Comedy = Tragedy + Time

Maya Beano   I really like the overwhelming aspects of nature and the sky in general. I would categorize Maya Beano's work as artistic landscapes. These works don't really compare to any other works that I have seen. Her work is like if Ansel Adams took photos with people accidentally stepping in the shot, but in a good way. I am a fan of this style of shot. Someone could recreate these shots with a really nice view and an account to photoshop. They wouldn't be dead copies, but they would be similar enough to do the job. “ I have a lot of ideas in my head, but I struggle to express things verbally sometimes. I feel more eloquent when I’m taking photos."     I resonate with that idea. Not to be cliché , but words are hard, and it's so much easier to express through nonverbal means. This idea is very common in the older generations, especially in displaying affection without saying it. The younger generations have become more aware of this through the "...

  Gregory Crewdson The amount of detail and setup each shot has is apparent in each photo. This is different from many photographers who take photos of real events in the moment. Crewdson's work is reminiscent of that of a cinematographer in Hollywood. His shots remind me of movies where the director uses the environment as a storytelling device, like Martin Scorsese. Crewdson's works are categorized as cinematographic portraits. His work could be replicated to a degree, though the shots, the lighting, the cars in the shots, and the storytelling behind it would be different due to the times changing. “I’ve always been interested in the commonplace, in finding a sense of beauty and mystery in everyday life. I’ve always been interested in the psychological nature of pictures, in trying to explain my own fear and anxiety and desire in photographs. The pictures are my means of trying to find meaning in the world.”      It's interesting how he speaks of everyday l...