experimental digital photography

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Reduce, Reuse, Diffuse: Make Your Own Flash Diffuser from an Old Film Conta
2008-03-10 22:33:00
A fun tip taken from photojojo which followed flickr user natuurplaat's lead. And here's the result...Before...After...
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Photo Journal/Exercise 3: MUSIC - Abstraction & Staged
2008-03-05 22:59:00
Pick out a song that you like from a band or any musician. It could be instrumental or with lyrics. Then try to photograph something inspired by that music. Get image ideas from its melody, its rhythm/beats, its lyrics, etc. Be poetic. Be artistic.There are 2 sub-challenges for this exercise.The first is to shoot abstract photos, and the second is to create staged visualizations of it.Make about 25 photos of a combination of both types, abstract & staged. Then choose the best 3 for each. Both types are very different in their thinking and process of creating.The goal of this exercise is to have us translate the language of music into the visual language, which most of the time can speak about similar things, such as rhythm/pattern, melody/line, moods/textures or colors, and so on --this might be for the abstract photos. But also for visualizing a song into a more illustrative and realistic image by staging it. For examples of staged photos you could look at the work of Gregory C...
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Fine Art Photographer Kaoru Tohara
2008-03-02 22:12:00
I finally got in contact again with one of my professors Brenda Mitchell, and her spouse, my mentor-friend fine art photographer Kaoru Tohara, whom I've had worked for also. I remember those days working with Kaoru setting up and sorting out about 700+ photos shot for an online TOEFL test. Anyway, this is his website www.sureshot10x.com with his most recent works of Portraits and Pittscapes (Pittsburgh cityscapes) you should check it out! I see his works as genuinely spirited, and also something that has to be seen/or met in real/in person. All works are silver gelatin prints.
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Photo Journal/Exercise 2: DESIGN ELEMENTS part 2: LINE, SHAPE, FORM
2008-03-02 21:56:00
Continue the Design Elements exercise with Line, Shape, and Form. Take about 50 pictures for this one, then choose 10 of your best. You may sort out your old photos or better yet, take new ones. Lines may be straight, curvy, diagonal, in repetition, etc. The simple difference between Shapes and Forms is that Shapes are 2 dimensional and Forms are 3 dimensional, showing more shadows and highlights that show depth and mass. The most basic shapes are usually silhouette pictures, but try to find others.But please remember that I'd like to post YOUR BEST PHOTO results here. So feel free to post me a link to your photos.Diagonal lines provide great composition for your photos. This is one example of the use of diagonal lines created from the perspective of the boat sail frame and the wooden poles (shot in Bali, land of photos :) )Another line composition is the s-curve seen here. It moves the viewers eyes from bottom to top and vice versa. This is one of the ruined parts of Great Wall, B...
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A Documentary Photo Exhibition "Spirit of Purity: Sedulur Sikep (Samin Comm
2008-02-25 22:26:00
There's going to be a Documentary Photo graphy Exhibition today at the French Cultural Center (CCCL) Surabaya. It's by a Visual Comm unication Design alumni of Petra, Pieter Dwiyanto, whom created the documentary for his Final Project. He spent about a month in the secluded Samin community around Blora and Pati, Central Java. His interaction with them has continued since, and has brought him to this exhibition where he'll also invite Gunretno, a local figure from the Samin community, to have an open discussion during the opening. All are invited. It's up until March 11th.
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Photo Journal/Exercise 1: DESIGN ELEMENTS part 1: COLOR, TEXTURE, PATTERN
2008-02-20 23:22:00
This first exercise is to get you started on taking pictures... Lots of pictures. Or if you already have lots, then sort them into the three categories. The idea is to take pictures of Design Elements, so you have to pay careful attention to composition.Take about 100 shots of a combination of anything that has Color , Texture, or Pattern, as the primary focus of the picture. They may and often overlap each other, as sometimes for example a certain texture on a wall may have a vibrant and interesting color on it, etc.I'd like to post YOUR best results here. So please post me a link to your photos for this exercise and also for future exercises.Here are just a few examples:Taken in a temple in China (if I remember correctly, around Hangzhou). I was first interested in the bright yellow color of the wall and its contrast with the people swirming around wearing blue. Then I found this elegant circular carving on the wall. I wanted to juxtapose that stillness beauty with the moving imag...
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XP Class of 2007 for Epson Art Photo Award
2008-02-15 16:34:00
These are the selected 10 people of XP class of 2007 to have their photos sent to the Epson Art Photo Award . Not everyone was entered into the competition even though there was a maximum of 12 students per class. These 10 people happen to have their works related stylistically to the competition. And each person?s submission of 6 photos were selected again before their shipment to Germany. So some have 5 and some have 6 photos. Here are the 10 people sorted by ID#: 1. 42404006 Fenny Limanto2. 42404046 Heru Wibowo3. 42404076 Henny Hendrawaty4. 42404078 Dody Tanujaya5. 42404088 Yohan Ariel6. 42404098 Ronald Eka Putra7. 42404147 Yohanes Natalukita8. 42404174 Vicky Tanzil9. 42404211 Sumitro10. 42404219 Sofian Best of luck guys. The best yet would be if we get Best Class . But hopefully at least one of you guys get in.

The Selected 30 and the Unselected 25 for the XP Class of 2008
2008-02-11 16:39:00
I have finally chosen 30 names from 55 applicants. Sorry, I have to limit the class in order to be effective and to fit into the lab. So here are the Selected 30:1. 42404121 Anna Halim 2. 42405004 Hendry Prabowo3. 42405014 Sonya Y.J.4. 42405023 Andre Ruland5. 42405031 Jesica Jeanette6. 42405037 Jerry7. 42405038 F.Grace8. 42405046 Stefanus Angkawijay9. 42405049 Maria Hendriani10. 42405057 Jonas N.11. 42405060 Sandra F.12. 42405070 Yoansevin Kansil13. 42405075 Angga Andinata14. 42405076 Andreas B.S.S.15. 42405077 Antonius Teiseran16. 42405091 Meilisa17. 42405116 Sheraphine Friska G.18. 42405117 Ivan P.19. 42405118 Maximilian Y.C.20. 42405122 Osel Gunarso21. 42405123 Arianto Widjaja22. 42405135 Christiandi23. 42405144 Asthararianty24. 42405155 Yogo Adi P.25. 42405190 Pangky Purwanto26. 42405191 Gratia Feranica M.27. 42405213 Yohanes Chandra28. 42405217 Andi A. Theys29. 42408125 Ignatius Elowinnoto30. 42408143 Junaidi Wirawanand the Unselected:1. 42404060 C.2. 42405013 H.K.H.3. 4...
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Your FREE Image Stabilizer for Any Camera
2008-02-08 19:43:00
A smart alternative to tripod...not for long or multiple exposure shots though :)here is another link about string tripods.
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Welcome XP Class of 2008 Applicants
2008-02-04 11:31:00
To DKVers of UKP... Welcome to the experimental photography blog.The presentation for the introduction to the class can be downloaded here:http://www.sendspace.com/file/5f3fty Please send me your photo portfolio, either in a link to your photoblog or in a CD or printed in an album by this Wednesday 16.00 WIB.I'll announce the selected 25-30 here and in front of my office at P.305A.Hope to see some exciting works this semester.
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PHOTO EXERCISE 04: JUXTAPOSITION
2008-01-24 05:19:00
One of the trade secrets or strategies of advertising and contemporary art is the unexpected juxtaposition of things unrelated to attract attention, shock, puzzle, or question people's perception of those things. We can look at Oliviero Toscani's works for example for the United Colors of Bennetton campaign.This is just one example of many. And when we realize this, we can start to be aware that we are a part of the photograph, because as a viewer, we start to interpret what we see according to our background knowledge, and give NEW meaning to the things posed together on the same scene/photo. So meaning doesn't necessarily comes from the photo, but from the viewer.Ok, before going too deep with this... Because this is a hard one. THE CHALLENGE IS "SIMPLY" TO MAKE PHOTOS OF JUXTAPOSED THINGS. AND THERE ARE TWO TYPES THAT WE COULD EXPLORE:1. JUXTAPOSITION OF THINGS RELATED AND CONSIDERED PAIRS OR OPPOSITES2. JUXTAPOSITION OF THINGS UNRELATED AND GIVE NEW MEANING(S) TO THE THINGS P...
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Dove and Spiderman
2008-01-16 05:39:00
Today, with digital technology, we have the power to create virtually any image we want. This power in technology, just like anything else, is a double edged sword. You can use it for something positive or negative. It is up to you to decide. As some of the things I like to show as an introduction to a digital imaging class are the unethical uses of digital imaging, such as the OJ Simpson cover on Time magazine and Brian Walski's altered photo in LA Times. Another is the Dove viral video campaign "evolution".So it's important then to note what Peter Parker a.k.a. Spiderman said that "With great power comes great responsibility."

Good Visual vs Good Image
2008-01-15 09:24:00
A friend of a friend photographer once said that in photography there are two different types of good photos. One is photos with good visual and another is photos with good image. You're now probably confused as I was when I heard it.So what's the difference?Well, he explained that good visual photos are photos that have been set up to look good, with an expensive camera, good lighting, planning, post editing, and all that. Maybe some examples would be a fashion photo or a stock photo. And then good image photos are photos that may not be created with the best lighting or equipment, but they capture the best moments, the best feeling of the moment, and they can speak poetically and emotionally "underneath". Some perfect examples for these may be from social documentary photos or journalism photos.After a good amount of thought, I think I agree with this notion, as is relevant to many creative fields not only photography, but also in art, writing, performance, etc. Think about it.H...
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PHOTO EXERCISE 03: MUSIC
2008-01-12 16:54:00
This is one of my favorite challenges/exercises in photography.THE CHALLENGE IS TO PICK OUT A SONG THAT YOU LIKE FROM A BAND OR ANY MUSICIAN. IT COULD BE INSTRUMENTAL OR WITH LYRICS. THEN TRY TO PHOTOGRAPH SOMETHING INSPIRED BY THAT MUSIC.THERE ARE TWO SUB-CHALLENGES FOR THIS:ONE - IS TO AIM FOR ABSTRACTIONS OR, IN OTHER WORDS, MAKE ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHSTWO - IS TO HAVE NON-ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHS, THIS MEANS WITH CLEAR REPRESENTATION OF SUBJECT MATTERSThe goal of this exercise is to have us translate the language of music into the visual language, which most of the time can speak about similar things, such as rhythm/pattern, melody/line, moods/textures or colors, and so on.
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HDR comparison test between Photoshop and Photomatix
2008-01-09 00:02:00
This is just a quick comparison test for a HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography using Photoshop and Photomatix.These are the 5 exposures I use (-2 -1 0 +1 +2):And these are the results:HDR with Photoshop (added with some high pass filters):HDR with Photomatix:HDR with Photomatix & finalized in Photoshop (with high pass):I know these are not plain HDR's, but already further edited. And of course they have been tone mapped differently because each program uses different calculations. And I don't know why when using HDR usually lends itself of using the High Pass filter, maybe because it enhances the overly sharp quality and the "hyperreal" effect of HDR. But from the results --after using High Pass-- Photomatix seems to have a more illustrative feel than Photoshop. Photoshop is still better at being a "photo", but for a more artistic or illustrative look, Photomatix will deliver, but of course... by also using Photoshop :) As for the dynamic range, Photomatix seems to have a wid...
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PHOTO EXERCISE 02: PERSPECTIVES
2007-12-20 16:28:00
PICK JUST ONE SUBJECT MATTER AND SHOOT IT IN 50 DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES/POINTS OF VIEW(this means that you can explore different angles, lighting, weather conditions, compositions, emotions, environment/surroundings, etc. with --remember: just one subject matter).Pick your 10 best, and the more varied the perspectives or points of view, the better!This experiment forces us to push the possibilities of a given subject matter; that you can tell different stories with just one subject matter, or shed different lights on one event, or even show an unseen aspect of the subject matter.
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PHOTO EXERCISE/CHALLENGE RESULTS REQUEST
2007-12-20 13:42:00
With my posts of photo exercises/challenges, I'm hoping to be able to get photo results from anyone. Please link me to your photo site or blog and I'll feature your photo on this blog if it can become a good example for the specific photo experiment. Of course I'll give the appropriate credit for the photographer and direct link to his/her site.I'm hoping, slowly but surely, to compile many featured exercise results here in this blog.
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PHOTO EXERCISE 01: COLOR
2007-12-17 08:52:00
For my class, I assign students to make weekly photo journals; which is a journal of photos they take every week following a given topic or specific brief I give out at the end of each class session. For naming's sake, I'll call it PHOTO EXERCISE.This first one is a photo exercise I usually assign on the first day of class.THINK OF A COLOR, AND TAKE PICTURES OF ONLY THAT ONE COLOR, OR HAVING THAT COLOR AS THE FOCUS OR SUBJECT MATTER.I usually assign students to take 100 pictures for the whole week, and then choose 10 to present in front of the class.This photo exercise is good for warming up with the photo taking skills, and for getting back into shooting a lot of pictures. And also to coach our eyes to see and seek things around us, to be more aware and perceptive.Discussions of this presentation will be about going back to the basics of composition, contrast, and the language of color.MORE PHOTO EXERCISES COMING!!!
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THE BIRTH OF XP (Experimental Photography)
2007-12-14 23:29:00
It has been two years going on three now, for the photography class that I teach. It has evolved a couple times up to now. This class was designed firstly for an elective course for the sixth semester students at the Visual Communication Design department of Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia. It was created to fill the need of a more focused and intensive course for those students who are more interested in photography, especially digital photography.The name "experimental photography" came up because it serves a more open engagement for the course and how it is going to be taught. It brings up ideas of a more creative approach in learning photography. And it's a catchier name for students, too. So then it was shortened to "XP" which is even easier to say.Before the 2nd half of each school year or before the elective semester starts, briefs of electives are presented and introduced to students, so they can decide which elective course to register for. The main points ...
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