Doug and Mike Starn

I am not really sure why I am attracted to this photograph so much, but the tree seems so distorted, almost humanlike. All the tree branches completely fill out the frame of the photograph as well, so white space is limited but it goes well with the branches.

This is probably one of my favorite photographs I have seen all semester. The city line in the background is gorgeous, and it does draw my eye, but the bamboo sculpture is so random.

This picture makes me wonder how terrified the person walking along the bamboo structure was. She seems so far up with the city in the distance. There is so much going on but for some reason the picture fits together.

I love how the Starns' construct for their photographs. The amount of bamboo poles in this picture is insane. The bright sky really illuminates the bamboo, and I wish I could be up there walking along the pathways, as though I was in the sky.

This photograph was in the light manipulation collection. I think that entire concept is fascinating. The leaf completely stands out against the pure white background.

I do not fully understand how they managed this art piece, but I find it really interesting. I like the way the Starns' make trees seem so appealing. It is almost as though they blew up certain sections of the tree to highlight different points.

"Photography helps people see..."             -Berenice Abbott

Ruth Thorne Thomsen

What fascinated me about this photograph is the way the figure is formed by dots. I want to know Thomsen managed this photograph. The dots contrast nicely with all the round rocks the figure is standing on.

Another Thomsen photograph that I wonder how she created. The isolated boat draws me in, as does the figure sitting on top of the column. The black and white makes the image seem almost foggy.

What I like about this photograph is how surprising the image is. A person would not expect a chair to be thrown outdoors.

This is probably my favorite photograph I found by Thomsen. To me, it seems a very relatable photograph; everyone feels completely isolated and alone sometimes. I also like how the figure is reflected on the foggy ground.


Overall, I really enjoyed the black and white images Thomsen produced. Everything I found of hers was extremely created and original; unlike anything I have seen before. I am not sure how she created her photographs, because some of them appear almost fake or digitally created, but  I really like the effect the photographs produce.

Irving Penn, Jan Groover, and Olivia Parker

What I like about this Irving Penn photograph is how everything relates to the view of American baseball;including the hot dog and Coke. All the objects are similar colors and fit together in some way that appeals to me.

In this Jan Groover photograph, I like how she took something as everyday as kitchen utensils and turned them into art. I also like how the forks and spoons reflect the light of the room, and also leave reflections on the table surface.

In Olivia Parker's all white photograph, I really like how the the flowers are photographed against something with a texture. It looks almost as though they are against a towel or carpet. That contrasts greatly with the pure white roses that are against it.

Tamara Lackey

In this photograph, I like how the boy is completely in focus, as are the closest leaves. The background is slightly blurred. During the past photography assignment I had a lot of trouble with aperature, which is how I believe this photograph has the blurred background with only the foreground in focus.

What I like about this photograph is the way the tree branches frame the girl. It is a nice, natural frame. Also, I like the extra branches and the straight lines they create.

In this picture I like the motion captured as the girl jumps on to the curb. Also, its a rainy day instead of sunny and I like that as a background.

Honestly, going in to this assignment, I did not know many photographers so I had to research to find one whose photography I admire. After researching, I chose one of Nikon's Ambassadors, Tamara Lackey. She does a lot of people photography, and I realize I like the way she views her subjects.